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.
Design Classic: Egg Chair and Ottoman by Arne Jacobsen for Fritz Hansen, 2000s
By Fritz Hansen, Arne Jacobsen
Located in Renens, CH
Egg Chair and ottoman in black leather by Arne Jacobsen for Fritz Hansen produced in 2016. The Egg chair by Arne Jacobsen hardly needs an introduction, considering it is one of the ...
Metal
Design Classic - Verner Panton, S Chair Model 276 for Thonet, 1965
By Thonet, Verner Panton
Located in Renens, CH
Model 276 S chair, designed by Verner Panton for Thonet in 1965. Unlike his more well-known plastic and metal designs, this early model is crafted entirely from molded wood, showca...
Plywood
Design Classic - Verner Panton, S Chair Model 275 for Thonet, 1965
By Thonet, Verner Panton
Located in Renens, CH
Model 275 S chair, designed by Verner Panton for Thonet in 1965. Unlike his more well-known plastic and metal designs, this early model is crafted entirely from molded wood, showca...
Plywood
Vintage Reupholstered Pierre Paulin Big Tulip Chair, for Artifort, 1960s
By Artifort, Pierre Paulin
Located in Renens, CH
Vintage reupholstered Pierre Paulin big tulip chair, for Artifort, 1960s A lounge chair by Pierre Paulin produced by Artifort, with red wool...
Metal
Vintage Swiss Production Grasshopper Chair by Eero Saarinen for Knoll, 1950s
By Knoll, Eero Saarinen
Located in Renens, CH
Grasshopper Chair by Eero Saarinen for Knoll The Grasshopper (or model 61) chair was designed by Eero Saarinen for Knoll in 1946, it was actually the first chair designed for the Knoll company, and turned out as an immediate success. Saarinen, an American but Finnish-born architect / industrial designer, was one of the main influencers of the new, modernist style now typical for mid-century American furniture design. His aim has always been to use simple forms, provide a comfortable user experience, while applying new techniques and often in cooperation with others. The use of laminated birch wood, regularly seen in the designs of Charles and Ray Eames is no coincidence, since they have worked together in the early 1940s. Other well-known pieces are the Womb Chair, and the Tulip or Pedestal series. Our lounge chair is a Knoll International original, a licensed early Swiss...
Wool, Wood
Armchairs by Eero Saarinen for Knoll Swiss Production, 1970s – Set of 4
By Knoll, Eero Saarinen
Located in Renens, CH
A set of four iconic “Pedestal” swivel armchairs designed by Eero Saarinen for Knoll International, produced in Switzerland during the 1970s. Each chair features a molded white fibe...
Aluminum
Denmark modern Chair 3107 by Arne Jacobsen for Fritz Hansen, 1980
By Fritz Hansen, Arne Jacobsen
Located in MIlano, IT
Denmark modern Chair 3107 by Arne Jacobsen for Fritz Hansen, 1980 Chair mod. 3107, belonging to the Series 7, with seat and back in curved wood painted in grey-blue. The structure fe...
Wood
Rare Early Model 3105 Chair by Arne Jacobsen for Fritz Hansen, Denmark, 1955
By Fritz Hansen, Arne Jacobsen
Located in Dronten, NL
A rare and highly collectible early Model 3105 chair designed by Arne Jacobsen in 1955 and produced by Fritz Hansen, Denmark. This very early example is finished in black and represe...
Steel
1 Series 7 Chair by Arne Jacobsen for Fritz Hansen Multiple Available
By Arne Jacobsen, Fritz Hansen
Located in Pasadena, TX
Iconic chair of the Danish design movement, the Series 7 Chair was designed by Arne Jacobsen and produced by Fritz Hansen. Multiple available.
Steel
1 Series 7 Chair by Arne Jacobsen for Fritz Hansen Multiple Available
By Fritz Hansen, Arne Jacobsen
Located in Pasadena, TX
Iconic chair of the Danish design movement, the Series 7 Chair was designed by Arne Jacobsen and produced by Fritz Hansen. Multiple available.
Steel
1960s Arne Jacobsen Rare Butterfly Auditorium Chairs by Fritz Hansen
By Fritz Hansen, Arne Jacobsen
Located in Knebel, DK
1960s Arne Jacobsen rare Butterfly Auditorium chairs by Fritz Hansen Extremly rare auditorium version of the Iconic chair model 3107 / butterfly from the 7 series designed by Arne J...
Steel
Series 7 Chair by Arne Jacobsen for Fritz Hansen, 2001.
By Fritz Hansen, Arne Jacobsen
Located in Asaa, DK
Series 7 Chair by Arne Jacobsen for Fritz Hansen, 2001. Arne Jacobsen stacking dining chairs Model 3107 with cognac leather removable upholstery. Model 3107 also know as series 7, B...
Leather, Bentwood
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.
