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Mid-Century Folding Chair, 1960s
Mid-Century Folding Chair, 1960s

Mid-Century Folding Chair, 1960s

Located in Hamburg, DE

Mid Century folding chair. The frame of the armchair is made up of black lacquered solid wood

Category

20th Century Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Cotton, Wood

Vintage Mid Century Folding Chair Beech 1 / 11
Vintage Mid Century Folding Chair Beech 1 / 11

Vintage Mid Century Folding Chair Beech 1 / 11

Located in Munich, Bavaria

This Mid Century folding chair was manufactured back in the old days 70ties in Yugoslavia. It is

Category

Vintage 1970s Serbian Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Steel

Vintage Mid- Century Folding Chair red Beech 1 / 6
Vintage Mid- Century Folding Chair red Beech 1 / 6

Vintage Mid- Century Folding Chair red Beech 1 / 6

Located in Munich, Bavaria

This Mid-Century folding chair was manufactured in Yugoslavia. It is made of solid beech wood and

Category

Vintage 1980s Serbian Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Beech

Vintage Mid Century Folding Chair Green Beech Set of 4
Vintage Mid Century Folding Chair Green Beech Set of 4

Vintage Mid Century Folding Chair Green Beech Set of 4

Located in Munich, Bavaria

Authentic Mid-Century folding chairs manufactured in the 1970s in former Yugoslavia. Crafted from

Category

Vintage 1980s Serbian Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Beech

Mid-Century Folding Chair SE18 by Egon Eiermann
Mid-Century Folding Chair SE18 by Egon Eiermann

Mid-Century Folding Chair SE18 by Egon Eiermann

By Egon Eiermann, Wilde + Spieth

Located in Vienna, AT

Folding chair model SE18 was designed in 1952 by Egon Eiermann for Wilde & Spieth. Chair is now

Category

Vintage 1950s German Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Beech, Plywood

Mid Century Folding Chairs Eden Designed by Gio Ponti, Italy 60s
Mid Century Folding Chairs Eden Designed by Gio Ponti, Italy 60s

Mid Century Folding Chairs Eden Designed by Gio Ponti, Italy 60s

By Gio Ponti

Located in Lucija, SI

Rare folding chairs design by one of the most famous italian designer Gio Ponti. This are model

Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Faux Leather, Beech

Mid-Century Wooden Folding Chair, 1960s, Set of 4
Mid-Century Wooden Folding Chair, 1960s, Set of 4

Mid-Century Wooden Folding Chair, 1960s, Set of 4

Located in Hamburg, DE

4 Mid Century folding chairs in red.Simple folding chairs made of wood. Particularly eye-catching

Category

20th Century Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Wood

Set of 4 Aldo Jacober for Alberto Bazzani Folding Chairs
Set of 4 Aldo Jacober for Alberto Bazzani Folding Chairs

Set of 4 Aldo Jacober for Alberto Bazzani Folding Chairs

By Aldo Jacober

Located in Houston, TX

A beautifully made set of mid-century folding chairs designed by Aldo Jacober and produced by

Category

Mid-20th Century Romanian Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Wood

Set of 4 Folding Chairs with Black Lacquer Finish & Caned Seats
Set of 4 Folding Chairs with Black Lacquer Finish & Caned Seats

Set of 4 Folding Chairs with Black Lacquer Finish & Caned Seats

Located in Freehold, NJ

This set of four mid century folding chairs features hardwood construction, original black lacquer

Category

Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Cane, Wood, Lacquer

Stained Beech Folding Chairs with Canvas Seat and Backrest, Set of 6
Stained Beech Folding Chairs with Canvas Seat and Backrest, Set of 6

Stained Beech Folding Chairs with Canvas Seat and Backrest, Set of 6

By Sorø Møbelfabrik

Located in Madrid, ES

Set of six mid-century folding chairs featuring solid stained beech wood frames and natural canvas

Category

20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Canvas, Beech

Rare Mid C. Bauhaus Style Canadian Pacific Railway Folding Cabin Chairs
Rare Mid C. Bauhaus Style Canadian Pacific Railway Folding Cabin Chairs

Rare Mid C. Bauhaus Style Canadian Pacific Railway Folding Cabin Chairs

Located in Vancouver, British Columbia

Rare Bauhaus inspired mid-century folding chairs in excellent condition. Originally used in 1st

Category

Vintage 1950s Canadian Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Leather, Mohair

Mid-Century Modern Teak Folding Chairs
Mid-Century Modern Teak Folding Chairs

Mid-Century Modern Teak Folding Chairs

Located in Brooklyn, NY

A beautifully crafted set of Danish garden chairs in solid teak, showcasing timeless mid-century

Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Teak

Vintage Folding Faldistorio Chair, mid-20th Century
Vintage Folding Faldistorio Chair, mid-20th Century

Vintage Folding Faldistorio Chair, mid-20th Century

Located in Roma, IT

Realized in Iron and Gilded Bronze h 53 x 70 c 88 cm. Iron, fabric, brass. Very good condition.

Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Chairs

Materials

Brass, Iron

A Mid-Century Slatted Folding scissor Chair
A Mid-Century Slatted Folding scissor Chair

A Mid-Century Slatted Folding scissor Chair

Located in London, Fitzrovia

A Mid-Century Slatted Folding Scissor Lounge Chair, Modernist.

Category

20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Wood

Mid-Century Modern Folding Chairs by Stackmore
Mid-Century Modern Folding Chairs by Stackmore

Mid-Century Modern Folding Chairs by Stackmore

Located in Brooklyn, NY

Set of four mid-century dining chairs that fold up for storage. Great V shaped back with woven

Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Wood

Mid-20th Century Child’s Wood Folding Chair
Mid-20th Century Child’s Wood Folding Chair

Mid-20th Century Child’s Wood Folding Chair

Located in Jensen Beach, FL

Charming child’s folding chair, mid-20th century. Likely French or Italian.

Category

Mid-20th Century Chairs

Materials

Wood

Mid-Century Leather and Iron Folding Curule Chair
Mid-Century Leather and Iron Folding Curule Chair

Mid-Century Leather and Iron Folding Curule Chair

Located in Leesburg, VA

Mid-Century Leather and Iron Folding Curule Chair Anonymous North America; ca. 1960s Leather, Iron

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Iron

Ergelax Mid-Century Folding Canvas Lounge Chair
Ergelax Mid-Century Folding Canvas Lounge Chair

Ergelax Mid-Century Folding Canvas Lounge Chair

Located in Miami, FL

Ergelax folding canvas lounge chair designed by R. Gleizes For RG. True Americana style, circa

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs

Materials

Canvas, Beech

Vintage Mid Century Modern Solid Wood Slatted Folding Chairs - Set of 6
Vintage Mid Century Modern Solid Wood Slatted Folding Chairs - Set of 6

Vintage Mid Century Modern Solid Wood Slatted Folding Chairs - Set of 6

Located in Philadelphia, PA

Vintage Mid Century Modern Solid Wood Slatted Folding Chairs - Set Of 6. *2 Sets of 6 available

Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Wood

Mid-Century German Safari Folding Chair from Casala, 1960s
Mid-Century German Safari Folding Chair from Casala, 1960s

Mid-Century German Safari Folding Chair from Casala, 1960s

By Casala

Located in Hamburg, DE

Rare Safari folding chair by Casala.A functional design with a clearly readable construction. The

Category

20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal

Pair of Mid-20th Century French Campaign Style Folding Chairs
Pair of Mid-20th Century French Campaign Style Folding Chairs

Pair of Mid-20th Century French Campaign Style Folding Chairs

Located in Gloucestershire, GB

Striking pair of mid-20th Century French folding campaign style chairs.  Beautifully crafted

Category

Mid-20th Century French Colonial Revival Chairs

Materials

Iron

Set of Five Mid-Century Modern Wood Folding Chairs
Set of Five Mid-Century Modern Wood Folding Chairs

Set of Five Mid-Century Modern Wood Folding Chairs

Located in Brooklyn, NY

This beautiful set of five vintage modern folding chairs feature a stylish "X" shape base. Sleek

Category

Vintage 1970s Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Wood

Pair of Mid Century Thonet Style Bentwood Folding Chairs
Pair of Mid Century Thonet Style Bentwood Folding Chairs

Pair of Mid Century Thonet Style Bentwood Folding Chairs

By Thonet

Located in Los Angeles, CA

This distinctive pair of chairs is heavily inspired by Thonet. Their bentwood construction

Category

Vintage 1960s European Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Canvas, Teak, Bentwood

Set of Four Mid-Century Modern Lucite Folding Chairs, 1970s
Set of Four Mid-Century Modern Lucite Folding Chairs, 1970s

Set of Four Mid-Century Modern Lucite Folding Chairs, 1970s

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

Very nice set of four mid century modern Lucite folding chairs. Great to have when you need that

Category

20th Century Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Chrome

Set of Four Folding Mid Century Industrial Constructivist Style Wood Chairs
Set of Four Folding Mid Century Industrial Constructivist Style Wood Chairs

