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.
Verpan System 1-2-3 Dining Chair Standard, 1973 by Verner Panton, Kvadrat Fabric
By Verner Panton, Verpan
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: Verpan Design: Verner Panton Model: System 1-2-3 Dining Chair Standard - Round Base - 1973 The System 1-2-3 Dining Chair Standard by Verner Panton is part of the iconic Syste...
Steel
Verpan System 1-2-3 Dining Chair Standard, 1973 by Verner Panton, Butterfly Base
By Verner Panton, Verpan
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: Verpan Design: Verner Panton Model: System 1-2-3 Dining Chair Standard - Butterfly Base - 1973 The System 1-2-3 Dining Chair Standard by Verner Panton is part of the iconic S...
Steel
Verpan System 1-2-3 Dining Chair Standard, 1973 by Verner Panton, Brown Leather
By Verner Panton, Verpan
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: Verpan Design: Verner Panton Model: System 1-2-3 Dining Chair Standard - Round Base - 1973 The System 1-2-3 Dining Chair Standard by Verner Panton is part of the iconic Syste...
Steel
Verpan System 1-2-3 Base Butterfly Chair by Verner Panton, Karakorum Fabric
By Verner Panton, Verpan
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: Verpan Design: Verner Panton Model: System 1-2-3 Base Butterfly Chair Year: 1973 The System 1-2-3 Base Butterfly Chair by Verner Panton combines bold design with exceptional ...
Steel
Verpan System 1-2-3 Deluxe Chair by Verner Panton, Kvadrat Divina MD
By Verner Panton, Verpan
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: Verpan Design: Verner Panton Model: System 1-2-3 Deluxe Chair Year: 1973 The System 1-2-3 Deluxe Chair by Verner Panton is an iconic piece from the celebrated System 1-2-3 se...
Steel
Verpan System 1-2-3 Lounge Chair Deluxe 1973 by Verner Panton, Swivel Base Green
By Verner Panton, Verpan
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: Verpan Design: Verner Panton Model: System 1-2-3 Lounge Chair Deluxe, 1973 The System 1-2-3 Lounge Chair Deluxe by Verner Panton is one of the most distinctive lounge seating...
Steel
Verpan System 1-2-3 Dining Chair Standard, 1973 by Verner Panton, Butterfly Base
By Verner Panton, Verpan
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: Verpan Design: Verner Panton Model: System 1-2-3 Dining Chair Standard - Butterfly Base - 1973 The System 1-2-3 Dining Chair Standard by Verner Panton is part of the iconic S...
Steel
Verpan Series 430 Chair by Verner Panton 1967, Black Frame, Kvadrat Hallingdal
By Verner Panton, Verpan
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: Verpan Design: Verner Panton Model: Series 430 Chair Year: 1967 Step into design history with the re-edition of the Series 430 Chair, an exceptionally modern chair created in...
Metal
Verpan System 1-2-3 Lounge Chair Deluxe, 1973 by Verner Panton, Black Leather
By Verner Panton, Verpan
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: Verpan Design: Verner Panton Model: System 1-2-3 Lounge Chair Deluxe, 1973 The System 1-2-3 Lounge Chair Deluxe by Verner Panton is one of the most distinctive lounge seating...
Steel
Verpan Series 270 F Armchair by Verner Panton, Klein Blue Plywood
By Verner Panton, Verpan
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: Verpan Design: Verner Panton Model: Series 270 F Armchair The Series 270 F Armchair by Verner Panton for Verpan is a refined exploration of modularity and modernism in bent p...
Wood
Verpan Series 270 F Armchair by Verner Panton, Honey Stained Plywood
By Verner Panton, Verpan
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: Verpan Design: Verner Panton Model: Series 270 F Armchair The Series 270 F Armchair by Verner Panton for Verpan is a refined exploration of modularity and modernism in bent p...
Wood
$1,215 / item
430 Chair in Blue by Verner Panton
By Verner Panton, Verpan
Located in Horsens, DK
Fully upholstered stacking chair with black painted metal frame and felt feet. It is the Raf Simons designed fabric, Harald from Kvadrat, ...
Metal
$1,140 / item
430 Chair in Beige by Verner Panton
By Verner Panton, Verpan
Located in Horsens, DK
Fully upholstered stacking chair with black painted metal frame and felt feet. It is the Nanna Ditzel designed fabric, Hallingdal from Kva...
Metal
Cloverleaf In and Outdoor Sofa, Middle Unit in White by Verner Panton
By Verner Panton, Verpan
Located in Horsens, DK
Cloverleaf middle unit sofa in-and-outdoor in white by Verner Panton. Charging unit can be added - for indoor use only. Modular sofa system consisting of ...
Geometri Slipper Chair by Verner Panton for Innovation Randers, Denmark, 1990s
By Verner Panton, Innovation
Located in Izegem, VWV
A rare 1990s slipper chair with Verner Panton's grey Geometri fabric (the famous Geometri fabric was designed in 1960). The chair was produced under license by Innovation Denmark whi...
Steel
Design Classic - Verner Panton, S Chair Model 276 for Thonet, 1965
By Thonet, Verner Panton
Located in Renens, CH
Model 276 S chair, designed by Verner Panton for Thonet in 1965. Unlike his more well-known plastic and metal designs, this early model is crafted entirely from molded wood, showca...
Plywood
Cloverleaf in and Outdoor Sofa, Extension Unit in White by Verner Panton
By Verner Panton, Verpan
Located in Horsens, DK
Cloverleaf extension unit sofa in-and-outdoor in white by Verner Panton. Charging unit can be added - for indoor use only. Modular sofa system consisting ...
