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Black Shell Chairs

Vintage Boho Mother of Pearl Inlay Papier Mache Chair
Located in west palm beach, FL
Discover the captivating allure of this exquisite vintage accent chair, featuring intricate mother-of-pearl inlay shimmering against a deep black lacquered finish, likely over a trad...
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century British Victorian Chairs

Materials

Mother-of-Pearl, Cane

Italian Inlaid Folding Savonarola Chair
Located in North York, ON
Original folding chair with finely carved detailed patterns and mother of pearl inlay. Price includes complimentary curb side delivery to the continental USA.
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Renaissance Armchairs

Materials

Mother-of-Pearl, Wood

Set of 6 Mid-Century Modern Stackable Chrome Chairs by Steelcase
By Steelcase
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Original Condition Materials: Plastic Resin, Polished Chrome
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Chrome

Sylvie Chair in Black Pen Shell by R & Y Augousti
By R & Y Augousti
Located in New York, NY
The Paris based label has distinguished themselves since their launch, with their iconic use of shagreen mixed with brass and other exotic materials. All furniture is handcrafted by ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Chairs

Materials

Brass

Antique English 19th Century Lacquered Mother-of-Pearl Papier Machè Chair
Located in London, GB
Antique English 19th Century Lacquered Mother-of-Pearl Papier Machè Chair William IV C.1830 Superb decorative chair, intricately inlaid with mother of pearl inlay and gilt detailin...
Category

Antique 19th Century English William IV Chairs

Materials

Mother-of-Pearl

Antique Mother of Pearl Inlaid Ebonised Regency Chair, circa 1815
Located in Pulborough, GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this Stunning 1815s Mother of Pearl occasional chair. A very well-made and beautiful decorative chair, this is a good collector's find, not too ...
Category

Antique 19th Century British Regency Chairs

Materials

Mother-of-Pearl

Sylvie Chair in Black Pen Shell by R & Y Augousti
By R & Y Augousti
Located in New York, NY
The Paris based label has distinguished themselves since their launch, with their iconic use of shagreen mixed with brass and other exotic materials. All furniture is handcrafted by ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Chairs

Materials

Brass

Sylvie Chair in Black Pen Shell by R & Y Augousti
By R & Y Augousti
Located in New York, NY
The Paris based label has distinguished themselves since their launch, with their iconic use of shagreen mixed with brass and other exotic materials. All furniture is handcrafted by ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Chairs

Materials

Brass

Shell Inlaid Sylvie Console and Chair by R&Y Augousti
By R & Y Augousti
Located in New York, NY
The Paris based label has distinguished themselves since their launch, with their iconic use of shagreen mixed with brass and other exotic materials. All furniture is handcrafted by ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Console Tables

Materials

Shell

19th Century Papier-mâché Chair with Gold Leaf Detail and Mother of Pearl Inlay
Located in Dallas, TX
19th Century Papier-mâché chair with gold leaf detail and Mother of Pearl inlay.
Category

Antique 19th Century English Chairs

Materials

Gold Leaf

19th Century Papier-mâché Chair with Gold Leaf Detail and Mother of Pearl Inlay
Located in Dallas, TX
19th century Papier-mâché chair with gold leaf detail and Mother of Pearl Inlay.
Category

Antique 19th Century Chairs

Materials

Mother-of-Pearl

19th Century Papier-mâché Chair with Gold Leaf Detail and Mother of Pearl Inlay
Located in Dallas, TX
19th century Papier-mâché chair with gold leaf detail and mother of pearl inlay.
Category

Antique 19th Century English Chairs

Materials

Gold Leaf

19th Century Victorian Inlaid Mother-of-Pearl & Gold Leaf Papier Mache Chair
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th Century Victorian inlaid mother-of-pearl & gilt papier mache chair. This elegantly shaped chair is detailed with Mother Of Pearl inlaid patterns of flowers and birds in flight,...
Category

Antique 1870s English Victorian Chairs

Materials

Gold Leaf

Antique Mid-19th Century Lacquer Side Chairs with Mother of Pearl Inlay
Located in New Orleans, LA
If you appreciate lacquer and mother of pearl, these chairs may be just the ticket for you.
Category

