Do butterfly chairs fold up?

Whether or not a butterfly chair will fold will depend on the make and model. The butterfly chair was originally designed with metal hairpin legs without hinges or joints. Collector versions of the butterfly chair will not be foldable, however, foldable designs are a popular silhouette for recreational seating.

What is the most comfortable folding chair?

The most comfortable folding chair is really a matter of preference. When shopping for folding chairs, you’ll want to think about how you’ll use them, how often you’ll be using them and if you have a preference with respect to materials. Shop antique, vintage and new folding chairs on 1stDibs.

Who designed the folding chair?

Opinions vary on who designed the folding chair. Chairs designed to fold have existed since the ancient world, with examples found in the tomb of Tutankhamun. Some people argue that the original designer of the modern-day folding chair was John Cram, who patented an idea for a folding chair in 1855. However, others believe that Philip E.G. Harrison should get the credit because his 1931 design more closely resembles the modern-day folding chair. Nathaniel Alexander also contributed to the development of the folding chair with his 1911 chair that included a book rest, as did Frederic Arnold, who created the first folding aluminum chair in 1947. Shop a selection of folding chairs on 1stDibs.

What are the chairs that fold up called?

Chairs that fold up are usually called folding chairs. However, people may refer to them as collapsible chairs as well. Other names for folding chairs designed for outdoor use include deck chairs, beach chairs, lawn chairs, camping chairs and patio chairs. Shop a collection of folding chairs on 1stDibs.

Who invented the folding chair?

Nathaniel Alexander invented the folding chair in 1911. During the 1950s, demand for the chairs skyrocketed with furniture makers like the Fredric Arnold Company in Brooklyn, New York, producing thousands every day. Find a variety of folding chairs on 1stDibs.

Child Folding Chair

Oriental Chairs

Wicker Morris Chair

French Garden Folding Table

1940s Maple Furniture

Berks County

Child Desk

African Hand Carved Chair

French Childrens Chair

Rare RCA Victor Childs Folding Chair, Nipper Dog and Horn

$880

H 23 in W 13 in D 14 in

Rare RCA Victor Childs Folding Chair, Nipper Dog and Horn

By RCA Victor

Located in Buffalo, NY

Rare RCA Victor Childs folding chair, nipper dog and horn. I’ve only seen one other in 40 years, Classic 1930s childs size folding chair with original RCA Victor logo and ink mark st...

Category

Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Children's Furniture

Materials

Wood

Mid-20th Century Child’s Wood Folding Chair

$279

H 21.5 in W 12.75 in D 16 in

Mid-20th Century Child’s Wood Folding Chair

Located in Jensen Beach, FL

Charming child’s folding chair, mid-20th century. Likely French or Italian.

Category

Mid-20th Century Chairs

Materials

Wood

Brevetti Reguitti Folding Child Chair

$279

H 21 in W 17 in D 13 in

Brevetti Reguitti Folding Child Chair

By Brevetti Reguitti

Located in Malibu, CA

Vintage 1940's Italian child's wooden folding chair by Brevetti Reguitti.

Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Hardwood

Pair of Child-Size Foldable Terrace Chairs in Natural Wood

$1,470 / set

H 26.38 in W 11.42 in D 13 in

Pair of Child-Size Foldable Terrace Chairs in Natural Wood

Located in Barcelona, ES

Lovely pair of small sized beech wood terrace or garden folding chairs. Spain, 1940s This cute pair of handcrafted garden chairs are unusual in this child-size.

Category

20th Century Spanish Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Beech, Wood

Vintage Childs Size American Flag Webbing Folding Aluminum Lawn Chair Loveseat

$125

H 23 in W 32 in D 19 in

Vintage Childs Size American Flag Webbing Folding Aluminum Lawn Chair Loveseat

Located in Philadelphia, PA

Vintage Childs Size Patriotic American Flag Webbing Folding Aluminum Lawn Chair Loveseat.

Category

Late 20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Aluminum

French Folding Child's Desk and Chair

$950

H 26.5 in W 19 in D 24 in

French Folding Child's Desk and Chair

Located in Winter Park, FL

A French folding child's school desk and chair made of beechwood.

Category

Early 20th Century French Children's Furniture

Materials

Metal

Antique Eastlake Victorian Walnut Small Child's Folding Rocker Rocking Chair

$395

H 26 in W 16 in D 20 in

Antique Eastlake Victorian Walnut Small Child's Folding Rocker Rocking Chair

Located in Philadelphia, PA

Antique Eastlake Victorian Walnut Small Child's Folding Rocker Rocking Chair. Item features a unique folding frame.

