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Pair of Swedish Spindle Dowel Back Chairs
By Bruno Mathsson
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Pair of very nice spindle back chairs with newly upholstered seats.
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Upholstery, Birch, Maple
Classic Danish Mid Century Modernist Spindle Back Walnut Lounge Chair
By Finn Juhl
Located in Buffalo, NY
design. Unusual Dowel Back stretcher..Retains original seat and back cushions..Age appropriate wear
Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Fabric, Walnut
Aesthetic Movement Side Chair in Walnut by E.W. Godwin, circa 1885
By Goodwin
Located in Faversham, GB
. Turned spindle and dowel back with legs united by six-shaped stretchers.
British, circa 1885
Category
Antique 19th Century British Aesthetic Movement Side Chairs
Materials
Walnut, Bamboo, Cane, Rush
$1,930 Sale Price
20% Off
H 32.29 in W 18.51 in D 13.39 in
Mademoiselle mid century easy chair by Ilmari Tapiovaara for Edsbyverken, Sweden
By Ilmari Tapiovaara, Edsby-verken
Located in Forserum, SE
. Tapiovaara's update featured a refined dowel back and a generously wide seat, resulting in the now-iconic
Category
Vintage 1950s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Chairs
Materials
Beech, Plywood
$1,926
H 35.83 in W 20.48 in D 25.99 in
Transitional Andrew Gower for Jasper Group Portrait Management Swivel Desk Chair
By Jasper Seating Co., Andrew Gower
Located in Secaucus, NJ
and Dacron wrap
Frame interior is hardwood joined with double dowels
Back has polypropylene webbing
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Regency Office Chairs and Desk Ch...
Materials
Steel
$1,200 / item
H 38 in W 25 in D 28.5 in
Cleo Baldon X-Form Chairs Restored with Acrylic Dowels and Sunbrella Upholstery
By Cleo Baldon
Located in Los Angeles, CA
replacement of the wooden dowel, on the back and legs, with a very sexy acrylic piece. The chairs are a
Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Metal
$7,200 / set
H 32 in W 18 in D 20 in
Pair Primitive American Antique 19th Century Spindle Back Wood Chairs
Located in Chicago, IL
chair is missing the lower dowel that would go across the back legs. Righthand chair is missing lower
Category
Antique Late 19th Century American Primitive Chairs
Materials
Hardwood
$1,910 / set
H 36 in W 15.5 in D 15.25 in
Early 20th c. Plan of Paris Map Hanging Scroll c.1920
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT
An original folding map of the Paris on two dowels and hanging chain. Linen backed
Category
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Decorative Art
Materials
Wood, Paper, Linen
4 Mid-Century Modern Blonde Birch Dining Chairs with Bouclé Style of Cassina
By Charlotte Perriand, Cassina, Vico Magistretti
Located in Brooklyn, NY
dowel construction legs and back support. Show signs of use wear on wood frame. Good Vintage condition
Category
Vintage 1980s Polish Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Bouclé, Birch
$2,000 Sale Price
50% Off
H 30 in W 17 in D 17 in
Oak and Leather Dining Chairs by Hans J. Wegner, 1950s
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A dining chair having exposed oiled white oak frames with gently curved backs, tapered dowel legs
Category
Vintage 1960s American Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Leather
Dakota Jackson Maple Wood "Library" armchairs, Set of Four
By Dakota Jackson
Located in Van Nuys, CA
backs, glued, doweled, and corner-blocked. Connections are reinforced with dowels, mortise-and-tenon
Category
1990s American Chairs
Materials
Maple
$1,980 Sale Price / set
40% Off
H 33.13 in W 24.25 in D 23.13 in
A Pair of “Model 83” Armchairs by Nanna Ditzel for Søren Willadsen, Denmark 1952
By Søren Willadsen, Nanna Ditzel
Located in Utrecht, NL
. Rounded oak dowels plug the holes in which the fastenings for the back can be found -these help to create
Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Armchairs
Materials
Fabric, Wood
$10,900 / set
H 26.97 in W 30.91 in D 25.99 in
Set Of Four Danish Mid Century Modern Teak And FauxLeather Dining Chairs
By Dyrlund
Located in Bridgeport, CT
dowel construction. Upholstered back and seat in black leather. With shaped front stretchers and
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Teak, Faux Leather
$1,795 / set
H 31 in W 18.75 in D 18 in
Midcentury Craftsman Style Lounge Chair
By H.T. Cushman Manufacturing Company
Located in Las Vegas, NV
wood with a beautifully angled back, large dowel joints and hand carved legs, no detail was over looked
Category
20th Century Minimalist Chairs
Materials
Maple
Antique Medical Class Anatomy Scroll of a Pelvis c.1920-1940
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT
An antique scroll of a foot used in a medical teaching classroom mounted a thick dowels
Category
Early 20th Century American Industrial Posters
Materials
Canvas, Wood, Paint
Filipino Decorated Bone Wardrobe, 1980s
Located in Montelabbate, PU
composition of rectangular dowels. Internally and on the back finished with vegetable paint. Philippines 1980.
