
Vilbert chair for Ikea
Design 1993 / 1994
Verner Panton designed Vilbert for the Swedish furniture store Ikea in the mid-1990s. The chair consisted of four MDF panels screwed together. It was sold in two color variants for just 150 German marks. At the time, Ikea owner Ingvar Kamprad had the idea of bringing furniture designed exclusively for Ikea by renowned designers to his customers.
Limited edition
In keeping with Ikea's corporate philosophy, this designer furniture was intended to be relatively inexpensive and therefore affordable for everyone. Nevertheless, the edition was limited, which naturally led to an additional increase in demand for these pieces of furniture such as Vilbert. Around 3,000 Vilbertchairs were sold worldwide and sold out quickly. I still remember the Ikea catalog from 1995|96, which showed Vilbert in a whole range of other chair models. The illustration was inconspicuous, almost unspectacular. The price was slightly higher than the other chairs, but still relatively affordable. The designer's name was also not immortalized in the catalog. Who would have thought back then that Ikea furniture like this chair would one day have collector's value or even be exhibited in a museum?
Furniture for humanity
In fact, Vilbert was exhibited again from April 3 to July 12, 2009. This time, however, not in the seating department of the Swedish furniture store, but in the Pinakothek der Moderne in Munich, one of Europe's largest collection houses with museums for art, graphics, architecture and design. Ikea design was brought together for the Neue Sammlung and shown in the "Democratic Design" exhibition. Under the motto "Furniture for Humanity", this was the Swedish furniture giant's first ever exhibition in a museum. Of course, Verner Panton and Vilbert were not to be missed. By the way, you were not allowed to try them out this time.