DAX Armchair by Charles & Ray Eames for Herman Miller
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A 'DAX' rope edge fiberglass Zenith shell chair with a metal X base.
Category
Vintage 1960s American Chairs
Materials
Leather
Herman Miller Eames Shell Chair
to
23
252
78
293
37
1
251
67
1
293
38
215
61
4
62
65
41
7
2
274
255
224
97
82
286
282
17
7
7
331
331
331
244
237
54
6
4
Elephant Hide Gray Eames Herman Miller Molded Fiberglass DAX Arm Shell Chair H B
By Charles and Ray Eames, Herman Miller
Located in Topeka, KS
Awesome example of the Charles and Ray Eames DAX fiberglass arm shell chair for Herman Miller.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Metal
Eames Herman Miller LAX Fiberglass Arm Shell Chair X Base Zenith Rope Edge
By Charles and Ray Eames, Zenith, Herman Miller
Located in Topeka, KS
Awesome example of the Charles and Ray Eames LAX molded fiberglass arm shell chair for Herman Miller in one of the original colors, lemon yellow.
Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Metal
Eames PAC Yellow Padded Swivel Armchair w/Gray Fiberglass Shell & Aluminum Base
By Herman Miller, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Topeka, KS
Looking for a bright, bold, and beautiful iconic accent chair? You have found it. This arm shell chair is one of the most sought-after designs by Charles and Ray Eames.
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Swivel Chairs
Materials
Aluminum
1958, Ray & Charles Eames, Herman Miller, PSCC Fiberglass Office Desk Chair
By Vitra, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Amsterdam IJMuiden, NL
This chair is part of the private collection of Casey Godrie and is situated in his private house. Ask him for competitive shipping quotes. His incredible Dune Villa, Amsterdam Beac...
Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Materials
Metal
Pair of La Fonda Chairs by Charles & Ray Eames
$5,000 / set
Pair of La Fonda Chairs by Charles & Ray Eames
By Herman Miller, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in San Francisco, CA
A pair of bright orange La Fonda chairs by Charles & Ray Eames. Original tags. The chairs are in fair condition and have oxidation and pitting on the bases. One chair has a ti...
Category
Vintage 1960s Modern Chairs
Materials
Rubber
C. 1953 Herman Miller Eames Fiberglass Arm Shell MAX Chair with Black X Base
By Herman Miller, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is an early 1950s (circa 1953) Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller fiberglass MAX arm chair. The piece does not retain its label, but we can accurately date the chair to bet...
Category
Vintage 1950s American Modern Armchairs
Materials
Iron
Eames Fiberglass Cats Cradle LAR Lounge Chair
By Herman Miller, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Fulton, CA
A "Cats Cradle" LAR formed fiberglass lounge chair designed by Charles & Ray Eames for Herman Miller.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Metal
Charles & Ray Eames, Herman Miller Set of 4 Dowel Leg DAW Armchairs Orange
By Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Designed by Eames, of recent manufacture by Herman Miller, these signed chairs are in like new condition.
Category
Early 2000s American Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Metal
Ray Charles Eames Herman Miller Padded Arm Shell Chairs Alexander Girard a Pair
By Charles and Ray Eames, Alexander Girard, Herman Miller
Located in Forest Grove, PA
A pair of fiberglass arm shell chair designed by Ray & Charles Eames and produced by Herman Miller in 1972.
Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Aluminum
Eames Molded Fiberglass Side Chair - White
By Herman Miller, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Pasadena, TX
This is an authentic Eames Chair by Herman Miller. This is an authentic Herman Miller Eames Molded Shell Chair.
Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Fiberglass
Mid-Century Black Leather Dax Armchair by Charles & Ray Eames for Herman Miller
$1,493Sale Price|20% Off
Mid-Century Black Leather Dax Armchair by Charles & Ray Eames for Herman Miller
By Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Oud-Turnhout, VAN
Vintage Mid-Century Modern design black leather DAX rope edge fiberglass Zenith shell armchair by Charles & Ray Eames for Herman Miller, made in the USA 1960's. Dark grey / black lea...
Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Metal
Pair of Charles and Ray Eames "Translucent" Arm Shell Chairs
By Charles Eames
Located in Buffalo, NY
Great pair of lemon yellow arm shell chairs designed by Charles and Ray Eames.. manufactured by Herman Miller,, early elusive see-thrugh "Translucent" fiberglass parchment shells..
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel
Pair of Charles and Ray Eames "Translucent" Arm Shell Chairs
By Charles Eames
Located in Buffalo, NY
Great pair of lemon yellow arm shell chairs designed by Charles and Ray Eames.. manufactured by Herman Miller,, early elusive see-thrugh "Translucent" fiberglass parchment shells..
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel
C. 1950 Pair of Herman Miller Eames Rope Edge DAR Arm Shell Chair in Green
By Charles and Ray Eames, Herman Miller
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a pair of DAR "Eiffel" Armchairs in seafoam green., originally designed by Ray and Charles Eames in 1949. This pair dates to C. 1950. These pieces are 1st year production exa...
Category
Vintage 1950s American Modern Armchairs
Materials
Steel, Aluminum, Zinc
C. 1950 Herman Miller Eames Rope Edge DAR Arm Shell Chair in Elephant Hide Grey
By Charles and Ray Eames, Herman Miller
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a DAR Rope Edge "Eiffel" Armchair in Elephant Hide Grey, initially designed by Ray and Charles Eames in 1949. This very early 1st Generation production dates to C. 1950 and r...
Category
Vintage 1950s American Modern Armchairs
Materials
Aluminum, Steel, Zinc
Charles and Ray Eames DAX chair by Herman Miller, 70s
By Charles and Ray Eames, Herman Miller
Located in Athens, Attiki
Black pads. Manufactured by Herman Miller.
Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Metal
2000s Eames Molded Plastic Side Chair
By Charles and Ray Eames, Herman Miller
Located in Esperance, NY
Modern Living — In the 1950s, the Eames molded shell changed everything about what a chair could be–sculptural, practical, mass-produced. Now in recyclable polypropylene, this staple...
Category
Early 2000s American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Metal
"La Fonda" Charles Eames by Hermann Miller Design Fiberglass Shell Two Chairs
By Herman Miller, Charles Eames
Located in Brescia, IT
"La Fonda" Charles Eames & Alexander Girard by Hermann Miller, circa 1960s. Ivory fiberglass shell seat Aluminium base.
Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Chaise Longues
Materials
Aluminum
Rare Pair of Early Rosewood Eames Lounge Chairs
$19,000 / set
Rare Pair of Early Rosewood Eames Lounge Chairs
By Charles and Ray Eames, Herman Miller
Located in Highland, IN
Here is a rare opportunity to own two early examples of the iconic design by Charles and Ray Eames, these 670 lounge chairs and matching 671 ottoman have been together since they wer...
Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Aluminum
Charles & Ray Eames "Rar" Black Original Rocking Chair, 1977
By Herman Miller, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in The Hague, NL
Mid-Century Modern molded RAR rocking chair designed by Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller.
Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Rocking Chairs
Materials
Metal
Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman in Burnt Orange
By Charles and Ray Eames, Herman Miller
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Beautiful custom edition of the iconic Eames lounge chair and ottoman. Rosewood shells and aluminum bases cradle the custom burnt orange leather cushions. New leather very soft and i...
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Leather
Eames Fiberglass Shell Chairs by Charles and Ray Eames, 1986
By Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Denton, TX
Eames for Herman Miller fiberglass shell chairs with original blue upholstery.