Category
Vintage 1980s Philippine Wardrobes and Armoires
Materials
Bone
Massimo Vignelli Acorn Chair
By Massimo Vignelli
Located in Toronto, CA
but the unmistakable Vignelli signatureʺ. Bent wood backs and rounded dowel legs. The seat cushion is
Category
Vintage 1970s Canadian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Birch
Transitional Andrew Gower for Jasper Group Portrait Dining Chairs - Set of 4
By Jasper Furniture Company, Andrew Gower
Located in Secaucus, NJ
hardwood joined with dowels.
The back has polypropylene webbing and polyurethane foam with Dacron wrap
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American American Classical Dining Room Ch...
Materials
Fabric, Wood, Maple
$2,600 / set
H 35 in W 22 in D 25.5 in
19th Century French Oak Dining Chairs, Set of Four
Located in High Point, NC
staple. Charming dowel rod pegs, notched seat backs, and delicately lathed legs add a tasteful dash of
Category
Antique 19th Century French Country Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Oak
Antique Queen Anne 18th Century Oak Staircase
Located in Ware, GB
dowels
Dating back to 1710s the staircase was an original architectural element of the Lake District
Category
Antique Early 18th Century British Georgian Stairs
Materials
Wood, Oak
Guillerme et Chambron Curved Sofa Loveseat for Votre Maison, France 1960's
By Guillerme et Chambron
Located in New York, NY
their production with the extended end and thick pencil-shaped legs with a curved back and vertical
Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Materials
Velvet, Oak
$15,750
H 32 in W 85 in D 32 in
Post Modern Studio Chair Sculpture Valet in Ebonized Oak
Located in Miami, FL
horizontal planes, and the 2 notched dowels on the back.
Category
Vintage 1980s American Chairs
Materials
Oak
Fine Rustic Set Of Six Antique English Oak Barley Twist Arm Chairs
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Cane seats and backs, doweled flat panel arms and custom floral seat cushions. The chair frames are a
Category
Antique 19th Century English Rustic Chairs
Materials
Oak, Cane
$2,095 / set
H 39.75 in W 22 in D 17.75 in
Pair of Asian Modern Mahogany Floating Seat Armchairs
Located in Chicago, IL
with floating seat on doweled spacers. Tall backs with top carved wood open handle.
Category
Vintage 1950s American Armchairs
Materials
Mahogany, Silk
$2,800 Sale Price / set
20% Off
H 36 in W 22 in D 24 in
Oak and Leather Dining Chairs by Hans J. Wegner, 1950s
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Sagaponack, NY
oak frames with gently curved backs and tapered dowel-form legs and natural leather upholstery.
Category
Vintage 1950s American Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Leather, Oak
Finn Juhl NV 48 Chair for Niels Vodder
By Finn Juhl
Located in San Francisco, CA
. Good condition black leather upholstery with a refinished teak wood frame, three dots or dowels appear
Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Armchairs
Materials
Teak
Oak and Leather Dining Chairs by Hans J. Wegner, 1950s
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Sagaponack, NY
oak frames with gently curved backs and tapered dowel-form legs and natural leather upholstery.
Category
Vintage 1950s American Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Leather, Oak
"ND83" Chair By Jørgen Ditzel and Nanna Ditzel for Søren Willadsen, Denmark 1952
By Soren Willadsen Mobelfabrik, Nanna and Jørgen Ditzel
Located in Utrecht, NL
the curved back. Rounded oak dowels plug the holes in which the fastenings for the back can be found
Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Fabric, Wood
$5,500
H 26.97 in W 30.91 in D 25.99 in
GG01 Walnut Chair by Togigi
Located in Geneve, CH
our cylinder collection. An armchair silhouette with naturally placed armrests, a back cylinder
Category
2010s Belgian Post-Modern Chairs
Materials
Jacquard, Walnut
GG01 Walnut Chair by Togigi
Located in Geneve, CH
our cylinder collection. An armchair silhouette with naturally placed armrests, a back cylinder
Category
2010s Belgian Post-Modern Chairs
Materials
Jacquard, Walnut
1950s Vintage Danish Hans Wegner Sawhorse Lounge Chairs - A Set Of 2
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Monrovia, CA
Chairs.
