Italian Shell Chairs
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Shell Chairs
By Gio Ponti
Located in BANGALOW, NSW
A pair of Gio Ponti 'Shell' chairs for "Casa e Giardino", 1940's Italy.
Curved shell model covered
Category
Vintage 1940s Italian Art Deco Lounge Chairs
Materials
Leather
Italian Design Classic Elda Lounge Chair by Joe Colombo, 1970s Italy
By Comfort, Italy, Joe Colombo
Located in Renens, CH
The Elda Chair by Joe Colombo (1963) is a post-war design masterpiece:
The design is still today
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Leather, Fiberglass
H 36.62 in W 38.98 in D 36.62 in
Six Italian Decorative Venetian Shell Back Dining Chairs
Located in New York, NY
Italian Venetian Grotto, wood framed chairs having a scalloped design with cushioned fabric seats
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Wood
Elda Lounge Chair by Joe Colombo for Comfort, Italy 1960s
By Comfort, Italy, Joe Colombo
Located in Lasne, BE
Swivel armchair in beige leather and black shell by Joe Colombo. Elda model. Seat height 38cm. Wear
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Leather, Fiberglass
Elda Lounge Chair by Joe Colombo for Comfort, Italy, 1960s
By Joe Colombo, Comfort, Italy
Located in Lasne, BE
Swivel armchair in red leather and white shell. Seat height 40cm. Wear due to time and age.
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Metal
Vintage space age Rodica chair by Mario Brunu for Comfort, Italy 1968.
By Comfort, Italy, Mario Brunu
Located in Haderslev, DK
masterpiece designed by Mario Bruno for Comfort Italy. Crafted with exquisite attention to detail, this chair
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Space Age Lounge Chairs
Materials
Leather, Fiberglass
H 35.44 in W 39.38 in D 41.34 in
Gray Boucle 'Shell' Chair, Europe, 1960s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Beautiful chair type 1020 colloquially called "shell" produced by the Slupsk centre of furniture
Category
20th Century Polish Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Textile, Beech
Elda Lounge Chair In Black Leather By Joe Colombo For Comfort Italy 1970s
By Joe Colombo, Comfort, Italy
Located in ABCOUDE, UT
Iconic design chair by top designer Joe Colombo. The Elda chairs were produced by Comfort Italy
Category
Vintage 1960s Lounge Chairs
Materials
Leather, Fiberglass
H 37.41 in W 41.34 in D 31.5 in
Vintage Elda Chair in Grey Leather and Black Shell by Joe Colombo, Italy
By Joe Colombo
Located in Buggenhout, Oost-Vlaanderen
leather with a black fiberglass shell.
This iconic “Elda” armchair was designed in Italy by Joe Colombo
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Leather
H 37.41 in W 36.62 in D 36.62 in
Antique Italian Georgian Dining Chairs Shell Walnut Set of 5
Located in Lake Worth, FL
Shell Dining Chairs in Solid Walnut
Approximate Measurements in Inches
(These are hand-made items and
Category
Vintage 1930s Georgian Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Walnut
Vintage Elda Chair in Black Leather & Red Shell by Joe Colombo for Comfort Italy
By Joe Colombo
Located in Buggenhout, Oost-Vlaanderen
a red fiberglass shell.
This iconic “Elda” armchair was designed in Italy by Joe Colombo ( 1930
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Leather
H 36.62 in W 37.41 in D 36.62 in
Set of Four Gray Boucle 'Shell' Chairs, Europe, 1960s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Beautiful chairs type 1020 colloquially called "shell" produced by the Slupsk centre of furniture
Category
20th Century Polish Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Textile, Beech
Set of Nine Gray Boucle 'Shell' Chairs, Europe, 1960s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Beautiful chairs type 1020 colloquially called "shell" produced by the Slupsk centre of furniture
Category
20th Century Polish Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Textile, Beech
Set of Ten Dark Green Velvet 'Shell' Chairs, 1960s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Beautiful chairs type 1020 colloquially called "shell" produced by the Slupsk centre of furniture
Category
20th Century Polish Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Textile, Beech
Patterned Full Moon Chair with Black Lacquered Shell, Ludovica & Roberto Palomba
By Driade, Ludovica + Roberto Palomba 1
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The lacquered shell of the Moon and FullMoon chaise lounge sits on a very light metal frame and
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel
H 36.6 in W 31.4 in D 59 in
"Lago'" Lacquered Shell and Aluminum Legs Chair by Philippe Starck for Driade
By Philippe Starck, Driade
Located in Brooklyn, NY
"
Characterized by an embracing shell and stiletto like legs, Lagò chair shows a strong image thanks to intense
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs
Materials
Aluminum
H 31.7 in W 23.6 in D 22.4 in
Joe Colombo Elda Chair, Black Leather, White Fiberglass Shell
By Joe Colombo
Located in Izegem, BE
Showroom model in impeccable NEW condition!
