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Fritz Hansen, exhibition example, very good state - Ant Chair dark stained oak, light edge - 3 legs - OFFER
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  • Fritz Hansen, exhibition example, very good state - Ant Chair dark stained oak, light edge - 3 legs - OFFER
  • Fritz Hansen, exhibition example, very good state - Ant Chair dark stained oak, light edge - 3 legs - OFFER

Fritz Hansen, exhibition example, very good state - Ant Chair dark stained oak, light edge - 3 legs - OFFER

The Ant Chair is an iconic creation by Danish designer Arne Jacobsen, designed in 1952 and produced by the manufacturer Fritz Hansen. 

This chair is often considered a milestone in the history of modern design, particularly for its minimalist aesthetic and innovative approach to manufacturing.

€453.00
€271.80 Save 40%
In stock. Delivery France 1-3 days. Other countries : 5 days.
Quantity
In stock

Ant chair – Fritz Hansen – Arne Jacobsen

Background and inspiration

Arne Jacobsen designed the Ant chair for the canteen of the pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, near Copenhagen. The idea was to create a light, stackable and functional chair, while retaining a simple elegance. Its name, ‘Fourmi’ (Ant), comes from the organic shape of the seat which, when viewed in profile, evokes the silhouette of an ant with its thin waist and slender ‘legs’.

Design and characteristics

The Fourmi chair is distinguished by its moulded plywood shell, an innovative technique at the time, which made it possible to shape the wood in flowing curves. The seat and backrest are made from a single piece of laminated wood, usually ash, oak or walnut veneer, offering both lightness and strength. Originally, it was mounted on three tubular steel legs (although four-legged versions were produced later), which reinforced its airy and minimalist appearance.

This design reflects the principles of Scandinavian modernism: simplicity, functionality and the use of natural materials. The chair was also available with different finishes and, over time, in several colours, although the sober shades dominated the first editions.

Ant chair – Fritz Hansen – Arne Jacobsen

Production by Fritz Hansen

Fritz Hansen, a renowned Danish manufacturer, used advanced wood moulding techniques to mass produce the chair, making it both accessible and sophisticated. Despite a mixed initial reception - some found its design too daring - it quickly gained popularity and became a 20th-century design classic.

Heritage

The Ant chair has influenced many designers and remains a symbol of timeless elegance. It is still produced today by Fritz Hansen, sometimes with modern adaptations (such as upholstered versions or versions made from recycled materials), while remaining faithful to Jacobsen's original spirit. It can be found in private homes, offices and public spaces throughout the world.

Arne Jacobsen is born on February 11, 1902 in Copenhagen. His father, Johan Jacobsen, is a wholesale trader in safety pins and snap fasteners. His mother, Pouline Jacobsen, a bank clerk, paints floral motifs in her spare time. The family lived in a typical Victorian style home. As a contrast to his parents’ overly decorated taste, Arne paints his room in white.

Background & school relations

He met the Lassen brothers at Nærum Boarding School: later, Flemming Lassen was to become his partner in a series of architectural projects. Arne Jacobsen is a restless pupil, always up to pranks, with a self-deprecating humour. Already as a child, he showed an extraordinary talent for drawing and depicting nature through scrupulous studies. He wants to be painter, but his father felt that architect was a more sensible choice.

The Pleasant and the necessary trips abroad

Jacobsen’s travelling begin already in his twenties, when he went to sea to New York. Then followed an apprenticeship as a bricklayer in Germany and a series of study and drawing excursions to Italy. Jacobsen produced some of his finest watercolours during this period, capturing atmospheres and shapes accurately and carefully. From the beginning of his career, Jacobsen turned his gaze abroad, without abandoning Danish traditions.

Arne Jacobsen behind the design

Jacobsen production reflects his personality: an insistent, perfectionist modernist, to whom no detail was trivial, although the main picture was basically black/white and unambiguous. On the other hand, the nature-loving botanist and jovial family man: like him, his work is precise and warm, Danish and universal, modern and timeless.



fritz hansen

Data sheet

Height
81 cm
Width
52 cm
Depth
48 cm
Seat height
46 cm
Weight
3,4 kg