Set of Four Folding Mid Century Industrial Constructivist Style Wood Chairs

By Aldo Jacober, Stol Kamnik

Located in New York, NY

Set of four industrial, mid century folding dining, bistro, cafe style chairs, constructed of solid

Category

Mid-20th Century Macedonian Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Wood

Set of Six Mid-Century Modern Unique Sculptural Folding Chairs
Set of Six Mid-Century Modern Unique Sculptural Folding Chairs

Set of Six Mid-Century Modern Unique Sculptural Folding Chairs

Located in Port Jervis, NY

Set of 6 unique folding chairs. Seat & back collapse in a unique way, folding towards each other

Category

Vintage 1950s North American Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Steel

Mid-Century Italian Set of Four Caned Folding Chairs
Mid-Century Italian Set of Four Caned Folding Chairs

Mid-Century Italian Set of Four Caned Folding Chairs

Located in Water Mill, NY

Set of four Mid-Century cane and laquered wood Italian folding chairs.

Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Chairs

Materials

Cane, Wood

Set of Four Mid-Century Modern Folding Chairs in Oak & Canvas
Set of Four Mid-Century Modern Folding Chairs in Oak & Canvas

Set of Four Mid-Century Modern Folding Chairs in Oak & Canvas

Located in Linkebeek, BE

Safari folding chairs - Safari folding chairs Measures : 52x48cm H:88cm SH:40cm Materials : Wood

Category

20th Century Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Cotton, Wood

Pair of 1960s Mid-Century Thonet B 751 Wood Folding Chairs
Pair of 1960s Mid-Century Thonet B 751 Wood Folding Chairs

Pair of 1960s Mid-Century Thonet B 751 Wood Folding Chairs

By Thonet

Located in Carimate, Como

Pair of folding chairs model B751 designed at the beginning of the 20th century by Thonet

Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Wood

Mid-Century Spanish Walnut Folding Lounge Chair with Original Tooled Leather
Mid-Century Spanish Walnut Folding Lounge Chair with Original Tooled Leather

Mid-Century Spanish Walnut Folding Lounge Chair with Original Tooled Leather

By Angel Pazmino

Located in Dallas, TX

. Versatile and practical, this mid-century chair evokes the craftsmanship and decorative artistry

Category

Mid-20th Century Spanish Baroque Chairs

Materials

Leather, Walnut

Set of Three Folding Midcentury Chairs from Sweden, 1970s
Set of Three Folding Midcentury Chairs from Sweden, 1970s

Set of Three Folding Midcentury Chairs from Sweden, 1970s

Located in Praha, CZ

Set of three folding midcentury chairs from Sweden, 1970s. Very practical.

Category

Vintage 1970s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Plastic

Pair of Mid-Century Modern Folding Chairs in Exotic Tropical Wood
Pair of Mid-Century Modern Folding Chairs in Exotic Tropical Wood

Pair of Mid-Century Modern Folding Chairs in Exotic Tropical Wood

Located in Mexico City, CDMX

Circa 1960. We offer this pair of Mid-Century Modern folding chairs in exotic tropical wood.

Category

Vintage 1960s Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Palisander

Italian mid-century modern black folding chair Tric Castiglioni BBB, 1960s
Italian mid-century modern black folding chair Tric Castiglioni BBB, 1960s

Italian mid-century modern black folding chair Tric Castiglioni BBB, 1960s

By BBB Italia, Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni

Located in MIlano, IT

Italian mid-century modern black folding chair Tric Castiglioni BBB, 1960s Folding chair mod. Tric

Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal

Mid-Century Italian Space Age Plia Folding Chair by Giancarlo Piretti, 1960s
Mid-Century Italian Space Age Plia Folding Chair by Giancarlo Piretti, 1960s

Mid-Century Italian Space Age Plia Folding Chair by Giancarlo Piretti, 1960s

By Giancarlo Piretti

Located in Hamburg, DE

Plia folding chair by Castelli based on a design by Giancarlo Piretti from the 60s. Here in a rare

Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal

80s Folding Chair
80s Folding Chair

80s Folding Chair

Located in Ljubljana, SI

A genuine piece of 1980s design, this solid wood folding chair captures the era’s focus on

Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Plywood

Italian mid-century modern grey wood folding chair Tric by Castiglioni, 1960s
Italian mid-century modern grey wood folding chair Tric by Castiglioni, 1960s

Italian mid-century modern grey wood folding chair Tric by Castiglioni, 1960s

By Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni

Located in MIlano, IT

Italian mid-century modern grey wooden folding chair Tric by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni

Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Wood

Italian mid-century modern Yellow wood folding chair Tric by Castiglioni, 1960s
Italian mid-century modern Yellow wood folding chair Tric by Castiglioni, 1960s

