Arne Jacobsen originally designed the Ant chair for the canteen of the pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk. The aim was to create a lightweight, easily stackable chair that would not interfere with ones legs. Therefore, the original design of the chair was three-legged, the four-legged version was developed later.
The shape of the seat is reminiscent of an ant with its head raised, hence the name Ant (Myren in Danish). Manufactured by Fritz Hanse, the visionary design was met with an initial dose of scepticism when Novo Nordisk ordered only 300 units. But production continued after Jacobsen guaranteed to buy every unsold piece himself. The design has more than proven itself over time, with the Ant chair now selling by the millions and its unmistakable design becoming one of the most distinctive chair designs ever.
