In 1958, during the golden age of air travel, Scandinavian Airline Systems tapped Arne Jacobsen (1902–71), then a notable architect both in his native Denmark and beyond, to design its SAS Royal Hotel. The 22-story building would become Copenhagen’s first skyscraper, and its interiors constitute a monument to modern design and mid-century air travel. The project became a crowning achievement for Jacobsen, who, in conceiving its architecture, interiors and furnishings — which included the elegant Swan chair — had the opportunity to produce a widely visited Gesamtkunstwerk, or “total work of art.”

As a meeting place in one of SAS’s hub cities, the hotel was, by nature, a bustling place. Jacobsen factored that into the design, creating several spaces for activities ranging from business tête-à-têtes to preflight cocktails. The Swan chair was set on a swivel base, an important attribute that offered guests the ability to become mobile participants in the hotel’s buzzy lobby, lounges and elsewhere. 

When it debuted, the Swan — as well as the equally celebrated Egg chair, also created for the SAS Royal Hotel — represented a daring departure from the traditional notion of a chair. With nary a back slat or a linear armrest in sight, the curvaceous shape exemplified Jacobsen’s innovative approach. The seat, as well as its accompanying sofa, was produced by Danish manufacturer Fritz Hansen, with which Jacobsen enjoyed a long partnership. Fritz Hansen continues to produce the Swan chair today.

Despite its popularity and Jacobsen’s close relationship with American designers Charles and Ray Eames, who are considered pioneers of easily replicable furniture, the Swan is not ideal for autonomous mass production: The seat of each chair is hand-sewn by an upholsterer to carefully adhere to its shapely curves before being attached to the base, which is made of polished aluminum.

Decades later, the Swan chair continues to be a fixture in modern interiors, with its seat offered in over 30 upholstery options. In 2018, on the hotel’s 60th anniversary, Danish design firm Space Copenhagen undertook an expansive redesign of the SAS Royal Hotel, now known as the Radisson Blu Royal Hotel. Jacobsen’s Swan chair, Egg chair and Drop chair feature prominently throughout the hotel’s lobby and guest rooms, paired with more contemporary furnishings and bespoke interior detailing for a new jet-set era.