$25,480Sale Price|30% Off
Mid-Century Modern Costela Armchair by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in New York, NY
The Costela armchair is an iconic Brazilian Mid-Century Modern piece.
Stainless Steel
Mid-Century Brazilian Modern- Costela Armchairs by Hauner & Eisler, Forma, 1950s
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, Forma, Martin Eisler, Carlo Hauner, Forma Brazil
Located in São Paulo, SP
**Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler Costela Armchair for Forma, Brazil, 1953** Exceptional and highly rare original Costela armchair, designed by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler in 1953...
Stainless Steel
Mid-Century Modern Costela Armchair by Carlo Hauner & Martin Eisler, 1953
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in New York, NY
The Costela armchair is an important Brazilian Mid-Century Modern piece.
Steel
Pair of “Costela” Armchairs in Brazilian Hardwood & Mohair, Martin Eisler. 1956
By Martin Eisler
Located in New York, NY
Among the most celebrated and instantly recognizable achievements of Brazilian mid-century design, the Costela armchair occupies a singular place within the history of modern furnitu...
Steel
Mid-Century Modern Pair of Costela Armchairs by Hauner & Eisler, 1960s
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in New York, NY
The Costela armchair is an important Brazilian Mid-Century Modern piece.
Stainless Steel
Mid-Century Modern Pair of Armchairs by Carlo Hauner & Martin Eisler, 1955
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, Martin Eisler, Carlo Hauner
Located in New York, NY
Móveis e Objetos de Arte was one of the pioneer companies and manufactured a few icons of Brazilian design history, such as the Costela Armchair designed by Eisler and the iconic cha...
Iron
Martin Eisler and Carlo Hauner "Costela" Lounge Chair, Midcentury Brazil, 1953
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in New York, NY
The Costela armchair is an iconic Brazilian Mid-Century Modern piece.
Fabric, Hardwood
$2,500 / item
Costela chair
Located in Washington, DC
Vintage Brazilian Costela chair, a very popular design mimicking ribs of which Costello means in Portuguese. Has the original label attached.
Wood
Martin Eisler and Carlo Hauner "Costela" Lounge Chair, Brazil, 1953
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in New York, NY
The Costela armchair is an iconic Brazilian Mid-Century Modern piece.
Steel
Mid-Century Modern Costela Lounge Chairs by Hauner & Eisler, White Boucle, 1950
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in Brussels, BE
Pair of Mid-Century Modern Costela Lounge Chairs by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Fabric, Wood
Carlo Hauner's Mid-Century Modern Personal Use Desk in Caviúna Wood and Iron
By Carlo Hauner
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
The tubular iron structure is the same as the one showcased in the Costela Armchair by Martin Eisler, developed posteriorly and with the same "ferrule" finishing at the extremities.
Iron
Tacchini Costela Lounge Chair & Ottoman Designed by Martin Eisler
By Martin Eisler, Tacchini
Located in New York, NY
Ottoman and Lounge chair- upholstered in starting fabric Walnut or grey stained Costela Designed by Martin Eisler Costela is an armchair with an unmistakable history: elegant and inf...
Upholstery
Martin Eisler and Carlo Hauner Costela Armchairs
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in London, GB
Beautiful and iconic pair of two Costela Armchairs by legendary Brazilian designers Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler for Forma, Brazil.
Jacaranda
Sold
H 29.14 in W 24.41 in
"Costela" Armchair in Jacarandá Rosewood, by Martin Eisler, Mid-Century Modern
By Martin Eisler
Located in São Paulo, SP
The Costela armchair is probably one of the most cherished and requested pieces of the Brazilian midcentury design movement.
Rosewood
Sold
H 29.14 in W 24.41 in D 31.5 in
"Costela" Armchair in Peroba Wood, by Martin Eisler, Mid-Century Modern
By Martin Eisler
Located in São Paulo, SP
The Costela armchair is probably one of the most cherished and requested pieces of the Brazilian midcentury design movement.
