The story behind

The chair has always been a central piece of furniture in Danish design, and at Fritz Hansen, it became an area where industrial precision, architectural design, and craftsmanship could converge. As a manufacturer, Fritz Hansen has been crucial to the development of some of the 20th century's most renowned Danish chairs, created in collaboration with architects and designers such as Arne Jacobsen, Hans J. Wegner, and Poul Kjærholm.
Fritz Hansen chairs range from lightweight shell chairs in form-pressed veneer to upholstered office chairs, finely crafted wooden chairs, and sculptural seating furniture in steel and leather. Common to the most distinctive models is a high degree of technical sophistication and a precise understanding of both function and form. At KLASSIK, you will find original Fritz Hansen chairs, selected with a focus on authenticity, quality, and collector potential.

Design and materials

A Fritz Hansen chair is often characterized by a clear construction and a confident balance between materials, proportions, and application. In Arne Jacobsen's shell chairs, the strength and flexibility of the form-pressed veneer shell carry the expression, while the steel frame gives the chair lightness and stability. In other models, upholstery, leather, solid wood, or spring steel feature more prominently as crucial parts of the whole.
Materials vary from model to model and can include form-pressed veneer, chrome or lacquered steel, leather, textile, solid wood, and veneer in various types of wood. Fritz Hansen's ability to translate architect-designed ideas into precise series-produced furniture has made the manufacturer's chairs central to Danish furniture history. They are designed for use in homes, offices, institutions, and public spaces, but simultaneously possess a formal quality that makes them sought after as original design objects.

Known models within Fritz Hansen chairs

AJ 3107 The Series 7™ – light and precise

The AJ 3107 Series 7™ was designed by Arne Jacobsen in 1955 and is one of the most well-known chairs from Fritz Hansen. The form-pressed veneer shell gives the chair its characteristic lightness, while the slender steel frame emphasizes its simple and functional expression. The Series 7™ is available in many versions, including with visible wood veneer, lacquer, and upholstery in leather or textile.

AJ 3207 The Series 7™ with armrests – greater comfort

The AJ 3207 Series 7™ with armrests builds upon the same basic form as the 3107 but adds a more enveloping seating experience. The armrests give the chair a calmer and more furnished character, making it suitable around the dining table, in meeting rooms, or as a standalone chair. The model retains the lightness of the Series 7™ but appears with greater comfort and presence.

FH 4283 The China Chair – Wegner's understanding of wood

The FH 4283 China Chair was designed by Hans J. Wegner in 1944 and produced by Fritz Hansen. The model is inspired by Chinese armchairs from the Ming Dynasty, but adapted with Wegner's particular sense of proportions, joints, and craftsmanship. The curved back, precise transitions, and loose leather cushion give the chair a quiet weight and a strong material character. The China Chair is one of the most detailed wooden chairs in Fritz Hansen's production.

The Oxford office chairs – architecture for the workspace

The Oxford series originated from a chair Arne Jacobsen designed in the early 1960s for the professors at St Catherine's College in Oxford, and was launched by Fritz Hansen in 1965. The original high-backed version was used at the faculty's table in the dining hall, where the tall, curved back gave a more formal expression and a special authority to the room. The lines are still simple and precise. The series is available in several heights and finishes, often with upholstery in leather or textile and a swivel base.

AJ 3100 The Ant™ – the early shell chair

The AJ 3100 The Ant™ was designed by Arne Jacobsen in 1952 and marks an important point in Fritz Hansen's work with form-pressed veneer. The three-legged shell chair was originally created for the canteen at Novo Terapeutisk Laboratorium (today Novo Nordisk) and is characterized by its narrow waist, light construction, and organic silhouette. The Ant™ demonstrates how functional furniture production and a strong graphic design language could be combined in one simple chair.

PK9 The Tulip Chair – sculptural precision

The PK9 Tulip Chair was designed by Poul Kjærholm in 1961 and originally produced by Ejvind Kold Christensen. Fritz Hansen took over the production of the Kjærholm collection in 1982, which includes the PK9 today. The chair is characterized by its leather-covered shell, supported by three pieces of satin-brushed spring steel. The expression is both taut and organic, with a striking balance between the industrial and the bodily. The PK9 distinguishes itself from many other Fritz Hansen chairs by its material weight and its almost sculptural construction.

AJ 3130 The Grand Prix™ chair – graphic and elegant

The AJ 3130 Grand Prix™ chair was designed by Arne Jacobsen and presented in 1957. Later that same year, the chair received its name when it was awarded the Grand Prix at the Triennale in Milan. The model has a more graphic and angular expression than the Series 7™ and The Ant™, where the shell's distinct silhouette and sharper transitions are clearly visible. The Grand Prix™ chair is available with both wooden and steel frames and stands out as one of Jacobsen's most elegant shell chairs for Fritz Hansen.

Restoration at KLASSIK

At KLASSIK, each Fritz Hansen chair is individually assessed with respect for the original design and craftsmanship. Restoration is carried out with a focus on preserving the chair's materials, proportions, and character, so that the whole appears authentic.
Our workshop has been working with original Danish furniture classics since 1991 and has extensive experience with Fritz Hansen chairs in various models and finishes. For reupholstery and repair, we use high-quality materials, including leather from Sørensen Leather and textiles from Kvadrat, selected with an eye for the furniture's original expression.

Sell your Fritz Hansen chair to KLASSIK

We purchase original Fritz Hansen chairs – including the AJ 3107 Series 7™, AJ 3207 Series 7™ with armrests, FH 4283 China Chair, Oxford office chairs, AJ 3100 The Ant™, PK9 Tulip Chair, and AJ 3130 Grand Prix™ chair. Send us pictures and relevant information via our contact form, and receive a professional valuation based on condition, originality, and demand.

At KLASSIK, we buy original Danish furniture from the 1920s to the 1980s. We emphasize a serious and professional sales process with a focus on correct valuation and dialogue.

Originality, sustainability, and authenticity guarantee

An original Fritz Hansen chair carries its history in the patina of its materials and the traces that come with use over time. At KLASSIK, we regard these signs as part of the furniture's quality and lifespan. With over 30 years of experience and thousands of pieces of furniture passing through our hands, we guarantee the authenticity of all furniture in our assortment.
Therefore, we offer a lifetime authenticity guarantee on all furniture purchased from us. At KLASSIK, you invest in original Danish design – with confidence.

Contact us

Since 1991, we have specialized in the purchase, sale, and restoration of original Danish furniture classics. You are always welcome to contact us or visit us at our store at Bredgade 3, 1260 Copenhagen K.

Phone: +45 33 33 90 60
Email: support@klassik.dk
Instagram: @klassikcopenhagen