$2,850
H 37.8 in W 32.29 in D 29.93 in
Pierre Paulin F-444 Lounge Chair by Artifort, 1960s — Mesh Seat
By Pierre Paulin, Artifort
Located in Dronten, NL
A striking example of mid-century innovation, this F-444 lounge chair by Pierre Paulin for Artifort epitomizes the designer’s sculptural yet functional approach to modern seating.
Steel
Pierre Paulin F444 Lounge Chair Artifort
By Pierre Paulin, Artifort
Located in Vlimmeren, BE
The F444 chair by Pierre Paulin is a true design classic. With its metal frame and saddle leather seat, it has a strong and elegant look. This is an early edition of the chair, makin...
Metal
$6,473
H 38.19 in W 27.96 in D 32.68 in
Pierre Paulin F444 Lounge Chair for Artifort, Netherlands, 1960s
By Artifort, Pierre Paulin
Located in Langemark-Poelkapelle, BE
A sculptural and highly recognizable lounge chair designed by Pierre Paulin for Artifort in the Netherlands during the 1960s. This model, known as the F444, reflects Paulin’s innovat...
Stainless Steel
'F444' Leather lounge chair by Pierre Paulin for Artifort
By Pierre Paulin, Artifort
Located in Brussels, BE
Following his success, Paulin partnered with Artifort (Maastricht, Netherlands), where the iconic F444 was created.
Stainless Steel
Pierre Paulin F444 lounge chair for Artifort Netherlands 1963
By Artifort, Pierre Paulin
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
This stunning and original F444 lounge chair, designed by Pierre Paulin and manufactured by Artifort in 1963, captures the experimental spirit of the 1960s.
Stainless Steel
$17,632 / set
H 37.8 in W 32.29 in D 29.53 in
Set of 2 Model F444 Lounge Chairs by Pierre Paulin for Artifort, 1960s
By Artifort, Pierre Paulin
Located in Oud Beijerland, NL
Stunning set of 2 model "F444" Chairs. This model is designed by the famous French designer Pierre Paulin (1927-2009).
Steel
$17,632 / set
H 37.8 in W 32.29 in D 29.53 in
Set of 2 Model F444 Lounge Chairs by Pierre Paulin for Artifort, 1960s
By Pierre Paulin, Artifort
Located in Oud Beijerland, NL
Stunning set of 2 model "F444" Chairs. This model is designed by the famous French designer Pierre Paulin (1927-2009).
Steel
Pierre Paulin F444 lounge chair, 1960s
By Pierre Paulin, Artifort
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Beautifully patinated F444 lounge chair by Pierre Paulin. Pierre Paulin designed this lounge in the 1960s for the well-known manufacturer Artifort.
Chrome
$3,850
H 37.8 in W 32.29 in D 29.93 in
Pierre Paulin F444 Lounge Chair in Black Leather – All Original, Vintage
By Pierre Paulin, Artifort
Located in Dronten, NL
A true design classic, this vintage F444 lounge chair by Pierre Paulin for Artifort embodies the relaxed, sculptural elegance of 1960s modernism.
Steel
Rare Artifort F444 Chair by Pierre Paulin
By Artifort, Pierre Paulin
Located in Voorburg, NL
Highly rare edition of the Pierre Paulin 'F-444' lounge chair Rare and quite unique example of the F444 lounge chair by Pierre Paulin for Artifort.??
Stainless Steel
Pierre Paulin F444 Artifort Lounge Chair
By Artifort, Pierre Poulin
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Sturdy, massive and comfortable lounge chair. Very good original condition. Signed with Artifort metal label. Free shipping for European destinations! We strive for a high leve...
Metal
Pierre Paulin F444 Artifort Lounge Chair
By Pierre Paulin, Artifort
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Sturdy, massive and comfortable lounge chair. Complete original chair both saddle leather and stitching with very good patina. Signed with Artifort metal label. Free shipping for ...