Rosewood
Sold
H 30.3 in W 18.9 in D 26.6 in
Mid Century Modern "Costela" Armchair with Ottoman by Martin Eisler , 1954
By Martin Eisler
Located in New York, NY
The Costela armchair is an iconic Brazilian Mid-Century Modern piece.
Fabric, Hardwood
Original and Rare set of "Costela" Armchair and Bench for FORMA
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in London, England
This is a rare set of "Costela" armchair + stool designed by Hauner and Eisler for FORMA.
Steel
Sold
H 32 in W 27.5 in D 30.5 in
Pair of Brazilian 'Costela' Lounge Chairs by Carlo Hauner & Martin Eisler, 1954
By Forma, Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Brazilian Mid-Century Modern 'Costela' Armchairs / Lounge Chairs by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, circa 1954.
Steel
Martin Eisler and Carlo Hauner "Costela" Lounge Chair, Brazil, 1953
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in New York, NY
The Costela armchair is an iconic Brazilian Mid-Century Modern piece.
Hardwood, Leather
Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler Costela Chair
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in Naples, IT
Beautiful and iconic 'Costela' chairs designed by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler and produced by Forma, Italy 1960. This is the Brazilian version of the Costela chairs, produced by F...
Fabric, Wood
Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler Pair of Costela Chairs
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in Naples, IT
Beautiful and iconic 'Costela' chairs designed by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler. These so-called Costela chairs have a solid mahogany ribbed frame supported by a black painted tubu...
Fabric, Wood
Costela Lounge Chair Designed by Carlo Hauner & Martin Eisler
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in Collonge-Bellerive, GE
Introduce a touch of mid-century sophistication to your space with the iconic Costela Lounge Chair, originally designed by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler. Crafted in the 1950s, this ...
Linen, Wood, Cherry
Sold
H 31.5 in W 30.32 in D 29.14 in
Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler Pair of Costela Chairs, Brazil 1960s
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in Naples, IT
Beautiful and iconic 'Costela' chairs designed by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler and produced by Forma, Italy 1960. This is the Brazilian version of the Costela chairs, produced by F...
Fabric, Wood
Sold
H 32.29 in W 27.56 in
Pair of Mid-Century Costela Lounge Chairs by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in Brussels, BE
Pair of Mid-Century Modern costela lounge chairs by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, 1950s Reupholstered in white fabric
Wood
Sold
H 28.9 in W 28.15 in D 17.92 in
Cane Bar Cart by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, 1950s, Forma S.A., Brazil
By Forma Brazil, Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, Martin Eisler
Located in New York, NY
Móveis e Objetos de Art manufactured a few icons of Brazilian design history, such as the Costela Armchair designed by Eisler. This original vintage piece is in very good condition.
Chrome
Sold
H 28.75 in W 35.24 in D 35.24 in
Forma S.A. Game Table in Rosewood by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, c. 1955
By Forma Brazil, Carlo Hauner, Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, Martin Eisler
Located in New York, NY
Móveis e Objetos de Art manufactured a few icons of Brazilian design history, such as the Costela Armchair designed by Eisler and the iconic chair that illustrates Móveis Artesanal's...
Fabric, Rosewood
Costela Armchair and Ottoman, Brazilian, Midcentury, Eisler & Hauner
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in São Paulo, SP
The Costela armchair is probably the best known creations of Eisler & Hauner and also one of the most important pieces of Brazilian, midcentury design.
Costela Armchair by Martin Eisler, Ebony-Finished Wood & Bouclé, 1953
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in New York, NY
Móveis e Objetos de Arte The Costela armchair, designed by Martin Eisler in 1953, is one of the most celebrated icons of Brazilian Mid-Century Modern design.
Bouclé, Hardwood
Costela Swivel Armchair by Martin Eisler
By Martin Eisler
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
Swivel armchair by Martin Eisler. Extremely rare swivel version of the Costela armchair.
