$10,775
H 36.62 in W 31.11 in D 35.44 in
Kurt Olsen Model 221 Armchair in Élitis Tweed Fabric, Slagelse Møbelfabrik, 1955
By Élitis, Kurt Olsen, Slagelse Mobelvaerk
Located in The Hague, NL
, brown, and pale blue lend depth. Often affectionately referred to as Kurt Olsen’s “Papa Bear”—a nod to
Fabric, Upholstery, Oak, Teak
$6,200
H 31 in W 70 in D 34 in
Mid-Century Danish Modern Sofa by Kurt Olsen Model 220 Papa Bear Style, 1960's
By Slagelse Mobelvaerk, Kurt Olsen
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Mid-Century Modern Scandinavian designed sofa by Kurt Olsen for Slagelse Mobelvaerk as Model 220
Wool
Kurt Olsen 'Papa Bear' Model 220 Sofa by Slagelse Møbevaerk
By Kurt Olsen, Slagelse Mobelvaerk
Located in Ottawa, ON
Sofa designed by Kurt Olsen and manufactured in Denmark by Slagelse Møbelvaerk. The back of the
Teak
Kurt Olsen Papa Bear Chair in Alpaca Wool, Denmark, 1955
By Kurt Olsen
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Stunning large lounge chair model 221 designed by Kurt Olsen and manufactured by Slagelse
Alpaca, Teak
Kurt Olsen Model-220 “Papa Bear” Sofa for Slagelse Mobelvaerk
By Kurt Olsen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Designer: Kurt Olsen Manufacturer: Slagelse Mobelvaerk Period/Style: Danish Modern Country
Teak
Danish Modern “Papa Bear” Sofa
By Kurt Olsen
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Danish modern teak “Papa Bear” sofa in the style of Kurt Olsen.
Fabric, Teak
Unique and Very Rare Kurt Olsen Lounge Chair "Papa Bear"
By Kurt Olsen
Located in Appeltern, Gelderland
Very rare and exclusive lounge chair "papa bear" by Kurt Olsen by Slagelse, Denmark. The chair is
Teak
Sold
H 36.62 in W 32.29 in D 35.44 in
Midcentury Unique and Very Rare Set Kurt Olsen Lounge Chairs "Papa Bear"
By Kurt Olsen, Slagelse Mobelvaerk
Located in Appeltern, Gelderland
Very rare and exclusive lounge chairs "papa bear" by Kurt Olsen by Slagelse Denmark in Cedar. The
Cedar
Sold
H 36.62 in W 32.29 in D 35.44 in
Midcentury Unique and Very Rare Set Kurt Olsen Lounge Chairs "Papa Bear"
By Kurt Olsen, Slagelse Mobelvaerk
Located in Appeltern, Gelderland
Very rare and exclusive lounge chairs "papa bear" by Kurt Olsen by Slagelse Denmark in Cedar. The
Cedar
"Papa Bear" style Armchair by Kurt Olsen
Located in Hudson, NY
Danish mid-century modern armchair in the style of Hans Wegner's Papa Bear chair, upholstered in
$2,800 / set
H 14.75 in W 8.5 in D 4 in
Pair of Art Deco Style Murano Glass Demi Lune Wall Sconces, in Stock
Located in Miami, FL
Pair of Art Deco style Murano glass demi lune wall sconces, in stock One LED E26 base socket. Black glass sphere and brass fittings. Textured Murano glass, Wired to the American sta...
Brass
$9,198 / item
H 35.44 in W 63 in D 27.56 in
Brass and Alabaster Mobile Chandelier by Glustin Luminaires
By Glustin Creation
Located in Saint-Ouen, IDF
Mobile kinetic chandelier made of patinated brass with a round counterweight and two enlighten alabaster globes. Original design by Glustin Luminaires.
Alabaster, Brass
Pins Medium Side Table
By Marioni
Located in Milan, IT
Colorful and sophisticated, this side table will make an elegant statement in a contemporary living room, where it can be displayed alone or combined with others in the same Pins col...
Brass
Gino Sarfatti Model No. 2065 Ceiling Light for Astep
By Flos, Gino Sarfatti, Astep
Located in Glendale, CA
Gino Sarfatti model no. 2065 ceiling lamp for Astep. Designed in 1950, this is an authorized re-edition by Alessandro Sarfatti, grandson of Gino Sarfatti, who applies his grandfathe...
