top of page

The Timeline of Nanna and Jørgen Ditzel

1923

Nanna Hauberg is born on 6 October as the daughter of Erna Hauberg and William Hauberg, Copenhagen, Denmark.

 

1924-1930

Growing up, Nanna is joined by younger sisters Inger and Lis.

 

1942

Graduates (sixth form) from Aurehøj Gymnasium, Gentofte, Denmark.

Begins a carpentry apprenticeship at Richards Skole. Also attends evening classes at Technical School, Copenhagen, Denmark.

 

1943

Is admitted to the carpentry day class at The School of Arts and Crafts, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Meets Jørgen Ditzel (1921–1961) at the School of Arts and Crafts, Copenhagen, Denmark.

1944

Attends Kaare Klint’s classes as the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts’ School of Furniture, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Participates for the first time, together with Jørgen Ditzel, at the Cabinetmaker’s Guild Exhibition, Copenhagen, Denmark.

 

1946

Graduates from the school of furniture design, School of Arts and Crafts. 

Marries Jørgen Ditzel. Together, they set up a joint design studio in Hellerup, Denmark.

 

1947-1948

Nanna and Jørgen Ditzel win 1st prize for a palm leaf pattern.

Sets up, with Jørgen Ditzel, a design studio in Copenhagen, Denmark.

 

1949

Nanna and Jørgen Ditzel participates at the Cabinetmaker’s Guild Exhibition, showing the Heart Sofa, Copenhagen, Denmark. 

Nanna and Jørgen Ditzel relocate their design studio and home to Søndergård Park in Bagsværd, Denmark.

 

1950

Nanna and Jørgen Ditzel wins 1st prize for a jewellery set.

Designs, with Jørgen Ditzel, their first rattan chair: Basket Club Chair.

Nanna and Jørgen Ditzel have a daughter, Dennie.

 

1952

Nanna and Jørgen Ditzel participates at the Cabinetmaker’s Guild Exhibtion, presenting a children’s room.

Presents the first stairscape at the exhibition Wood, Shape and Colour – A Cabinetmaker Collaborates with Artists, Copenhagen, Denmark.

 

1954

Nanna and Jørgen Ditzel have twin daughters, Lulu and Vita.

 

1955

Nanna and Jørgen Ditzel present new jewellery designs at the Georg Jensen company’s 50th anniversary exhibitions in the USA.

Designs, with Jørgen Ditzel, the Children’s High Chair. 

 

1956

Receives, with Jørgen Ditzel, the Lunning Award.

 

1959

Designs, with Jørgen Ditzel, the Hanging Egg.

1960

Receives, with Jørgen Ditzel, a gold medal for the silver Clementine Bracelet at the Triennale Milano, Italy.

 

1961

Designs, with Jørgen Ditzel, the Floating Dock.

Jørgen Ditzel dies after a short illness, a few days before his 40th birthday. 

 

1962

Design the children’s furniture series Toadstool.

Takes part in the Cabinetmakers’ Guild exhibition, showing a stairscape, Copenhagen, Denmark.

 

1963

Takes part in a toy exhibition in Forum, presenting a podiumbased stairscape, Copenhagen, Denmark.

 

1964-1965

Presents podium-based stairscape in the Mobilia exhibition, Belgium.

Designs the upholstery fabric Hallingdal.

 

1966

Presents the Vilette series at Møbelmessen (The Furniture Fair), Copenhagen, Denmark.

 

1968

Furnishes the children’s department at the new Lyngby Main Library, installing a podiumbased stairscape, Lyngby, Denmark.

Marries furniture importer Kurt Heide and moves to London, UK.

Gives lectures at the textile and furniture department, Royal College of Art, London, UK.

 

1969

Designs a fibreglass furniture series.

 

1970

Nanna Ditzel and Kurt Heide set up the showroom Interspace, London, UK.

1973

Spends two weeks in Hong Kong with Kurt Heide and develops a rattan furniture series, Hong Kong, China.

 

1976

Designs the furniture series Mondial.

 

1981

Is proposed as Chair Person of the Design and Industries Association, London, UK.

 

1985

Kurt Heide dies at the age of 67.

 

1987

Buys townhouse in Klareboderne, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Devises the palette for Denmark’s new IC3 trains for DSB.

 

1988

Appointed as a board member of the Georg Jensen Foundation.

 

1990

Receives a gold medal for Bench for two (1989) in the International Furniture Design Competition, Asahikawa, Japan.

Designs the textiles Siena, Assisi and Pisa.

1992

Becomes a member of the board of the Danish Design Centre.

 

1993

Designs the Trinidad Chair.

 

1994

Designs the jewellery series Crates.

 

1995

Is made a Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog.

 

1998

Is awarded the Danish Arts Foundation’s lifelong grant.

 

2002

Presents Café Interior at the exhibition Nanna Ditzel – Stairscapes, Designmuseum Danmark, Copenhagen, Denmark.

 

2003

Curates the exhibition Haven at Trapholt, Kolding, Denmark.

Takes part in the exhibition Walk The Plank II, showing barstool, Copenhagen, Denmark.

 

2005

On June 17, Nanna Ditzel dies at the age of 81 in Copenhagen, Denmark.

bottom of page