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Arne Jacobsen

Danish, 1902-1971

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.

Average Sold Price
$2,569
Styles
Materials
Related Creators
Iconic Designs from Arne Jacobsen
Explore timeless pieces that have earned their place in history.
Arne Jacobsen Series 7 Chair
Arne Jacobsen Series 7 Chair
Arne Jacobsen Egg Chair
Arne Jacobsen Egg Chair
Arne Jacobsen Swan Chair
Arne Jacobsen Swan Chair
Arne Jacobsen Oxford Chair
Arne Jacobsen Oxford Chair
Up to 8 Arne Jacobsen Triangular Candle Holders by Stelton Denmark, 1960s
By Stelton, Arne Jacobsen
Located in Vienna, AT
Up to 8 identical curved Mid century Danish modern candle holders / candlesticks from the 1960s. Designed by Arne Jacobsen, executed by Ste...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Arne Jacobsen

Materials

Stainless Steel

Arne Jacobsen and Cylinda Line Champagne Ice Bucket
By Arne Jacobsen
Located in Chicago, IL
Arne Jacobsen’s original AJ wine cooler/ice bucket was designed in 1969 as part of his Cylinda-Line. The simple cylindrical shape in stainless steel makes for a striking silhouette i...
Category

1960s Danish Modern Vintage Arne Jacobsen

Materials

Stainless Steel

Ant Chair, Model 3101, in Light Wood, by Arne Jacobsen, 1950s
By Arne Jacobsen, Fritz Hansen
Located in Lejre, DK
Ant chair, model 3101, in light wood, designed by Arne Jacobsen in 1952 and manufactured by Fritz Hansen from the 1950s. A chair of very high quality. Before shipping we can refinish...
Category

1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Arne Jacobsen

Materials

Metal

Arne Jacobsen Brass Door Handle Sets in Solid Brass
By Arne Jacobsen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Arne Jacobsen - Scandinavian Modern Original, solid brass door handles. Beautiful organic shape. An iconic design for both modern and classic interiors. Designed for the SAS H...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Arne Jacobsen

Materials

Brass

Arne Jacobsen Door Handles in Solid Brass
By Arne Jacobsen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
ARNE JACOBSEN - SCANDINAVIAN MODERN Beautiful and sculptural door handles (9.7cm) in solid brass by Arne Jacobsen. Designed for SAS Royal...
Category

Mid-20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Arne Jacobsen

Materials

Brass

Arne Jacobsen Door Handles in Solid Brass
Arne Jacobsen Door Handles in Solid Brass
H 1.58 in W 7.88 in D 3.82 in
Series 7 Chairs by Arne Jacobsen for Fritz Hansen
By Arne Jacobsen, Fritz Hansen
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Iconic, Scandinavian Modern, Series 7, model 3107 chairs by Arne Jacobsen for Fritz Hansen. Perfect for dining or office/desk use. 6 stackable chairs ...
Category

Late 20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Arne Jacobsen

Materials

Steel

Arne Jacobsen Model 3173c Oxford Classic
By Fritz Hansen, Arne Jacobsen
Located in Berkeley, CA
The original version of the Oxford chair was designed for the professors at St. Catherine’s College in Oxford. The chair’s extra tall back served as a symbol of prestige and created a space of its own. The “professor’s chair...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Arne Jacobsen

Materials

Oak

Arne Jacobsen Model 3173c Oxford Classic
Arne Jacobsen Model 3173c Oxford Classic
H 40.9 in W 23.6 in D 19.6 in
1965 Danish Arne Jacobsen Saint Catherines Desk in Oak by Fritz Hansen
By Arne Jacobsen, Fritz Hansen
Located in Knebel, DK
Danish Arne Jacobsen Saint Catherines Desk in Oak by Fritz Hansen The desks are marked with a Fritz Hansen label from July 1965 and have...
Category

1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Arne Jacobsen

Materials

Oak

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Creators Similar to Arne Jacobsen

