Egg Chair 3316 in Black Leather & Chrome by Arne Jacobsen for Fritz Hansen, 1958

Model · Egg Chair 3316
Designer · Arne Jacobsen
Manufacturer · Fritz Hansen
Origin · Denmark
Period · 1958
Style · Scandinavian Modern / Danish Modern
Materials · Leather, moulded shell, chrome-plated steel
Colour · Black, chrome

Object

The Egg Chair is one of the defining objects of 20th-century Scandinavian design and perhaps Arne Jacobsen's most immediately recognisable piece of furniture.

Designed in 1958 for the SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen, the chair was conceived as part of a complete architectural interior. Jacobsen designed virtually every element of the hotel, from its façade and furniture to lighting, textiles and smaller details. The Egg emerged from this total-design approach as a sculptural counterpoint to the rational geometry of the building itself.

Its enveloping shell was radical for the period. Rather than assembling the chair from a conventional frame, backrest and arms, Jacobsen developed a continuous organic form that wraps around the body. The high sides create a sense of privacy, originally allowing hotel guests to retreat visually from the openness of the lobby.

The compact swivel base makes the substantial shell appear almost weightless, while the black leather emphasises every curve of its silhouette. From different angles, the chair shifts continuously between furniture and sculpture.

More than six decades after its introduction, the Egg remains remarkably difficult to separate from the image of Danish modernism itself. Its significance lies not only in its iconic shape, but in the way architecture, technology and human comfort were resolved into a single continuous form.

Designer

Arne Jacobsen (1902–1971) was one of Denmark's most influential architects and designers and a central figure in the development of Scandinavian modernism.

Educated at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen, Jacobsen approached furniture as part of architecture rather than as an isolated discipline. Buildings, interiors, furniture, lighting and objects were often developed simultaneously, creating remarkably coherent environments.

His work combined the rational principles of international modernism with an unusually sensitive understanding of proportion, material and the human body.

The SAS Royal Hotel became one of the clearest expressions of this philosophy. For the project, Jacobsen created several pieces that would become independent design icons, most famously the Egg and Swan chairs.

The Egg represents Jacobsen at his most sculptural. Its organic form departed dramatically from conventional chair construction while retaining the precision and functional discipline that characterised his architecture.

Manufacturer

Fritz Hansen was founded in Denmark in 1872 and became one of the most important manufacturers in the history of Scandinavian furniture.

The company's long collaboration with Arne Jacobsen produced some of the defining designs of the Danish modern movement. Fritz Hansen's expertise in experimental production allowed Jacobsen to develop increasingly ambitious furniture, from the moulded plywood Series 7 to the complex sculptural shell of the Egg.

Introduced in 1958, the Egg Chair became one of the most significant designs in the Fritz Hansen collection and remains closely associated with both the manufacturer and Jacobsen's architectural legacy.

This example retains its original Fritz Hansen manufacturer's label, confirming its provenance as an authentic production piece.

Condition

The original black leather upholstery is beautifully preserved and has developed a rich natural patina through age and use. Subtle variation across the surface gives the leather depth while retaining the chair's original character.

The metal swivel base remains in excellent original vintage condition, showing only light traces of use consistent with age.

The chair also retains its original Fritz Hansen manufacturer's label.

Overall, the Egg Chair is presented in excellent original vintage condition, with its materials, character and authenticity beautifully preserved.

Dimensions

Width · 86 cm / 33.9 in
Depth · 79 cm / 31.1 in
Height · 107 cm / 42.1 in
Seat height · 37 cm / 14.6 in

Included

The Egg Chair is accompanied by a Back to the Furniture Certificate of Originality, a Back to the Furniture flyer, a Thank You card and a small gift.

Availability

The Egg Chair is ready to ship within 15 business days.

Shipping

Worldwide shipping is available. Every piece is carefully prepared and packed for international transport. Shipping costs are calculated according to destination at checkout, with tracking provided after dispatch.

Enquiries

For questions about the piece, its condition, shipping, delivery or any other details, please get in touch. Additional information is always available before purchase.

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