The PK23 lounge's laminated veneer shells for the seat and back come in 3 varieties: black-painted ash veneer, walnut veneer or oak veneer. A double bracket connector detail elegantly bridges the backrest divide. The chair's base comes in stainless steel for all shell material types or a black powder-coated steel base for the black-painted ash version only.

The PK23 was originally conceptualized by Poul Kjærholm in 1954, but remained in the form of sketches until recently. Characterized by its wide, low-profile form tailored for relaxed conversations, the chair features vertically divided laminated veneer shells for both the seat and backrest, bridged by an elegant connector detail. The PK23 chair represents an evolutionary stage in Kjærholm's design journey, blending elements from his earlier PK4 and PK0 models while foreshadowing the structural and minimalist style that would come to define later works.

A trained cabinetmaker who completed his studies at the Danish School of Arts and Crafts, Poul Kjærholm had a particular interest in construction materials; especially steel, which he considered a material deserving the artistic respect that was commonly awarded to wood. Poul Kjærholm initiated a collaboration with furniture manufacturer Ejvind Kold Christensen in 1955, and that collaboration continued for the rest of Kjærholm's life with the two families remaining close to this very day.