Sold
H 38.19 in W 32.29 in D 31.5 in
Mid-Century Modern F-444 Lounge Chair by Pierre Paulin for Artifort, 1960s
By Pierre Paulin, Artifort
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Mid-Century Modern F-444 lounge chair by Pierre Paulin for Artifort, 1960s.
Chrome
Pierre Paulin F444 lounge chairs pair Artifort 1963
By Pierre Paulin, Artifort
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Stunning and original pair of F444 lounge chairs designed by Pierre Paulin and manufactured by Artifort in 1963.
Steel, Stainless Steel
Pierre Paulin F444 Lounge Chair for Artifort, 1963
By Pierre Paulin, Artifort
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Iconic lounge chair designed by Pierre Paulin for Artifort, Holland, 1963. This early example has a chrome-plated solid metal frame connected with a black metal bar. The seat is made...
Steel
Pierre Paulin Pair of F444 Lounge Chairs Artifort, 1963
By Artifort, Pierre Paulin
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
This is for a spectactular pair of F444 chairs designed by the French designer Pierre Paulin (1927-2009) and manufactured by Artifort, Holland 1963.
Stainless Steel
Pierre Paulin F444 lounge chair Artifort 1963, 1st edition
By Artifort, Pierre Paulin
Located in AMSTERDAM, NL
This exquisite example of the iconic of F444 lounge chair, designed by Pierre Paulin and produced by Artifort in 1963, embodying the innovative spirit of the 1960s.
Canvas, Wood
Sold
H 38.19 in W 33.08 in D 29.53 in
Pierre Paulin "F444" Lounge Chair in Natural Leather for Artifort, 1960s
By Pierre Paulin, Artifort
Located in Brescia, Brescia
Introducing the iconic "F444" lounge chair, designed by the legendary Pierre Paulin for Artifort in the 1960s.
Metal, Steel
Pair of F-444 Lounge Chairs by Pierre Paulin
By Pierre Paulin, Artifort
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Stunning pair of beautifully patinated F-444 chairs designed by Pierre Paulin for Artifort, 1963.
Chrome
Sold
H 38.59 in W 32.09 in D 27.56 in
First Edition Leather F444 Cantilever Lounge Chair by Pierre Paulin for Artifort
By Pierre Paulin, Artifort
Located in Izegem, VWV
Fantastic aesthetically pleasing cantilever lounge chair designed by the famous Pierre Paulin. This model F444 still has it's original cognac leather and was manufactured by Arti...
Steel
Sold
H 38.19 in W 33.08 in D 27.56 in
F 444 Designed by Pierre Paulin for the Dutch Manufacturer Artifort
By Pierre Paulin
Located in Dronten, NL
Model F 444, designed 1963 for the Dutch manufacturer Artifort.
Leather
Sold
H 38.19 in W 32.29 in L 38.19 in
Pierre Paulin Easy Chair Model F-444 Produced by Artifort in Netherlands
By Pierre Paulin
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Rare easy chair model F-444 designed by Pierre Paulin. Produced by Artifort in Netherlands.
Steel
Pierre Paulin leather F444 armchair Artifort 1963
By Pierre Paulin
Located in Grenoble, FR
Pierre Paulin Very beautiful armchair model F444 for the Artifort brand in 1963, structure in polished steel and stretched leather made by saddle maker.
Iron
1960s Pierre Paulin for Artifort Leather F444 Lounge Chair
By Pierre Paulin
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Lounge armchair type F444 by Pierre Paulin for Artifort from the 1960s.
Leather
Pierre Paulin F444 Leather and Steel Chair for Artifort
Located in Chicago, IL
Brown leather with wonderful patina and steel chair for Artifort designed by Pierre Paulin. Pierre Paulin: Un Univers de Formes, Chapoutot, pg. 52 illustrates this model in situ at t...
