Adrian Pearsall Chaise Lounge Rocker
By Adrian Pearsall
Located in Gladstone, NJ
Adrian Pearsall Chaise Lounge Rocker
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Chaise Longues
Upholstery, Walnut
Adrian Pearsall Chaise Lounge Rocker
By Adrian Pearsall
Located in Gladstone, NJ
Adrian Pearsall Chaise Lounge Rocker
Upholstery, Walnut
$3,600Sale Price|20% Off
Wonderful Adrian Pearsall Curved Wave Chaise Lounge Rocker Mid-Century Modern
By Adrian Pearsall
Located in Pemberton, NJ
Wonderful Adrian Pearsall curved wave chaise lounge rocker. This piece was reupholstered in the 80's and will most certainly need to be redone.
Upholstery, Wood
Adrian Pearsall Chaise Lounge Rocker in New Pale Sand Color Faux Shearling
By Adrian Pearsall
Located in Saint Louis, MO
This Adrian Pearsall chaise rocker is a triple crown winner with an iconic Mid Century Modern ergonomic Adrian Pearsall design, cozy comfort dressed in new hand sewn baby soft faux s...
Upholstery, Faux Fur, Walnut
Adrian Pearsall Double Rocker in Bouclé
Located in New York, NY
Adrian Pearsall Double Rocker for Craft Associates. The chaise is tufted and done in Bouclé with a solid wood base.
Bouclé, Wood
Adrian Pearsall Chaise Lounge Rocker
By Adrian Pearsall
Located in Allentown, PA
Great grey velvet button tufted upholstered chaise lounge constructed of a walnut biomorphic base designed by Adrian Pearsall in the 1960s.This chaise lounge is a rocker style.
Velvet, Walnut
Adrian Pearsall Rocker
By Adrian Pearsall
Located in Asbury Park, NJ
Adrian Pearsall walnut rocker with original upholstery in excellent condition.
Adrian Pearsall Rocker or Rocking Chair for Craft Associates
By Adrian Pearsall, Craft Associates
Located in Kansas City, MO
Rocking chair designed by Adrian Pearsall and made by Craft Associates. Sculptural walnut frame with curved seat. Very comfortable.
Upholstery, Walnut
Adrian Pearsall Wave Chaise Rocker for Craft
By Adrian Pearsall
Located in Tarrytown, NY
Adrian Pearsall wave chaise rocker for Craft - original fabric
Adrian Pearsall Wave Chaise Rocker, Circa 1960s
By Adrian Pearsall
Located in San Antonio, TX
Adrian Pearsall curved wave chaise rocker with walnut sled-like base offers a slight rocking motion, circa 1960s.
Fabric, Walnut
Adrian Pearsall for Craft Associates Rocker
By Adrian Pearsall, Craft Associates
Located in Southampton, NJ
This rocker designed by Adrian Pearsall for Craft Associates is beautifully made from hand carved walnut.
Walnut
Fabulous Adrian Pearsall Sculptural Walnut Rocker Mid Century
By Adrian Pearsall
Located in Pemberton, NJ
Outstanding reupholstered Adrian Pearsall rocking chair. This piece is in very nice restored condition. The sculptural walnut legs look amazing like carved pieces of art. The upholst...
Walnut
Adrian Pearsall Wave Chaise Rocker Lounge
By Adrian Pearsall, Craft Associates
Located in New Windsor, NY
Waive chaise walnut and boucle rocker. The ultimate lounging chair for reading, a disco nap or watching a movie. Circa 1960. Solid walnut base and reupholstered in a cozy white boucl...
Bouclé, Upholstery, Walnut
Mid-Century Modern Sculptural Rocker by Adrian Pearsall
By Adrian Pearsall
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous style with grasshopper like structure as a form. Thick curved foam to support and comfort. Fabric is dated and in need of an update. Not a complicated job for an upholsterer...
