Orbita Collection
The Orbita is pure distilled Bauhaus industrial style. With technical assistance from engineer Dave Dickinson, Duncan’s premier design became an instant hit. The key feature is it’s simplicity. From the side, three curves of tubular steel create the legs. From the top, three curves of leather attach the sling. And from every angle a strong C shape (the alphabet’s third letter) dominates the silhouette.
Originally manufactured by Arkana in Bath, the Collection is comprised of a trio of seats: a dining chair, lounger, and small stool that doubles as a footrest for the lounger.
Often paired with a pedestal table in marketing material, the Orbita instantly stands out as an inspired piece of Space Age design.
Orbita Range Flyer Cover (1972).
Orbita Range Flyer Inside (1972).
Orbita Range Flyer Back (1972).
Arkana Orbita Range (Home and Garden 1972 Catalogue).
Arkana Orbita Range (Home and Garden 1973 Catalogue).
Arkana Home and Garden Catalogue 1973, featuring the Orbita Dining Set.
Orbita Catalogue variant, featuring both the Dinning set, and Lounger/Ottoman
Orbita Catalogue variant, featuring the Lounger/Ottoman
Original Orbita Dining Chair production photos (circa 1972).
Original Orbita Lounger production photos (1972). Featuring Duncan's friend George Nitefor (Graphic and Exhibit Designer for the Royal Ontario Museum).
Original Orbita Lounger production photos (1972), featuring Duncan.
Original Orbita Lounger production photos (1972), featuring David Dickinson.
Prototype Comparison (1972): Vecta Contract Zermatt Lounge Chair (left) and Arkana Orbita Lounge Chair (right).
Prototype Comparison (1972): Vecta Contract Zermatt Lounge Chair (left) and Arkana Orbita Lounge Chair (right).
Prototype Comparison (1972): Vecta Contract Zermatt Dining Chair (left), and Arkana Orbita Dining Chair (right).
Prototype Comparison (1972): Vecta Contract Zermatt Dining Chair (left), and Arkana Orbita Dining Chair (right).
Prototype Comparison (1972): Vecta Contract Zermatt Dining Chair (left), and Arkana Orbita Dining Chair (right).
Duncan's original Orbita prototype (circa 1969-70)
Duncan's original Orbita prototype (circa 1969-70)
Duncan's original Orbita prototype (circa 1969-70)
Zermatt Collection
Manufactured under contract in the US by Vecta, the Zermatt collection maintains Duncan’s original design genius, while adapting it for new uses. The most striking of these is the public seating range Zermatt Continuous, that includes both a heavy bench-style option, and a lightweight configuration utilizing a single steel tube for multiple seats.
Compared to the original Arkana model by Duncan and Dave Dickinson, the Zermatt received a slight re-engineering by Vecta’s Gunter Eberle, and is most distinguishable by a reinforced sling compared to the Orbita’s free floating seat. The Zermatt Dining chair is also noticeably taller than the original Orbita, with a higher back and steeper forward angle to the armrests. This was due to Vecta seeing the Zermatt as a commercial product, rather than the Orbita’s more domestic orientation.
Vecta Contract Catalogue page, featuring the US made Zermatt Dining Chair.
Vecta Contract Catalogue page, featuring the US made Zermatt Dining Chair.
Vecta Contract Catalogue page for the Zermatt. However, this page features Arkana made Orbitas, as production had not begun in the US at the time.
Vecta Contract Catalogue page, primarily featuring the Vecta exclusive Zermatt Continuous variants.
Vecta Zermatt Continuous seating, with seats in multiple colours.
Vecta Contract Catalogue variant, emphasizing colour choices and variants for the Zermatt Continuous series.
Vecta Contract Catalogue page, featuring the heavier 'bench style' option for the Zermatt Continuous meant for public seating.
A composite of a multi page spread featuring the Zermatt Continuous series for public seating. Note the insert describing the optional "Cantilever" feature for ashtrays between seats.
An early production Zermatt in the UK.
An early production Zermatt in Dallas, Texas.
An early production Zermatt in Dallas, Texas.
An early production Zermatt in Dallas, Texas.
An early production Zermatt in Dallas, Texas.
An early production Zermatt in Dallas, Texas.
One of the early promotional images for the Zermatt Lounger that can be seen across Vecta advertising and catalogues. This particular image ironically features an Arkana made Orbita as US production was still being organized at the time.
Zermatt dining chairs being used in other Vecta range advertising. This example showing the Gamba Conference Table.
Zermatt dining chairs being used in other Vecta range advertising. This example showing the Gamba Conference Table.
Zermatt dining chairs being used in other Vecta range advertising. This example showing a small Kirkby table in the upper left.
Zermatt dining chairs being used in other Vecta range advertising. This example showing the Tubo clear topped dining tables.
Zermatt dining chairs being used in other Vecta range advertising. This example showing the Unicolumn table range.
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