Sleek Karpen of California Barrel Lounge Chairs, Pair
By Karpen & Bros., Karpen of California
Located in Dallas, TX
Infuse your home with this luxurious pair of modernist Karpen lounge chairs. Perfectly proportioned each boasting a sculptural barrel silhouette with a bold, modern edge.
Velvet, Wood
Pair of Modernist Karpen Lounge Chairs, 1950s
By Karpen of California
Located in Westport, CT
Pair of modernist lounge chairs, manufactured by Karpen Company of California, circa 1950s.
Brass
Modernist Karpen Lounge Chairs in Taupe Mohair, 1950s
By Karpen of California
Located in Westport, CT
Stunning and rare pair of lounge chair by Karpen of California, circa 1950s. Newly upholstered in taupe mohair, sculptural maple legs newly restored to their original ebonized fin...
Brass
Pair of Modernist Karpen Lounge Chairs, circa 1950s
By Karpen of California
Located in Westport, CT
Pair of modern lounge chairs, manufactured by the Karpen Company of California, circa 1950s. They have been completely restored, with sculptural wooden legs refinished in a medium wa...
Brass
Modernist Karpen Lounge Chairs in Linen Velvet, 1950s
By Karpen of California
Located in Westport, CT
Capture the feeling of cozy conversation and forward momentum. These rare, vintage lounge chairs were made by The Karpen Company of California in the 1950s and artfully restored. So...
Brass
Modernist Karpen Lounge Chairs in Blue Wool, circa 1950s
By Karpen of California
Located in Westport, CT
Pair of modernist lounge chairs, manufactured by the Karpen Company of California, circa 1950s.
Modernist Karpen Lounge Chairs in Cognac Leather, circa 1950s
By Karpen of California
Located in Westport, CT
Pair of modernist lounge chairs, manufactured by the Karpen Company of California, circa 1950s.
Brass
Modernist Karpen of California Lounge Chairs in Red Velvet
By Karpen of California
Located in Westport, CT
Handsome pair of lounge chairs by the Karpen Company of California, circa 1950s. Newly upholstered in red velvet, sculptural walnut legs newly refinished. Nickel-plated details on...
Nickel
Modernist Karpen Lounge Chairs in Grey Alpaca Velvet, 1950s
By Karpen of California
Located in Westport, CT
Stunning and rare pair of lounge chair by Karpen of California, circa 1950s. Newly upholstered in grey alpaca velvet by Holly Hunt, sculptural maple legs newly restored to their ori...
Brass
Modernist Karpen Style Barrel Club Chair in Blue Velvet
Located in Dallas, TX
Midcentury modernist chair in the style of Karpen Bros. The barrel shaped chair features splayed ebonized walnut legs and has been newly upholstered in blue velvet.
Velvet, Wood
Pair of Karpen Modernist Lounge Chairs
By Karpen of California
Located in Westport, CT
Pair of modernist lounge chairs, manufactured by Karpen Company of California. circa 1950's.
Brass
Pair of Sculptural Modernist Lounge Chairs by Karpen
By Karpen & Bros.
Located in Atlanta, GA
Pair of Sculptural Modernist Lounge Chairs, designed for the Karpen Company, circa 1950's.
Modernist Swivel Wingback Chair by Karpen of California
By Karpen of California
Located in Westport, CT
A beautifully designed swiveling wingback chair in cream leather by the Karpen Company of California, circa 1950s.
Brass
1960's Karpen Of California Modernist Lounge Chair
By Karpen of California
Located in New York, NY
1960's mid-century modern walnut and brass lounge chairs by Karpen Of California, fully restored and re-upholstered in Bouclê fabric, with minor wear and patina due to age and use.
Brass
Pair of Modernist Wing Chairs by Karpen of California
By Karpen of California
Located in Danville, CA
Pair of Italian Modern style lounge chairs by Karpen of California. The pair have been painstakingly restored from the ground up; reupholstered in luxurious, heavyweight burnt gold v...
Velvet, Hardwood
Pair of Mid-Century Modernist Lounge Chairs by Karpen of California
By Karpen of California
Located in New York, NY
This sophisticated pair of Mid-Century Modernist lounge chairs features sculptural burnished walnut legs, brass sabots, and new smoked platinum velvet upholstery. Elegant and unfussy...