Category
Late 20th Century Mid-Century Modern Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Materials
Metal
Charles Eames Alexander Girard Herman Miller Shell Chairs in Checkerboard
By Charles Eames, Alexander Girard
Located in Chicago, IL
A good pair of orange and yellow Charles Eames and Alexander Girard chairs for Herman Miller.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Fiberglass
Charles and Ray Eames DAX armchair by Herman Miller
By Charles and Ray Eames, Herman Miller
Located in Athens, Attiki
The DAX chair combines the shell of the 'Eames armchairs' with a classic four-legged base and is thus a realisation of the chair concept created by Charles and Ray Eames in the 1950s.
Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Metal
1 Mid-Century Eames H Miller Fiberglass Arm Shell Chair Walnut Moderna Stool
By Charles Eames, Herman Miller
Located in Pasadena, TX
The Eameses continued to create new furniture designs into the 1970s. 1 (1) Herman Miller Eames Fiberglass Arm Shell on Walnut Swivel Bar Stool Dowel Base by Moderna Herman Miller ...
Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Stools
Materials
Fiberglass, Walnut
1971 Ultra Rare Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman in Zebrawood, Model 670 and 671
By Herman Miller, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a massively unusual Herman Miller Eames Lounge Chair in Zebrawood, accompanied by a complimentary period-correct Eames Ottoman in Rosewood.
Category
Vintage 1970s American Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Aluminum
1956, Ray & Charles Eames Lounge Chair, Rare First Edition 1956 in Black Leather
$8,236Sale Price|29% Off
1956, Ray & Charles Eames Lounge Chair, Rare First Edition 1956 in Black Leather
By Herman Miller, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Amsterdam IJMuiden, NL
His incredible Dune Villa, Amsterdam Beach, find more details on his family name plus eu, is for sale soon too. :-) Lounge chair by Eames, Herman Miller. The lounge chair is in g...
Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Metal
2015 Set of Six Eames DSR Plastic Chairs in White Plastic with Eiffel Base
By Herman Miller, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a set of six DSR Side Chairs, originally designed by Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller in the 1950s.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Side Chairs
Materials
Steel
Charles Ray Eames Herman Miller Dining Room Set 4 La Fonda Chairs & Dining Table
By Charles and Ray Eames, Herman Miller
Located in Sherborne, Dorset
A rare set of four 1960s Charles & Ray Eames “La Fonda” DSL dining chairs for Herman Miller with fibreglass shells, original red naugahyde with black piping on a four column pede...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Sets
Materials
Metal, Aluminum
First Edition Charles Eames Paw Chair Swivel Fibre Glass Shell Dowel Leg Walnut
By Charles Eames
Located in Hamburg, DE
First production, first generation 1949-1950 Zenith Herman Miller, Charles Eames PAW rope swivel chair in color grey elephant, dowel legs in birch / all original parts.
Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Swivel Chairs
Materials
Steel
1951 Herman Miller Eames RAR Fiberglass Rocking Chair w/ Rope Edge & Zenith Tags
By Herman Miller, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a very rare, early 'RAR' Rocking Chair, initially designed by Ray and Charles Eames in 1950. This particular chair dates to around 1951, as determined by the early Zenith lab...
Category
Vintage 1950s American Modern Armchairs
Materials
Steel
Set of Four Vivid Yellow Fiberglass Eames DSR Chairs on Black Eiffel Tower Bases
$2,800Sale Price / set|24% Off
Set of Four Vivid Yellow Fiberglass Eames DSR Chairs on Black Eiffel Tower Bases
By Charles and Ray Eames, Herman Miller
Located in Ferndale, MI
Very clean original set of four chairs together since new. Herman Miller DSR ( Dining Side Rod ) chairs designed be Charles and Ray Eames in the mid 1950s.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Steel
Eames 671 Lounge Ottoman in Rosewood & Cognac Leather by Herman Miller
By Charles and Ray Eames, Herman Miller
Located in Stamford, CT
This is an excellent example of an all-original Charles & Ray Eames for Herman Miller 671 Ottoman. Its highly sought after Rosewood shell and Cognac Leather remain in very good c...
Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Ottomans and Poufs
Materials
Aluminum
Charles & Ray Eames, PAC Armchair, Mobilier International for Herman Miller, 60s
By Herman Miller, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Marinha Grande, PT
The Mobilier International label, still visible under the seat, confirms the chair’s French provenance. In the 1960s, Mobilier International was the official distributor of Herman Mi...
Category
Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Fiberglass
Vintage Mid-Century Modern Herman Miller Eames Molded Fiberglass Black Armchair
By Charles and Ray Eames, Herman Miller
Located in Secaucus, NJ
One of Herman Miller's most popular chairs was designed in 1950 by Charles and Ray Eames and continues to be extremely versatile and durable.
Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Steel, Chrome
2018 Herman Miller Eames Fiberglass DAW Dining Chair in Tan Fabric w/ Walnut Leg
By Herman Miller, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Philadelphia, PA
They are properly stamped with the Herman Miller logo under each seat. Each chair measures 24 inches deep, 25 inches wide, and is 31.25 inches tall.
Category
2010s American Modern Armchairs
Materials
Steel
Black Fiberglass Desk Armchair Charles & Ray Eames Herman Miller Mid-Century
By Herman Miller, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, a rare black fiberglass armchair, designed by Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller. This specific model is an early, rare early generation version featurin...
Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Aluminum
Charles Eames for Herman Miller Rectangular White and Black Side Table
$919Sale Price|20% Off
Charles Eames for Herman Miller Rectangular White and Black Side Table
By Herman Miller, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Chattanooga, TN
This refined Eames table embodies the crisp modernist logic for which Charles and Ray Eames are celebrated. Every detail — from the stark black-and-white contrast to the molded plywo...
Category
Vintage 1980s American Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Marble, Metal, Aluminum
Eames Coffee Table by Herman Miller, White Marble, Mid-Century Modern
$999Sale Price|20% Off
Eames Coffee Table by Herman Miller, White Marble, Mid-Century Modern
By Herman Miller, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Chattanooga, TN
Step into design history with this thoughtfully reintroduced icon: the coffee table Charles and Ray Eames designed in 1949 for their Pacific Palisades home. Artisanally reimagined fo...
Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Marble, Metal, Aluminum
Early Pair of Charles Eames Herman Miller Shell Chairs in Beautiful Light Coral
By Charles Eames
Located in Chicago, IL
This is a fine early matched pair of possibly Evans or early production years with Herman Miller. They have solid wrought iron X-bases. Large Shock Mounts. Wonderfully faded red fibe...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Fiberglass
Restored 1970s Eames Lounge 670 & Ottoman 671 in Brazilian Rosewood & Leather
By Charles and Ray Eames, Herman Miller
Located in Oakland, CA
Restored 1970s production Eames Lounge and ottoman (670 & 671) originally designed by the Eameses (Ray and Charles) and Don Albinson in 1956, constructed of Brazilian rosewood an...
Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Aluminum
1960s Red Leather 'Dax' Armchair by Charles & Ray Eames
$1,184Sale Price|30% Off
1960s Red Leather 'Dax' Armchair by Charles & Ray Eames
By Charles and Ray Eames, Herman Miller
Located in Hilversum, NL
This exquisite 'Dax' armchair, designed by Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller Co., showcases the iconic mid-century modern style.
Category
Late 20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Steel
Herman Miller Eames 3-Seat Tandem Bench Eastern Air Lines Red Orange Naugahyde
By Herman Miller, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Chattanooga, TN
Iconic Mid-Century Modern Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller tandem bench. This modular system features three Eames shell chairs with red/orange colored original Naugahyde pads.
Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Benches
Materials
Metal, Aluminum
Second Generation "Ochre" X-Base Fiberglass Arm Shell Chairs, Charles Eames
By Herman Miller, Charles Eames
Located in Buffalo, NY
Second Generation "Ochre" X-base fiberglass arm shell chairs. Charles Eames manufactured by Herman Miller.
Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Steel
Rare Alexander Girard Fabric Herman Miller Eames Black Fiberglass Arm Shell
By Alexander Girard, Charles Eames
Located in Buffalo, NY
Extremely rare Alexander Girard Jacobs Coat Eames fiberglass arm shell chair by Herman Miller.
Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Metal
Charles and Ray Eames "DAR" Armchair by Zenith for Herman Miller
By Charles and Ray Eames, Zenith, Herman Miller
Located in Highland, IN
The earliest fiberglass Eames chairs were produced by Zenith Plastics and came in a limited palate of five colors including parchment. The Zenith produced shells are distinctive for ...
Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Steel
Charles & Ray Eames for Herman Miller DAX Beige Shell Chair ~ circa 1960
Located in New York, NY
An armchair with solid steel bar frame and molded plastic seat designed by Charles & Ray Eames and made by Herman Miller. USA, circa 1960. Dimensions: Height 31 inches H x 25 inch...
Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Steel
Eames DAR ARM SHELL Fiberglass Chair/ Electric Blue on White Eiffel Tower Base
By Herman Miller, Charles Eames
Located in Buffalo, NY
The early success of the Eames plastic arm chairs was a co-ordinated effort between the Eames Office (Designers), Zenith Plastics (Manufacturers) and Herman Miller (Distributors).
Category
2010s American Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Metal
Dining chairs by Charles Eames and Ray Eames Model Dax 1970
By Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Oirlo, LI
The legendary Charles Eames and Ray Eames transformed modern furniture design with their iconic Eames DAX chair — a perfect balance between comfort, innovation, and timeless aestheti...
Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Chrome
Adjustable Translucent Yellow Eames Desk Armchair on a Rolling Base
By Herman Miller, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Oakland, CA
1950s translucent yellow fiberglass adjustable shell desk armchair with both height and tilt adjustments. The yellow shell has a parchment quality that allows light to past through i...
Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Materials
Metal
Set of Four La Fonda Chairs by Eames, Fiberglass, USA, 1960s
By Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Set of Four 1960s 'La Fonda' chairs by Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller, USA.
Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Aluminum
Charles & Ray Eames for Herman Miller Dining Set with 4 DSX and 42" Dining Table
By Charles and Ray Eames, Herman Miller
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Designed by the legenday Charles and Ray Eames, this dining set was produced in the 1970s by Herman Miller.
Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Sets
Materials
Metal, Aluminum
Vintage DSR Eiffel Chair Bases Designed by Charles and Ray Eames Set 4
By Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Chula Vista, CA
The DSR model was originally launched in the 1950s by Herman Miller and later produced by Vitra. These bases are designed to be paired with Eames fiberglass or plastic shells.
Category
Vintage 1960s Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Chrome
Charles Eames Zenit RAR Rocker Chair First Edition Rope Edge Color Lemon
By Charles Eames
Located in Hamburg, DE
Early production Charles Eames rocker with rope edged fibre glass shell, zinc Eiffel tower base and wood rockers wood birch, original label, first production, first generation 1949-1...
Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Rocking Chairs
Materials
Fiberglass, Birch
Lounge chair by Charles & Ray Eames, 2010s
$10,499 / set
Lounge chair by Charles & Ray Eames, 2010s
Located in PARIS, FR
Eames Lounge Chair (2010 reproduction) Product description Designed in 1956 by Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller, the Lounge Chair was conceived to offer "the warmth of a well...
Category
Vintage 1950s Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Metal
Fiberglass armchair by Charles Eames for Herman Miller, 1960
By Charles Eames
Located in GRENOBLE, FR
The fiberglass shell chair designed by Charles Eames for Herman Miller is an icon of 20th-century design.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Armchairs
Materials
Iron
- 1
Get Updated with New Arrivals
Save "Herman Miller Eames Shell Chair", and we’ll notify you when there are new listings in this category.
