Verner Panton introduced the word “groovy” — or at least its Danish equivalent — into the Scandinavian modern design lexicon. He developed fantastical, futuristic forms and embraced bright colors and new materials such as plastic, fabric-covered polyurethane foam and steel-wire framing for the creation of his chairs, sofas, floor lamps and other furnishings. And Panton’s ebullient Pop art sensibility made him an international design star of the 1960s and ’70s. This radical departure from classic Danish modernism, however, actually stemmed from his training under the greats of that design style.
Born on the largely rural Danish island of Funen, Panton studied architecture and engineering at Copenhagen’s Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, where the lighting designer Poul Henningsen was one of his teachers. After graduating, in 1951, Panton worked in the architectural office of Arne Jacobsen, and he became a close friend of Hans Wegner's.
Henningsen taught a scientific approach to design; Jacobsen was forever researching new materials; and Wegner, the leader in modern furniture design using traditional woodworking and joinery, encouraged experimental form.
Panton opened his own design office in 1955, issuing tubular steel chairs with woven seating. His iconoclastic aesthetic was announced with his 1958 Cone chair, modified a year later as the Heart Cone chair. Made of upholstered sheet metal and with a conical base in place of legs, the design shocked visitors to a furniture trade show in Copenhagen.
Panton went on to successive bravura technical feats. His curving, stackable Panton chair, his most popular design, was the first chair to be made from a single piece of molded plastic.
Panton had been experimenting with ideas for chairs made of a single material since the late 1950s. He debuted his plastic seat for the public in the design magazine Mobilia in 1967 and then at the 1968 Cologne Furniture Fair. The designer’s S-Chair models 275 and 276, manufactured during the mid-1960s by August Sommer and distributed by the bentwood specialists at Gebrüder Thonet, were the first legless chairs crafted from a single piece of plywood.
Panton would spend the latter half of the 1960s and early ’70s developing all-encompassing room environments composed of sinuous and fluid-formed modular seating made of foam and metal wire. He also created a series of remarkable lighting designs, most notably his Fun chandeliers — introduced in 1964 and composed of scores of shimmering capiz-shell disks — and the Space Age VP Globe pendant light of 1969.
Panton’s designs are made to stand out and put an eye-catching exclamation point on even the most modern decor.
Find vintage Verner Panton chairs, magazine racks, rugs, table lamps and other furniture on 1stDibs.
$1,755 / item
Wave Hand-Tufted Rug in Gray by Verner Panton
By Verner Panton, Verpan
Located in Horsens, DK
Seven colored rectangular rug with organic pattern designed by Verner Panton. Material: 100% New Zealand's wool Hand-tufted Color: Gray.
Wool
Luna Hand-Tufted Rug in Dark Green by Verner Panton
By Verpan, Verner Panton
Located in Horsens, DK
Eight colored rug with organic circle pattern designed by Verner Panton. Material: 100% New Zealand wool Hand tufted Color: Tone-in-tone dark green.
Wool
Luna Hand-Tufted Rug in Dark Yellow by Verner Panton
By Verpan, Verner Panton
Located in Horsens, DK
Eight colored rug with organic circle pattern designed by Verner Panton. Material: 100% New Zealand wool Hand tufted Color: Tone-in-tone dark yellow.
Wool
$1,755 / item
Wave Hand-Tufted Rug in Yellow by Verner Panton
By Verner Panton, Verpan
Located in Horsens, DK
Seven colored rectangular rug with organic pattern designed by Verner Panton. Material: 100% New Zealand's wool Hand-tufted Color: Yellow.
Wool
$1,755 / item
Wave Hand-Tufted Rug in Orange by Verner Panton
By Verpan, Verner Panton
Located in Horsens, DK
Seven Colored rectangular rug with organic pattern designed by Verner Panton. Material: 100% New Zealand's Wool Hand-tufted Color: Orange.
Wool
Luna Hand-Tufted Rug in Grey by Verner Panton
By Verpan, Verner Panton
Located in Horsens, DK
Eight colored rug with organic circle pattern designed by Verner Panton. Material: 100% New Zealand wool Hand-tufted Color: Tone-in-tone gray.
Wool
Winter Rose Abstract Organic Shape Rug in Grey by RAG home
By RAG home
Located in Jakarta Selatan, ID
Winter Rose captures the quiet poetry of nature in hibernation a soft bloom frozen in time. This sculptural rug blends abstract floral gestures with geological layering, rendered in ...
Wool, Acrylic
$14,710 / item
W 157.49 in L 118.12 in
Luxury Rectangular Blue Oceano 400 Hand-Tufted Wool Rug by Mohebban
Located in Geneve, CH
Luxury Rectangular Blue Oceano 400 Hand-Tufted Wool Rug by Mohebban Dimensions: W 400 x L 300 cm Materials: Wool. The Sombra collection, designed by Miguel Reguero, celebrates the e...
