The Panton S Chair: An Iconic Piece of Modern Furniture Design

The panton s chair is one of the most recognizable and iconic pieces of modern furniture design.

Was it the Vogue cover featuring Kate Moss stretched nude  across a Verner Panton S chair that made this chair seem so sexy? Certainly it didn’t hurt but the organic curves of this stand out chair drew approving glances long before Moss deigned to perch her posterior on it for posterity’s sake.  The Vernor Panton “S” chair has been in continuous production since 1967 and it has become an iconic representation of 1960′s pop culture.

Verner Panton’s legacy is one of imaginative, bold and provocative pieces that changed the design landscape forever. A striking piece of sculptural furniture, the S chair became an instant classic.  The Panton S Chair is without a doubt, Panton’s most memorable and lasting design. The S chair is so iconic, so recognisable a form that one may forget how utterly revolutionary it was when it first came out. In addition to creating standout mod furniture, Panton heavily influenced the forms and color spectrum that dominated home design until the mid seventies.

Vernor Panton, hailing from Denmark, had a foot firmly planted in the roots of traditional design but he differed dramatically from the austere, subdued forms of his peers. Panton played with the nontraditional materials and technologies of the post-war era like plastics, fibre glass, steel, foam rubber and other synthetics.

Panton was the first in the world to create a form-moulded, plastic chair devoid of joints

The Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) still houses one of the chairs original models. Panton’s one-piece cantilevered design was spectacular and never seen before. What makes the Panton S chair so fascinating today in terms of design history is not simply its shape, which is of course striking, but also the fact that it was the first chair in the history of furniture design made out of a single piece of plastic.

What possibilities the new materials offered in terms of consistency and pushing the limits of what was technically achievable.

The Panton S chair Turns the Big Five-O

In 2009, the Panton S Chair celebrated its 50th anniversary. It’s almost criminal for something fifty years old to look this fresh, modern and relevant. The chair has been a sought after design piece experiencing a major renaissance every decade or so. There have been several technological advancements to the way the chair is constructed, however the S chair remains essentially faithful to its original design.

The chair has at one time been produced in all of the colours of the rainbow and then some. Verner Panton noted that he had a preference for black and white , owing to the glossy pop and versatility of the colours . The black Panton S chair is dramatic, bold and sharp. The white Panton S chair is the most versatile of the bunch.

Put it in a child’s playroom amid brightly coloured accessories and it is playful, whimsical and fun. Pair the white Panton S style chair with a rough hewn wood table and the chairs take on an organic feel. Pair it with a Tulip style table and it  echoes its modern pop culture past.

The Panton S Chair Makes a Bold Style Statement.

The Panton S chair is a bold addition to your design space. There is nothing about the S style chair that is button up, stuffy or conservative. The Panton S style chair is expressive, fun, whimsical, subversive and signifies your intent to show your affinity for and knowledge of design history.

Pair the stylistic S chair with a bold, modern table, like the one pictured or add two to your high rise balcony for a comfortable place to watch the sun set. Relax House offers a true to form, high end reproduction of this famous chair in the classic white and black  colours that were said to be Vernor Panton’s favorite.

The Panton S style chair is without a doubt modern.

The Panton S style chair is without a doubt modern. In fact, it is probably one of the most iconic, modern pieces. To the left, we see it paired with modern lighting and dramatic dark walls and moulding detail. The contrast of the white furniture and dark walls is striking. To the right, we see the S style chairs sidled around an oblong Tulip table creating the perfect “legless” modern kitchen esthetic, Eero Saarinen himself would be pleased. It is easy to see how the S chair can add a modern feel to your space without having to look retro or kitschy.

The Panton S Chair Will Add a Clean Modern Aesthetic to Your Design Space

The Panton S Chair is also a very attractive addition to a living room or office space. The chair’s unusual shape and form make it visually striking. In this room design, you can see how the bold, red, Panton S style chair pulls the whole room together. The red chair, pillow and print add a fun pop of colour to an otherwise black and white space. This room also shows off what can be done with a small space if you incorporate the right pieces.

The Panton S style chair, although thoroughly modern, can take on a rustic or more traditional  air when paired with the right furniture. Here we see the white Panton S style chair with a traditional dark dining room table, Federalist style mirror and distressed wall covering. The effect is subdued and nearly traditional but the Panton S style chair throws in a dramatic, modern flair.

The Panton S Chair is Versatile, Recognizable and Dramatic

Here again, we see the Panton S style chair used in an offbeat way and it works beautifully.

The Panton S Style Chair looks as good outside as it does inside. This durable and attractive chair is also exceptionally easy to care for. Whether you have a garden party or a few messy toddlers, the chair wipes down with ease. 

If you “cantilever” without your own Panton S style chair,Relax House makes a beautiful reproduction far below the price of a designer original. The S style chair is available in black and white to suit your tastes.