Modern Side Chairs
MODERN STYLE
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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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.
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Style: Modern
1940s Jens Risom For Knoll Associates 666 WSP Dining Chair with Webbing in Maple
By Jens Risom, Knoll
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is an original Jens Risom for Knoll Associates 666 WSP dining chair, circa 1940s. The chair is in gorgeous original condition with some patina and wear shown to the s...
Category
1940s American Vintage Modern Side Chairs
Materials
Maple
Set of Six Stacking Chairs by Vlad Muller in Yellow
By Vlad Muller
Located in Hanover, MA
Set of 6 stacking and interlocking armless chairs in bright yellow designed in the 1970's by Vlad Muller.
When stacked the set is sculptural and geometric.
Handy to have spare ch...
Category
1970s German Vintage Modern Side Chairs
Rare Rose Wood Chair by Schiønning & Elgaard
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rare rosewood chair by Schiønning & Elgaard. Made by Randers Møbelfabrik in Denmark.
Chic and understated.
Category
1960s Danish Vintage Modern Side Chairs
Materials
Upholstery, Fruitwood
1958 Set of 4 Herman Miller Eames DKR-2 Wire Bikini Chairs in Yellow Naugahyde
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a set of four DKR-2 wire dining chairs, designed by Charles & Ray Eames for Herman Miller in 1951. This particular set of four chairs dates to circa 1958. They have steel wir...
Category
1950s American Vintage Modern Side Chairs
Materials
Naugahyde
Italian chairs by Potocco
Located in Asbury Park, NJ
Nice pair of Italian chairs by Potocco. These chairs are made of wood, metal and fabric. The chairs are in nice vintage condition. These will work great around a small table or as ac...
Category
1990s Italian Modern Side Chairs
Materials
Wood
Pair of Lacquered Goatskin Wrapped "Onasis" Chairs by Karl Springer
Located in San Diego, CA
Pair of lacquered goatskin wrapped "Onasis" chairs by Karl Springer, circa 1980"s. The chairs are in good vintage condition with original upholstery and measure 24"W x 22"D x 30"H wi...
Category
Late 20th Century American Modern Side Chairs
Materials
Upholstery, Goatskin, Wood
1980s Pair of Postmodern Mario Botta for Alias Seconda Chairs with Arms in Gray
By Mario Botta, Alias
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is a pair of postmodern Mario Botta Seconda armchairs, produced by Alias circa the mid 1980s. These are gorgeous and iconic works by Botta, the renowned industrial de...
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Modern Side Chairs
Materials
Metal
1951 Pair of Herman Miller Eames DAX Rope Edge Armshell Chairs in Greige
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is a pair of circa 1951 production Herman Miller Eames DAX arm shell chairs with iconic rope edge. These are gorgeous original ...
Category
1950s American Vintage Modern Side Chairs
Materials
Metal
1959 Herman Miller Eames DAX Fiberglass Arm Shell Chair with Green Removable Pad
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is a circa 1959 production Herman Miller Eames DAX dining / side chair with dark green original naugahyde removable pad and fiberglass shell (with painted back). The ...
Category
1950s American Vintage Modern Side Chairs
Materials
Aluminum
1960s Danish Modern Walnut and Canvas Folding Campaign Chair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is a circa 1960s walnut and canvas campaign chair, which is reminiscent of Borge Mogensen and Mogens Koch designs from Denmark. The chair is in gorgeous original cond...
Category
1960s Danish Vintage Modern Side Chairs
Materials
Canvas, Walnut
1990s Mario Bellini Vitra Figura High Back Desk Chair in Brown Leather
By Mario Bellini, Vitra
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is a single (multiple chairs are available, but the price is for each chair) 1990s vintage Figura desk chair by Vitra, designed by Mario Bellini. These are gorgeous o...
Category
1990s Swiss Modern Side Chairs
Materials
Metal
Pair of 1986 Mario Bellini for Vitra Figura Imago Arm Chairs in Black Leather
By Mario Bellini, Vitra
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is a pair of vintage 1986 Vitra Figura arm chairs, designed by Mario Bellini. These are gorgeous original examples, which retain their ori...
