In search of the perfect fabric: Kvadrat

Just the other day, a reader asked for more information about the upholstery fabric used on a pair of Jens Risom C140 "Playboy chairs" in a 2012 post, and I realized that it's been a while since I mentioned textiles.

One of the most challenging aspects of vintage furniture restoration is choosing a fabric that is appropriate to the period. Finding a catalog that tells you what was used on the original is a godsend, and discovering that the fabric...or even something very similar...is still in production is nothing short of a miracle.

Kvadrat is a leading Danish manufacturer of design textiles. Founded in 1968, the company has supplied leading architects and designers with fabric for their projects for decades. Their first and most iconic fabric was Hallingdal 65, which many consider a perfect choice for mid-century restorations.

Hallingdal 65 by Kvadrat
circa50.com

In 2012, Kvadrat celebrated Hallingdal 65. Numerous designers submitted projects using the fabric in fun and creative ways, demonstrating the versatility of the product. Here are a few that caught my eye.

Fredrikson Stallard - Hallingdal table
kvadrat.dk

David Taylor - Darlings
kvadrat.dk

Philippe Madouin - Hardie stools
kvadrat.dk

Ionna Vautrin - Zoo
kvadrat.dk

Katrin Sonnleitner - Cocco
kvadrat.dk

Jean-Baptiste Fastrez - Quetzacoalt
kvadrat.dk

Pronunciation Guide

Nanna Ditzel

Nanna Ditzel (1923-2005) was born in Copenhagen. Originally trained as a cabinetmaker, she later studied at the School of Arts and Crafts and the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen, graduating with a degree in furniture design in 1946. In that same year, she established a design studio with her husband Jørgen Ditzel and worked with him until his untimely death in 1961.

Throughout her career, which spanned almost six decades, she experimented with new materials such as foam rubber, fiberglass and wicker. She worked in many disciplines, designing furniture, jewelry, tableware and textiles and continued to create furniture and jewelry up to the end of her life. Much is still in production.

In 1968 she moved to London, where she and husband Kurt Heide opened the international furniture house Interspace in Hampstead. In 1986 she moved back to Denmark and opened her own studio.

She was exhibited internationally with one-woman shows in Amsterdam, Berlin, New York, Vienna, London, Stockholm, Milan, Glasgow, Manchester, Reykjavik, Paris and nationally in Denmark. During her lifetime, she was awarded many international prizes for her awards, including many medals from the Triennale in Milan and the prestigious Lunning Prize and is remembered as "The First Lady of Scandinavian Design." 

From nanna-ditzel-design.dk and furnituredesign24.com

Sausage chairs
1stdibs.com

Child's high chair
1stdibs.com

Hanging Egg wicker chair
nanna-ditzel-design.dk

Easy chair
houzz.com

Skal chair
furnituredesign24.com

Settee, chairs and table
bolighuset-ry.dk

Trinidad chair
arttattler.com

Child's Toadstool
arttattler.com

Silver bracelet, 1951
nanna-ditzel-design.dk

Wristwatch for Georg Jensen, 1995
nanna-ditzel-design.dk

Here's a delightful interview with Nanna Ditzel in 2005, shortly before her death. She discusses the Trinidad chair, designed in 1993, one of her award-winning pieces. The clip also includes production of a Trinidad chair.

youtube.com

Uploaded by fredericiafurniture, March 22, 2010

Pronunciation Guide