Nanna Ditzel's 1980s Arkade Chair goes into production for first time

Furniture brand Brdr Krüger has launched a chair developed by the late Danish architect Nanna Ditzel in 1983.

Arkade Chair was one of several furniture designs that Ditzel, who passed away in 2005, created for Brdr Krüger over her career.

Unlike more well-known pieces, like the Flower Table and Lulu Cradle, the piece was never put into production. But now, 37 years later, the Danish brand is launching the chair for the first time.

The name Arkade Chair, which translates as "arcade chair", references a type of architecture characterised by recurring arches.

Similarly, the chair itself is made up of curved and circular forms, picked out in different colours and materials.

"The Arkade Chair bears the hallmark of Nanna's design," said Dennie Ditzel, Nanna's daughter. "It is a bold and different chair that doesn't go unnoticed."

Although Nanna was an architect, she initially trained as a cabinetmaker. She partnered with first husband Jørgen Ditzel on many early designs, before he passed away in 1961, and later collaborated with second husband Kurt Heide.

She earned particular acclaim for her children's furniture designs, as well as for Hallingdal 65, the very first textile launched by Danish brand Kvadrat and one of its bestsellers.

Ditzel developed the Arkade Chair with Niels Krüger, a descendant of Brdr Kruger founders Theodor and Ferdinand Krüger.

The design comprises three main elements: a pair of turned and steam-bent wooden arches form the legs, curved circles create the upholstered seat and backrest, and slender metal elements provide the supports.

Each of these elements is available in different finishes. The legs come in natural or stained oak, the frame can be brass, chrome or black, and the seats come in various textiles and leathers.

"We want to stay true to Nanna's colourful character and unfold the Arkade Chair's full potential," said Brdr Krüger creative director Jonas Krüger, "especially for interior architects, who can work with a chair full of personality, materiality, and customisation possibilities."

Brdr Krüger is one of many Scandinavian brands that regularly digs into its archive for new product launches. Other design reissues from the past year include Finn Juhl's Grasshopper chair and Verner Panton's Pantanova chair.

The trend is usually for midcentury pieces, but Brdr Krüger's move suggests there is a growing market interest in the 1970s and 80s.

Arkade Chair is making its debut at Brdr Krüger's new showroom in Copenhagen.

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