Fabric, Walnut
Mid Century Modern Adrian Pearsall Style Walnut Sculptural Rocker Floral
By Adrian Pearsall
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
An amazing sculptural rocker attributed to Adrian Pearsall with a walnut wood base, original floral upholstery that has been professionally cleaned.
Walnut
Adrian Pearsal Waive Chaise Rocker Lounge in Ivory Shearling and Walnut
By Adrian Pearsall
Located in San Diego, CA
This Adrian Pearsall chaise rocker has been upholstered in cozy, lush and luxurious ivory shearling, it has an ergonomic shape which makes it the perfect lounger for relaxing, dreami...
Hide, Sheepskin, Walnut
Adrian Pearsall Wave Chaise Rocker for Craft Associates
By Craft Associates, Adrian Pearsall
Located in Culver City, CA
A stunning, sculptural, rocking wave chaise lounge by Adrian Pearsall for Craft Associates. This chaise is upholstered in a chocolate brown ultra-suede.
Adrian Pearsall Craft Associates Lounge Chair Rocking Chaise Rocker
By Craft Associates, Adrian Pearsall
Located in Wayne, NJ
Adrian Pearsall Craft Associates lounge Chair Rocking Chaise Rocker.
Sold
H 37 in W 29.75 in
Adrian Pearsall Craft Associates Sculptural Rocking Chair Rocker New Upholstery
By Craft Associates, Adrian Pearsall
Located in Hudson, NY
Freshly upholstered rocker designed by Adrian Pearsall for Craft Associates.
Upholstery, Walnut
Sold
H 37 in W 29.75 in L 37 in
Adrian Pearsall Craft Associates Sculptural Rocking Chair Rocker New Upholstery
By Craft Associates, Adrian Pearsall
Located in Hudson, NY
Freshly upholstered rocker designed by Adrian Pearsall for Craft Associates.
Upholstery, Walnut
Sold
H 30.5 in W 38 in D 28 in
Pair of Adrian Pearsall Swivel Rockers, Newly Upholstered in Velvet, 1970s
By Adrian Pearsall, Craft Associates, Milo Baughman
Located in Raleigh, NC
VIntage 1970s sculptural lounge chairs by Adrain Pearsall newly upholstered in taupe velvet sitting on the walnut plinth bases. Extremely comfortable and widely functional with the ...
Upholstery
Gorgeous Adrian Pearsall Walnut Rocking Chair Mid-century Modern
By Adrian Pearsall
Located in Pemberton, NJ
Wonderful Adrian Pearsall solid walnut rocker. Fantastic form and function-Looks like a piece of art.
Upholstery, Walnut
Gorgeous Adrian Pearsall Sculptural Walnut Rocker, Mid-Century Modern
By Adrian Pearsall, Craft Associates
Located in Pemberton, NJ
Gorgeous Adrian Pearsall rocker with new turquoise ultra suede fabric.
Upholstery, Walnut
Sculptural Adrian Pearsall Mid-Century Modern Rocker
By Adrian Pearsall
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Beautiful, sculptural walnut Rocker by Adrian Pearsall. Unique and rare design.
Walnut
Vintage Lounge Wave Rocker after Adrian Pearsall
By Adrian Pearsall
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Vintage-modern rocking daybed features walnut rocker base and comfortable Wave style chaise lounge.
Fabric, Upholstery, Walnut
Mid-Century Adrian Pearsall Chaise Wave Rocker
By Adrian Pearsall
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This stylish wave style lounge chair features tufted fabric and comfortable sculpted chaise design. Walnut rocking base sets this Adrian Pearsall rocking chaise longue apart from oth...
Adrian Pearsall Lounge Chair Rocker with Ottoman
By Adrian Pearsall
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Super comfy Chic mohair fabric Solid sculpted walnut base.