Wool
$3,096Sale Price / item|20% Off
W 78.75 in L 118.12 in
Modern Design Style Hand-Tufted Rug 'Zen Garden' by Rag Home
By RAG home
Located in Jakarta Selatan, ID
Modern Design Style Hand-tufted Rug 'ZEN GARDEN' by RAG HOME A rug inspired by currents of Serene, peaceful, balanced, simple words that describe the zen garden. RAG under this br...
Wool, Acrylic
$1,620 / item
W 47.25 in L 106.3 in
Contemporary Wavy Checkered Rug in Red, Pink & Green Hand-Tufted Wool
Located in Jakarta Selatan, ID
This contemporary rug reimagines the classic checkered motif with a playful twist. A bold red-and-pink checkerboard flows along wavy edges, framing a rich green center that instantly...
Wool, Acrylic
$6,000
W 120 in L 1 in
2011 Tai Ping & Edward Fields Aria I Nomad Collection Hand Tufted Wool Area Rug
By Edward Fields
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is an Aria I Wool Rug from the Nomad Collection, designed by Edward Fields for the Tai Ping Carpet Company. It was hand-tufted in China in 2011 us...
Wool
$2,262 / item
W 51.19 in L 114.18 in
Contemporary Irregular Shape Hand-Tufted Wool Rug Beige by RAG Home
By RAG home
Located in Jakarta Selatan, ID
Magic with LUA Contemporary irregular shape hand-tufted wool rug with earthy brown by RAG Home Original Designed by Rannisa Soraya RAG Home Jakarta Hand-tufted with mixed carving ...
Wool
$2,660 / item
W 70.87 in L 86.62 in
'Mis-Shapes' Contemporary Irregular Abstract Shape Hand Tufted Rug by RAG Home
By RAG home
Located in Jakarta Selatan, ID
'Mis-Shapes' Contemporary irregular abstract shape hand-tufted Viscose wool rug A combination of neatness and abstraction. A fluid patterns and shades of primary colors from vibrant to pastel, just enough to make your room stand out, yet still homey and comfortable. Original designed by Rannisa Soraya from RAG Home Hand-tufted with mixed Methods and Colours. It can be customised in size, and composition upon request. RAG under this brand, lies a strong picturesque construct with solid contemporary HOME ornaments. a delicate kind of mix materials arranged in artistic motifs the vision pursued by establishment of high-end line with the highest quality. RAG will constantly focusing and innovating, monitoring craftsmanship behind the product. RAG provide a wider selection to your HOME ornaments. The design will be consisted of limited edition with higher build quality to deliver premium value in unique features. Proudly Made In Indonesia...
Wool
$2,934 / item
W 84.26 in L 84.26 in
Contemporary Floral Hand-Tufted Rug with Layered Botanical Design in Soft Pastel
By RAG home
Located in Jakarta Selatan, ID
This contemporary hand-tufted rug celebrates a vibrant botanical composition, blending artistic expression with soft, inviting textures. Featuring a lush cluster of stylized white bl...
Wool, Acrylic
Vintage Moroccan Berber Kilim Rug in Burgundy, Pink and Orange Stripes, 1960s
By Berber Tribes of Morocco
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
An authentic vintage Moroccan Berber Kilim rug, handwoven in Morocco during the mid-20th century, circa 1960. Measuring 66 inches wide by 120 inches long—approximately 5 feet 6 inche...
Wool
British Made Selvedge Tufted Rug, Pink
Located in Malton, GB
These rugs are made entirely by hand in North England. They are made using the off cuts or Selvedge from large runs of material. These off cuts would hav...
Wool
$1,444Sale Price / item|20% Off
W 55.12 in L 84.65 in
Art Irregular Shape Tufted Wool Rug with White Grey 'Magic Trick' by RAG Home
By RAG home
Located in Jakarta Selatan, ID
Magic Trick Art irregular shape tufted wool rug with white grey by RAG Home Original Designed by Rannisa Soraya RAG Home Jakarta Hand-tufted with mix...
Wool
British Made Selvedge Tufted Rug- Large Blue
Located in Malton, GB
These rugs are made entirely by hand in North England. They are made using the off cuts or Selvedge from large runs of material. These off cuts would have been simply sent to landfill if they weren't saved and turned into these beautiful rugs. I am a big supporter on sustainability and traditional crafts so when I heard about these rugs I knew I wanted to get involved. So I reached out and spoke to the business owner who explained the off cuts are from high end mills, including Harris Tweed and Abraham moon. So the quality is very high. Each rug is totally unique as even if the same selvedge is used the way the pattern comes through when woven is totally different each time. This example is a bold blue rug made from Abraham moon dress...
Wool