$7,522 / item
Karu Lounge Chair in Maple Sheepskin by Dagmar
Located in London, England
Haimi - Karu Chair, 1940s A new edition of classic armchair from Finland, designed in the 1940s.
Sheepskin, Beech, Oak, Walnut
$7,522 / item
Karu Lounge Chair in Cream Sheepskin by Dagmar
Located in London, England
Haimi - Karu Chair, 1940s A new edition of classic armchair from Finland, designed in the 1940s.
Sheepskin, Beech, Oak, Walnut
$7,522 / item
Karu Lounge Chair in Brown Sheepskin by Dagmar
Located in London, England
Haimi - Karu Chair, 1940s A new edition of classic armchair from Finland, designed in the 1940s.
Sheepskin, Beech, Oak, Walnut
$8,127 / item
Karu Lounge Chair in Cream Sheepskin by Dagmar
Located in London, England
Haimi - Karu Chair, 1940s A new edition of classic armchair from Finland, designed in the 1940s.
Sheepskin, Beech, Oak, Walnut
Pair of Karu Lounge Chairs in Maple Sheepskin by Dagmar
Located in London, England
Haimi - Karu Chair, 1940s A new edition of classic armchair from Finland, designed in the 1940s.
Sheepskin, Beech, Oak, Walnut
$14,923 / set
Custom Made Karu Sheepskin Lounge Chairs
Located in London, England
A pair of reproduction armchairs in the 1940s Danish modern style. The Karu chair is a contemporary update of a classic design first produced in Finland by the HAIMI OY company in t...
Sheepskin, Oak
$7,461 / item
Custom Made Karu Sheepskin Lounge Chair
Located in London, England
Dagmar design Karu lounge chair. A reproduction armchair in the 1940s Danish modern style.
Sheepskin, Oak
$14,923 / set
Karu Lounge Chairs in Sheepskin by Dagmar
Located in London, England
A pair of reproduction armchairs in the 1940s Danish modern style. The Karu chair is a contemporary update of a classic design first produced in Finland by the HAIMI OY company in t...
Sheepskin, Beech, Oak, Walnut
$7,461 / item
Custom Made Sheepskin Karu Lounge Chair
Located in London, England
Dagmar Design - Karu lounge chair The Karu chair is a contemporary update of a classic design first produced in Finland by the Haimi Oy company in the early 1950s.
Sheepskin, Beech, Oak
$14,922 / set
Pair of Custom Made Sheepskin Karu Lounge Chairs
Located in London, England
Dagmar Design - Karu lounge chair The Karu chair is a contemporary update of a classic design first produced in Finland by the Haimi Oy company in the early 1950s.
Sheepskin, Beech, Oak
$7,461 / item
1940s Style Custom Made Karu Sheepskin Lounge Chair
Located in London, England
Dagmar Design - Karu lounge chair The Karu chair is a contemporary update of a classic design first produced in Finland by the Haimi Oy company in the early 1950s.
Sheepskin, Beech, Oak
$7,461 / item
Custom Made Sheepskin Karu Armchair
Located in London, England
The Karu chair is a contemporary update of a classic design first produced in Finland by the HAIMI OY company in the early 1950s.
Sheepskin, Beech, Oak, Walnut
$16,323 / set
Pair of Custom Made Sheepskin Karu Lounge Chairs
Located in London, England
Dagmar Design - Karu lounge chair The Karu chair is a contemporary update of a classic design first produced in Finland by the Haimi Oy company in the early 1950s.
Sheepskin, Beech, Oak
$7,461 / item
Custom Made Sheepskin Karu Armchair
Located in London, England
The Karu chair is a contemporary update of a classic design first produced in Finland by the HAIMI OY company in the early 1950s.
Sheepskin, Beech, Oak, Walnut
$9,323 / set
Custom Made Sheepskin Karu Armchair & Ottoman
Located in London, England
The inviting curved arms and subtle winged back are the epitome of the post-war Nordic aesthetic. Karu offers perfect proportions for a bedroom or living room chair.
Sheepskin, Beech, Oak, Walnut
Custom Made Karu Sheepskin Lounge Chair with Matching Ottoman
Located in London, England
Dagmar Design Karu lounge chair & ottoman. Armchair and matching ottoman in the 1940s Danish modern style.
