Workshop stories from around the world
holm°’s heroes: House of Finn Juhl
House of Finn Juhl is proud to contribute to the preservation of Danish craftsmanship and local production methods.
They produce in two locations: in Ringkøbing, where the head office is located, and in Vejen, where they have taken over the furniture workshop Schou Andersen Møbelfabrik, a company with decades of experience in the craft of solid wood furniture.
This is an excerpt from a House of Finn Juhl story that features conversations with the craftsmen about their work and lives, both inside and outside the workshop walls.
Each department is a small world of its own, filled with passionate craftsmen and unique personalities.
It offers an insight into the craft behind Finn Juhl’s furniture and illustrates the complex process behind each piece.
It shines a light on the skilled people who make Finn Juhl’s Danish furniture, which is appreciated and bought by Finn Juhl enthusiasts all over the world.
holm° is one of these enthusiasts, and we love using Finn Juhl’s designs in our interiors and experiencing the effect they have on people who appreciate craftsmanship at the level of House of Finn Juhl.
House of Finn Juhl’s workshop in Vejen
holm°’s heroes: House of Finn Juhl’s workshop in Vejen
A narrative unfolds within these walls, interwoven with decades of traditional craftsmanship.
But the workshop is not only home to a heritage; it also harbors a firm will and a great willingness to innovate.
It is a place where tradition and innovation blend harmoniously.
Here, over a century of expertise, precision and unwavering commitment to quality, specializing in the production of durable solid wood furniture, finds expression in the production of Finn Juhl’s iconic designs.
Wooden components in the workshop in Vejen
Rasmus the woodworking machine operator
The furniture factory hums with activity, and amidst the rhythmic hum of the machines we meet Rasmus, who tells us his story of how he found his way into the carpentry trade and started working in the workshop in Vejen.
“It’s now been 5-6 years since I started here as a woodworking machine operator. The reason why I chose this path is my uncle, who lives in Sweden and is also a woodworking machine operator. I spent a lot of time with him as a child and that’s where my interest started. Before I came here, I worked as a sales assistant in a store, but that became too monotonous and I was drawn to carpentry. I wanted more action and to be more active in my work.”
Rasmus has gained experience with a variety of machines and work processes at the furniture factory in Vejen, and as he talks, it becomes clear that he thrives in this profession.
“It’s fantastic here. I’ve had the opportunity to work with both modern and older machines, which has been both fun and challenging. Trying out different tasks has been exciting and has given me experience in different aspects of the work.”
Although Rasmus enjoys his work in Vejen, he has kept his roots in his home town of Fredericia.
“I was born and raised in Fredericia, and I still live there. It’s only half an hour’s drive away, which is perfect for me.”
When Rasmus is not immersed in furniture production, he is a keen sportsman, although time is a scarce commodity these days.
“I played both handball and football and enjoy watching and playing both. But now that I’ve become a father, my little boy takes up most of my time. It’s a huge experience for me. So sport and everything else has to take a back seat for a while.”
Rasmus, one of the experienced woodworking machine operators in Vejen.
Egon the upholsterer
The open space of the upholstery workshop is a hive of activity.
The rhythmic beat of the staple guns and the steady hum of the sewing machines create an energetic atmosphere.
At the heart of this creative chaos is Egon, an experienced furniture upholsterer.
His unwavering dedication to the craft is evident in the meticulous precision he brings to every task, a testament to the wealth of experience and expertise he has accumulated over decades.
“I’m Egon – or Tarzan, as my grandchildren call me,” he remarks with a smile, hinting at a story behind the nickname.
“At 73, I’ve been part of this factory since June 2009. I originally trained as a furniture upholsterer in 1968, when it was still called an upholsterer.”
“Actually, I don’t know why I became a furniture upholsterer. But there happened to be a furniture factory opposite my school when I was a boy,” he recalls.
“I got a job there, and I’ve been working with furniture ever since. From the early years as an apprentice to later becoming a master craftsman, my whole working life has been linked to furniture upholstery. I haven’t worked in many different places and stayed in one place for 25 years as I’m not someone who changes jobs often.”
Egon is a key figure in the introduction of new models in the upholstery workshop.