Italian mid-century modern Yellow wood folding chair Tric by Castiglioni, 1960s

By Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni

Located in MIlano, IT

Italian mid-century modern Yellow wood folding chair Tric by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni

Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Wood

Hans Wegner Midcentury Original Classic JH-512 Folding Lounge Chair, 1950s
Hans Wegner Midcentury Original Classic JH-512 Folding Lounge Chair, 1950s

Hans Wegner Midcentury Original Classic JH-512 Folding Lounge Chair, 1950s

By Hans J. Wegner

Located in Studio City, CA

Iconic in design and aesthetic. This exquisite folding chair was designed by famed Danish designer

Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Cane, Oak

Midcentury Rare Folding Angle Chair by Milo Baughman
Midcentury Rare Folding Angle Chair by Milo Baughman

Midcentury Rare Folding Angle Chair by Milo Baughman

By Milo Baughman, Drexel

Located in BROOKLYN, NY

For your consideration is this Mid-Century Modern lounge or easy chair from the Perspective

Category

Mid-20th Century Lounge Chairs

Materials

Linen, Wood

Folding chair, 1970s
Folding chair, 1970s

Folding chair, 1970s

$206Sale Price|20% Off

Folding chair, 1970s

Located in Ljubljana, SI

Folding chair Period: 1970s Manufacturer: Italy Material: Hard wood, cane Colour: White

Category

Vintage 1970s Slovenian Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Cane, Hardwood

Midcentury Italian Folding Chairs by Aldo Jacober for Calligaris in walnut
Midcentury Italian Folding Chairs by Aldo Jacober for Calligaris in walnut

Midcentury Italian Folding Chairs by Aldo Jacober for Calligaris in walnut

By Calligaris

Located in Vigonza, Padua

1950s pair of Italian sturdy folding chairs by Aldo Jacober for Calligaris, in solid walnut, with

Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Walnut

Set of 3 Mid-Century Space Age Stacking Folding Chair by Armin Wirth, 1960s
Set of 3 Mid-Century Space Age Stacking Folding Chair by Armin Wirth, 1960s

Set of 3 Mid-Century Space Age Stacking Folding Chair by Armin Wirth, 1960s

By Armin Wirth

Located in Hamburg, DE

Mid-Century Space Age German Stacking Folding Chair by Armin Wirth for Aluflex, 1960s, Set of 3 An

Category

20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Aluminum

Midcentury Set of Zanotta "Navy" Folding Chairs by Sergio Asti, 1969
Midcentury Set of Zanotta "Navy" Folding Chairs by Sergio Asti, 1969

Midcentury Set of Zanotta "Navy" Folding Chairs by Sergio Asti, 1969

By Sergio Asti, Zanotta

Located in Sacile, PN

Four Navy folding chairs designed by Sergio Asti for Zanotta, 1969. New canvas seats available

Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Canvas, Wood

Mid-Century Italian Arca Folding Chair by Gigi Sabadin for Crassevig, Italy, 70s
Mid-Century Italian Arca Folding Chair by Gigi Sabadin for Crassevig, Italy, 70s

Mid-Century Italian Arca Folding Chair by Gigi Sabadin for Crassevig, Italy, 70s

By Gigi Sabadin, Crassevig

Located in Lucija, SI

Folding Chair, model Arca, design by Gigi Sabadin for Crassevig was made in Italy in '70s (exactly

Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Cane, Ash, Beech

Mid Century Modern White Faux Leather and Carved Walnut Folding Chair, Set of 4
Mid Century Modern White Faux Leather and Carved Walnut Folding Chair, Set of 4

Mid Century Modern White Faux Leather and Carved Walnut Folding Chair, Set of 4

Located in Plainview, NY

A set of four Mid-Century Modern Leg-O-Matic folding chairs exemplifies the perfect balance between

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Faux Leather, Walnut

REX Folding chair 1970s
REX Folding chair 1970s

REX Folding chair 1970s

By Niko Kralj, Stol Kamnik

Located in Ljubljana, SI

Chair that served generations and the cornerstone of Rex Kralj’s foldable furniture collection

Category

Vintage 1970s Slovenian Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Plywood

Compatible Group Of 7 Acrylic Folding Chairs
Compatible Group Of 7 Acrylic Folding Chairs

Compatible Group Of 7 Acrylic Folding Chairs

By Alston

Located in Bridgeport, CT

Compatible group of 7 acrylic folding chairs including five from Alston Quality Industries. Two

Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal

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Mid-Century Folding Chairs For Sale on 1stDibs

Find a variety of mid-century folding chairs available on 1stDibs. Frequently made of wood, metal and fabric, all mid-century folding chairs available were constructed with great care. We have 810 antique and vintage mid-century folding chairs in-stock, while there are 3 modern editions to choose from as well. Mid-century folding chairs have been produced for many years, with earlier versions available from the 18th Century and newer variations made as recently as the 21st Century. Mid-century folding chairs made by mid-century modern designers — as well as those associated with Scandinavian Modern — are very popular at 1stDibs. Mid-century folding chairs have been a part of the life’s work for many furniture makers, but those produced by Giancarlo Piretti, Anonima Castelli and Aldo Jacober are consistently popular.