Steel
Pierre Paulin F444 Leather and Chrome Lounge Chair
By Pierre Paulin, Artifort
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful Pierre Paulin F444 lounge chair for Artifort, 1962, Netherlands.
Chrome
Pierre Paulin Lounge Chair, Model F444 for Artifort, circa 1960
Located in Nashville, TN
Pierre Paulin lounge chair, Model F444 for Artifort, circa 1960. Original leather with fantastic patina on a bent steel frame.
Leather
Original Black Leather Pierre Paulin F444 Lounge Chair
By Pierre Paulin, Artifort
Located in BE
Beautifully patinated F444 lounge chair by Pierre Paulin. Pierre Paulin designed this lounge in the 1960s for the well-known manufacturer Artifort.
Metal
Pair of Pierre Paulin F444 Leather and Steel Chairs for Artifort
By Pierre Paulin
Located in NYC, NY
Pair of black leather & stainless steel lounge chairs by French designer Pierre Paulin. Model F 444, designed 1963 for the Dutch manufacturer Artifort.
Steel
Rare Pierre Paulin Lounge Chair, Model F444 for Artifort, circa 1960
Located in Nashville, TN
Rare Pierre Paulin lounge chair, Model F444 for Artifort, circa 1960. Original brown leather with steel support and legs.
Leather
Pierre Paulin Lounge Chair
By Pierre Paulin
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pierre Paulin for Artifort lounge chair F444.
Artifort F444 in Natural Leather by Pierre Paulin
By Pierre Paulin, Artifort
Located in New York, NY
The F444 is Pierre Paulin’s design icon and dates back to 1963. It is one of the most representative designs of the revolutionary 1960s. This unique fauteuil, constructed from stainl...
Leather
Pierre Paulin's F-444 Easy Chair in Patinated Cognac Leather
By Pierre Paulin
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Cognac leather F-444 chairs, designed by Pierre Paulin for Artifort in 1962.
Steel
Sold
H 38.19 in W 32.29 in D 29.53 in
Original Black Leather Pierre Paulin F-444 Easy Chair by Artifort, 1962
By Pierre Paulin, Artifort
Located in Utrecht, NL
Iconic Pierre Paulin F-444 easy chair in original black saddle leather with cantilevered chrome-plated frame.
Steel
Pierre Paulin F444 Lounge Chair Artifort, 1963
By Pierre Paulin, Artifort
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
This is for a super patined F444 designed by the French designer Pierre Paulin (1927-2009) manufactured by Artifort in 1963.
Metal
Pierre Paulin F444 Lounge Chair Natural Artifort, 1963
By Pierre Paulin, Artifort
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Stunning original F444 lounge chair designed by Pierre Paulin and manufactured by Artifort, Holland 1963.
Stainless Steel
Sold
H 38.19 in W 32.29 in D 27.56 in
Pierre Paulin F444 Leather Lounge Chair Artifort, Holland, 1970s
By Pierre Paulin, Artifort
Located in Antwerp, BE
Pierre Paulin; F444; Lounge Chair; Artifort; 1970s; Netherlands; Holland; Cognac; Leather; Metal Frame; Easy Chair; Armchair; Lounge chair model F444 in dark cognac leather, desi...
Metal
Sold
H 38.19 in W 31.89 in D 29.14 in
Pierre Paulin F444 Lounge Chair for Artifort, The Netherlands, 1963
By Pierre Paulin, Artifort
Located in bergen op zoom, NL
Sturdy and massive F444 Lounge Chair by Pierre Paulin for Artifort Paulin made this final design of the F444 in 1963 after experimenting with similar technique's when he worked for...
Steel
Sold
H 38.19 in W 32.68 in D 29.53 in
Pair of Pierre Paulin's F-444 Easy Chair in Patinated Cognac Leather
By Artifort
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Pair of cognac leather F-444 chairs, designed by Pierre Paulin for Artifort in 1962.
