Most ADSactly readers will know me as the resident foodie. That is not my only passion, and it may surprise you to know that my day job is an antique furniture trader. With this sort of job, comes many special pieces of furniture, some magnificent and old, some really strange, and some just plain wondrous.
Have you ever looked into really expensive and/or designer stores, and thought to yourself, "Who would ever buy that for that price?" Well, folks, I bought and sold one of those crazy pieces last week. I think, for a collector, or anyone who is design obsessed, it's an understandable purchase.
The item in question is an Egg chair, designed by Arne Jacobsen. Arne Jacobsen was one of the pioneers of Danish mid-century modern design, and changed the way the world looked at furniture design
Danish Design
If you don't know much about Danish Minimalism/Mid-Century Modern, allow me to give you a quick crash course.
Danish design favoured functionality. Around the mid 1940's through to the early 1950's, just after the War, and inspired by modern design trends such as Bauhaus, Danish Design became very popular. Resources were low after the war, and functionality became very important.
Popular Elements of Danish Design
Popular elements of Danish design include the usage of wood, steel, leather, and later, plastic. Oak, teak and rosewood were commonly used, and smooth, free flowing lines were common.
Jacobsen and Other Pioneers of the Movement
Arne Jacobsen, Kaare Klint and my personal favorite, Hans Wegener were some of the most well known designers in the movement.
Arne Jacobsen was famous for his beautiful simple lines, and the influences of Swiss-French designer Le Corbursier, and German-American architect Mies Van Der Rohe and Frank Lloyd Wright (pioneers of the Bauhaus movement) are very apparent through out his designs.
Jacobsen, The Egg Chair and The SAS Royal Hotel
Jacobsen, who designed the Egg Chair I sold, famously built the SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen, now the Radisson Royal Hotel. The SAS Hotel is known as "the world's first designer hotel" 1. His now famous Egg and Ant chairs were designed for the hotel especially and were revolutionary back in the sixties. Jacobsen was considered a visionary in his field at the time, as he understood the appeal of a fully designed, all in one experience. His vision stretched all the way from the then very modern stainless steel cutlery, to the door knobs, the spiral staircase, the very futuristic furniture and the building itself.
The hotel has since been redeisgned, of course keeping Jacobsen's original designs in mindRoom 606 is the only room remaining in Jacobsen's original style, and one can still stay there! I would love to do this. In the image below the original green fabric is used, and the now iconic Egg chair is prominent.
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Why Was I So Excited to Buy and Sell The Egg Chair
I was extremely thrilled to see this chair on a recent auction here. I have actually never seen my boss so excited as when he saw it. We were both shouting (in a refined manner teehee) about how we HAD to have it!
It was very different for it's time, with it's smooth lines and stream lined curves, and really is a special collector's piece. We have had a few designer chandeliers, a designer coffee table by Willy Rizzo (a '60's designer) but never a piece by one of the great masters of furniture design.
We bought it on a Wednesday, and sold it the very next day! Gone, baby, gone!
Please let me know if you found this interesting - I would love to write some more about furniture and design for you!
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