Iron
Sold
H 28.75 in W 28.94 in D 30.52 in
Martin Eisler and Carlo Hauner "Costela" Lounge Chair, Brazil, 1953
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in New York, NY
This Costela armchair is made of solid Imbuia and painted black steel structure.
Hardwood, Fabric
1950s Brazilian Modern Armchairs by Carlo Hauner & Martin Eisler
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in New York, NY
Highly sought after by collectors, Costela armchairs by Eisler and Hauner are considered foundational works of Brazilian modern design.
Metal
Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler "Costela" Lounge Chairs
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in Piacenza, Italy
Iconic pair of Costela lounge chairs designed by Martin Eisler and Carlo Hauner for Forma. Teak and black lacquered metal structure. Available upholstering white cotton.
Wood
Sold
H 32.67 in W 25 in D 31.5 in
COSTELA Lounge Chair designed by Martin Eisler in 1952, made by Tacchini
By Tacchini, Martin Eisler
Located in Carson, CA
Costela is an armchair with an unmistakable history: elegant and informal, it is an icon of Brazilian design from the 1950s, blending sensual aesthetics with natural materiality in a...
Metal
Martin Eisler Midcentury Brazilian "Costela" Armchair, 1950s
By Forma Brazil, Martin Eisler
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
Martin Eisler midcentury Brazilian "Costela" armchair, 1950s Icon of Brazilian design and contemporary furniture, the "Costela" armchair was created by the architect Martin Eisler...
Iron
Vintage Costela Armchair
Located in New York, NY
The Costela has become a much sought after collector’s item, as the piece’s comfortable and witty design epitomizes the height of mid-century Brazilian design, desirable for its uniq...
Wood, Fabric, Upholstery
Costela Armchair by Jorge Zalszupin
Located in New York, NY
Armchair in Jacaranda Wood, fabric seat, with metal detail on the back
$17,367
H 33.08 in W 27.56 in D 33.08 in
Brazilian Lounge Chair Martin Eisler & Carlo Hauner - "Costela" Forma, 1950s
By Forma, Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in Rosendahl, DE
This rare Costela Lounge Chair by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, produced by Forma in the 1950s, features solid wood ribs paired with a vintage leopard-patterned teddy fabric. A tru...
Steel
$19,600
H 36.03 in W 25.6 in D 27.96 in
Brazilian Armchair with High Backrests by Giuseppe Scapinelli, 1950s, Midcentury
By Giuseppe Scapinelli
Located in New York, NY
This armchair in solid Caviuna with high backrests was designed by Giuseppe Scapinelli (1911-1982) in the 1950s. The piece has slatted backrests with thin vertical rods and comfortab...
Silk, Organic Material, Hardwood
$5,594 / set
H 35.44 in W 25.6 in D 29.53 in
Mid-Century Modern Pair of Armchairs by Vittorio Dassi, Italy, 1960s
By Vittorio Dassi
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Modern Pair of Armchairs by Vittorio Dassi, Italy, 1960s - New Upholstery
Fabric
Adrian Pearsall Style Midcentury Armchair
By Adrian Pearsall
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Vintage modern high back armchair in the style of Adrian Pearsall. Nice walnut legs and shaped front giving it a distinct Pearsall flair, with an elegant narrowing back. Should be re...
Fabric
$3,380
H 32.68 in W 24.41 in D 35.04 in
Mid-Century Italian armchair in wood and fabric in the style of Paolo Buffa
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Argelato, BO
This mid-century Italian armchair stands out for its elegant exposed dark walnut frame, with tapered arms and legs forming a fluid, sculptural design. The seat and backrest are upho...
Fabric, Bouclé, Wood
$6,987
H 31.5 in W 36.62 in D 27.56 in
Midcentury Brazilian modernist lounge or easy chair by Acacia Gil Borsoi, 1950s
By Acácio Gil Borsoi
Located in Zaandam, NL
This rare lounge chair by renowned architect and one of the founders of modernism in North Brazil, Acacia Gil Borsoi is a true example of midcentury Brazilian furniture. This chair i...