Metal
Sold
H 38.19 in W 32.29 in D 28.35 in
Pierre Paulin F444 Lounge Chair in Natural Leather Artifort, 1963
By Pierre Paulin, Artifort
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Stunning and fully original F444 lounge chair designed by Pierre Paulin and manufactured in Holland by Artifort in 1963.
Steel, Stainless Steel
Model F444 Lounge Chair by Pierre Paulin for Artifort, 1960s
By Pierre Paulin, Artifort
Located in Oud Beijerland, NL
Stunning model "F444" Chair. This comfortable model is designed by the famous French designer Pierre Paulin (1927-2009).
Steel
Sold
H 37.8 in W 32.29 in D 28.75 in
Stunning Original Saddle Leather Pierre Paulin F444 Lounge Chair for Artifort
By Pierre Paulin, Artifort
Located in bergen op zoom, NL
F444 lounge chair designed by Pierre Paulin (1927-2009) for Artifort in 1963 First edition F444 with very nice patinated and original brown saddle leather The original natural b...
Steel
Leather Artifort F444, Pierre Paulin Lounge Chair
By Pierre Paulin
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Artifort F444, Pierre Paulin lounge chair. Pierre Paulin designed this chair in 1963 for Artifort.
Stainless Steel
Sold
H 38.59 in W 32.29 in D 31.5 in
Pierre Paulin F 444 Lounge Chair in Brown Saddle Leather for Artifort, 1962
By Pierre Paulin, Artifort
Located in Beek en Donk, NL
Original Pierre Paulin F444 lounge chair in brown / cognac leather, 1960s.
Metal, Chrome
F444 by Pierre Paulin for Artifort Lounge Chair
By Artifort, Pierre Paulin
Located in JM Haarlem, NL
Rare lounge chair 'F444' by Pierre Paulin. Manufacturer by Artifort.
Steel
Pierre Paulin “F444” Chair For Artifort, Netherlands 1960
By Artifort, Pierre Paulin
Located in Wilnis, UT
This iconic lounge chair, model “F444”, was designed by Pierre Paulin and manufactured by Artifort in the Netherlands around 1960.
Metal
Pierre Paulin F444 Sofa Fort Artifort, Netherlands, 1960
By Artifort, Pierre Paulin
Located in Wilnis, UT
Lounge chair model "F444", designed by Pierre Paulin and manufactured by Artifort in the Netherlands, circa 1960.
Metal, Chrome
Pierre Paulin F444 in Cognac Leather for Artifort, 1963
By Pierre Paulin, Artifort
Located in Roosendaal, NL
This is for a super patined F444 designed by Pierre Paulin (1927-2009) for Artifort in 1963.
Chrome
F444 Lounge Chairs by Pierre Paulin, Edited for Artifort, 1963
By Pierre Paulin, Artifort
Located in Paris, FR
The F444 is one of the design icons of Pierre Paulin. From 1963, the F444 - more famous in the leather version - is very representative of the 60s in design history. Stainless stee...
Pierre Paulin Brown Leather F444 for Artifort
By Pierre Paulin
Located in LA Arnhem, NL
Pierre Paulin designed this chair in 1963 for Artifort. This chair has been produced circa 1965! The chrome-plated steel has a "s" form. The sitting is very comfortable.
Chrome
F444 Lounge Chair by Pierre Paulin for Artifort
By Pierre Paulin
Located in JM Haarlem, NL
Rare lounge chair 'F444' by Pierre Paulin. Manufacturer by Artifort.
Pierre Paulin F444 in Natural Leather, the Netherlands, 1963
By Pierre Paulin, Artifort
Located in Appeltern, Gelderland
This is a beautifully aged F444 designed by the French designer Pierre Paulin (1927-2009) for Artifort in 1963.
Leather
Sold
H 37.8 in W 32.29 in D 31.5 in
Early Pierre Paulin F444 Lounge Chair in Leather for Artifort, 1960
By Pierre Paulin
Located in Castenray, NL
Very early Pierre Paulin lounge chair in cognac leather for Artifort, in a good original condition, with beautiful patina and normal wear & tear due to its age.
