Egg Chair and Ottoman
Design Date 1957–1958
Designer Arne Jacobsen (1902–1971, Danish)
Manufacturer Fritz Hansen (1872–present), Allerod, Denmark
Media fiberglass, aluminum and cloth upholstery
Dimensions chair 42 x 33 3/4 x 37 1/2 inches; ottoman 16 3/4 x 21 1/4 x 15 1/4 inches
Arne Jacobsen was a leading International Style architect, though some of his designs are categorized as Modern, such as this chair. The Scandinavian Airlines System hired Jacobsen to design their Royal Hotel and Air Terminal, built 1956 to 1960 in Copenhagen, Denmark—his most influential commission. He also designed all of the utilitarian objects (cutlery, ashtrays) and the furnishings for the project including this chair. For the Egg Chair, Jacobsen reworked the classic wing chair, adding enveloping and organic curves forming the shape of an egg out of molded fiberglass and foam-rubber. The Egg Chair caused difficulties in manufacturing because it required new hand-upholstering methods and precise execution to fit the fabric or leather upholstery to the unusual shape.
Not currently on view
Markings Silver label on ottoman, "Made in Denmark 0964 by Fritz Hansen"
Credit Line Collection Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art
Accession Number 2004.0094-95