Antique 19th Century English Chairs

Materials

Lacquer, Mother-of-Pearl

Black Lacquer Side Chair
Located in Woodbury, CT
Black lacquer side chair with mother-of-pearl inlay, well executed painted flowers and caned seat.
Category

Antique 19th Century English Late Victorian Chairs

Materials

Mother-of-Pearl, Paper

Black Lacquer Side Chair
Black Lacquer Side Chair
H 35 in W 18.5 in D 20.5 in

Recent Sales

Hand Painted and Mother of Pearl Inlaid Miniature Chair, 19th Century
Located in London, GB
A very fine 19th century ebonized wooden miniature chair. The mother of pearl inlay and hand painted decoration of painted birds with floral surroundings all-over the frame and is ac...
Category

Antique 19th Century European Victorian Chairs

Materials

Mother-of-Pearl

Antique Rare Victorian, circa 1890 Mother-of-Pearl Cane Inlaid Bedroom Chair
Located in Wisbech, Walton Wisbech
Antique rare Victorian ebonized mother-of-pearl cane inlaid bedroom chair. Came from the Master's Lodge, Trinity College, Cambridge. Dates from circa 1890. Fantastic quality decor...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century British Late Victorian Chairs

Materials

Mother-of-Pearl

England Victorian Pair of black lacquer mother-of-pearl inlaid chairs
Located in Valladolid, ES
Exquisite and very refined pair of English chairs from the early 19th century in lacquered wood with mother-of-pearl inlays and gold polychrome, with a clear Asian or Philippine infl...
Category

Antique 1890s Chairs

Materials

Mother-of-Pearl, Wood, Giltwood, Lacquer, Paint

Set of 6 Mid-Century Modern Stackable Chrome Chairs by Steelcase
By Steelcase
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Original Condition Dimensions: 32.25”H x 19.50”W x 24.50”D Seat Height 17.25" Materials: Plastic Resin, Polished Chrome
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Chrome

Vintage Coastal Black Lacquered Shell Back Grotto Chairs, Set of 4
Located in west palm beach, FL
Fabulous set of four vintage black lacquered grotto chairs. Beautiful and iconic shell back in a high glass black finish. The seats are in great shape and in a bright colorful tropic...
Category

Mid-20th Century North American Chairs

Materials

Shell, Glass, Lacquer

Midcentury Herman Miller DFSW Shell Dining Chairs, Set of 8
By Herman Miller
Located in west palm beach, FL
Stunning set of 8 vintage MCM dining chairs. Made by the iconic Herman Miller and tagged on the bottom. The coveted DFSW Shell design with a molded fiberglass seat and the wooden dow...
Category

Mid-20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Shell, Fiberglass

Pair of Vintage Indian Black Stained Side Chairs with Mother of Pearl Inlay
Located in Yonkers, NY
A pair of Indian vintage black stained side chairs from the mid-20th century, with mother of pearl inlay and rattan seat. Created in India during the midcentury period, each of this ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Indian Side Chairs

Materials

Rattan, Mother-of-Pearl, Wood

Sylvie Chair in Black Pen Shell by R & Y Augousti
By R & Y Augousti
Located in New York, NY
The Sylvie chair is an iconic design by R & Y Augousti. One of their very first designs, this majestic and ethereal piece is a statement in any space. This piece has been photographe...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Art Deco Chairs

Materials

Shell

19th Century Black Lacquered and Gilt Chair with Mother of Pearl Decor
Located in Dallas, TX
This elegant and colorful antique chair was crafted in France, circa 1870. The petite chair frame stands on four curved legs over a bombe scalloped apron, and features an elaborate c...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Chairs

Materials

Mother-of-Pearl, Giltwood, Paint

Coco Stool in Black Pen Shell and Bronze-Patina Brass by Kifu Paris
By Kifu Augousti
Located in New York, NY
The Coco stool is an elegant piece with its beautiful quilted detailing and bronze-patina brass border. A great stool for a dining table or living room area; available in other finis...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Art Deco Stools

