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.
Stack of Drawers by Susi & Ueli Berger, Röthlisberger Kollektion, 1980s
By Ueli Berger
Located in Brussels, BE
Stack of Drawers by Susi & Ueli Berger, Röthlisberger Kollektion, 1980s
Wood
Vintage British Colonial Burnt Bamboo Chests of Drawers, 1980s
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Vintage rare pair of burnt bamboo British Colonial chest of drawers. Great attention to detail throughout.
Bamboo
$10,500 / set
H 29.25 in W 31.55 in D 19.75 in
Hickory Manufacturing, Chests of Drawers, Hickory, Brass, USA, 1980s
By Hickory Manufacturing Company
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of brass and hickory chests of drawers produced by Hickory Manufacturing, USA, 1980s.
Brass
$1,899Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 24.01 in W 21.65 in D 16.92 in
A pair of chests of drawers. Germany 1980s.
Located in VILLERS-SUR-MER, FR
A pair of small drawers on wheels with five drawers dressed in mirror. Grey lacquered structure. Germany 80’s.
Mirror, Wood
Vintage 1980s Chest of Drawers by Pierre Cardin
By Pierre Cardin
Located in London, London
Chest of drawers by Pierre Cardin Brass knobs White lacquered wood 1970s-1980s France.
Wood
1980s Handmade Wicker Sidetable with Three Drawers
Located in Marbella, ES
1980s Handmade wicker sidetable with three drawers.
Wicker
$1,950
H 33.5 in W 37.5 in D 18.75 in
Vintage Louis XV Style Chest of Drawers, Two-Drawer, Italy, 1980s
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Handsome two-drawer Louis XV style chest. Both drawers are accented with an antique white and black stripe.
Wood
1980s Drexel Et Cetera Collection Chest of Drawers Chinoiserie
By Drexel
Located in Chula Vista, CA
AMBIANIC presents 1980s Drexel Et Cetera Collection Chest of Drawers Chinoiserie 24 h x 41.75 w x 20 d, Drawer 7 h x 14.75 d x 37 w top and bottom Preowned vintage condition Refer to...
Wood
$4,035
H 401.58 in W 846.46 in D 169.3 in
Postmodern Sideboard by Hans Eichenberger for Röthlisberger Kollektion, 1960's
By Hans Eichenberger, Röthlisberger
Located in Renens, CH
Very rare mid-century Swiss design classic. Black lacquered wood sideboard with Carrara marble top. Design by Hans Eichenberger for Röthlisberger Kollektion...
Marble
$4,748
H 30.71 in W 63 in D 20.48 in
1980s Italian Dark Green Satin Lacquer Chest of Drawers by Sormani
By Sormani, Davide Pizzigoni & Manolo De Giorgi
Located in Arosio, IT
Chest of drawers in very dark green lacquer (the famous 20-gloss silky mat lacquer of Sormani) with six spacious drawers: two in elegant salmon lacquer, standing out with a colorful touch and four in dark green. Please note the skillful shape of each drawer front: a triangular shape with a recessed, convex upper part. In its simplicity, a real work of craftsmanship for an industrial manufacturer such as Sormani of Arosio, Italy. Perfect for the entrance or the bedroom of a sleek city apartment or even for a contemporary mountain hut. Davide Pizzigoni...
Steel
$908Sale Price|20% Off
H 34.65 in W 40.16 in D 18.51 in
Scandinavian pine wood chest of drawers, 1980s
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Beautifully crafted with the use of fine pine wood, this chest of drawers has been beautifully shaped and offers plenty of storage space thanks to its 4 large drawers with sturdy ha...
Pine
Italian modern chests of drawers in wood, 1980s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern chests of drawers in wood, 1980s Pair of rectangular chests of drawers made entirely of wood. The front features three drawers with black metal handles. The two legs a...
Wood
$2,967
H 25.2 in W 53.15 in D 22.05 in
Italian chest of drawers by Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti 1980s
By Saporiti, Giovanni Offredi
Located in Padova, IT
CONDITION: Very good with small, inevitable signs of age and use. A small amount of discoloration on the top, highlighted in the photos, is due to an object being placed on top. Bur...
Brass
Ueli & Susi Berger 'Fachermann' Compartement Bookcase
By Ueli Berger
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Compartment shelves, in plywood, by Susi & Ueli Berger for Röthlisberger Kollektion, Switzerland 1977. 'Fachermann' in black stained wood. This giant can g...
Plywood
"Stack of Drawers" by Ueli and Susi Berger, Switzerland 198
By Ueli Berger
Located in VILLEURBANNE, FR
The "Schubladenstapel" or "Stack of Drawers" dresser, designed in 1982 by the Swiss artist duo Susi and Ueli Berger, draws its inspiration from a stack of suitcases. The initial con...
Rosewood