Brass
Mid-Century Modern Sofa, Karpen 1960
By Karpen of California
Located in Chicago, IL
Rare modernist sofa by Karpen of CA Furniture. Fully restored and reupholstered in felted wool/alpaca blend upholstery.
Upholstery
Modernist Two-Piece Cerused Oak Cabinet
By Karpen & Bros.
Located in Miami, FL
Modernist two-piece cerused oak cabinet with bi-fold doors. Top part concealed glass shelves, bottom part concealed a suite of drawers on the left side, three wood shelves on the rig...
Oak
Modernist Walnut and Brass Lounge Chairs
By Karpen of California
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Pair of vintage walnut and brass lounge chairs in the manner of Karpen Company of California, circa 1950s.
Brass
Modernist Contoured Scoop Lounge Chair
By Adrian Pearsall, Karpen of California
Located in Rochester, NY
A mid-20th century contoured scoop lounge chair with fully ribbed seat in original nubby gold metallic threaded upholstery fabric raised on four black ebonized beautifully shaped leg...
Modernist Karpen Lounge Chairs
By Karpen of California
Located in Westport, CT
Pair of lounge chairs designed by Karpen of California, circa 1950s. Walnut legs fully restored, brass accents on arms newly polished, Newly upholstered in aqua plush velvet by Ho...
Brass
Modernist Karpen Lounge Chairs in Beige Chenille
By Karpen of California
Located in Westport, CT
Stunning and rare pair of lounge chair by Karpen of California, circa 1950s. Newly upholstered in beige chenille, sculptural walnut legs newly restored to their original ebony fin...
Brass
Modernist Karpen Lounge Chairs in Granite Velvet
By Karpen of California
Located in Westport, CT
Stunning and rare pair of lounge chair by Karpen of California, circa 1950s. Newly upholstered in granite velvet, sculptural walnut legs newly restored to their original medium waln...
Brass
Modernist Karpen Lounge Chairs in Charcoal Mohair, 1950s
By Karpen of California
Located in Westport, CT
Stunning and rare pair of lounge chair by Karpen of California, circa 1950s. Re-upholstered in charcoal mohair, sculptural maple legs restored to their original finish, newly nick...
Brass
Modernist Karpen Lounge Chairs in Navy Velvet, 1950s
By Karpen of California
Located in Westport, CT
Stunning and rare pair of lounge chair by Karpen of California, circa 1950s. Re-upholstered in great plains midnight cotton velvet by Holly Hunt. Sculptural maple legs restored to...
Nickel
Modernist Karpen Lounge Chairs in Navy Velvet, 1950s
By Karpen of California
Located in Westport, CT
Stunning and rare pair of lounge chair by Karpen of California, circa 1950s. Re-upholstered in great plains midnight cotton velvet by Holly Hunt. Sculptural maple legs restored to...
Nickel
Modernist Karpen Lounge Chairs in Taupe Mohair, 1950s
By Karpen of California
Located in Westport, CT
Stunning and rare pair of lounge chair by Karpen of California, circa 1950s. Newly upholstered in taupe mohair, sculptural maple legs newly restored to their original ebonized fin...
Brass
Modernist Karpen Lounge Chairs in Taupe Mohair, 1950s
By Karpen of California
Located in Westport, CT
Stunning and rare pair of lounge chair by Karpen of California, circa 1950s. Newly upholstered in grey alpaca velvet, sculptural maple legs newly restored to their original ebonized...
Brass
Modernist Karpen of California Lounge Chair, C. 1950s
By Karpen of California
Located in Westport, CT
Capture the feeling of cozy conversation and forward momentum. This rare, vintage lounge chair was produced by The Karpen Company of California in the 1950s and artfully restored. So...
Brass
Modernist Karpen of California Lounge Chairs in Granite Velvet
By Karpen of California
Located in Westport, CT
Stunning and rare pair of lounge chair by Karpen of California, circa 1950s. Newly upholstered in granite velvet, sculptural walnut legs newly restored to their original medium wa...
Brass
Single Modernist Karpen Lounge Chair in Taupe Mohair, 1950s
By Karpen of California
Located in Westport, CT
Stunning lounge chair by Karpen of California, circa 1950s. Newly upholstered in taupe mohair, sculptural maple legs newly restored to their original ebonized finish, newly nickel-p...
Brass
Modernist Karpen Lounge Chairs in Grey Alpaca Velvet, 1950s
By Karpen of California
Located in Westport, CT
Capture the feeling of cozy conversation and forward momentum. These rare, vintage lounge chairs were made by The Karpen Company of California in the 1950s and artfully restored by S...