More Arne Jacobsen Designs
Arne Jacobsen Series 7 Chair
Arne Jacobsen Series 7 Chair
Average Price
$2,172
Number Available
80
Arne Jacobsen Series 7 Chair
By Arne Jacobsen
Materials
Metal, Wood, Animal Skin, Leather
Styles
Mid Century Modern, Scandinavian Modern
The celebrated Model 3107, or Series 7, chair showcases Arne Jacobsen’s (1902–71) trademark understatement and interplay between form and functionality. Part of a seductive foray into minimalism for the modernist Danish architect and designer, the Series 7’s seat and backrest were produced from a single piece of bent plywood in 1955 for manufacturer Fritz Hansen. The lean, stackable chair updates Jacobsen’s simple and spare 1952 Ant chair to a broader base while retaining its revolutionary co...
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Arne Jacobsen Egg Chair
Arne Jacobsen Egg Chair
Average Price
$12,260
Number Available
54
Arne Jacobsen Egg Chair
By Arne Jacobsen
Materials
Metal, Animal Skin, Leather, Aluminum, Fabric
Styles
Scandinavian Modern, Mid Century Modern
Designed in 1958 for the SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen, the Egg chair is a Scandinavian classic that has over the years become a fixture of corporate offices. It bears every mark of Arne Jacobsen's outsized perfectionism, for which the Danish architect was widely known.  The Egg chair was notable for its overtly organic appearance, which Jacobsen (1902–71) achieved with craft-based padding and upholstery finishing. Unlike the furniture maker’s previous range of shell chairs designed in lamina...
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Arne Jacobsen Swan Chair
Arne Jacobsen Swan Chair
Average Price
$6,488
Number Available
26
Arne Jacobsen Swan Chair
By Arne Jacobsen
Materials
Metal, Aluminum, Fabric, Animal Skin, Leather
Styles
Scandinavian Modern, Mid Century Modern
In 1958, during the golden age of air travel, Scandinavian Airline Systems tapped Arne Jacobsen (1902–71), then a notable architect both in his native Denmark and beyond, to design its SAS Royal Hotel. The 22-story building would become Copenhagen’s first skyscraper, and its interiors constitute a monument to modern design and mid-century air travel. The project became a crowning achievement for Jacobsen, who, in conceiving its architecture, interiors and furnishings — which included the eleg...
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Arne Jacobsen Oxford Chair
Arne Jacobsen Oxford Chair
Average Price
$5,824
Number Available
24
Arne Jacobsen Oxford Chair
By Arne Jacobsen
Materials
Metal, Animal Skin, Leather, Aluminum, Fabric
Styles
Scandinavian Modern, Mid Century Modern
Characterized by clean lines and an application of ergonomics, the Oxford chairs in the banquet hall at Oxford University’s St. Catherine’s College suggest style and prestige, and the professors who sit in them wouldn’t have it any other way. Celebrated Danish architect Arne Jacobsen (1902–71) created the graceful high-backed chair as part of his 1960 architectural commission to design the campus. Not unlike the work he had just completed at the SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen, Jacobsen’s moder...
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Arne Jacobsen furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Arne Jacobsen furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Arne Jacobsen furniture, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 156 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 207 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original furniture by Arne Jacobsen were created in the mid-century modern style in europe during the 21st century and contemporary. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Fritz Hansen, Børge Mogensen, and Kai Kristiansen. Prices for Arne Jacobsen furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $175 and can go as high as $34,000, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $2,095.
Questions About Arne Jacobsen
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Arne Jacobsen was a Danish artist and architect who lived from 1902 to 1971. His style has become synonymous with Danish modernism, and he is particularly well known for his curvy chairs that include the Series 7, the Egg and the Swan. You'll find a collection of Arne Jacobsen furniture on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    The American pronunciation of Arne Jacobsen is "Aarn JAY-kub-sin," but as the artist's name is Danish, it is pronounced “AR-nee YAK-ob-sen” in his native language. He was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, on February 11, 1902, and graduated from the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in the city. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of Arne Jacobsen furniture.