​Interior Decorating Ideas with the Modern Egg Chair

Designed back in the fifties, the Egg Chair was a showstopper that truly defined its era. It cemented its brilliant creator’s reputation as one of the great designers of all time.

Six decades later, Arne Jacobsen’s iconic Egg Chair is still as popular as ever.Recently released in a natural leather hue with gold base, it’s beautifully suited to a contemporary aesthetic.

A Danish Masterpiece of its Time

The Egg chair was designed in 1958 by Danish architect and designer Arne Jacobsen and produced by Danish furniture company Fritz Hansen, which still manufactures it today.

It was originally created to furnish the foyer of the SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen, Denmark’s first skyscraper ever. The hotel was Jacobsen’s opus - a project for which he designed everything, from the outside in, including the lighting, door handles and even the cutlery.

While the building was a hard-edged, rectangular edifice, the Egg Chair was a curving organic form, designed to provide comfort and an element of privacy for the sitter in the otherwise public space of the hotel’s lobby.

Jacobsen used newly developed moulded foam to produce the seat’s inner shell, which he first sculpted in clay at his home. The unique shape, on its star-like swivel base, was era-defining and earned the chair the status of design icon.

Behind the Designer - Arne JacobsenArne Jacobsen is one of the most famous designers of the 20th century and one of the pioneers of modern Danish design. Born in Copenhagen in 1902, he studied architecture at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts.

From the 1930s, was a trailblazing architect, creating landmark buildings such as Aarhus City Hall and St Catherine’s College, Oxford. Nevertheless, he’s truly more famous for his chairs, including the Egg Chair, which championed functionality and new materials.

Despite a minimalist Scandinavian aesthetic, they were often inspired by nature. His first major success was the Ant Chair in 1952, followed by the Series 7 Chair in 1955. The Egg Chair, Swan Chair and Drop Chair all followed in 1958, designed for Copenhagen’s SAS Royal Hotel.

Ways to Style the Egg Chair

1. Retro Charm

Shown above is Arne Jacobsen's Egg Chair beautifully upholstered in bold striped Paul Smith fabric. About a decade ago, celebrated British designer Paul Smith produced the Egg Chair, Swan Chair and other Jacoben’s iconic pieces in Paul Smith fabrics.

Doesn't this image bring you way back to the decade of the groovy ‘70s with the chair upholstered in orange stripes and nostalgic brown?.

2. Neutral Color Scheme

The 60th anniversary edition of the Egg Chair against a blush pink wall

With its luxuriously soft natural leather upholstery and gold-plated aluminum stand, the 60th-anniversary edition of the icon couldn’t be more on trend.

Pair it with a leather and linen pouffe as it was beautifully done here, and matt heather walls for a modern update to the design classic.

3. Cozy Vintage

Arne Jacobsen's Egg Chair fits perfectly in this mid century style room. A vintage-style background complements the chair’s mid century shape beautifully.

Just try positioning the Jacobsen chair in front of bookshelves for a cosseting, library feel. A green background, with subtle splashes of colour, gives Jacobsen’s masterpiece a contemporary edge.

4. Calm Corner

This lovely calm corner of this contemporary home boasts an Egg Chair upholstered in warm colored leather against a white wall.

Sporting a cocooning shape and winged back, the Egg Chair was conceived as a place of refuge for its occupant. Make the most of this feature by pairing with a footstool to create a private reading nook.

We hope this info truly inspires you. As you can see, this Danish masterpiece may be featured in all types of interiors. Did you like these design ideas with the Egg Chair? Tell us! For an Arne Jacobsen Egg Chair visit Manhattan Home Design. Browse our extensive catalog!