Wood
1960s Pair of Mid-Century Armchairs, Czechoslovakia
Located in Praha, CZ
- Made in Czechoslovakia - Made of wood, the fabric has been replaced in the past - One leg was broken, now it is glued and an iron rod inserted for strength - Good condition.
Fabric, Wood
$18,064 / set
H 32.29 in W 40.16 in D 33.47 in
Rare Pair of Authentic 1950s Roberto Menghi Hall Chairs, Italy, New Pure Mohair
By Arflex, Roberto Menghi
Located in Lewes, East Sussex
An original pair of Roberto Menghi Hall chairs, produced by Arflex, Italy, 1950s. Newly upholstered in a premium yellow gold pure mohair fabric. The metal frames have been restored ...
Steel
$5,880
H 31 in W 24 in D 18 in
Mid-Century Modern Newly Upholstered Lounge Chair ("Lady Chair") by Marco Zanuso
By Marco Zanuso
Located in Los Angeles, CA
One of the Classic Piece of Mid-Century Modern Furniture, Newly Upholstered in Ochre Color Leather Lounge Chair ( "Lady Chair" ) attributed to Marco Zanuso, the Chair Manufactured i...
Metal, Brass
$15,735
H 25.99 in W 31.89 in D 33.47 in
Pair of Mid-Century Armchairs by Raffaella Crespi, Italy, 1960s, New Upholstery
By Raffaella Crespi
Located in Brussels, BE
Pair of mid-century armchairs by Raffaella Crespi, Italy, 1960s.
Fabric, Wood
$13,404 / set
H 37.41 in W 33.47 in D 25.2 in
Pair Of Sculptural Lounge Chairs In Mohair And Rosewood, Italy 1950s
By Franco Albini
Located in ABCOUDE, UT
Incredible pair of Midcentury modern sculptural lounge chairs in caramel mohair and solid hardwood, 1950s. These one of a kind lounge chairs showcase immaculate craftsmanship, with ...
Mohair, Wood
Pair of Mid-Century Modern Italian Lounge Chairs, 1950s
By Gianfranco Frattini
Located in Almelo, NL
Pair of Mid-Century Modern Italian Lounge Chairs, 1950s This refined pair of Italian lounge chairs dates to the 1950s and captures the quiet elegance of mid-century modern design. W...
Upholstery, Wood
Mid-Century Modern Armchair 877 by Gianfranco Frattini for Cassina
By Gianfranco Frattini
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Modern Armchair 877 by Gianfranco Frattini for Cassina, New Beige Upholstery
Fabric, Wood
$6,410 / set
H 34.65 in W 23.63 in D 31.5 in
Pair of MCM Armchairs "Mitzi" by Ezio Longhi, cherry wood and plush, Italy 1960s
By Ezio Longhi
Located in Beograd, RS
In this listing you will find a pair of extraordinary Mid Century Modern Armchairs designed by Ezio Longhi. This model is called "Mitzi" and it features a unique armrest shape done i...
Fabric, Cherry
$14,700 / set
H 31 in W 30.5 in D 30 in
'Pair of Original Italian Mid-Century 'Lady' Chairs by Marco Zanuso & Arflex
By Arflex, Marco Zanuso
Located in New York, NY
A Rare Pair of Original Italian Mid-Century Modern "Lady" Chairs / Lounge Chairs / Armchairs by Marco Zanuso for Arflex, Italy, circa 1951 with original upholstery. The chairs are s...
Brass, Steel
$25,000 / set
H 28 in W 32 in D 33 in
Pair of Brazilian Modern Rosewood and Mohair Armchairs, Bertomeu, Brazil, 1960s
By Bertomeu & Cia
Located in New York, NY
An exceptional pair of Brazilian Modern armchairs by Bertomeu, showcasing the bold sculptural language and refined craftsmanship that defined Brazil’s most celebrated furniture maker...
