This article forms part of the Decorative and Applied Arts Encyclopedia, a master reference hub providing a structured overview of design history, materials, movements, and practitioners.
Jørgen Kastholm (1931–2007) was a Danish architect and furniture designer renowned for his minimalist and functionalist approach. His work, often in collaboration with Preben Fabricius, has significantly influenced modern furniture design.
Education
Kastholm was apprenticed as a boy to a blacksmith and worked at that trade for five years in the United States before returning to Copenhagen to study design. Between 1954 – 1958 he studied at the Bygingsteknisk Skole, Frederick, under Arne Jacobsen. In 1959 the Grafisk Høskole. After graduation, he practised architecture and furniture design in Beirut.
Biography
He worked for furniture makers Fritz Hansen and Ole Hagen. In 1960, he set up his studio in Holte. Between 1962 and 1970, he was a partner of Preben Fabricius. In 1972, he moved to Düsseldorf. His designs included furniture for Kill International and Ivan Schlechter, cutlery, textiles, lighting, and books.
From 1975, he taught furniture design at Gesamthochschule, Wuppertal University. He designed the 1962 tractor-seat-like Scimitar Chair 63, produced by Ivan Schlechter, Copenhagen, and the 1985 Geo-Line armchair, echoing 1930s models, by Franz Wittman, Austria.
Works
Style
He designed furniture that included two- and three-seat sofas. This type of unified seating pattern was adaptable enough for open-plan living and contract purchasers. His furniture’s clean geometric shapes were combined with good-quality basic materials. It looks excellent with art from any period.
Exhibitions
Work shown at 1966 ‘Vijftig Jaar Zitten,’ Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam; 1968 ‘Les Assises du siége contemporain,’ Paris Musée des Arts Décoratifs; Museo de Arte, Portugal; Ringling Museum, USA, 1969; Royal Albert Hall, London. The work (furniture) received the 1968 Illum Award, the 1969 Ringling Museum Award, the Bundes Award, Design Center Essen, Design Center Stuttgart 1972—77, Design Center Munich, the 1972, 1974, and 1976 Bundes preis ‘Die gute Industrieform’, and the 1973 grand prize, Museo de Arte Moderne, Brazil. 1962 Scimitar Chair 63 was shown for the first time at the ‘New Forms’ exhibition, Charlottenborg Museum, Copenhagen.
Source
Byars, M., & Riley, T. (2004). The design encyclopedia. Laurence King Publishing. https://amzn.to/3ElmSlL
King, C. E. (1989). An Encyclopedia of Sofas. United Kingdom: Wellfleet Press.
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