Pearsall Captains Chairs
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Leather, Cotton, Walnut
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Fabric, Walnut
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Fabric, Foam, Oak
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Upholstery, Walnut
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Upholstery, Walnut
Vintage 1970s American Brutalist Dining Room Chairs
Faux Fur, Resin
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Walnut
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Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Brass
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Upholstery, Walnut
Vintage 1980s Victorian Chairs
Leather
Mid-20th Century Dutch Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Wood
Vintage 1950s American Sectional Sofas
Fabric, Walnut
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Upholstery, Wood
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Chaise Longues
Hide, Alpaca, Upholstery, Walnut
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Faux Leather, Beech
Antique 1890s Austrian Aesthetic Movement Side Chairs
Beech, Bentwood
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Wood
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Upholstery, Walnut
Antique Early 1900s Austrian Vienna Secession Dining Room Chairs
Beech, Bentwood
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Brass
Antique Mid-19th Century American American Classical Painted Furniture
Pine
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Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Upholstery, Walnut
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Resin
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Resin
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Upholstery, Wood
Vintage 1960s American Armchairs
Walnut, Upholstery
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Fabric, Walnut
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Walnut, Upholstery
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Vintage 1960s American Brutalist Dining Room Chairs
Upholstery, Resin
Vintage 1960s American Brutalist Dining Room Chairs
Resin, Upholstery
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Fabric, Resin
Vintage 1970s American Brutalist Dining Room Chairs
Velvet, Resin
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Upholstery, Walnut
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Fabric, Walnut
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Swivel Chairs
Leather, Naugahyde, Walnut
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Leather, Rosewood
Vintage 1950s American Lounge Chairs
Wool, Walnut
Mid-20th Century Armchairs
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Naugahyde, Walnut
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Adrian Pearsall for sale on 1stDibs
Adrian Pearsall designed some of the most exuberant and expressive American furniture of the 1950s and ’60s. For verve and vivacity of form, he surpasses even Vladimir Kagan — whose work is the emblem of swinging, sexy mid-20th century modernism. Pearsall gave his imagination free rein, and his flamboyant, eye-catching styles are icons of what has become known as “Atomic Age” design.
Pearsall studied architectural engineering at the University of Illinois before opening his Pennsylvania furniture company, Craft Associates, in 1952, and that training shows in many designs. A Pearsall trademark, for example, is a lounge chair with an exceptionally tall, trapezoidal back, which give the pieces a skyscraper-like silhouette. Pearsall also had a talent for so-called Gondola sofas — long, low-slung pieces with upswept ends. Many of Pearsall’s sofas and chairs are supported not by legs, but on gently arced walnut skids.
Pearsall also had a gift for tables, in particular glass-topped side tables and coffee tables with frames that have the look of an Alexander Calder stabile. As you will see from the offerings on 1stDibs, Adrian Pearsall had flair, and his work adds an attention-getting, sculptural exclamation point to any décor.
Finding the Right Seating for You
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.