SPOTLIGHT ON
MCM Furniture Designers & Makers
(A work in progress...)
Verner Panton, Denmark
The Danish architect and designer Verner Panton (1926-1998) ranks among the most prominent and innovative designers active during the second half of the 20th century. In the course of his long career, he created an extensive and multifaceted oeuvre in which his preference for mostly bold colours and his skilful play with basic geometric forms and figures manifested itself. Furniture was at the heart of Verner Panton’s creative output – such as the iconic Cone Chair and the Panton Chair developed together with Vitra, which is one of his best-known creations. In addition, Verner Panton designed numerous lamps and textiles. The interiors he designed, in which he merged elements from all areas of his work into a kind of synthesis of the arts, represent the creative highlight of his oeuvre. Prominent examples in this context include the Spiegel Publishing House in Hamburg (1968), the Visiona Exhibitions in Cologne (1968 and 1970) produced for the Bayer chemistry concern, and the restaurant Varna near Aarhus (1971). Some of Verner Panton’s most famous works, such as the Panton Chair and the Panthella Lamp, have been in production without interruption for decades or have returned to production in recent years.
Verner Panton (1926-1998) is considered one of Denmark’s most influential furniture and interior designers in the 20th century. Panton’s works are represented in numerous museums worldwide, and he was awarded several prestigious design awards. He was a unique designer with a special sense of colour, shape, light function and space.
Panton was trained as an architectural engineer in Odense and after that he studied architecture at the Royal Danish Academy of Art in Copenhagen, graduating in 1951. During his career, he created innovative and futuristic designs in a variety of materials, especially plastics, often using very vibrant colours. Panton also introduced a series of modern lamps with personalities unlike any of his Scandinavian contemporaries. The Panthella lamp, created in 1971, is one of the most famous luminaires by Panton.
Panton was also famous for his inspirational and colourful personality. “The main purpose of my work is to provoke people into using their imagination. Most people spend their lives living in dreary, grey-beige conformity, mortally afraid of using colours. By experimenting with lighting, colours, textiles and furniture and utilizing the latest technologies, I try to show new ways, to encourage people to use their imagination and make their surroundings more exciting,” Panton commented on his designs.
- https://www.finnishdesignshop.com/en-hk/designer/verner-panton?page=3
"The main purpose of my work is to provoke people
INTO USING THEIR IMAGINATION"
- Verner Panton