Materials

Brass

Pair of Ottoman Empire Mother-of-Pearl Inlaid Side Chairs
Located in Stamford, CT
Impressive pair of mother-of-pearl and metal inlaid chairs with intricate hardwood turnings. The skill and time that went into creating these chairs is remarkable. Each with a crest ...
Category

Early 20th Century Turkish Moorish Side Chairs

Materials

Mother-of-Pearl

Victorian Papier Machè Chair with Mother-of-Pearl Inlay
Located in Chicago, IL
Since the mid-18th century, Europeans used papier mâché as an alternative to carved wood. When traditional Chinese lacquer furniture entered the European marketplace in the 19th cent...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century European Victorian Chairs

Materials

Other

Oxford Chairs by Arne Jacobsen
By Fritz Hansen, Arne Jacobsen
Located in Miami, FL
Set of six Oxford Chairs by Arne Jacobsen for Fritz Hansen High back series 3172 in production since 1965. Four armless and two armchairs mounted on swiveling cast aluminum bases. R...
Category

Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Aluminum

Oxford Chairs by Arne Jacobsen
Oxford Chairs by Arne Jacobsen
H 50 in W 18 in D 23 in
English Victorian Rococo Revival Papier-Mâché Slipper Chair
Located in New York, NY
This fine mid-19th century English Victorian period papier-mâché slipper chair in the Rococo Revival taste has a molded and shaped balloon back with mother-of-pearl inlay and gilded ...
Category

Antique 19th Century English Rococo Revival Slipper Chairs

Materials

Wood, Cane, Paint, Mother-of-Pearl

People Also Browsed

Organic Modern Floor Lamp Natural Wood Handmade Ivory Fluted Shade
By Isabel Moncada
Located in San Antonio, TX
PATA DE ELEFANTE (LARGE) floor lamp was designed for the Atomic collection by Mexican artist Isabel Moncada. Named Pata de Elefante –Elephant‘s Foot– for the prominent shape at its ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Mexican Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps

Materials

Textile, Wood, Linen, Fiberglass

Brass and Alabaster Curved and Elongated Wall Sconces by Glustin Luminaires
By Glustin Creation
Located in Saint-Ouen, IDF
New wall sconces by Glustin Luminaires, they are made of a single rounded and curved carved alabaster piece sat on a light bronze finished brass back plate. Due to the nature of th...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Alabaster, Brass

Strelitzia Modern Solid Brass Upholstered Luxury Dining Chair by Egg Designs
By Egg Designs
Located in Bothas Hill, KZN
The Strelitzia bespoke, dining chair is designed by Egg Designs and manufactured in South Africa. This luxury dining chair has a backrest of solid sand-cast brass, the method of sa...
Category

2010s South African Modern Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Brass

"Pietra" Curved Armchair with Leather Arms Upholstered in Bouclé Fabric
By Studio Marta Manente
Located in Centro, RS
Pietra from Italian: Stone The designer Marta Manente is of Italian descent, her great-grandparents migrated from Italy over 100 years ago and lived in the region of Bento Gonçalves ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Armchairs

Materials

Bouclé

Contemporary Minimal Oval Coffee Center Table Travertine Stone Natural by HOMMÉS
Located in Porto, PT
Lunarys Center Table is an outstanding modern design piece. A key coffee table for a contemporary living room project seems to come directly from space. Made in travertine stone is p...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Organic Modern Center Tables

Materials

Travertine

'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 “...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Textile

Modern Cream Velvet Wave Stool with Ebony Veneer Base
Located in Porto, PT
Modern cream velvet wave stool with ebony veneer base Cadiz Stool combines bold shapes with comfort. A modern design stool, upholstered in velvet, for any living area or current ho...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Stools

Materials

Velvet, Wood, Ebony

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...
Category

2010s American Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Steel, Iron

Bespoke Handmade Belgian Linen Sofa
Located in Jesteburg, DE
Introducing the home collection.  An iconic, unobtrusive design. A small selection of timeless Flemish designs made by hand for us in a small third generation workshop in Belgium....
Category

