Vitra was ever-present in the 20th century’s mid-century modern movement, and its Panton chair, originally designed by Verner Panton in 1959, is one of the Swiss company’s most notable and recognizable designs. The idea was to create stackable cantilevered chairs from a single molded piece of plastic (the first such chair to exist). Today, the Panton has come to represent Space Age quirk and the contrast of sleek and voluptuous styles of Danish design.
Now, sold exclusively in the United States, the Museum of Modern Art’s Design Store is releasing, along with Vitra, a new edition of the Panton chair. Sold in sets of five, the Panton Duo chairs resemble the beloved look of the iconic design, but rather than the solid colors of all previous releases, this new iteration will come in two-tone colorways for the very first time. The available combinations are green/blue, blue/burgundy, burgundy/pink, pink/red, and red/yellow, colors which are a nod to Verner’s Fantasy Landscape room installation at the Visiona 2 exhibition in 1970.
This two-tone release comes nearly 25 years after being conceived by Verner’s widow following his death, Marianne Panton, and Vitra back in 1998. Originally shelved due to issues of quality regarding the lacquering process, the Duo has finally come to fruition. Standing at just over 33″, each chair is made from rigid polyurethane foam and given a glossy lacquer finish. Of course, they are stackable just like the originals.
Limited to 200, a set of five of the Panton Duo is currently available for pre-order on the MoMA Design Store for $15,325, with deliveries estimated for September 28 of this year.
