Arne Jacobsen designed the Swan Chair in 1958 for the lobby and lounge areas of the SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen. Produced by Fritz Hansen, it formed part of an interior designed in close relation to the building. Its low back and widening arms define an open seat whose outline remains visible from several directions.
The upper form is organized as a continuous series of curves. The arms rise gently from the seat and sweep back toward the centre, while the backrest narrows before opening across the shoulders. Upholstery carries these transitions around the outer edge. A central column and four spreading feet lift the rounded body clear of the floor.
The Swan can be read alongside Jacobsen’s Egg Chair, developed for the same hotel project. Both use a sculptural enclosure to establish an individual place within a larger interior. The Swan’s lower profile allows a seated person to remain visually connected to the surrounding room. Its principal gesture is the broad sweep across the arms, which gives the compact chair its recognizable silhouette.
Egg Chair by Arne Jacobsen
