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.
Chill Lounge Chair and Ottoman by Nanna Ditzel, New Edition
By Sika Design, Nanna Ditzel
Located in Courbevoie, FR
Copenhagen. She left in 1946, and the same year she founded her own design studio with her husband Jorgen Ditzel. The particular and ergonomic shape of this rattan chair ensures inc...
Rattan
$7,576
H 26.78 in W 21.26 in D 16.93 in
Nanna Ditzel Armchair no. 113, Wenge & Woven Cane, Kolds Savværk, Denmark, 1950s
By Kolds Savvaerk, Nanna Ditzel
Located in Odense, DK
A rare and exceptionally sculptural Nanna Ditzel Model 113 armchair, designed in Denmark in the 1950s and produced by Kolds Savværk. Executed in richly figured wenge, the chair demon...
Cane, Wenge
Beige Suede Leather Lounge Chair with Matching Ottoman
By Knoll, B&B Italia
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Very nice Mid-Century Modern swivel lounge chair with matching foot stool. 25 x 20 x 38 - ottoman.
Leather, Suede
$4,500 / set
H 38.75 in W 26 in D 31 in
Eames Soft Pad Management Lounge Chair and Ottoman for Herman Miller
By Charles and Ray Eames, Herman Miller
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Soft Pad Management lounge chair and ottoman by Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller. This one features thick, individual foam cushions upholstered in a brown leather that has dev...
Aluminum
$3,249
H 27.96 in W 24.41 in D 20.48 in
Nanna Ditzel Armchair or Desk Chair in Teak and Black Leatherette Denmark
By Nanna Ditzel, Kolds Savvaerk
Located in WIJCKEL, NL
Rare armchair or desk chair, model 114 designed by Nanna Ditzel. Great vintage condition and the teak has really nice graining. Scandinavian Modern design by one of Denmark's best ...
Faux Leather, Teak
$3,365 / set
H 38.19 in W 27.56 in D 33.47 in
Yngve Ekström Fortino Lounge Chair & Ottoman, 1960s Sunflower Corduroy
By Swedese, Yngve Ekström
Located in Bochum, NRW
Original Sunflower Yellow Corduroy by Swedese, Sweden, 1960s A stunning example of Scandinavian design, this Fortino Lounge Chair with Ottoman by celebrated designer Yngve Ekström fo...
Velvet, Beech, Tapestry
Vintage Hanging Egg Chair by Nanna Ditzel, 1960s
By Nanna Ditzel
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Midcentury wicker hanging egg shaped chair by Nanna Ditzel. Beautiful and very original 'loung' chair with a timeless design. It hangs from the ...
Wicker
ND 83 Easy Chair by Nanna Ditzel
By Nanna Ditzel
Located in Copenhagen, DK
ND 83 - easy chair in Dunes grey leather and stained beech. Designed in 1952. Nanna Ditzel / Søren Willadsen.
Beech
$14,851 / set
H 25.2 in W 33.08 in D 27.96 in
Pair of Vintage Danish Ring Chairs by Nanna Ditzel for Kolds Savvaerk
By Kolds Savvaerk, Nanna Ditzel
Located in London, GB
An exceptionally beautiful and very rare original pair of vintage Danish ring chairs by Nanna Ditzel for Kolds Savvaerk. They were made in Denmark...
Bouclé, Teak
'Basket' Chair in teak by Nanna Ditzel
By Ludvig Pontoppidan, Nanna Ditzel
Located in Copenhagen, DK
'Basket Chair' easy chair in teak with patinated wicker. Designed by Nanna Ditzel and made by Ludvig Pontoppidan.
Wicker, Teak
Vintage Hanging Egg Chair by Nanna Ditzel, 1960s
By Nanna Ditzel
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Midcentury wicker hanging egg shaped chair by Nanna Ditzel. Beautiful and very original 'loung' chair with a timeless design. It hangs from the ...
Wicker
$135,000 / set
H 38 in W 56 in D 40 in
Ayala Serfaty, Rapa Series: Conchas, Armchairs with Shared Ottoman, Israel, 2020
By Ayala Serfaty
Located in New York, NY
Rapa Series consists of pieces felted by hand, recalling ancient textiles. Utilizing wool and silk, these one-of-a-kind fiber art pieces are softly molded ...
Wool, Felt
$7,425 / set
H 32.68 in W 30.71 in D 29.53 in
Pair of Danish 1950's Lounge chairs attributed to Nanna Ditzel Boucle and Wood
By Nanna Ditzel
Located in London, GB
Pair of Danish 1950's armchairs, attributed to Nana Ditzel, reupholstered in Boucle wool have aerodynamic design incorporating the wooden arm rests and tapered legs, adorned with bra...
Bouclé, Wood
Yellow Stool by Nanna Ditzel, 1969
By Domus Danica, Nanna Ditzel
Located in London, GB
A vibrant yellow fibreglass stool designed by Nanna Ditzel for Domus Danica in 1969, after her move to London in 1968. In every aspect the stool is h...
Fiberglass
Nanna Ditzel Nursing Chair Footstool, Denmark, 1956
By Nanna Ditzel
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Rare footstool designed by Nanna Ditzel and manufactured by Kolds Savværk, Denmark 1956. This footstool belongs with the Nursing chair designed by Nanna Ditzel and this footstool wou...
Upholstery, Oak