102 - Attributed to VERNER PANTON (Denmark, 1926–1998).

Attributed to VERNER PANTON (Denmark, 1926–1998). “Wire Cone” Swivel Armchair, Denmark, 1960, Chrome-plated metal. Measurements: 75 x 60 cm; 45 cm (seat height). Verner Panton’s “Wire Cone” stems from one of the Danish designer’s most characteristic explorations: transforming basic geometric shapes into furniture with a futuristic appearance. Its history is linked to the Cone Chair, designed in 1958 for the Kom Igen restaurant in Denmark, whose interior Panton conceived as a cohesive whole, from the furniture to the lighting and textiles. The original chair was based on an upholstered conical shape resting on a swivel base, transforming a simple geometric figure into an enveloping, sculptural seat. Building on this idea, Panton developed a version made of metal wire, the Wire Cone, which replaces the solid shell with a more open and lightweight structure. Throughout his career, Verner Panton created a variety of innovative and futuristic designs, particularly those made of plastic and featuring bright colors. Most of his best-known designs remain in production. Verner attended the Technical School in Odense 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.