Mohair, Rosewood
$13,600 / set
H 30.71 in W 35.44 in D 35.44 in L 30.71 in
Marco Zanuso "Square" Armchairs for Arflex, 1962, Set of 2
By Arflex, Marco Zanuso
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Marco Zanuso "Square" Armchairs for Arflex, camel velvet, Italy, 1962, set of two. The design of Marco Zanuso's "Square" armchairs, produced for Arflex in 1960s, reflects his commit...
Velvet
$158,000 / set
H 27.56 in W 22.84 in D 20.08 in
Exceptionally Rare Set of Eight George Nakashima 'Grass-seated Chairs' in American Black Walnut
By George Nakashima Studio, George Nakashima
Located in Waalwijk, NL
George Nakashima, set of eight 'Grass-seated Chairs', American black walnut, sea grass cord, United States, early 1960s Through its pure form, thoughtful use of materials, and exqui...
Seagrass, Walnut
Ensamble Pouf in Escondido Laredo 4
By Caterina Moretti
Located in Zapopan, Jalisco
The word "ensamble" means a set and comes from the French "ensemble," referring to one with another, together. From their own individuality, Peca (Guadalajara, 2007) and Studio84 (M...
Wood, Upholstery
Pair of Modern Walnut Side Tables
By Theodore Alexander
Located in Westwood, NJ
A Pacific walnut side table, the square top with rounded corners and a reeded edge above a similar under tier, on bobbin turned legs. Dimensions: 26" W x 26" D x 28.5" H.
Wood
Bertu Counter Stools, White Oak Counter Stool, Chile Stool
By Bertu Furniture
Located in Oak Harbor, OH
Bertu Counter Stools, White Oak Counter Stool, Chile Stool This White Oak Chile Counter Stool is beautifully constructed from solid wood in Ohio, USA. The stool is chunky and modern...
Wood, Oak
Pair of 70s Style Italian Bamboo and Brass Table Lamps
Located in New York, NY
Monumental size Bamboo lamps. Crafted in Italy and made to order, these lamps are modern and chic. Production lead time 2-4 weeks. Base diameter 8 inches, hat diameter 20 inches, he...
Brass
$3,496 / set
H 27.56 in W 20.48 in D 19.69 in
Set of Two Mid Century Blue Velvet Vintage Armchairs, Walnut Wood, Europe, 1960s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
A wonderful armchair made in the 1960s in Poland. Stabile design of the furniture and a comfortable seat. Furniture after full upholstery renovation, refreshed woodwork. The whole is...
Textile, Beech
$8,308 / set
H 24.01 in W 18.12 in D 14.18 in
Pair of Park Night Stands in Poplar Burl by Yaniv Chen for Lemon
By Lemon
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Structure: Made from Poplar Burl veneer with solid oak edging, the Park Nightstand is finished with matching veneer on both the exterior and interior. The inside includes an adjustab...
Wood, Poplar, Burl
$81,900
H 33.08 in W 30.12 in D 39.38 in
Mid-Century Modern Chaise Lounge by Carlo Hauner & Martin Eisler, 1954
By Martin Eisler, Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, Carlo Hauner
Located in New York, NY
This chaise lounge is one of the designs by Martin Eisler and Carlo Hauner, produced by Forma S.A. Móveis e Objetos de Arte. The traditional chaise is a lounge chair characterized by...
Iron
$78,400 / set
H 36.62 in W 40.95 in D 26.97 in
Pair of Brasiliana Armchairs by Jorge Zalszupin, 1965, Brazilian Midcentury
By Jorge Zalszupin
Located in New York, NY
The iconic Brasiliana is a series composed of a sofa and armchair designed by Jorge Zalszupin (1922-2020) in 1965 and produced by his company, L'atelier. These rare pieces have molde...
Rosewood, Fabric
$7,950 / set
H 30.32 in W 26.78 in D 29.53 in
1940s Kozelka & Kropacek Armchairs in Texel Sheepskin & Brown Patinated Frame
By Karel Kozelka & Antonin Kropacek, Jindřich Halabala
Located in Almelo, NL
Mid-Century Czech design by Kozelka & Kropacek, reupholstered in luxurious Texel sheepskin with warm brown patinated bentwood frames. Comfort, craftsmanship, and timeless style. De...
