1950s Barrel Chair
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Swivel Chairs
Brass
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Wool, Teak
Mid-20th Century French Brutalist Club Chairs
Leather, Wood
Vintage 1950s American Modern Chairs
Fabric, Walnut
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Wool, Walnut
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Chrome
Vintage 1950s Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Upholstery, Maple, Wood
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Maple
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Swivel Chairs
Wood
Vintage 1950s Mid-Century Modern Swivel Chairs
Wood
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Swivel Chairs
Velvet, Wood, Lacquer
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Upholstery
Vintage 1950s French Bohemian Lounge Chairs
Wicker, Cane
Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Steel
Mid-20th Century American Hollywood Regency Lounge Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Slipper Chairs
Upholstery
Vintage 1950s American Club Chairs
Upholstery, Walnut
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Bouclé, Wood
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Club Chairs
Upholstery, Walnut
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Upholstery
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Side Chairs
Faux Leather, Oak
Vintage 1950s American Lounge Chairs
Mahogany
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Slipper Chairs
Fabric, Wood
Vintage 1950s Mid-Century Modern Swivel Chairs
Brass
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Brass
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Late 20th Century American Modern Swivel Chairs
Metal
Vintage 1950s Dining Room Chairs
Rattan
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Upholstery, Cane, Wood, Walnut
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Rattan
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Beech
Vintage 1950s American Hollywood Regency Lounge Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Iron
Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Iron
Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Iron
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Walnut
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Leather, Walnut
Vintage 1950s American Hollywood Regency Lounge Chairs
Velvet, Wood
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Swivel Chairs
Bouclé, Wood
Vintage 1950s French Chairs
Steel
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Wood, Upholstery
Vintage 1970s German Modern Chairs
Metal, Aluminum
Vintage 1950s American Club Chairs
Upholstery, Wood, Silk
Early 2000s American Modern Wingback Chairs
Aluminum
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Club Chairs
Brass
Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Sets
Steel
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Patio and Garden Furniture
Iron, Wire
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Wool, Walnut
Vintage 1950s American Art Deco Armchairs
Metal
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Stools
Iron
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Carts and Bar Carts
Crystal
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Rattan
Vintage 1970s Italian Armchairs
Rattan
Vintage 1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Metal
Vintage 1950s American Bergere Chairs
Wood, Leather
Vintage 1950s Italian Lounge Chairs
Linen, Rattan, Walnut
Mid-20th Century Unknown Hollywood Regency Swivel Chairs
Upholstery, Thread, Wood
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Club Chairs
Brass
Vintage 1950s American Armchairs
Velvet, Oak
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1950s Barrel Chair For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a 1950s Barrel 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 barrel chair?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Barrel chairs are accent chairs that feature a curved back shaped like half of a barrel. In some cases, the back slopes down at the sides to form arms. Other pieces are armless or have separate rolled arms at the sides. You'll find a variety of barrel chairs on 1stDibs.
- What are barrel chairs?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertAugust 16, 2019
Barrel chairs have high, semicircular backs which form a single piece with the arms.
- What era are barrel chairs from?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2023The earliest barrel chairs are from is the era of the early 19th century. However, Frank Lloyd Wright created one of the most famous barrel chairs in 1937 as a part of his design for Wingspread, a home in Wind Point, Wisconsin. On 1stDibs, find a collection of barrel chairs.
- Who invented the barrel chair?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 3, 2023No one knows who invented the barrel chair originally, or even where the chairs appeared first. They became popular during the mid to late 19th century, but it was Frank Lloyd Wright who made them famous when he designed an iconic version for Wingspread, a home he designed in Wind Point, Wisconsin. Wright also used his Taliesin Barrel chair to furnish his own home in Wisconsin. Shop a selection of barrel chairs on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Reupholster a barrel back chair by first removing the old upholstery from the chair. Use the old pieces of material as a guide to help you cut the new upholstery into properly sized pieces. Reupholster the chair by using a furniture stapler to re-secure the new upholstery in the same manner that the old upholstery was attached. Shop a range of vintage and contemporary barrel back chairs on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertJune 30, 2023Some popular watches for men during the 1950s were the Rolex Submariner, the Enicar Sherpa Dive, the Breitling Navitimer, Omega, Constellation and the Rolex GMT-Master. Rolex, Timex, Orvin, Tower and Elgin were among the top watchmakers for women during the decade. On 1stDibs, find a collection of antique, vintage and contemporary watches.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 21, 2024The clothing style in the 1950s was well tailored and classic. For women, dresses with padded busts, cinched waists and hips, and full circle skirts were popular, and the collared button-up shirt dress came into fashion during the decade. Men tended to wear suits in neutral gray, dark blue and brown colors made out of easy-to-care-for synthetic fabrics. Straight-cut double-breasted blazers were commonly worn for casual occasions. On 1stDibs, explore a variety of vintage clothing from the 1950s.
- 1stDibs ExpertNovember 21, 2023In the 1950s, several diamond cuts were popular. They included the brilliant round cut, the Asscher cut, the emerald cut and the marquise cut. Rings that featured a large central stone flanked by smaller baguettes were also trendy during the decade. Find a collection of vintage diamond jewelry on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertNovember 6, 2023There were a few popular diamond cuts in the 1950s. One was the brilliant round cut, which is still common today due to its simple shape and prominent sparkle. Other favorite cuts of the decade included the Asscher cut, the emerald cut and the marquise cut. On 1stDibs, explore a large selection of engagement rings.
- 1stDibs ExpertNovember 27, 2023In the 1950s, a Chanel bag was priced between $200 and $300. The iconic Chanel 2.55 bag cost $220 when first introduced in February 1955. Accounting for inflation, that works out to around $2,536 in today's money. On 1stDibs, find a diverse assortment of Chanel bags from some of the world's top boutiques.
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