20th Century Swiss Leather DS-600 Caterpillar Sofa from de Sede, 1970, Set of 16

About This Piece

Vintage Design

A stunning cream leather de Sede DS-600 segmented “caterpillar“ sofa, mid to late 20th century, with rounded back supports and arms, the sixteen segmented sections each joined by a zipped mechanism.

The 1970s were not as celebrated for iconic furniture designs as the two preceding decades, when modern furniture came into its own. Nevertheless, the decade witnessed some historic contributions and unquestionably one of its most striking designs was de Sede’s DS-600 modular Non Stop sofa.

Swiss furniture maker de Sede launched this whimsical and unorthodox model in 1972 and is still making it today. A hallmark of several mid-century modern furniture designs, including the Non Stop, is the ability to offer nearly endless configurations, giving owners the flexibility to rearrange the seating pieces with ease or fit them into different room layouts.

Resembling a caterpillar or an accordion, the Non Stop sofa is composed of modular sections that are connected with hinges, but can be detached. They can be bent so the sofa forms a C, S, U, or an L. Sections can be removed or added to create a look to suit every taste. Some choose to keep their Non Stops perfectly straight.

De Sede began in Klingnau, Switzerland as a tanner’s workshop and has long been known as a maker of fine leather furniture that is versatile and comfortable. The DS-600 (its formal name, according to the de Sede catalogue) is the most well known of the company’s furniture designs. The Non Stop earned a place in the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s largest sofa with an example that boasted more than 400 connected sections. That record-setting behemoth was designed by the de Sede in-house team of Heinz Ulrich, Ueli Berger, Eleanora Peduzzi-Riva, and Klaus Vogt.

Interestingly, while the DS-600 has come to be known as the Non Stop sofa, this title seems to have not been used by de Sede. A Google search to find the genesis of this nickname yields no useful information, but the moniker has clearly stuck. The company notes on its website that the sofa was actually named after a mythical creature in Alpine lore, the Tatzelwurm, which is said to be a long and slender lizard or worm-like creature that has the face of a cat.

CONDITION
In very good condition throughout, only minor signs of wear and tear consummate with light use. Seating comfortable. No rips or tears to the leather. Please refer to photographs

SIZE
Height: 75 cm // 29.53 inches
Width: 23.5 cm // 9.25 inches
Depth: 100 cm // 39.37 inches
Seat Height: 43 cm // 16.93 inches

(16 sections)

Click here for full description Close description

Creator	De Sede
Manufacturer	de Sede
Design Period	1970 to 1979
Year	1970
Production Period	Unknown
Country of Manufacture	Switzerland
Identifying Marks	This piece has an attribution mark
Style	Modernist
Detailed Condition	Very Good — This vintage/antique item has no defects, but it may show slight traces of use.
Restoration and Damage Details	Light wear consistent with age and use, Patina consistent with age and use, Slight wear
Product Code	XTA-1956221
Materials	Leather
Color	Cream
Width	376 cm 376 cm
Depth	100 cm 100 cm
Height	75 cm 75 cm
Weight Range	Standard — Between 40kg and 80kg

Shipping & Delivery

Ships from	United Kingdom
Returns	Returns accepted within fourteen days of delivery, except for Made-to-order items

Sustainability

Carbon Neutral	For every purchase made, Pamono offsets 100% of estimated carbon emissions from global shipping.
Vintage	Choosing vintage and antique furniture reduces your carbon footprint by cutting down on waste and reduces demand for new materials and extends the life of the products we use.

Delivery Options

Front Door Delivery: (Included in Every Order)	A skilled driver will unload the item(s) from the delivery truck and bring it to your building’s doorstep. You will be responsible for further transport beyond that point. We recommend asking a family member or friend for an extra hand; alternatively, you may upgrade to In-Home Delivery (see below). The delivery partner will email and/or call you at least one day in advance to arrange a delivery time. A wooden crate may be used for intercontinental shipments for maximum protection. Item will be left in its packaging after delivery. A signature will be required upon delivery.
In-Home Delivery: (For in-home delivery service, additional fees apply. Please get in touch)	A skilled driver or a team of two will bring your item(s) inside your home and place it in the immediate entryway. For unusually large or heavy items, we recommend asking a family member or friend for an extra hand, as we cannot send more than 2 drivers. The delivery partner will email and/or call you one day in advance to arrange a delivery time. A wooden crate may be used for intercontinental shipments for maximum protection. Item will be left in its packaging after delivery. A signature will be required upon delivery.

Front Door Delivery:
(Included in Every Order)

A skilled driver will unload the item(s) from the delivery truck and bring it to your building’s doorstep. You will be responsible for further transport beyond that point. We recommend asking a family member or friend for an extra hand; alternatively, you may upgrade to In-Home Delivery (see below).
The delivery partner will email and/or call you at least one day in advance to arrange a delivery time.
A wooden crate may be used for intercontinental shipments for maximum protection.
Item will be left in its packaging after delivery.
A signature will be required upon delivery.

In-Home Delivery:
(For in-home delivery service, additional fees apply. Please get in touch)

A skilled driver or a team of two will bring your item(s) inside your home and place it in the immediate entryway. For unusually large or heavy items, we recommend asking a family member or friend for an extra hand, as we cannot send more than 2 drivers.
The delivery partner will email and/or call you one day in advance to arrange a delivery time.
A wooden crate may be used for intercontinental shipments for maximum protection.
Item will be left in its packaging after delivery.
A signature will be required upon delivery.

*Important Note

Please examine every order upon delivery. In the event that there are visible signs of damage or missing or incorrect pieces, please indicate the problem on the Delivery Note and contact us within 48 hours of delivery. A signed delivery receipt without notations of missing, damaged, or incorrect item(s) represents your acceptance of the complete order in perfect condition.

About the Maker

de Sede

Like many luxury leather goods brands, furniture-manufacturing company de Sede started out as a saddle-making atelier. Based in Klingnau—located in northern Switzerland near the German border—the company traces its high-end furniture production back to 1965, when the original family-run business incorporated and began to collaborate with international designers on the creation of handmade, premium-leather-clad chairs, lounges, and sofas. Over the years, de Sede’s product offering has expanded to include tables, beds, and more.

Generous proportions balanced by sleek silhouettes characterize de Sede furniture. The top quality craftsmanship means each piece has been built to last.

As of this writing, according to the company’s current facts and figures, de Sede AG produces more than 11,000 pieces of furniture each year, of which 70% is exported and distributed in over 40 countries; and, on a production area of 11,000 m2, it processes around 32,000 m2 of top-quality leather each year.

* All images courtesy of de Sede.