Category
1980s Swiss Vintage Modern Side Chairs
Materials
Metal
Set of Four Ebonized Modenist Side Chairs
Located in New York, NY
A set of four modernist side chairs in ebonized wood and black metal.
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Modern Side Chairs
Materials
Metal
Surrealist Chairs by Tessa Koot
By Tessa Koot
Located in Hanover, MA
From the series "Additions to the family" by Eindhoven artist, Tessa Koot, originally exhibited in 2012 at Tuttobene during the Salone Internazionale del Mobile in Milan.
Three individual chairs sculpted by the artist into figures that seem to belong in a Salvador Dali fantasy landscape.
Soft textured...
Category
2010s Dutch Modern Side Chairs
Materials
Polystyrene
1952 Franco Albini for Knoll No. 48 Desk / Dining Chair w Arms Walnut and Fabric
By Franco Albini, Knoll
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is an exceptionally rare No. 48 desk/dining chair, designed by Franco Albini and produced by Knoll. This was one of Knoll's earliest designs an...
Category
1950s American Vintage Modern Side Chairs
Materials
Fabric, Walnut
1957 Herman Miller Eames DKX Wire Dining Chair with Full Naugahyde Orange Pad
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is a single circa 1957 production Eames DKX dining chair with wire upper and fully upholstered pad. The pad is original naugahyde in a red/orange color. The upholster...
Category
1950s American Vintage Modern Side Chairs
Materials
Aluminum
1970s Verner Panton for Fritz Hansen 1-2-3 Dining Side Chair in Magenta Fabric
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is an original 1-2-3 dining / side chair, designed by Verner Panton and produced by Fritz Hansen. This is a classic example of Panton's work. Condition overall is ver...
Category
1970s Danish Vintage Modern Side Chairs
Materials
Aluminum
1947 Pair of George Nakashima for Knoll N19 Straight Chairs in Natural Birch
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is a gorgeous pair of early George Nakashima for Knoll N19 birch straight chairs, produced by Knoll Associates. This chair appears to be natural birch. It shows some ...
Category
1940s American Vintage Modern Side Chairs
Materials
Birch
1969 Verner Panton Cone Chair Green Fabric Made in Denmark for Plus-Linje Vitra
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a vintage Verner Panton Cone Chair in original green upholstery. The cone chair was originally designed for a restaurant in Denmark, though the novelty of the design has made...
Category
1960s Danish Vintage Modern Side Chairs
Materials
Steel
1954 Herman Miller Eames Wire Shell Chair X Base DKX-1 Redwood Avenue Label
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is a super rare and original Eames for Herman Miller 1954 DKX chair with wire top, upholstered pad, and early X base.
This piece can be dated due to the use of this ...
Category
1950s American Vintage Modern Side Chairs
Materials
Metal
Single Danish Side Chair
Located in New York, NY
A decorative single Danish side chair on wooden base and legs.
Upholstered in boucle fabric.
Category
1960s Danish Vintage Modern Side Chairs
Materials
Upholstery, Wood
1975 Pair of Bodil Kjaer Teak & Leather Slat Seat Chairs by CI Designs of Boston
By Bodil Kjaer
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is a pair of very rare Bodil Kjaer for CI Designs teak slat-seat chairs with loose leather seat and back cushions. This pair was acquired by...
Category
1970s American Vintage Modern Side Chairs
Materials
Leather, Teak
2019 Jasper Morrison for Vitra HAL Grey Side Chair With Wood Legs
By Vitra, Jasper Morrison
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a HAL side chair, designed by Jasper Morrison in 2010. This clean contemporary chain features a molded plastic seat, and has legs made from wood. This particular example is d...
Category
2010s German Modern Side Chairs
Materials
Metal
1960s Pair of Verner Panton Cone Chairs Made in Denmark for Plus-Linje Vitra
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is an original pair of cone chairs, designed by Verner Panton and produced by Plus-Linje. Whereas the current variations and now produced by Vitra, this early example...
