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.
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 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 Dark Green by Verner Panton
By Verner Panton, Verpan
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
Fabric Board by Verner Panton for Mira Spectrum, 1970S
By Verner Panton
Located in bruxelles, BE
Fabric painting by Verner Panton with a wooden card. Signed Verner Panton. Wear due to time and age. For shipping, request us for receive the best price.
Fabric, Wood
Fabric Board by Verner Panton for Mira Spectrum, 1970S
By Verner Panton
Located in bruxelles, BE
Fabric board by Verner Panton in a wooden frame. Signed Verner Panton. Wear due to time and age. For shipping, request us for receive the best price.
Fabric, Wood
$1,755 / item
Wave Hand-Tufted Rug in Yellow 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: Yellow.
Wool
Luna Hand-Tufted Rug in Grey by Verner Panton
By Verner Panton, Verpan
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
Fabric Boards by Verner Panton for Mira Spectrum, 1970S, set of 2
By Verner Panton
Located in bruxelles, BE
Pair of boards with fabric by Verner Panton in a wooden frame. Signed Verner Panton. Wear due to time and age of the boards. For shipping, request us for receive the best price.
Fabric, Wood
Fabric Board by Verner Panton for Mira Spectrum, 1970S
By Verner Panton
Located in bruxelles, BE
Fabric board by Verner Panton in a wooden frame. Signed Verner Panton. Wear due to time and age. For shipping, request us for receive the best price.
Fabric, Wood
$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
"Space bar" by WAS, Unique piece
Located in Marinha Grande, PT
"Space bar" by WAS Airplane trolley turned into an unique Artwork The trolley has been customized by the french artist WAS transforming it into a work...
Metal, Aluminum
$3,495
H 20.25 in W 43.5 in D 21 in
Handpainted Folk Art Wedding Chest by Peter Hunt, Provincetown, D. 1948
By Peter Hunt
Located in Peabody, MA
A handpainted folk art wedding chest by the noted maker Peter Hunt of Provincetown, Massachusetts. Hunt was a charismatic figure who sold his colonial and Dutch revival decorated fou...
Wood, Paint
$2,458
H 66.93 in W 26.38 in D 17.72 in
Antique Swedish Two-Part Corner Cabinet in Painted Pine – Rustic Folk Art
Located in PARIS, FR
This antique Swedish corner cabinet is a beautifully preserved two-part piece of furniture, crafted in painted pine with a timeworn patina. Designed specifically to sit neatly in the...
Wood
$2,591
H 58.27 in W 83.47 in D 1.19 in
Mid-Century Modern Italian Folding Four-Panel Decorated Screen by Enzo Strada
By Enzo Strada
Located in Prato, IT
Mid-Century Modern Italian folding four-panel screen with bucolic transfer painting. 1960s Each panel measures cm.53 x 3 x H 148.
Wood
Antique Painted Folk Art Farmhouse Bridal Chest 1737
Located in OOSTERHOUT, NL
Primitively decorated/painted bridal chest from Germany, specifically from the Swabian Alps. The chest has a very rustic appearance and displays plenty of character. Considering its ...
Pine, Paint
$1,750
H 34 in W 37 in D 22 in
Antique American Blanket Chest, circa 1900, Hand-Painted by Lew Hudnall
Located in Houston, TX
Antique Americana- style North American blanket chest with hinged lid, circa 1900. Hand-painted with a stylized Federal Eagle on the front. One talon grasping arrows and the other an...
Wood, Paint
$14,856 / 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
Contemporary Handmade Persian Flat-Weave Accent Rug in Dark Brown
Located in New York, NY
A modern Persian flat-weave Kilim accent rug from the 21st century with four dark brown sections stitched together due to its nomadic nature. The blue, white, red, pink, and yellow s...
Wool
Luna Hand-Tufted Rug in Grey by Verner Panton
By Verner Panton, Verpan
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
$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
$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
Folk Art Painted Face Suitcase by Artist Ira Yeager
By Ira Yeager
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Whimsical folk art painted suitcase or valise featuring a striped canvas covered exterior with a painted face by artist Ira Yeager (American 1938-2022). The case is covered with vintage western European ports of call with a lovely aged, distressed patina. The interior has a green intact silk lining with pockets. Used as a prop in Yeager's Gallery studio in Calistoga, CA. Made by US manufacturer...
Metal
Fabric Board by Verner Panton for Mira Spectrum, 1970S
By Verner Panton
Located in bruxelles, BE
Fabric board by Verner Panton in a wooden frame. Signed Verner Panton. Wear due to time and age. For shipping, request us for receive the best price.
Fabric, Wood
Fabric Board by Verner Panton for Mira, 1970s
By Verner Panton
Located in bruxelles, BE
Fabric painting by Verner Panton with a wooden card. Signed Verner Panton. Wear due to time and age.
Fabric, Wood
Fabric Board by Verner Panton for Mira Spectrum, 1970S
By Verner Panton
Located in bruxelles, BE
Wooden frame containing a fabric board by Verner Panton. Signed Verner Panton. Wear due to time and age of the board.
Fabric, Wood