Furniture designer Ueli Berger and his wife, Susi Berger-Wyss, collaboratively designed furniture for over 40 years, establishing themselves as influential mid-century modern designers. The Swiss duo produced geometric designs with playful artistry that reflected their longstanding credo: “only a new idea justifies a new piece of furniture.”
In the 1950s, Ueli Berger apprenticed as a painter before attending a trade school and school of arts and crafts. In the early 1960s, he worked with Swiss interior designer Hans Eichenberger. After he married Susi, the couple partnered on furniture design for Swiss manufacturers Victoria-Werke, de Sede and Röthlisberger. In 1965, Berger became head of design and development at Troesch in Bern. By 1971, he was self-employed with his own studio.
Among the couple’s best-known designs is the de Sede lounge chair. Its form is related to the modular seating Berger completed with designers Eleonore Peduzzi Riva, Heinz Ulrich and Klaus Vogt. While the modular chairs and sectional “snake” sofas offer a high level of customization, the lounge chair — complete with a tall back and X-shaped frame made from dark lacquered wood — is an innovation marvel. Upholstered in cognac leather, Berger’s seating feels as sexy, comfortable and radical as it did in its heyday.
The pair received the Swiss Grand Award for Design and exhibited work in museums around the world, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York and Switzerland’s leading design and visual communication museum, the Museum für Gestaltung Zürich. Their Cloud Lamp, or Wolkenlampe, was featured in Modern Magazine and designs for Röthlisberger like the Kungfu Regal shelving and Robot Kommode continue to attract the attention of collectors and modern decorators.
On 1stDibs, find a collection of Ueli Berger seating, lighting and more.
| Average Sold Price |
| $35,000 |
| Styles |
| Materials |
| Related Creators |
$3,650
H 33.47 in W 27.56 in D 35.44 in
Ueli Berger for De Sede 'DS-80' Lounge Chair in Cognac Leather
By De Sede, Ueli Berger
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Ueli Berger for De Sede, lounge chair, model 'DS-80', wood, leather, Switzerland, 1970s The 'DS-80' lounge chair designed by Ueli Berger for De Sede. The frame is a stark, dark grey...
Leather, Wood
$45,399 / item
H 29.14 in W 196.86 in D 78.75 in
De Sede DS 600 'Snake' Sofa 14 Elements in Full-grain Pink Nappa Leather
By De Sede, Ueli Berger
Located in Tilburg, NL
De Sede DS 600 'Snake' Sectional Sofa with 14 Elements in High Quality Full-grain Pink Nappa Leather, Zwitserland. New, current production. The De Sede DS 600 alias 'Tatzelwurm' or 'Snake' is arguably the most famous sofa in the world. The non-stop system makes this sofa endless and it currently has the record 'longest sofa in the world'. This listing is for a DS 600 with 14 elements - creating a visually pleasing and very comfortable colorful seating...
Leather, Wood
$133,810 / item
H 29.14 in W 472.45 in D 196.86 in
De Sede DS 600 'Snake' Sectional Sofa 40 Elements in Full-grain Nappa Leather
By De Sede, Ueli Berger
Located in Tilburg, NL
De Sede DS 600 'Snake' Sectional Sofa with 40 Elements in High Quality Full-grain Nappa Leather, Zwitserland. New, current production. The De Sede DS 600 alias 'Tatzelwurm' or 'Sna...
Leather, Wood
De Sede DS-600 Non Stop Modular 38 Elements Snake Sofa 2015
By De Sede, Ueli Berger
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Monumental bespoke De Sede DS 600 Non-Stop snake sectional sofa featuring a dramatic indigo blue velvet upholstery. The custom ordered sofa is from a Samantha Todhunter Design instal...
Metal
$267,621 / item
H 29.14 in W 944.89 in D 393.71 in
De Sede DS 600 'Snake' Seating Landscape with 80 Elements in Nappa Leather
By De Sede, Ueli Berger
Located in Tilburg, NL
De Sede DS 600 'Snake' Sectional Sofa - Seating Landscape with 80 Elements in High Quality Full-grain Nappa Leather, Zwitserland. New, current production. The De Sede DS 600 alias ...
Leather, Wood
$35,140
H 26.78 in W 59.85 in D 31.5 in
De Sede Terrazza Sofa Cognac Leather Ubald Klug Ueli Berger 1972 Mid Century
By De Sede, Ubald Klug, Ueli Berger
Located in Munster, NRW
2x De Sede Terrazza sofas, model DS 1025 in cognac leather. Designed in 1972 by Ubald Klug & Ueli Berger for De Sede, Switzerland. Sophisticated design sofa elements form the perfec...
Leather
$3,870
H 35.44 in W 27.56 in D 35.44 in
Ueli Berger for De Sede, lounge chair, wood, Cognac leather, Switzerland, 1970s.
By De Sede, Ueli Berger
Located in Almelo, NL
Ueli Berger for De Sede, lounge chair, wood, Cognac leather, Switzerland, 1970s. This high-back lounge chair is produced by the Swiss manufacturer De Sede. It features an X-shaped f...
Leather
$53,064
H 28.75 in W 236.23 in D 39.38 in
Large Modular Sofa by U. Berger, E. Peduzzi Riva E K.Vogt, Italy, 1972
By Eleonore Peduzzi Riva, Ueli Berger, Klaus Vogt
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Large modular sofa (24 modules) by Ueli Berger, Eleonore Peduzzi Riva e Klaus Vogt. Italy, 1972. Manufactured by De Sede. Wood, leather. Measures: 100 x 600 x H 73 cm, each module: 1...
Leather, Wood
| Sold Date | Sold Price | Category | Material | Creation Year | |
|
| $35,000 |
Average sold price of items in the past 12 months |
| $35,000-$35,000 |
| Sold price range of items in the past 12 months |