Explore: The Rattan Icons collection
With our Icons Collection Danish design house Sika Design have revitalised iconic pieces of furniture from some of Europe´s most skilled and important architects and designers. Arne Jacobsen, Nanna and Jørgen Ditzel, Viggo Boesen and Franco Albini who were all pioneers of their time – breaking new ground making experimental shapes using sturdy materials of rattan and creating sculptural and timeless icons. With great respect and admiration for the original designs and in close collaboration with the descendants of these renowned furniture makers, Sika Design have been able to bring these icons back to life. We are thrilled to stock these gorgeous rattan pieces alongside our velvet furniture and interior accessories collection
THE NANNY ROCKING CHAIR
Nanna Ditzel
The Danish designers Nanna and Jørgen Ditzel exhibited their first furniture designs in Copenhagen in the 1940's. Nanna Ditzel’s experimental approach to materials resulted in the her iconic rattan chair collection, which is designed on the basis of the body. After Jørgen Ditzel’s death in 1961, Nanna continued to design, and in 1968 she moved to London where she established the Interspace International Furniture and Design Centre, an institution which developed a high reputation as a centre for experimental design. Nanna Ditzel returned to denmark in 1986 and opened a combined design studio and furniture workshop in Copenhagen.
THE BELLADONNA SOFA & OTTOMAN
Franco Albini 
Franco Albini was an italian Neo-Rationalist architect and designer, renowned for merging modern minimalistic furniture design with traditional Italian craftsmanship. He had great success in the 1950’s where he created a range of distinguished furniture designs. Franco Albini obtained three Compasso D’Oro awards, the most prestigious Italian design prize. In 1951, Albini designed the Belladonna sofa made of rattan, which has since been coveted all over the world.
THE FOX CHAIR & TEDDY LOUNGE CHAIR
Viggo Boesen
Designer and architect Viggo Boesen is known as one of the pioneers of Scandinavian Functionalism in the 1930s. From his workshop he designed a number of pieces of rattan and upholstery furniture. These were constructed according to his philosophy that Furniture should have an organic flow and embrace the body smoothly and tenderly. He believed the design should be a delight to the eye but also be solid and durable. Viggo Boesen’s Fox chair collected its first design award in 1936 and has since been coveted by interior design lovers across the globe. His inspiring, imaginative designs made him unique and put him among the designers of the “Danish golden age”.
THE CHARLOTTENBORG TABLE
Arne Jacobsen
Arne Jacobsen studied at the Architecture School at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts from 1924 to 1927. He studied under Kay Fisker and Kaj Gottlob, both leading architects and designers of their time.
In 1929, two years after his graduation from the Architecture School, the 27-year old Arne Jacobsen won 1st prize for the ultramodernistic concept “The House of the Future” at The Building and Housing Exhibition of the Academic Architects’ Association in Copenhagen. The house was one of the first examples of modernistic architecture in Denmark, establishing Jacobsen as one of the top visionary and progressive Danish architects of his time.
MONET CHAIR & STOOL
SIKA TABLE & CARLO BAR TROLLY
Sika Design
Also in our Icons collection is the Monet chair and footstool, the Sika side table and Carlo bar trolly. This classic rattan design has been inspired by original in house sketches from Sika Design. The company, which is a Danish 3rd generation family run business was founded in 1942 and has been specialising in quality interior and exterior woven furniture ever since. Still today Sika Design are the worlds leading manufacturer of high end natural rattan furniture.
THE MATERIAL
Rattan is a natural climbing plant that grows in the Indonesian rainforest, it has been known to grow up to hundred meters long. Rattan grows naturally without disturbing the existing structure and balance in the rainforest and is a strong, lightweight, flexible and durable material. Rattan develops a beautiful patina over time adding the materials unique character.
