Arne Jacobsen

Recognised as one of the leading figures of minimalism within the modernist movement and Danish functionalism, Arne Jacobsen’s design philosophy could be summed up by the phrase ‘less is more’, which he himself often used to describe his creations. Arne Jacobsen was born in Copenhagen in 1902 and studied at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. Whilst still a student, he presented one of his first designs – a minimalist chair – at the “International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts” in Paris, where he was awarded a silver medal. A few years later, he travelled to Italy, Germany and New York; during these trips, having met the founding fathers of Bauhaus functionalism, this philosophy remained at the heart of his approach to design throughout his career.

One of Jacobsen’s most beloved designs is the Egg Chair, a chair modelled on the shape of an egg, which the designer had moulded from clay in his garage so that he could perfect it. The result was a very comfortable chair with a thick foam core beneath the upholstery, featuring a highly original shape. Another creation is the Ant Chair, designed for use in the canteen of a Danish pharmaceutical company. The chair is an example of a simple, stable, functional and user-friendly piece, and as such embodies all the characteristics Jacobsen sought in his work.

Among his furniture designs, he also produced several models of the Bellevue light fittings, which are exemplary of the modern minimalist style and functionalism of his era. His lamps, with their almost industrial aesthetic, as well as his velvet sofas from the Mayor collection, perfectly express his artistic vision that design must have a specific purpose and function.