Chiavari Chair Silver
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Side Chairs
Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Hollywood Regency Dining Room Chairs
Brass
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Fabric, Wood
Vintage 1950s European Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Wood, Nutwood
Early 20th Century Italian Louis XIV Chairs
Mahogany
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Wood, Bamboo, Cane, Beech, Rattan
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21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Wood
2010s South African Minimalist Pedestals
Hardwood
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Textile
Late 20th Century Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Stainless Steel
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Cane, Ash
21st Century and Contemporary Colombian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights a...
Brass
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary English Arts and Crafts Pillows and Throws
Cotton, Fabric, Velvet
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Swivel Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Wool, Oak
Antique Early 19th Century French Country Armchairs
Rush, Wood
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Upholstery, Cane, Oak
Late 20th Century Moroccan Folk Art Pedestals
Wood
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Velvet, Walnut
Vintage 1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Side Chairs
Wood
Mid-20th Century American Rustic Chairs
Rush, Oak
Recent Sales
Vintage 1940s Italian Side Chairs
Brass
Vintage 1940s Italian Side Chairs
Brass
20th Century Modern Chairs
Aluminum
Vintage 1950s European Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Wood, Nutwood
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.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021Chiavari chairs became popular after they were used at the wedding reception for John and Jackie Kennedy. Since then, as they have been used at the Oscars and other celebrity ceremonies they have only gained more traction.
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