Poul M. Volther

Poul M. Volther (1923–2001) was an influential Danish designer, best known for his iconic Corona lounge chair (1961), originally designed for the brand Erik Jørgensen and now produced by Fredericia. Inspired by time-lapse photographs of a solar eclipse, the Corona chair is one of the emblematic products of 1960s Danish design—a pivotal period in which local designers began experimenting with avant-garde forms, moving away from the reinterpretation of historical models that had characterized earlier decades. Active until the 1980s as both an architect and an educator, Volther stands as a bridging figure between these two phases of Danish design history. Firmly rooted in the traditional values of Scandinavian craftsmanship and in the ambition to create furniture capable of standing the test of time, he also showed a strong openness to new technologies, without yielding to the allure of disposable pop design—remaining mindful of the Bauhaus lesson on the social value of good design practice. This attitude is exemplified by his role as artistic director of FDB Møbler, Denmark’s most important furniture cooperative, a position he held from 1950 to 1955, succeeding the renowned Børge Mogensen. Still in production today by FDB Møbler, his J46 chair remains one of the best-selling chairs of all time in Danish homes. A similar design philosophy also informed his J111 chair, now reissued by the brand Hay.