Large Dining Table by Grete Jalk

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This dining table was designed by Grete Jalk and produced by Poul Jeppesen in Denmark in the 1960’s. It’s a … Read more This dining table was designed by Grete Jalk and produced by Poul Jeppesen in Denmark in the 1960’s. It’s a versatile piece that can be used as a round table or extended with two large leaves of 55 cm each in case you have extra guests. The extra leaves are supported by a metal bar and a fold-down metal foot for excellent stability. The teak table with solid teak frame legs and edges is in very good condition with a very nice grain on the veneer tops. Nevertheless the large size of the table, the thin, elegant top give it a minimalist appearance and a sense of lightness. Carries a maker’s label underneath. Product / ModelDining tableDesignerGrete JalkManufacturerPoul JeppesenCountryDenmarkDate1960s. Dimensions:W: 136- 191-246 cm Height: approx. 71 cm Depth: approx. 136 cm.Weight: approx. 35 kilo /pieceMaterial: teak. Grete Jalk (1920 – 2006) was born in the late spring of 1920 in Copenhagen, Denmark. She grew up during a time when Danish craft traditions were still very strong but modern design ideas were beginning to emerge. Being interested in drawing and making things, Jalk started to study at the Design School for Women in Copenhagen before continuing her education at the furniture department of the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts.There she was a disciple of teacher and architect-designer Kaare Klint, whose philosophy emphasized functional design, careful proportions, and a deep respect for craftsmanship. Klint’s teaching had a lasting impact on her thinking, even though Jalk later became known for experimenting with more modern materials and techniques.During the 1940s and early 1950s, Jalk entered a professional field that was overwhelmingly dominated by men. Danish furniture design was gaining international attention at the time, with figures such as Hans Wegner and Finn Juhl becoming well known. Despite this environment, Jalk established herself as a respected designer through a combination of talent, persistence, and intellectual engagement with design theory. She began designing furniture in the early 1950s and also worked as a teacher for about a decade, helping educate a new generation of designers.She married fellow designer Poul Jeppesen, who collaborated with her on some furniture production and manufacturing projects. Their partnership connected design ideas with skilled cabinetmaking, which was essential for turning experimental forms—especially her plywood furniture—into real objects.Beyond designing furniture, Jalk devoted a large part of her life to writing, editing, and documenting Danish design. From the mid-1950s she became editor of the influential design magazine Mobilia, which played an important role in presenting Danish furniture to an international audience. Through articles, exhibitions, and books she helped explain the philosophy and development of Danish modern design at a time when the Danish designers took the world by storm.As an author of the multi-volume reference work Forty Years of Danish Furniture Design, that documented the designers, workshops, and ideas that shaped the movement, she was one of the people to preserve the history of Danish design.People who worked with Jalk often described her as intellectually curious and independent. Grete Jalk continued to contribute to design discussions and exhibitions well into later life. She died on 14 January 2006 at the age of 85. Today she is remembered not only for her sculptural chairs and innovative plywood designs but also for her role as a writer and historian who helped document and promote Danish furniture design during one of its most influential periods. This piece has an attribution mark,
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