Fabric
Adrian Pearsall Gray Chaise Lounge Rocker Upholstered Mid-Century Modern
By Adrian Pearsall
Located in North Miami, FL
This wonderful and stunning vintage Adrian Pearsall chaise lounge rocker has been completely restored from top to bottom.
Upholstery, Wood
Adrian Pearsall Wave Chaise Longue Rocker for Craft Associates
By Craft Associates, Adrian Pearsall
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This stylish Adrian Pearsall rocking lounge chair features a spacious sculpted wave like seat with tufted black fabric and walnut rockers.
Sold
H 31 in W 41 in D 64 in
Adrian Pearsall Chaise Lounge Rocker Newly Upholstered in Soft Peruvian Alpaca
By Craft Associates, Adrian Pearsall
Located in Saint Louis, MO
This Adrian Pearsall chaise rocker is a triple crown winner with iconic Mid-Century Modern ergonomic Adrian Pearsall design, cozy comfort dressed in new hand sewn baby soft Champagne...
Hide, Alpaca, Upholstery, Walnut
Sold
H 31 in W 37 in D 60 in
Adrian Pearsall Waive Chaise Rocker Lounge in Ivory Shearling with Walnut Legs
By Craft Associates, Adrian Pearsall
Located in Saint Louis, MO
This Adrian Pearsall Chaise Rocker is a triple crown winner with iconic Mid-Century Modern ergonomic Adrian Pearsall design, cozy comfort dressed in new Ivory Shearling upholstery, a...
Hide, Sheepskin, Walnut
Sold
H 29.5 in W 58 in D 33 in
Mid Century Modern Sculptural Wave Chaise Lounge Rocker by Adrian Pearsall C1960
By Craft Associates, Adrian Pearsall
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous Adrian Pearsall Wave Rocker Chaise Lounge Chair created in about 1960 with a walnut in case and totally reupholstered in a soft textured Boucle like material.
Fabric, Walnut
Sold
H 30 in W 26 in D 26 in
Fabulous Adrian Pearsall Sculptural Walnut Rocking Chair Mid-century Modern
By Adrian Pearsall
Located in Pemberton, NJ
Gorgeous Adrian Pearsall sculptural walnut rocker. The solid walnut frame is tight and sturdy-looks more like a work of art than a rocker.This piece is sure to please and will be an ...
Upholstery, Walnut
Sold
H 31 in W 26 in D 33 in
Adrian Pearsall Rocking Chair, Restored Including Eames Dot Fabric by Maharam
By Craft Associates, Adrian Pearsall
Located in Kansas City, MO
Adrian Pearsall for Craft Associates rocker. Expertly refinished walnut frame and reupholstered in Charles and Ray Eames design large dot pattern fabric manufactured by Maharam.
Upholstery, Walnut
Adrian Pearsall Rocker
Located in Southampton, NY
Curvaceous upholstered walnut rocking chair designed by Adrian Pearsall and Craft Associates.
Wood, Upholstery
Sculptural Pair of Adrian Pearsall Rocker Chairs
By Adrian Pearsall
Located in Miami, FL
Beautifully restored biomorphic walnut rockers chairs by legendary designer Adrian Pearsall.
Walnut, Wool
Teak Adrian Pearsall Rocking Chair
Located in Crockett, CA
Fantastic Adrian Pearsall Rocker with high back comfort supported by two boomerang legs.
Teak, Upholstery
Adrian Pearsall Walnut Rocker
By Adrian Pearsall
Located in Hudson, NY
Restored. Beautiful solid walnut arms. All new fabric and foam. Greenhouse Fabrics polyester/linen blend in Cayman color. In person, color is slightly more turquoise than true blue.
Upholstery, Walnut
Adrian Pearsall Sculptural Walnut Rocker Lounge Chair
By Adrian Pearsall
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
Comfortable, sturdy sculptural statement rocking chair by Adrian Pearsall. Made of solid walnut and professionally reupholstered in authentic vintage Halindale fabric. In excellent c...
