Childrens Folding Chairs
20th Century English Rustic Children's Furniture
Wood
Early 20th Century Austrian Belle Époque Children's Furniture
Wicker, Bentwood
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Children's Furniture
Metal
Early 20th Century French Children's Furniture
Metal
Antique 19th Century Victorian Children's Furniture
Walnut
Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Children's Furniture
Wood
Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Children's Furniture
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Children's Furniture
Fabric, Walnut
Vintage 1960s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Children's Furniture
Beech, Bentwood, Paint
Early 20th Century Indonesian Children's Furniture
Wood
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Rocking Chairs
Cane, Bamboo, Rattan
Antique Early 19th Century Japanese Edo Historical Memorabilia
Textile, Silk, Rattan, Rope, Wood
People Also Browsed
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Leather, Fiberglass, Foam
Antique Early 1900s Czech Vienna Secession Dining Room Chairs
Beech, Bentwood, Cane
Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Side Chairs
Leather, Bentwood
Vintage 1960s American Chandeliers and Pendants
Brass
Early 20th Century American Wall Lights and Sconces
Brass, Bronze
Antique Early 1900s Austrian Vienna Secession Chairs
Beech, Bentwood, Cane
20th Century Solomon Islands Organic Modern Natural Specimens
Coral
Vintage 1960s Chairs
Aluminum
Antique Late 19th Century European Colonial Revival Rocking Chairs
Bentwood
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Post-Modern Stools
Metal, Chrome
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
Vintage 1920s Polish Art Deco Dining Room Chairs
Bentwood
Antique 19th Century English Campaign Desks
Metal, Brass
Vintage 1970s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Metal
Vintage 1940s French Chandeliers and Pendants
Bronze
Antique Late 19th Century English Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
Recent Sales
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Mahogany
Late 20th Century American Children's Furniture
Metal
Vintage 1930s Danish Scandinavian Modern Children's Furniture
Metal
Antique 19th Century English Edwardian Children's Furniture
Faux Leather, Oak
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Children's Furniture
Brass
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Children's Furniture
Wood
Vintage 1940s French Children's Furniture
Wood
Mid-20th Century French Children's Furniture
Linen, Wood
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Children's Furniture
Oak
20th Century Chairs
Vintage 1940s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Children's Furniture
Seagrass, Wood
Vintage 1960s British Mid-Century Modern Children's Furniture
Vintage 1960s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Children's Furniture
Beech, Bentwood
Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Children's Furniture
Leather, Walnut
Mid-20th Century Belgian Mid-Century Modern Children's Furniture
Oak
20th Century German Chairs
Mid-20th Century Belgian Mid-Century Modern Children's Furniture
Pine
Vintage 1950s Modern Side Chairs
Beech
Childrens Folding Chairs For Sale on 1stDibs
Finding the Right Children's Furniture for You
When you’re shopping for antique, new and vintage children’s furniture, you’ll want your choices to fit nicely within the decor scheme of the rest of your home. But you’ll also want to create an alluring and inspirational space for your children to feel relaxed and encouraged creatively. Indeed, a child’s room can be simultaneously stylish and playful — the ideal environment for children.
Understandably, beds were the first piece of furniture designed for young children. In Ancient Egypt, children’s beds were scaled-down versions of adult beds. They were intended to be a logical size for a child and low enough to the ground so that they could climb in by themselves.
Historians discovered early high chairs in Ancient Greece. In the 6th century B.C., a child’s training potty might have also been used as a high chair, while archaeologists on a dig discovered a terracotta high chair in a marketplace in Athens. By the Renaissance period, children’s bookshelves were popular with upper-class families who had disposable income and the desire to beautify all areas of the home. The original purpose was to organize school books, but shelves eventually became integral to children’s rooms of the era.
In the early 20th century, Italian physician Maria Montessori changed the way designers thought about children’s furniture. She wrote that it was important for children to have a safe environment of their own that they could easily navigate. Montessori believed that children’s furniture should be sized for them but that it should also be made of light, durable materials so that it’s easy for them to carry if needed.
Today’s widely known mid-century modern furniture designers took interest in the idea that young children should have well-crafted furniture of their own. You can find vintage mid-century modern children’s furniture created by the likes of Harry Bertoia, Charles and Ray Eames and Alvar Aalto. Contemporary industrial designer and architect Philippe Starck is also known for having introduced versions of his furniture that were geared toward children, especially his seating and storage solutions.
It’s never too early for good design. Decorating a child’s room offers the opportunity to combine elevated furnishings and a youthful spirit and can result in spaces that are at once elegant and whimsical. On 1stDibs, find design ideas for children’s rooms as well as a variety of new, antique and vintage children’s furniture today.
- Who invented the folding chair?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2023Nathaniel 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.
- 1stDibs ExpertAugust 17, 2021The 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?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 22, 2024Opinions 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.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 16, 2024Chairs 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.
- Do butterfly chairs fold up?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Whether 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.
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