Stainless Steel
Pierre Paulin Artifort F444 Artifort in Brown Leather Chair, 1965
By Pierre Paulin
Located in LA Arnhem, NL
Pierre Paulin Artifort F444 Artifort. Designed in 1965. This chair is also from that period.
Leather
Pierre Paulin “F444” Chair For Artifort, Netherlands 1960
By Artifort, Pierre Paulin
Located in Wilnis, UT
This iconic lounge chair, model “F444”, was designed by Pierre Paulin and manufactured by Artifort in the Netherlands around 1960.
Metal
Sold
H 31.5 in W 32.29 in D 37.8 in
F444 Pierre Paulin Saddle Leather Lounge Chair for Artifort, Original 1969
By Pierre Paulin, Artifort
Located in Beek en Donk, NL
Original Pierre Paulin F444 lounge chair. A beautiful piece. The F444, later also known as F644, is designed by Pierre Paulin for Artifort in 1963.
Chrome, Metal
Pierre Paulin F444 Artifort Original Black Leather, 1963
By Pierre Paulin
Located in LA Arnhem, NL
The F444 designed in 1963 by Pierre Paulin for Artifort.
Steel
$12,900 / set
H 32.68 in W 16.93 in D 18.9 in
Gio Ponti 646 "Leggera" Dining Chairs for Cassina, 1952, Set of 6
By Gio Ponti, Cassina
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Gio Ponti 646 "Leggera" dining chairs for Cassina, black ash-wood and rope seat, Italy, 1952, set of six. The model 646 "Leggera" is an icon of chair design and of Cassina’s master...
Rope, Ash
$5,500 / set
H 32.09 in W 17.33 in D 16.15 in
Set of 10 Dining Chairs in Pine & Seagrass Seats, Danish Mid Century, 1960s
By Hans J. Wegner, Charlotte Perriand, Charles Dudouyt
Located in Odense, DK
A charming and rustic set of 10 dining chairs in pine and seagrass seats. Made in the 1960s by a Danish cabinetmaker. A fine mid century brutalist set that pairs well with many type...
Seagrass, Pine
$1,650 / item
H 16.1 in Dm 11.5 in
'Plissé White Edition' Pleated Textile Table Lamp by Folkform for Örsjö
By Örsjö Industri AB
Located in Glendale, CA
'Plissé White Edition' pleated textile table lamp by Folkform for Örsjö. This unique table lamp was awarded “Lighting of the Year 2022” by Residence Magazine Sweden, who called it “...
Textile
LU Louis Sconce AS
By Lumfardo Luminaires
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Handsome LU Louis sconce AS. An all brass wall sconce in an aged silver finish with patterned perforations by Lumfardo Luminaires. Made contemporary in the US. Multiples available fo...
Brass, Nickel
$2,052 / item
H 40 in W 30 in D 0.03 in
"Les Terrains" Signed Limited Edition Art Print by Christiane Lemieux - 30"x40"
Located in New York, NY
Our first limited edition fine art print “Les Terrains” is an emotive abstract landscape translated in gouache, charcoal and pastel. Created by artist Christiane Lemieux, there will ...
Paper
Bertu Counter Stools, White Oak Counter Stool, Chile Stool
By Bertu Furniture
Located in Oak Harbor, OH
Bertu Counter Stools, White Oak Counter Stool, Chile Stool This White Oak Chile Counter Stool is beautifully constructed from solid wood in Ohio, USA. The stool is chunky and modern...
Wood, Oak
$5,005 / item
H 56.11 in W 25.6 in D 19.1 in
Arcate sideboard, in Canaletto walnut by Accardibuccheri Medulum for Medulum
By Mauro Accardi & Silvia Buccheri
Located in Meolo, Venezia
Il settimanale Arcate fa parte di una collezione esclusiva che include comodini e comò, ideata dal rinomato studio milanese Accardi Buccheri per il brand MEDULUM. La scocca, realizza...