Category
1960s Danish Vintage Modern Side Chairs
Materials
Steel, Chrome
1975 Warren Platner for CI Designs Oak & Dark Tan Fabric Dining Arm Chair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is a circa 1975 production oak and dark tan fabric armchair designed by renowned architect and furniture designer Warren Platner. This piece was part of a series that Platner designed for CI Designs...
Category
1970s American Vintage Modern Side Chairs
Materials
Oak, Fabric
Antonio Cittiero Set of 4 Melandra Dining Chairs
Located in Highland, IN
An elegant minimalist design by Antonio Citterio for B&B Italia, these "Melandra" dining chairs feature seats upholstered in black leather supported by crisply tapered aluminum legs....
Category
1990s Italian Modern Side Chairs
Materials
Aluminum
1990 David Rowland 40/4 Stackable Dining Chairs for GF in Bent Oak 8x Available
Located in Philadelphia, PA
These are '40/4' chairs, originally designed by David Rowland in 1964. This iconic chair has been praised as one of the most ingenious modern designs of the 20th century, and is cred...
Category
1990s American Modern Side Chairs
Materials
Steel, Chrome
C. 2019 Vitra Belleville Armchair in Brown Leather by Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is Belleville Armchair designed by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec and produced by Vitra. This chair was specified with a black plastic frame and brown leather upholstered...
Category
2010s Swiss Modern Side Chairs
Materials
Leather, Plastic
2009 Piero Lissoni for Porro Spindle Stacking Side Chairs in Steel & Leather
By Porro, Piero Lissoni
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a ‘Spindle’ Side Chair, model 1526, designed by Piero Lissoni for Porro Italia in 1999. The listed price includes one chair, and we have several available for purchase. These...
Category
Early 2000s Italian Modern Side Chairs
Materials
Steel, Chrome
1970s "40/4” Chairs in Red by David Rowland for General Fireproofing Co
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a single (multiple chairs are available, though the price listed is for each chair) 40/4 chair, originally designed by David Rowland in 1964. This iconic chair has been praised as one of the most ingenious modern designs of the 20th century, and has been credited for being the first truly stackable chair. Each chair has a solid steel sled base, and has a red enameled steel seat. These particular examples were manufactured by GF Business Equipment (part of General Fireproofing Co...
Category
1970s American Vintage Modern Side Chairs
Materials
Enamel, Steel
2010s White Air Chairs by Jasper Morrison for Magis / Herman Miller
By Jasper Morrison, Magis
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a set of four stackable air chairs, designed by Jasper Morrison and produced by Magis of Italy, distributed by Herman Miller. We have multiple sets available, though the pric...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Side Chairs
Materials
Plastic
1992 Knoll Handkerchief Stacking Chairs by Massimo & Lella Vignelli 12+ Avail
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Knoll Handkerchief Chair by Lella and Massimo Vignelli in Red, introduced in 1983. The price listed is for each chair. These chairs are very resilient, and stackable with a...
Category
1990s American Modern Side Chairs
Materials
Steel
1975 Warren Platner for CI Designs Oak and Brown Leather Dining Arm Chair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is a circa 1975 production oak and leather armchair designed by renowned architect and furniture designer Warren Platner. This piece was part of a series that Platner...
Category
1970s American Vintage Modern Side Chairs
Materials
Oak, Leather
2020 Hay Neu 10 Blue Wool Dining / Side Chairs by Sebastian Wrong
By Sebastian Wrong, HAY
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a single Neu 10 swivel chair, designed by Sebastian Wrong and produced by Hay. Multiple chairs are available, though the price listed is for each chair.
The chairs have a m...
Category
2010s Danish Modern Side Chairs
Materials
Aluminum, Steel
2019 Vitra Softshell Side Chair w Dark Brown Leather by Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is Softshell Side Chair designed by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec and produced by Vitra. This chair was constructed with a chocolate colored (very dark) plastic base and...
