Fritz Hansen Arne Jacobsen Egg Chair  

The Fritz Hansen logo is a pre 1966 one, leaving us with a 1958-1966 production period.

The chair is pretty early, which will add most of the value. Sell it as is, and let the new owner decide what they would like it to be covered in. No you wont get as much money as if it were super clean, but this way it is original, and you dont narrow your market by covering it in something a certain part of the market doesn't like. I think you maximize your turn around and profit selling as is. Just my opinion.

This being the case 1 and 2 are irrelevant. The Doctor answered 3, my opinion on 4 above. I am in the US, and would never sell this chair, so I have nothing to add on #5.

Hi.

Zypher and Dr. P's advice are spot-on.

yup,

Aunt Mark

ps Would black (quality) shoe polish carefully applied... and a vodka tonic improve the suede? The wood and aluminum patina on the chair is very appealing to some collectors. Just don't use any sandpaper. No. Sandpaper and cigarettes should only be in the hands of seasoned professionals.

pss I'm 90% wrong, usually.

A couple more comments....

If what Mark suggests does not work (he is right far more than 10% of the time), then I would see what it would cost to get it professionally cleaned. I am not sure who that would be in the UK, but any reputable cleaner will likely fit the bill. Verify that they have experience cleaning leather/suede, and that they are insured.

If it is possible to clean it up a bit, then it might be worth the extra cost to have an upholsterer make a new cushion. It would not require too much skill, not be much added cost, and also would not run the risk of devaluing the piece any if not executed perfectly. There is plenty of photo documentation out there to inform this effort.

All of this would depend on what you paid for the piece, what estimated values for the piece are, the cost to perform the above, and the cost/benefit analysis of these. BTW, we dont do valuations here, so you are on your own for that.

Remember Hush Puppy shoes made of suede pigskin that came with a little wire brush for cleaning? It's a thought. But I think suede pigskin is tougher stuff than suede cowhide.

A new seat cushion wouldn't have to be matching black suede. Some of these were made in contrasting colors. If you want to go all the way, have it made of latex foam. Not only is it what was on there originally but it will make a better impression on potential buyers who sit in the chair to check the feel of it.

I don't know what all your viable venues are for selling in the UK, but I can say that auctions can be risky. You could get lucky and get two bidders who really, really want the chair and lose control and bid very high on it. Or you could end up in a sale where there are some other very good things and a bunch of bidders who are tapped out or just set on getting other things---or, or, or. If you can afford to wait to sell it, it may be smarter to consign it to a dealer of higher end Danish mid-century furniture who can offer you a contract with clear terms. There's one from Nottingham who posts every once in awhile here but I haven't seen him lately (and I have never dealt with him or his shop personally).

Is the black suede actually original? I usually ignore nearly all Arne Jacobsen pieces, and nearly all Fritz Hansen pieces because I don't much care for them much, but I can't remember ever seeing an original in suede leather before.

Sorry not to add particularly to this conversation, but I am glad I am not alone in that, Leif. Perhaps it's my wood fetishism but outside of some neat homeware, Jacobsen designs do very little for me. Nor Poul Kj

I love the look of them but not the way they sit. (I have an early Swan chair that I could keep if I wanted, but it's just not comfy enough!)

I second the doubts as to the original-ness of the suede. I've looked at tons of old Eggs and Swans and I don't think I've ever seen any in suede.

Yup.

I had one once. It didn't agree with my slender 5'...10" frame (152lbs)..so I gave it to a friend. I think it had/has an ottoman?? Red cloth. The chair reeked of sex (to me). Porn.

Hi,

Aunt Mark

neilakee's ebayuk listing has just been deleted.

I don't own any Poul Kj

maybe it was the red textile.

maybe it was me.

maybe it was the smell.

Hi,

Aunt Mark

ps my god. what's wrong with me?? I'm in therapy. I drink decent vodka. I excersise.

I find the incidental 'Jetsons-like' aesthetic of a lot of Jacobsen's designs are quite unappealing too. Describing it like that actually makes me realise how American his design was, and aside from a handful of Eames designs I am really not a fan of American design either.

Having said that, there's just something clinical and unappealing about pure metalwork to me, although I guess PK did do some wood items.

Apropos of this egg chair: IF the suede is not original, then that is a very important consideration in what to do with the chair. For instance, cleaning non-original suede (IF it is not original) is probably not worthwhile because a new owner is probably going to want to re-upholster the chair.