Walnut
$14,750 / item
H 13 in W 36 in D 52 in
Circular Coffee/Side Table Organic Black Modern Contemporary Blackened Steel
By J.M. Szymanski
Located in Bronx, NY
TABLE NO. 15 - COFFEE TABLE J.M. Szymanski d. 2019 This Noguchi-inspired coffee table is handcrafted in 3/8” thick steel, with a natural black patina and wax finish, to create an u...
Steel, Iron
Ate Van Apeldoorn King Size Pine Platform Bed Frame, 1960s
By Houtwerk Hattem
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Solid pine platform bed frame by Dutch designer Ate Van Apeldoorn, sized for a European king mattress at 68 x 78.5 inches. The frame is built from thick-cut solid pine planks with pr...
Pine
$6,120
H 28.35 in W 70.08 in D 38.59 in
Le Bambole sofa in velvet By Mario Bellini For B&B Italia, 1970s
By Mario Bellini, B&B Italia
Located in ABCOUDE, UT
Beautiful Le Bambole sofa in coral/pink coloured velvet designed by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia in the 1970s. This beautiful edition is reupholstered in a high quality cotton velve...
Velvet
$16,400
H 78.75 in W 70.87 in D 27.56 in
Giuseppe Rivadossi for Officina Rivadossi Bedroom Divider Wardrobe Walnut
By Officina Rivadossi, Giuseppe Rivadossi
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Giuseppe Rivadossi for Officina Rivadossi, bedroom divider or wardrobe unit, walnut, glass Italy, 1980s This exceptional piece by Italian sculptor and designer Giuseppe Rivadossi is...
Glass, Walnut
$9,525
H 28.35 in W 48.04 in D 38.59 in
Early Mario Bellini Le Bambole Lounge Chair, Original Leather, C&B Italia, 1970s
By C&B Italia, Mario Bellini
Located in Lewes, East Sussex
A rare first edition Mario Bellini Le Bambole lounge chair, in its original wonderfully patinated leather, produced by C&B Italia, Italy, in the early 1970s. Fast shipping worldw...
Leather
$6,473
H 27.96 in W 24.81 in D 25.6 in
Poul Kjaerholm PK22 Easy Chair in Steel & Canvas by Fritz Hansen Denmark, 1997
By Poul Kjærholm, Fritz Hansen
Located in Stockholm, SE
Rare "PK22" easy chair in cut steel and canvas by Poul Kjaerholm produced by Fritz Hansen Denmark, 1997. In good original condition with the original sticker. We also have matching p...
Steel
$9,409
H 41.34 in W 29.14 in D 38.59 in
Grand Repos Lounge Chair Attributed to Guillerme et Chambron for Votre Maison
By Guillerme et Chambron, Votre Maison
Located in ŁÓDŹ, PL
This rare model Guillereme et Chambron „Grand Repos” Chaise Lounge was manufactured in France in the 1950s. The exceptional refinement of the design is ensured by a sculptural frame...
Wool, Oak
$14,750 / set
H 28 in W 41 in D 41 in
Craft Lounge Chairs, Lafer Lounge Chairs, Brown Leather and Walnut, Modern
By Craft Associates, Percival Lafer
Located in Oak Harbor, OH
Craft lounge chairs, lafer lounge chairs, brown leather and walnut, Modern Designer: Percival Lafer Manufacturer: Craft Associates® Furniture Period/Model: Mid-Century Modern S...
Leather, Walnut
Charlotte Perriand, Freeform Console Bench, Pine, France, 1967
By Charlotte Perriand
Located in High Point, NC
A wall-mounted freeform console or bench in pine and black-painted metal. Designed and produced by Charlotte Perriand for Résidence La Cascade, Arc 1600, France, 1967-1969.