Aluminum
Pair of Tulips Murano Glass and Brass Sconces
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Pair of wall lamps, entirely handmade in Murano, Italy, that bring the energy of Nature and Feng Shui into your interior. This pair of modern organic wall lamps is composed of a hand...
Brass
$8,895
H 32.5 in W 108 in D 33 in
Adrian Pearsall Sofa with Travertine Side Tables for Craft Associates
By Adrian Pearsall, Craft Associates
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Transforming a piece of Mid-Century Modern furniture is like bringing history back to life, and we take this journey with passion and precision. With over 17 years of artisanal exper...
Upholstery, Foam, Wood
Swedish Designer, Sofa, Wood, Velvet, Sweden, 1930s
Located in High Point, NC
A dark-stained wood and green velvet sofa designed and produced in Sweden, c. 1930s. Vintage fabric in distressed condition, ideally reupholstered. Dimensions: 32” H x 74” W x 36” ...
Velvet, Wood
Italian Designer, Sofa, Velvet, Wood, Italy, 1950s
Located in High Point, NC
A yellow velvet and wood sofa designed and produced in Italy, c. 1950s. Overall Dimensions (inches): 28.0"H x 71.25"W x 36.5"D Seat Height (inches): 13.25" All upholstered furnitu...
Velvet, Wood
Carl Malmsten "Samsas" Sofa for O.H. Sjögren, Sweden 1960s
By Carl Malmsten, O.H. Sjögren
Located in Utrecht, NL
“Samsas” is for many the most associated series with Carl Malmsten. The designer devoted his life to the renewal of traditional Swedish craftsmanship, inspired by Swedish country man...
Fabric, Wood
Harvey Probber American Mid-Century Green Velvet Round Sofa
By Harvey Probber
Located in Queens, NY
American Mid-Century large round sofa with a low curved partial backrest and emerald green velvet upholstery with a button tufted removable seat cushion, resting on five short brass ...
Metal, Brass
$6,400
H 30 in W 72 in D 42 in
Single Pedestal Base Oval racetrack Shape Two Leaves Cerused Oak Dining Table
By Brueton, Dux of Sweden, Knoll, Pace Collection
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Single Pedestal Base Oval racetrack Shape Two Leaves Cerused Oak Dining Table MINT! two leaves 20 inches each 112 inches extended table length
Oak
Ole Wanscher Sofa for A. J. Iverson
By Ole Wanscher, A. J. Iversen
Located in New York, NY
Ole Wanscher Sofa for A. J. Iversen newly upholstered in Kravet tight Boucle. A sofa with a raised, tight back and sloping arms, outward swept rear legs retaining the original horse...
Bouclé, Oak
$3,472
H 38.19 in W 98.43 in D 34.26 in
Gigi Radice Mid-Century Modern Italian Sofa for Minotti, 1950s
By Minotti, Gigi Radice
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Sofa designed by Gigi Radice for Minotti. Made with solid wood structure and blue velvet covering and legs in brass and black lacquered metal. It is recommended to replace the lining...
Brass
Ib Kofod-Larsen Sette for Carlo Garhn, Denmark
By Ib Kofod-Larsen
Located in San Francisco, CA
Ib Kofod Larsen design small sofa or settee for Carlo Garhn, Denmark. Rare design in very limited production for manufacturer Carlo Garhn. High lighting the sculpted lines and float...
Wool, Teak
$6,893
H 35.44 in W 74.81 in D 36.62 in
Attributed Gio Ponti Mid-Century Modern Velvet Sofa for ISA, 1950s
By ISA Bergamo, Gio Ponti
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Elegant and splendid three-seater sofa with high backrest attributed Gio Ponti, 1950s, for ISA Edizioni, Bergamo. Carved profile, refined lines, sensual and deep comfort. The ivory v...
Velvet, Beech, Fir
Mid-Century Modern Sofa, Europe ca 1950s
Located in Utrecht, NL
Mid-century design is typically characterized by clean, simple lines and honest use of quality materials. It also generally includes minimal, tasteful use of decorative embellishment...
Fabric, Wood
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.