Sheepskin, Oak
$14,922 / set
Pair of Custom Made Sheepskin Karu Armchairs
Located in London, England
A pair of reproduction armchairs in the 1940s Danish modern style. The Karu chair is a contemporary update of a classic design first produced in Finland by the HAIMI OY company in t...
Sheepskin, Beech, Oak, Walnut
$14,922 / set
Pair of Custom Made Karu Sheepskin Armchairs
Located in London, England
Dagmar Design Karu Lounge Chair: A pair of reproduction armchairs in the 1940s Danish modern style.
Sheepskin, Beech, Oak, Walnut
$14,922 / set
Pair of Custom Made Karu Sheepskin Armchairs
Located in London, England
Dagmar design Karu lounge chair: A pair of reproduction armchairs in the 1940s Danish modern style.
Sheepskin, Beech, Oak, Walnut
$14,923 / set
Pair of Custom Made Sheepskin Karu Armchairs
Located in London, England
A pair of reproduction armchairs in the 1940s Danish modern style. The Karu chair is a contemporary update of a classic design first produced in Finland by the HAIMI OY company in t...
Sheepskin, Beech, Oak, Walnut
Custom Made Sheepskin Karu Armchair, Sahara Sheepskin & Fumed Oak Feet
Located in London, England
A reproduction armchair in the 1940s Danish modern style. The Karu chair is a contemporary update of a classic design first produced in Finland by the HAIMI OY company in the early ...
Sheepskin, Beech, Oak
$7,779 / item
Custom Made Sheepskin Lounge Chair
Located in London, England
Dagmar design - Karu lounge chair A custom-made lounge chair developed & produced at our workshops in London using the highest quality materials.
Sheepskin, Beech, Oak
$15,572 / set
Pair of Custom Made Sheepskin Lounge Chairs
Located in London, England
Dagmar design - Karu lounge chair A pair of custom-made lounge chairs developed & produced at our workshops in London using the highest quality materials.
Sheepskin, Beech, Oak
$14,452 / set
Pair of Custom Made 1940s Style Boucle Lounge Chairs
Located in London, England
Dagmar Design - Karu lounge chair The Karu chair is a contemporary update of a classic design first produced in Finland by the Haimi Oy company in the early 1950s.
Sheepskin, Beech, Oak
$14,922 / set
Pair of Custom Made Brown Sheepskin Lounge Chairs
Located in London, England
Dagmar Design - Karu lounge chair The Karu chair is a contemporary update of a classic design first produced in Finland by the Haimi Oy company in the early 1950s.
Sheepskin, Beech, Oak
$7,522 / item
Custom Made Mohair Velvet Karu Armchair
Located in London, England
Haimi - Karu Armchair, by Dagmar The Karu chair is a contemporary update of a classic design first produced in Finland by the Haimi Oy company in the early 1950s.
Sheepskin, Beech, Oak, Walnut, Mohair, Velvet
$7,226 / item
Custom Made 1940s Style Boucle Lounge Chair
Located in London, England
Dagmar Design - Karu lounge chair. The Karu chair is a contemporary update of a classic design first produced in Finland by the Haimi Oy company in the early 1950s.
Beech, Oak, Wool, Bouclé
$13,591 / set
Custom Made Karu Armchair by Dagmar in Sahco Fabric
Located in London, England
Haimi - Karu Armchair, by Dagmar The Karu chair is a contemporary update of a classic design first produced in Finland by the Haimi Oy company in the early 1950s.
Sheepskin, Wool, Mohair, Bouclé, Velvet, Beech, Oak, Walnut
$9,242 / item
Custom Made Mohair Velvet Karu Armchair by Dagmar
Located in London, England
Haimi - Karu Armchair, by Dagmar The Karu chair is a contemporary update of a classic design first produced in Finland by the Haimi Oy company in the early 1950s.
Sheepskin, Mohair, Velvet, Beech, Oak, Walnut
Pair of Custom Made Karu Armchair by Dagmar in Sahco Fabric
Located in London, England
Haimi - Karu Armchair, by Dagmar The Karu chair is a contemporary update of a classic design first produced in Finland by the Haimi Oy company in the early 1950s.
