Nanna Ditzel was the most versatile and creative female designer that Denmark produced in the 20th century. Ditzel brought her talents to bear on a staggering array of forms — she designed furniture, jewelry, tableware and textiles; and she shaped her pieces using an equally astonishing variety of materials, from wood and wicker to silver, ceramics and fiberglass.
Born in Copenhagen, she trained as a cabinetmaker at the Royal Academy's furniture school — overseen by the great craftsman of the day, Kaare Klint — and graduated in 1943. Ditzel’s early work adhered to the classic Danish modernist tenets of simplicity, comfort and quality, and her armchairs, with their softly curved backrests are much in the spirit of Hans Wegner. Ditzel’s signature piece of that time is her Ring chair. Designed along with her husband, Jørgen Ditzel, a fabric maker, the chair has a semicircular padded armrest that seems to embrace the sitter. Ditzel began designing in wicker and in 1959 produced the Hanging chair. The piece, suspended from the ceiling by a chain, became a favorite for fashion shoots and may be as iconic of the 1960s as Eero Aarnio’s plastic Ball chair of 1963.
In 1956, Ditzel began designing for the Danish silverware firm Georg Jensen. In an association that lasted some 40 years, Ditzel would create organically shaped jewelry, barware, ceramic tableware and even tablecloths. Like her fellow Dane Verner Panton, Ditzel was not afraid to embrace industrial materials, and she began designing fiberglass chairs in the mid-1960s. Some of her most flamboyant work came toward the end of her career, in pieces such as 1989’s Bench for Two, with its shocking Op-art finish, or the Trinidad chair of 1992, with it’s sunburst-like, cut-though backs. Such feats of creativity were a fitting coda to one of the most imaginative, prolific and remarkable women of modern design.
Nanna Ditzel "Bench for Two" for Fredericia Stolefabrik, Denmark 1989
By Nanna Ditzel, Fredericia Stolefabrik
Located in Utrecht, NL
Nanna Ditzel (1923-2005) was commonly known as 'The Grand Dame of Danish Design'. She was among the most influential and significant Danish designers of the 20th Century. Some of her...
Plywood, Wood
$2,919 / item
H 30.71 in W 21.66 in D 20.48 in
Rare Blue Chair by Nanna Ditzel for Domus Danica, Denmark, 1969
By Domus Danica, O.D. Møbler A-S, Nanna Ditzel
Located in Haderslev, DK
Playful, Space Age and super rare collectors piece by Nanna Ditzel for OD Møbler / Domus Danica 1969. Light high glossy blue fibre glass designed chair for use indoor or outdoor. ...
Fiberglass
$7,331
H 26.78 in W 84.26 in D 34.65 in
Børge Mogensen Sofa for Fredericia Stolefabrik. New Upholstery. 1958.
By Børge Mogensen, Fredericia Stolefabrik
Located in Paris, FR
Elegant and refined three-seat sofa model 205 designed by Borge Mogensen in 1958 and manufactured in Denmark by Fredericia Stolefabrik. This important sofa shows an impressive desig...
Fabric, Upholstery, Velvet, Oak
$3,783
H 36.23 in W 25.99 in D 25.99 in
Lounge Chair 2254 by Børge Mogensen for Fredericia Stolefabrik, Denmark, 1960's
By Børge Mogensen, Fredericia Stolefabrik
Located in Uithoorn, NL
Danish vintage Børge Mogensen sled base chair - "Slædestolen" - model no. 2254. The frame is made of solid oak with a fine patina and the adjustabl...
Cane, Oak
$3,847
H 26.5 in W 30 in D 26 in
Nanna Ditzel for Søren Willadsen ND83 Mid Century Danish Lounge Chair
By Soren Willadsen Mobelfabrik, Nanna Ditzel
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Nanna Ditzel for Søren Willadsen ND83 Mid Century Danish Lounge Chair This chair measures: 30 wide x 26 deep x 26.5 high, with a seat height of 15.5 and arm height/chair clearance o...
Upholstery, Wood
Nanna Ditzel Trinidad Chair
By Nanna Ditzel, Fredericia
Located in Berkeley, CA
Nanna Ditzel Trinidad chair The precise transparency of the Trinidad chair almost dissolves in a play of light and shadow, yet at the same time gives th...
Oak
$11,824
H 13.39 in W 54.34 in D 18.12 in
Børge Mogensen Bench / Coffee Table by Fredericia, Denmark, 1960s
By Børge Mogensen
Located in Stockholm, SE
Large bench / coffee table model 272 designed by Børge Mogensen for Fredericia Stølefabrik, Denmark, 1960s. Solid oak frame with hand-woven cane all in very good original condition.
Pine
Nanna Ditzel Dining Set
By Nanna Ditzel
Located in Toronto, Ontario
An incredible rare dining set designed by Nanna Ditzel for Domus Danica, circa 1969 A set of 4 untouched dining chairs with a rare vinyl upholstery and a large dining table. M...
Fiberglass
$4,500
H 26.5 in W 63 in D 27.5 in
Borge Mogensen 211 Sofa in Oak and Teak by Fredericia Stolefabrik Denmark 1950s
By Børge Mogensen, Fredericia Stolefabrik
Located in Troy, MI
Børge Mogensen 211 Sofa for Fredericia Stolefabrik Denmark circa 1957 Solid oak and teak frame with finger joint detail and exposed webbing Loose seat cushions in a period striped c...
Teak, Fabric, Oak
Nanna Ditzel Wicker Basket Chair for Ludvig Pontoppidan
By Nanna Ditzel
Located in Buffalo, NY
This original 1950s basket chair by Nanna Ditzel for Ludvig Pontoppidan is perhaps the finest example to ever surface on the market. handwoven wicker seat—flawless in its craftsmans...
Wicker, Teak
$9,459
H 29.53 in W 31.89 in D 29.53 in
Early Nanna Ditzel 'Basket chair' for Ludvig Pontoppidan, Denmark, 1950
By Ludvig Pontoppidan, Nanna Ditzel
Located in Copenhagen, DK
First edition Nanna Ditzel 'Basket' easy chair with frame of teak, upholstered with wicker. Designed by Nanna Ditzel for Ludvig Pontoppidan, Denmark, 1950's with makers mark. Very...
Cane, Teak
$11,824
H 13.39 in W 54.34 in D 18.12 in
Børge Mogensen Bench / Coffee Table by Fredericia, Denmark, 1960s
By Børge Mogensen
Located in Stockholm, SE
Large bench / coffee table model 272 designed by Børge Mogensen for Fredericia Stølefabrik, Denmark, 1960s. Solid oak frame with hand-woven cane all in very good original condition.
Pine
Original Nanna Ditzel Hanging Eeg chair for R. Wengler, 1959
By Robert Wengler, Nanna Ditzel
Located in Copenhagen, DK
An original first edition of the 'Hanging Egg Chair' by Nanna Ditzel, designed 1959 and made at R. Wengler, Copenhagen, Denmark. Original condition with woven rattan in very fine c...
Metal
Sold
H 15.75 in W 59.06 in D 25.2 in
Nanna Ditzel “Bench for Two” with Table for Fredericia Stolefabrik, Denmark
By Nanna Ditzel, Fredericia
Located in Utrecht, NL
The “Bench for Two” is a historic and iconic piece by Danish designer Nanna Ditzel. This innovative two-seat bench and table was the “grand old lady of modern design”, Nanna Ditzel a...
Wood