Set of Six Midcentury Arne Jacobsen for Fritz Hansen Swivel Chairs

About the Item
- Creator:Fritz Hansen (Designer),Arne Jacobsen (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 50.5 in (128.27 cm)Width: 18 in (45.72 cm)Depth: 20 in (50.8 cm)Seat Height: 18 in (45.72 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 6
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1970s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Minor fading. age-appropriate wear, oxidation on legs, tears on chairs, re-upholstery recommended.
- Seller Location:Brooklyn, NY
- Reference Number:
Fritz Hansen
When the Copenhagen-based furniture maker Fritz Hansen opened for business more than 140 years ago, the company — which today styles itself The Republic of Fritz Hansen — adhered to the traditional, time-honored Danish values of craftsmanship in woodworking and joinery. Yet thanks to the postwar innovations of Arne Jacobsen and others, Fritz Hansen would become the country’s leader in Scandinavian modern design using new, forward-looking materials and methods.
Fritz Hansen started his company in 1872, specializing in the manufacture of small furniture parts. In 1915, the firm became the first in Denmark to make chairs using steam-bent wood (a technique most familiar from birch used in the ubiquitous café chairs by Austrian maker Thonet). At the time, Fritz Hansen was best known for seating that featured curved legs and curlicue splats and referenced 18th-century Chippendale designs.
In the next few decades, the company promoted simple, plain chairs with slatted backs and cane or rush seats designed by such proto-modernist masters as Kaare Klint and Søren Hansen. Still, the most aesthetically striking piece Fritz Hansen produced in the first half of the 20th century was arguably the China chair of 1944 by Hans Wegner — and that piece, with its yoke-shaped bentwood back- and armrest, was based on seating manufactured in China during the Ming dynasty. (Wegner was moved by portraits he’d seen of Danish merchants in the Chinese chairs.)
Everything changed in 1952 with Arne Jacobsen’s Ant chair. The collaboration between the architect and Fritz Hansen officially originated in 1934 — that year, Jacobsen created his inaugural piece for the manufacturer, the solid beechwood Bellevue chair for a restaurant commission. The Ant chair, however, was the breakthrough.
With assistance from his then-apprentice Verner Panton, Jacobsen designed the Ant chair for the cafeteria of a Danish healthcare company called Novo Nordisk. The chair was composed of a seat and backrest formed from a single piece of molded plywood attached, in its original iteration, to three tubular metal legs. Its silhouette suggests the shape of the insect’s body, and the lightweight, stackable chair and its biomorphic form became an international hit.
Jacobsen followed with more plywood successes, such as the Grand Prix chair of 1957. The following year he designed the SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen and its furnishings, including the Egg chair and the Swan chair. Those two upholstered pieces, with their lush, organic frames made of fiberglass-reinforced polyurethane, have become the two chairs most emblematic of mid-20th-century cool. Moreover, the Egg and Swan led Fritz Hansen to fully embrace new man-made materials, like foam, plastic and steel wire used to realize the avant-garde creations of later generations of designers with whom the firm collaborated, such as Piet Hein, Jørn Utzon (the architect of the Sydney Opera House) and Verner Panton. If the Fritz Hansen of 1872 would not now recognize his company, today’s connoisseurs certainly do.
Find a collection of vintage Fritz Hansen tables, lounge chairs, sofas and other furniture on 1stDibs.
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.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Brooklyn, NY
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 2 days of delivery.
