MODERNISM THROUGH ARNE JACOBSENS EGG CHAIR - Essay Example

and Number of the Teacher’s MODERNISM THROUGH ARNE JACOBSEN’S “EGG CHAIR” Introduction Arne Jacobsen (1902-1971), the Danish architect and designer was one of the most influential contributors to Danish design. His extensive work in architecture as well as in designing of furniture and various other products was based on modernistic minimalism and functionalism. Jacobsen’s well known eouvre was Danish Modern in style. Though his career had many highlights, his simple but effective chair designs based on organic motifs such as the egg, the ant, and the swan were acclaimed worldwide (Hansen 7). Jacobsen designed and launched the “egg chair” between 1957 and 1958, along with the Swan chair. He was commissioned to design chairs for the reception areas of the Royal Hotel in Copenhagen, for which he designed the “egg chair”. Over fifty years later “the hotel still boasts egg chairs within its reception areas – a testament to the original design masterpiece” (Urbanark, 2011). The modernist design of the egg chair has simple, functional lines, and is composed of minimalistic and abstract features. Thesis Statement: The purpose of this paper is to investigate Arne Jacobsen’s “egg chair”, examine its relation to modernism, and explore historical factors reflected in it. Modernism in Design Modernism is a historical tradition of design form established in the nineteenth century which was initially based on inculcating aesthetic taste to the general public. Greenhalgh (p.19) states that this approach could lead to a kind of “dictatorial determinism which ultimately came to be the most extreme of the contradictions that existed within the Modernist Movement”. Modernism is marked by its restrictive nature. In Modernist circles there was an aversion to consumption. Consequently, this resulted in the creation of the modernist austere aesthetics which stripped design down to its key components, not inviting needless consumerism. Thus, the moral and aesthetic parameters were combined together. The technical and material options provided by the principles of Modernism gave rise to the design style. Besides the use of new technology, antihistoricism, antitraditionalism, and abstraction, the range of visual and utilitarian possibilities are effectively reduced through exercising severity in its function. The Egg Chair Designed by Arne Jacobsen The renowned Danish designer and architect Arne Jacoben designed the Egg Chair. Initially it was upholstered in red leather, but is now available in various colours including black leather, as well as in different fabrics. “The egg chair has a bowl-shaped body which serves as its seat, back, and armrests; and a short, metal base” (Squidoo, 2011). Because the chairs were commissioned for the SAS Royal Hotel, a skyscraper designed by Jacobsen, the rounded appearance of the egg chair was meant to complement the hotel’s simple linear construction (Figs. 1 and 2). Fig.1. Arne Jacobsen’s Egg Chair Upholstered in Red Leather (ModernClassic, 2003) Fig.2. Jacobsen’s Egg Chair Covered with Fabric Upholstery (Squidoo, 2011) The unique shape of the Egg Chair (Figs. 1 and 2 ) is built using a light plaster shell injected with cold synthetic foam to make it more comfortable. The body is then upholstered with leather or fabric, and fitted at the bottom with a steel spindle and swivel, and a molded aluminium 4-star base. There is also a simple adjustment mechanism which helps to raise or lower the chair. The Egg Chair being composed of mainly plaster and leather/ fabric, is significantly light with an overall weight of 18 pounds. Modern Egg Chairs manufactured today are constructed of a lighter plastic shell that is injected with cold foam, they are then covered with high quality leather, and lightweight aluminium legs are attached at the bottom (Squidoo, 2011). Though the Egg Chair has a distinctive design, it shares great similarities with the Swan Chair, also designed for the SAS Royal Hotel. The Egg is also closely similar to Jacobsen’s other chair designs, including the Ant, the Pot, the 7, and the Swan chair, having no restrictions in its shape, and being very ergonomic in design (Squidoo, 2011). The Modernist Style of the Egg Chair Design The Egg Chair is one of the most recognized examples of the Danish Modern style, using lightweight materials such as wood, and with a minimalist aesthetic. “It is because of these qualities that despite its short lifespan of about 20 years between 1940 and 1960, it has become one of the most popular styles of furnishings in the European continent” (Squidoo, 2011), besides influencing the Danish design movement in the middle of the 20th century. In designing the Egg Chair, Arne Jacobsen was inspired by the “Womb Chair” designed by Eero Saarinen, a Finnish-American designer. However, Jacobsen’s Egg