ARNE WAHL IVERSEN (Denmark, 1927-2016) Set of 8 wood and leather chairs, c.1960.
About the Item
- Creator:Arne Jacobsen (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 29.93 in (76 cm)Width: 27.96 in (71 cm)Depth: 19.69 in (50 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 8
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1959-1969
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:MADRID, ES
- Reference Number:Seller: MSD0931stDibs: LU9851241309642
Arne Jacobsen
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.
You May Also Like
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Chairs
Papercord, Teak
Vintage 1970s Danish Scandinavian Modern Chairs
Papercord, Teak
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Armchairs
Leather, Elm
Vintage 1970s Danish Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Rope, Teak
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Leather, Wood
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Papercord, Teak
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Teak
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Teak
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Metal
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Faux Leather, Wood
Still Thinking About These?
All Recently ViewedRead More
The 21 Most Popular Mid-Century Modern Chairs
You know the designs, now get the stories about how they came to be.
Arne Jacobsen’s Egg Chair Scrambled the Idea of What a Wingback Could 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.