Rare Early Design With Open Or Exposed Back Rest. The Teak Wooden Dowels Along The Back Support
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Naugahyde, Teak
$15,000 / set
H 30 in W 228.5 in D 26.5 in
Rare Pair of Wishbone Chairs by Arthur Espenet Carpenter
By Arthur Espenet Carpenter
Located in Atlanta, GA
. In grained walnut with visible dowel construction, a shaped back that continues intoto the contoured
Category
Vintage 1980s American Modern Armchairs
Materials
Walnut
14thC Tibetan Book Cover. Superb example- Unique Early Tibet Relic
Located in Ukiah, CA
photos--evidence of dowels on the back, small notch cut in the front.
Note the remarkable central
Category
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Tibetan Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Wood
$9,500
H 10.25 in W 28.75 in D 2 in
1912 "Panoramic View of New York City and Vicinity" by Jacob Ruppert
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
. It is presented on period dowels and backed on its original linen.
Jacob Ruppert was born in New
Category
Vintage 1910s American Maps
Materials
Paper
$8,500
H 30 in W 38.5 in D 3.5 in
Dauphin County Pennsylvania Paint Decorated Dower Chest Made for Madlen Nafzer
Located in York County, PA
, presumably at the same time, but the original piece was kept and I personally doweled it back into place. I
Category
Antique Early 19th Century American Painted Furniture
Materials
Wood
$25,000
H 23 in W 52.5 in D 22.5 in
Chest or Stollentruhe, Early 16th Century, German Gothic, Oak Chest, Original
Located in BUNGAY, SUFFOLK
single board cut into the sides and shallow rebates in the stiles. The front and back boards are dowelled
Category
Antique 16th Century German Gothic Blanket Chests
Materials
Oak
$34,465
H 28.15 in W 67.72 in D 24.81 in
Rare (Late Medieval) 16th Century German Wrought Iron Oak Chest or Stollentruhe
Located in Dallas, TX
back boards are dowelled into the bottom boards. The lid which overhangs the sides has a narrow cleat
Category
Antique 16th Century German Gothic Blanket Chests
Materials
Wrought Iron
$36,000
H 35.5 in W 69.5 in D 24.5 in
John Van Koert for Drexel Elegant Mid-Century Lounge Chair
By John Van Koert, Drexel
Located in 3 Oaks, MI
Koert for Drexel.
Turned dowel back leg support adds nice classical touch.
Newly upholstered.
Category
Vintage 1950s Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
“24GT” Side chair by Illum Wikkelsø for Niels Eilersen, Denmark, c. 1959
Located in Los Gatos, CA
., made in Denmark, C. 1959. Dowel back construction, solid teak wood with hand-rubbed oil finish and
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Chairs
Materials
Papercord, Teak
$5,000
H 29 in W 22.5 in D 23 in
Waka Waka Contemporary Leaning Back Wood Dining Chair
By WAKA WAKA
Located in Los Angeles, CA
solution to more ornate settings. Features dowel connectors with an inset back perspective, an ample seat
Category
2010s American Post-Modern Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Plywood
Waka Waka Contemporary Tall Ladder Back Wood Dining Chair
By WAKA WAKA
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Waka Waka tall ladder back dining chair features repeated dowel rungs as the back support detail with
Category
2010s American Post-Modern Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Plywood
Set of Six Ladder Back Dining Chairs by Robsjohn-Gibbings, American, 1950s
By T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings
Located in Hoboken, NJ
Set of six dining chairs, mahogany dowel frame, ladder back, and upholstered seats. Comprising two
Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Upholstery, Mahogany
$12,000 / set
H 35.5 in W 17.25 in D 22 in
Mer-Catgirlfriend
Located in New Orleans, LA
wide, and 1 inch in depth. It is not framed. It is hung from the wooden dowel sewn into the back of the
Category
2010s More Art
Materials
Fabric, Textile, Thread
Mer-Catboyfriend
Located in New Orleans, LA
inches wide, and 1 inch in depth. It is not framed. It is hung from the wooden dowel sewn in the back of
Category
2010s Sculptures
Materials
Fabric, Textile, Thread
LOOM Bench
Located in Manchester, GB
armrest and turned dowels supporting the back.
