We don’t talk much about Danish Modern design here on the Swank Lighting blog, and that’s a darn shame. This style of furniture, architecture and interiors is gorgeous and has played a huge role in shaping other styles around the world, especially American Modernism. Today we bring you the work of Arne Jacobsen, one of the leading Danish designers of his time and a big hit in today’s homes still.
Like many other important designers, Arne was well known for being involved in every aspect of his design projects. Trained in architecture, he worked both as an architect and a furniture designer, but he is overwhelmingly famous for his furniture designs, which many consider to be some of the most important furniture designs of the century.
Born in 1902 in Copenhagen, he spent some time as a stonemason before studying architecture at the Kongelige Danske Kunstakademie in Copenhagen until the year 1927. Next up for Jacobsen was a stint in the architecture office of architect Paul Holsoe. It didn’t take long for Jacobsen to open his own practice though, and he soon began one in Hellerup in 1929.
Even when he was in school, he was winning awards for his furniture design. Many of his designs, with easy to remember names, have since become iconic. In 1952 he created the Ant Chair, with its signature “pinched” back resembling an ant, and able to stack, making it quite functional. In 1958 he designed the Swan Chair, which was a soft and organically shaped chair. That same year he came out with the Egg Chair, with its soft frame, high back and decidedly egg-shaped seating space. The next year saw the Pot Chair, which was a low-backed and circular shaped seat and the Giraffe Chair, which had a long, narrowing back and a very graceful shape. His most iconic seat, though, was his Model 3107 chair, also known as the Number 7 Chair. With a simple, stacking shape, the Number 7 chair takes its name from the simple curves of the back.
While you still see Jacobsen’s furniture in today’s interiors, Jacobsen did contribute to the architecture world as well, perhaps known for the Radisson SAS Hotel in Copenhagen. So ensconced with design Jacobsen had a say in everything in the interior, from curtains, to cutlery to even the ashtrays. Often called futuristic, and ahead of his time, his designs not only helped usher in the International Style and modernism into America, they were even featured in movies about the future, like
2001 A Space Odyssey. Simple, organic but extremely relevant, Jacobsen’s high quality work is well-deserving of its iconic status.
Like many other important designers, Arne was well known for being involved in every aspect of his design projects. Trained in architecture, he worked both as an architect and a furniture designer, but he is overwhelmingly famous for his furniture designs, which many consider to be some of the most important furniture designs of the century.
Born in 1902 in Copenhagen, he spent some time as a stonemason before studying architecture at the Kongelige Danske Kunstakademie in Copenhagen until the year 1927. Next up for Jacobsen was a stint in the architecture office of architect Paul Holsoe. It didn’t take long for Jacobsen to open his own practice though, and he soon began one in Hellerup in 1929.
Even when he was in school, he was winning awards for his furniture design. Many of his designs, with easy to remember names, have since become iconic. In 1952 he created the Ant Chair, with its signature “pinched” back resembling an ant, and able to stack, making it quite functional. In 1958 he designed the Swan Chair, which was a soft and organically shaped chair. That same year he came out with the Egg Chair, with its soft frame, high back and decidedly egg-shaped seating space. The next year saw the Pot Chair, which was a low-backed and circular shaped seat and the Giraffe Chair, which had a long, narrowing back and a very graceful shape. His most iconic seat, though, was his Model 3107 chair, also known as the Number 7 Chair. With a simple, stacking shape, the Number 7 chair takes its name from the simple curves of the back.
While you still see Jacobsen’s furniture in today’s interiors, Jacobsen did contribute to the architecture world as well, perhaps known for the Radisson SAS Hotel in Copenhagen. So ensconced with design Jacobsen had a say in everything in the interior, from curtains, to cutlery to even the ashtrays. Often called futuristic, and ahead of his time, his designs not only helped usher in the International Style and modernism into America, they were even featured in movies about the future, like 2001 A Space Odyssey. Simple, organic but extremely relevant, Jacobsen’s high quality work is well-deserving of its iconic status. 