Pine
Pierre Paulin introduced a fresh breeze into French furniture design in the 1960s and ’70s, fostering a sleek new Space-Age aesthetic. Along with Olivier Mourgue, Paulin developed chairs, sofas, dining tables and other furnishings with flowing lines and almost surreal naturalistic forms. And his work became such a byword for chic, forward-looking design and emerging technologies that two French presidents commissioned him to create environments in the Élysée Palace in Paris.
Paulin was born in Paris to a family of artists and designers. He initially sought to become a ceramist and sculptor and was studying in the town of Vallauris near the Côte d'Azur — a center for pottery making, where Pablo Picasso spent his postwar summers crafting ceramics — but broke his hand in a fight. He enrolled at the École Camondo, the Paris interior design school. There, Paulin was strongly influenced by the work of Charles and Ray Eames, George Nelson and Arne Jacobsen, as was reflected in his early creations for the manufacturer Thonet-France.
It was at the Dutch firm Artifort, which he joined in 1958, where Paulin blossomed. In a few years, he produced several of his signature designs based on abstract organic shapes. These include the Butterfly chair (1963), which features a tubular steel frame and slung leather, and a group of striking seating pieces made with steel frames covered in polyurethane foam and tight jersey fabric: the Mushroom (1960), Ribbon (1966) and Tongue (1967) chairs. The revered designer not only introduced new construction techniques to Artifort furniture but contributed fresh materials, Pop art colors and dazzling shapes to the mid-century modern era as a whole.
In 1971, the Mobilier National — a department of France’s Ministry of Culture in charge of furnishing top-tier government offices and embassies — commissioned Paulin to redesign President Georges Pompidou’s private apartment in the Élysée Palace. In three years, Paulin transformed the staid rooms into futuristic environments with curved, fabric-clad walls and furnishings such as bookcases made from an arrangement of smoked-glass U shapes, flower-like pedestal chairs and pumpkin-esque loungers.
Ten years later, the Mobilier National called on Paulin again, this time to furnish the private office of President François Mitterand. Paulin responded with an angular, postmodern take on neoclassical furniture, pieces that looked surprisingly at home in the paneled, Savonnerie-carpeted Louis XVI rooms. As those two Élysée Palace projects show, Paulin furniture works well both in a total decor or when used as a counterpoint to traditional pieces. His creations have a unique personality: bright and playful yet sophisticated and suave.
Find vintage Pierre Paulin lounge chairs, armchairs, coffee tables and other furniture on 1stDibs.
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.
While this specific seating is known to all for its comfort and familiar form, the history of how your favorite antique or vintage lounge chair came to be is slightly more ambiguous.
Although there are rare armchairs dating back as far as the 17th century, some believe that the origins of the first official “lounge chair” are tied to Hungarian modernist designer-architect Marcel Breuer. Sure, Breuer wasn’t exactly reinventing the wheel when he introduced the Wassily lounge chair in 1925, but his seat was indeed revolutionary for its integration of bent tubular steel.
Officially, a lounge chair is simply defined as a “comfortable armchair,” which allows for the shape and material of the furnishings to be extremely diverse. Whether or not chaise longues make the cut for this category is a matter of frequent debate.
The Eames lounge chair, on the other hand, has come to define somewhat of a universal perception of what a lounge chair can be. Introduced in 1956, the Eames lounger (and its partner in cozy, the ottoman) quickly became staples in television shows, prestigious office buildings and sumptuous living rooms. Venerable American mid-century modern designers Charles and Ray Eames intended for it to be the peak of luxury, which they knew meant taking furniture to the next level of style and comfort. Their chair inspired many modern interpretations of the lounge — as well as numerous copies.
On 1stDibs, find a broad range of unique lounge chairs that includes everything from antique Victorian-era seating to vintage mid-century modern lounge chairs by craftspersons such as Hans Wegner to contemporary choices from today’s innovative designers.