Dover Design Chair
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs
Cotton, Ash
2010s Brazilian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Upholstery, Ivory, Oak
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Chairs
Plastic
2010s Brazilian Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Fabric, Wood, Upholstery
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Chairs
Plastic
2010s Italian Modern Chairs
Fabric, Upholstery, Wood
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Metal
Dover Design Chair For Sale on 1stDibs
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Finding the Right Seating for You
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.
- Who designed Paimio Chair?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022The Finnish architect and designer Alvar Aalto designed the Paimio chair for a tuberculosis sanatorium in the town of Paimio, Finland. The bent plywood chair debuted in the early 1930s. On 1st 1stDibs, shop a range of Alvar Aalto chairs.
- Who designed the Tulip chair?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMay 30, 2024Eero Saarinen designed the Tulip chair. It was part of Saarinen's Pedestal collection of armless chairs, stools, dining tables and more — a mid-century modernist exercise in simplifying. The series was designed for Knoll, which continues to produce it today. Interestingly, the Tulip armchair's shape suggests one single plastic form, but despite Saarinen's many experiments to achieve this, it is actually constructed in two pieces: an aluminum frame obscured in a plastic finish and a fiberglass upper-shell seat. In two parts or one, it achieves Saarinen's desired streamlined effect. On 1stDibs, find a collection of Eero Saarinen Tulip chairs.
- Who designed the Aeron chair?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMay 3, 2024Don Chadwick and Bill Stumpf designed the Aeron chair. The pair introduced the mesh-upholstered ergonomic chair in 1994, and it has been one of Herman Miller's best-selling office chairs ever since. Its innovative design has even earned it a place in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, New York. Find a range of Aeron chairs on 1stDibs.
- Who designed the Hand chair?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Surrealist designer and artist Pedro Friedeberg designed the Hand chair. He unveiled the piece in 1962 when he was only 24 years old. Many designers and furniture companies have created similar pieces since. Find a collection of Hand chairs on 1stDibs.
- Who designed the Transat chair?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Eileen Gray designed the Transat chair in 1922. Its name comes from the luxury ocean liners that took passengers on transatlantic voyages during the early 20th century. Gray became inspired to create the chair after sitting in deck chairs on one such ship. Shop a range of Transat chairs on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2024Antonio Bonet, Juan Kurchan and Jorge Ferrari-Hardoy designed the Butterfly chair. The trio met while working in Le Corbusier's studio and then moved to Argentina, where they founded the Grupo Austral. In 1938, they unveiled their now iconic chair, which was inspired by a previous work called Tripolona, which they designed using inspiration from folding, collapsible chairs used by the British military. Shop a collection of Butterfly chairs on 1stDibs.
- Who designed the coconut chair?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022George Nelson designed the coconut chair in 1956. Herman Miller continues to produce the curvy accent chair based on his original design. On 1stDibs, you can shop a collection of coconut chairs from some of the world’s top sellers.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2023Who the most famous chair designer is may refer to many different people. Arne Jacobsen, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Lilly Reich, Charles and Ray Eames, Eero Saarinen, Philippe Starck, Hans Wegner, Verner Panton and Le Corbusier have all designed iconic chairs over time. Shop a selection of antique, vintage and modern chairs on 1stDibs.
- What is a chair designer called?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertNovember 13, 2024What a chair designer is called varies. There isn't a term for someone who designs chairs specifically. Instead, you would typically refer to this type of professional as a furniture designer or industrial designer. Some furniture designers who are particularly well-known for their chairs include Charles and Ray Eames, Hans Wegner, Arne Jacobsen, Eero Saarinen, Verner Panton, Marcel Breuer and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. On 1stDibs, find a large selection of antique, vintage and contemporary chairs.
- Who designed the Eames chair?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2024Charles and Ray Eames designed the Eames chair. A married couple, they were the embodiment of the inventiveness, energy and optimism at the heart of mid-century modern American design and have been recognized as among the most influential designers of the 20th century. They produced a line of DCW chairs together in the 1940s and went on to unveil their now iconic lounge chair in 1956. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of Eames lounge chairs.
- Who designed the clam chair?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertJune 30, 2023Arnold Madsen designed the Clam chair. In the past, it was ascribed to the Norwegian retailer Martin Olsen and then the Danish architect Philip Arctander. It was only through some dogged research by a team of international design historians and collectors that it was finally correctly associated with Madsen, an upholsterer by profession who created it in Copenhagen in 1944. On 1stDibs, find a selection of Clam chairs from some of the world’s top sellers.
- Who designed the Bird chair?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Italian-American designer and artist Harry Bertoia designed the Bird chair in 1952. It features a tubular base and a wire basket seat. Today, Knoll Furniture continues to manufacture the mid-century modern furnishing. Find a selection of Bird 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.
- Who designed the Z Chair?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 31, 2023There are two designers known for producing a Z-Chair. Poul Jensen unveiled his design in 1957. It features a zigzagging teak wood frame and boxy seat and back cushions. In 2011, Sawaya & Moroni introduced a sharply angled, polished stainless steel Z-Chair designed by architect Zaha Hadid. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of chairs from some of the world's top sellers.
- Who designed the LCW chair?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Charles and Ray Eames designed the LCW lounge chair in 1945. Its design includes five pieces of molded plywood. Herman Miller continues to produce the iconic furnishing to this day. You can find a range of LCW chairs on 1stDibs.
- Who designed the MR chair?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Ludwig Mies van der Rohe designed the MR chair in 1927. The tubular steel frame and woven seat reflect the International Style that the German architect helped establish. Today, Knoll furniture manufactures the armchair. Shop a variety of MR chairs on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2023Le Corbusier designed a number of armchairs that people refer to as the Corbusier chair. His designs are spare, minimal and efficient but at the same time offer supreme comfort. Collaborating with his cousin, Pierre Jeanneret, and trailblazing designer Charlotte Perriand, he devised such iconic pieces as the LC2 Petit Confort armchair and the LC4 chaise longue. Each couples a tubular chrome frame with soft, supple leather upholstery, lending an organic warmth to an industrially made piece of furniture. Find a variety of Le Corbusier chairs on 1stDibs.
- Who designed airport chairs?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Although many people have designed airport chairs, Charles and Ray Eames are best known for creating seating for airports. The ones they produced for Chicago O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Illinois, in 1962 are especially famous. On 1st 1stDibs, shop a variety of airport chairs.
- 1stDibs ExpertJune 30, 2023Vladimir Kagan designed the Shield Back chair, which debuted in 1955. It features an upholstered back and seat. Cabinetmaker George Hepplewhite is also known for creating an all-wood shield back chair sometime during the mid-18th century. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of shield back chairs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 22, 2024Marcel Breuer designed several chairs. One of his best-known pieces is the Wassily lounge chair made of tubular steel and leather straps. Breuer named the chair after the artist Wassily Kandinsky. Among the designer's other notable chairs are the Cesca chair, the B35 lounge chair and the S 35. On 1stDibs, find a diverse assortment of Marcel Breuer chairs.
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