Arne Jacobsen for Fritz Hansen, Egg Chair

ARNE JACOBSEN (Copenhagen, 1902–1971) for Fritz Hansen.
Egg Armchair. Denmark, designed in 1958.
Molded shell with fiberglass reinforcement and polyurethane foam padding. Blue Fame upholstery. Swivel base in brushed cast aluminum.
Weight: 20 kg.
Measurements: 107 × 86 × 80 cm (height × width × depth). Seat height: 37 cm.

Arne Jacobsen designed the Egg armchair in 1958, along with the Swan, for the lobby and lounge areas of the SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen. The commission encompassed both the building and its interior furnishings, allowing him to put his concept of holistic design into practice by integrating architecture, furniture, and decor. The enveloping forms of these armchairs introduced an organic counterpoint to the hotel’s vertical and horizontal lines.

Developed through experiments in the garage of his home in Klampenborg, north of Copenhagen, the Egg is distinguished by its high backrest and curved sides, which create a cozy, enclosed space for the user. Its construction—featuring a molded shell covered in cold foam and upholstered—allowed for a combination of formal continuity, support, and comfort. This piece features blue Fame upholstery and rests on a four-spoke swivel base made of brushed cast aluminum, with a central metal support.

An architect and designer, Arne Jacobsen studied for four years at the Copenhagen School of Construction before enrolling in the Faculty of Architecture at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts. Among his most notable architectural works are St. Catherine’s College in Oxford, the SAS Hotel in Copenhagen, the headquarters of the National Bank of Denmark in the same city, and the Royal Danish Embassy in London. As a designer, he created furniture that has become iconic, including the “Ant” chair (1951) and the “Swan” and “Egg” chairs designed for the SAS Hotel. He is also known for his 1955 Model 3107 chair, also called the “Chair No. 7,” of which more than five million were sold; it appears alongside Christine Keeler in Lewis Morley’s iconic photograph. Another of his contributions to popular culture in the media is his designer cutlery set, featuring spoons for both hands, which was chosen for the film “2001: A Space Odyssey” because of its futuristic look. The key to the success of Jacobsen’s work lies in its elegant and minimalist design, and today his pieces can be found in collections such as those at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London and the MoMA in New York, among many others.

The Danish firm Fritz Hansen, founded in 1872, manufactures original, unique, functional, and innovative contemporary design furniture. It produces its products at its facilities north of Copenhagen, crafting each piece in close collaboration with internationally renowned designers and architects. Highlights of its collection include the Egg Chair and the Swan Chair, the Series 7 Chair, the Ant Chair, and the Oxford Chair by designer Arne Jacobsen, as well as tables and armchairs designed by the Danish designers Piet Hein and Poul Kjaerholm.