$4,600 / set
H 33.75 in W 36 in D 38.5 in
Orchidee Lounge Chairs and Ottoman by Michel Cadestin for Airborne, France 1968
By Michel Cadestin
Located in Chicago, IL
Orchidee Lounge Chairs by Michel Cadestin for Airborne, France 1968. Original upholstery is
Upholstery
French Leather Two-Seater by Michel Cadestin for Airborne
By Michel Cadestin
Located in Beerse, VAN
This 1970s leather two-seater from the ‘Orchidée’ series designed by Michel Cadestin for Airborne
Leather
$7,020
H 35.44 in W 39.38 in D 37.41 in
Michel Cadestin for Airborne. “Karate” velvet armchair. Circa 1970.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Michel Cadestin for Airborne Large wingback chair, “Karate” model. The seat and fiberglass shell
Fiberglass
$7,500 / set
H 33.75 in W 36 in D 38.5 in
Pair Black Orchidee Lounge Chairs by Michel Cadestin for Airborne France
By Michel Cadestin
Located in New York, NY
Michel Cadestin for Airborne, Orchide Lounge Chairs Newly Upholstered in High quality faux black
Faux Leather
$3,557
H 35.44 in W 38.98 in D 38.19 in
“Orchidée” Lounge Chair by Michel Cadestin for Airborne, France, 1968
By Airborne International, Michel Cadestin
Located in Oud Beijerland, NL
Very comfortable "Orchidée" lounge chair by Michel Cadestin for Airborne International. This model
Fabric, Foam, Carbon Fiber
$2,674Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 33.08 in W 86.62 in D 35.44 in
ORCHID Modular Sofa & Armchair by Michel Cadestin for Airborne, France 1970's
By Michel Cadestin
Located in Oud-Turnhout, VAN
Vintage Midcentury Modern French Design "ORCHID" Modular Sofa & Armchair set by Michel Cadestin for
Fabric, Fiberglass, Polyester
$35,000 / set
H 36.62 in W 33.47 in D 36.62 in
Set of 8 Armchairs and Ottomans by Michel Cadestin for Airborne, France 1970
Located in Andrézieux-Bouthéon, FR
Set of 8 Armchairs and Ottomans by Michel Cadestin for Airborne, 1970 Vintage Design Rare in set
Leather, Fiberglass
$6,650
H 37.8 in W 35.44 in D 40.95 in
“Orchidée” Lounge Chair by Michel Cadestin for Airborne, France, 1968
By Michel Cadestin
Located in Utrecht, NL
height 15.15 in 90 cm W x 104 cm D x 96 cm H, seat height 38.5 cm About the designer: Michel Cadestin
Leather, Fiberglass
$14,743 / set
H 33.47 in W 141.74 in D 39.38 in
'Karate' set by Michel Cadestin for Airborne, France 1970's
By Michel Cadestin
Located in Brussels, BE
This Living room set is totally reupholstered in a nice Rusty Mustard bouclé, enhancing its confort and warmness wich associated to its space age shell keeps the authenticity of vint...