Sheepskin, Mohair, Velvet, Beech, Oak, Walnut, Wool, Bouclé
Pair of Custom Made Mohair Velvet Karu Armchairs by Dagmar
Located in London, England
Haimi - Karu Armchair, by Dagmar The Karu chair is a contemporary update of a classic design first produced in Finland by the Haimi Oy company in the early 1950s.
Sheepskin, Mohair, Velvet, Beech, Oak, Walnut
$8,127 / item
Custom Made Sheepskin Lounge Chair
Located in London, England
Dagmar Design - Karu lounge chair These high-end lounge chairs are handmade to order at our workshops in England.
Sheepskin, Beech, Oak
Pair of Custom Made Sheepskin Ottomans with Oak Feet
Located in London, England
This ottoman is available to order in a range of different materials and with a choice of 4 leg finishes and perfectly compliments our Karu lounge chair. Please contact us for more i...
Sheepskin, Oak
$1,807 / item
Custom Made Sheepskin Ottoman with Oak Feet
Located in London, England
This ottoman is available to order in a range of different materials and with a choice of 3 leg finishes and perfectly compliments our Karu lounge chair. Please contact us for more i...
Sheepskin, Oak
Karu lounge chair in sheepskin by Dagmar
By Dagmar
Located in Antwerpen, BE
The Karu chair is a contemporary update of a classic design first produced in Finland by the Haimi Oy company in the early 1950s.
Sheepskin, Beech, Oak, Walnut
Sold
H 33.08 in W 31.5 in D 33.47 in
Custom Made Karu Sheepskin Lounge Chairs and Ottoman for Rhea Breck 50%
Located in London, England
Dagmar Design KARU Lounge Chair & Ottoman A pair of custom made lounge chairs & matching ottoman developed and produced at our workshops in London using the highest quality materia...
Sheepskin, Oak
Sold
H 33.08 in W 31.5 in D 33.47 in
Custom Made Karu Sheepskin Lounge Chairs and Ottoman for Rhea Breck 50%
Located in London, England
Dagmar Design KARU Lounge Chair & Ottoman A pair of custom made lounge chairs & matching ottoman developed and produced at our workshops in London using the highest quality materia...
Sheepskin, Oak
Custom Made Karu Sheepskin Lounge Chairs and Ottomans for Lisa
Located in London, England
Dagmar Design KARU Lounge Chair & Ottoman A pair of custom made lounge chairs & matching ottomans developed and produced at our workshops in London using the highest quality materi...
Sheepskin, Oak
$7,933 / item
H 29.53 in W 31.89 in D 32.68 in
Little Petra VB1 Lounge Chair in Sheepskin/Honey 50mm & Walnut for & Tradition
By Viggo Boesen
Located in Bayrut, Beirut Governorate
Initially introduced back in 1938, Little Petra won instant praise at the Copenhagen Cabinetmakers Guild Exhibition, subsequently winning awards at exhibits in New York and Berlin. ...
Walnut, Sheepskin
Sampo Wing Chair in Sheepskin by Dagmar
Located in London, England
Dagmar Design Sampo Wing chair A custom-made wing chair developed & produced using the highest quality materials. This obscure design originated from the workshop of little-known Co...
Sheepskin, Beech
Custom Made Model 54 Sheepskin Lounge Chair
Located in London, England
Dagmar Design Model 54 Lounge Chair A custom made lounge chair developed and hand-made at our workshops in London using the highest quality materials. The 54 chair is available to ...
Sheepskin, Beech
Illum Wikkelsø 'Ox' Lounge Chairs in Beige Sheepskin
By Illum Wikkelsø
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Illum Wikkelsø, 'Ox' lounge chair, sheepskin, wood, Denmark, 1960s An exquisitely designed easy chair upholstered in sheepskin by esteemed Danish designer Illum Wikkelsø, this 'Ox C...
Sheepskin, Wood
$5,833
H 33.86 in W 32.29 in D 33.86 in
A Danish Cabinetmaker Lounge Chair in Sheepskin, Denmark c. 1940s
Located in Hønefoss, 30
A generously proportioned lounge chair by Danish cabinetmaker, with a slightly canted rectangular back and rounded, sloping armrests, raised on short block legs. Newly upholstered in...
