The 48 Chair is easily recognized because of Finn Juhl's characteristic, sculptural shapes and delicate details. The organically shaped seat and backrest are raised from the carrying frame, visually lifting the seated person, making it appear as if the law of gravity has been defeated.

Even to the modern eye it is clear that Finn Juhl's ideas reached far into the future, when the 48 Series was presented in 1948. He never let his innovative designs stand alone but rather opted for creating a so called "Gesamtkunstwerk" - a German word, which means entirety experienced and achieved through even the smallest of details. Finn Juhl's stand at the Cabinetmakers' Guild Exhibition was thus a fully designed work. The 48 Series is defined by Finn Juhl's characteristic, sculptural shapes and delicate details. The chair embraces the seated person while rounded surfaces are shaped to fit the gravity of the resting body and its proportions. The organically shaped seat and backrest, upholstered in textile or leather, are raised from the carrying frame in an almost demonstrative manner.

Additionally, the 48 Series is characterized by the use of multiple materials. Today, it is rare to see furniture that employs two different types of wood. This type of contrast has been left almost entirely to Finn Juhl despite the many years that have passed. The 48 Chair is available in oak with armrests and toes in walnut and a version entirely in walnut. It is upholstered in either textile or leather. The 48 is also available in a two seat, sofa bench.