Bouclé, Fiberglass
$11,304
H 32.68 in W 147.64 in D 25.6 in
Orchidée modular lounge chairs by Michel Cadestin for Airborne, France
By Airborne International, Michel Cadestin
Located in Brussels, BE
Cadestin in the late 1960s and produced by Airborne International. Each armchair has been restored and
Fabric, Fiberglass
$3,450 / set
H 29.93 in W 24.81 in D 26.78 in
Three-Piece Modular Sofa Set '‘Orchidée" by Michel Cadestin for Airborne
By Michel Cadestin
Located in Debrecen, HU
and sculptural presence. This particular model closely echoes the sensibility of Michel Cadestin
Velvet, Fiberglass
$4,167
H 35.83 in W 35.44 in D 39.38 in
Karate Armchair by Michel Cadestin for Airborne, France, 1970s
By Geoffrey Harcourt, Artifort
Located in Oud Beijerland, NL
Very comfortable space age "Karate" armchair by the french designer Michel Cadestin, manufactured
Metal
$7,500
H 37.5 in W 37.5 in D 39.5 in
Karate Airborne, Michel Cadestin White Boucle Fiberglass Chair, France, 1970s
By Michel Cadestin
Located in New York, NY
Karate Airborne, Michel Cadestin Wool Boucle and leather swivel fiberglass chair, France, 1970s
Leather, Mohair, Fiberglass
$3,800 / set
H 35.44 in W 37.41 in D 39.38 in
Space Age Mohair “Orchidée” Lounge Chairs Michel Cadestin, Airborne, France 1968
By Airborne International, Michel Cadestin
Located in bergen op zoom, NL
Luxurious Mohair velvet upholstered Orchidée "lady & senior" lounge chairs by Michel Cadestin for
Mohair, Foam, Fiberglass
$7,000 / set
H 35 in W 38 in D 38 in
Rare 'Karate' Swiveling Fiberglass Shell Chair by Michel Cadestin
By Airborne International, Michel Cadestin
Located in Los Angeles, CA
circa 1970 by Michel Cadestin for French furniture manufacturer Airborne. Referred to as the "Karate
Iron
Unavailable
H 36.62 in W 33.08 in D 36.62 in
Space Age Karate Armchair by Michel Cadestin for Airborne
By Michel Cadestin
Located in BAARLO, LI
Beautiful Space Age armchair from the 1960s by Michel Cadestin for Airborne France. White
Leather, Fiberglass
Unavailable
H 37.8 in W 35.44 in D 39.38 in
Space Age Orchid Armchair by Michel Cadestin for Airborne 1970s
By Michel Cadestin
Located in BAARLO, LI
This Space Age fiberglass armchair, the "Orchidée", was one of the Cadestin models ordered by the
Leather, Fiberglass
Unavailable
H 37.8 in W 35.44 in D 39.38 in
Space Age Orchid Armchair & Stool by Michel Cadestin for Airborne 1970s
By Michel Cadestin
Located in BAARLO, LI
This Space Age fiberglass armchair with footstool, the "Orchidée", was one of the Cadestin models
Leather, Fiberglass
Unavailable
H 35.04 in W 100.79 in D 40.56 in
Michel Cadestin Armchair Orchidée for Airborne, French 1970's
By Michel Cadestin
Located in VILLEURBANNE, FR
Armchair vintage by Michel Cadestin for Airborne dating from the 1970s Very well made French
Leather, Fiberglass
Unavailable
H 33.47 in W 31.5 in D 31.5 in
Michel Cadestin 'Orchid' Lounge Armchair for Airborne, 1970s, 1 of 2
By Michel Cadestin
Located in PEGO, Alicante
1 of 2, Armchairs by Michel Cadestin for Airborne "Orchid" model, new restored fiberglass frame
Fabric, Fiberglass
Unavailable
H 35.04 in W 100.79 in D 40.56 in
Michel Cadestin Sofa Orchidée for Airborne, French 1970's
By Michel Cadestin
Located in VILLEURBANNE, FR
3-seater sofa by Michel Cadestin for Airborne dating from the 1970s Very well made French
Leather, Fiberglass
Unavailable
H 35.83 in W 74.81 in D 22.45 in
Karate Sofa by Michel Cadestin. Airborne 1960 1970. Mid-century space age design
By Michel Cadestin
Located in L'Isle sur la Sorgue, FR
Karate sofa by Michel Cadestin for Airborne, 1970 Steel, leather and fiberglass. Perfect condition
Steel
Unavailable
H 37.41 in W 37.8 in D 35.44 in
Space Age 'Karate' Swiveling Fiberglass Shell Chairs by Michel Cadestin
By Michel Cadestin
Located in PEGO, Alicante
Rare pair (priced INDIVIDUALLY) of 'Karate' swiveling fiberglass shell chairs by Michel Cadestin
