[Advertising – this post references a gifted item and a free press trip, although all words and opinions are my own]
I’ve long admired the innovative work of Nanna Ditzel (1923-2005), who was a leading figure in the 1990s revival of Danish design, even though she was well into her 70s at the time. Over the course of her long career she created jewellery for Georg Jensen, textiles for Kvadrat and much, much more, but my personal favourite is her ‘Trinidad’ chair, designed for Fredericia and first launched back in 1993.
Formed of a wooden veneer shell on a slender steel frame, with an arched, fan-shaped back and a cut-out pattern, the chair has a beautifully elegant and delicate expression. It was inspired by the fretwork ‘gingerbread’ houses which Nanna came across while holidaying on the Caribbean island of Trinidad. She said: “I saw how the facades of the houses nearly dissolved into light and shadow – almost like lace – and I thought to myself: how can I use this for a chair?”.
I was lucky enough to visit Nanna’s studio (now run by her daughter Dennie) and learn more about the chair during my recent blogger trip to Copenhagen with Fredericia and Georg Jensen. There, I got to have a peek at the original sketches and the first prototype, which had splayed wooden legs and a larger back rest. It was fascinating to see how the design evolved from initial idea to finished product, and to get an insight into the thought processes involved.
My visit to the studio also revealed just how difficult the chair was to produce. To make her design a reality Nanna pioneered the use of then-new CNC technology, which allowed fretwork to be cut into curved wood – something which had never been done before, and which was recognised with the ID-Prize (Denmark’s highest design honour) in 1995.
The chair has since become a much-loved contemporary classic, and three new colour options were launched to mark its 25th anniversary last year: smoked oak, grey-stained oak and light grey oak. Fredericia kindly gifted me the grey-stained version and it now sits in our dining room. I love the way the semi-sheer stain showcases the grain of the veneer, and the striking shadows which it casts over the wall and floor. What’s more, the curved shape gently cradles and supports the body, meaning I can happily sit in it for hours on end!
The chair is also a popular choice for meeting rooms and concert halls due to its stackable and extremely comfortable design, and it can be ordered with an upholstered seat in fabric or leather. There are bar-stool and armchair versions, too.
What do you think? Could you see this chair in your own home?
Visit Fredericia’s website for a list of stockists around the world. It the UK, the chair is available from Utility Design, with prices starting at £449.
Most photography by Abi Dare; images seven, eight and nine courtesy of Fredericia
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