Behind the Scandal That Sealed the Series 7 Chair's Legacy

"In the 1950s, Danish design legend Arne Jacobsen began an investigation into molded plywood. His American peers, Charles and Ray Eames, had already been experimenting with the technique, and he wondered how he might put his own twist on the material of the moment, where thin layers of veneer were glued together and molded into sculptural forms. Several icons would be born out of these trials,"

""Because of its stackability and durability, it's become the go-to chair for many Danish public spaces," explains Els Van Hoorebeeck, Fritz Hansen creative director. Soon after it was introduced at the H55 exhibition in Helsingborg, Jacobsen began using them in his projects-they served as seating for city councillors at Rødovre Town Hall; they were scattered throughout the SAS Royal Hotel. But the seat didn't really enter the global stage"

Arne Jacobsen experimented with molded plywood in the 1950s, seeking to adapt techniques already explored by Charles and Ray Eames. Collaborations with Fritz Hansen produced early successes such as the 1952 Ant and the 1955 model 3107, known as the Series 7. The Series 7 is formed from nine hand-matched, pressed and sanded layers of veneer mounted on tubular steel legs. Its stackability and durability made it ideal for Danish public spaces and for Jacobsen's architectural projects, including Rødovre Town Hall and the SAS Royal Hotel. A 1963 publicity moment propelled the chair into international cultural awareness, and numerous functional variations have followed.

Read at Architectural Digest