2010s Belgian Modern Sofas

Materials

Linen

Bespoke Handmade Belgian Linen Sofa
Bespoke Handmade Belgian Linen Sofa
H 31.5 in W 106.3 in D 39.38 in
Brass and Murano Glass Sconces
Located in Austin, TX
Petite sconces from Murano, Italy made with smoked glass stamped into a lovely curved shape with texture. The brass structure has been newly wired to fit US standards. This is a sp...
Category

2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Brass

Brass and Murano Glass Sconces
Brass and Murano Glass Sconces
H 15.75 in W 5 in D 3 in
Brass and Alabaster Mobile Chandelier by Glustin Luminaires
By Glustin Creation
Located in Saint-Ouen, IDF
Mobile kinetic chandelier made of patinated brass with a round counterweight and two enlighten alabaster globes. Original design by Glustin Luminaires.
Category

2010s Italian Modern Chandeliers and Pendants

Materials

Alabaster, Brass

Ondamarmo Vulcano Onyx Matte Polished Side Table
Located in AVENZA CARRARA, IT
The Ondamarmo series by Federica Elmo includes 6 objects: The extra large dining table, two smaller size tables, three shelves, and a tray designed as an evolution of the shapes of t...
Category

2010s Italian Side Tables

Materials

Onyx

Ondamarmo Vulcano Onyx Matte Polished Side Table
Ondamarmo Vulcano Onyx Matte Polished Side Table
H 17.72 in W 21.66 in D 21.66 in
Italian 19th Century Renaissance Revival Savonarola Chair in Walnut Side Chair
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Impressive & fully original Florentine Renaissance Savonarola chair in carved walnut. Restored in our workshop and it looks simply stunning. Armrests ending with two amazing hand-c...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Italian Renaissance Revival Armchairs

Materials

Birch, Walnut

Pink Mirror by Studio Glustin
By Glustin Creation
Located in Saint-Ouen (PARIS), FR
Oval mirror with frame in sculpted Murano glass and brass inlays. Creation by Studio Glustin.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Mirrors

Materials

Brass

Pink Mirror by Studio Glustin
Pink Mirror by Studio Glustin
H 47.25 in W 31.5 in D 1.19 in
Cast Brass and Leather Primal Lounge Chair by Egg Designs
By Egg Designs
Located in Bothas Hill, KZN
The Primal lounge chair, a quintessential masterpiece from Egg Designs that stands as an icon of contemporary design. Versatile and striking, it seamlessly integrates into Minimalist...
Category

2010s South African Modern Lounge Chairs

Materials

Brass

Parchment, Brass and Glass Table Lamp by Diego Mardegan for Glustin Luminaires
By Diego Mardegan
Located in Saint-Ouen, IDF
Ventola table lamp by the artist Diego Mardegan exclusively for Glustin Luminaires. Beautiful two ways shade made of a brass structure, parchemin paper and waxed fabric hold by an...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Brass

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Black Shell Chairs For Sale on 1stDibs

At 1stDibs, there are several options of black shell chairs available for sale. Find 7 antique and vintage black shell chairs at 1stDibs now, or shop our selection of 3 modern versions for a more contemporary example of this long-cherished furniture. Black shell chairs have been made for many years, and versions that date back to the 19th Century alongside those produced as recently as the 21st Century. Black shell chairs are generally popular furniture pieces, but Art Deco and Victorian styles are often sought at 1stDibs. Many black shell chairs are appealing in their simplicity, but R & Y Augousti and Kifu Augousti produced popular black shell chairs that are worth a look.

How Much are Black Shell Chairs?

Prices for black shell chairs start at $775 and top out at $5,400 with the average selling for $2,533.

Finding the Right Chairs for You

Chairs are an indispensable component of your home and office. Can you imagine your life without the vintage, new or antique chairs you love?

