Recognized as an important Danish modernist designer—working at a time when women were a rarity in the design world—Grete Juel Jalk was born in Copenhagen in 1920. She trained in cabinetmaking at Copenhagen's Design School for Women between 1940 and 1942; she went on to complete her education at the Danish Royal Academy under highly influential designer Kaare Klint. In 1946, she won first prize at the annual Cabinetmaker's Guild Competition; five years later, she received wide acclaim for her designs exhibited at the 1951 Milan Triennale. Around 1953, Jalk opened her own studio and began to develop furniture designs for some of the best known Danish manufacturers, like Poul Jeppesen, Fritz Hansen, Glostrup, and France & Søn. Inspired by the Eameses' and Aaltos' organic, molded furniture, Jalk continuously experimented with new materials and production techniques. Her iconic GJ Chair—also known as the Shell Chair—for Poul Jeppesen (1963) is a staggering example of postwar design innovation.
This teak-veneered, molded plywood piece features a distinct origami-like shape achieved through an intricate bending and laminating process; the complexity of the fabrication in those early years limited its manufacture to only a few hundred. Nevertheless, it was snapped up by New York's Museum of Modern Art the year of its release. In 2009, the GJ Chair went back into production with Danish manufacturer Lange, and, unsurprisingly, the original midcentury editions remain highly sought after on the secondary market. Jalk is known for her thoughtful designs that are well adapted to users' needs and that embrace societal and technological progress. Through her long career, she gained a reputation in both Denmark and abroad for designs that are economical—both in terms of material and cost—and ideal for the evolving, modern home. In 1947, she created a “self-supporting women’s den” for single, working women, which included an all-in-one sofa bed, storage space, and desk. Her Watch and Listen Unit (1963) was intended to store and display—as opposed to hide—television sets, record players, and stereo systems.
Her storage units, coffee tables, and cabinets are typically designed to serve many purposes, just like the multifunctional living rooms in which they were intended. Her minimalist sofas and lounge chairs feature clear yet comfortable forms—perfect for cost-effective mass production. Beyond her design work, Jalk edited the design magazine Mobilia (1956-62 and 1968-74), as well as the encyclopaedic, four-volume book, Forty Years of Danish Furniture Design (1987). In 1974, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs commissioned Grete Jalk to curate a traveling exhibition on Danish design. Her foldable exhibition space was a huge success in 25 regions. She contributed immeasurably to the international reputation of Danish design, and her work can be found in private and public collections around the world. Jalk passed away in 2006.Norwegian Leather Lounge Chair by Ingmar Relling for Westnofa, 1960s Mid-Century Teak Sideboard from Beithcraft, 1960s Dinning Chairs by Kai Kristiansen for Schou Andersen Møbelfabrik, Set of 4
Industrial Modular Shelf, 1970s Falcon Chair by Sigurd Ressell, 1970s T-Line Armchairs by Vogtherr Burkhard for Arflex, 1984, Set of 2 Mid-Century Modern Plant Stand, 1960s Small Italian Side Table in Brass and Mosaic, 1950s Isocele Side Tables from Max Sauze, 1970s Three-Legged Chromed Coffee Table, 1960s Mid-Century Italian Aquamarine Velvet Sofa, 1960s Vintage British Blue Armchair from Parker Knoll, 1960s Mid-Century Danish Easy Lounge Chairs by Grete Jalk for France & Daverkosen, 1960s, Set of 2 Brass and Mirrored Coffee Cocktail Table by Willy Rizzo for Cidue, 1970s Vintage Dining Chairs by Frans Van Praet, Set of 12 Spanish Table by Oscar Tusquets for Aleph, 1980s Vintage End Sofa Tables, Set of 2 Large PP 70 Dining Table by Hans J. Wegner for PP Furniture, 1970s Italian Lacquered Wood and Velvet Poufs, 1950s, Set of 2 Large Extendable Round Table in Mahogany, 1950s Danish Small Rosewood Commode, 1960s
Shop Buffet with Six Drawers and Wine Rack, 1900s Sculptural Console Table, 1940s Glass & Teak Cabinet by Dieter Waeckerlin for Behr Möbel, 1958 Antique Louis Quinze Stool S34 Solid Elm Chair by Pierre Chapo for Seltz, 1970s Vintage Danish Chest of Drawers with Four Drawers Slatted Coffee Table, 1950s Coffee Table with Magazine Rack by Mathieu Mategot, 1950s Danish Teak Sideboard from Pedersen & Son, 1960s Rosewood Petal Low Table, 1960s Custom-Made Buffet by Elli Kruithof & Raymond Goovaerts for Loral & Straatman, 1952 Walnut Carlton House Desk by J. Tresserra, 1988 Large Teak & Resopal Sideboard, 1960s Sculptural X-Back Dining Set, 1940s French Wine Rack from Rigidex Déposé, 1930s Dutch Industrial Modular Wall Unit by D.Dekker for Tomado, 1960s Mid-Century Armchairs from ISA Bergamo, Set of 2 Vintage Coffee Table by K.Kozelka and A. Kropacek for Ceske Umelecke Dilny, 1944 Italian Shelf in Chrome and Glass from Zevi, 1970s
Bastian Club Chair by Tobia Scarpa for Knoll, 1962 Danish Teak & Black Leather Ottoman, 1960s Teak Sideboard from Musterring, 1960s Mid-Century Danish Leather Sofas, Set of 2 Howard Sofa from Lenygon & Morant, 1950s Mid-Century Model FB06 Armchair by Cees Braakman for UMS Pastoe Brass Side Table by Peter Ghyczy, 1970s French Plush Chair from Pelfran, 1950s Vintage Danish Bamboo Armchair Sculptural Organic Dutch Lounge Chairs, 1960s Teak Side Table with Inset Tiles by Johannes Andersen for CF Christensen, 1960s Mid-Century Italian Garden Chair Vintage Everstyl Armchair, 1970s Oak Chest of Drawers, 1960s Stools from Singer, 1920s, Set of 2 Vintage Oak Dresser, 1960s Art Deco Cubist Dry Bar, 1930s American Mahogany Armchairs, 1940s, Set of 3 Large Round Solid Teak Table, 1960s Teak and Rattan Chairs by Karl-Erik Ekselius for JOC Vetlanda, Set of 2 Serving Trolley with Casters, 1970s Scandinavian G-Plan Sideboard, 1960s
Model 3316 Leather Egg Chair by Arne Jacobsen for Fritz Hansen, 1963 Small Mid-Century Sideboard from G-Plan Mid-Century Industrial Children's Table by Willy Van Der Meeren Vintage DS-47 Three-Seater Cognac Leather Sofa from de Sede Tall Bed Stands by Johannes Andersen for CFC Silkeborg, Set of 2, 1960s Vintage Belgian Rosewood Chairs from Van den Berghe Pauvers, Set of 6 Vintage Wooden Bar Cabinet, 1960s Easy Chairs by Lucian Ercolani for Ercol, Set of 2 Vintage Pyramid Compass Table by Wim Rietveld for Ahrend de Cirkel EB02 Plywood Desk by Cees Braakman for Pastoe, 1952 Vintage Block Table by Nanda Vigo for Acerbis Vintage Falcon Chair by Sigurd Ressell for Vatne Møbler Vintage Danish Design Oak Armchairs, Set of 2 Vintage Double Revolving Marble Coffee Table Party Sofa by Edward Wormley for Dunbar, 1954 Danish Rio Rosewood Dining Chairs from Dyrlund, 1970s, Set of 4 Mid-Century Faux Bamboo Coffee Table, 1950s