Scandinavian modernism emerged out of a desire to create democratic design—goods that were simple, functional, well-made and affordable. Compared to other European modernist design ethos, laden with political, aesthetic and social ideologies, Scandinavian design has been celebrated for its straight-forward approach in being accessible and making everyday spaces handsome, considered and in harmony with the natural world. The earliest wave of Scandinavian modernism in the 1920s and 1930s stressed high quality materials and handmade techniques, making mass-production a bit impractical. With the explosion of consumer culture after WWII, designers like Arne Jacobsen answered the call to create designs true to the Scandinavian spirit that could be produced on a global scale.
Beginning with The Ant chair in 1952, Jacobsen aligned the organic, functional Scandinavian design ethos with the demands of industrial manufacturing, following in the footsteps of the Eames' plywood chairs. Throughout the 1950s, Jacobsen's chairs became some of the most ubiquitous designs in Scandinavia, filling humble but important cultural spaces such as classrooms, auditoriums, canteens and churches. These designs of course complement Jacobsen's larger approach to the social function of design, as witnessed in the many housing complexes, civic and commercial buildings, schools and modest single-family homes that he created as an architect.
The stacking model 3103 chair was designed to offer better lumbar support and came in various forms, including an upholstered rolling desk chair and a children's chair.
This is definitely a piece of utility ware that clearly satisfied the manufacturer's demands, largely also the user's, and was even designed as a living ornament in its own right. The aesthetic value of an ornament that repeats itself was exploited here, ingenuously benefiting from the fact that chairs frequently appear in groups and stacking chairs most often as an entire legion.
Lars Thirslund, design critic
Arne Jacobsen 1902–1971
Arne Jacobsen was an architect and designer who approached his work from both perspectives, making major contributions to Functionalism and Danish Modern style. Born and raised in Copenhagen, Denmark, he won the silver medal for his chair design at the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs in Paris in 1925 while an architecture student at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. After winning the Danish Architect’s Association competition for his House of the Future design, he opened his own office in 1929. Jacobsen was forced to flee to Sweden in 1943 following the rise of the Nazi party, but later returned to Denmark ushering in a wave of landmark public and private commissions.
Auction Results Arne Jacobsen