Category
2010s Swiss Modern Side Chairs
Materials
Leather, Plastic
1976 Michel Cadestin & Georges Laurent Beaubourg Chair Teda for Centre Pompidou
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a single (multiple chairs are available, though the price listed is for each chair) original Beaubourg chair from the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris. The chair was designed...
Category
1970s French Vintage Modern Side Chairs
Materials
Steel
2012 Wilkhahn ON Cantilever Stacking Side / Dining Chair by Wiege Germany
By Wilkhahn, Wiege
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a single ON Cantiliever stackable side chair, designed by the Germany design group Wiege and produced by Wilkhahn. The chairs are beautifully constructed from chromed tubular...
Category
2010s German Modern Side Chairs
Materials
Steel
1975 Bodil Kjaer for CI Designs Rare Teak Slat Seat Arm Chair
By Bodil Kjaer
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is a very rare Bodil Kjaer for CI Designs teak slat-seat chair. There are a few notable details to mention. First off, vintage Bodil Kjaer f...
Category
1970s American Vintage Modern Side Chairs
Materials
Teak
1950s Pair of Ray Komai Side / Dining Chairs for JG Furniture Co
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a rare and original pair of fully upholstered dining and side chairs, designed by Ray Komai, produced by J.G. Furniture Company. These are highly unusual chairs, in that Koma...
Category
1960s American Vintage Modern Side Chairs
Materials
Steel
Jens Risom C275 Side Chair in Oak
By BENCHMARK, Jens Risom
Located in Saffron Walden, GB
The C275 side chair was designed in 1957 and first appeared in the Jens Risom Design ‘Contemporary Furniture Catalog Supplement’ of that year.
The piece is offered with an oak frame, a laminated oak back and a choice of upholstery options.
In 2010, English furniture maker benchmark, in collaboration with Jens Risom and Rocket, secured the European rights to reissue Risom’s 1950s and 1960s furniture...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary British Modern Side Chairs
Materials
Oak
Set of 6 Charles Hollis Jones American Multi-Colored Lucite Dining Side Chair
Located in New York, NY
SET of 6 American Contemporary dining side chairs with clear lucite frames with multi colored lucite circles in descending size inset in each chair back which matches the seat uphols...
Category
20th Century American Modern Side Chairs
Materials
Lucite, Upholstery, Fabric
American Designer, Side Chairs, Wood, USA, 1940s
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of stained wood side chairs designed and produced in the US, c. 1940s.
16” seat height
Category
1940s American Vintage Modern Side Chairs
Materials
Wood
Tusk Sling Chair by Möbius Objects
Located in Calgary, CA
Tusk sling dining chair by Möbius Objects - hand-sculpted here in solid Honduran Mahogany. Raked legs offer a unique 'wind-swept' silhouette. The veg-t...
Category
2010s Canadian Modern Side Chairs
Materials
Leather, Wood, Walnut
American Designer, Side Chair, Wood, USA, 1940s
Located in High Point, NC
A wood side chair designed and produced in the US, c. 1940s.
15” seat height
Category
1940s American Vintage Modern Side Chairs
Materials
Wood
Phase Design, "Kickstand Side Chair", (With Arms)
By Phase Design
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Important to note that this listing is for the Kickstand Side Chair (With Arms) in a Flat White Powder Coat Finish. Pricing is COM and this listing does not include the price of fabr...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Side Chairs
Materials
Brass, Steel
Kodak Leather Chair, Jesse Sanderson
Located in Geneve, CH
Kodak leather chair, Jesse Sanderson, WDSTCK Studio
Artist: Jesse Sanderson
Material: Steel frame; Nubuck leather
Dimensions: 87 x 55 x 51 cm (Seat height: 47 cm)
Exploring ant...
Category
2010s Dutch Modern Side Chairs
Materials
Leather
American Designer, Side Chairs, Wood, USA, 1940s
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of stained wood side chairs designed and produced in the US, c. 1940s.
