Because it’s difficult – and rarely worth it – to reinvent the wheel, design is often based on tried and tested ideas. I’ll show you the design icons behind certain furniture and home accessories in our range.
In this series of articles, I present profiles of classic furniture designs. I’d like to share the stories behind selected design pieces and shed light on their characteristics. This way, you’ll have an overview and it’ll be easier for you to distinguish between duplicates and cheeky copies the next time you go shopping.
Like a cheerleader, I love celebrating good design and bringing you closer to everything furniture- and interior design- related. I regularly curate simple yet sophisticated interior ideas, report on trends and interview creative minds about their work.
In contrast to counterfeits, which claim to be the original, trademarked consumer goods, dupes (short for duplicate) are products that imitate popular items from other companies and don’t claim to be the original.
The Ball Clock uses colourful balls instead of numbers. Source: Pia Seidel
The American designer George Nelson got the ball rolling in the fifties with his clock collection for Vitra. It comprised 14 table and wall clocks that stood out for their lack of numerals and creative compositions of shapes, colours and materials. Nelson believed the position of the hand alone would be enough to tell the time. He was also convinced that clocks would become increasingly important as decorative elements in interior design and designed each clock to be unique and eye-catching. One example is the Ball Clock – the clock face is surrounded by 12 rods with coloured balls. Vitra has been producing new Nelson clocks with a quartz clockwork since 1999 and occasionally updates the collection. The Plug Inn wall clock from Nextime, which takes inspiration from the Ball Clock and the Sunburst Clock, could easily be one of them, as it uses similar materials and has a striking appearance.
Elegant legs, a gently rounded shape and pastel shades – this is what characterises the Rosendahl City Hall alarm clock by Arne Jacobsen. The compact design was created in 1941 by Danish architect Arne Jacobsen and is inspired by his wall clock with the same name, which was originally created for the town hall in Rødovre. A combination of comfort and stylish appearance is often replicated today. The Nextime brand is an example of this. Its Berlin series is similar to the Rosendahl design. Unlike the original, the frames of the different models are rose gold, white or black instead of silver.
Functional and aesthetically pleasing: the Wire Chair DKR consists of a tubular steel frame. Source: Pia Seidel
Although the Wire Chair DKR by the famous designer duo Charles and Ray Eames has a simple appearance, it was designed with ergonomics in mind. The shape of the seat and backrest provide good support and comfort. Its frame ensures stability and has a recognisable design – it’s reminiscent of the Eiffel Tower structure in Paris. The Wire Chair DKR is part of their iconic furniture collection, known for its innovative use of materials and timeless aesthetic. These characteristics are incorporated into current designs. Similar to the original, the Mesh garden chair from Giardimo Lab has a minimalist shape characterised by a wire mesh for the backrest and seat, which gives it a light and airy appearance. What it lacks, however, is the Eiffel-Tower-looking base from the original.
The Collator newspaper rack is characterised by its filigree appearance and flexibility. Source: Pia Seidel
The Collator rack was developed for storing magazines, newspapers and even records. It can be mounted upright on a table or shelf as well as hung on the wall. It can be pushed apart and together as required to simplify quick access to your items. The Flex Gold magazine rack from Kare Design made of gold-coloured lacquered aluminium is based on a similar approach. However, it’s more expensive than the original made of untreated aluminium and is only available in one size. The Collator, on the other hand, is available in four sizes.
0414 has an organic shape that provides comfort and aesthetics. Source: Pia Seidel
The 0414 dining chair by Massimo Iosa Ghini for Gallotti & Radice is versatile with its curved and geometric shapes, which go well with many furnishing styles. Best of all, it combines hard wood and comfortable soft seat cushions. The Leah design from Italian brand Atelier del Sofa looks very similar to the 0414 chair. It also brings together different types of wood and upholstery and, thanks to its neutral silhouette, makes it possible to integrate the chair into different surroundings. The only differences are the finish, materials and selection – Leah is only available in black and white.
The Bell Coffee Table base distracts from the metal body to give a weightless look. Source: Pia Seidel
If you fancy a contrasting interior, the Bell Coffee Table by Sebastian Herkner for Classicon is the perfect choice. Its coloured, transparent glass base meets a heavy metal body and a soft, bell-like shape is juxtaposed with hard materials. Many brands have been inspired by this innovative piece of furniture, including the French furniture company Zago. Its Enzo model also combines a metal tabletop with a glass base which, unlike the original, isn’t mouth-blown in a traditional glassworks in Bavaria.
Clever and beautiful: the MG501 Cuba Chair lounger is foldable and sculptural. Source: Pia Seidel
The MG501 Cuba Chair has a solid oak frame and cotton or leather girths to form a comfortable seat and backrest around the frame. Intertwining these natural materials, serves as a visual highlight. It’s manufactured by the Danish furniture brand Mogens Hansen. Behind the idea, which is all too readily copied today, is the self-taught designer and architect Morten Gøttler. Interior brands like Kave Home are reinventing the MG501 Cuba Chair today. For its Beida model, the Spanish furniture brand uses hand-woven rattan for the backrest instead of cotton or leather.