This piece is from a collection of work exploring the
Category
2010s British Benches
Materials
Wool, Ash, Oak
Sunflower Catgirlfriend
Located in New Orleans, LA
depth. "Sunflower Catgirlfriend" is not framed. It is hung from a dowel on the back of the piece. It was
Category
2010s Sculptures
Materials
Textile
Strawberry Catgirlfriends
Located in New Orleans, LA
depth. "Strawberry Catgirlfriends" is not framed. It is hung from a dowel on the back of the piece. It
Category
2010s Sculptures
Materials
Textile
Cyclist Catgirlfriend
Located in New Orleans, LA
depth. "Cyclist Catgirlfriend" is not framed. It is hung from a dowel on the back of the piece. It was
Category
2010s Sculptures
Materials
Textile
Forest Catboyfriend
Located in New Orleans, LA
depth. "Forest Catboyfriend" is not framed and is hung from a dowel on the back of the piece. It was
Category
2010s Sculptures
Materials
Textile
Povera Chair by Antonio Aricò for Delvis Unlimited Rosewood and Copper
By Antonio Aricò
Located in Milano, Lombardia
of Brazilian toulipwood, with a small copper dowel inserted between the back rest’s mirror-image
Category
2010s Italian Chairs
Materials
Copper
$2,167
H 38.19 in W 15.75 in D 15.75 in
BOOKCASE Peter Waals Rosewood Cotswold Arts and Crafts
By Peter Waals
Located in London, GB
and dowel construction to the back with dowel construction to the doors. This piece is attributed to
Category
Vintage 1920s Great Britain (UK) Arts and Crafts Cabinets
Materials
Rosewood
Set of 4 Borge Mogensen dining chairs
Located in Seattle, WA
, with curved laminated plywood seat and back elements faced in full grain teak wood, with exposed dowels
Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Side Chairs
Materials
Teak, Beech
L. & J.G Stickley Spindle Armchair and Dining Chairs, Set of 10
By L. & J.G. Stickley Inc.
Located in Chicago, IL
stately backs, iconic dowel joinery, rich honey colored wood
Measures: Side chair 18 deep
40 3/4 high
Category
Late 20th Century American Mission Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Cotton, Oak
$6,100 / set
H 45 in W 27.5 in D 21.5 in
Eugene lounge chair by Stefan Diez
By Stefan Diez
Located in San Francisco, CA
techniques of bent oak veneers, glued and doweled. With a high back, wide, deep seat shell and sloped back
Category
21st Century and Contemporary German Lounge Chairs
Materials
Upholstery
Silo Armchair by Fern, Wood Chair with Wood, Leather or Hickory Bark Seat
By Fern
Located in Hudson, NY
leather sling seat. The chair features large turned dowels on the front and back with each turning
Category
2010s American Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Cherry, Maple, Oak, Walnut
$2,400 / item
H 31.75 in W 25.75 in D 20 in
Silo Dining Chair by Fern, Wood Chair with Wood, Leather or Hickory Bark Seat
By Fern
Located in Hudson, NY
saddle leather sling seat. The chair features large turned dowels on the front and back with each turning
Category
2010s American Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Cherry, Maple, Oak, Walnut
$2,200 / item
H 31.75 in W 20 in D 20 in
A Dowel Back Walnut Lounge Chair by George Nakashima Studio
Located in Ferndale, MI
A Dowel Back Walnut Lounge Chair by George Nakashima Studio
Category
Vintage 1960s American Slipper Chairs
Elegant Slipper Chairs in Walnut with Dowel Backs by Widdicomb
Located in New York, NY
Pair of slipper chairs in walnut with turned dowel backs by Widdicomb, American 1960's. Refinished
Category
Vintage 1960s American Slipper Chairs
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Dowel Back For Sale on 1stDibs
With a vast inventory of beautiful furniture at 1stDibs, we’ve got just the dowel back you’re looking for. Frequently made of wood, fabric and hardwood, every dowel back was constructed with great care. Find 614 options for an antique or vintage dowel back now, or shop our selection of 52 modern versions for a more contemporary example of this long-cherished piece. There are many kinds of the dowel back you’re looking for, from those produced as long ago as the 18th Century to those made as recently as the 21st Century. A dowel back made by mid-century modern designers — as well as those associated with Scandinavian Modern — is very popular. Many designers have produced at least one well-made dowel back over the years, but those crafted by Paul McCobb, WAKA WAKA and Hans J. Wegner are often thought to be among the most beautiful.
How Much is a Dowel Back?
The average selling price for a dowel back at 1stDibs is $3,800, while they’re typically $179 on the low end and $135,998 for the highest priced.
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.
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