The Egg Chair Is Back!

Ovalia Egg Chair. Designed by Henrik Thor-Larsen.

Unless you’re fortunate enough (or unfortunate enough, depending on your tolerance for lava lamps) to have come of age in the late 60s, it’s likely that your only experience with Henrik Thor-Larsen’s classic Ovalia Egg Chair was in 2001, when the black-tied and black-sunglassed (and frighteningly well-armed) Mr. Smith and Mr. Jones stared at you from the chair’s cozy confines on the promo poster for Men In Black II.

And I’m the first to admit that—at the time—I hadn’t the foggiest notion that the alien-eradicating duo were fond of icons of classic design; I’d just assumed the chair came straight from the mind of set designer, Cheryl Carasik. Just goes to show how design is everywhere, infusing even low-brow pop culture with intriguing accoutrements (see Eames Chair and Murano Due Chandelier).

The re-issue of the Egg Chair matches another trend we 3ringers rather admire—the re-furbished classic. Have a look at Kiesler’s Party Lounge and Eames for other examples of seminal pieces that never seem to lose their enduring panache. Ovalia’s ovoid—first exhibited at the Scandinavia Furniture Fair in 1968—was widely lauded and quickly became a poster child for modern Danish design; arguably, it also influenced the aesthetic of other artistic visionaries of the era, including Stanley Kubrick. But production ceased by 1978 and the chair quickly acquired cult status, with original editions fetching upwards of $5000 in online auctions.

Sometimes, it just makes good economic sense to re-issue. Ovalia’s newly-released re-vamping is the same chair from 1968 (each of the limited edition run of 900 features a sterling silver medallion, signed and numbered by Larsen, to verify authenticity), with a couple of updates: an optional hidden/fully upholstered surround speaker system by JBL, additional ergonomic seat-cushioning, and more cushion color options (the exterior is available only in white). The sound system is a perfect complement to the chair’s spot-on acoustical environment, making great use of its “cocooning” aspect, and the improved cushions add considerable comfort without sacrificing the look. Lastly, if you desire to re-create the era of the egg chair’s dawning in all its verisimilitude, you can suspend it from the rafters. Yes, the re-issue features structural reinforcements that make this unorthodox installation quite safe, as it will support upwards of 600 pounds. Who wouldn’t want to look down on the mortal coil from such a rarefied perch?

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Tags: chair classic egg furniture modern seating swing

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