The France Chair was designed for the American market in 1956 and is recognized by its fine details; the seat and back are lifted from the frame while the armrests have the iconic paper knife detail. The chair is available in oak, smoked oak, black painted oak or walnut with hand sewn upholstery in textile, leather or sheepskin. Finn Juhl rode a wave of international success during the 1950s – in part thanks to his partnership with the Danish furniture manufacturer France & Son. C.W.F. France was an English businessman who moved to Denmark in 1936 to run a small mattress factory together with cabinetmaker Eric Daverkosen, who passed away the following year. During the 1950s, the company became extremely successful.
In 1954 France & Daverkosen accounted for 60% of all Danish furniture exports and the factory employed 350 people at its peak. In 1957, the company changed its name to France & Son, when his son James France joined the company. In 1966 the company was sold to Poul Cadovious.