Rappen chair – IKEA

Niels Gammelgaards chair Rappen made for IKEA during the end of the 1970s. Produced in Italy. 

In 1977 Niels Gammelgaard created the folding chair Ted for IKEA (it has actually sold more than 20.000 million copies between 1979 and 1989). The chair combined steel and plastic sitting and chair back details. 

The next year (1979) its sibbling Rappen was presented. Still possible to fold but now in just steel.

Material: Steel
Height: 76 cm
Sitting height: 44 cm

Niels Gammelgaard is a Danish industrial designer best known for his collaborations with IKEA during the late 20th century. Born in Denmark, Gammelgaard trained as an architect and developed a strong interest in functional, minimalist design—a hallmark of Scandinavian aesthetics.

In the 1970s and 1980s, he designed several iconic pieces for IKEA, including the Moment sofa and the Järpen chair. His work stood out for its innovative use of materials like steel wire and mesh, often balancing form, function, and affordability. Gammelgaard also co-founded the design studio Box 25 Architects, through which he contributed to a variety of design and architectural projects.

His approach combined industrial production techniques with elegant simplicity, helping to define a modern, democratic design language that remains influential in contemporary furniture design.