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Object Timeline

-0001

1960

  • Work on this object began.

1977

  • We acquired this object.

2001

2007

2008

2013

2016

2025

  • You found it!

Panton Stacking Side Chair

This is a Stacking side chair. It was designed by Verner Panton and manufactured by Vitra AG and produced by Herman Miller, Inc.. It is dated designed 1960, manufactured 1972 and we acquired it in 1977. Its medium is injection molded luran s thermoplastic. It is a part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts department.

The Panton chair was the first cantilevered chair made from a single piece of injection-molded plastic, its fluid organic shape made to fit the human form. Panton’s highly sculptural chair is a unified design: rather than being made of assembled parts, the S-curved body combines seat, back, and legs in a continuous molded form. The design eliminates the need for wood or metal supports. The concave base provides stability and takes advantage of the material’s lightness, while allowing the chair to nestle for stacking.

This object was featured in our Object of the Week series in a post titled New Material, New Form.

It is credited Gift of Robert Blaich.

  • Model 500 Telephone
  • molded plastic, metal, rubber.
  • Transfer from Exhibitions Department.
  • 2009-50-1-a/c
  •
  • S Chair Chair
  • recycled automobile rubber tire inner tube, steering wheel, welded steel (frame).
  • 2006-4-2

Our curators have highlighted 16 objects that are related to this one. Here are three of them, selected at random:

  • Elephant Chair
  • molded polyester, bent metal.
  • Museum purchase from Decorative Arts Association Acquisition Fund.
  • 1991-47-6-a,b
  •
  • Unicorn Chair
  • molded polyfoam, cast aluminum, wool upholstery.
  • Gift of Vladimir Kagan.
  • 1991-163-1

Its dimensions are

H x W x D: 82.5 x 49.5 x 55cm (32 1/2 x 19 1/2 x 21 5/8in.)

It has the following markings

Molded on underside of seat: Manufacturer's logo: symbol and "herman miller" within rectangle; numbers "12, 1, 2, 3,...11" within a circle (similar to clock face), "1972" molded to left of the numbers "3, 4, 5, 6" within the circle.

Cite this object as

Panton Stacking Side Chair; Designed by Verner Panton (Danish, 1926–1998); Produced by Herman Miller Furniture Company (United States); Manufactured by Vitra AG (Switzerland); United States; injection molded luran s thermoplastic; H x W x D: 82.5 x 49.5 x 55cm (32 1/2 x 19 1/2 x 21 5/8in.); Gift of Robert Blaich; 1977-1-1

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibitions Energizing the Everyday: Gifts From the George R. Kravis II Collection and Rococo: The Continuing Curve 1730-2008.

The Conservation department has taken 2 photos of this object.

There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian’s Terms of Use page.

For higher resolution or commercial use contact ArtResource.

If you would like to cite this object in a Wikipedia article please use the following template:

<ref name=CH>{{cite web |url=https://www-4.collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/18491681/ |title=Panton Stacking Side Chair |author=Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |accessdate=11 February 2025 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution}}</ref>