Arne Jacobsen designed the Swan for Fritz Hansen in 1958 and introduced it at the SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen in 1960. The armchair is made using the same technique as the Egg, where the shell is constructed from molded cold foam with fiberglass reinforcement. The upholstery is available in a wide range of fabrics and leathers. The Swan has a rotating base in satin-polished steel with a foot in die-cast and satin-polished aluminum.

The design features rounded lines, with the sculptural shape of the shell resembling the silhouette of a swan. This complemented the horizontal and vertical lines of the SAS Royal Hotel. The technique Jacobsen used to create the curved shell of the Swan and Egg was considered highly advanced and revolutionary for its time. The Swan is also available as a two-seater sofa in the same style.

The SAS Royal Hotel opened in 1960 and was the world's first design hotel, also Denmark's first skyscraper. Arne Jacobsen handled the full design concept down to the smallest detail, from the outdoor facade and furniture to the cutlery in the restaurant. The SAS Royal Hotel has therefore come to be known as Jacobsen's work of art, introducing several Danish design icons, and putting Danish design on the world map.