Have a Seat - A Century of Danish Chairs
Excellence in design has been a worldwide Danish trademark for decades, yet when you look at the reasons why, one piece of furniture stands out in particular: the chair.
Today, 1950’s designers such as Arne Jacobsen, Hans J. Wegner and Poul Kjærholm still deliver some of the most influential and recognizable works of furniture. In fact, the 50’s classics have proven such an obstacle for new designers trying to establish their own identities ten years ago a group of young furniture-makers cut a Wegner chair in half with a chainsaw, symbolizing their desire to break away from the binding legacy of their illustrious predecessors.
In this century, however, the grudge seems to have passed. While the classics are still popular, new designs with their own independent styles are now making a mark on the international design scene. At Copenhagen Exclusive we have chosen what we believe to be the 10 most influential chair designs in the past 100 years. So sit down, get settled – have a seat!
1910’s
The Faaborg Chair by Kaare Klint (1914)
Kaare Klint established the tradition of Danish chairmaking with the first innovative furniture design seen in Denmark at the time. Influenced by the 1910’s great emphasis on quality craftsmanship and natural materials, Kaare Klint designed the Faaborg Chair in oak and wicker for the Faaborg Museum. Ahead of his time, Klint used people’s measurements and proportions for his interior designs, though this particular chair was designed with light materials for a museum in order to make it easier for visitors to move around.
1920’s
The Red Chair by Kaare Klint (1927)
Kaare Klint remained the sole influential furniture maker in Denmark in the beginning of the century. Although a much heavier look than his debut The Faaborg Chair, Kaare Klint remained faithful to the use of natural materials in the 1920’s. The frame of The Red Chair is made of mahogany and the back and seat are covered in red goatskin. By this time Kaare Klint had become head of Copenhagen Art Institute and a new generation of artists were influenced by his aim to blend form, materials, construction and function into one piece of furniture.
1930’s
The Snake Chair by Poul Henningsen (1932)
The 1930’s were influenced by functionalism. Homes were aesthetically furnished with few pieces that were carefully picked out. After the World War I, many people lived in small flats, so simple furniture like Poul Henningsen’s Snake Chair was the way forward. In the 30’s, Poul Henningsen became particularly famous for his layered lamp designs, but is still known for the elegant Snake Chair, made of chromed steel tubes and a seat covered with oilcloth.
1940’s
The Chair by Hans J. Wegner (1949)
In 1949, Hans J. Wegner designed a chair inspired by old Chinese chair styles with a simple construction and emphasis on the structure and quality of the wood. Ten years later, it was used in the famous televised presidential debate between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon. Consequently, it became so famous that it was simply known as “The Chair.” It’s not hard to find a Wegner chair in today’s Danish homes. In his later years, the designer entered the mass market through industrial furniture production. To this day, more than 25,000 of his best-selling The Y Chair are sold each year.
1950’s
The Ant by Arne Jacobsen (1958)
Arne Jacobsen is without a doubt one of the most renowned Danish architects. He broke with traditional Danish craftsmanship by designing the first industrially produced chair: The Ant. The sculpted, curved chair with three steel legs was originally designed for a company cafeteria, but its beautiful shape, practical stacking ability and affordability soon made it a household must. The Ant and Jacobsen’s other designs, Series 7, The Egg Chair, and The Swann Chair, have played a substantial role in making Denmark a leader in furniture design.
1960’s
The Panton Chair by Verner Panton (1960)
A financial boom hit Denmark in the 1960’s. Flush with cash, Danes wanted to explore more possibilities in their homes. Young people protested against traditional interior decorating and new designers such as Verner Panton experimented with shapes, materials and colors. Panton replaced the typical Scandinavian light wooden design with brightly colored chairs in plastic. The one-piece plastic Panton Chair became a huge success. Ironically, Panton had to get a company in the U.S. to produce it– it is said to have been “too much change” for Danish producers at the time.
1970’s
Armchair by Poul Kjærholm (1979)
Poul Kjærholm played a large part in the successful 1950-1970’s Danish design ‘boys club.’ And although many of his chairs originated in this period, Kjærholm remained very productive up until his death in 1980. One of his last pieces, Armchair, was an example of just how ahead of the times Kjærholm was. In 1979, the steam-bent wood was mechanically impossible to produce. As a result, the chair only entered production after Kjærholm’s death in 1991.
1980’s
Bench For Two by Nana Ditzel (1989)
If there was a lowpoint in new Danish design, it was probably the 1980’s, a decade full of conflict and contrasts. Denmark was rife with unemployment at the time, but also very focused on wealth. Furniture design reflected this contrast in its forms and styles, resulting in products that were more about being different than about displaying good taste. Nanna Ditzel’s Bench For Two, however, is an example of a successful mix of post-modern style and the simple, light Danish tradition of expression.
1990’s
The Runner by Kasper Salto (1997)
After a couple of low profile decades for new Danish designers, fresh talent began to emerge in the 1990’s. Kasper Salto, who has managed to break the ‘curse’ of the successful 50’s, is one example of such a designer. While carrying on the classic Danish furniture tradition, he has also managed to explore new materials, shapes and ideas. Inspired by the white lines on a stadium running track and as a tribute to the world famous Danish Olympic runner Wilson Kipketer, he named one of his successful chairs The Runner.
2000’s
The Gubi Chair by Komplot Design (2003)
Inspired by Italian film and French fashion, Gubi surprised the Danes with their collection of denim-covered furniture in 1972. Carrying on the legacy of Lisbeth and Gubi Olsen, Jacob Gubi has made an impressive international success out of his parent’s company. The Gubi Chair was shown outside of Danish borders at the German Orgatec exhibition in Cologne in 2004 and has since received a long list of awards. The American firm, SOM Architects, who are in charge of building and furnishing Building No. 7 at Ground Zero in New York, have chosen to use the Gubi chair in their ‘office of the future’ design on the 25th floor.
February 2007