16” seat height
Category
1940s American Vintage Modern Side Chairs
Materials
Wood
Emeco Broom Stacking Chair in Green by Philippe Starck
By Philippe Starck, Emeco
Located in Hanover, PA
Philippe Starck and Emeco came together to create a new chair that is reclaimed, repurposed, recyclable – and designed to last. The chair is made from 75% waste polypropylene and 15% reclaimed wood that would normally be swept into the trash, “Imagine”, says Philippe Starck, “a guy who takes a humble broom...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Side Chairs
Materials
Plastic
Emeco Counter Stool in Brushed Aluminum by Philippe Starck
By Philippe Starck, Emeco
Located in Hanover, PA
The Museum of Modern Art asked Philippe Starck and Emeco to make a simple stool for the “Mies Van der Rohe in Berlin” retrospective. The result is one of our best selling stools, a c...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Side Chairs
Materials
Aluminum
Emeco 111 Navy Chair in Beach by Coca-Cola
By Emeco
Located in Hanover, PA
Coca-Cola and Emeco collaborated to solve an environmental problem: Up-cycling consumer waste into a sustainable, timeless, classic chair. Made of 111 recycled PET bottles, the 111 Navy Chair...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Side Chairs
Materials
Plastic
Emeco Broom Barstool in White by Philippe Starck
By Philippe Starck, Emeco
Located in Hanover, PA
Philippe Starck and Emeco came together to create a new chair that is reclaimed, repurposed, recyclable – and designed to last. The chair is made from 75% waste polypropylene and 15%...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Side Chairs
Materials
Aluminum
Opinion Ciatti Foliae Sculptural Stool
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A stool with multiple uses, made by welding small sheets of metal. This is how the projects of the Foliae collection are born, sculptural objects, between art and design, which come ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Side Chairs
Materials
Steel
Opinion Ciatti Primasedia Chair, Set of 2
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Primasedia is a chair that, as the name suggests, could be the archetype of the first seat ever designed in human history. A chair that despite the stability and solidity of the stee...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Side Chairs
Materials
Steel
Pierre Chapo S45 Dining Chair
By Pierre Chapo
Located in San Francisco, CA
Pierre Chapo S45 dining chairs
A set of six ‘Chlacc’ dining chairs model #S45 in solid elmwood. Extremely comfortable and in excellent condition.
Fr...
Category
1970s French Vintage Modern Side Chairs
Materials
Elm
Set of Six Vintage Orchestra Chairs, Sweden
Located in Hudson, NY
The set of six vintage orchestra chairs, shown here, were designed in 1932 by Sven Markelius and originally used in the Helsingborg Concert Hall, Sweden. Made of beech wood, the sta...
Category
Early 20th Century Swedish Modern Side Chairs
Materials
Beech
Fernandine Dining Chair, COM, InsidherLand by Joana Santos Barbosa
Located in Maia, Porto
The Fernandine walls are a part of History that embraces the city of Porto, located in the north of Portugal. These medieval fortifications topped off by battlements were completed d...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Side Chairs
Materials
Fabric
Kartell Lou Lou Children's Ghost Chair in Crystal Heart by Philippe Starck
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The miniature version of one of the most famous design chairs joins the Kartell Kids line in several new versions. Philippe Starck's Lou Lou Ghost gets ne...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Side Chairs
Materials
Plastic
Kartell Lou Lou Children's Ghost Chair in Crystal Drawings by Philippe Starck
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The miniature version of one of the most famous design chairs joins the Kartell Kids line in several new versions. Philippe Starck's Lou Lou Ghost gets ne...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Side Chairs
Materials
Plastic
Modern side chairs for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Modern side chairs for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage side chairs created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include seating, tables, decorative objects and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, wood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Modern side chairs made in a specific country, there are Europe, North America, and United States pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original side chairs, popular names associated with this style include Emeco, Jasper Morrison, Philippe Starck, and Sir Norman Foster. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for side chairs differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $65 and tops out at $90,000 while the average work can sell for $2,120.
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