Brass
Modernist Karpen Lounge Chairs in Grey Alpaca Velvet, 1950s
By Karpen of California
Located in Westport, CT
Capture the feeling of cozy conversation and forward momentum. These rare, vintage lounge chairs were made by The Karpen Company of California in the 1950s and artfully restored by S...
Brass
Modernist Karpen Lounge Chairs in Hazel Linen Velvet, 1950s
By Karpen of California
Located in Westport, CT
Capture the feeling of cozy conversation and forward momentum. These rare, vintage lounge chairs were made by The Karpen Company of California in the 1950s and artfully restored. So...
Linen, Velvet, Walnut
Pair of Sleek Karpen of California Barrel Lounge Chairs
By Karpen & Bros., Karpen of California
Located in Dallas, TX
Infuse your home with this luxurious pair of modernist Karpen lounge chairs. Perfectly proportioned each boasting a sculptural barrel silhouette with a bold, modern edge.
Velvet, Wood
Karpen of California Modernist Lounge Chairs
By Karpen of California
Located in Portland, OR
Modernist high-back lounge chairs by Michael Karpen for Karpen of California.
Mohair, Wood
Karpen of California Modernist Lounge Chairs
By Karpen of California
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
A rare pair sculptural lounge chairs by Karpen of California. These chairs hardly ever become available for sale. Chairs feature cantilevered arms, brass sabots, and newly upholstere...
Mohair, Birch
Modernist Lounge Chair by Karpen of California
By Karpen of California
Located in Westport, CT
Handsome lounge chair by the Karpen Company of California, circa 1950s. Newly upholstered in silver mohair, sculptural walnut frame newly refinished, brass newly polished.
Brass
Modernist Lounge Chairs by Karpen of California
By Karpen of California
Located in Westport, CT
Capture the feeling of cozy conversation and forward momentum. These rare, vintage lounge chairs were made by The Karpen Company of California in the 1950s and artfully restored. So...
Brass
California Modernist Club Chairs by Karpen of California
By Karpen of California
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Stunning pair of modern club chairs designed and manufactured by Karpen of California in the United States, circa 1960s.
Metal
1950's Modernist Arm Chairs
Located in Miami, FL
Pair of Modernist Low Arm Chairs in Karpen of California style with ebonized solid mahogany curved arms, tapered and curved legs, new velvet upholstery.
Velvet, Wood
Large Bamboo Pair of Table Lamps with Brass Bases
Located in New York, NY
large bamboo pair of table lamps with brass bases. Beautiful and chic table lamps. Lovely brass bases and bamboo tops held by brass top.
Brass
Art Deco Style Bench
Located in Westwood, NJ
Art Deco Style Bench, a bold statement with a handsome tight back design featuring curved corners set upon a reeded carved frame and tapered legs. Dimensions: 55" W x 20" D x 24" H ...
Upholstery, Wood
Pair of Chrome and Brass Mid-Century sconces
By Atelier Jean Perzel
Located in Dallas, TX
Large Mid Century wall sconces, attributed to Jean Perzel, France circa 1960 or earlier. The vintage sconces are made of chrome, brass and glass tubes. They have a light behind the t...
Brass, Chrome
$8,625Sale Price / item|20% Off
H 19.69 in W 70.87 in D 27.56 in
Alexander and Jones Sunday Daybed in Oak & Cream Bouclé Handcrafted to Order
Located in Cirencester, England
The Sunday Daybed is a signature made-to-order piece by Alexander and Jones, handcrafted in our Cotswolds studio, UK, from sculpted solid oak with our signature wave form frame and c...
Bouclé, Oak, Fabric, Textile, Upholstery, Wood, Hardwood
$2,425 / item
H 11.8 in W 11.8 in D 7.5 in
Tulip Organic Modern Contemporary Wall Sconce, Wall Light in White Plaster
By Hannah Woodhouse
Located in London, GB
Handmade Tulip organic modern wall light/ wall sconce, in silky smooth white plaster, created by artist Hannah Woodhouse in her London studio. Contemporary organic modern design insp...
Plaster
Pink Marble Pedestal Cone Side Table
By Kiwano Concept
Located in Eindhoven, NB
Introduce monumental elegance and a grounded detail to your interior with the stunning pink marble CONE side table. The sculptural geometric shape of this contemporary design piece ...