Category

Antique 19th Century Victorian Children's Furniture

Materials

Walnut

Pair of George Nelson Inspired Child-Size Slat Folding Chair

$850

H 22 in W 13 in D 14 in

Pair of George Nelson Inspired Child-Size Slat Folding Chair

By George Nelson

Located in Van Nuys, CA

Rare pair of mid-century era children's folding slat wood chairs inspired by the designs of George Nelson. Each chair features a slat wood seat with a decorative slat seat back fixed...

Category

Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Patio and Garden Furniture

Materials

Wood

Recent Sales

Child's Folding Carved Bamboo Chair

Unavailable

H 33 in W 15.5 in D 12 in

Child's Folding Carved Bamboo Chair

Located in San Francisco, CA

A sturdy folding child's chair in a bamboo motif. We thought it would be fun in a stripe fabric; but decided to let you choose to keep it "as is" or do it in a fabric to go with you...

Category

20th Century Unknown Chairs

Materials

Wood

Brevetti Reguitti Folding Child Chair by Fratelli Reguitti, Italy, 1940s

Unavailable

H 25.5 in W 12.25 in D 14.75 in

Brevetti Reguitti Folding Child Chair by Fratelli Reguitti, Italy, 1940s

By Fratelli Reguitti

Located in New York, NY

Brevetti Reguitti folding child chair by Fratelli Reguitti, Italy, 1940s Brevetti Reguitti folding child chair Fratelli Reguitti, Italy, 1940s Maple wood Measures: H 25.5 in, W...

Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Chairs

Materials

Maple

Pair of Czechoslovakia Vintage Folding Child Chairs 1940s Sfinx Filakova

Sold

H 21.66 in W 13.78 in L 21.66 in

Pair of Czechoslovakia Vintage Folding Child Chairs 1940s Sfinx Filakova

By Sfinx Filakova

Located in Stow on the Wold, GB

Pair of Czechoslovakia vintage folding child’s chairs 1940s Sfinx Filakova Pair of well-made folding child’s chairs from Czechoslovakia produced in the 1940s by Sfinx Filakova.

Category

Mid-20th Century Czech Chairs

Materials

Beech

Pair of George Nelson Inspired Child-Size Slat Folding Chair

Sold

H 22 in W 13 in D 14 in

Pair of George Nelson Inspired Child-Size Slat Folding Chair

By George Nelson

Located in Van Nuys, CA

Mid-century children's folding slat wood chair inspired by George Nelson, set of two.

Category

Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Patio and Garden Furniture

Materials

Wood

Rare Chinese Export Dragon Carved Small Folding Campaign Desk & Chair Set Childs

Sold

H 25.79 in W 30.91 in D 21.86 in

Rare Chinese Export Dragon Carved Small Folding Campaign Desk & Chair Set Childs

Located in West Sussex, Pulborough

We are delighted to offer for sale this very rare small circa 1900 Chinese Export folding campaign desk and chair with hand carved dragon detailing A very good looking and decorat...

Category

Antique Early 1900s Chinese Chinese Export Desks

Materials

Wood

Child Beech Writing Table Slant Top Desk and Foldable Chair, France, Mid 20th C

Sold

H 24.81 in W 18.51 in D 16.54 in

Child Beech Writing Table Slant Top Desk and Foldable Chair, France, Mid 20th C

Located in Labrit, Landes

French slant top desk writing table and its chair, circa 1950. Foldable beech pupitre for child and its ceramic inkwell Good vintage condition with nice patina. dimension of the cha...

Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Ceramic, Beech

Mid-20th Century French Carved Folding Up and Down Child High Chair on Wheels

Sold

H 40 in W 19.5 in D 19.5 in

Mid-20th Century French Carved Folding Up and Down Child High Chair on Wheels

Located in Dallas, TX

Crafted in France circa 1950, the baby chair has a double function; to feed a child or to convert it in a stroller with attached boulier (scoring board) when folded.

Category

Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Children's Furniture

Materials

Oak

Napoleon III Foldable Chair in the Bamboo Style for Child French, circa 1880

Sold

H 31.11 in W 12.6 in D 19.69 in

Napoleon III Foldable Chair in the Bamboo Style for Child French, circa 1880

Located in Labrit, Landes

Napoleon III French foldable chair for child late 19th century Bamboo imitation, The fabric is good but you can change or recover it to suit your interior.

Category

Antique 1880s French Napoleon III Side Chairs

Materials

Fabric, Beech

Foldable Oriental Wabi Sabi Chair in Solid Wood, Midcentury, 1960s

Sold

H 25.6 in W 8.67 in D 19.69 in

Foldable Oriental Wabi Sabi Chair in Solid Wood, Midcentury, 1960s

Located in Odense, DK

A fine foldable hand carved child chair in solid wood. Made in Asia in circa 1960s.