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Arne Jacobsen was a renowned furniture designer and architect who is most frequently associated with his iconic Egg Chair, although his Swan and Ant Chairs were also quite popular. His avant-garde pieces were eye-catching and a little bit shocking, but also very functional. Shop a collection of Jacobsen furniture designs from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Many things inspired the work of Arne Jacobsen. The Danish designer and architect often looked to elements of nature, particularly the garden behind his home. In addition, other architects and designers like Mies van der Rohe, Le Corbusier and Walter Gropius influenced his work. Find a collection of Arne Jacobsen furniture on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Arne Jacobsen became famous by designing austere, minimalist buildings and producing furniture specifically to decorate them. An example is the SAS Royal Copenhagen Hotel in Copenhagen, Denmark. Not only did he design the building, he also created his well-known Drop, Egg and Swan chairs to decorate it. On 1stDibs, find a variety of Arne Jacobsen furniture.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2023
    The original Egg chair was designed by Arne Jacobsen for the SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen in 1958. It was notable for its overtly organic appearance, which Jacobsen achieved with craft-based padding and upholstery finishing. With the Egg chair, Jacobsen continued his ongoing experimentation with synthetic materials. First, he devised small-scale clay models in his garage. The prototypes' finished shells were made of fiberglass-reinforced polyurethane foam, padded with cast latex foam rubber and then upholstered with leather — or, in the cost-conscious hotel’s case, fabric. Today, the Egg chair is supported by welded steel tubing and is mounted on a lightweight aluminum base. Shop a selection of vintage Egg chairs on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Arne Jacobsen designed many buildings over the course of his lifetime. Some of his well-known buildings include the campus of St. Catherine’s College in Oxford, United Kingdom, and the SAS Royal Copenhagen Hotel in Copenhagen, Denmark. On 1stDibs, find a selection of Arne Jacobsen furniture.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Arne Jacobsen clocks are now made in Denmark. They have been manufactured in a range of other countries in the past, but now have returned to production in Denmark, where the architect and furniture designer was born. Browse through a collection of Arne Jacobsen clocks from top sellers on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    How you set an Arne Jacobsen alarm clock depends on the model. Many of the clocks feature two knobs on the back. One sets the time, and the other controls the alarm. New clocks designed under the Arne Jacobsen name come with instructions that can guide you through the process. You'll find a range of Arne Jacobsen clocks on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    The bases of Arne Jacobsen chairs are mounted in different ways. In some pieces, artisans bolt or screw the base into the seat. Other designs have a pedestal base driven into a hole on the seat bottom with a mallet. On 1stDibs, shop a selection of Arne Jacobsen chairs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 17, 2023
    Arne Jacobsen made the Egg chair for the SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1958. The curvy chair was meant to contrast with the SAS Royal Hotel’s straight lines as well as showcase Jacobsen’s eye for interiors. The Egg chair was notable for its overtly organic appearance, which Jacobsen achieved with craft-based padding and upholstery finishing. On 1stDibs, shop a selection of vintage Egg chairs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    To program an Arne Jacobsen Roman table clock, remove the back of the clock and locate the two knobs found on the back of the clear case. Turn one knob to change the time and the other to set the alarm. Shop a range of Arne Jacobsen clocks on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    The best way to tell if an Arne Jacobsen chair is real is to look for the label. On designs made before 2006, the label appears on the base of the chair. The designs varied over the years, but usually say "Made in Denmark by Fritzhansen." Chairs made after 2006 usually feature a sewn-on label along the fabric on the bottom of the seat. The label typically says "Republic of Fritz Hansen." Shop a collection of expertly vetted Arne Jacobsen chairs on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Whether an Arne Jacobsen Egg chair supports the back adequately is largely a matter of personal perception. Jacobsen did design the chair's ergonomic, dramatic curves to correspond to the contours of the human body in order to deliver a comfortable seating experience. On 1stDibs, find a selection of Arne Jacobsen Egg chairs.

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