Marble
$2,499 / item
H 8.6 in W 9.4 in D 12.6 in
Hans-Agne Jakobsson 'Tratten' Verdigris Patinated Outdoor Sconce
By Hans-Agne Jakobsson, Örsjö Industri AB
Located in Glendale, CA
Hans-Agne Jakobsson 'Tratten' verdigris patinated outdoor sconce. An exclusive made for U.S. and UL listed authorized re-edition of the classic Swedish design executed in verdigris p...
Metal
LU Swing Sconce
By Lumfardo Luminaires
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful brass LU swing sconce made by Lumfardo Luminaires in patinated brass. Wired with an E26 medium based socket. Light bulb provided as well as all mounting hardware. Priced in...
Brass
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
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
$5,965 / item
H 18.5 in Dm 16.5 in
Konekt Thing 4 Stool with Antique Brass, Horse Hair and Merino Wool Velvet
By Konekt
Located in New York, NY
Konekt's signature Thing Stools are available in four different styles. Refined yet wild, the stools are accentuated with a distinctive combination of contrasting materials. The Th...
Brass
$5,053
H 28.75 in W 32.68 in D 37.41 in
RARE STUNNiNG HERITAGE BROWN LEATHER POLISHED ALUMINIUM AVIATOR LOUNGE ARMCHAIR
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this absolutely stunning, very unique Heritage brown leather Aviator lounge armchair with rare polished alum...
Aluminum
Pair Milo Baughman Brass Barrel Back Chairs, Restored
By Milo Baughman, Thayer Coggin
Located in Dallas, TX
This stunning pair of heirloom quality barrel chairs by Milo Baughman for Thayer Coggin. Super high style, swivel chairs recovered in luxurious brown velvet that contrasts beautifull...
Brass
Cast Bronze Sconce, Verdegris Finish, Flor de Bronce Collection
By L'Aviva Home
Located in New York, NY
Inspired by the layered significance of the calla lily in Mexican culture, this collection blends the bold heft of cast bronze with sculpted, flowing curves that echo the flower’s fo...
Bronze
$722 / set
H 1.19 in W 6.3 in D 2.76 in
Arms Door Handles by Quintana Partners, Solid Brass & Chrome, Spain
Located in BARCELONA, ES
The Arm Door Handles combine elegance and originality in a unique proposal that transforms any space with its iconic and sophisticated design. With the stylized shape of an arm, thes...
Brass, Chrome
$15,775 / item
H 28.35 in W 86.62 in D 44.1 in
Contemporary Twins Curved Sofa, DEDAR Mustard Mohair, Handmade by Greenapple
By Rute Martins, Greenapple, Dedar
Located in Lisboa, PT
Contemporary Twins Curved Sofa, Contemporary Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Greenapple. The Twins curved sofa and its matching daybed share the same genes, yet each...
Fabric, Alpaca, Mohair, Bouclé, Linen, Velvet, Wood, Oak, Walnut
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.
While this specific seating is known to all for its comfort and familiar form, the history of how your favorite antique or vintage lounge chair came to be is slightly more ambiguous.
Although there are rare armchairs dating back as far as the 17th century, some believe that the origins of the first official “lounge chair” are tied to Hungarian modernist designer-architect Marcel Breuer. Sure, Breuer wasn’t exactly reinventing the wheel when he introduced the Wassily lounge chair in 1925, but his seat was indeed revolutionary for its integration of bent tubular steel.
Officially, a lounge chair is simply defined as a “comfortable armchair,” which allows for the shape and material of the furnishings to be extremely diverse. Whether or not chaise longues make the cut for this category is a matter of frequent debate.
The Eames lounge chair, on the other hand, has come to define somewhat of a universal perception of what a lounge chair can be. Introduced in 1956, the Eames lounger (and its partner in cozy, the ottoman) quickly became staples in television shows, prestigious office buildings and sumptuous living rooms. Venerable American mid-century modern designers Charles and Ray Eames intended for it to be the peak of luxury, which they knew meant taking furniture to the next level of style and comfort. Their chair inspired many modern interpretations of the lounge — as well as numerous copies.
On 1stDibs, find a broad range of unique lounge chairs that includes everything from antique Victorian-era seating to vintage mid-century modern lounge chairs by craftspersons such as Hans Wegner to contemporary choices from today’s innovative designers.