An Evening with Carl D’Silva

***Please note: This event will take place at the Books & Books in Coral Gables at 265 Aragon Ave. Tickets are FREE and books will be available for purchase at the event. Can't make the event or want your copy early?

Growing up, almost every kid dreams of finding buried treasure. That dream slowly fades with age as they realize that Blackbeard never visited their backyard. For some, the search for treasure continues in their adult lives in other ways. Metal detectors and shovels may be replaced with online searches and library visits, but the thrill of the hunt is still alive, ever driving the quest forward.
Lost Danish Treasure tells the tale of two stories: 1) the history of Finn Juhl’s iconic Chieftain Chair and a long-forgotten painting that preceded it, and 2) the individual connections to this design by a small group of collector researchers. Although starting in different eras and timelines, the two accounts start to intertwine over the course of the book, with the research efforts of today helping to unravel the mysteries of the past. As each chapter unfolds, more and more clues are revealed that slowly weave the storylines closer together—until the summer of 2021, when both accounts collided after Lot 242 popped up in an auction house in Chicago. The result of the subsequent analysis sheds new light about the origins and identity of the very first Chieftain Chair.

An award-winning architect based in Chicago, D’Silva. is a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects and a principal at Perkins&Will. For the last 30 years, he has helped deliver large, complex projects around the world.He began collecting and researching Danish Modern furniture in 2011 and his book, Lost Danish Treasure unveils the fascinating story behind the rediscovery of a priceless watercolor depicting one of Danish Modern’s most iconic designs: Finn Juhl’s Chieftain Chair. Known for pushing the boundaries of traditional furniture design, Juhl’s work revolutionized mid-century aesthetics with its sculptural, organic forms that blend function and art.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Books & Books, 265 Aragon Avenue, Coral Gables, United States