FH3605

Furniture

1955

The FH3605 table from 1955 reflects Arne Jacobsen’s use of industrial materials to create modern, elegant and affordable furniture with a simple yet distinctive expression.

YEAR:

1955

FH3605 from 1955. Photo: Fritz Hansen

Arne Jacobsen designed the 3605 table in the mid 1950s. The design was not created for a specific purpose, but Arne Jacobsen used it in one of his most renowned architectural projects: The SAS Royal Hotel from 1960.

The simple but distinctive design was developed in collaboration with Fritz Hansen, which had the table in production for a number of years until it was discontinued. In autumn 2022, Fritz Hansen relaunched the table in the original materials and in an updated version in black ash and black powder coated steel legs.

Advertisement photo from the 1950s or 1960s of the FH3605 table accompanied by Series 7. Photo: Fritz Hansen. Top photo: Dansk Møbelkunst

FH3605
Manufactured by

Fritz Hansen

The design reflects developments after the Second World War as architects and designers all over the world were seeking to utilize industrial materials such as steel and plywood to make beautiful, affordable furniture for the modern consumer.

The table has legs in flattened oval steel tubes with structural wire supports attached to the rubber feet. The design reflects developments after the Second World War as architects and designers all over the world were seeking to utilize industrial materials such as steel and plywood to make beautiful, affordable furniture for the modern consumer. Fritz Hansen delivered the original table with and without additional drop leaves. Arne Jacobsen also designed a simple, rectangular drawer as an optional element that fit under the tabletop.

Concurrently with the design of the table, Arne Jacobsen worked on several major architectural projects that were completed over the following years. Arne Jacobsen’s original drawings of the table indicate that it was intended as part of his total design of Munkegaard School, the groundbreaking new primary and lower secondary school in Gentofte, north of Copenhagen, which was completed in 1957. Here, alongside other furniture designs, including the Munkegaard chair and custom-designed school desks in plywood and Formica, it contributed to a learning environment with an emphasis on beauty, functionality and the children’s physical well-being.

Drawing of the FH3605 design for The Munkegaard School. Photo: The Royal Danish Library - Danish National Art Library.

When the SAS Royal Hotel opened in 1960, the table was part of Arne Jacobsen’s acclaimed total design of the hotel interior. While the hotel architecture was characterized by rectangular precision and sleek minimalism, the interior featured a wealth of materials, patterns, colours and modern furniture. He furnished the restaurant on the main floor behind the ground-level conservatory with the custom-designed Drop chair, AJ Royal pendant lamps in copper and the 3605 table, which formed a perfectly coordinated space along with custom-designed glasses, candleholders and cutlery.

Sources: Arne Jacobsen Design Archives. / Arne Jacobsen’s drawings. The collection of architectural drawings, The Royal Library – Danish Art Library. / Arne Jacobsen’s scrapbooks. The Royal Library – Danish Art Library. / Stenum Poulsen, K., Skaarup Larsen, A., & Staunsager, S. (2020). Arne Jacobsen – Designing Denmark. Kolding: Trapholt. / Thau, C., & Vindum, K. (1998). Arne Jacobsen. Copenhagen: Arkitektens Forlag. / Tøjner, P. E., & Vindum, K. (1994). Arne Jacobsen: arkitekt & designer. Copenhagen: Dansk Design Center.