Verner Panton – Celebrating a century of good design
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Time to read 3 min
Verner Panton is a name synonymous with good design. If you know your designer furniture it’s quite possible you’ll recognise his iconic pieces, such as the Panton Chair, the Panthella Lamp or the Flowerpot Lamp. These design favourites have proved their excellence, still popular and seen in homes around the globe today.
This year, we celebrate a century of Verner Panton (1926-1998). An influential figure in design, his legacy lives on today. What makes Verner Panton’s work particularly relevant now is its confidence. In an era where interiors can sometimes feel overly minimal, his designs offer permission to be bold.
To honour Panton’s timeless designs, Louis Poulsen have reissued his iconic Panthella Table Lamp in its original colours. Read on to find out why a century of Verner Panton is worth celebrating.
Portrait Image of Designer Verner Panton
The pioneering spirit who changed the design world
Born into the tradition of Danish Minimalism, Verner Panton grew up in a time where design was orderly, somewhat rigid and could be argued as ‘safe’. Emphasis was on function, with designers stripping objects back to their purest purpose with little to no ornamentation. While his Scandinavian contemporaries leaned towards restraint and natural materials, Panton took a dramatically different path.
Panton emerged during a period of radical change within the design world. Minimalism began to feel a little restrictive and through his designs, he was able to introduce an alternative. He embraced colour, curves and new technologies, becoming one of the first designers to fully explore the possibilities of plastic, foam and moulded materials.
Rather than treating furniture and lighting as a neutral backdrop, Panton felt that designs should provoke emotion and excitement. Through his designs and interiors, he explored how colour, light, pattern, and form could shape human experience. This philosophy is evident across his designs, which feel sculptural, playful and considered, even decades after their initial release.
Verner Panton’s design legacy lives on
Since the launch of the Bachelor Chair and Tivoli Chair, both produced with Fritz Hansen in 1955, Verner Panton’s name became established as an innovative and acclaimed furniture and lighting designer. Many of his pieces won awards, proving themselves as design classics.
Today, Panton’s influence shows no sign of fading. His work continues to inspire designers, homeowners and collectors around the world, reminding us that great design can be joyful, daring and functional all at once. His designs can now be seen in the collections of acclaimed brands such as &Tradition, Vitra, Verpan and Louis Poulsen.
A single Panton piece has the ability to transform a room, adding character without overwhelming the space. When paired thoughtfully with natural materials or neutral backdrops, his furniture and lighting feel striking yet sophisticated. His designs can also be combined, adding perfect hints of retro playfulness to a space.
An iconic reissue of a Panton classic
To celebrate what would have been Verner Panton’s 100 th birthday, Louis Poulsen have reissued his iconic Panthella Table Lamp, in its original colours from 1970: orange, green, red, brown and grey. The shades are designed, as Panton intended, to let light through, giving an opaline effect to the colours. The classic thin chrome stem reflects the light and colour, playing with light in Panton’s characteristic way.
Fully rechargeable and portable, the Panthella has been subtly brought up to date with this contemporary twist. The portability allows for limitless placing possibilities. Available in two different sizes, the Panthella 160 and the Panthella 250, this design can easily fit within any setting.
This reissue of one of Panton’s most classic designs is the perfect way to honour his legacy, highlighting the fact that Panton’s designs are still as relevant today as they were at their introduction.
At Holloways of Ludlow, we are proud to celebrate Panton’s legacy through a curated selection of his most iconic designs. Browse his designs here.
For more about the people behind the iconic designs, head to our Designer Focus and read about Verner Panton.
Written by Kieran Martin:
Kieran is the Holloways of Ludlow Brand Manager and the face behind our social media. Outside of work he is an influencer in his own right running documenting the renovation of his home on Instagram @no.3renovation