Sheepskin, Upholstery, Bentwood
$1,709 / item
H 15.75 in Dm 43.31 in
Contemporary Art Deco Mint green and Red powder coated Carousel 5 arms pendant
By Mambo Unlimited Ideas
Located in Lisbon, PT
Carousel suspension lamp has a delicate balance of form and function that produces a quiet, modern light ambiance for all to savour, with its Contemporary Art Deco lines. The struct...
Metal
$856 / item
H 3 in W 18.9 in D 4.1 in
Charlotte Perriand 'Applique Cylindrique Longue' Wall Lamp in White
By Nemo Lighting 1, Charlotte Perriand
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Charlotte Perriand 'Applique Cylindrique Longue' wall lamp in white. Perriand's iconic 'Applique Cylindrique' features a unique pivoting shade that combines form with function, allo...
Metal, Aluminum
Sold|$12,800
H 19.75 in W 16 in D 18.5 in
Giancarlo Palanti Italian Art Deco Mahogany Stool, High Backrest, 1930
Located in New York, NY
A glamorous Italian Art Deco mahogany stool designed by Italian architect, Giancarlo Palanti, circa 1930 with elegant high backrest; with simple and streamlined design and elegant cu...
Fabric, Mahogany
$20,873
H 31.5 in W 157.49 in D 59.06 in
Verner Panton Cloverleaf Sofa 3 Parts in 'Harald 3 #982' by Kvadrat for Verpan
By Verner Panton
Located in Tilburg, NL
Verner Panton cloverleaf sectional sofa. Current production. This listing shows a 3-piece Cloverleaf Sofa in dark green 'Harald 3 #982' by Kvadrat. Seats 5 people in a very interesti...
Fabric, Wood
Crackle Textured Handmade Ceramic Mushroom Lamp, Blue
By Ethan Streicher, Streicher Goods
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Every mushroom lamp is hand-made and hand-painted by Ethan Streicher, the founder and designer behind the Streicher Goods brand in Brooklyn, NY. The lamp's silhouette is simple and c...
Brass
Organically shaped, clean-lined and elegantly simple are three terms that well describe vintage mid-century modern furniture. The style, which emerged primarily in the years following World War II, is characterized by pieces that were conceived and made in an energetic, optimistic spirit by creators who believed that good design was an essential part of good living.
ORIGINS OF MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN
CHARACTERISTICS OF MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN
MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNERS TO KNOW
ICONIC MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNS
VINTAGE MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE ON 1STDIBS
The mid-century modern era saw leagues of postwar American architects and designers animated by new ideas and new technology. The lean, functionalist International-style architecture of Le Corbusier and Bauhaus eminences Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Walter Gropius had been promoted in the United States during the 1930s by Philip Johnson and others. New building techniques, such as “post-and-beam” construction, allowed the International-style schemes to be realized on a small scale in open-plan houses with long walls of glass.
Materials developed for wartime use became available for domestic goods and were incorporated into mid-century modern furniture designs. Charles and Ray Eames and Eero Saarinen, who had experimented extensively with molded plywood, eagerly embraced fiberglass for pieces such as the La Chaise and the Womb chair, respectively.
Architect, writer and designer George Nelson created with his team shades for the Bubble lamp using a new translucent polymer skin and, as design director at Herman Miller, recruited the Eameses, Alexander Girard and others for projects at the legendary Michigan furniture manufacturer.
Harry Bertoia and Isamu Noguchi devised chairs and tables built of wire mesh and wire struts. Materials were repurposed too: The Danish-born designer Jens Risom created a line of chairs using surplus parachute straps for webbed seats and backrests.
The Risom lounge chair was among the first pieces of furniture commissioned and produced by celebrated manufacturer Knoll, a chief influencer in the rise of modern design in the United States, thanks to the work of Florence Knoll, the pioneering architect and designer who made the firm a leader in its field. The seating that Knoll created for office spaces — as well as pieces designed by Florence initially for commercial clients — soon became desirable for the home.
