The eye-catching work of the Danish architect and designer Arne Jacobsen often introduces new collectors to mid-20th century furniture. With their fluid lines and sculptural presence, Jacobsen’s signature pieces — the elegant Swan chair and the cozy-yet-cutting edge Egg chair, both first presented in 1958 — are iconic representations of both the striking aesthetic of the designers of the era and their concomitant attention to practicality and comfort. Jacobsen designed furniture that had both gravitas and groove.
Though Jacobsen is a paragon of Danish modernism, his approach to design was the least “Danish” of those who are counted as his peers. The designs of Hans Wegner, Finn Juhl, Børge Mogensen and others grew out of their studies as cabinetmakers. They prized skilled craftsmanship and their primary material was carved, turned and joined wood. Jacobsen was first and foremost an architect, and while he shared his colleagues’ devotion to quality of construction, he was far more open to other materials such as metal and fiberglass.
Many of Jacobsen’s best-known pieces had their origin in architectural commissions. His molded-plywood, three-legged Ant chair (1952) was first designed for the cafeteria of a pharmaceutical company headquarters. The tall-backed Oxford chair was made for the use of dons at St. Catherine’s College, Oxford, whose Jacobsen-designed campus opened in 1962 (while still under construction). The Swan, Egg and Drop chairs and the AJ desk lamp were all created as part of Jacobsen’s plan for the SAS Royal Copenhagen Hotel, which opened in 1960. (The hotel has since been redecorated, but one guest room has been preserved with all-Jacobsen accoutrements.)
To Jacobsen’s mind, the chief merit of any design was practicality. He designed the first stainless-steel cutlery set made by the Danish silver company Georg Jensen; Jacobsen’s best-selling chair — the plywood Series 7 — was created to provide lightweight, stackable seating for modern eat-in kitchens. But as you will see from the objects on 1stDibs, style never took a backseat to function in Arne Jacobsen’s work. His work merits a place in any modern design collection.
Find authentic Arne Jacobsen chairs, tables, sofas and other furniture on 1stDibs.
Arne Jacobsen 'City Hall' Wall Clock, Green, Ø 8.3 in
By Arne Jacobsen
Located in New York, NY
Functionalism. Simplicity. Arne Jacobsen. The City Hall wall clock from Arne Jacobsen Clocks is design in its purest form—created to tell the time, and nothing more. Arne Jacobsen be...
Metal
Arne Jacobsen 'City Hall' Wall Clock, Green, Ø 11.4 in
By Arne Jacobsen
Located in New York, NY
Functionalism. Simplicity. Arne Jacobsen. The City Hall wall clock from Arne Jacobsen Clocks is design in its purest form—created to tell the time, and nothing more. Arne Jacobsen be...
Metal
Arne Jacobsen 'Station' Table Clock, Grey, Ø 4.3 in
By Arne Jacobsen
Located in New York, NY
The elegant Station Table Clock by Arne Jacobsen Clocks was originally designed back in 1939, when Arne Jacobsen designed a home for electricity company CEO Lauritz Knudsen. The attr...
Plastic
Arne Jacobsen 'Station' Table Clock, White, Ø 4.3 in
By Arne Jacobsen
Located in New York, NY
The world-renowned architect's table clock with alarm feature was created in 1939. Its graphic look and metal base – clearly referencing his own Ant and No. 7 chairs – make the clock...
Plastic
Arne Jacobsen 'Station' Table Clock, Blue, Ø 4.3 in
By Arne Jacobsen
Located in New York, NY
Arne Jacobsen’s petrol-blue Station table clock is ideal as an alarm clock with useful detailing in a calm bedroom, as a colourful element in the bathroom or as a stylish detail in a...
Plastic
Arne Jacobsen 'City Hall' Table Clock, Sand, Ø 4.3 in
By Arne Jacobsen
Located in New York, NY
Arne Jacobsen's City Hall table clock was originally designed for Rødovre Town Hall in 1956. What makes the City Hall clock so popular is its universal expression, which is why it wa...
Plastic
Mid-Century Modern Danish Wall Clock by Fritz Hansen, George Nelson, Teak, 1957
By Fritz Hansen
Located in Stamford, CT
Stool seat wall clock, model 7512, c. 1957 by Fritz Hansen. This finely decorative wall clock is simply stunning and is certain to draw conversation in any room in the home. Produced by George Nelson & Associates, USA, 1950s Stamped 'FH DENMARK...
Teak
Rare 1960s Mid-Century Modern Junghans Emerald Gold Ato-Mat S Desk Clock
By Junghans Uhren GmbH
Located in Vienna, AT
An exceptional and highly collectible mid-century modern desk clock manufactured by the prestigious German horologist Junghans in Schramberg, Germany, during the 1960s. This rare va...
Brass
Henry Dreyfuss Wall Clock
By Henry Dreyfuss
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
Highly graphic chrome wall clock with classic 50's details. Sweeping hand movement on this wonderful clock designed by one the greatest industrial designers of this century.
Chrome
Art Deco 8 Day Modernist Green Glass Clock, c1930
Located in Devon, England
Still with it's original box is this Very impressive and rare 1930's Art Deco green and clear glass and chrome 8 day clock. Superb condition, just some mild corrosion to some areas o...
Brass, Steel
Mid century westerstrands swedish industrial station clock
By Westerstrand
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Mid 20th century Westerstrands Swedish industrial station clock circa 1963. Here we can offer a rare large wall clock stamped by Westerstrands circa 1963. Lights up when connected. ...
Metal
George Nelson Tripod Table Clock
By George Nelson
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Scarce large tripod table clock, Model 4764, designed by George Nelson and Associates for Howard Miller Clock Company. Satin brass dial encased in plexiglass bubble, with signature b...
Brass
You know the designs, now get the stories about how they came to be.
The curvaceous Egg was designed to cradle the body and offer privacy. Later, it became the seat of choice for bosses in movies, too.