Iconic Space Age classic: Elda Chair by Joe Colombo
Category
2010s Italian Space Age Lounge Chairs
Materials
Leather, Fiberglass
Gray Boucle 'Shell' Chair, Dark Brown Beech Wood, Poland, 1960s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Beautiful chair type 1020 colloquially called "shell" produced by the Slupsk centre of furniture
Category
20th Century Polish Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Textile, Beech
Joe Colombo ‘Elda’ Lounge Chair in Cognac Leather and Black Fiberglass
By Comfort, Italy, Joe Colombo
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Joe Colombo for Comfort, lounge chair model ‘Elda’, fiberglass, leather, Italy, design 1963, later
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Post-Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Leather, Fiberglass
H 36.23 in W 37.01 in D 39.38 in
Gervasoni Next 121 Shell Cast Polished Aluminum Chair in Walnut by Paola Navone
By Paola Navone, Gervasoni
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Gervasoni Next 121 shell cast polished aluminum chair in walnut by Paola Navone
Shell chair in
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs
Materials
Walnut
H 32.29 in W 16.15 in D 20.08 in
Joe Colombo for Comfort Lounge Chair 'Elda' in Brown Leather and Fiberglass
By Joe Colombo, Comfort, Italy
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Joe Colombo for Comfort, lounge chair ‘Elda’, fiberglass, red leather, Italy, design 1963
The
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Post-Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Leather, Fiberglass
H 36.82 in W 39.77 in D 37.01 in
Mariolina Conference Chair in Silk Grey Shell with Anthracite Legs by E-GGS
By E-GGS, Miniforms
Located in Brooklyn, NY
method and suitable for everyday life.
Chair with attachable base in iron rebar, lacquered anthracite
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs
Materials
Iron
H 31.11 in W 20.08 in D 21.26 in
"Lago'" Leather Shell and Anodized Aluminum Legs Chair by P. Starck for Driade
By Driade
Located in Brooklyn, NY
. 23.6", H. 31.7", Seat H. 17.7"
Characterized by an embracing shell and stiletto like legs, Lagò chair
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs
Materials
Aluminum
H 31.7 in W 23.6 in D 22.4 in
Mid Century Brown Tiger Beat Jacquard Velvet Shell Chair, Europe, 1960s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Beautiful chair type 1020 colloquially called "shell" produced by the Slupsk centre of furniture
Category
20th Century Polish Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Textile, Beech
H 31.5 in W 20.87 in D 17.72 in
Joe Colombo for Comfort Lounge Chair 'Elda' in Red Leather and Fiberglass
By Joe Colombo, Comfort, Italy
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Joe Colombo for Comfort, lounge chair ‘Elda’, fiberglass, red leather, Italy, design 1963, later
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Post-Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Leather, Fiberglass
H 36.82 in W 39.77 in D 37.01 in
Joe Colombo Elda Chair + Ottoman Black Leather, White Fiberglass Shell
By Joe Colombo
Located in Izegem, BE
price is for the set (Elda Chair + Ottoman/Footstool).
