See more objects with the tag furniture, seating, plastic, chair, black.

Object Timeline

  • We acquired this object.

1957

  • Work on this object began.

2016

2025

  • You found it!

Swan Armchair Armhair

This is a armhair. It was designed by Arne Jacobsen and manufactured by Fritz Hansen Inc., Denmark. It is dated 1957. Its medium is leather, aluminum, plastic. It is a part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts department.

The furniture of Danish designer Arne Jacobsen illustrates the more individual and aesthetic character of Scandinavian design post-World War II. Jacobsen’s best-known designs for Fritz Hansen include the Ant chair, the Series 7 chair, the Egg chair, and the Swan chair. Like the Egg chair, the Swan chair relies on organic forms and provides a deep cavity to sit in, and wing-like projections. It invokes the psychology of comfort, as well as concerns for ergonomics. Beyond this, however, the Swan chair demonstrates the sculptural possibilities of modern industrial materials, such as aluminum and molded plastic. In this sense, Jacobsen’s designs represent the intersection of technology and art.
In addition to the Swan chair, Jacobsen also designed the Swan sofa. The two Swan designs, together with Jacobsen’s Egg chair, were used in his design for the SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen, for which Jacobsen was the architect. The chair permitted guests to spin on its swivel base, thereby becoming active participants in the busy hotel atmosphere. The Swan chair is now considered a quintessential symbol of Danish Modern design; it has been in continuous production since 1958.

This object was donated by George R. Kravis II. It is credited Gift of George R. Kravis II.

  • Model #3107 Chair
  • teak-veneered plywood, chrome-plated steel.
  • Gift of H. Mischel.
  • 2009-26-1-a,b

Our curators have highlighted 2 objects that are related to this one.

Its dimensions are

H x W x D: 76.2 × 76.2 × 66 cm (30 × 30 × 26 in.)

It has the following markings

Cast in base: FH Made in Denmark 520020

Cite this object as

Swan Armchair Armhair; Designed by Arne Jacobsen (Danish, 1902 – 1971); Manufactured by Fritz Hansen Inc., Denmark (Denmark); leather, aluminum, plastic; H x W x D: 76.2 × 76.2 × 66 cm (30 × 30 × 26 in.); Gift of George R. Kravis II; 2018-22-67

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition Energizing the Everyday: Gifts From the George R. Kravis II Collection.

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If you would like to cite this object in a Wikipedia article please use the following template:

<ref name=CH>{{cite web |url=https://www-6.collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/404734471/ |title=Swan Armchair Armhair |author=Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |accessdate=20 March 2025 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution}}</ref>