The mid-century modern period might have come to a close more than 50 years ago, but the era’s creations are as in demand as ever. According to 1stDibs’ recent e-commerce report, “mid-century modern” was one of the most-searched furniture terms in 2024. Many of the pieces associated with the style are indisputable icons today. Case in point: five chair designs that Dezeen’s new video characterizes as the period’s most impactful.
Ranked first by Dezeen is the fiberglass Shell chair, by Charles and Ray Eames. Designed in 1949, it is a prime example of how the Eameses aimed to create pieces that could be mass-produced and so available to Americans at an affordable price point. Next in the Dezeen ranking are two seats by Danish designers: Arne Jacobsen’s Egg chair and Hans J. Wegner’s Wishbone chair. The former is made of hard polyurethane foam and encases those who sit on it, while the latter is constructed of natural materials, including a woven paper-cord seat, and has a Y-shaped back.
Dezeen’s fourth and fifth picks are Harry Bertoia’s Diamond chair and the Panton chair by Verner Panton. Both have sculptural forms made possible by the new materials used for their production: welded steel rods and molded plastic, respectively.
These five pieces are indisputably important. Whether they’re modernism’s most impactful seating designs, though, is a matter for debate — there are many more iconic chairs from the period. Which all of us design fans can certainly celebrate.
