1:6 DESIGN
9-years ago Anne Donnerup visited Vienna, where she came across a furniture shop that specialised in the old Viennese classics - designs by Josef Hoffmann, Koloman Moser, and Otto Wagner. Anne Donnerup was fascinated by the fact that many of these classics were available in both full-sized and miniature versions in the scale 1:6.
Anne Donnerup's fascination for 1:6 scale furniture quickly crystallised into an idea to produce furniture models herself. The plan for starting the company 1:6 DESIGN was born. Denmark has also been blessed with a host of furniture designers that have created many timeless design classics - which are just waiting to be miniaturised! What better place to start than with some of Arne Jacobsen's creations.
Anne Donnerup's idea was well received by the Danish company Fritz Hansen A/S who have the sole rights for producing Arne Jacobsen's classic furniture. The company did not wish to be involved in the production of miniatures, but were most willing to support Anne Donnerup with detailed drawings and information about production processes and materials. However, to ensure that the 1:6 DESIGN miniatures maintain the highest standards of accuracy and finish, all prototypes must be approved by Fritz Hansen A/S before distribution and sale.
At that stage, Anne Donnerup had passed the 50-years milestone, and had been a librarian for the past 28-years, and was totally devoid of experience within production, marketing, and financing. So, how to proceed?
Anne joined a training course for new entrepreneurs and learnt how the processes used in full-size production could be adapted to miniaturisation. To be on the safe side, Anne Donnerup kept her librarian job for a further three years.
It was decided, together with Fritz Hansen A/S, that Arne Jacobsen's "Seven" chair would become the first model in 1:6 scale. It was launched in 1998. Since then, Arne Jacobsen's "Ant"(2002) and "Egg"(2006) have been added to the 1:6 DESIGN range, as well as a miniature version of Hans Sandgren Jakobsen's "Gallery" stool (from Fredericia Furniture A/S) in 2003.
In recent years the tendency towards outsourcing of production to low-wage countries has exploded. 1:6 DESIGN has also explored these possibilities but is proud to say that parts-manufacture (except chair legs) and assembly is still done locally in Denmark.
Next in line for miniaturisation is Arne Jacobsen's "Swan" chair, which can be expected on the market in 2008, which incidentally is also the 50-years anniversary of the "Egg".
Anne Donnerup – her fascination for miniature furniture has become 1:6 DESIGN, specialising in the production of miniature versions of Danish classic chairs. They are available worldwide through Fritz Hansen A/S 's distribution network, museum shops and shops specialising in innovative design.
EGG [1:6]
The transformation of Arne Jacobsen's "Egg" from full-size chair, to 1:6 scale miniature has been a rather complex process. The full size version was 3D scanned and digitised; thereafter all dimensions were reduced by a factor of 6. The shell of the "Egg" is moulded in a 2-component plastic material and upholstered with material from Danish Kvadrat. All materials and production processes are similar to those used by Fritz Hansen A/S in the production of the full-sized chair.
SEVEN CHAIR, ANT CHAIR, GALLERY STOOL [1:6]
Miniature models of the "Seven" and "Ant" chairs, and "Gallery" stool, are pressure-formed from three layers of maple veneer, which are milled to their characteristic form. After hand-sanding and priming they are lacquered with the same materials as used in the manufacture of the full-sized chairs. Nine colours are available, plus 3-types of natural wood. All assembly is handwork.