The “Elda” armchair was designed in Italy by
Category
2010s Italian Space Age Lounge Chairs
Materials
Leather, Fiberglass
H 36.23 in W 36.23 in D 36.23 in
2x Joe Colombo Elda Chair, Black Leather, White Fiberglass Shell
By Joe Colombo
Located in Izegem, BE
Italian furniture designers of his generation, named the chair after his wife Elda and it can be found in
Category
2010s Italian Space Age Lounge Chairs
Materials
Leather, Fiberglass
Mariolina Chair in Anthracite Metal Legs, Silk Gray Shell, by E-GGs
By Miniforms, E-GGS
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This Mariolina chair is offered with iron legs in anthracite, a shell in polypropylene silk grey
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs
Materials
Metal
"Overdyed" Aniline Dyed Ash Plywood Shell and Steel Chair by Moroso for Diesel
By Diesel Creative Team 1, Moroso
Located in Brooklyn, NY
"Overdyed" is a chair, designed by Diesel Creative Team and manufactured by Moroso, featuring a
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel
Full Moon Chair in Grey with Black Lacquered Shell by Ludovica & Roberto Palomba
By Ludovica + Roberto Palomba 1, Driade
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The lacquered shell of the Moon and FullMoon chaise longue sits on a very light metal frame and
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel
H 36.6 in W 31.4 in D 59 in
Skin Chair, Yellow, Home, Contract, Indoor, Chair, Made in Italy
By GIACOMO CATTANI
Located in MARANO VICENTINO, IT
The harmonic, enveloping shells in powder-coated tubular metal that define the skin armchair
Category
2010s Italian Modern Chairs
Materials
Metal
Skin Chair, Yellow, Home, Contract, Indoor, Chair, Made in Italy
By GIACOMO CATTANI
Located in MARANO VICENTINO, IT
The harmonic, enveloping shells in powder-coated tubular metal that define the skin armchair
Category
2010s Italian Modern Chairs
Materials
Metal
Set of Eight Gray Boucle 'Shell' Chairs, Dark Beech Wood, Europe, 1960s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Set of eight beautiful chairs type 1020 colloquially called "shell" produced by the Slupsk centre
Category
20th Century Polish Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Textile, Beech
H 31.5 in W 20.87 in D 17.72 in
Set of Seven Gray Boucle 'Shell' Chairs, Dark Beech Wood, Europe, 1960s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Set of Seven beautiful chairs type 1020 colloquially called "shell" produced by the Slupsk centre
Category
20th Century Polish Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Textile, Beech
H 31.5 in W 20.87 in D 17.72 in
Gianni Moscatelli plywood dining chairs Italy 1955
By Gianni Moscatelli, Formanova
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
A fabulous set of 4 plywood dining chairs 'Bivalve 940' designed by Gianni Moscatelli made in Italy
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Plywood
Set of Six Pen Shell Dining Chairs by Marquis Collection of Beverly Hills
By Marquis Collection of Beverly Hills 1
Located in Palm Springs, CA
1980s Glamorous set of six crackled pen shell and boucle dining chairs by Marquis Collection of
Category
Vintage 1980s American Modern Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Shell, Bouclé, Wood
H 35.5 in W 24.25 in D 22.25 in
Black Metal & Pagwood 1960s Chairs with Pagholz Shells
By Pagholz
Located in Varese, Lombardia
The chairs are 5. They are made from black metal legs and Pagholz pagwood seats. Some rivets have
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Metal
Set of 2 Octavia Chairs, Green and Gray Shell by Laun
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2 Octavia chairs, green and gray shell by Laun ( Handmade in Los Angeles )
Dawn Collection
Category
2010s Italian Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Aluminum
Set of Six Mid Century Brown Tiger Jacquard Velvet Shell Chairs, Europe, 1960s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Beautiful chair type 1020 colloquially called "shell" produced by the Slupsk centre of furniture
Category
20th Century Polish Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Textile, Beech
H 31.5 in W 20.87 in D 17.72 in
Mid Century Pink and Green Tiger Beat Jacquard Velvet Shell Chair, Europe, 1960s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Beautiful chair type 1020 colloquially called "shell" produced by the Slupsk centre of furniture
Category
20th Century Polish Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Textile, Beech
H 31.5 in W 20.87 in D 17.72 in
Late 19th c. Venetian Polychrome and Gilded Shell Top Grotto Chair
By Pauly et Cie
Located in San Francisco, CA
Naturalistically carved, the back decorated with a shell, lifting to reveal a tufted cushion back
Category
Antique Late 19th Century Italian Grand Tour Side Chairs
Materials
Gold Leaf
Set of Ten Mid Century Tiger Beat Jacquard Velvet Shell Chairs, Europe, 1960s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Beautiful chair type 1020 colloquially called "shell" produced by the Slupsk centre of furniture
Category
20th Century Polish Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Textile, Beech
H 31.5 in W 20.87 in D 17.72 in
Skin Chair, gray and green, home, contract, indoor, chair, made in Italy.