Sheepskin, Beech
$6,625 / item
H 30 in W 32 in D 26 in
Little Petra Lounge Chair in Sheepskin with Oak Frame by & Tradition
By Viggo Boesen, &Tradition
Located in Vancouver, BC
Initially introduced back in 1938, Little Petra won instant praise at the Copenhagen Cabinetmakers Guild Exhibition, subsequently winning awards at exhibits in New York and Berlin. I...
Sheepskin, Oak
$7,461 / item
H 31.89 in W 26.97 in D 25.6 in
Custom Made 1940s Style Sheepskin Ryo Lounge Chair by Dagmar
Located in London, England
Ryo armchair The Ryo is a new edition of a design first produced by cabinetmakers Hans Hansen & Son in the early 1940s at their workshop in Odense, Denmark. Ryo encapsulates the ele...
Sheepskin, Oak
Custom Made Sampo Sheepskin Wing Chair
Located in London, England
Dagmar Design - Sampo Wing Chair This obscure design originated from the workshop of little-known Copenhagen upholsterer Christian Sorensen in the early 1940s. The flowing, organic ...
Sheepskin, Beech, Oak, Fabric, Walnut
Scandinavian Mid Century Lounge Chair in Sheepskin
By Flemming Lassen
Located in Karlstad, SE
High-back lounge chair manufactured in Denmark ca 1940. This majestic chair surrounds you with its curved backrest and is just as comfortable as it looks. It's been reupholster...
Sheepskin, Wood
Carl Malmsten 'Redet' Lounge Chair in Brown Velvet and Ash
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Carl Malmsten for AB O.H. Sjögren in Tranås, 'Redet' lounge chair, ash, velvet, Sweden, 1936 The Redet lounge chair is one of Carl Malmsten’s most distinctive designs, created in 19...
Velvet, Ash
Custom Made Model 54 Sheepskin Lounge Chair
Located in London, England
Dagmar Design - model 54 lounge chair The Model 54 is from our custom-made upholstered range. The frame is solid beech wood with a fully sprung seat. The 54 chair is available to or...
Sheepskin, Beech, Oak
$5,500
H 39.5 in W 26 in D 22.5 in
Danish Mid-Century Modern, Beige Sheepskin, Beech, Lounge Chair, Denmark, 1960s
Located in Stamford, CT
Danish Mid-Century Modern, Beige Shearling, Beech, Lounge Chair, Denmark, 1960s Danish modern high back lounge chair with open stained wood armrests designed and produced in 20th ce...
Sheepskin, Wood
Danish Cabinetmaker Lounge Chair in Sheepskin, Denmark 1940s
Located in Utrecht, NL
Scandinavian design is a distinctive style that represents a design philosophy, guided by functionality, simplicity and clean lines. The maker of this lounge chair not only had a pre...
Sheepskin, Wood
$10,730
H 41.74 in W 33.86 in D 37.41 in
Otto Schulz Armchair in White Sheepskin and Beech, Boet, Sweden, 1940s
By Boet, Otto Schulz
Located in The Hague, NL
This rare wingback chair was designed by Otto Schulz and produced by Boet in Goteborg, Sweden in the 1940s. The elegant organic lines of the design create a striking silhouette. Its ...
Leather, Sheepskin, Upholstery, Wood, Beech
Scandinavian Mid Century Lounge Chair in Sheepskin
By Ib Madsen and Acton Schubell
Located in Karlstad, SE
Rare version of the famous clam chair, upholstered in off-white sheepskin and leather buttons. This chair was most likely manufactured in Sweden, circa 1940. Condition: Very good...
Sheepskin, Wood
$13,250 / set
H 30 in W 32 in D 26 in
Little Petra Lounge Chair in Sheepskin with Oak Frame by & Tradition
By Viggo Boesen, &Tradition
Located in Vancouver, BC
Initially introduced back in 1938, Little Petra won instant praise at the Copenhagen Cabinetmakers Guild Exhibition, subsequently winning awards at exhibits in New York and Berlin. I...
