African Folding Chair
African Solid Wood Folding Chair Design Ethnic Carved, circa 1970
Located in Lyon, FR
African chair made of solid wood, known as a "palaver" chair.
The two-part structure can be
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Vintage 1970s African Tribal Chairs
Materials
Wood
Primitive African Tribal Hand Carved Folding Palaver Chair, Wabi Sabi, 1970s
Located in Odense, DK
Gorgeous unique African hand carved folding chair in solid wood. Also named the palaver chair as a
Category
Mid-20th Century African Tribal Side Chairs
Materials
Wood
H 24.81 in W 13.39 in D 27.56 in
Andrianna Shamaris Rare Antique African Palaver Chair
Located in New York, NY
multiple motifs. This folding chair is made from a single piece of ébéniste wood from west Africa. Also
Category
Vintage 1950s African Primitive Chairs
Materials
Wood, Reclaimed Wood
Andrianna Shamaris Rare Antique African Palaver Chair
Located in New York, NY
multiple motifs. This folding chair is made from a single piece of ébéniste wood from west Africa. Also
Category
Vintage 1950s African Primitive Chairs
Materials
Wood, Reclaimed Wood
20 Century Hand Carved Folding Palaver Wooden Chair in African Style, circa 1930
Located in Sofia, BG
This foldable chair is made of solid wood and can easily be disassembled in two parts. The model is
Category
Early 20th Century French Chairs
Materials
Wood
H 31.5 in W 15.36 in D 39.38 in
1960s African Ceremonial Chief Chairs Hand Carved Wood
Located in Chula Vista, CA
1960s High Quality Pair of Sculptural Form African Chief Ceremonial Folding Chairs Geometric
Category
Vintage 1960s African Tribal Chairs
Materials
Wood
1950's Vintage Conjoined Folding Chapel Chairs
Located in Tarleton, GB
1950's Vintage folding chair row in beech
History
Folding chairs have been in use for
Category
Vintage 1950s Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel
French Colonial Walnut Faux Bamboo and Leather Folding Deck Chair, circa 1900
Located in Fayetteville, AR
This French walnut folding deck chair from the turn of the twentieth century features turned legs
Category
Early 20th Century French Chairs
Materials
Brass
H 35 in W 23 in D 17 in
Contemporary Black Chair, Poplar and Birch Wood, Nifemi Ogunro, African-American
By Nifemi Ogunro
Located in Barcelona, ES
and folds in space, are all reference points for her work.
Category
2010s American Chairs
Materials
Birch, Poplar, Wood, Ash
H 12.6 in W 7.09 in D 7.88 in
Contemporary Black Chair, Poplar and Birch Wood, Nifemi Ogunro, African-American
By Nifemi Ogunro
Located in Barcelona, ES
and folds in space, are all reference points for her work.
Category
2010s American Chairs
Materials
Birch, Poplar, Wood, Ash
H 12.6 in W 7.09 in D 9.26 in
Vintage Foldable Garden / Outdoor Chairs in Wood and White Canvas Boho Chic
Located in Milano, IT
Originally introduced to the general public at the 1904 St. Louis exhibition, the "Tripolina" chair
Category
Vintage 1980s Italian American Colonial Chairs
Materials
Canvas, Wood
H 39.38 in W 35.44 in D 31.5 in
Original Deck Chair from European Colonies in Africa, Early 20th Century
Located in Mombuey, Zamora
. It is foldable to move with garter as it happened with many colonial furniture, from North Africa
Category
Early 20th Century Unknown British Colonial Rocking Chairs
Materials
Wood
H 46.86 in W 35.44 in D 27.17 in
Vico Magistretti ““Regina D’ Africa” Chair with Stool for Alias, Italy 1970
By Alias, Vico Magistretti
Located in Amsterdam, NL
An iconic “Regina D’ Africa” (Queen of Africa) chair with matching stool designed by Vico
Category
Vintage 1970s European Lounge Chairs
Materials
Fabric, Wood
H 48.04 in W 35.44 in D 23.63 in
Alain Gaubert Oak "Africanist" Chair, France, 1980s
By Alain Gaubert
Located in Utrecht, NL
this “Africanist” chair is inspired by (as the name suggests) the “African Guardian” or “Tribal Palaver
Category
Vintage 1980s French Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Wood
Kaare Klint 'Safari' Lounge Chair for Red Rasmussen, Denmark, 1960s
By Kaare Klint
Located in Hellouw, NL
originally designed in the 1930s. The chair is entirely foldable, making it a lightweight and portable item
Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Fabric, Wood, Leather
Melon Hanging Swing Chair Modern Daybed In/Outdoor White
By Joanina and David Pastoll
Located in Johannesburg, ZA
The Melon lounger is inspired by a hammock - but with its structured hard frame it will not fold in
Category
2010s South African Organic Modern Patio and Garden Furniture
Materials
Steel
Melon Legs Base Swing Chair Modern 21st Century Steel Daybed in/Outdoor White
By Joanina and David Pastoll
Located in Johannesburg, ZA
The Melon Lounger is inspired by a hammock - but with its structured hard frame it will not fold in
Category
2010s South African Modern Patio and Garden Furniture
Materials
Steel
H 86.23 in W 43.71 in D 35.44 in
Vintage Italian Leather and Wood Safari Chair, 1970s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
piece of furniture. Inspired by the African safari aesthetic, this chair showcases a wooden frame with
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
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Leather, Wood
Modern Outdoor Chaise Longue Daybed Hammock
By Joanina and David Pastoll
Located in Johannesburg, ZA
inspired by a hammock – but with its structured hard frame it will not fold in and is thus hugely
Category
2010s South African Bohemian Chaise Longues
Materials