As the demand for casual, uncluttered furnishings grew, more mid-century furniture designers caught the spirit.
Classically oriented creators such as Edward Wormley, house designer for Dunbar Inc., offered such pieces as the sinuous Listen to Me chaise; the British expatriate T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings switched gears, creating items such as the tiered, biomorphic Mesa table. There were Young Turks such as Paul McCobb, who designed holistic groups of sleek, blond wood furniture, and Milo Baughman, who espoused a West Coast aesthetic in minimalist teak dining tables and lushly upholstered chairs and sofas with angular steel frames.
Generations turn over, and mid-century modern remains arguably the most popular style going. As the collection of vintage mid-century modern chairs, dressers, coffee tables and other furniture for the living room, dining room, bedroom and elsewhere on 1stDibs demonstrates, this period saw one of the most delightful and dramatic flowerings of creativity in design history.
With entire areas of our homes reserved for “sitting rooms,” the value of quality antique and vintage seating cannot be overstated.
Fortunately, the design of side chairs, armchairs and other lounge furniture — since what were, quite literally, the early perches of our ancestors — has evolved considerably.
Among the earliest standard seating furniture were stools. Egyptian stools, for example, designed for one person with no seat back, were x-shaped and typically folded to be tucked away. These rudimentary chairs informed the design of Greek and Roman stools, all of which were a long way from Sori Yanagi's Butterfly stool or Alvar Aalto's Stool 60. In the 18th century and earlier, seats with backs and armrests were largely reserved for high nobility.
The seating of today is more inclusive but the style and placement of chairs can still make a statement. Antique desk chairs and armchairs designed in the style of Louis XV, which eventually included painted furniture and were often made of rare woods, feature prominently curved legs as well as Chinese themes and varied ornaments. Much like the thrones of fairy tales and the regency, elegant lounges crafted in the Louis XV style convey wealth and prestige. In the kitchen, the dining chair placed at the head of the table is typically reserved for the head of the household or a revered guest.
Of course, with luxurious vintage or antique furnishings, every chair can seem like the best seat in the house. Whether your preference is stretching out on a plush sofa, such as the Serpentine, designed by Vladimir Kagan, or cozying up in a vintage wingback chair, there is likely to be a comfy classic or contemporary gem for you on 1stDibs.
With respect to the latest obsessions in design, cane seating has been cropping up everywhere, from sleek armchairs to lounge chairs, while bouclé fabric, a staple of modern furniture design, can be seen in mid-century modern, Scandinavian modern and Hollywood Regency furniture styles.
Admirers of the sophisticated craftsmanship and dark woods frequently associated with mid-century modern seating can find timeless furnishings in our expansive collection of lounge chairs, dining chairs and other items — whether they’re vintage editions or alluring official reproductions of iconic designs from the likes of Hans Wegner or from Charles and Ray Eames. Shop our inventory of Egg chairs, designed in 1958 by Arne Jacobsen, the Florence Knoll lounge chair and more.
No matter your style, the collection of unique chairs, sofas and other seating on 1stDibs is surely worthy of a standing ovation.
Modern icons are showing up in gracefully layered dining nooks, living rooms and lounges — proof that great design only gets better with context.
You know the designs, now get the stories about how they came to be.
The enduring appeal of the Barcelona chair is in the details.
The brand that turned Charles and Ray Eames, Isamu Noguchi and George Nelson into mid-century household names is just as relevant today as it was six decades ago.
Our feed is filled with the world's most beautiful spaces. See the rooms our followers have deemed the best of the best this month.
Our feed is filled with the world's most beautiful spaces. See the 10 our followers have deemed the best of the best this month.
There are many lessons to be learned from the lofts, apartments and townhouses of architects and decorators in Manhattan and beyond.
Having created extravagant homes for reality TV’s biggest stars, the designer is stepping into the spotlight with his first book.