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.
Unique Arne Jacobsen 250x375cm 1957 reversible rug
By Arne Jacobsen
Located in Forest, BE
This is a rare find woollen rug by Danish master architect Arne Jacobsen. The impressive 375x250cm makes the difference. Stunning colours made to be reversed from the beige side to t...
Wool
Mathias Hahn 'Capas 2' Kilim Rug 250x350 cm for Nanimarquina
By Nanimarquina
Located in Tilburg, NL
Mathias Hahn 'Capas 2' Kilim Rug for Nanimarquina. Current production, Spain. By using layers, Mathias Han manages to create a variety of tonalities, textures and shades. This is a ...
Wool
$4,499 / item
W 98.43 in L 137.8 in
Nani Marquina & Elisa Padrón 'Tres' Outdoor Rug in Ochre 250x350cm
By Nani Marquina & Elisa Padrón, Nani Marquina
Located in Tilburg, NL
Nani Marquina & Elisa Padrón 'Tres' Outdoor Rug. Current production, Spain. Tres Outdoor aims to transfer the warmth of the iconic Tres collection to the outdoor world. Made ...
Plastic
$4,499 / item
W 98.43 in L 137.8 in
Nani Marquina & Elisa Padrón 'Tres' Outdoor Rug in Pearl 250x350cm
By Nani Marquina & Elisa Padrón, Nani Marquina
Located in Tilburg, NL
Nani Marquina & Elisa Padrón 'Tres' Outdoor rug. Current production, Spain. Measures: 250x350cm Tres Outdoor aims to transfer the warmth of the iconic Tres collection to the o...
Plastic
$4,499 / item
W 98.43 in L 137.8 in
Nani Marquina & Elisa Padrón 'Tres' Outdoor Rug in Green 250x350cm
By Nani Marquina & Elisa Padrón, Nani Marquina
Located in Tilburg, NL
Nani Marquina & Elisa Padrón 'Tres' Outdoor Rug. Current production, Spain. Measures: 250x350cm. Tres Outdoor aims to transfer the warmth of the iconic Tres collection to the ...
Plastic
$5,430 / item
W 78.75 in L 118.12 in
Ronan Bouroullec 'Doblecara 1' Reversible Rug 200 x 300 cm for Nanimarquina
By Nanimarquina, Ronan Bouroullec
Located in Tilburg, NL
Ronan Bouroullec 'Doblecara 1' Reversible Rug for Nanimarquina. New, current production. Doblecara, designed by Ronan Bouroullec, reflects his spirit of geometry through subtle line...
Wool
$4,499 / item
W 98.43 in L 137.8 in
Nani Marquina & Elisa Padrón 'Tres' Outdoor Rug in Chocolat 250x350cm
By Nani Marquina & Elisa Padrón, Nani Marquina
Located in Tilburg, NL
Nani Marquina & Elisa Padrón 'Tres' Outdoor Rug. Current production, Spain. Measures: 250x350cm Tres Outdoor aims to transfer the warmth of the iconic Tres collection to the o...
Plastic
$4,499 / item
W 98.43 in L 137.8 in
Nani Marquina & Elisa Padrón 'Tres' Outdoor Rug in Black 250x350cm
By Nani Marquina & Elisa Padrón, Nani Marquina
Located in Tilburg, NL
Nani Marquina & Elisa Padrón 'Tres' Outdoor Rug. Current production, Spain. Measures: 250x350cm. Tres Outdoor aims to transfer the warmth of the iconic Tres collection to the ...
Plastic
Mathias Hahn 'Capas 1' Kilim Rug 250x350 cm for Nanimarquina
By Nanimarquina
Located in Tilburg, NL
Mathias Hahn 'Capas 1' Kilim Rug for Nanimarquina. Current production, Spain. By using layers, Mathias Han manages to create a variety of tonalities, textures and shades. This is a ...
Wool
Mathias Hahn 'Capas 4' Kilim Rug 250x350 cm for Nanimarquina
By Nanimarquina
Located in Tilburg, NL
Mathias Hahn 'Capas 4' Kilim Rug for Nanimarquina. Current production, Spain. By using layers, Mathias Han manages to create a variety of tonalities, textures and shades. This is a ...
Wool
$3,693 / item
W 66.93 in L 94.49 in
Ronan Bouroullec 'Doblecara 1' Reversible Rug 170 x 240 cm for Nanimarquina
By Nanimarquina, Ronan Bouroullec
Located in Tilburg, NL
Ronan Bouroullec 'Doblecara 1' Reversible Rug for Nanimarquina. New, current production. Doblecara, designed by Ronan Bouroullec, reflects his spirit of geometry through subtle line...
Wool
$10,860 / item
W 118.12 in L 157.49 in
Ronan Bouroullec 'Doblecara 1' Reversible Rug 300 x 400 cm for Nanimarquina
By Ronan Bouroullec, Nanimarquina
Located in Tilburg, NL
Ronan Bouroullec 'Doblecara 1' Reversible Rug for Nanimarquina. New, current production. Doblecara, designed by Ronan Bouroullec, reflects his spirit of geometry through subtle line...
Wool
$7,920 / item
W 98.43 in L 137.8 in
Ronan Bouroullec 'Doblecara 1' Reversible Rug 250 x 350 cm for Nanimarquina
By Ronan Bouroullec, Nanimarquina
Located in Tilburg, NL
Ronan Bouroullec 'Doblecara 1' Reversible Rug for Nanimarquina. New, current production. Doblecara, designed by Ronan Bouroullec, reflects his spirit of geometry through subtle line...
Wool