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Panton Chair
Iconic Designs

Panton ChairBy Verner Panton

About the Design

Appearing as if it were a three-dimensional brushstroke of paint, the S-shaped Panton chair is just one curved piece of plastic that cantilevers over itself to form a seat. Prior to its development by experimental Danish designer Verner Panton (1926–98), no chair had ever been crafted from a single piece of molded plastic. 

“I want to design furniture that grows up out of the floor,” Panton said of his work. “To turn the furniture into something organic, which never has four legs.” The designer, who studied at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen before working for Arne Jacobsen’s architecture firm, started experimenting with the concept of single-piece plastic chairs in the late 1950s, drafting sketches of what eventually became his signature eponymous work before creating a full-scale polystyrene model. But he ran into production trouble — no manufacturer would tackle the chair’s challenging engineering problems. Plastic was still a relatively new invention at the time, having been introduced to mass markets in the postwar era when most furniture makers still preferred to work in wood.

Enter Swiss furniture company Vitra, which agreed to take on the project in 1963.

It took four years — and ten prototypes — but Vitra and Panton were ultimately successful, creating a Panton chair made from fiberglass-reinforced polyester. It debuted in Danish design magazine Mobilia in 1967 and then at the 1968 Cologne Furniture Fair. The chair embodied a seductive combination of the era’s popular Space Age and Pop art aesthetics through its undulating form, futuristic material and punchy colors, resulting in mass demand for the relatively affordable piece of furniture. While it was discontinued in 1979 due to durability issues, the chair was reintroduced years later and Vitra has continued to manufacture it, experimenting with materials ranging from polyurethane foam to polypropylene in conjunction with Panton throughout the course of his lifetime. For the chair’s 50th anniversary, Vitra produced limited-edition chrome and glow-in-the-dark models.

The chair has become a celebrity in itself: It was featured on the cover of British Vogue in 1995 — with a nude Kate Moss atop it — and in 2006, it was inducted into the Danish Culture Canon. Numerous design museums hold the chair in their collections, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Design Museum in London and more. As far as chairs go, particularly those designed during the 1960s and 1970s, there are few better known and more beloved than the Panton.

Panton Chair

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Purple Panton Chairs by Verner Panton for Herman Miller / Felhbaum , 1976, Set o
Purple Panton Chairs by Verner Panton for Herman Miller / Felhbaum , 1976, Set o

Purple Panton Chairs by Verner Panton for Herman Miller / Felhbaum , 1976, Set o

By Verner Panton, Herman Miller

Located in KUTNO, PL

The Panton chairs on display were produced by Verner Panton for Herman Miller / Felhbaum in 1976 . Panton designed the first ever chair consisting of a single piece of plastic avail...

Category

Vintage 1970s Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Plastic

Panton Chair
Panton Chair

Panton Chair

By Verner Panton

Located in Highland, IN

The Panton chair is an important icon of modern design and has a fascinating history as Verner Panton experimented with a variety of materials to best realize the design. The most co...

Category

Late 20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Paint, Foam

Verner Panton for Vitra Glow Panton Chair, Luminescent, White, Blue, Limited Ed
Verner Panton for Vitra Glow Panton Chair, Luminescent, White, Blue, Limited Ed

Verner Panton for Vitra Glow Panton Chair, Luminescent, White, Blue, Limited Ed

By Vitra, Verner Panton

Located in Brooklyn, NY

Verner Panton for Vitra Glow Panton chair, Luminescent, white, limited edition, on occasion of 50th anniversary. 1000 luminescent produced. After several years of joint development by Verner Panton and Vitra, the Panton chair was finally ready for production in 1967 – as the first all-plastic cantilever chair to be manufactured in one piece. Created with a revolutionary production technique, the chair’s unique sculptural design was presented to the public for the first time at the imm Furniture Fair in Cologne in 1968. It rapidly came to symbolise an entire era. In 2018, 50 years after its launch, Vitra is issuing two limited editions of this iconic classic: Panton Chrome and Panton Glow. Vitra limited production of the “Glow” to 333 chairs which were sold in June 2018, the 50th anniversary of the first presentation of the chair to the public. Verner Panton showed an ardent interest in innovative technologies, techniques and materials over the course of his lifetime. He worked with lighting, colour and luminous elements in many of his futuristic interiors. For his legendary 1970 installation ‘Visiona 2...

