Arne Jacobsen - Disruptors: Evening Sale of 20th Century & Contemporary Art, Design and Watches Hong Kong Thursday, May 25, 2023 | Phillips

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  • Provenance

    Sotheby's, London, '1000 Ways of Seeing: The Private Collection of the late Stanley J. Seeger', 5 March, 2014, lot 914
    Acquired from the above by the present owner

  • Literature

    Erik Lassen, ed., The Arts of Denmark: Viking to Modern, exh. cat., The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1960, p. 125
    Poul Erik Tøjner and Kjeld Vindum, Arne Jacobsen, Arkitekt & Designer, Copenhagen, 1999, pp. 68-69
    Carsten Thau and Kjeld Vindum, Arne Jacobsen, Copenhagen, 2001, pp. 154, 158-59, 433-35, 438-39, 471-72

  • Catalogue Essay

    Arne Jacobsen’s 'Egg' chair is one of the most iconic chairs of the 20th century. The elegant model was designed in 1958 for the lobby of the SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen. Jacobsen was commissioned with designing all aspects of the hotel and oversaw the creation of every detail, from the walls to the furnishings as well as cutlery, ashtrays, and lighting.

    Jacobsen saw this project as an opportunity to implement his belief of harmonising furniture and architectural design. The ‘Egg’ chair, which has become a globally recognised design classic, was the most remarkable element of the hotel's furnishings. Its form defied conventional designs with a curved shape that Jacobsen produced by constructing the inner structure out of foam, which was then upholstered in leather. Jacobsen had experimented with this process with clay to perfect the chair's profile before switching to sculpting it in foam.

    The chair’s playful name is derived from its distinctive egg-shaped outline composed of a smooth, rounded oval shell with a winged back that nestles the sitter. It is designed to be both comfortable and functional, with a swivelling star-shaped aluminium base that allows the chair's position to be adjusted. The sinuous design of the chair was designed in contrast to the hotel's straight horizontal and vertical lines, which gave the 22-storey building a distinctive look. The accompanying ottoman is designed to perfectly complement the chair and is also made from high-quality leather and aluminium, providing a relaxing and stylish place to rest one’s feet.

    Arne Jacobsen was born in Copenhagen in 1902 and studied architecture at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. He worked as an architect and designer throughout his career and was responsible for many important and influential buildings and designs. Jacobsen's work was heavily influenced by the modernist movement, which emphasised simplicity and functionality without compromising on style.

361

'Egg' chair model no. 3316 and later ottoman, model no. 3127

leather, aluminum.
chair: 106 x 82 x 85 cm. (41 3/4 x 32 1/4 x 33 1/2 in.)
ottoman: 40.5 x 56 x 40 cm. (15 7/8 x 22 x 15 3/4 in.)

Designed 1958. Manufactured by Fritz Hansen, Copenhagen, Denmark and The Republic of Fritz Hansen, Poland. Underside of chair stamped with manufacturer's mark FH twice and with MADE IN DENMARK. Underside of ottoman with label printed REPUBLIC OF FRITZ HANSEN/DESIGN: ARNE JACOBSEN/DESIGNED IN DENMARK/MADE IN POLAND 2016.

Estimate
HK$30,000 - 50,000 
€3,500-5,900
$3,800-6,400

Sold for HK$35,560

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Anastasia Salnikoff
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+852 2318 2014
anastasiasalnikoff@phillips.com
 

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+852 2318 2001
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Disruptors: Evening Sale of 20th Century & Contemporary Art, Design and Watches

Hong Kong Auction 25 May 2023