- 3 Arne Jacobsen "Series 7" Desk Chairs by Fritz HansenBy Fritz Hansen, Arne JacobsenLocated in Brooklyn, NYGive your office space a mid-century spin with these classic Arne Jacobsen desk chairs by Fritz Hansen. An icon of Danish Modern design, the u...Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
MaterialsMetal, Chrome
- Mid-Century Modern Fritz Hansen Swivel Office ChairBy Fritz HansenLocated in Brooklyn, NYThis stunning vintage modern desk chair boasts a tag underneath with the date 1980 and designer name, "Fritz Hansen." A lovely Danish design ...Category
Vintage 1970s Mid-Century Modern Swivel Chairs
MaterialsChrome
- Six Star Series Rosewood Table by Arne Jacobsen for Fritz HansenBy Fritz Hansen, Arne JacobsenLocated in Brooklyn, NYMid-Century Modern round rosewood dining table with black metal star base. (Please confirm item location - NY or NJ - with dealer).Category
Vintage 1960s Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
MaterialsRosewood
- Midcentury Swiveling Swan Chair after Arne JacobsenBy Arne JacobsenLocated in Brooklyn, NYStylish midcentury swiveling chair styled after Arne Jacobsen's "Swan Chair". Nice addition to any modern interior. Please confirm item location with dealer (NJ or NY).Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsMetal
- Oxford High Back Swivel Lounge Chair by Fritz HansenBy Fritz Hansen, Arne JacobsenLocated in Brooklyn, NYThis stunning high back slipper chair was originally designed for professors at St. Catherines College in Oxford. A sleek design with a high curvy backrest ensuring maximum comfort. ...Category
20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Swivel Chairs
MaterialsChrome
- Swivel Lounge Chair With Ottoman after Arne JacobsenBy Arne JacobsenLocated in Brooklyn, NYThis uniquely shaped Mid-Century Modern style lounge chair features upholstered vinyl swivel chair paired with matching ottoman. Uniquely sculpted i...Category
Late 20th Century Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
- Eight 1960s High Back Oxford Chairs by Arne Jacobsen for Fritz HansenBy Fritz Hansen, Arne JacobsenLocated in Shepperton, SurreyA set of eight vintage 1960s high back Oxford chairs by Arne Jacobsen for Fritz Hansen. This classic modernist design was created in the earl...Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsSteel
- Pair of Arne Jacobsen for Fritz Hansen Set 'Oxford' ChairsBy Fritz Hansen, Arne JacobsenLocated in Waalwijk, NLArne Jacobsen for Fritz Hansen, set of eight 'Oxford' chairs, metal, yellow fabric, Denmark, design 1965. These classic executive office chairs feature a medium high back (as oppo...Category
Early 2000s Danish Scandinavian Modern Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
MaterialsMetal
- Arne Jacobsen for Fritz Hansen Set of Four 'Oxford' ChairsBy Fritz Hansen, Arne JacobsenLocated in Waalwijk, NLArne Jacobsen for Fritz Hansen, set of four 'Oxford' chairs, metal, yellow fabric, Denmark, design 1965, later production These classic executive office chairs feature a medium high...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
MaterialsMetal
- Arne Jacobsen Series 7 or 3107 Chairs by Fritz Hansen Mid Century Modern 1964By Fritz Hansen, Arne JacobsenLocated in London, GBA timeless icon of design this wonderful set of eight model #3107 (also known as the "Series-7") stacking dining chairs in black were designed by Arne Jacobsen for Fritz Hansen in 1955. This set are an early production model with a rarely seen registered and numbered metal CAP, April 1964. In the late 60’s Fritz Hansen then changed to the more commonly seen plastic stamped CAP. The CAP carries the Made in Denmark, the Danish Control FurnitureMakers emblem and the FH logo along with the year. This is important for collectors who are not looking to buy the more usual plastic CAP chairs you find on later production models. This highly practical early set of 8 dining side chairs...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsChrome, Stainless Steel
- Arne Jacobsen for Fritz Hansen 'Oxford' Desk ChairsBy Fritz Hansen, Arne JacobsenLocated in Waalwijk, NLArne Jacobsen for Fritz Hansen, pair of 'Oxford' desk chairs model 3272, aluminium, wood, fabric upholstery, United Kingdom, design 1965, recent production The original version of t...Category
Vintage 1960s British Mid-Century Modern Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
MaterialsAluminum
- Arne Jacobsen Oxford E1107 Pink Upholstered Swivel Chair for Fritz HansenBy Fritz Hansen, Arne JacobsenLocated in High Wycombe, GBArne Jacobsen (1902-1971) Oxford E1107 Pink Upholstered Swivel Chair for Fritz Hansen Made in Denmark 2002. Both have labels under the seat, there are two chairs in stock, price per chair. Height to seat 45cm Timeless office chair by Arne Jacobsen. The original version of the Oxford chair was designed for the professors at St Catherine’s College in Oxford. The tall back of the chair was a symbol of prestige and created a space of its own. Initially, there were protests over commissioning a foreign modernist, but on completion of the project, Jacobsen received an honorary doctorate from Oxford. This outstanding example of total design...Category
Early 2000s Danish Mid-Century Modern Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
MaterialsAluminum, Steel
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More

The 16 Most Popular Mid-Century Modern Chairs
You know the designs, now get the stories about to 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.