1950's slipper chair with button base
Located in Henley-On-Thames, GB
This charming 1950's slipper chair is a masterclass of Mid Century Modern functionality and flair
Chenille
$8,000 / set
H 31 in W 18 in D 20 in
Set of Four Dining Chairs in Chenille and Bronze by Dan Johnson, C. 1950s
By Dan Johnson, Shelby Williams
Located in Westport, CT
A rare set of four Crucible Dining Chairs by Dan Johnson for Shelby Williams, circa 1950s. Fully
Bronze
$3,090 / set
H 30 in W 26 in D 24 in
Pair of mid century 1950's Scandinavian cocktail armchairs with new upholstery
By Alfred Christensen
Located in Liberty, NY
Beautiful pair of mid century 1950's Danish cocktail armchairs newly reupholstered in a beige
Chenille, Beech
$1,381
H 30.32 in W 20.48 in D 23.63 in
1950s slipper chair in cardamon green chennile with tapered wooden legs
Located in Henley-On-Thames, GB
Elevate your living space with this fabulous 1950's original slipper chair.Perfectly capturing the
Chenille, Wood
Unavailable
H 39.38 in W 31.5 in D 39.38 in
1950's Italian Bergere Gun Metal Grey Chenille, Wood and Chrome Details
Located in Firenze, IT
Pair of 1950's Italian Bergere newly reupholstered in gun metal grey chenille velvet, back feet in
Chrome
Entry of Paolo Buffa for Pozzi and Verga 1950s
Located in Manzano, Friuli Venezia Giulia
Entered with pair of brass chairs of the 1950s. Chairs measure H 135 x P 42 x L 42, and seat
Brass
1950's French Petite Lounge Chairs
Located in New York, NY
Beautiful pair of 1950's petite French lounge chairs newly re-upholstered in Chenille fabric, with
Chenille, Walnut
Pair of 1950's Italian Armchairs in Luxurious Plum Chenille
Located in North Miami, FL
VERY comfortable. Reupholstered in luxurious soft plum/eggplant chenille. THIS ITEM IS NOW LOCATED
Sold
H 30.71 in W 30.71 in D 30.71 in
1950s, 1 Scandinavian Lounge Club Chair in Camel Chenille and Teak, Denmark
Located in Silvolde, Gelderland
Extremely rare lounge / easy chair from Denmark in camel chenille in combination with teak from the
Chenille
Sold
H 30.71 in W 30.71 in L 30.71 in
1950s, 1 Scandinavian Lounge Club Chair in Camel Chenille and Teak, Denmark
Located in Silvolde, Gelderland
Extremely rare lounge / easy chair from Denmark in camel chenille in combination with teak from the
Chenille
Sold
H 30.71 in W 30.71 in L 30.71 in
1950s, 1 Scandinavian Lounge Club Chair in Camel Chenille and Teak, Denmark
Located in Silvolde, Gelderland
Extremely rare lounge / easy chair from Denmark in camel chenille in combination with teak from the
Chenille
Sold
H 34.3 in W 15 in D 21.7 in
Brazilian Modern Pair of Chairs in Hardwood & Chenille, Carlo Hauner, 1950s
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in New York, NY
Available now, this pair of chairs in Rosewood and chenille designed by Carlo Hauner is nothing
Hardwood, Chenille
Sold
H 31.5 in W 32.5 in D 34 in
Art Deco Burled Walnut & Butter Chenille Armchairs, France, 1950's (2 Available)
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Available individually, this pair of 1940s Art Deco club chairs showcases the era’s signature
Fabric, Burl
Gio Ponti Style 1950's Italian Lounge Chairs
By Gio Ponti
Located in New York, NY
1950's Mid-Century Modern Italian lounge chairs in the style of Gio Ponti, newly re-upholstered
Chenille, Walnut
Sold
H 33.86 in W 24.41 in L 33.86 in
1950s "Wave" Lounge Chair in Tubular Iron and White Chenille, Brazil Modernism
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
This exquisite and unique lounge chair is upholstered in a super deluxe white chenille fabric. The
Iron
Harvey Probber Saber Leg Lounge Chairs, 1950s
By Harvey Probber
Located in Westport, CT
