The Chairs of Arne Jacobsen
Danish industrial designer/architect, Arne Jacobsen, was all about ‘harmony’ – he insisted on being involved in the design of every aspect and detail of the buildings he was commissioned to work on. Furniture, particularly chairs, became a large part of his design repertoire with the help of furniture manufacturing company, Fritz Hansen. His furniture designs were distinguished by visual concepts 0f natural harmony – Jacobsen was a nature lover and was known for his watercolour nature studies. The ‘Ant’, ‘Egg’ and ‘Swan’ chairs are prime examples of Jacobsen’s legacy as a nature-lover, perfectionist and modernist designer/architect.
In 1952, Jacobsen’s first chair design was in production for use in the canteen of renowned Danish pharmaceutical company, Novo Nordisk. Jacobsen originally designed the ‘Ant’ chair with 3 legs to enhance stackability and minimise ‘leg tangling’ when the chairs are arranged in groups. Initially, Fritz Hansen was sceptical of the design but the company eventually agreed to manufacture it when Jacobsen offered to buy every chair if nobody else would. Fortunately, ‘Ant’ became a success. Today, you can choose to have either 3 or 4 legs (now made of tubular steel) and choose the veneer (maple, beech or dark-stained oak) but the seat is still the same svelte and incredibly ergonomic shape.
The ‘Swan’ and ‘Egg’ chairs were originally made in 1958 for lobby and reception areas of Copenhagen’s SAS Royal Hotel, which was designed by the Jacobsen himself. Both chairs were groundbreaking innovations of their time as both designs were purely constructed of organic lines and shapes.
Today, the ‘Egg’ and ‘Swan’ chairs are available in an array of colours upholstery materials including fabrics and leather. The ‘Swan’ chair also comes in a lounge variation.
Fritz Hansen, continues to produce the eternally popular ‘Swan’ and ‘Egg’ using a system to combat forgery. The ‘Egg’ and ‘Swan’ chairs are two of the most copied furniture pieces in history, so in an effort to protect customers from buying fake pieces, Fritz Hansen ensures that their level of craftsmanship is inimitable. Every genuine ‘Swan’ and ‘Egg’ chair bears a tag with an ‘invisible’ thread that can only be detected with a device that Fritz Hansen holds.
For more info about purchasing Arne Jacobsen designed furniture, go to the Fritz Hansen website
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