Category

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Materials

Plastic

Verner Panton "Panton Chair" Original Edition Herman Miller circa 1960
Verner Panton "Panton Chair" Original Edition Herman Miller circa 1960

Verner Panton "Panton Chair" Original Edition Herman Miller circa 1960

By Herman Miller, Verner Panton

Located in Saint-Ouen, FR

Verner Panton "Panton chair" original edition Herman Miller in enamelled fiberglass circa 1960 wear and minor losses.

Category

Vintage 1960s North American Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Fiberglass

Set of Four Red Chairs by Verner Panton for Herman Miller/ Fehlbaum, 1970s
Set of Four Red Chairs by Verner Panton for Herman Miller/ Fehlbaum, 1970s

Set of Four Red Chairs by Verner Panton for Herman Miller/ Fehlbaum, 1970s

By Verner Panton, Herman Miller

Located in Praha, CZ

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Category

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Materials

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Set of 6 stackable Panton chairs in white lacquered molded ABS
Set of 6 stackable Panton chairs in white lacquered molded ABS

Set of 6 stackable Panton chairs in white lacquered molded ABS

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Located in London, GB

Set of 6 stackable Panton chairs in white lacquered molded ABS. Publisher's imprint under the seat. Herman Miller edition for Fehlbaum 1971 (except one from 1973). Bibliography: Pete...

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Materials

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Verner Panton "Panton Chair" 6 Original Chairs Edition Herman Miller circa 1960
Verner Panton "Panton Chair" 6 Original Chairs Edition Herman Miller circa 1960

Verner Panton "Panton Chair" 6 Original Chairs Edition Herman Miller circa 1960

By Verner Panton, Herman Miller

Located in Saint-Ouen, FR

Verner Panton "Panton chair" 6 original chairs edition Herman Miller in enamelled fiberglass circa 1960 repainted a few years ago. original color: white wear and minor losses.

Category

Vintage 1960s North American Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Fiberglass

White Panton Chair by Verner Panton for Vitra with Side Stool
White Panton Chair by Verner Panton for Vitra with Side Stool

White Panton Chair by Verner Panton for Vitra with Side Stool

By Verner Panton, Vitra

Located in Pasadena, TX

White Panton chair by Verner Panton for Vitra with Side Stool Captivated by the potential of plastic, Danish designer Verner Panton created the fir...

Category

Late 20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Plastic

Side Chair by Verner Panton for Herman Miller - Felhbaum, 1971
Side Chair by Verner Panton for Herman Miller - Felhbaum, 1971

Side Chair by Verner Panton for Herman Miller - Felhbaum, 1971

By Herman Miller, Verner Panton

Located in Barcelona, ES

Side chair designed by Verner Panton in 1967 for Herman Miller - Fehlbaum production, Germany. This one is stamped in 1971 in black glossy thermoplastic.

Category

Vintage 1970s German Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Plastic

Set of 4 Verner Panton for Vitra "S" Stackable Chairs (8 available)
Set of 4 Verner Panton for Vitra "S" Stackable Chairs (8 available)

Set of 4 Verner Panton for Vitra "S" Stackable Chairs (8 available)

By Verner Panton, Vitra

Located in Pasadena, TX

Verner Panton's cantilevered stacking chair (1960) was the first single-material and single-form chair to be made and has been produced by Vitra through three decades of development ...

Category

Vintage 1970s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Side Chairs

Materials

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Space Age "Panton Chair" in black plastic by Verner Panton for Vitra, Germany
Space Age "Panton Chair" in black plastic by Verner Panton for Vitra, Germany

Space Age "Panton Chair" in black plastic by Verner Panton for Vitra, Germany

By Verner Panton

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In this listing you will find the iconic S Chair or Panton Chair, designed by Verner Panton for Vitra. It is celebrated for being the first single-form, injection-molded plastic chai...

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Early 2000s German Space Age Chairs

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Set of Six “S” Chairs by Verner Panton for Herman Miller, 1970s
Set of Six “S” Chairs by Verner Panton for Herman Miller, 1970s

Set of Six “S” Chairs by Verner Panton for Herman Miller, 1970s

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An iconic set of six cantilevered “S” chairs designed by Verner Panton for Herman Miller, embodying one of the most recognizable silhouettes in modern design. Formed from molded plas...

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