Pair of lounge chairs designed by Harvey Probber, circa 1950s. Sculptural mahogany framing fully
Chenille, Mahogany
T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings "Bamboo" Club Chairs, 1950s
By Widdicomb Furniture Co., T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings
Located in Westport, CT
Rare faux bamboo club chairs, designed by T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings for Widdicomb, circa 1950s. The
Chenille, Walnut
T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings "Bamboo" Club Chair, 1950s
By Widdicomb Furniture Co., T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings
Located in Westport, CT
Rare faux bamboo club chairs, designed by T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings for Widdicomb, circa 1950s
Chenille, Walnut
Sold
H 27 in W 26 in D 34 in
Pair of Sculptural Adrian Pearsall Lounge Chairs, Model 834-C, circa 1950s
By Adrian Pearsall, Craft Associates
Located in Westport, CT
Handsome pair of sculptural walnut lounge chairs newly refinished in a rich dark chocolate tone
Chenille, Walnut
Set of Walnut Lounge Chairs by Erwin Lambeth, C. 1950s
By Erwin Lambeth, Tomlinson/Erwin-Lambeth Furniture Company
Located in Westport, CT
A stunning set of sculptural walnut lounge chairs by Erwin Lambeth, circa 1950s. Expertly restored
Chenille, Walnut
Sold
H 35.44 in W 27.56 in D 27.56 in
1950s, Italian Lounge or Easy Chair by Aldo Morbelli for Isa Bergamo
By Aldo Morbelli, ISA Bergamo
Located in Silvolde, Gelderland
1950s, extremely rare easy chair designed by Aldo Morbelli for Isa Bergamo Italy still in original
Chenille, Teak
1950's Jens Risom Model C-106 Walnut Armchairs Set Of 6
By Jens Risom
Located in New York, NY
Amazing set of 6 Jens Risom design model C-106 dining room chairs, fully restored and re
Chenille, Walnut
Paul McCobb for Directional Lounge Chairs and Ottoman, C. 1950s
By Paul McCobb
Located in Westport, CT
A lounge chair and ottoman designed by the Iconic Paul McCobb for Directional, maple legs fully
Chenille, Maple
1950s Arne Vodder Teak and Cane Armchair
By Arne Vodder
Located in Miami, FL
Gorgeous Arne Vodder designed chair in teak with inset caning on the movement adjusting back
Brass
Tommi Parzinger Elegant Pair of Upholstered Arm Chairs, 1950s
By Tommi Parzinger
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Originals, American 1950's. Chairs newly reupholstered in textured chenille and refinished by Lobel Modern
Chenille, Mahogany
Modernist Karpen Lounge Chairs in Taupe Mohair, 1950s
By Karpen of California
Located in Westport, CT
Stunning and rare pair of lounge chair by Karpen of California, circa 1950s. Newly upholstered
Brass
Modernist Karpen Lounge Chairs in Grey Alpaca Velvet, 1950s
By Karpen of California
Located in Westport, CT
Stunning and rare pair of lounge chair by Karpen of California, circa 1950s. Newly upholstered in
Brass
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Expandable Game Table W/ Chairs, C. 1950s
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Westport, CT
chairs also designed by Edward Wormley have been reupholstered in off-white chenille. Chair
Chenille, Mahogany
1950's French Petite Lounge Chairs
Located in New York, NY
Beautiful pair of 1950's petite French lounge chairs newly re-upholstered in Chenille fabric, with
Chenille, Walnut
Sold
H 30.71 in W 30.71 in D 30.71 in
1950s, Pair of Lounge Club Chairs in Camel Chenille and Teak, Made in Denmark
Located in Silvolde, Gelderland
chairs are made from camel chenille in combination with teak from the 1950s. The overall condition is
Chenille
Pair of Italian Walnut Lounge Chairs, 1950s
By Gio Ponti