Pair of Swivel Rockers w/ New Upholstery, Attributed to Adrian Pearsall
By Adrian Pearsall
Located in Asheville, NC
Attributed to Adrian Pearsall - The base construction is very similar to other Adrian Pearsall chairs we’ve had in the past.
Upholstery, Walnut
Armless Rocker Designed by Adrian Pearsall for Craft Associates
Located in Dallas, TX
Beautifully elegant walnut framed armless rocker.
Walnut, Upholstery
$81,900
H 33.08 in W 30.12 in D 39.38 in
Mid-Century Modern Chaise Lounge by Carlo Hauner & Martin Eisler, 1954
By Carlo Hauner, Martin Eisler, Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in New York, NY
This chaise lounge is one of the designs by Martin Eisler and Carlo Hauner, produced by Forma S.A. Móveis e Objetos de Arte. The traditional chaise is a lounge chair characterized by...
Iron
$2,760Sale Price|20% Off
H 27 in W 60 in D 23 in
Mid Century Upholstered Lounge Chair in the Style of Adrian Pearsall
By Adrian Pearsall
Located in Basel, BS
Very cool and unique Mid Century Original Lounge Chair Floor rocker. This chair rocks, and if you put stoppers on it, it will remain stable. Perfect centerpiece as well as conversati...
Walnut, Upholstery
$3,200
H 32 in W 38 in D 70 in
Adrian Pearsall for Craft Associates Sculptural Rocking Wave-Form Chaise Lounge
By Craft Associates, Adrian Pearsall
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Designed by Adrian Pearsall, this chaise was made by Craft Associates early in Pearsall's career, around the 1950s. Featuring the now-classic wave form seat and a two-stage carved wa...
Upholstery, Walnut
Midcentury Wavy Chaise Lounge by Enrico Bartolini
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Midcentury wave chaise lounge designed and manufactured by Enrico Bartolini in the united states, circa 1970s. This beautiful vintage chaise lounge has an ocean wave design that prov...
Fabric
$3,250
H 29 in W 27.5 in D 36 in
Expertly Restored -Adrian Pearsall Model 843-C Lounge Chair for Craft Associates
By Adrian Pearsall, Craft Associates
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Materials: Walnut Wood, New Boucle Tweed, New High-Density Foam, New Pirelli Webbing ________________________________________ Transforming a piece of Mid-Century Modern furniture is...
Fabric, Foam, Wood, Walnut
Biomorphic Kidney Shaped Mid-Century Modern Chaise Lounge Sofa
By Weiman, Directional
Located in Bensalem, PA
Stunning 6ft curvy chaise lounge with arched back in beige ultra suede in ready to use condition
Ultrasuede
$4,595
H 30 in W 38 in D 60 in
Adrian Pearsall for Craft Associates Mid Century Rocking Chaise Lounge Chair
By Craft Associates, Adrian Pearsall
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Adrian Pearsall for Craft Associates Mid Century Rocking Wave Chaise Lounge Chair This chaise measures: 38 wide x 60 deep x 30 high, with a seat height of 13 inches Good Vintage Co...
Upholstery
$5,895
H 32 in W 31 in D 55 in
Adrian Pearsall Diamond Button-Tufted Chaise Lounge for Craft Associates
By Craft Associates, Adrian Pearsall
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Materials: Walnut Wood, New Tweed Fabric, New High-Density Foam ________________________________________ Transforming a piece of Mid-Century Modern furniture is like bringing history...
Fabric, Foam, Wood, Walnut
Mid Century Modern Sculptural Chaise Lounge w Knoll Fabric C1960
By Paul McCobb
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Spectacular chaise lounge chair with knoll fabric adorning it. Attributed to Paul McCobb C1960 possibly non production piece and custom made. Stong with beautiful lines that shape ou...
