The Drop Chair was designed by Arne Jacobsen – the legendary Finnish modernist and an icon of 20th century architecture and design. At least due to its unusual design and futuristic appearance, the chair remained a prototype for more than five decades before being rediscovered and mass-produced in 2014. Despite its considerable age, this timeless piece of furniture still looks extravagant and fascinating. making it a great, tasteful addition to any contemporary interior.
Story
The Drop Chair was developed in 1958 along with the Egg Chair and the Swan Chair to furnish the lobby of the Radisson Blu Royal Hotel in Copenhagen. The entire building, as well as its interior design and furnishings, were designed by Arne Jacobsen for the Scandinavian Airline System (SAS). While working on the hotel project, Jacobsen, who had previously worked as a landscape architect, pursued the theme of “modern garden”. The result was an organic, oval shape for the chair that complemented the rest of the furniture designed for the hotel. The Drop Chair was produced in a small series exclusively for the Radisson Blu Royal Hotel. Despite the chair’s undeniable appeal, it was forgotten for more than half a century before it gained enough attention and became commercially available.
The Drop Chair was brought back to life by the furniture company of the Republic Fritz Hansen and presented to the public again in 2014 at the Salone del Mobile Milano. This Danish manufacturer started working with Arne Jacobsen in 1934. Since then, Jacobsen has provided the company with many memorable furniture designs including the following: the Ant Chair, the Series 7 Chair, the Grand Prix Chair, the Swan Chair and of course the iconic Egg Chair.
design
Even if many would certainly engage in polemics about the dubious appeal of the SAS hotel, the design of the Drop Chair leaves no room for such a discussion. Its innovative, futuristic design coupled with impeccable craftsmanship have given the chair a very special place in interior design history.
Michael Sheridan, architect, author and Arne Jacobsen expert: “Faced with a synthetic material that lacked any structure or that suggested no form, Jacobsen was inspired by the human form and the contours of the body (…) He humanized the technology and the Drop chair for the Royal Hotel is a masterful marriage of art and industry. “In fact, the teardrop-shaped chair has become an interior design icon. Although the chair looks like a masterpiece of modern art, it is fully functional and surprisingly comfortable. Perhaps the most striking feature of the chair is its teardrop-shaped shell. Hence the name of the chair – “The Drop Chair”. It is made of ABS plastic with nylon reinforcements on the inside. Customers can choose between two versions of the chair.
The plastic version is available in six colors. More demanding customers can upholster their Drop Chairs in fabric or supple leather. The upholstered version of the chair is padded with cold foam for extra comfort. The base consists of four tubular steel legs that are chrome-plated or powder-coated. The powder coating is only available for the plastic variant in colors that match the shell. In addition, the legs are equipped with stainless steel and nylon glides at the ends to protect the floor surface. The overall look of the chair is extremely appealing and stylish. It is very proportionate and balanced and the use of the steel tube floor makes it feel both airy and light.
The chair does not obstruct the space in which it is placed, but enhances the perception of spaciousness. Even today, almost six decades after its presentation, when modernity is no longer an extravagant or radical concept, the Drop Chair has neither aged nor become banal. It still looks fresh and contemporary. This is particularly well represented by the chair manufacturer, who promotes the chair with a slogan: “It’s a small chair with a big personality and it’s as fresh and vibrant as a new design, but with a rare legacy.”