Located in Westport, CT
Pair of walnut frame tub chairs. Italy, circa 1950s. Newly upholstered on Donghia chenille
Brass
1950s Italian Lounge Chairs in the Style of Orlando Orlandi
By Orlando Orlandi
Located in New York, NY
Stunning pair of 1950s Italian lounge chairs in the style of Orlando Orlandi. Newly re-upholstered
Chenille
S.S. United States Oceanliner Dining Room Chair, circa 1950
By Dorothy "Dot" Marckwald
Located in Miami, FL
Mid-Century chair from American luxury ocean liner SS United States (1952-1969), designed by
Metal
Sold
H 40.16 in W 32.29 in D 37.41 in
Gio Ponti Mid-Century Modern Italian Chenille Velvet Alata Lounge Chair, 1950s
By Gio Ponti, Cassina
Located in Puglia, Puglia
produced by Cassina, Italy, 1950. Completely restored and recently upholstered in Pierre Frey's precious
Velvet, Beech, Fir
Modernist Karpen Lounge Chairs in Taupe Mohair, 1950s
By Karpen of California
Located in Westport, CT
Stunning and rare pair of lounge chair by Karpen of California, circa 1950s. Newly upholstered in
Brass
Modernist Karpen Lounge Chairs in Charcoal Mohair, 1950s
By Karpen of California
Located in Westport, CT
Stunning and rare pair of lounge chair by Karpen of California, circa 1950s. Re-upholstered in
Brass
Modernist Karpen Lounge Chairs in Taupe Mohair, 1950s
By Karpen of California
Located in Westport, CT
Stunning and rare pair of lounge chair by Karpen of California, circa 1950s. Newly upholstered
Brass
Single Modernist Karpen Lounge Chair in Taupe Mohair, 1950s
By Karpen of California
Located in Westport, CT
Stunning lounge chair by Karpen of California, circa 1950s. Newly upholstered in taupe mohair
Brass
Sold
H 39.38 in W 31.5 in D 39.38 in
1950's Italian Bergere Gun Metal Grey Chenille, Wood and Chrome Details
Located in Firenze, IT
Pair of 1950's Italian Bergere newly reupholstered in gun metal grey chenille velvet, back feet in
Chrome
Sold
H 29.5 in W 30 in D 30 in
Pair of Midcentury Lounge Chairs by Lawrence Peabody for Selig, Circa 1950s
By Ib Kofod-Larsen, Selig, Adrian Pearsall, Lawrence Peabody
Located in Framingham, MA
medallion present on both chairs. New foam, straps and oatmeal tone chenille. Frames are in excellent
Fabric, Beech, Walnut, Chenille
Aluminum Armed Steno Chair, Refinished, Circa 1950's
By General Fireproofing Company, Emeco
Located in Alhambra, CA
Brushed aluminum slat-back steno chair with light brown chenille upholstery and dark brown leather
Steel
Pair of 1950s Italian Sculptural Wingback Chairs
By Carlo Mollino, Paolo Buffa
Located in San Diego, CA
Pair of highly stylized 1950s Italian sculptural wingback lounge armchairs. Unknown designer
Chenille, Foam, Wood
Pair of Modern Walnut Side Tables
By Theodore Alexander
Located in Westwood, NJ
A Pacific walnut side table, the square top with rounded corners and a reeded edge above a similar under tier, on bobbin turned legs. Dimensions: 26" W x 26" D x 28.5" H.
Wood
$5,073 / set
H 30.71 in W 18.12 in D 18.12 in
Set of 8 1970s Italian Leather & Wooden Dining Chairs in the Style of Stildomus
By Stildomus
Located in Paris, FR
Set of 8 1970s Italian Leather & Wooden Dining Chairs in the Style of Stildomus A meticulously restored set of eight Italian dining chairs, from the 1970s and attributed to the ref...
Leather, Wood
$2,495 / item
H 32.75 in W 20.5 in D 22.75 in
Solid Wood, Walnut Finish, Contemporary Dining Chair with Floating Seat & Back
By Luteca Furniture
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A beautifully striking, contemporary dining chair with elegant scissor legs and floating back, inspired by the midcentury chairs of Spanish designer Eugenio Escudero from the the 195...
