Black Shell Chairs
Antique Mid-19th Century British Victorian Chairs
Mother-of-Pearl, Cane
Early 20th Century Italian Renaissance Armchairs
Mother-of-Pearl, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Chrome
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Chairs
Brass
Antique 19th Century English William IV Chairs
Mother-of-Pearl
Antique 19th Century British Regency Chairs
Mother-of-Pearl
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Chairs
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Chairs
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Console Tables
Shell
Antique 19th Century English Chairs
Gold Leaf
Antique 19th Century Chairs
Mother-of-Pearl
Antique 19th Century English Chairs
Gold Leaf
Antique 1870s English Victorian Chairs
Gold Leaf
Antique 19th Century English Chairs
Lacquer, Mother-of-Pearl
Antique 19th Century English Late Victorian Chairs
Mother-of-Pearl, Paper
Recent Sales
Antique 19th Century European Victorian Chairs
Mother-of-Pearl
Antique Late 19th Century British Late Victorian Chairs
Mother-of-Pearl
Antique 1890s Chairs
Mother-of-Pearl, Wood, Giltwood, Lacquer, Paint
21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Chrome
Mid-20th Century North American Chairs
Shell, Glass, Lacquer
Mid-20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Shell, Fiberglass
Mid-20th Century Indian Side Chairs
Rattan, Mother-of-Pearl, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary French Art Deco Chairs
Shell
Antique Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Chairs
Mother-of-Pearl, Giltwood, Paint
21st Century and Contemporary French Art Deco Stools
Brass
Early 20th Century Turkish Moorish Side Chairs
Mother-of-Pearl
Antique Late 19th Century European Victorian Chairs
Other
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Aluminum
Antique 19th Century English Rococo Revival Slipper Chairs
Wood, Cane, Paint, Mother-of-Pearl
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21st Century and Contemporary Mexican Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
Textile, Wood, Linen, Fiberglass
2010s Italian Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Alabaster, Brass
2010s South African Modern Dining Room Chairs
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Armchairs
Bouclé
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Organic Modern Center Tables
Travertine
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Textile
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Stools
Velvet, Wood, Ebony
2010s American Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Steel, Iron
2010s Belgian Modern Sofas
Linen
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Brass
2010s Italian Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Alabaster, Brass
2010s Italian Side Tables
Onyx
Antique Late 19th Century Italian Renaissance Revival Armchairs
Birch, Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Mirrors
Brass
2010s South African Modern Lounge Chairs
Brass
2010s Italian Modern Table Lamps
Brass
Black Shell Chairs For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much are Black Shell Chairs?
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.
- What are Shell Chairs?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 31, 2023Shell 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.
- Is the Shell Chair comfortable?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2023Whether 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, 2022Whether 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, 2024The 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, 2021There 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.
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