Fabric, Fiberglass
Unavailable
H 29.93 in W 24.81 in D 26.78 in
Vintage Moss Green Velvet Modular sofa set attributed to Michel Cadestin
By Michel Cadestin
Located in Debrecen-Pallag, HU
1960s original Vintage space age fiberglass - velvet sofa set attributed to Michel Cadestin, made
Velvet, Fiberglass
Sold
H 34.65 in W 38.19 in D 40.95 in
Pair of Karate Armchairs by Michel Cadestin for Airborne, France, 1970's
By Michel Cadestin
Located in Barcelona, ES
Pair of Karate armchairs designed in 1970's by Michel Cadestin for Airborne, France. Molded
Fabric, Fiberglass
Sold
H 35.44 in W 32.29 in D 33.86 in
Set of two "Orchid" lounge chairs by Michel Cadestin for Airborne
By Michel Cadestin
Located in Antwerpen, VAN
Michel Cadestin for Airborne International in 1968. Known for their sophisticated design, these chairs
Chrome
Sold
H 33.86 in W 37.8 in D 36.62 in
Karate Fiberglass Shell Lounge Chair by Michel Cadestin for Airborne, 1970s
By Michel Cadestin
Located in Lisboa, PT
The Karate Chair was designed by Michel Cadestin for Airborne, in France, during the 1970s This
Iron
Sold
H 37.75 in W 35.5 in D 41 in
Orchidée Lounge Chair by Michel Cadestin for Airborne, France 1968 - 2 Available
By Michel Cadestin
Located in Chicago, IL
A rare French ‘Orchidée’ lounge chair designed by Michel Cadestin for Airborne in 1968. This
Upholstery, Fiberglass
Karate Sofa by Michel Cadestin for Airborne, France 1970's
By Michel Cadestin
Located in Brussels, BE
"Karate" Sofa by Michel Castedin, created for Airborne in 1970. This sofa preserves its original
Fabric, Fiberglass
Sold
H 35.44 in W 37.41 in D 41.34 in
Lounge Chair Model 530 by Michel Cadestin for Airborne, France, 1960s
By Michel Cadestin
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Large and very comfy lounge chair model 530 designed by Michel Cadestin and produced by Airbone
Fabric, Fiberglass, Foam
Sold
H 35.44 in W 37.41 in D 35.44 in
'Yoga' Lounge Chair by Michel Cadestin for Airborne International, France, 1970s
By Airborne International, Michel Cadestin
Located in Karis, Nyland
'Yoga' lounge chair designed by Michel Cadestin, manufactured by Airborne International in France
Fabric, Fiberglass
Sold
H 35.04 in W 37.01 in D 35.44 in
Michel Cadestin ‘Karate’ lounge chair and ottoman for Airborne, France 1970s
By Michel Cadestin
Located in Sittard, LI
Iconic space age 'Karate' lounge chair with matching ottoman. Designed by Michel Cadestin for
Metal
Black Leather Karate Sofa by Michel Cadestin, 1970s
By Michel Cadestin
Located in London, London
Karate sofa By Michel Cadestin for Airborne Black leather White fibreglass shell
Leather, Fiberglass
Pair of Michel Cadestin "Karate" Lounge Chairs by Airborne
Located in Highland, IN
These wonderful lounge chairs by Michel Cadestin for Airborne have a character all their own. The
Upholstery, Fiberglass
French Modern Karate Chair By Michel Cadestin
By Michel Cadestin
Located in Houston, TX
French Modern Karate Chairs By Michel Cadestin Stunning French Modern Michel Cadestin for Airborne
Fiberglass, Velvet
Michel Cadestin, Karate Chair in Fiberglass and Leather, 1970’s
By Michel Cadestin
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Michel Cadestin for Airborne, attributed to. “Karate” chair with a white fiberglass shell with a
Leather, Fiberglass
A Rare Pair of Fiberglass Karate Lounge Chairs by Michel Cadestin
By Michel Cadestin
Located in Dallas, TX
A rare pair of "Karate" Swivel Lounge Chairs by Michel Cadestin for Airborne. The chair's frame is
Velvet, Fiberglass
Michel Cadestin, Karate Chair in Fiberglass and Leather, 1970s
By Michel Cadestin
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Michel Cadestin for Airborne, attributed to. “Karate” chair with a white fiberglass shell with a
Metal
Michel Cadestin Karate Velvet Sofa for Airborne, 1968
