The Panton chair is a classic. Designed by Verner Panton in 1960, it was the first plastic chair manufactured in a single piece. Its production began in 1967 in collaboration with Vitra, a company in which 50 years later we can still buy this chair in a wide range of colors.
The Panton chair has received numerous international awards of design and is represented in the collections of many important museums. But in addition to design, the chair offers comfort thanks to the combination of a cantilever-type structure, an anthropomorphic line and a slightly flexible material. Would you like to have this icon of the twentieth century. at home?
Verner Panton, the designer
Verner Panton, born in 1926 in Gamtofte, Denmark, studied at the Odense Polytechnic before enrolling at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen to study architecture. Between 1950 and 1952 he gained experience working in Arne Jacobsen's studio and in 1955 he founded his own architecture and design studio.
Verner Panton had a great influence on the design evolution of the sixties and seventies. The use of color became one of the characteristic features of his work, which included pieces of furniture, lighting and textiles. Pieces made, mainly with enamel or plastic that he turned into a work of art and with which he managed to revolutionize interior design.
The Panton chair: features
The Panton chair is one of the most relevant pieces of modern design and the most popular of the designer Verner Panton. Not only for its aesthetics, but for what the conception of a chair entailed made from a single piece and with a single material, plastic.
Initially the chair was made of a mixture of plastic and fiberglass. Later, its manufacture has evolved and today there are two versions of the Panton chair that are marketed: Panton Classic that Vitra makes in a hard foam with a varnished surface and Panton Chair Standard made entirely of 100% recyclable dyed polypropylene.
This change in materials has allowed, in addition to its interior use, its outdoor use, where it is also suitable. In this regard, however, Vitra advises that although the use of special additives helps to prevent color fading due to ultraviolet radiation, if the chair is exposed to sunlight for a long time, the color could to vary. Or what is the same, that a limited exposure to sunlight is recommended so that it remains unaltered for longer.
If we talk about characteristics that make this chair a practical choice, we must also talk about its stackable condition. An advantage that allows you to save space when they are not used and that will allow you to have a couple of extra chairs to be able to attend all your guests.
Do you want to compare an original Panton chair? You can do it with Vitra, who has owned the rights to the chair since 1967 and who commissioned Panton to design the chair. Although you will also find it available in a wide variety of colors and with an affordable price in the "imitation" market.
Decorate with the Pantón chair
The dining room is the quintessential place for the Panton chair in our homes, although thanks to its ergonomic design it is also an excellent choice to consider when decorating a work or waiting area such as the hall in which we usually sit.
The design of the Panton chair is able to bring an elegant and modern touch to any dining room. It stands out especially, however, in spaces with a rustic character to which its daring design provides an interesting contrast thanks to its pronounced curves, and retro style environments Inspired by the 60s to which the chair belongs.
It is also frequent to find them in children's rooms and corners, for the variety of colors in which it is manufactured. The Panton chair also has a version specially designed for children that preserves its shape and proportions but slightly reduces its size.
And although its use in outdoor spaces have certain limitations as we have explained previously, this chair is increasingly popular to decorate this type of space. Why? Because its ability to be stacked and its ease of cleaning make it very attractive. It is a chair that during the summer you can handle to leave like new and that during the winter you can stack and collect in a minimum space in order to protect them from inclement weather.
The Panton chair is available in neutral colors such as white and black, but also in striking reds, oranges, greens, blues and pinks. The latter colors are especially interesting when we want to incorporate this piece individually into a specific space and draw attention to it.