Magnus Pettersen

Magnus Pettersen is a British-Norwegian designer working with solid timber, ceramic and blown glass, with pieces held in the Heal's catalogue across tables, stools and accessories. His work balances Scandinavian restraint with a British sense of material substance, produced in small UK and European workshops where the handwork is visible.
  • Artie Bed Artie Bed King / Walnut
    By Heal's
    Artie Bed
    From £1,629
    2 Finish options
  • Marna King Size Bed Marna King Size Bed
  • Artie 8 Drawer Chest Walnut Artie 8 Drawer Chest Walnut
  • Artie Bedside Table Walnut Artie Bedside Table Walnut
  • Arch Console Raie Fabric Table Lamp Raie Red
    By Heal's
    Arch Console
    From £1,359
    2 Finish options
  • Tinta Small Sideboard Blue Stain / Blue Stain Tinta Small Sideboard Green Stain / Natural Oak
    +5
    11 Door Finish options

    Pettersen's work sits at the craft end of contemporary furniture, solid timber tables and stools, hand-thrown ceramics, blown-glass vessels, all produced in small quantities. His Heal's collection covers occasional tables, bar stools and sculptural accessories.

    Production runs through a small network of British and Scandinavian workshops, each chosen for a specific craft, cabinetry in the UK, ceramic in Devon, glass in a specialist Czech blowing workshop. Lead times reflect the handwork involved.

    The material honesty and restrained proportions read well in minimalist spaces, where the quality of the timber, ceramic or glass becomes the visual focus. A single Pettersen piece often works harder than a matched set because the pieces were conceived as individual objects rather than series.

    Most timber pieces are finished in hardwax oil, which allows the grain to breathe and ages gracefully over years of use. An annual oil refresh keeps the surface hydrated, and minor marks can be sanded out by hand and re-oiled.

