Preben Fabricius and Jørgen Kastholm were Danish furniture designers, both born in 1931, who founded a studio together in 1961. They met while studying interior design in Copenhagen under Finn Juhl. Fabricius came to design from woodworking, and Kastholm had apprenticed as a blacksmith.
That pairing of trades suits what they made: slim steel frames, with leather and cushioning doing the work of comfort. Their FK chair design was the first winner of Germany's federal prize for good form, in 1969. Fabricius died in 1984 and Kastholm in 2007.
Five pieces sit in this collection: one long lounger, three versions of one swivel chair, and a pendant lamp. The four chairs share stainless steel frames and aniline leather upholstery, so the real differences are size, base and height.
Chair | Base | Width × depth × height | Seat height | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Grasshopper lounge chair | Fixed steel frame | 73 × 152 × 84 cm | Not listed | 32 kg |
Tulip lounge chair | Fixed swivel base | 69 × 70 × 106 cm | 48.5 cm | 17 kg |
Tulip lounge chair, castors | Swivel base on castors | 69 × 70 × 106 cm | 38.5 to 47.5 cm | 18 kg |
Tulip lounge chair, low castors | Swivel base on castors | 68 × 70 × 91 cm | 38.5 to 47.5 cm | 16 kg |
The Grasshopper is the one to stretch out in. At 152 cm deep it is more than twice the depth of any Tulip chair, and at 32 kg it is close to twice the weight. It is a lounger for one settled spot: a thick canvas sling on the steel frame carries feather-filled leather cushions. See more modern lounge chairs.
The Tulip chairs are for sitting up and turning round. All three are sold as swivel lounge chairs with the same 70 cm depth. The fixed-base chair has the highest listed seat, at 48.5 cm. The two castor versions list the same seat range, but the low version stands 15 cm shorter overall, at 91 cm, so its back sits lower.
The pendant is the only light. It measures 47 cm across and 21 cm high, with five curved shades that give a diffused, non-glaring light. It comes in chrome, white and aluminium, and takes one E27 bulb of up to 60 W. Compare other pendant lights.
Two of the names in this collection are shared with other designers' pieces on the site, and they are easy to mix up.
Grasshopper. Here it is a long leather lounge chair. The Grasshopper style floor and pendant lamps are a different design by a different designer, found in the Greta Grossman collection.
Tulip. Here it is a leather-upholstered swivel lounge chair on a steel base. The Eero Saarinen style Tulip chairs and tables are a separate design family, in the Eero Saarinen collection.
If a search for either name brings you here, the product dimensions above are the quickest way to confirm you have the piece you mean.
They were Danish furniture designers, both born in 1931, who founded a studio together in 1961 after meeting as interior design students under Finn Juhl in Copenhagen. Fabricius came from woodworking and Kastholm from blacksmithing. Their FK chair design won Germany's first federal prize for good form in 1969. Fabricius died in 1984 and Kastholm in 2007.
Five pieces in their style: the Grasshopper lounge chair, three versions of the Tulip swivel lounge chair (fixed base, castors, and low castors) and a pendant lamp with five curved shades. The chairs have stainless steel frames and aniline leather upholstery. The pendant comes in chrome, white and aluminium finishes.
No. They are reproductions made in the style of the designers' work, and each product page in this collection states that the item is not manufactured by or affiliated with the original designer. Each product page lists its own materials, dimensions and weight, so you can check exactly what you are buying before you order.
It is 73 cm wide, 152 cm deep and 84 cm high, and weighs 32 kg. That depth makes it a lounger rather than an armchair, so allow room for the full length in front of any wall or window. It comes in black and dark tan aniline leather, on a stainless steel frame with a canvas sling beneath the cushions.
All three are swivel lounge chairs, 70 cm deep, in stainless steel and aniline leather. The fixed-base chair is 106 cm high with a 48.5 cm seat. The castor version is the same height on a castor base. The low castor version is 91 cm high, so its back sits 15 cm lower. Both castor versions list a seat height of 38.5 to 47.5 cm.
The pendant is 47 cm in diameter and 21 cm high, with five concentric shades that curve inwards to give a diffused, glare-free light. The chrome finish weighs 4.3 kg and the white finish 3.3 kg. It is also sold in aluminium. The product page notes that basic assembly is required and that instructions are included.
It takes one E27 bulb, with 60 W as the recommended maximum. The bulb is not included, so buy one separately. The product page lists the lamp as dimmable, but the dimmer is a separate device and is not supplied, so a compatible dimmer needs to be fitted separately.
All four chairs have stainless steel frames and legs, upholstered in premium aniline leather. The product pages describe feather-filled internal pockets in the cushions for comfort. On the Grasshopper, a thick canvas sling stretches across the frame to carry the cushions. The two castor versions of the Tulip chair sit on a steel base fitted with castors.
Wipe the steel frame with a dry cloth, as the product pages advise, and avoid abrasive cleaners. The Grasshopper product page also advises conditioning the leather regularly. For the pendant, the product page advises a gentle wipe with a dry cloth and no abrasive cleaning agents on the shades.
It depends on the piece and the finish. Some pieces and finishes are held in stock for faster dispatch, while others take longer. Each product page shows its current lead time under the Add to Cart button, and the delivery date is confirmed by email once the order is placed, with updates on its progress after that.