1973, Verner Panton, 1-2-3 Serie Easy Chair in Original Panton Fabric
By Verner Panton, Fritz Hansen
Located in Amsterdam IJMuiden, NL
This item is part of the private collection of Casey Godrie and is situated in his private house. Ask him for competitive shipping quotes. His incredible Dune Villa, Amsterdam Beach,...
Metal
2024 Verner Panton for Verpan Cloverleaf Parotega Sofa in Green
By Verner Panton, Verpan
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Cloverleaf Sofa, originally designed by Verner Panton in 1969. This particular example was produced by Verpan in Denmark in 2024. This sofa i...
Metal
Verner Panton Cone Chair, First Edition
By Verner Panton
Located in Brussels, BE
Verner Panton cone chair, first edition.
Fabric
Mid-Century Modern Brown Leather System 123 Chair by Verner Panton, Denmark
By Verner Panton
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Modern Brown leather System 123 Chair by Verner Panton, Denmark, 1973.
Leather
1969 Verner Panton Cone Chair Green Fabric Made in Denmark for Plus-Linje Vitra
By Plus-Linje, Verner Panton
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a vintage Verner Panton Cone Chair in original green upholstery. The cone chair was originally designed for a restaurant in Denmark, though the novelty of the design has made...
Steel
1960s Pair of Verner Panton Cone Chairs Made in Denmark for Plus-Linje Vitra
By Verner Panton, Plus-Linje
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is an original pair of cone chairs, designed by Verner Panton and produced by Plus-Linje. Whereas the current variations and now produced by Vitra, this early example...
Steel, Chrome
1973 Verner Panton, 1-2-3 Serie Easy Chair in Original First Fabric
By Verner Panton, Fritz Hansen
Located in Amsterdam IJMuiden, NL
This item is part of the private collection of Casey Godrie and is situated in his private house. Ask him for competitive shipping quotes. His incredible Dune Villa, Amsterdam Beach...
Metal
Verner Panton, sedia mod. Pantonic 5000, Studio Hag, 1992
By Verner Panton, Studio Hag
Located in Rivoli, IT
Rarissima sedia Panton Mod: Pantonic 5000 in faggio nero. Nel 1992 Verner Panton disegnò tre modelli 5000, 5010, 5020 progettati dallo Studio di design danese Håg Le sedie sono stat...
Wood
Verner Panton, sedia mod. Pantonic 5000, Studio Hag, 1992
By Verner Panton, Studio Hag
Located in Rivoli, IT
Rarissima sedia Panton Mod: Pantonic 5000 in faggio nero. Nel 1992 Verner Panton disegnò tre modelli 5000, 5010, 5020 progettati dallo Studio di design danese Håg Le sedie sono stat...
Wood
1973, Verner Panton for Rosenthal, 1-2-3 Serie, Rare Chaise Longue, Ochre Fabric
By Verner Panton, Rosenthal
Located in Amsterdam IJMuiden, NL
This chair is part of the private collection of Casey Godrie and is situated in his private house. Ask him for competitive shipping quotes. His incredible Dune Villa, Amsterdam Beac...
Fabric, Upholstery
Verner Panton, sedia mod. Pantonic 5000, Studio Hag, 1992
By Verner Panton, Studio Hag
Located in Rivoli, IT
Rarissima sedia Panton Mod: Pantonic 5000 in faggio nero. Nel 1992 Verner Panton disegnò tre modelli 5000, 5010, 5020 progettati dallo Studio di design danese Håg Le sedie sono stat...
Wood
Verpan Series 430 Chair by Verner Panton 1967, Brass Frame, Kvadrat Harald Grey
By Verner Panton, Verpan
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: Verpan Design: Verner Panton Model: Series 430 Chair Year: 1967 Step into design history with the re-edition of the Series 430 Chair, an exceptionally modern chair created in...
Metal
Verpan Series 430 Chair by Verner Panton 1967, Brass Frame, Kvadrat Harald
By Verner Panton, Verpan
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: Verpan Design: Verner Panton Model: Series 430 Chair Year: 1967 Step into design history with the re-edition of the Series 430 Chair, an exceptionally modern chair created in...
Metal
Verpan Series 430 Chair by Verner Panton 1967, Black Frame, Green Kvadrat Harald
By Verner Panton, Verpan
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: Verpan Design: Verner Panton Model: Series 430 Chair Year: 1967 Step into design history with the re-edition of the Series 430 Chair, an exceptionally modern chair created in...
Metal
Verpan Series 430 Chair by Verner Panton, 1967, Black Frame, Kvadrat Harald
By Verner Panton, Verpan
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: Verpan Design: Verner Panton Model: Series 430 Chair Year: 1967 The Series 430 Chair by Verner Panton is a masterful study in simplicity and ergonomic design. Created in 1967...
Metal
Verpan Series 270 F Armchair by Verner Panton, Brown Red Plywood
By Verner Panton, Verpan
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: Verpan Design: Verner Panton Model: Series 270 F Armchair The Series 270 F Armchair by Verner Panton for Verpan is a refined exploration of modularity and modernism in bent p...
Wood
Cloverleaf in and Outdoor Sofa, Left Unit in White by Verner Panton
By Verner Panton, Verpan
Located in Horsens, DK
Cloverleaf left unit sofa in-and-outdoor in white by Verner Panton. Charging unit can be added - for indoor use only. Modular sofa system consisting of ri...
Verner Panton, sedia mod. Pantonic 5000, Studio Hag, 1992
By Verner Panton, Studio Hag
Located in Rivoli, IT
Rarissima sedia Panton Mod: Pantonic 5000 in faggio nero. Nel 1992 Verner Panton disegnò tre modelli 5000, 5010, 5020 progettati dallo Studio di design danese Håg Le sedie sono stat...
Wood