Herman Miller Eames Shell Chair For Sale on 1stDibs
Choose from an assortment of styles, material and more with respect to the herman miller eames shell chair you’re looking for at 1stDibs. Frequently made of plastic, fiberglass and metal, every herman miller eames shell chair was constructed with great care. There are 1505 variations of the antique or vintage herman miller eames shell chair you’re looking for, while we also have 3 modern editions of this piece to choose from as well. Whether you’re looking for an older or newer herman miller eames shell chair, there are earlier versions available from the 20th Century and newer variations made as recently as the 21st Century. A herman miller eames shell chair, designed in the mid-century modern, modern or Scandinavian Modern style, is generally a popular piece of furniture. You’ll likely find more than one herman miller eames shell chair that is appealing in its simplicity, but Charles and Ray Eames, Herman Miller and Charles Eames produced versions that are worth a look.
How Much is a Herman Miller Eames Shell Chair?
A herman miller eames shell chair can differ in price owing to various characteristics — the average selling price 1stDibs is $1,955, while the lowest priced sells for $150 and the highest can go for as much as $38,398.
A Close Look at Mid-century Modern Furniture
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
- Emerged during the mid-20th century
- Informed by European modernism, Bauhaus, International style, Scandinavian modernism and Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture
- A heyday of innovation in postwar America
- Experimentation with new ideas, new materials and new forms flourished in Scandinavia, Italy, the former Czechoslovakia and elsewhere in Europe
CHARACTERISTICS OF MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN
- Simplicity, organic forms, clean lines
- A blend of neutral and bold Pop art colors
- Use of natural and man-made materials — alluring woods such as teak, rosewood and oak; steel, fiberglass and molded plywood
- Light-filled spaces with colorful upholstery
- Glass walls and an emphasis on the outdoors
- Promotion of functionality
MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNERS TO KNOW
- Charles and Ray Eames
- Eero Saarinen
- Milo Baughman
- Florence Knoll
- Harry Bertoia
- Isamu Noguchi
- George Nelson
- Danish modernists Hans Wegner and Arne Jacobsen, whose emphasis on natural materials and craftsmanship influenced American designers and vice versa
ICONIC MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNS
- Eames lounge chair
- Nelson daybed
- Florence Knoll sofa
- Egg chair
- Womb chair
- Noguchi coffee table
- Barcelona chair
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.
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.
Read More
How Top Designers Are Using Mid-Century Chairs in Today’s Interiors
Modern icons are showing up in gracefully layered dining nooks, living rooms and lounges — proof that great design only gets better with context.
The 21 Most Popular Mid-Century Modern Chairs
You know the designs, now get the stories about how they came to be.
Mies van der Rohe’s Barcelona Chair Shook Modernism and Charmed Hollywood
The enduring appeal of the Barcelona chair is in the details.
Herman Miller Got Its Start in the Office, but Its Legacy Is in the Home
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.
May’s Most Popular Interiors on Instagram
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.
April’s Most-Liked Interiors on Instagram
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.
See How New York City Designers Experiment on Their Own Homes
There are many lessons to be learned from the lofts, apartments and townhouses of architects and decorators in Manhattan and beyond.
Jeff Andrews Captures Old Hollywood Glamour in His Cinematic Spaces
Having created extravagant homes for reality TV’s biggest stars, the designer is stepping into the spotlight with his first book.
More Ways To Browse
Eames Lounge Chair Green
Low Fiberglass Chair
1960s Maple Lounge Chairs
Dowel Base Eames Chairs
Eames Casters
Eames Chair Cushion
Eames Fiberglass Chair Bucket
Eames Fiberglass Seafoam
Eames Seafoam
Green Eames Shell
Kelly Green Chair
Mondrian Chair
Neon Chair
Eames Brilliant Yellow
Eames Ochre
Eames Palisander
Eames Shell Chair Purple
Eames Shell Rocking Chair