Icons 26 November 2015 1 min

Panton chair, a timeless classic

More than a simple chair, the Panton Chair is a timeless object whose famous shape made it one of the emblems of 20th century design. It is the most famous creation of Verner Panton, who is considered to be one of the 20th century's most influential designers.

The chair was created in 1967 as part of a collaboration with Vitra, a Swiss furniture manufacturer, and its popularity has endured for five decades. The first cantilever chair designed from a single piece of moulded plastic, it was originally made from polyester resin reinforced with fibreglass (GRP). Subsequent versions were made from a thermoplastic, ASA (Acrylonitrile styrene acrylate), then polyurethane (PUR). Throughout the years, several changes were made in terms of materials and manufacturing technologies. Polypropylene (PP) became the final choice for the chair's material. Vitra still produces Panton chairs, which are available in three different models.
The Panton Chair (called the standard), a more affordable chair, available in a wider range of colours, is made from matt-tinted polypropylene, while another version, the Panton Chair Classic, is comprised of a polyurethane synthetic shell with a lacquered finish.
The Panton Chair Junior, a children's seat available in six different colours which is an exact one-fourth scale replica of the standard model, was launched in 2006.