Steel, Stainless Steel
Modern Steel Hammock for Indoor or Outdoor
By Joanina and David Pastoll
Located in Johannesburg, ZA
inspired by a hammock – but with its structured hard frame it will not fold in and is thus hugely
Category
2010s South African Modern Patio and Garden Furniture
Materials
Steel, Stainless Steel
Original Vintage Train Travel Poster Ipswich LNER Mr Pickwick The Ancient House
By Fred Taylor
Located in London, GB
Pickwick being carried through the Suffolk town on a sedan chair past the historical 15th century Ancient
Category
Vintage 1920s British Posters
Materials
Paper
H 39.77 in W 50.01 in D 0.04 in
Antique 19th c. Octagonal Moorish Side Table Hand-carved with Geometric Design
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Syrian hand-carved folding chair in the picture is for representative of the scale purpose only and is
Category
Late 20th Century Indian Moorish Side Tables
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Wood
H 11 in W 17 in D 16 in
Pair of Acerbis Storet Dresser in Black Ash with Pink Glossy Lacquered UTOPIA
By Nanda Vigo, Acerbis
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Più” chairs and “Storet” chests by Nanda Vigo and the “Florian”folding table by Vico Magistretti
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Dressers
Materials
Ash
H 51.78 in W 22.05 in D 20.08 in
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Oval
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Located in Bruttisellen, CH
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Free Shipping
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African Folding Chair For Sale on 1stDibs
At 1stDibs, there are many versions of the ideal African folding chair for your home. Each African folding chair for sale was constructed with extraordinary care, often using wood, metal and steel. There are 11 variations of the antique or vintage African folding chair you’re looking for, while we also have 7 modern editions of this piece to choose from as well. Whether you’re looking for an older or newer African folding chair, there are earlier versions available from the 20th Century and newer variations made as recently as the 21st Century. An African folding chair made by mid-century modern designers — as well as those associated with modern — is very popular. You’ll likely find more than one African folding chair that is appealing in its simplicity, but Joanina and David Pastoll, Alain Gaubert and Dokter and Misses produced versions that are worth a look.
How Much is an African Folding Chair?
Prices for an African folding chair can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, they begin at $95 and can go as high as $30,400, while the average can fetch as much as $1,829.
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.
Questions About African Folding Chair
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022An African birthing chair is a wooden seat with a sloped back and angled seat. Its original purpose was to help women maintain the proper position to deliver a baby, however many people use them for seating or decoration. On 1stDibs, shop a range of birthing chairs.
- Who invented the folding chair?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2023Nathaniel Alexander invented the folding chair in 1911. During the 1950s, demand for the chairs skyrocketed with furniture makers like the Fredric Arnold Company in Brooklyn, New York, producing thousands every day. Find a variety of folding chairs on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertAugust 17, 2021The most comfortable folding chair is really a matter of preference. When shopping for folding chairs, you’ll want to think about how you’ll use them, how often you’ll be using them and if you have a preference with respect to materials. Shop antique, vintage and new folding chairs on 1stDibs.
- Who designed the folding chair?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 22, 2024Opinions vary on who designed the folding chair. Chairs designed to fold have existed since the ancient world, with examples found in the tomb of Tutankhamun. Some people argue that the original designer of the modern-day folding chair was John Cram, who patented an idea for a folding chair in 1855. However, others believe that Philip E.G. Harrison should get the credit because his 1931 design more closely resembles the modern-day folding chair. Nathaniel Alexander also contributed to the development of the folding chair with his 1911 chair that included a book rest, as did Frederic Arnold, who created the first folding aluminum chair in 1947. Shop a selection of folding chairs on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 16, 2024Chairs that fold up are usually called folding chairs. However, people may refer to them as collapsible chairs as well. Other names for folding chairs designed for outdoor use include deck chairs, beach chairs, lawn chairs, camping chairs and patio chairs. Shop a collection of folding chairs on 1stDibs.
- Do butterfly chairs fold up?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Whether or not a butterfly chair will fold will depend on the make and model. The butterfly chair was originally designed with metal hairpin legs without hinges or joints. Collector versions of the butterfly chair will not be foldable, however, foldable designs are a popular silhouette for recreational seating.
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