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.
Dish Designed by Verner Panton for Georg Jensen, Denmark, 1990s
By Verner Panton
Located in Stockholm, SE
Silver dish designed by Verner Panton for Georg Jensen, Denmark. 1990’s. Sterling silver. Dimensions: H: 9,5 cm/ 3 3/4'' L: 56 cm/ 22'' W: 46 cm/ 18'' Among the giants of Danish...
Silver
$2,468 / set
H 6 in W 1 in D 0.5 in
Set of Eight Sterling Silver Blossom Salad Forks by Georg Jensen, Denmark
By Georg Jensen
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Set of Eight Sterling Silver Blossom Salad Forks by Georg Jensen, Denmark Designed in 1905 by Georg Jensen, the Blossom cutlery pattern is delicate and genteel - representative of J...
Sterling Silver
$15,000 / set
H 5.5 in W 18.5 in D 12.5 in
107 Piece Sterling Silver Flatware by Georg Jensen Denmark, Acanthus Pattern
By Georg Jensen
Located in Toledo, OH
A beautiful 107 piece sterling silver flatware set by Georg Jensen in the Acanthus pattern. It contains the following pieces: 20 teaspoons 6" 8 cream of soup spoons 5 1/2" 5 tables...
Sterling Silver
$4,360Sale Price|20% Off
H 9 in Dm 5.5 in
Georg Jensen Sterling Silver Water Pitcher C.1950, Designed by Johan Rohde
By Georg Jensen
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Georg Jensen sterling silver water pitcher C.1950. Designed by Johan Rohde. Iconic design, hand wrought plain lightly hammer...
Sterling Silver
$645 / set
H 0.79 in W 1.97 in D 1.38 in
Danish silver salt cellars by Georg Jensen, model #110, 1915-1930
By Georg Jensen
Located in Delft, NL
Danish silver salt cellars by Georg Jensen, model #110, 1915-1930 Two small Danish silver salt cellars made by Georg Jensen Marked with model no. #110, made between 1915-1930, Denma...
Silver
Georg Jensen rare design Sterling Silver Caddy spoon C.1940
By Georg Jensen
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Georg Jensen rare design Sterling Silver Caddy spoon C.1940. Plain oval goose egg bowl with foliate handle terminal. Nice solid heavy quality, condition good,...
Sterling Silver
Georg Jensen Danish Sterling Silver Canteen of Cutlery for Six Persons
By Georg Jensen
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive vintage Danish sterling silver Cactus pattern canteen of cutlery for six persons made by Georg Jensen; an addition to our antique flatware sets The pieces of this exceptional vintage Danish silver cutlery service in sterling standard have been crafted in the Cactus (Kaktus) pattern. The upper portion of each handle is embellished with an impressive Art Deco style organic design. This canteen of cutlery consists of 48 pieces: Basic Service: 6 Table knife 6 Table fork 6 Soup spoon 6 Dessert knife 6 Dessert fork 6 Dessert spoon 6 Teaspoon Additional Pieces: Pair of serving spoons Large cream ladle Small cream ladle Sauce ladle Gravy ladle The pieces of this silver flatware set, including the original knives, have been crafted by the renowned Danish silversmith Georg Jensen; many components of this exceptional service bear the London import hallmark for 1956. This vintage canteen...
Sterling Silver
Georg Jensen Danish Sterling Silver Menu / Card Holders
By Georg Jensen
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive set of six antique Danish cast sterling silver menu / card holders made by Georg Jensen; an addition to our diverse dining silverware collection. These exceptional antique Danish cast sterling silver menu card holders...
Sterling Silver
A Serving Spoon from Georg Jensen, Model 41, Denmark, '1945'
By Georg Jensen
Located in Delft, NL
A serving spoon from Georg Jensen, model 41, Denmark (1945-) A serving spoon from Georg Jensen with a curled handle with a round and sleek motif. The bowl of the spoon is slightly...
Silver
$12,500 / set
H 1 in W 1 in D 1 in
Scroll by Georg Jensen Danish Sterling Silver Flatware Set Service 45 Pieces
By Georg Jensen
Located in Big Bend, WI
Scroll is a scarce, hand hammered heavy weight pattern designed by Johan Rohde in 1927. Johan Rohde is known for his innovative and unique style. While his patterns are elegant an...
Sterling Silver
$2,300 / item
H 5.38 in Dm 6.25 in
Georg Jensen Danish Sterling Siver Bowl 17 B Designed by Johan Rohde
By Johan Rohde, Georg Jensen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A classic Georg Jensen style bowl designed by Johan Rohde - the attention to details on the base is exquiste and quite indicative of a Jensen piece. The base and foot detailing is ...
Sterling Silver
Georg Jensen Sterling Silver Grape Tazza Dish 296 E
By Georg Jensen
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Elevate your fruit with this small tazza from Georg Jensen’s grape series. Designed by Georg Jensen in 1916, Produced in Denmark with post-1945 marks. Very good condition. Surface ...
Sterling Silver
Georg Jensen Sterling Silver Hand Hammered Mint Dish Bowl 575D
By Georg Jensen
Located in New York, NY
Georg Jensen sterling silver hand hammered mint dish bowl in pattern 575D, measuring 6 1/3” in diameter by 2 ¼” in height and weighing 7.2 ozt. Bearing hallmarks as shown. Georg J...
Silver, Sterling Silver
Verner Panton
By Verner Panton
Located in San Francisco, CA
A rippling black glass centerpiece by Verner Panton. Amazing smoothness to the glass, despite the "wrinkles". Originally designed for Georg Jenson (De...
Glass