33 - VERNER PANTON (Denmark, 1926–1998) for VITRA.

VERNER PANTON (Denmark, 1926–1998) for VITRA. “Panton Chrome” Chair. Polyurethane resin with a mirror-effect metallic finish. Features a die-stamped Vitra logo. Measurements: 84 x 50 x 57.5 cm. In the 1960s, Panton began his collaboration with Vitra, with whom he developed his best-known design: the “Panton” chair, made from a single piece of injection-molded plastic, which was unveiled in 1967. Now considered a 20th-century design classic, the “Panton” chair is part of such prominent collections as that of the MoMA in New York. The piece now up for auction is a limited edition produced by Vitra to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Panton Chair’s debut. Its reflective finish accentuates the continuity of the curves and creates a play of reflections with the surroundings, reinforcing the model’s sculptural character. The S-shaped silhouette integrates the backrest, seat, and base into a single cantilevered structure. Considered one of the most influential figures in late 20th-century furniture design, Verner Panton created a variety of innovative and futuristic designs throughout his career, particularly those made of plastic and featuring bright colors. Most of his best-known designs remain in production. Verner attended the Odense Technical School and then studied architecture at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen, graduating in 1951. In the early years of his career, between 1950 and 1942, he worked at Arne Jacobsen’s architecture firm. In 1955, he opened his own architecture and design studio, gaining fame for his furniture based on geometric shapes, manufactured by the company Plus-linje. In the late 1950s, his chair designs—without legs and without a discernible backrest—became increasingly unconventional. In the 1960s, Panton began his collaboration with Vitra, a partnership that has remained very close ever since and culminated in 2000 with a retrospective exhibition of Panton’s work at the Vitra Design Museum. His work is currently represented at the Design Museum in London and the MoMA in New York, among many other institutions.