Selected Designs* (subject to revisions)
Copenhagen ChairDanish Deluxe design, 1958
This first very rare mass produced piece from Danish Deluxe evokes all the design queues of Mid Century Modern Design. Even its name playes homage to the huge influance of Scandinavian design, and in particular Danish furniture design. Available as a single and two seater. |
KiltaDesigned by Olli Mannermaa of Finland, 1955 and manufactured under license to DDL in 1967. The Kilta was available in both a side and arm chair, upholstered in Leather, Wool or Dana Kid (vinyl). Shown here with blackwood timer legs, version with a chrome steel legas and even a swivel base was popular for office interiors.
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Heritage:
The Kilta chair was first introduced at the “Great Finnish Fair” (Suomen Suurmessut) held in 1955, where it also received an award. Martela began production of the plywood-framed Kilta chairs the following year. Further development resulted in the frame material being changed to expanded polystyrene in 1959.
Manufacture of the polystyrene-framed Kilta was based on a patent which enabled the frame to be moulded as one piece. The method was new, was extremely well suited for serial production and made automation of the production process possible. The groundbreaking manufacturing method revolutionised the chair industry. Danish Deluxe had the exclusive license for this manufacturing method in Australia, out of its Plasmobila manufacturing plant, at the rear of the Danish Deluxe factory in Huntigdale Victoria, Australia.
The chair was designed by Olli Mannermaa (1921-1998) on the basis of a plywood design he had first made in 1949 while still a student. Olli Mannermaa graduated as an interior designer in 1949 and was employed by Martela’s predecessor, Tehokaluste. He quickly rose to the front ranks of Finnish furniture designers, gaining an international reputation at the same time. In the 1950s, Olli Mannermaa became the first in Finland to exploit the potential of plastic in chair design. He also worked as a teacher of furniture design and made a major contribution to the development of Martela into a market leader in its field.
The chair ranks as one of the best-known of all time and has been included in the collection of MoMA, the esteemed Museum of Modern Art in New York.
The Kilta chair was first introduced at the “Great Finnish Fair” (Suomen Suurmessut) held in 1955, where it also received an award. Martela began production of the plywood-framed Kilta chairs the following year. Further development resulted in the frame material being changed to expanded polystyrene in 1959.
Manufacture of the polystyrene-framed Kilta was based on a patent which enabled the frame to be moulded as one piece. The method was new, was extremely well suited for serial production and made automation of the production process possible. The groundbreaking manufacturing method revolutionised the chair industry. Danish Deluxe had the exclusive license for this manufacturing method in Australia, out of its Plasmobila manufacturing plant, at the rear of the Danish Deluxe factory in Huntigdale Victoria, Australia.
The chair was designed by Olli Mannermaa (1921-1998) on the basis of a plywood design he had first made in 1949 while still a student. Olli Mannermaa graduated as an interior designer in 1949 and was employed by Martela’s predecessor, Tehokaluste. He quickly rose to the front ranks of Finnish furniture designers, gaining an international reputation at the same time. In the 1950s, Olli Mannermaa became the first in Finland to exploit the potential of plastic in chair design. He also worked as a teacher of furniture design and made a major contribution to the development of Martela into a market leader in its field.
The chair ranks as one of the best-known of all time and has been included in the collection of MoMA, the esteemed Museum of Modern Art in New York.
Talking ChairExpo Mark 2 Chair, 1967.
115h x 62w x 72d Designed by Grant and and Mary Featherston www.featherston.com.au/ https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/explore/collection/work/20648/ Manufactured by Danish Deluxe and Aristoc Industries Pty. Ltd., Expo 67 Talking chair, Commissioned by Robin Boyd for the Australian Pavilion, World Expo 67, Montreal, Canada. Materials: moulded rigid polystyrene shell, polyurethane foam, elastic webbing, upholstery fabric, speakers in headrest. Manufactured by Danish de Luxe and Aristoc Industries. Second generation orange wool upholstery, height 115 cm width 74 cm depth 83 cm. Part of the NGV Collection. |
CosmaDesigned: George Kral 1970
(1929-1978) Kral was a designer initially active in Melbourne where he was a founding member of the Gallery A commercial design team. He carried out exhibition work for the Commonwealth Department of Trade and undertook commercial interior design and display work in Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne and internationally. He was also active in the graphic arts. |