With the exception of rocking chairs, the majority of the seating in our homes today — Windsor chairs, chaise longues, wingback chairs — originated in either England or France. Art Nouveau chairs, the style of which also originated in those regions, embraced the inherent magnificence of the natural world with decorative flourishes and refined designs that blended both curved and geometric contour lines. While craftsmanship and styles have evolved in the past century, chairs have had a singular significance in our lives, no matter what your favorite chair looks like.

“The chair is the piece of furniture that is closest to human beings,” said Hans Wegner. The revered Danish cabinetmaker and furniture designer was prolific, having designed nearly 500 chairs over the course of his lifetime. His beloved designs include the Wishbone chair, the wingback Papa Bear chair and many more.

Other designers of Scandinavian modernist chairs introduced new dynamics to this staple with sculptural flowing lines, curvaceous shapes and efficient functionality. The Paimio armchair, Swan chair and Panton chair are vintage works of Finnish and Danish seating that left an indelible mark on the history of good furniture design.

“What works good is better than what looks good, because what works good lasts,” said Ray Eames

Visionary polymaths Ray and Charles Eames experimented with bent plywood and fiberglass with the goal of producing affordable furniture for a mass market. Like other celebrated mid-century modern furniture designers of elegant low-profile furnishings — among them Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Finn Juhl — the Eameses considered ergonomic support, durability and cost, all of which should be top of mind when shopping for the perfect chair. The mid-century years yielded many popular chairs.

The Eameses introduced numerous icons for manufacturer Herman Miller, such as the Eames lounge chair and ottoman, molded plywood dining chairs the DCM and DCW (which can be artfully mismatched around your dining table) and a wealth of other treasured pieces for the home and office. 

A good chair anchors us to a place and can become an object of timeless appeal. Take a seat and browse the rich variety of vintage, new and antique chairs on 1stDibs today. 

Questions About Black Shell Chairs
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 31, 2023
    Shell chairs are iconic mid-century modern chairs designed by Hans J. Wegner and first released in 1963. In terms of both process and aesthetics, the Shell chair was ahead of its time when it was introduced. The expressive seat and back are made out of form-pressed oak or walnut laminates and topped with upholstered cushions for maximum comfort. Its design includes a tapered three-leg structure with two front legs made of one continuous piece and a separate hind leg that supports the backrest. This gives the chair a feeling of lightness without sacrificing stability. On 1stDibs, find a selection of Shell chairs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2023
    Whether the Shell chair is comfortable is largely a matter of personal opinion. However, creator Hans J. Wegner designed the curves of the backrest and the seat to complement the contours of the human body in order to provide ample support when the Shell chair made its debut in 1963. Chairs became Wegner’s specialty, and over the years he designed over 500 of them. More than 100 of his designs, such as the Wishbone chair and the Papa Bear chair, went into production. Shop a selection of Shell chairs and other vintage Hans Wegner seating on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Whether or not the Wegner shell chair is comfortable is largely a matter of personal preference. Wegner did design the dramatically curved seat and gently tapered back to properly support the contours of the human body. On 1stDibs, shop a range of Hans Wegner chairs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2024
    The history of the Wegner Shell Chair begins in 1963. Hans J. Wegner unveiled the chair at the Furniture Guild Exhibition in Copenhagen, Denmark. Often described as being "wing-like," the chair's radical fluid lines were considered a bit too futuristic at the time. Initially, mixed reviews from critics and the general public, as well as production difficulties, resulted in a very limited early run. Twelve new models were produced for a retrospective exhibition celebrating Wegner's 77th birthday in 1989, and the design began garnering renewed attention (a photograph of the chair was even selected to grace the cover of the exhibition catalog). In 1998, nearly a decade following the piece's reemergence at the retrospective event, Carl Hansen & Søn reintroduced the Shell chair 35 years after it was first released, and it has felt relevant ever since. On 1stDibs, shop an assortment of Hans Wegner Shell chairs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertOctober 5, 2021
    There are multiple chair colors that can be matched with a black table, it’s really a matter of preference. You could choose to go with black or a contrasting color or even think outside the box in order to add unlikely pops of color to a space. Visit 1stDibs for a wide selection of chairs and tables available in different colors.