Category

Mid-20th Century Asian Brutalist Chairs

Materials

Wood

1940's Folding Plywood Child's Chair

Sold

H 20.5 in W 15 in D 12 in

1940's Folding Plywood Child's Chair

Located in New York, NY

Early postwar design for a folding plywood child's chair with a red canvas sling, from a Berk's County, PA, estate.

Category

Vintage 1940s American Chairs

Materials

Canvas

Antique Child's Folding Chair

Sold

H 28 in W 16 in D 14 in

Antique Child's Folding Chair

Located in Santa Rosa, CA

Category

Antique 19th Century French Chairs

Colonial Folding Child's Chair

Sold

H 24.4 in W 14.4 in D 17.3 in

Colonial Folding Child's Chair

Located in Newcastle Upon Tyne, GB

A late 19th-early 20th century colonial rosewood child's folding chair. The chair has a bergère cane seat and brass hinges so it can fold completely flat.

Category

Early 20th Century Indian Chairs

Materials

Rosewood

Child's Tile Top Table and Folding Metal Chairs

Sold

H 20 in Dm 22 in

Child's Tile Top Table and Folding Metal Chairs

Located in Stamford, CT

Child's Tile Top Table and Folding Metal Chairs;wonderful metal work.

Category

Early 20th Century French Patio and Garden Furniture

Materials

Metal

Mid-Century Modern Folding Wood Childs Desk with Integrated Chair

Sold

H 25.2 in W 25.79 in D 24.41 in

Mid-Century Modern Folding Wood Childs Desk with Integrated Chair

Located in Antwerp, BE

It folds swivels and folds into itself to measure a mere 16 cm (6.25 inches) deep!!

Category

Mid-20th Century Belgian Mid-Century Modern Children's Furniture

Materials

Oak

Childs Wicker Morris Chair

Sold

H 30 in W 21 in D 22 in

Childs Wicker Morris Chair

Located in Culver City, CA

A wicker & turned wood, american, folding, childs Morris chair. With brass caps to its front feet the chair is in an overall very good condition and will stand out in any setting.

Category

Early 20th Century American Decorative Objects

Materials

Wicker, Wood

Amazing Edwardian Leather Chair / Desk / Walker

Sold

H 25 in W 20 in D 20 in

Amazing Edwardian Leather Chair / Desk / Walker

Located in San Francisco, CA

This is a very charming and rare metamorphic childs chair that folds down to become a walker / desk.

Category

Early 20th Century English Armchairs

Materials

Wood, Leather

African Palaver Child's Folding Chair

Sold

H 21 in W 9 in D 15 in

African Palaver Child's Folding Chair

Located in Oakland Park, FL

African palaver child's folding chair. Hand carved chair depicting women at work in the back.

Category

20th Century South African Tribal Chairs

Materials

Wood

Mid-Century Modern Folding Wood Childs Desk with Integrated Chair

Sold

H 25.2 in W 25.79 in D 24.41 in

Mid-Century Modern Folding Wood Childs Desk with Integrated Chair

Located in Antwerp, BE

;It folds swivels and folds into itself to measure a mere 16 cm (6.25 inches) deep!!

Category

Mid-20th Century Belgian Mid-Century Modern Children's Furniture

Materials

Pine

People Also Browsed

His Masters Voice Large Advertising Paper Mache RCA Store Display 'Nipper' Dog

$2,795

H 34.5 in W 16 in D 39 in

His Masters Voice Large Advertising Paper Mache RCA Store Display 'Nipper' Dog

By Old King Cole

Located in Hamilton, Ontario

This large advertising store display 'Nipper' dog was made by the Old King Cole Company of Ohio, and dates to approximately 1920 and done in a period Art Deco style. The sculpture is...

Category

Early 20th Century American Art Deco Animal Sculptures

Materials

Paper

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Child Folding Chair For Sale on 1stDibs

With a vast inventory of beautiful furniture at 1stDibs, we’ve got just the child folding chair you’re looking for. Frequently made of wood, beech and hardwood, every child folding chair was constructed with great care. Your living room may not be complete without a child folding chair — find older editions for sale from the 20th Century and newer versions made as recently as the 20th Century. A child folding chair is a generally popular piece of furniture, but those created in Art Deco and Mid-Century Modern styles are sought with frequency. A well-made child folding chair has long been a part of the offerings for many furniture designers and manufacturers, but those produced by RCA Victor are consistently popular.