“I’ve been here so long that I think I’ve been involved in every piece of furniture we’ve produced over the years. Now we’ve started working with Finn Juhl furniture, and I find that enormously satisfying. Every element has to meet the standard of perfection, every little detail. That gives me incredible satisfaction.”
Considering the development of his profession, Egon remarks,
“Today, not many men choose the profession of furniture upholsterer, which I find unfortunate. The work I do requires strength; it’s a physically demanding job. One of the reasons I keep working is to stay physically active. That’s something I really value.”
In addition to his professional activities, Egon, nicknamed Tarzan, devotes a large part of his time to maintaining his fitness, and his commitment is truly impressive.
“Staying in shape is my top priority. In addition to my work, I invest a lot of time in exercise,” he says.
“Twice a week, on Mondays and Wednesdays, I spend an hour and a half in the gym and finish the workout with forty-five minutes of spinning. On Tuesdays, I lead a walking group that covers about 6 kilometers, and I often add another 4-5 kilometers on my own. The rest of the week I continue to go on numerous walks. Last summer, my kids found out that I walked 357.2 kilometers during a three-week vacation, as recorded by my cell phone. Now you probably understand why my grandchildren call me Tarzan.”
“I live in Bramming, not far from here. My grandchildren and great-grandchildren also live there. I want to be close to them. Some of them live just a five-minute walk away, and my great-grandchildren often come by when they want to hear a few imaginative stories from their great-grandfather. Our time together is always happy.”
Experienced upholsterer Egon carefully prepares a seat for the upholstery.
Maibritt the carpenter
In the middle of the lively bustle of the workshop and the rhythmic symphony of working tools stands Maibritt, whose skillful hands assemble the components that will ultimately result in a Finn Juhl piece.
“I’ve been working here for eight years,” she says , while her eyes are fixed on the assembly of a frame. “For example, the lounge chairs, they don’t fit in the press, so I do that by hand. All the larger chairs come through my workstation.”
“I find great satisfaction in my work here. I originally come from Vejen and did my apprenticeship at a joinery in Askov, which unfortunately closed a few years ago. I also worked at Orla Albæk, where we specialized in furniture for schools. Eventually, I returned to traditional carpentry, or as I like to call it, true craftsmanship.”
“Working with Finn Juhl’s furniture is really rewarding. It brings a different perspective and the quality is really first class.”
Although Maibritt no longer calls Vejen home, the city where she was born and raised remains firmly anchored in her roots, not far from her current home.
“In my free time, my world revolves around my dog. I have a two-year-old Cocker Spaniel who is full of energy. He’s being trained as an explosives detection dog to check incoming cargo in airports and similar environments.”
The training process requires a gradual build-up and a lot of patience.
“Our training starts with a toy called ‘long’. We don’t introduce the dog directly to explosives; we start the process with a toy to familiarize the dog with its scent. Because when mistakes happen, they can’t be undone. The toy then gradually gets smaller until it reaches the size of a pinhead. Once the dog has mastered this and all the other steps, we move on to specialization.”
Maibritt closes with a warm smile: “I’ve been working with dogs for almost as long as I’ve been walking, so for me it’s all about wood and dogs.”
She laughs easily, and her passion for these two areas is unmistakable.
Finn Juhl’s Fireplace Chair takes shape in Maibritt’s hands.
Lars the foreman
In the machine department, we meet Lars, the foreman and one of the most experienced craftsmen, who gives us insights from his two decades in the workshop.
“I’m a trained woodworking machinist and my family used to own a small chair factory that closed about 20 years ago,” he says, looking over the machines.
“After the closure, I came to Vejen, and now I’ve celebrated my 20th anniversary here on August 1, 2023.”
“Furniture making is in my blood – my grandfather was a carpenter, my father was a carpenter. Basically my whole family. It’s my roots. It was a choice between this profession or becoming a social worker. While the idea of becoming a social worker also appealed to me, the easiest route was through secondary school. However, as I didn’t particularly like going to school in general, I decided to do an apprenticeship as a woodworking machinist – a decision I still don’t regret today.”
“If I didn’t enjoy my job, I wouldn’t have made the 130-kilometer drive from Nordfyn, where I live, to Vejen every day for 20 years!”