Ash
Early Marco Zanuso Lady Chair, Italy, 1960s, New Pure Mohair
By Marco Zanuso
Located in Lewes, East Sussex
An early, authentic Marco Zanuso lady chair, Arflex, Italy, 1960s. Newly reupholstered in a luxurious, premium, burnt orange / rust coloured 100% mohair fabric. Brass feet with nat...
Brass
Basurto 01 Contemporary Wooden and Fabric Stool
By Difane, Colección Estudio
Located in Mexico City, MX
A tribute to the architectural style that characterized Mexico City during the mid-20th century. Inspired by its lines, symmetry, volumes and shapes, each piece is a miniature abstra...
Hardwood
$1,135 / item
H 25 in W 20 in D 20 in
Counter Stool in Walnut Finish with Natural Cane Seat, Maru Design
By Uultis Design
Located in Miami, FL
A Maru counter stool designed by Uultis studio with walnut finish and hand-woven natural color cane seat. The Maru counter stool, with its walnut finish and light colored cane seat, ...
Cane, Walnut, Wood
$12,000 / set
H 30.91 in W 31.5 in D 35.04 in
A Pair of Mid-Century Armchairs With Stained Legs, Europe Mid 20th Century
Located in Utrecht, NL
Mid-century modern design, a hallmark of 20th-century innovation, is celebrated for its harmonious blend of minimalism, organic shapes, and bold yet understated elegance. It introduc...
Mohair, Wood
$4,992Sale Price / item|25% Off
H 34 in W 48 in D 16 in
Walnut Console with Brass or Aluminum Inlay Detail
Located in Ballard, CA
The walnut console is a handcrafted edition, with tapered legs and brass or aluminum inlays, mitred corners and traditional joinery. Custom sizes and finishes available.
Aluminum, Brass
Forsyth Mushroom Pouf Ottoman in Zebra
Located in SAINT LOUIS, MO
This Forsyth mushroom pouf ottoman was created and designed by the Forsyth design team. Each ottoman is handcrafted in Saint Louis. A cute decorative piece for any room adding textur...
Zebra Hide
$5,677 / item
H 30.12 in W 30.32 in D 29.53 in
'Little Big Chair' Swivel Armchair in Sheepskin Moonlight by Norr11
By Norr11, Kristian Sofus Hansen, Tommy Hyldahl
Located in Paris, IDF
Little big chair armchair Signed by Kristian Sofus Hansen and Tommy Hyldahl for Norr11. Model shown on the picture: Fabric: Sheepskin (09 moonlight) Made in Italy With its sculptu...
Sheepskin
$3,600 / set
H 8 in W 6 in D 4.5 in
Pair of Petite Brass and Glass Tripod Bedside / Table Lamps by Oscar Torlasco
By Oscar Torlasco
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Petite bedside/table lamps designed by Oscar Torlasco for Lumen Milano (ca. 1950s, Italy). Composed of deeply sculpted brass curved frames forming a tripod base and a 'cradle' top su...
Brass
$990 / item
H 16.5 in W 56 in D 17 in
Upholstered Ottoman Bench in Stone Washed Linen with Faded Stripe
By Bloom Home Inc
Located in Old Town Orange, CA
Introducing the Berg Linen Stripe Ottoman bench, upholstered in a heavy weight stone washed stripe linen featuring a flax linen natural background with a faded coco brown stripe. Mad...
Linen, Wood
$9,058 / item
H 29.53 in W 35.44 in D 90.56 in
Large Bellini Style Rectangle Dining Table in Coral Portuguese Travertine
By Mario Bellini
Located in Amsterdam, NH
This minimalist table is made from one material, featuring a rectangular top with a reversed step-edge profile that elegantly sits on four cylindrical columns. Drawing inspiration ...
Stone, Limestone, Travertine, Marble
Sculptural ICO Bench Series 72 in Dark Walnut
By Stamford Modern
Located in Westport, CT
The ICO Bench is a sophisticated reinterpretation of Ico Ponti’s modernism, where architectural form meets modern functionality. Defined by its signature angled legs and subtle metal...
Oak, Walnut
Set of Slipper Chairs by Erwin Lambeth, C. 1950s
By Erwin Lambeth
Located in Westport, CT
Set of petite slipper chairs by Erwin Lambeth, circa 1950s, fully restored by Stamford Modern. These elegant chairs feature luxurious olive green silk upholstery and sculptural walnu...