Fabric, Hardwood, Paint
$2,660
H 33 in W 36 in D 60 in
Mid-Century Modern Sculptural Wave Chair by Adrian Pearsall Crafts Associates
By Adrian Pearsall, Craft Associates
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fantastic Wave lounge chair by Adrian Pearsall for Crafts Associates C1959 an earlier version with four angled legs painted black and brass sabots one of which is missing. Will try t...
Brass
$1,600
H 43 in W 31.75 in D 31 in
Mid-Century Modern High Back Lounge Chair in the Style of Adrian Pearsall
By Adrian Pearsall
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Stunning Mid-Century lounge chair features vintage crimson plush upholstery, solid sculpted walnut legs and tufted back rest. An overstuffed removable cushion and a high back rest en...
Walnut
Adrian Pearsall for Craft Associates Lounge Chair
By Craft Associates, Adrian Pearsall
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Adrian Pearsall for Craft Associates lounge chair This chair measures: 24.25 wide x 23.5 deep x 25.75 inches high, with a seat height of 17.5 and arm height of 21.5 inches All ...
Upholstery, Wood
$2,000
H 41 in W 32.5 in D 31 in
Mid-Century Modern High Back Lounge Chair in the Style of Adrian Pearsall
By Adrian Pearsall
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This gorgeous vintage modern lounge chair features unique walnut trim that runs from the front up the arm rests. The entire chair is covered in elegant floral upholstery with a uniqu...
Upholstery, Walnut
1950s Italian Federico Munari Upholstered Curved Lounge Chair
By Federico Munari
Located in Chicago, IL
Midcentury Modern upholstered curved lounge chair in light natural/ivory, designed by Federico Munari and produced in Italy in the 1950s. The chair features notch details at the top ...
Upholstery, Wood
$2,319Sale Price|20% Off
H 34 in W 32.5 in D 35 in
1960's Mid-Century Modern Adrian Pearsall Style Prestige Gondola Lounge Chair
By Adrian Pearsall
Located in Burbank, CA
Vintage Midcentury Modern gondola lounge chair for sale. Manufactured by Prestige, in attributed to Adrian Pearsall. The legs have been professionally refinished, and it has been pro...
Fabric, Wood
$3,900
H 30 in W 37.5 in D 57 in
1960s Adrian Pearsall for Craft Associates Wave Rocking Chaise Lounge in Walnut
By Craft Associates, Adrian Pearsall
Located in Lancaster, PA
This is a Wave Rocking Chaise Lounge, initially designed by Adrian Pearsall ca. 1960. This example also dates to the 1960s, and retains its original upholstery fabric. The current ...
Metal
$12,000 / set
H 29 in W 36 in D 33 in
Pair of Vladimir Kagan Nautilus Swivel Lounge Chairs and Ottoman in Ivory Bouclé
By Vladimir Kagan
Located in Saint Louis, MO
Amongst the most popular Vladimir Kagan designs, these Nautilus swivel lounge chairs are sculptural, comfortable and fun, and were recently professionally reupholstered in cozy Ivory...
Bouclé
$950 / item
H 25.6 in W 32.67 in D 13.78 in
New Black Wrought Iron Curule Bench with Cushion, Savonarola, Throne
Located in Miami, FL
New black wrought iron curule bench with cushion, Savonarola, Throne. Cushion included.
Iron
Pink Marble Side Table ‘Flow’
By Kiwano Concept
Located in Eindhoven, NB
FLOW is a modern pink marble side table with a clean shape and a wave detail at the bottom. The simple cube form is combined with a flowing base, giving the table a light and playful...
Marble, Stone
$5,327 / item
H 39.77 in Dm 20.48 in
Tulip 520 Organic Minimal Belgian LInen & Brass Pendant Light by Wende Reid
By Wende Reid
Located in Chatswood, NSW
Tulip 520 Pendant, handmade to order, is a 21sst century organic modern timeless design. Tulip 520 is inspired by nature with a modern geometric reference to both the Gothic and Art...