    • Designers On Lockdown: Magnus Long
      Designers
      Designers On Lockdown: Magnus Long
      For the third instalment in our Designers in Lockdown series, we spoke to London-based designer Magnus Long. He is the brains behind our exclusive Massimo Sofa collection, a design that showcases his love for refined, elegant design. We caught up with Magnus to find out how lockdown has affected him. How is lockdown treating you? Like everybody, I found it quite scary at first. We’ve managed to find a new rhythm within our family but our house has become a classroom, a nursey, a workplace and a part-time home. It has been great being able to spend time with together. My two year old can now say “wash your hands” and my four year old is really taking an interest in the design work I’m doing when working from home. But it has also been really frustrating at times not being able to go quite at full speed. Lots of projects have been a bit quiet and it’s only now that things are starting to pick up again. How has lockdown shifted the way you design? I’ve been thinking lots about how this could be the breakthrough that means people don’t travel so much to work. My studio is a 10-minute walk from my house so I’m quite lucky in that sense. I’m kind of imagining what it could look like if we have lots of local workplaces. This would mean people not having to work from home but also not having to commute for hours every day. So what would those spaces look like? What would the design for those spaces be? Maybe they could be on the high street. Maybe we could use empty shops as localised co-working spaces for lots of different people doing lots of different things. I’d really love to see that happening and the design opportunities that arise because of it. I’m just trying to think about what happens when we all get to the point where we realise that travelling is a waste of money, time and fuel. Maybe we don’t need to do that anymore and at the same time not need to work at home. Maybe there’s a third way that could fill this gap. I’d love to see communities coming back together on the high street again, even if they’re connected globally or nationally. How has your business adapted to social distancing? Most of the time it’s just me in the studio and ever since lockdown it’s just been me alone. So that bit has been quite easy to manage. In terms of social distancing it’s really about the travel and not being able to visit factories and trade fairs. Milan was cancelled this year and that’s usually a nice place to see new things that are being launched. So we’ll have to wait until next year to see the major launches that will happen. How have you stayed motivated when working from home? I think so much of my work is reliant on other people throughout the design project. From clients to manufacturers, there’s a lot of coordination between so many different people. Obviously lots of these people have gone quiet over the last few months. At moments it has been difficult to stay motivated and that’s the time I’ve taken to think about different things. But it feels like things are beginning to pick up again. Prototypes have begun being manufactured, for example. It’s just sad not being able to go and see them in the factory and not work as closely with the partners. So it’s a bit different in that respect but I’m sure things are beginning to change and open up again. It does raise the question whether we need to travel as much and if we can do things in different ways. Have you picked up any new hobbies or interests during lockdown? I don’t really feel like I’ve had much more time on my hands. Lots of juggling around of other things. I’m really interested in seeing what happens next, how things are going to change, the new normal. What is that going to look like in term of the work-life balance? I’m really interesting to see what the details will be and the restructuring of various aspects of our lives. Then, of course, how we as designers can respond. What has inspired you most during lockdown? The first one that comes to mind is 3D-printing PPE. It’s a brilliant use of the technology. Global groups of people working together to use their very localised manufacturing and get PPE to frontline workers quickly has been inspiring to see. Also, I’ve been inspired by projects that don’t require much investment and are things that everybody can do. For example, Paul Priestman launched a project that involved cutting up an egg box to make a smartphone stand. It’s something everybody can do and everyone can have a go at. The rainbows have been really great. Being able to walk down the street and experience that feeling of being in this together. Plus, saying thank you to frontline workers and NHS staff. That pulling together of organisations, businesses and communities has been really inspiring. We can do this together. Like what you see? Shop Magnus Long. https://youtu.be/gx-D0MJcKTQ
    • How To Spot A Fake Eames Lounge Chair
      Buying Guides
      How To Spot A Fake Eames Lounge Chair
      As one of the world’s most iconic chairs, it probably comes as no surprise that the Eames Lounge Chair is the victim of untold inferior copies. In fact, fake Eames Loungers sit unknowingly, or knowingly, in peoples’ homes across the globe. Maybe you’re looking to buy a vintage Eames Lounge Chair online. Or perhaps you’ve seen a new one in a shop but aren’t convinced it’s authentic. It’s completely understandable that you want to make sure it’s authentic before splashing out on it. To help you decide, we’ve compiled some of the ways you can tell a real Eames Lounger from a fake. These sure-fire ways to spot a fake Eames Lounge Chair should help you make this important decision. Read on to find out. The size of an original Eames Lounge Chair Aside from a taller version introduced in 2010, the Eames Lounge Chair hasn’t changed sizes since it was designed in 1956. That means you can tell an original Eames Chair from its size. Fake Eames Lounge Chairs tend to have completely wrong proportions. So, if the size is off, then the odds are that it’s a knock off. If you’re buying an Eames Lounger from a second hand or vintage shop, then get your tape measure out. A classic Eames Lounge Chair measures 84cm tall, 84cm wide and 91cm deep with a seat height of 38cm. A tall Eames Lounge Chair is 89cm tall, 84cm wide and 92cm deep with a seat height of 38cm. Labels on an authentic Eames Lounge Chair Whether your Eames Chair is vintage or brand spanking new, it should have a label to prove its authenticity. When looking for a label on an Eames Chair, we tend to start with the base. It will normally be at the point where the base connects with the chair’s shell. If it isn’t there, then try sliding off the chair’s cushions and you may find a label underneath. Once you find it, a label should have one of two names, Hermann Miller or Vitra. To European and Middle Eastern audiences, Vitra is renowned for making Eames furniture. If you’re buying the chair here, then that’s what you should expect to see a Vitra label. However, Hermann Miller was the original manufacturer of the Eames Lounge Chair in the USA and even commissioned it in the first place. Of course, some Vitra loungers will have made their way across the Atlantic and vice versa. So, don’t be surprised if it has a Hermann Miller label attached to it. Whether it’s a Hermann Miller or a Vitra tag, either tag should guarantee its authenticity. Both brands have gone through a wide range of labels since the chair was first produced. That means there are many different labels that could be on your chair. It could be a small metal plaque, a sticker with Charles Eames’ signature or a roundel. If you can’t find a label on your Eames Lounger, then don’t despair. If the chair’s old and the right size, with all the quality fixtures and features then it’s probably just missing a label. How much does an Eames Lounge Chair move? An authentic Eames Lounge Chair should swivel 360° in a fluid motion. That is, the shell swivels on the base itself. If the base has wheels or castors, then it won’t be an original. Many people think that this type of chair is a recliner, but it isn’t. Yes, an Eames Lounger will tilt slightly when you lean back on it, but it’s no reclining chair. So, if the chair in question reclines far back or has mechanisms to help it recline, then it isn’t an original. An Eames Lounger’s premium finish Always remember the prestige reputation manufacturers like Hermann Miller and Vitra have. Not to mention the exacting standards of Charles Eames himself. That means original Eames Chairs are always finished to the highest possible standard. All authentic Eames Lounge Chairs are made up of three wooden shells. That’s one for the seat, one for the back and one for the headrest. Then there are two shells that make up the armrests. The shells all appear as though floating with no visible screw or bolts. The only place you may spot a screw is on the armrests and original ones will be black. Effort has been made to ensure the design is structurally sound whilst concealing the screws. So, if screws stick out like sore thumbs, it won’t be an original. The base of an Eames Lounge Chair The chair’s base is also a tell-tale sign. It should have five legs and be made using die cast aluminium. Since they’re made using this technique, the base should be one solid piece of aluminium, rather than having individual legs screwed together. Each leg will have a slight angle and taper off into a rounded end, rather than a squared end. The base isn’t always the same finish, in fact, expect to see it polished, chromed or matte black. So, if there’s less than five legs and steep angles on the base, you’re probably looking at a fake. How much does an Eames Lounge Chair cost? The price of an Eames Lounge Chair differs depending on the leather and wood finishes that you choose. But needless to say, the price tag that comes with them reflects the work that goes into making them perfect. That isn’t to say it’s a walk in the park to create a replica. The many elements of an Eames Lounger’s design means that a new replica could still cost upwards of £1,000. However, a used replica will set you back a few hundred pounds. So, if the price is substantially lower than those advertised by Vitra or Hermann Miller then it’s likely a fake. Interested in buying an original? See our authentic Eames Lounge Chairs here.