By GIACOMO CATTANI
Located in MARANO VICENTINO, IT
The harmonic, enveloping shells in powder-coated tubular metal that define the skin armchair
Category
2010s Italian Modern Chairs
Materials
Metal
H 31.5 in W 22.84 in D 22.45 in
Skin Chair, Gray and White, Home, Contract, Indoor, Chair, Made in Italy
By GIACOMO CATTANI
Located in MARANO VICENTINO, IT
The harmonic, enveloping shells in powder-coated tubular metal that define the skin armchair
Category
2010s Italian Modern Chairs
Materials
Metal
H 31.5 in W 22.84 in D 22.45 in
Modern Italian Upholstered Chair from Bontempi Casa Collection
By Bontempi Casa
Located in Titusville, PA
comfortable padding, enhances absolute comfort in a perfect stylistic balance. This Chair is available with
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian International Style Chairs
Materials
Metal
Modern Italian Wooden Chair from Bontempi Casa Collection
By Bontempi Casa
Located in Titusville, PA
smooth. Natural knots and differences in colour testify their authenticity. The shell of this chair is in
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian International Style Chairs
Materials
Cotton, Wood
Ariston Chairs A. Bozzi for Saporiti Plywood Italy 1950s
By Augusto Bozzi, Saporiti
Located in Milano, IT
Saporiti from 1957. The chairs have a black painted metal frame and a bent plywood shell.
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Metal
Martin Ballendat Set of Four Up Chairs for Tonon, Italy.
By Martin Ballendat
Located in Bonita Springs, FL
Martin Ballendat Set of Four Up Chairs for Tonon, Italy.
The Up-Chair is an extremely emotional
Category
2010s Italian Modern Chairs
Materials
Metal
Italian Mid-Century Modern Upholstered Lounge Chairs, Italy 1950s
Located in Utrecht, NL
These individualistic chairs possess a playful and stylish look that Italian Modern furniture is
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Fabric, Wood
Pair of Italian Modernist Wooden Side Chairs by Barovero
By Barovero
Located in Madrid, ES
Pair of beautifully crafted side chairs by Barovero from the '50s. The chairs feature a curved
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Fabric, Upholstery, Hardwood, Plywood
French Louis XV Style Carved Shell & Painted Caned Bergere Chairs -Pair
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a lovely pair of French Louis XV style caned bergere chairs with vintage check upholstery
Category
Mid-20th Century American Louis XV Bergere Chairs
Materials
Upholstery, Oak, Down
Italian Mid-Century Modern Brown Leather and Steel Chairs, 1960s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian mid century modern brown leather and steel chairs, 1960s
Pair of chairs with curved resin
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel
Bentwood Side Chairs by Societa Compensati Curvati, Italy
By Società Compensati Curvati
Located in London, Lambeth
This rare beautiful chair was manufactured by
Societá Compensati Curvati, Italy 1950’s Curved
Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Bentwood
Modern Italian Chair in Lacquered Metal and Polypropylene, Bontempi Collection
By Bontempi Casa
Located in Titusville, PA
Designed by Pocci&Dondoli, this is a stackable chair composed of a polypropylene shell with soft
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian International Style Chairs
Materials
Metal
H 33.9 in W 21.7 in D 17.7 in
Modern Italian Chair in Lacquered Metal and Polypropylene, Bontempi Collection
By Bontempi Casa
Located in Titusville, PA
Designed by Pocci&Dondoli, this is a stackable chair composed of a polypropylene shell with soft
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian International Style Chairs
Materials
Metal
H 33.9 in W 21.7 in D 17.7 in
Modern Italian Completly Upholstered Eco Leather Chair-Bontempi Casa Collection
By Bontempi Casa
Located in Titusville, PA
Designed by Bontempi Casa, the Nata flex chair boasts great ergonomics and comfort, and improves
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian International Style Chairs
Materials
Metal
H 35 in W 21.7 in D 19.3 in
Set of 8 Venetian Grotto Style Scalloped Shell Back Dining Chairs
Located in Dallas, TX
Add a daringly stylish essence to your dining room design with these Grotto style shell back dining
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Hollywood Regency Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Upholstery, Wood
18th Century Italian Rococo Set of Four Giltwood Arm Chairs
Located in Atlanta, GA
legs. The serpentine curved front having a shell carving in the center. The style being curvilinear
