Verner Panton by Ida Engholm and Anders Michelsen looks to be the definitive work on the great man and it arrives next month via Phaidon.
The book is pretty much what you would expect of Phaidon too. A chunky, large-format book that covers 336 pages, this ‘comprehensive monograph’ pack in everything you need to know about one of the world’s most influential and recognisable postwar designers.
No stranger to these pages either – I think I’ve covered pretty much every reissue in the last 10 or so years. Yes, I am a fan.
According to the official Phaidon write-up:
Verner Panton created enduring icons of pop culture, beloved the world over. He broke with the Scandinavian tradition of handcrafted teak-wood furniture to pioneer the use of plastic, fibreglass, synthetic fabrics, and industrial mass production, and this thoroughly researched and exhaustively illustrated book examines Panton’s ground-breaking approach to environments, systems, patterns and colour.
Panton’s oeuvre is a truly pioneering achievement, the wide-ranging influence of which is still felt today.
As a tribute to that body of work, this book is packed with images, including hand-drawn sketches by Panton, personal photographs, and advertisements from the official Panton archive. Almost everything is here, from candlesticks and clocks to the seminal S Chair and Living Tower, as well as the floor-to-ceiling interiors, encompassing textiles, lighting, and furniture.
The book is also organised thematically and features a comprehensive, illustrated chronology of Panton’s works, including many of the iconic designer’s unrealised projects.
But it does come at a price. If you want this to adorn your coffee table, the official price is actually £69.95, although Amazon is doing discounted pre-orders right now for £45.46 ahead of the 14th September release date. If you are a fan or just want some colourful inspiration from the mid-20th century, it might be worth digging deep.
Find out more at the Amazon website