Brass, Copper
Handcrafted Farmhouse Fluted Porcelain Pendant With Trumpet Shape
By DBO Home
Located in Sharon, CT
Classic, elegant, with a perfectly imperfect touch. On their own they make a statement with their gentle flared bottoms and deep fluting. Hang in multiples for extra oomph. These cas...
Brass
$4,900 / item
H 34 in W 86 in D 42 in
Custom Made Modern English Arm Sofa in Performance Linen Velvet - 86"
By Bloom Home Inc
Located in Old Town Orange, CA
This beautiful english arm sofa has a modern twist, with its single bench cushion, and beautiful curved apron sides. It’s upholstered in a Linen Velvet Performance fabric. Shown in...
Linen, Velvet
$6,599 / set
H 24.01 in W 18.12 in D 14.18 in
Pair of Park Night Stands in Noir Oxblood Lacquer by Yaniv Chen for Lemon
By Lemon
Located in Amsterdam, NL
The Park nightstand is the epitome of exquisite craftsmanship, featuring meticulously proportioned dimensions and exceptional detailing that make it an ideal bedside companion. Our f...
Lacquer
$9,063 / 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
$8,400 / set
H 14.75 in W 8.5 in D 4 in
Set of Six Art Deco Style Murano Glass Demi-Lune Wall Lights Sconces, in Stock
Located in Miami, FL
Set of 6 Murano glass wall sconces, in stock Fume color and multiple squared glass texture Black opaline finials and brass accents. One LED E26 base socket. Art Deco inspired design...
Brass
Picasso Marble Cone Side Table
By Kiwano Concept
Located in Eindhoven, NB
Introduce monumental elegance and a grounded detail to your interior with the stunning Picasso marble CONE side table. The sculptural geometric shape of this contemporary design piec...
Marble
SACHA CHAISE - Modern Chaise Lounge in Camel Luxury Velvet
By Susan Hornbeak-Ortiz
Located in Laguna Niguel, CA
SACHA CHAISE - Modern Chaise Lounge in Camel Luxury Velvet The Sacha Chaise Lounge is a sleek and stylish piece of furniture designed for modern living spaces. The lounge features a...
Upholstery
$7,200 / item
H 14 in Dm 36 in
Grand Mid-Century Flush Mount Uplight Ceiling Lamp from Filmcasino Vienna, 1950s
Located in Vienna, AT
We are delighted to present this stunning bowl-shaped pendant light / uplight plafoniere / flush mount light fixture dating back to the 1950s. (Actually there were three pieces avail...
Metal, Aluminum, Brass
Rattan Drape Side Table
Located in Paris, FR
Side Table Rattan Drape with all structure in rattan in natural finish.
Rattan
LUdome Flush Mount (CP or PB)
By Lumfardo Luminaires
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Part of our Lumfardo Luminaires Contemporary Collection, the LUdome Flush Mount is a modern bowl flush mount light fixture. Finish options are either PB (patinated brass) or CP (copp...
Copper
Leather Meander Flexible Wall Sconce
Located in Pound Ridge, NY
Leather wrapped flexible arm wall light you can pose and adjust as you wish. This is our updated Meander Reader light with larger cone shade and new upward angled flex arm. Shown he...
Metal, Brass
$1,190 / item
H 16.93 in Dm 24.41 in
Django Sculptural Ottoman in Sienna Earth Textured Velvet by Odditi
By Odditi
Located in CAROOL, NSW, AU
The Django ottoman is a sculptural living object that brings its eclectic personality into any space. Exhibiting a sleek yet playful nature, Django also has a practical side and is a...
Fabric, Foam, Jacquard
Adrian Pearsall designed some of the most exuberant and expressive American chairs, sofas and other 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 had a gift for tables, too, 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, Pearsall had flair, and his work adds an attention-getting, sculptural exclamation point to any décor.
Find vintage Adrian Pearsall sofas, armchairs, coffee tables and other furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
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.
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.