Verner Panton

Verner Panton was one of the most influential designers, not only in Denmark, but throughout Europe in the 1960s. Panton was born in Copenhagen in 1926. He attended Technical school in Odense where he trained as an architectural engineer. He then studied architecture at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, graduating in 1951. He then had a brief two year tenure at Arne Jacobsen's studio. Panton then set off around Europe in his VW combi seeking inspiration and investors, he returned with mass of design ideas but no backers.

In 1955 Panton started his own design studio and success soon followed. Despite his education in architecture, Panton's focus was always on furniture, lighting and interior design. He used the most innovative materials of the time - steel, plastic and glass. His most enduring design is the S chair from 1960 made entirely of moulded plastic, a first at the time.

Panton designed several pieces for Georg Jensen, including several small vases and pitchers. His most significant design was his centerpiece #1302 from 1988, dubbed the "Train Crash" by skeptical Jensen silversmiths.