17 Arne Jacobsen Designs We Love
We’re celebrating the birthday of the iconic designer and architect by looking back at some of his best work.
Arne Jacobsen was born on February 11, 1902 in Copenhagen, Denmark. He studied at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts and became one of the country’s preeminent architects and designers in the mid-20th century. Though he went on to design the SAS Royal Hotel and the Danish National Bank, Jacobsen’s touch remained in the private realm as well, as he designed lighting fixtures for Danish manufacturer Louis Poulsen and furniture for Fritz Hansen.
Arne Jacobsen's indispensable contributions to midcentury architecture and design continue to inspire us. Here are some of our favorite designs that highlight and honor his legacy.
Fritz Hansen Egg Chair
Along with the birth of the Swan chair, Swan sofa, and Series 3300, Arne Jacobsen also created the Egg chair for the Royal Hotel in Copenhagen. When he was commissioned to design and furnish the entire project in 1958, he pulled out all the stops in order to create integrated and forward-thinking results. As one of the project’s most innovative designs, the Egg chair and foot stool was unexpected in a space that was filled with vertical and horizontal surfaces. The sculptural shape was first imagined in Jacobsen’s garage near Copenhagen, where he also designed the Swan for the lobby and reception areas of the hotel. The reclining and rotatable chair is made of a strong polyurethane foam inner shell that’s upholstered and reinforced with glass fibre. The tilt mechanism is made of steel sheet, steel tubing, and spring steel. Like Jacobsen's other designs, it's available in a wide range of fabrics and leathers.
ShopLouis Poulsen AJ Table Lamp
The AJ lamp collection was designed by Arne Jacobsen in 1960 for the SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen (Radisson Blu). As a major contribution to the total design concept of the hotel, the AJ lamps have achieved iconic design status. Upon the 50th anniversary of their launching, five new color variants were introduced, all carefully in line with an updated Arne Jacobsen color scheme.
ShopFritz Hansen Swan Chair
Designed for the SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen, for which designer Arne Jacobsen was the architect, the Swan Chair (1958) permitted guests to spin on its swivel base, thus becoming active participants in the busy hotel atmosphere. Now made of polyurethane foam, it’s marked by its flowing organic shape. A single upholsterer hand-sews the fabric onto the frame. Original design and licensed manufacture by Republic of Fritz Hansen. Made in Poland.
ShopLouis Poulsen AJ Floor Lamp
Designed for the SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen, Denmark, the AJ Floor Lamp from Louis Poulsen modern classic features an asymmetrical shape and tiltable head. The sleek, understated design ensures this floor lamp can complement many different established motifs. This modern light emits downward directed light. The angle of the shade can be adjusted to optimize light distribution, and the shade is painted white on the inside to ensure a soft, comfortable light.
ShopArne Jacobsen Banker’s Clock
The Banker's Wall Clock (1971) was originally created by Arne Jacobsen for the Danish National Bank in Copenhagen. A 12-square line marks each hour position, with the square closest to the clock’s center filled-in starting at 1, the next at 2 and so on, creating a subtle spiral pattern. The Banker's Clock features a precision quartz movement powered by a single AA battery (not included). Made in China.
ShopFritz Hansen Pot Lounge Chair
Like the iconic Egg™ and Swan™, Pot (1959) was originally designed for the SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen, for which Jacobsen was the architect. A light take on traditional lounge chairs, this one welcomes its occupant with a light embrace, featuring retooled construction updated to meet today’s standards of comfort and durability. Suitable for residential and commercial use. This is the authentic Pot Chair by Republic of Fritz Hansen. Made in Poland. Photo Courtesy of Design Within Reach
ShopCylinda Line Jug with Ice Lip
Originally sketched on a napkin in 1964, Arne Jacobsen’s Cylinda Line (1967) stainless steel barware took three years, and the creation of new technology, to produce. Jacobsen insisted on seamless tubes with perfect brushed surfaces, and he continued to add new pieces – some designed by Peter Holmblad – to the collection until 1974. An immediate success, Cylinda Line was awarded the 1967 ID Prize by the Danish Design Council, and pieces of the line are included in the permanent collections of MoMA and the Victoria and Albert Museum. Made in China. Photo courtesy of Design Within Reach
ShopFritz Hansen Drop Chair
When the legendary Danish designer Arne Jacobsen was commissioned to develop the SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen in 1958, he ended up designing almost every aspect of the hotel. Along with creating textiles, accessories, and custom built-in elements, he also designed a few new furniture pieces specifically for the project. As a result, he designed the Drop Chair and created a limited number of them for the hotel. After production ceased, the design was forgotten for more than 50 years, but was revived by Fritz Hansen in 2014. The teardrop-shaped shell comes in six colored plastic options, as well as upholstery in fabric or leather. Made of ABS plastic, its internal structure is reinforced with nylon, while the upholstered version is formed with cold-cured foam. Additionally, you can choose to have the tube legs in chromed or powder-coated steel.