Silk, Walnut
Pair of Lounge Chairs, Upholstered in Pure Alpaca
By Fritz Hansen, Flemming Lassen, Mogens Lassen, Viggo Boesen
Located in Lewes, East Sussex
A superb pair of modern round arm Danish-style armchairs. Handmade beech frames, sprung seat and newly upholstered in a premium, golden brown, soft, pure alpaca wool fabric with soli...
Alpaca, Beech, Oak
Organically shaped, clean-lined and elegantly simple are three terms that well describe vintage mid-century modern furniture. The style, which emerged primarily in the years following World War II, is characterized by pieces that were conceived and made in an energetic, optimistic spirit by creators who believed that good design was an essential part of good living.
ORIGINS OF MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN
CHARACTERISTICS OF MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN
MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNERS TO KNOW
ICONIC MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNS
VINTAGE MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE ON 1STDIBS
The mid-century modern era saw leagues of postwar American architects and designers animated by new ideas and new technology. The lean, functionalist International-style architecture of Le Corbusier and Bauhaus eminences Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Walter Gropius had been promoted in the United States during the 1930s by Philip Johnson and others. New building techniques, such as “post-and-beam” construction, allowed the International-style schemes to be realized on a small scale in open-plan houses with long walls of glass.
Materials developed for wartime use became available for domestic goods and were incorporated into mid-century modern furniture designs. Charles and Ray Eames and Eero Saarinen, who had experimented extensively with molded plywood, eagerly embraced fiberglass for pieces such as the La Chaise and the Womb chair, respectively.
Architect, writer and designer George Nelson created with his team shades for the Bubble lamp using a new translucent polymer skin and, as design director at Herman Miller, recruited the Eameses, Alexander Girard and others for projects at the legendary Michigan furniture manufacturer.
Harry Bertoia and Isamu Noguchi devised chairs and tables built of wire mesh and wire struts. Materials were repurposed too: The Danish-born designer Jens Risom created a line of chairs using surplus parachute straps for webbed seats and backrests.
The Risom lounge chair was among the first pieces of furniture commissioned and produced by celebrated manufacturer Knoll, a chief influencer in the rise of modern design in the United States, thanks to the work of Florence Knoll, the pioneering architect and designer who made the firm a leader in its field. The seating that Knoll created for office spaces — as well as pieces designed by Florence initially for commercial clients — soon became desirable for the home.
As the demand for casual, uncluttered furnishings grew, more mid-century furniture designers caught the spirit.
Classically oriented creators such as Edward Wormley, house designer for Dunbar Inc., offered such pieces as the sinuous Listen to Me chaise; the British expatriate T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings switched gears, creating items such as the tiered, biomorphic Mesa table. There were Young Turks such as Paul McCobb, who designed holistic groups of sleek, blond wood furniture, and Milo Baughman, who espoused a West Coast aesthetic in minimalist teak dining tables and lushly upholstered chairs and sofas with angular steel frames.
Generations turn over, and mid-century modern remains arguably the most popular style going. As the collection of vintage mid-century modern chairs, dressers, coffee tables and other furniture for the living room, dining room, bedroom and elsewhere on 1stDibs demonstrates, this period saw one of the most delightful and dramatic flowerings of creativity in design history.
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.
You know the designs, now get the stories about how they came to be.
The enduring appeal of the Barcelona chair is in the details.
The brand that turned Charles and Ray Eames, Isamu Noguchi and George Nelson into mid-century household names is just as relevant today as it was six decades ago.
Our feed is filled with the world's most beautiful spaces. See the rooms our followers have deemed the best of the best this month.
Our feed is filled with the world's most beautiful spaces. See the 10 our followers have deemed the best of the best this month.
There are many lessons to be learned from the lofts, apartments and townhouses of architects and decorators in Manhattan and beyond.
Having created extravagant homes for reality TV’s biggest stars, the designer is stepping into the spotlight with his first book.
The Louisiana-born and -bred architect talks to 1stdibs about the art of making timeless places that matter.
