Nanna Ditzel was the most versatile and creative female designer that Denmark produced in the 20th century. Ditzel brought her talents to bear on a staggering array of forms — she designed furniture, jewelry, tableware and textiles; and she shaped her pieces using an equally astonishing variety of materials, from wood and wicker to silver, ceramics and fiberglass.
Born in Copenhagen, she trained as a cabinetmaker at the Royal Academy's furniture school — overseen by the great craftsman of the day, Kaare Klint — and graduated in 1943. Ditzel’s early work adhered to the classic Danish modernist tenets of simplicity, comfort and quality, and her armchairs, with their softly curved backrests are much in the spirit of Hans Wegner. Ditzel’s signature piece of that time is her Ring chair. Designed along with her husband, Jørgen Ditzel, a fabric maker, the chair has a semicircular padded armrest that seems to embrace the sitter. Ditzel began designing in wicker and in 1959 produced the Hanging chair. The piece, suspended from the ceiling by a chain, became a favorite for fashion shoots and may be as iconic of the 1960s as Eero Aarnio’s plastic Ball chair of 1963.
In 1956, Ditzel began designing for the Danish silverware firm Georg Jensen. In an association that lasted some 40 years, Ditzel would create organically shaped jewelry, barware, ceramic tableware and even tablecloths. Like her fellow Dane Verner Panton, Ditzel was not afraid to embrace industrial materials, and she began designing fiberglass chairs in the mid-1960s. Some of her most flamboyant work came toward the end of her career, in pieces such as 1989’s Bench for Two, with its shocking Op-art finish, or the Trinidad chair of 1992, with it’s sunburst-like, cut-though backs. Such feats of creativity were a fitting coda to one of the most imaginative, prolific and remarkable women of modern design.
Mid-Century Modern Fiberglass Pedestal Arkana Chair by Maurice Burke
By Maurice Burke, Arkana Furniture
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This is a classic Model 116 Tulip Swivel Armchair, designed in the 1960s by Maurice Burke for the British manufacturer Arkana. Inspired by Eero Saarinen's famous pedestal designs for...
Fabric, Upholstery, Fiberglass
Scandinavian Modern Leather "Z Down" Chair By Erik Magnussen For Torben Ørskov
By Torben Orskov, Erik Magnussen
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This Danish Modern leather and chromed steel folding chair known as the "Z Down" chair was designed in 1968 by Erik Magnussen. It was then produced throughout the 1970s by the Danish...
Steel, Chrome
Mid-Century Modern Scoop Leather Lounge Chair By Jens Risom For Knoll
By Knoll, Jens Risom
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mid-Century Modern, scoop, lounge chair by Jens Risom for Knoll features a minimal, black lacquered maple frame with a floating scoop seat newly upholstered in mustard yellow, textur...
Leather, Maple
Postmodern "Ambrogio" Chair By Alessandro Mendini For Studio Alchimia
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This Postmodern chair was designed by the acclaimed architect and designer Alessandro Mendini (1931–2019) for Studio Alchimia in 1983. This chair balances colorblocking with geomet...
Wood
Scandinavian Modern Model ND83 Lounge Chair By Nanna Ditzel For Willadsen
By Nanna Ditzel, Søren Willadsen
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This elegant Scandinavian Modern lounge chair was created by Danish designer Nanna Ditzel for the manufacturer Knud Willadsen circa 1952. The model no. is ND83. The chair design was featured in an exhibition where Nanna Ditzel was nicknamed the Grand Dame of Danish Furniture. She is recognized for the unique shapes and forms she uses in her designs. This ND83 chair is no exception with its half-circle backrest and armrest, a modern take on the tub chair. The chair rests on rounded teak legs. This timeless chair has been newly upholstered in blush cotton bouclé The upholstery contrasts beautifully in color and texture with it's sleek frame. The Niels Moller Model 64...
Fabric, Teak, Bouclé
Midcentury Steel and Leather Office Chair by Cramer
By Cramer Company
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Prototype, Mid-Century Modern, office, desk chair by Cramer features a stylized steel frame with newly upholstered, luggage leather seat and back. This prototype is institutional mid...
Steel
Vitra Verner Panton S Junior Chair in Orange Plastic, 2009
By Vitra
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Amazing Vitra Verner Panton S Junior Chair, produced in 2009. This playful chair reinterpret one of the most iconic furniture designs of the 20th century. Originally conceived in the...
Plastic
Pumpkin Orange Low Lita Chair by OTTO Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Pumpkin Orange Low Lita Chair by OTTO Studio Designed by Paola Navone. Dimensions: D 80 x W 78 x H 70 cm. Seat Height: 36 cm. Materials: Polyethylene. Weight: 13 kg. Available in di...
Other
Mid Century Glossy Orange Cado Chair, Steen Østergaard, 1974
By Ostergaard Steen
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Polish production chairs from Plastics Factory 'Krywald' in Knurow have embossed signatures. They come from the 1970s. The author of this project is the Danish architect Steen Østerg...
Plastic
Mid Century Orange Molded Fiberglass "Castle Chair"
By Wendell Castle
Located in Bridgeport, CT
The biomorphic chair is a 1970's Wendell Castle design. It is hollow and molded in one piece with a flat arm on one side and a black base edge. Dimensions: 50" L x 42" D x 25 1/2" ...
Fiberglass
Slide Design Amélie Chair in Pumpkin Orange by Italo Pertichini
By Slide
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Italo Pertichini designs Amélie, a family characterized by fluid and sinuous lines. The designer creates a family of indoor and outdoor furniture, both for domestic settings or contr...
Plastic
Vintage Verner Panton Cone Chair in Original Orange Upholstery
By Verner Panton
Located in Oceanside, US
Designed in 1958 by the legendary Verner Panton, the Cone Chair is a bold statement piece that embodies the spirit of mid-century modern design. With its striking geometric silhouett...
Steel