ShopArne Jacobsen Cylinda Line Barware Ice Tongs
Originally sketched on a napkin in 1964, Arne Jacobsen’s Cylinda Line (1967) stainless steel barware took three years, and the creation of new technology, to produce. Jacobsen insisted on seamless tubes with perfect brushed surfaces, and he continued to add new pieces – some designed by Peter Holmblad – to the collection until 1974. An immediate success, Cylinda Line was awarded the 1967 ID Prize by the Danish Design Council, and pieces of the line are included in the permanent collections of MoMA and the Victoria and Albert Museum. Made in China.
ShopFritz Hansen Ant Chair
Arne Jacobsen helped shape design history when he accommodated three different bends in one piece of plywood, simply by narrowing the center. The resulting Ant Chair (1952) has a back with a gentle give and comfortable curved seat. When it was first designed, Jacobsen told the manufacturer that he’d buy all the chairs if they didn’t sell. Of course, he never had to make good on that offer, as the Ant Chair quickly became an international success. This is the authentic Ant Chair. Made in Denmark.
ShopFritz Hansen Dot Stool
Developed by Arne Jacobsen in the 1950s, around the same time he was designing the iconic Ant Chair, his Dot Stool (1954) resulted from the same rigorous level of testing and refinement. Originally designed with three legs, Dot was changed in 1970 to have four. It features a molded walnut veneer seat with or without a cover fashioned from the leftover cuttings of fine Elegance full-grain leather that come from upholstering other Fritz Hansen chairs, such as Egg and Swan. Made in Poland. Photo courtesy of Design Within Reach
ShopLouis Poulsen Lighting AJ Eklipta Outdoor Wall Lamp
Born and raised in Copenhagen, Arne Jacobsen graduated in 1927 with a degree in architecture from the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. Inspired by the likes of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Le Corbusier, Jacobsen embraced a functionalist approach from the outset. He was among the first to introduce modern furniture to Denmark and create industrial pieces that built upon its craft-based heritage. AJ Eklipta (1959) was designed for Rødovre Town Hall, where it was used for staircases and walls indoors and out. Using a hand-blown three-layer opal glass diffuser with transparent rim, it emits soft, uniform light with a decorative halo around the edge. Small mounts on walls only; other two mount on walls or ceilings. Bulbs (not included): 40W/T4/G9 halogen for small; 60W/A19/E26 incandescent or LED equivalent for medium; 100W/A19/E26 incandescent or LED equivalent for large. UL Wet Listed. Made in Denmark.
ShopFritz Hansen Series 7 Counter Stool
The Series 7 Chair (1955) debuted in Sweden at the Helsingborg exhibition of 1955, or H55. One of the most copied chairs of the modern era, it features an ideal shape for the human form, with a back that offers just the right amount of give to keep your upper body comfortable and a waterfall seat that supports your legs without pressing into them. Arne Jacobsen, instilled with a love of materials, shaped the core of Danish design identity with this chair by forming it from one piece of plywood that he cleverly narrowed in the middle to accommodate three different bends. Once painstakingly made by hand, Series 7 is now crafted using automation methods borrowed from the German car industry. Suitable for commercial use. Stacks six high. Authentic Series 7 Counter Stool by Republic of Fritz Hansen. Made in Denmark.
ShopFritz Hansen Series 3300 Three-Seater Sofa
Arne Jacobsen conceived of a complete and holistic aesthetic for the SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen. Serving as the principle architect for it, he also created much of the furnishings – including the Series 3300 Collection (1956). Cool and formal, it offered a clean-lined counterpoint to the curvaceous and organic forms of his swiveling Egg™ and Swan™ chairs, which were also designed specifically for the SAS. Jacobsen had a very personal connection to this collection, as it was based on a sofa that he had created for his own home. Displaying Jacobsen’s unfailing sense of line and proportion, the Series 3300 is a further example of his ability to create timeless classics. Original design and licensed manufacture by Republic of Fritz Hansen. Made in Poland. Photo Courtesy of Fritz Hansen
ShopLouis Poulsen AJ Wall Sconce
While he was arguably better known for his furniture designs, just about everything Arne Jacobsen created has surpassed icon status. The Louis Poulsen AJ Wall Sconce was launched as a tribute to his landmark commission in 1960 to design the SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen—including all its furnishings. This new version is as recognizable as the famous table and floor versions, featuring the same flared shade made of spun steel. Photo Courtesy of Lumens
ShopFritz Hansen Grand Prix Chair With Wood Legs
Designed by midcentury Danish master Arne Jacobsen, Grand Prix (1957) didn’t just win the most prestigious award at the Triennale di Milano – it was named for it. Originally introduced at the Danish Museum of Art and Design in 1957, it was displayed later that year in Milan, where it took both the Grand Prix award and name. Jacobsen applied his expert understanding of the human form and wood molding techniques to create this lightweight, durable chair, still ideal for a wide range of commercial and residential applications. Its molded plywood seat is shaped to comfortably support the body. This is the authentic Grand Prix by Republic of Fritz Hansen. Made in Denmark.
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