By Michel Cadestin
Located in Munich, DE
Michele Cadestin impressive and original velvet, fiberglass sofa was produced in 1968 by Airborne
Velvet, Fiberglass
Sold
H 33.86 in W 68.9 in D 37.41 in
Michel Cadestin "Karate" Chairs and Sofa for Airborne International
By Michel Cadestin
Located in Paris, FR
Mid-Century Modern "Karate" living room set designed by Michel Cadestin (b. 1942) and manufactured
Fabric, Fiberglass
Michel Cadestin Karate Velvet Lounge Chair for Airborne, 1968
By Airborne International, Michel Cadestin
Located in Munich, DE
A stunning "Karate" lounge chair by Michael Cadestin for Airborne. This lounge chair is truly Space
Velvet, Fiberglass
Michael Cadestin Karate Lounge Chair with Ottoman for Airborne
By Airborne International, Michel Cadestin
Located in Culver City, CA
A stunning "Karate" lounge chair by Michael Cadestin for Airborne. This lounge chair is truly space
Fiberglass
Sold
H 36.23 in W 37.41 in D 37.41 in
‘Karate’ Lounge Chair in Fiberglass and Cognac Leather for Airborne Internationa
By Airborne International, Michel Cadestin
Located in Voorburg, NL
This iconic chair is designed by Michel Cadestin for the French furniture manufacturer Airborne
Leather, Fiberglass
Karate Ottoman by Michel Cadestin for Airborne International
By Airborne International, Michel Cadestin
Located in New York, NY
Great Mod ottoman stool designed by Michel Cadestin for Airborne International. Very good original
Leather, Fiberglass
Pair of French Michel Cadestin for Airborne Karate Lounge Chairs
By Michel Cadestin
Located in Houston, TX
Rare pair of French Michel Cadestin for Airborne Karate lounge chairs. These shapely and extremely
Fiberglass
Sold
H 33.86 in W 70.08 in D 39.38 in
Karate Fiberglass Shell Sofa by Michel Cadestin for Airborne, 1970s
By Michel Cadestin
Located in Lisboa, PT
The Karate sofa was designed by Michel Cadestin for Airborne, in France, during the 1970s. This
Iron
Sold
H 35 in W 37.5 in D 39 in
Michel Cadestin for Airborne White Fiberglass with Leather Lounge Chair Ottoman
By Michel Cadestin
Located in Ferndale, MI
Michel Cadestin for Airborne of France " Karate " lounge chair with ottoman that can double as
Iron
Michel Cadestin "Karate" Lounge Chair and Ottoman by Airborne
By Michel Cadestin
Located in Highland, IN
This terrific fiberglass lounge chair by Michel Cadestin for Airborne has a plush, tufted interior
Upholstery, Fiberglass
Sold
H 37.5 in W 37.5 in D 39.5 in
Karate Airborne, Michel Cadestin Mohair Swivel Fiberglass Chair, France, 1970s
By Michel Cadestin
Located in New York, NY
Karate Airborne, Michel Cadestin Mohair velvet swivel fiberglass chair, France, 1970s. Super
Leather, Mohair, Fiberglass
Sold
H 37.5 in W 37.5 in D 39.5 in
Michel Cadestin Airborne Karate Fiberglass Chair Table, Green Corduroy 1970
Located in New York, NY
Michel Cadestin for Airborne Fiberglass chair with corduroy upholstery. Comes with original
Cotton, Fiberglass
Pair Of French Modern Karate Chairs By Michel Cadestin
By Michel Cadestin
Located in Houston, TX
Rare pair of French Modern Michel Cadestin for Airborne Karate lounge chairs. These shapely and
Bouclé, Fiberglass
Pair of "Karate" Chairs by Michel Cadestin, 1970s
By Michel Cadestin
Located in Hamburg, PA
A space age pair of "Karate" Chairs by Michel Cadestin for Airborne, France. The pair of swivel
Upholstery, Fiberglass
Michel Cadestin "Karate" Chair for Airborne, circa 1970s
By Michel Cadestin
Located in LAGUNA BEACH, CA
Michel Cadestin "Karate" chair for Airborne, circa 1970s Molded Fiberglass, Sandra Jordan Prima
Alpaca, Bouclé, Fiberglass
french coffee table airborne 70 s
By Michel Cadestin
Located in PARIS, FR
michel Cadestin French Coffee table table for airborne create during the 70 s in fiberglass ans
Metal
Sold
H 37.5 in W 37.5 in D 39.5 in
Pair of 'Karate' Lounge Chairs by Michel Cadestin for Airborne, France, 1970s