How Much are Mid-Century Folding Chairs?

The average selling price for at 1stDibs is $1,528, while they’re typically $48 on the low end and $75,000 highest priced.

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

CHARACTERISTICS OF MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN

MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNERS TO KNOW

ICONIC MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNS

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 Chairs for You

Chairs are an indispensable component of your home and office. Can you imagine your life without the vintage, new or antique chairs you love?

With the exception of rocking chairs, the majority of the seating in our homes today — Windsor chairs, chaise longues, wingback chairs — originated in either England or France. Art Nouveau chairs, the style of which also originated in those regions, embraced the inherent magnificence of the natural world with decorative flourishes and refined designs that blended both curved and geometric contour lines. While craftsmanship and styles have evolved in the past century, chairs have had a singular significance in our lives, no matter what your favorite chair looks like.

“The chair is the piece of furniture that is closest to human beings,” said Hans Wegner. The revered Danish cabinetmaker and furniture designer was prolific, having designed nearly 500 chairs over the course of his lifetime. His beloved designs include the Wishbone chair, the wingback Papa Bear chair and many more.

Other designers of Scandinavian modernist chairs introduced new dynamics to this staple with sculptural flowing lines, curvaceous shapes and efficient functionality. The Paimio armchair, Swan chair and Panton chair are vintage works of Finnish and Danish seating that left an indelible mark on the history of good furniture design.

“What works good is better than what looks good, because what works good lasts,” said Ray Eames

Visionary polymaths Ray and Charles Eames experimented with bent plywood and fiberglass with the goal of producing affordable furniture for a mass market. Like other celebrated mid-century modern furniture designers of elegant low-profile furnishings — among them Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Finn Juhl — the Eameses considered ergonomic support, durability and cost, all of which should be top of mind when shopping for the perfect chair. The mid-century years yielded many popular chairs.

The Eameses introduced numerous icons for manufacturer Herman Miller, such as the Eames lounge chair and ottoman, molded plywood dining chairs the DCM and DCW (which can be artfully mismatched around your dining table) and a wealth of other treasured pieces for the home and office. 

A good chair anchors us to a place and can become an object of timeless appeal. Take a seat and browse the rich variety of vintage, new and antique chairs on 1stDibs today. 

Questions About Mid-Century Folding Chairs
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 3, 2023
    An MCM chair is a mid-century modern chair. The design style known as mid-century modernism emerged during the mid-20th century and was informed by European modernism, Bauhaus, International style, Scandinavian modernism and Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture. Organically shaped, clean lines and elegantly simple are three terms that well describe mid-century modern chairs and other furniture. Find a selection of vintage mid-century modern chairs on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 3, 2023
    Some iconic chairs from the mid-century modern era include the Egg chair by Arne Jacobson, the La Chaise by Charles and Ray Eames and the Womb chair by Eero Saarinen. With their clean lines, organic shapes and simple details, these chairs reflect some of the key features of the style. Shop a variety of mid-century modern chairs on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertOctober 19, 2021
    A mid-century chair is a piece of seating furniture that was designed at any point during the middle of the 20th century. Mid-century modern furniture 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. The mid-century period provided an excellent opportunity to experiment with both functional and decorative forms. Mid-century modern chairs were made with a variety of natural and synthetic materials, combining leather, wood, and cane with chrome, steel, and plastic. Shop a range of vintage mid-century chairs on 1stDibs today.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMay 5, 2023
    To tell if a chair is mid-century, look for labels and markings that indicate its maker. Then, use trusted online resources to determine when the company was active. A certified appraiser or experienced antiques dealer can be of assistance when dating chairs. Iconic mid-century modern furniture designers include Charles and Ray Eames, Eero Saarinen, Milo Baughman, Florence Knoll, Harry Bertoia and Isamu Noguchi. Find a variety of mid-century modern chairs on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Yes, Wassily chairs are indeed considered mid-century modern. Although the chair was initially designed by Marcel Breuer in 1925, it was re-released in the 1960s. Shop a collection of mid-century modern goods from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.