Sunday, March 27, 2011

Arne Jacobsen

Arne Jacobsen (1902-1971) was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, and studied architecture at the Arts and Crafts Academy of Copenhagen. Upon graduating in 1927, he opened his own office. While his early work was influenced by Le Corbusier, Mies van der Rohe and Gunnar Asplund, he was firmly a part of the more organic modern movement by the 1950s. Charles Eames' s DCW inspired one of Jacobsen´s Ant chair (1952), which was ideally suited for mass production.

Jacobsen insisted on complete control of his projects, designing buildings and interiors that were beautifully cohesive, often designing the structures themselves, as well as the furniture, lighting, textiles and even the restaurant flatware.

His well-known Swan chair (1958) was designed for just such a project, the S.A.S. Royal Hotel in Copenhagen. Other famous works include the Egg chair (1958) and his 1957 flatware for A. Michelsen, which was considered so futuristic that it appeared in Stanley Kubrick´s film 2001: A Space Odyssey. 

Honors and awards received by Jacobsen include the grand prize at the 1957 Triennale di Milano, the 1960 Grande Prix Internationale, the 1969 Industrial Design Prize, and the 1971 gold medal from the French Academy of Architecture. He designed for Fritz Hansen, Louis Poulsen, Vola, Stelton and Michelsen, among others.

From lostcityarts.com

Arne Jacobsen. Table. Unknown
Table
moma.org

Flora vase
georgjensenstore.com

Egg chair
tredir.com
Swan chair
takesunset.com
Centennium Vinkler fabric
edition20.com
Ant chair
edition20.com
Grand Prix chair
thescandanaviangroup.com
Flatware for A. Michelsen
worthpoint.com
Gran curtain fabric
edition20.com

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4 comments:

  1. DearHelenHartmanMarch 27, 2011 at 8:04 AM

    Egg chairs are so cool, thanks for the 'story behind the egg'.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Dana@Mid2ModMarch 27, 2011 at 10:07 AM

    The Swan and Egg truly are iconic, sometimes to the point of seeming cliche', but from time to time, I take a look at them and realize how gorgeous they truly are and how fresh and new they were in 1958. Millions of owners can't be wrong.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Noelle at Gray Paint DecorMarch 28, 2011 at 12:54 AM

    I couldn't agree more with that, Dana. Great design will transcend trends. Great post.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Rhan VintageMarch 29, 2011 at 10:36 AM

    I've always had a thing for the Egg chair. It's so space age....even today!

    ReplyDelete