By Michel Cadestin
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of leather swivel lounge chairs designed by Michel Cadestin for Airborne. Leather over a
Leather, Fiberglass
Pair of "Karate" Chairs by Michel Cadestin for Airborne
By Michel Cadestin
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A pair of "Karate" chairs designed by Michel Cadestin for French furniture manufacturer Airborne C
Fabric, Fiberglass
Karate Chair by Michel Cadestin for Airborne, France, 1970
By Michel Cadestin
Located in Wilnis, UT
An eye-catching Karate Chair designed by Michel Cadestin, manufactured by Airborne in France around
Fabric, Fiberglass
Sold
H 35.44 in W 37.41 in D 40.16 in
Large Fiberglass Lounge Chair by Michel Cadestin for Airborne, 1960s
By Michel Cadestin
Located in Appeltern, Gelderland
Large lounge chair by Michel Cadestin manufactured by Airborne, 1968. With fiberglass base/shell
Leather, Fiberglass
Sofa Fabric and Fiberglass by Michel Cadestin for Airborne, 1968
By Michel Cadestin
Located in Paris, FR
, after a design by Michel Cadestin. The white Fiberglass hull is upholstered in blue fabric, and is very
Fabric
Sold
H 35.44 in W 37.41 in D 39.38 in
Rare Michel Cadestin Karaté Swivel Armchair for Airborne, France, 1970s
By Michel Cadestin
Located in L'Escala, ES
Beautiful and rare Michel Cadestin karaté swivel armchair in a very nice "Purple Rain" color
Velvet
$1,546 / set
H 9.85 in W 5.91 in D 3.94 in
pair of wall lamps sconces barovier&toso 1950s - barovier & toso
By Barovier&Toso
Located in taranto, IT
pair of murano glass wall sconces in white color machined, 1950s Barovier&Toso production, with brass construction elements, brass wall bracket. Made with the "dew" technique, that ...
Brass
'Floatation' Japanese Paper Suspension Lamp for Ingo Maurer
By Ingo Maurer
Located in Glendale, CA
'Floatation' Japanese paper suspension lamp for Ingo Maurer. Designed and produced by Ingo Maurer, one of the most celebrated German lighting icons since 1966. With imagination, cre...
Metal, Iron
$7,044 / item
H 21.66 in W 17.72 in D 17.72 in
Pair Various Positions Nightstand in Walnut and Oak by Master Studio for Lemon
By Lemon
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Inspired by his fascination with the aesthetic allure of interiors depicted in films and literature, Yaniv Chen endeavors to capture the essence of captivating spaces. Reflecting upo...
Oak, Walnut
Murano Sputnik Spherical Green Glass and Brass Chandelier
Located in Roma, Lazio
A fantastic emerald green sputnik, with a surprising design and for its very low height, which allows it to fit in both high and low ceilings. Very elegant, it will furnish and decor...
Brass
Crackle Textured Handmade Ceramic Mushroom Lamp, Blue
By Streicher Goods, Ethan Streicher
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
Glossy Cream Ceramic Chandelier in Antique Brass 5-Arm 42.5" DIA
By Lostine
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Five antique brass patina arms curve up from a ceramic cluster dish to five tall stoneware ceramic shades in a glossy glaze with a subtle off-white hue. With a fixed black walnut orb...
Brass
$6,306 / set
H 24.01 in Dm 13.78 in
Pair of Constant Night Stands in Iroko Wood by Master Studio for Lemon
By Lemon
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Neatly proportioned with exceptional detailing, the constant nightstand is your perfect bedside partner. In our furniture making, the IDEA is to create special pieces that you can bu...
Hardwood
Organic Modern Floor Lamp Natural Wood Handmade Ivory Fluted Shade
By Isabel Moncada
Located in San Antonio, TX
PATA DE ELEFANTE (LARGE) floor lamp was designed for the Atomic collection by Mexican artist Isabel Moncada. Named Pata de Elefante –Elephant‘s Foot– for the prominent shape at its ...