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century Italian Rococo Chairs
Materials
Giltwood
Mid-Century Arflex "Lucania" Chair by Carlo De Carlo, Italy, 1954
By Arflex, Giancarlo De Carlo
Located in Sacile, PN
Chair designed by Giancarlo De Carlo, manufactured by Arflex, Italy, 1954. This chair is an
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Metal
Pair of 19th Century Italian Renaissance Carved Walnut Sgabello Hall Chairs
Located in Dallas, TX
Italy circa 1860, each Renaissance chair stands on curved legs, decorated in the center with a female
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Italian Renaissance Chairs
Materials
Walnut
H 44.5 in W 14.5 in D 16.5 in
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Italian Shell Chairs For Sale on 1stDibs
An assortment of Italian shell chairs is available at 1stDibs. Each of these unique Italian shell chairs was constructed with extraordinary care, often using fabric, metal and wood. There are 35 antique and vintage Italian shell chairs for sale at 1stDibs, while we also have 13 modern editions to choose from as well. Italian shell chairs have long been popular, with older editions for sale from the 19th Century and newer versions made as recently as the 21st Century. Italian shell chairs bearing Modern or Mid-Century Modern hallmarks are very popular at 1stDibs. Many Italian shell chairs are appealing in their simplicity, but Driade, Lorenz+Kaz and Cappellini produced popular Italian shell chairs that are worth a look.
How Much are Italian Shell Chairs?
Prices for Italian shell chairs can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, Italian shell chairs begin at $455 and can go as high as $25,000, while the average can fetch as much as $2,245.
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.
Questions About Italian Shell Chairs
- What are Shell Chairs?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 31, 2023Shell chairs are iconic mid-century modern chairs designed by Hans J. Wegner and first released in 1963. In terms of both process and aesthetics, the Shell chair was ahead of its time when it was introduced. The expressive seat and back are made out of form-pressed oak or walnut laminates and topped with upholstered cushions for maximum comfort. Its design includes a tapered three-leg structure with two front legs made of one continuous piece and a separate hind leg that supports the backrest. This gives the chair a feeling of lightness without sacrificing stability. On 1stDibs, find a selection of Shell chairs.
- Is the Shell Chair comfortable?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2023Whether the Shell chair is comfortable is largely a matter of personal opinion. However, creator Hans J. Wegner designed the curves of the backrest and the seat to complement the contours of the human body in order to provide ample support when the Shell chair made its debut in 1963. Chairs became Wegner’s specialty, and over the years he designed over 500 of them. More than 100 of his designs, such as the Wishbone chair and the Papa Bear chair, went into production. Shop a selection of Shell chairs and other vintage Hans Wegner seating on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2024The history of the Wegner Shell Chair begins in 1963. Hans J. Wegner unveiled the chair at the Furniture Guild Exhibition in Copenhagen, Denmark. Often described as being "wing-like," the chair's radical fluid lines were considered a bit too futuristic at the time. Initially, mixed reviews from critics and the general public, as well as production difficulties, resulted in a very limited early run. Twelve new models were produced for a retrospective exhibition celebrating Wegner's 77th birthday in 1989, and the design began garnering renewed attention (a photograph of the chair was even selected to grace the cover of the exhibition catalog). In 1998, nearly a decade following the piece's reemergence at the retrospective event, Carl Hansen & Søn reintroduced the Shell chair 35 years after it was first released, and it has felt relevant ever since. On 1stDibs, shop an assortment of Hans Wegner Shell chairs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Whether or not the Wegner shell chair is comfortable is largely a matter of personal preference. Wegner did design the dramatically curved seat and gently tapered back to properly support the contours of the human body. On 1stDibs, shop a range of Hans Wegner chairs.
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Learn Why Designer Maarten Baas Set This Charles Rennie Mackintosh Chair on Fire
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