Alvar Aalto Easy Chair
Vintage 1940s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Birch
Vintage 1960s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Side Chairs
Birch
Vintage 1940s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Birch, Sheepskin
Vintage 1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Metal
20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Chairs
Leather, Suede, Bentwood, Plywood
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Beech
Vintage 1960s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Leather, Beech
Vintage 1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Metal
20th Century Lounge Chairs
Aluminum
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Chairs
Leather
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Chairs
Leather
Vintage 1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Loveseats
Birch, Canvas
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Armchairs
Sheepskin
Vintage 1970s Danish Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Chrome, Metal
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Armchairs
Fabric, Wood
20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Metal, Zinc
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
Birch
Mid-20th Century French Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Wood
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Sheepskin
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Armchairs
Leather, Mahogany
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Armchairs
Leather
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Armchairs
Leather
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Armchairs
Leather
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Armchairs
Leather
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Polyester
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Carts and Bar Carts
Bronze
People Also Browsed
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Benches
Cane, Mahogany
21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights an...
Enamel, Brass
2010s American Modern Table Lamps
Steel, Brass, Silver Leaf
2010s American Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Brass, Bronze, Enamel, Nickel
2010s American End Tables
Wood, Lacquer
21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Flush Mount
Brass, Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Mexican Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Textile, Wood
Vintage 1970s Post-Modern Chairs
Metal
2010s Brazilian Organic Modern Armchairs
Wicker
2010s Brazilian Organic Modern Armchairs
Wicker
Mid-20th Century Finnish Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
Bentwood
Vintage 1970s French Organic Modern Sofas
Leather, Upholstery
Vintage 1970s Dutch Scandinavian Modern Chairs
Pine
2010s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Stools
Hardwood
2010s British Scandinavian Modern Ottomans and Poufs
Mohair, Velvet, Oak
2010s Austrian Jugendstil Chandeliers and Pendants
Silk
Recent Sales
Vintage 1960s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Cane, Birch
Mid-20th Century Finnish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Lambskin, Birch
Vintage 1960s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Cane, Birch
Vintage 1950s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Elm, Plywood
Mid-20th Century Finnish Mid-Century Modern Side Chairs
Birch
Vintage 1940s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Fabric, Birch
Vintage 1940s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Birch
Vintage 1940s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Birch
Vintage 1930s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Hemp, Birch
Mid-20th Century Finnish Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Textile, Birch
Vintage 1940s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Beech, Leather
Late 20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Beech
Vintage 1980s Danish Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Sets
Beech
Vintage 1950s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Armchairs
Oak
Vintage 1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Metal, Chrome
Mid-20th Century Danish Modern Daybeds
Cotton, Oak
Vintage 1940s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Fabric, Birch
Vintage 1970s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Side Chairs
Birch
Mid-20th Century Finnish Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Rush, Wood
2010s Children's Furniture
Birch
Vintage 1960s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Carts and Bar Carts
Birch
20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Leather, Suede, Bentwood, Plywood
Vintage 1970s Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Leather, Birch
Mid-20th Century Finnish Scandinavian Modern Side Chairs
Wicker, Wood
Vintage 1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Plywood, Rope, Wood
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Fabric, Wood
Vintage 1950s Slovenian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Plywood
Vintage 1930s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Armchairs
Mohair, Upholstery, Birch
Vintage 1960s French Industrial Coat Racks and Stands
Metal
20th Century Finnish Modern Armchairs
Birch
21st Century and Contemporary French Bauhaus Lounge Chairs
Chrome
Vintage 1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Living Room Sets
Birch, Plywood
Vintage 1930s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Stools
Leather, Birch
Alvar Aalto Easy Chair For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Alvar Aalto Easy 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.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2024The Paimio chair, designed by Alvar Aalto, is a type of armchair created in 1932. Also called the Armchair 41, it was intended to help people breathe easier and was designed for a tuberculosis sanatorium in the Finnish city of Paimio. For the chair's frame, Aalto and his wife, Aino, opted to use Finland's native birchwood, which is strong and inexpensive and felt warmer and more organic than the tubular steel found in similarly shaped pieces. Laminated wood loops form the arms, legs and a pair of flat skids, while its sculptural seat and back are built from a single piece of thin plywood. Shop a variety of Alvar Aalto Paimio chairs on 1stDibs.
Read More
The 21 Most Popular Mid-Century Modern Chairs
You know the designs, now get the stories about how they came to be.
Fred Rigby’s Modular Seating Can Be Configured in So Many Handy Ways
The plush Cove Slipper 2.5 Seater sofa is just one of many convenient combinations from the London-based maker.
This Chubby-Chic Quilted Stool Stands on Its Own Two Feet
Sam Klemick's cool stool is edgy, cozy and environmentally sustainable all at once.
Riotous Shapes and Colors Have Made Uchronia’s Designs the Toast of Paris
Julien Sebban’s energetic design collective is radically reshaping the look of 21st-century European furniture and interiors.
Is Lionel Jadot the Willy Wonka of Upcycled Belgian Design?
From his massive collaborative workshop in a former paper factory, the designer concocts funky furniture from disused materials, as well as luxe hotel interiors like the new Mix Brussels.
Rock Your Cares Away on This Sunny Hand-Crocheted Swing
The boho-chic Enchanted Forest Swing, handmade by marginalized women from Turkey and Syria, is uplifting in every way.
Learn Why Designer Maarten Baas Set This Charles Rennie Mackintosh Chair on Fire
What happens when you do something to a piece of furniture that you shouldn’t? It becomes an entirely new object.
Eileen Gray’s Famed Cliffside Villa in the South of France Is Returned to Its Modernist Glory
After years of diligent restoration, E-1027, the designer-cum-architect’s marriage of romance and modernism, is finally complete.