Textile, Wood, Linen, Fiberglass
$2,507 / set
H 9.85 in W 5.91 in D 8.86 in
Pair of Modern Solid Brass Sconces in the Style of Hans Agne Jakobsson, EL135
By Hans-Agne Jakobsson
Located in Ternay, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Modern Italian wall lights in the taste of Hans Agne Jakobsson's work. Structure and cup in solid brass and frosted glass disc. Excellent condition (modern creation), quantity on req...
Brass
The Albert, Custom Made Belgian Linen Armchair
Located in Jesteburg, DE
Introducing the home collection. A small selection of timeless Flemish designs made by hand for us in a small third generation workshop in Belgium. Has been used by many influent...
Linen
$5,711Sale Price|20% Off
H 28.35 in W 88.59 in D 31.5 in
Three Seater Pierre Cardin Modular Sofa in black lacquer and silk, France 1970s
By Pierre Cardin
Located in Renens, CH
Pierre Cardin, a trailblazing fashion designer known for his innovative and unconventional approach, extended his creative vision into the realm of furniture design. Pierre Cardin's ...
Brass
On Hold|$4,800 / set
H 27 in W 24.125 in D 25 in
French Designer, Small Lounge Chairs, Oak, Velvet, France, 1930s
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of very small oak and red velvet lounge chairs designed and produced in France, c. 1930s. Dimensions: 27” H x 24.125” W x 25” D Seat height: 13” H
Velvet, Oak
Ceramic Link Chain Wall Sculpture
By Asmaa Aman-Tran
Located in Attleboro, MA
Chains echo different emotions in us, some see them as a symbol of imprisonment, and vulnerability and some see as an emotion of inter connectivity and strong bond between the people...
Ceramic, Stoneware, Linen
$5,450 / set
H 13 in W 8 in D 5 in
Mid-Century Modern Murano Glass Ribbed Sconces with Brass Structure
Located in Austin, TX
Pair of sconces from Murano, Italy made of hand-blown and stamped glass. The ribbed texture of the glass creates a beautiful filter for the light. The structure is made of brass. The...
Brass
Amuneal's Brass Pantry Cabinetry
By Amuneal
Located in New York, NY
Amuneal's Brass Pantry Cabinetry, part of our metal Kitchen Collection, is designed as a feature element for any space. The three doors on the upper cabinets are fabricated with a kn...
Brass
Craft Associates Modern Lounge Chair, 2002, the Parallax
By Craft Associates
Located in Oak Harbor, OH
Designer: Laura Trenchard Manufacturer: Craft Associates Modern Furniture Period/Model: Mid-Century Modern Specs: Walnut, Mohair Yardage: 6 yards, 5.5 meters condition Craft Asso...
Mohair, Walnut
Arguably the world’s most ubiquitous man-made material, plastic has impacted nearly every industry. In contemporary spaces, new and vintage plastic furniture is quite popular and its use pairs well with a range of design styles.
From the Italian lighting artisans at Fontana Arte to venturesome Scandinavian modernists such as Verner Panton, who created groundbreaking interiors as much as he did seating — see his revolutionary Panton chair — to contemporary multidisciplinary artists like Faye Toogood, furniture designers have been pushing the boundaries of plastic forever.
When The Graduate's Mr. McGuire proclaimed, “There’s a great future in plastics,” it was more than a laugh line. The iconic quote is an allusion both to society’s reliance on and its love affair with plastic. Before the material became an integral part of our lives — used in everything from clothing to storage to beauty and beyond — people relied on earthly elements for manufacturing, a process as time-consuming as it was costly.
Soon after American inventor John Wesley Hyatt created celluloid, which could mimic luxury products like tortoiseshell and ivory, production hit fever pitch, and the floodgates opened for others to explore plastic’s full potential. The material altered the history of design — mid-century modern legends Charles and Ray Eames, Joe Colombo and Eero Saarinen regularly experimented with plastics in the development of tables and chairs, and today plastic furnishings and decorative objects are seen as often indoors as they are outside.
Find vintage plastic lounge chairs, outdoor furniture, lighting and more on 1stDibs.
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.