Z Down Folding Chair by Erik Magnussen

Z Down Folding lounge chair by Erik Magnussen

The Z Down Folding Chair by Erik Magnussen was designed in 1960. I found it at the Danish Design Museum in Copenhagen.

Erik Magnussen (1940-2014) is not a typical chair designer. He was educated as a ceramist at the School of Applied Arts and Design, graduating in 1960. His works – ranging from tableware to furniture, lamps and high-tech products – are characterized by simplicity and functional elegance.

He has worked for manufacturers such as Bing & Grøndahl, Stelton, Fritz Hansen, Royal Copenhagen, Paustian, Royal Selangor and Shipmate – realizing many different products in a variety of materials. One of his most famous products is the vacuum jug he designed for Stelton in 1977. The vacuum jug, which was originally launched in stainless steel, is now produced in ABS plastic and throughout the time has been produced in more than 30 colours. Erik Magnussen’s vacuum jug was introduced as follow-up to Arne Jacobsen’s Cylinda-Line. Just like Arne Jacobsen’s design the stringent cylindrical shape and two-coloured, graphic appearance of the vacuum jug expresses a minimalism and functionality that keeps being ahead of its time.

He designed two chairs for Engelbrechts (for future posts) and Engelbrechts seems having produced The Z Down Folding Chair as well.

According to a Swedish store the Z Down was produced between 1960 and 1969 by Torben Ørskov. Vintage mentions two for sale.