Verner Panton was born in Denmark in 1926 and is widely recognised as one of the most influential furniture designers and architects of the 20th Century.

Having studied at the Royal Danish Academy of Royal Arts in Copenhagen Panton began his career working at the practise of Arne Jacobsen another Iconic Interiors favourite whose Egg Chair is available on this site. Proving to be somewhat the rebel in the pack he left Jacobsen's practice after 2 years to establish his own. In no time at all he was creating proposals for revolutionary (if somewhat odd sounding) architectural concepts such as the Collapsible House (1955) the Plastic House and the Cardboard House (both 1960).

Pantons' furniture was equally as innovative as his buildings, and he prolifically experimented with materials (particularly plastics), bright colours and unconventional forms.

A satisfied and optimistic man (his pet dog was named Happy!) he believed that his work should reflect a cheery spirit, he believed that in adulthood we perceive limitations and obstacles but by viewing the word in a sense of child-like awe we are able to escape. This is very apparent in his works and makes them perfect for providing a fun element to your space.

His chair designs had, throughout the 1950s, become more and more abstracted losing conventional components such as legs and backs. In 1960 he created one of his most well known and mass produced designs using a revolutionary technique of injection moulding a single piece of plastic, originally named the S Chair or Stacking Chair it is now commonly known as simply the Panton Chair.

Another notable furniture first can be attributed to Panton as he was the first to design and make inflatable furniture, I wonder if he was also the first to puncture inflatable furniture by failing to take his keys out of his pocket?

By the late 1960s through to early 1970s Panton was trying his hand at the creation of entire environments, the radical interiors were everything that was great about psychedelia and combined his curved form furniture, wall coverings and lighting.

Panton died in 1998 aged 72 leaving behind him a legacy of innovation and personal style, his designs and ideas live on today and have inspired a new generation of furniture designers.

Designer Products:

The Panton Chair The Panton chair is a wonder of mass production, stackable, wipe clean, comfortable, eye catching, hard wearing and instantly recogniseable. Use them inside, outside, take them on holiday. The junior version (£59) ensures no family member is left out!... Price: £112 [more details]
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