When the machines are at rest and the lights in the workshop are switched off, Lars devotes a lot of time to a hobby he loves.
“In my spare time I love to line dance, and I am also a line dance instructor at a club in Odense. Occasionally I organize workshops on weekends for special occasions.”
However, Lars does not limit his passions to the workshop and the dance floor.
“Recently I started going to flea markets and combine it with a little vacation. It’s become a fun thing where we sell old mugs, glasses, jugs, bowls, key rings and the like. It’s not just a business, it’s cozy – you get to talk to people and it’s not much effort to set up and take down our stall.”
Lars, the foreman in the machine department of the furniture workshop in Vejen, Denmark
Faeiq the tailor
Amidst the organized chaos of cutting tables and sewing machines, we meet Faeiq.
His extensive experience as a tailor in Syria has equipped him with a unique set of skills, which he now uses in the furniture workshop in Vejen, Denmark.
“I’ve been here in the workshop for almost six years now. Although I have no formal training in sewing, I have many years of experience as a tailor in Syria. I particularly enjoy the upholstery work and operating the sewing machines here.”
“When you work with the Finn Juhl models, everything has to be 100% perfect. It requires precision and attention to detail,”emphasizes Faeiq.
For Faeiq, the work is about more than just perfecting the furniture;
“It’s also the friendships with his colleagues that bring joy to his working life. “I’m very happy with my work here. We have a strong sense of community and I have many wonderful colleagues.”
Faeiq lives in Fåborg, a small town between the cities of Esbjerg and Vejen, Denmark, not far from the furniture workshop.
In his spare time, he finds joy in sharing moments with his family, especially enjoying time with his two sons.
“I have two boys. They are twins and 11 years old. When I’m not working, I spend a lot of time with them. We go to the club where they play football, enjoy the public swimming pool or explore the countryside. Being with them is my way of relaxing.”
“I came to Denmark from Syria in 2015 because of the war. But I’m really happy here in Denmark.”
Faeiq’s daily tasks range from precise cutting to meticulous sewing and upholstery work.
Christo the carpenter
In one of the spacious production halls, experienced carpenters work diligently on the numerous chair components.
They apply glue with precision to the holes drilled in the wooden frames.
The wooden parts are then carefully pressed together.
As soon as the glue has hardened, the finished pieces move on to the next production phase.
In this dynamic environment, we meet Christo, one of the newest additions to the team of talented carpenters, with a story that stretches from South Africa to Denmark.
“I’ve been working at the furniture factory for eight months,” he says.
“I trained as a carpenter at the technical college in Vejle and completed my apprenticeship at Spekva in Vamdrup, a small town in Denmark.”
Christo explains that working with wood has always been attractive to him, but that his family background also had a significant influence on his path to becoming a carpenter.
“My grandparents were both engineers and architects, so an interest in these fields has always been part of my consciousness.
Besides, I couldn’t imagine sitting still in an office chair for eight hours a day.”
“I was born and raised in South Africa and have now spent about 10-11 years in Denmark.
Although my grandparents were Danish, my mother was born in Zambia.
A large part of my family still lives in South Africa.
I have two sisters and a brother.
One sister lives in the USA, but my father, a farmer, stays where he is.
We come from a place called Tzaneen, very close to Kruger National Park, so we spent a lot of time in nature among the animals.”
“I traveled to England to play cricket, and from there I had to come to Denmark to renew my Danish passport, which I already had.
And then I just stayed,” he says with a smile.
“Today I still play cricket, but now in Kolding.
It’s a sport I’ve been playing since I was four or five years old.
I live just outside Kolding, so it’s convenient – also in terms of my work here in Vejen.”
“I have a Danish girlfriend and we have two small children.
So returning to South Africa now would be even more challenging.
Although we have no plans to return there permanently, we often travel there to visit family.
My son has been there twice.
He loves being on the farm, fishing at the lake, driving around in the big cars and everything that goes with it.
He’s a lively boy and it’s great to see how much he likes it there.”
“Although it’s sometimes difficult not being able to see my parents and grandparents, luckily we’ve become good at using video chats.
We’ve used it a lot over the last few years to stay in touch.”
Christo, the carpenter, carefully glues together the wooden components that will form the frame for Finn Juhl’s 108 chair.
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