White Modern Chairs
2010s Italian Modern Chairs
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Ash, Leather
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs
Plastic
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs
Plastic
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Chairs
Brass, Stainless Steel, Nickel
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Lounge Chairs
Leather
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Chairs
Leather
2010s Saudi Arabian Modern Chairs
Linen, Velvet, Polyester
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Lounge Chairs
Leather
Vintage 1980s Italian Modern Chairs
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Stools
Metal
2010s American Modern Chairs
Leather, Oak
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs
Aluminum
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs
Metal
2010s American Modern Chairs
Leather, Oak
Late 20th Century Unknown Modern Side Chairs
Fabric, Wood, Lacquer
Vintage 1980s Italian Modern Lounge Chairs
Plastic
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Lounge Chairs
Wood, Leather, Resin, Foam
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Armchairs
Fur
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Benches
Plastic
2010s Canadian Modern Lounge Chairs
Sheepskin, Upholstery, Ash
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs
Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs
Plastic
2010s British Modern Armchairs
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary German Modern Benches
Wood, Textile
21st Century and Contemporary Dutch Modern Armchairs
Textile
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Armchairs
Brass, Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Armchairs
Plastic
21st Century and Contemporary Slovenian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Stools
Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Lounge Chairs
Leather
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Lounge Chairs
Foam
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Modern Chairs
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Chairs
Velvet, Oak
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Chairs
Leather
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Armchairs
Plastic
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs
Plastic
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs
Plastic
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Stools
Foam, Beech, Plywood
21st Century and Contemporary German Modern Ottomans and Poufs
Fabric
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Stools
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Lounge Chairs
Leather
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Chairs
Plastic
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Chairs
Aluminum
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs
Plastic
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Modern Chairs
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Patio and Garden Furniture
Stainless Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Patio and Garden Furniture
Stainless Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs
Foam, Beech, Plywood
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Stools
Foam, Beech, Plywood
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs
Metal
2010s Austrian Modern Stools
Concrete
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Chairs
Aluminum
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs
Plastic
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Chairs
Leather
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs
Cotton, Ash
2010s European Modern Chairs
Faux Leather, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Armchairs
Plastic
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White Modern Chairs For Sale on 1stDibs
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A Close Look at Modern Furniture
The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw sweeping social change and major scientific advances — both of which contributed to a new aesthetic: modernism. Rejecting the rigidity of Victorian artistic conventions, modernists sought a new means of expression. References to the natural world and ornate classical embellishments gave way to the sleek simplicity of the Machine Age. Architect Philip Johnson characterized the hallmarks of modernism as “machine-like simplicity, smoothness or surface [and] avoidance of ornament.”
Early practitioners of modernist design include the De Stijl (“The Style”) group, founded in the Netherlands in 1917, and the Bauhaus School, founded two years later in Germany.
Followers of both groups produced sleek, spare designs — many of which became icons of daily life in the 20th century. The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics. While Bauhaus principals Marcel Breuer and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe created furniture from mass-produced, chrome-plated steel, American visionaries like Charles and Ray Eames worked in materials as novel as molded plywood and fiberglass. Today, Breuer’s Wassily chair, Mies van der Rohe’s Barcelona chair — crafted with his romantic partner, designer Lilly Reich — and the Eames lounge chair are emblems of progressive design and vintage originals are prized cornerstones of collections.
It’s difficult to overstate the influence that modernism continues to wield over designers and architects — and equally difficult to overstate how revolutionary it was when it first appeared a century ago. But because modernist furniture designs are so simple, they can blend in seamlessly with just about any type of décor. Don’t overlook them.
Finding the Right Chairs for You
Chairs are an indispensable component of your home and office. Can you imagine your life without the vintage, new or antique chairs you love?
With the exception of rocking chairs, the majority of the seating in our homes today — Windsor chairs, chaise longues, wingback chairs — originated in either England or France. Art Nouveau chairs, the style of which also originated in those regions, embraced the inherent magnificence of the natural world with decorative flourishes and refined designs that blended both curved and geometric contour lines. While craftsmanship and styles have evolved in the past century, chairs have had a singular significance in our lives, no matter what your favorite chair looks like.
“The chair is the piece of furniture that is closest to human beings,” said Hans Wegner. The revered Danish cabinetmaker and furniture designer was prolific, having designed nearly 500 chairs over the course of his lifetime. His beloved designs include the Wishbone chair, the wingback Papa Bear chair and many more.
Other designers of Scandinavian modernist chairs introduced new dynamics to this staple with sculptural flowing lines, curvaceous shapes and efficient functionality. The Paimio armchair, Swan chair and Panton chair are vintage works of Finnish and Danish seating that left an indelible mark on the history of good furniture design.
“What works good is better than what looks good, because what works good lasts,” said Ray Eames.
Visionary polymaths Ray and Charles Eames experimented with bent plywood and fiberglass with the goal of producing affordable furniture for a mass market. Like other celebrated mid-century modern furniture designers of elegant low-profile furnishings — among them Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Finn Juhl — the Eameses considered ergonomic support, durability and cost, all of which should be top of mind when shopping for the perfect chair. The mid-century years yielded many popular chairs.
The Eameses introduced numerous icons for manufacturer Herman Miller, such as the Eames lounge chair and ottoman, molded plywood dining chairs the DCM and DCW (which can be artfully mismatched around your dining table) and a wealth of other treasured pieces for the home and office.
A good chair anchors us to a place and can become an object of timeless appeal. Take a seat and browse the rich variety of vintage, new and antique chairs on 1stDibs today.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Yes, Wassily chairs are indeed considered mid-century modern. Although the chair was initially designed by Marcel Breuer in 1925, it was re-released in the 1960s. Shop a collection of mid-century modern goods from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 3, 2023Some iconic chairs from the mid-century modern era include the Egg chair by Arne Jacobson, the La Chaise by Charles and Ray Eames and the Womb chair by Eero Saarinen. With their clean lines, organic shapes and simple details, these chairs reflect some of the key features of the style. Shop a variety of mid-century modern chairs on 1stDibs.
Read More
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Desert Modern Designer Arthur Elrod Finally Gets His Day in the Sun
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