Sheepskin, Oak
$82,000 / set
H 26.78 in W 35.44 in D 61.03 in
Ubald Klug DS-1025 "Terrazza" Sofa for De Sede, Brown Leather, 1974, Set of 4
By Ubald Klug, De Sede
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Ubald Klug DS-1025 "Terrazza" sofas for De Sede, brown leather, Switzerland, 1974, set of four. Ubald Klug designed this rare modular DS-1025 "Terrazza" sofa as a real living landsc...
Leather
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
$1,141 / item
H 32.29 in W 21.66 in D 19.69 in
Shell Dining Chair, Linen Schwarzwald Dedar, by Vintola Studio, Europe, Poland
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Springy, very comfortable and stabile dining seats. They are contemporary chairs inspired of 1960s style. They can be used as armchairs and dining chairs. Chair was designed by Vi...
Linen, Bouclé, Beech, Velvet
$2,600 / item
H 33.47 in W 17.72 in D 20.08 in
Giraffe dining Chair in Solid Brazilian Wood by Juliana Vasconcellos
By Juliana Lima Vasconcellos
Located in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais
The Giraffe dining chair was designed with soft curves and slender, but with volume, bringing comfort and elegance. The base structure was thought with three feet. The upholstered se...
Wood
$2,860 / item
H 29.93 in W 23.63 in D 23.63 in
Ethnic Straw Armchair by +55design Brazilian Design with Indigenous Craft
By Neca Abrantes
Located in Jardim America, SP
This rotating armchair by Neca Abrantes is a striking fusion of contemporary Brazilian design and indigenous handcrafted traditions. Known for her deep passion for native craftsmansh...
Straw
$3,530
H 28.75 in W 47.25 in D 25.6 in
Antique Neoclassical Mahogany Writing Desk with Brass Inlays and Three Drawers
Located in Miami, FL
This elegant antique Spanish writing desk showcases a refined neoclassical design with clean architectural lines and beautifully balanced proportions. Crafted from solid wood with a ...
Brass
$3,241Sale Price|20% Off
H 59.85 in W 33.86 in D 1.97 in
Antique 19th Century Gold Leaf Gilt French Louis Philippe Mirror
Located in Casteren, NL
This beautiful and tall antique French mirror is completely gold leaf gilt and is made in Louis Philippe style with it's typical rounded upper corners. The mirror frame has a classic...
Gold Leaf
$3,660Sale Price|57% Off
H 52 in Dm 26 in
Italian Mid-Century Murano Glass Chandelier by Barovier e Toso
By Barovier&Toso
Located in North Bergen, NJ
Stunning and elegant Italian Mid-Century Modern chandelier by Barovier e Toso. Having six Murano glass shades with six curved glass leafs. Any amount of chain can be added for custom...
Glass
$4,250 / set
H 15.75 in W 5 in D 3 in
Brass and Murano Glass Sconces, Mid-Century Modern Style, Italy, New Design
Located in Austin, TX
Petite sconces from Murano, Italy made with smoked glass stamped into a lovely curved shape with texture. The brass structure has been newly wired to fit US standards. This pair is...
Brass
$7,419
H 29.53 in W 70.87 in D 98.43 in
Le Bambole Bed In Buffalo Leather By Mario Bellini For B&B Italia, 1970s
By Mario Bellini, B&B Italia
Located in ABCOUDE, UT
The Iconic “Le Bambole” collection by Mario Bellini also features this amazing kingsize foldable bed: “The Bambolettone”. The bed can be used as a daybed, lounge sofa, dormeuse, and ...
Velvet
Art Deco Small Chest of Drawers
Located in New York, NY
A small Art Deco chest of drawers. Amboyna and ebonized fruitwood with fluted leg details and patinated brass pulls.
Ebony, Amboyna
Biedermeier Style Walnut Table
By Modern History
Located in Westwood, NJ
Biedermeier Walnut Table with a warm amber brown walnut finish, the rayed and figured top above a single central hexagonal baluster pedestal base. Dimensions: 36" W x 36" D x 29.5...
Wood
Jules Leleu Chair circa 1935 signed
By Jules Leleu
Located in CA, CA
This chair is an iconic design created by the legendary French Art Deco master Jules Leleu and fire stamped twice once J. Leleu and another Leleu Paris, A very stylish chair made of...
