Egg armchair by Arne Jacobsen for Fritz Hansen

• Arne Jacobsen’s Egg chair, model 3316, was produced by Fritz Hansen in 1958 for the SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen.
• Swivel aluminum base with tilting mechanism, upholstered in its original coral-red fabric. Edition 2013.
• Very good condition, swivels and tilts smoothly. Provenance: First owner for private use.
• H 107 x W 87 cm x D 79 cm
• Seat height 37 cm

Arne Jacobsen Egg Chair – history and design of the model

First presented in November 1958 at the Formes Scandinaves exhibition at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, the Egg chair was quickly added to the Danish manufacturer Fritz Hansen‘s catalog in January 1959, marking the model’s official entry into design history.

The very first version was upholstered in chocolate brown leather. Its shell was made of injection-molded polystyrene, cast in a single piece and then covered in foam. From the mid-1950s, Arne Jacobsen became interested in the possibilities offered by this innovative material, which opened new formal and technical perspectives for modern design. Over time, the chair underwent several evolutions: the introduction of new coverings, particularly textiles, sometimes offered in bright colors like red, as well as structural improvements to increase comfort. The aluminum base appeared in 1963 and was modified again in 1975, while the internal structure evolved toward fiberglass combined with polyurethane foam. Various mechanical elements and manufacturing details were also adjusted over the decades.

With its slender base, the chair gives the impression of floating in space when viewed from a distance. Although widely known as model No. 3317 or simply the “Egg,” its official name at Fritz Hansen has varied over time: initially referenced as number 3315 in 1958, then 3317, it finally adopted the designation 3316 in 1973.

The Egg chair was originally designed for the lobby of the SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen, which opened in July 1960. Arne Jacobsen was responsible for the entire interior design. The chair’s enveloping and entirely curved silhouette was conceived as a counterpoint to the strict, orthogonal lines of the hotel’s architecture. Swiveling on its base, the seat offers a 360° view of the vast lobby while providing a sense of privacy and comfort. The SAS Royal Hotel is also furnished with other iconic creations by the designer, such as the Drop chair and the Swan chair.

The Egg armchairs in the lobby, SAS Hotel, c. 1960.

A true icon of 20th-century design, the Egg chair is now part of the permanent collections of major institutions, including the Vitra Design Museum, cementing its status as a major piece of Scandinavian modernism.