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Butterfly Windsor Chair For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Butterfly Windsor Chair?
Finding the Right Seating for You
With entire areas of our homes reserved for “sitting rooms,” the value of quality antique and vintage seating cannot be overstated.
Fortunately, the design of side chairs, armchairs and other lounge furniture — since what were, quite literally, the early perches of our ancestors — has evolved considerably.
Among the earliest standard seating furniture were stools. Egyptian stools, for example, designed for one person with no seat back, were x-shaped and typically folded to be tucked away. These rudimentary chairs informed the design of Greek and Roman stools, all of which were a long way from Sori Yanagi's Butterfly stool or Alvar Aalto's Stool 60. In the 18th century and earlier, seats with backs and armrests were largely reserved for high nobility.
The seating of today is more inclusive but the style and placement of chairs can still make a statement. Antique desk chairs and armchairs designed in the style of Louis XV, which eventually included painted furniture and were often made of rare woods, feature prominently curved legs as well as Chinese themes and varied ornaments. Much like the thrones of fairy tales and the regency, elegant lounges crafted in the Louis XV style convey wealth and prestige. In the kitchen, the dining chair placed at the head of the table is typically reserved for the head of the household or a revered guest.
Of course, with luxurious vintage or antique furnishings, every chair can seem like the best seat in the house. Whether your preference is stretching out on a plush sofa, such as the Serpentine, designed by Vladimir Kagan, or cozying up in a vintage wingback chair, there is likely to be a comfy classic or contemporary gem for you on 1stDibs.
With respect to the latest obsessions in design, cane seating has been cropping up everywhere, from sleek armchairs to lounge chairs, while bouclé fabric, a staple of modern furniture design, can be seen in mid-century modern, Scandinavian modern and Hollywood Regency furniture styles.
Admirers of the sophisticated craftsmanship and dark woods frequently associated with mid-century modern seating can find timeless furnishings in our expansive collection of lounge chairs, dining chairs and other items — whether they’re vintage editions or alluring official reproductions of iconic designs from the likes of Hans Wegner or from Charles and Ray Eames. Shop our inventory of Egg chairs, designed in 1958 by Arne Jacobsen, the Florence Knoll lounge chair and more.
No matter your style, the collection of unique chairs, sofas and other seating on 1stDibs is surely worthy of a standing ovation.
- What is a Windsor back chair?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022A Windsor back chair is a solid wooden chair with an arched spindle back. Most designs have curved arms positioned on angled stands and carved legs connected by a cross stretcher. The chair gets its name from the English city of Windsor, where the chairs were first made in the 18th century. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of Windsor back chairs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMay 5, 2023To identify a Windsor chair, look at how it was made. On authentic pieces, the bentwood back frames are assembled with slender wooden spindles that are plugged into drill holes in the sculpted seat, which was usually made of elm and slightly sunken or dish-shaped for the sitter’s comfort. The chairs have wooden legs that splay outward to provide stability, and unlike other chair designs, the back legs have no connection to the chair back. Shop a range of Windsor chairs on 1stDibs.
- What is a Windsor rocking chair?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertOctober 26, 2021A Windsor rocking chair is built for comfort and is usually manufactured in such a way that the seat’s spindles, along with the chair-back and legs, are pushed into holes that have been drilled. This sets this type of chair apart, as the standard construction of a chair sees that the back legs are continuous. The Windsor chair originated in the early 1700s in the English town of Windsor. As mentioned, their bentwood back frames are assembled with slender wooden spindles that are plugged into drill holes in the sculpted seat, which was usually made of elm and slightly sunken or dish-shaped for the sitter’s comfort. Shop a collection of antique and vintage Windsor rocking chairs from some of the world’s top dealers on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 14, 2023A Windsor chair is called that after the town where it was first made, Windsor, England. In 1710, artisans in the village began producing wooden spindle chairs. Craftsmen in the American colonies began making their own versions in the 1730s. A handful of Windsor chairs are said to have appeared in Philadelphia by the late 1720s, however, owing to Pennsylvania lieutenant governor Patrick Gordon’s fondness for the seat. Colonial furniture makers sometimes painted their Windsor chairs, which were crafted from a variety of woods such as thick pine, ash or birch. On 1stDibs, shop a range of antique Windsor chairs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Butterfly chairs were popular in the 1950s. Due to a renewed interest in mid-century modern design, the chairs are also used to decorate homes today. The original name of the butterfly chair is the BKF after its three designers, Antonio Bonet, Juan Kurchan and Jorge Ferrari Hardoy. You'll find a range of butterfly chairs on 1stDibs.
- Who made the butterfly chair?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Antonio Bonet, Juan Kurchan and Jorge Ferrari Hardoy made the butterfly chair. The three architects created the design in 1938 at their firm in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Their design draws inspiration from Joseph Beverly Fenby's Tripolina chair produced in 1877. Shop a variety of butterfly chairs on 1stDibs.
- Do butterfly chairs fold up?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Whether or not a butterfly chair will fold will depend on the make and model. The butterfly chair was originally designed with metal hairpin legs without hinges or joints. Collector versions of the butterfly chair will not be foldable, however, foldable designs are a popular silhouette for recreational seating.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022The Butterfly chair, also known as the BKF or Hardoy chair, was made in 1938 in Buenos Aires. It is recognizable by its metal frame and suspended seat, created by the large sling of material hung from the frame’s highest points. Shop the unique style from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 27, 2024Whether or not Butterfly chairs are comfortable is largely a matter of personal opinion. Many people find that the way the upholstery of the Butterfly chair hangs from its metal frame provides plenty of support for the body. Plus, its sling design invites users to settle in and relax. Shop a collection of Butterfly chairs on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2024Antonio Bonet, Juan Kurchan and Jorge Ferrari-Hardoy designed the Butterfly chair. The trio met while working in Le Corbusier's studio and then moved to Argentina, where they founded the Grupo Austral. In 1938, they unveiled their now iconic chair, which was inspired by a previous work called Tripolona, which they designed using inspiration from folding, collapsible chairs used by the British military. Shop a collection of Butterfly chairs on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertSeptember 28, 2021A set of antique Windsor chairs can sell from about $500 to well into the thousands, depending on the quality and condition. Single chairs range from about $100 to thousands, with age being a major factor in value. Find a range of antique vintage Windsor and other chairs on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022To identify a Windsor rocking chair, enlist the help of a licensed furniture appraiser. Many convincing distressed reproductions exist due to their popularity and value. An experienced professional can accurately determine if yours is an authentic antique or a replica. Find a range of expertly vetted Windsor rocking chairs on 1stDibs.
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