Beech
late 1940s desk by Gio Ponti in walnut wood
By Gio Ponti
Located in Vigevano, PV
late 1940s desk by Gio Ponti in walnut wood and formica top. this desk was made for a house in milan, designed by gio ponti and emilio lancia.
Formica, Walnut
$34,500
H 28.15 in W 124.41 in D 67.72 in
Adrian Pearsall Grand Boomerang Sofa in Grey Pierre Frey Bouclé
By Adrian Pearsall
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Adrian Pearsall for Craft Associates, 'Boomerang' sofa, model '1600-S', Pierre Frey 'Louison' bouclé, walnut, United States, 1960s This exceptional Boomerang sofa, designed by Adria...
Bouclé, Walnut
$16,000
H 16 in W 58 in D 58 in
Square Modern Metal & Parchment Coffee Table by Costantini, Michelangelo
By Costantini
Located in New York, NY
MIguelangelo Quadrato Square Modern Customizable Metal and Parchment Coffee Table by Costantini Dimensions: 57'' W x 57'' D x 16'' H About Costantini Design Costantini has been a...
Metal
Scandinavian modernism is perhaps the warmest and most organic iteration of modernist design. The work of the designers associated with vintage Scandinavian modern furniture was founded on centuries-old beliefs in both quality craftsmanship and the ideal that beauty should enhance even the humblest accessories of daily life.
ORIGINS OF SCANDINAVIAN MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN
CHARACTERISTICS OF SCANDINAVIAN MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN
SCANDINAVIAN MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNERS TO KNOW
ICONIC SCANDINAVIAN MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNS
VINTAGE SCANDINAVIAN MODERN FURNITURE ON 1STDIBS
The gentle, organic contours that are typical of Scandinavian design appear in the furnishings and decor created by Danish, Finnish and Swedish designers not as a stylistic gesture, but rather as a practical, ergonomic — and, as importantly, elegant — response to the human form.
Each nation produced exceptional talents in all areas of the applied arts, yet each had its forté. Sweden was home to Greta Magnusson Grossman and Bruno Mathsson — creators of the classic Grasshopper lighting series and Berlin daybed, respectively — but the country excelled most notably at ceramics. In the 1920s at the great Gustavsberg porcelain manufactory, Wilhelm Kåge introduced pieces in the Scandinavian style based on influences from folklore to Cubism; his skills were passed on to his versatile and inspired pupils Berndt Friberg and Stig Lindberg.
Likewise, Finland produced a truly ingenious Scandinavian modern furniture designer in the architect Alvar Aalto, a master at melding function and artistic form in works like the Paimio chair, created in collaboration with his first wife, Aino. Yet Finnish glassware was pre-eminent, crafted in expressive, sculptural designs by Tapio Wirkkala and Timo Sarpaneva.
The Danes excelled at chairs. Hans Wegner and Arne Jacobsen were exemplars of the country’s facility with wood, particularly teak.
Wegner created such iconic pieces as the Round chair and the Wishbone chair; Jacobsen — while the revolutionary architect and furniture innovator produced the best-selling plywood Ant chair — designed two classic upholstered pieces of the 1950s: the Swan chair and Egg chair. The list of great Danes could go on and on, including Finn Juhl, a stylistic maverick and maker of the bold Chieftain chair; Poul Kjaerholm, with his lean metal-and-rattan aesthetic; and Verner Panton, who introduced a vibrant Pop note into international design.
Today, decades after their heyday, the prolific, ever-evolving Scandinavian modernists continue to amaze and delight, and interior designers all over the world use their pieces to bring warmth to any given space.
On 1stDibs, you will note both instantly recognizable vintage Scandinavian modern chairs, sofas, rugs and tables — those that have earned iconic status over time — and many new discoveries.
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.
You know the designs, now get the stories about how they came to be.
If anyone is brave, humble and adept enough to recolor these mid-century masterpieces, it’s Ilse Crawford. Here, she gives us the details on her five earthy paint choices and tells us how she feels about design collaborations.
In an innovative display, the Designmuseum Danmark is permanently exhibiting the 20th century's most iconic seats.
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.