Chair has a more holistic design than Saarinen’s. The modernist features in the Egg Chair include its minimalist design contours resembling an egg, and the apparent simplicity of design. Further, it is a highly functional piece of furniture in any type of setting, hotels and other public spaces, offices or homes (Greenhalgh 19); and has proved its popularity over the last over half a century. The restrictive nature of modernism is observed in the Egg’s utterly simple lines with no embellishments other than the functional seat. The austerity of design is a core principle of modernism which discourages consumerism involving extensive production and consumption. Further, the contemporary features of the chair oppose traditionalism and historicism, while the organic egg design provides the abstract and symbolic concept to the design. All these elements reinforce the Egg Chair’s modernist style. Historical Factors Reflected in the Egg Chair by Arne Jacobsen “The general social and economic background of modern Danish furniture was, of course, the industrialization process and the social, cultural and ideological transformation of Danish society” (Hansen 7) also known as modernization. As in several other countries, Danish functional designers argued for new mass-produced functional furniture for ordinary people, and they also called for a change from former patterns of design, consumption and living. Their purpose was to develop standardized, functional types of furniture, chairs, tables, buffets and others. Thus Danish functionalists were similar to international modernists such as Charles Eames, le Corbusier and others; and were strongly against reproducing historical and Victorian style imitations, which were considered dishonest and non-functional. The functionalist doctrines “form follows function” and “less is more” along with Corbusier’s phrase that a chair is a machine to sit on, were well received by young, radical designers in Denmark. In the decade following World War II, there was a dualism characterizing the conflict between “good” design and mass taste. By the late 1950s until today, “both types of cultural artifact emerge as expressions of capitalist expansion” (Raizman 243), with a subtle and levelling change from production to consumption in all areas of economic life. Greater variety and innovation will be required to stimulate demand and fuel production. Aspects of modernism required the elimination of their inter-war associations with radical social reform. Thus, both types of post-war industrial design co-existed despite the contradiction between the new humanism and mass taste. Both came to express for their constituencies an association with democratic expression to counter Communism and collectivism. Whether controlled by a new and broader set of criteria for a discriminating international audience, or enhancing popular images of power, dissent, and luxury for the American middle class, “industrial design thrived in the prosperity of the post-war period” (Raizman 243). Thus, Jacobsen's objects, from chairs to cutlery, were born of imperative post-war needs and were mass produced (Slessor 20). Conclusion This paper has highlighted Arne Jacobsen’s Egg Chair, examined its modernist characteristics, and explored historical factors based on modernist functionalism and mass culture, inherent to the Egg Chair and its design. The highly functional and comfortable chair continues to be popular in contemporay times more than fifty years after it was designed and developed. The chair is very greatly in demand particularly amongst collectors and minimalism promoters. Further, the Egg Chair continues to be a favorite piece of furniture in European cafes, the most prominent of which is the high-end McDonald’s cafes in London and in Copenhagen. Works Cited Greenhalgh, Paul. Modernism in design. New York: Reaktion Books. (1990). Hansen, Per H. The construction of an international brand: The rise and decline of Danish design, 1930-1970. Centre for Business History, Copenhagen Business School. Retrieved on 10th June, 2011 from: ftp://www.econ.berkeley.edu/pub/users/webfac/sprite/cherry/e211_F04/hansen.pdf Modern Classic. Egg chair: Arne Jacobsen. Retrieved on 10th June, 2011 from: http://www.modernclassic.cn/html/fritz_hansen_arne_jacobsen_egg_chair.htm Raizman, David. History of modern design: Graphics and products since the Industrial Revolution. The United States of America: Laurence King Publishing. (2003). Slessor, Catherine. Danish modern. The Architectural Review, 196.1171 (1994): p.20. Squidoo. Egg chair. Retrieved on 11th June, 2011 from: http://www.squidoo.com/egg_chair_ Urbanark. Egg chair in Italian black aniline leather inspired by Arne Jacobsen. Urbanark: The Internet Furniture Store. Retrieved on 10th June, 2011 from: http://www.urbanark.com/jacobseneggblackeatherpage.html Read More