French mid-century modern stackable orange plastic chairs, 1960s
Located in MIlano, IT
French mid-century modern stackable orange plastic chairs, 1960s.
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Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
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Metal
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Set of Four Stylish Mid-Century Modern Plastic Chairs
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This set of four Mid-Century Modern chairs feature a unique minimal design in solid white plastic.
Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Plastic
Italian Mid-Century Modern Chair by Gaber, Steel & Purple Plastic
$141Sale Price / item|20% Off
Italian Mid-Century Modern Chair by Gaber, Steel & Purple Plastic
By Gaber
Located in Zohor, SK
Beautiful design chair by Gaber company produced in Italy in 1990s. The chair is newer design but very vintage look. The seat is made of dark purple plastic. The base is made of stee...
Category
Early 2000s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel
Mid-Century yellow Chair with Metal Frame and Plastic Seat, Belgium
Located in Meulebeke, BE
Belgium / 2000 / chair / plastic, metal / Mid-century / Design A sleek yellow chair with metal frame and arm rests, designed in Belgium.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Belgian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Metal
Panton Style Molded Plastic Chair in High Gloss White, Mid-Century
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Sculptural Panton style chair with a continuous molded form and high gloss white finish. Inspired by the iconic late 20th century silhouette, this chair features a fluid cantilevered...
Category
Late 20th Century Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Plastic
Set of 4 Mid Century Modern Molded Plastic Chairs with Swivel Base
$680Sale Price / set|28% Off
Set of 4 Mid Century Modern Molded Plastic Chairs with Swivel Base
By Herman Miller, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Freehold, NJ
This set of 4 mid century modern chairs feature molded plastic construction, unique white and pink design, and swivel base with four copper colored legs.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Plastic
Set of 4 Vintage Mid-Century Italian Modern Atlantide Toy Plastic Chairs
By Philippe Starck, Driade
Located in Warszawa, Mazowieckie
This set of four Atlantide Collection Toy chairs was designed by Philippe Starck for the Italian manufacturer Driade in 1990. Toy is the quintessential chair. A concentration of eleg...
Category
1990s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Plastic
Log Type E Lounge Chair in Oiled Red Oak by Tucker Viemeister for Wooda
By Tucker Viemeister, Wooda
Located in Omro, WI
All designers feel challenged to create a great chair. The Log Type E by Tucker Viemeister for Wooda is the convergence of cutting edge rapid prototyping technology and the oldest ra...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Hardwood, Oak
Italian mid-century modern Chair in red plastic and black metal, 1960s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian mid-century modern Chair in red plastic and black metal, 1960s Chair with curved and shaped seat and backrest in bright red plastic.
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Metal
Italian Mid-Century Outdoor Chair in Yellow Plastic Scooby Black Metal, 1960s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian Mid-Century Modern outdoor chair in yellow plastic scooby and black metal, 1960s Fantastic outdoor chair in black tubular metal.
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Metal
Overman Sweden Mid Century Modern Molded Plastic Swivel Tilt Lounge Chair
By Overman
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Mid Century Modern Molded Plastic Swivel Tilt Atomic Era Lounge Chair attributed to Overman of Sweden.
Category
Late 20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Metal
Mid Century Style Herman Miller Shell Chair in Gray Plastic
$255Sale Price|40% Off
Mid Century Style Herman Miller Shell Chair in Gray Plastic
By Herman Miller
Located in Freehold, NJ
This mid century style chair by Charles Eames for Herman Miller features gray plastic construction with chrome accented legs.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Side Chairs
Materials
Chrome
French Mid Century Plastic String Chair with Tubular Steel Frame
By Philippe Starck, Woodard Furniture Co.
Located in New York, NY
Stylish mid century side chair having a tubular steel frame and plastic string wrap upholstered seat and back.
Category
Mid-20th Century French Post-Modern Side Chairs
Materials
Steel
Set of 5 Vintage Mid-Century Modern Scandinavian Plastic & Fabric Chairs, 1970s
$1,409Sale Price / set|20% Off
Set of 5 Vintage Mid-Century Modern Scandinavian Plastic & Fabric Chairs, 1970s
By Overman
Located in Warszawa, Mazowieckie
It adapts to any space and perfectly combines functionality with the Scandinavian design characteristic of the Mid-Century Modern era. The design of the chairs consists of a backrest...
Category
Vintage 1970s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Chairs
Materials
Chrome
Mid-century white design chair with metal frame and plastic seat, Belgium
Located in Meulebeke, BE
Belgium / 2000 / chair / plastic, metal / Mid-century / Design A sleek white chair with metal frame designed in Belgium.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Belgian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Metal
Set of Four Tubular Chrome and Plastic Mid Century Industrial School Chairs
By Kem Weber, Thonet
Located in New York, NY
Exceptional set of four tubular chrome and faux wood plastic armchairs. The chairs were made by the Columbia Manufacturing Company Inc. - a company most well known for making bicycle...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Chrome
Original Mid-Century Wingchair, Miroslav Navratil, Plastic Fiber, Czech, 1950s
By Miroslav Navratil
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
This iconic Wing Chair from the mid-20th century was designed by renowned Czechoslovak architect Miroslav Navrátil.
Category
Mid-20th Century Czech Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Materials
Steel
Vitra Verner Panton S Junior Chair in Orange Plastic, 2009
By Vitra
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Amazing Vitra Verner Panton S Junior Chair, produced in 2009. This playful chair reinterpret one of the most iconic furniture designs of the 20th century. Originally conceived in the...
Category
Mid-20th Century Swiss Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Plastic
Children's Chairs Italian Design Iron Plastic Multi-Color RIMA
By RIMA
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Original and particular children's chairs Mid-Century Modern Italian design iron plastic multi-color.
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Iron
Charles and Ray Eames Plastic Chairs, Eiffel Bases for Vitra, Set of Eight
By Vitra, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Miami, FL
Charles and Ray Eames Plastic Chairs, Eiffel Bases for Vitra, Set of Eight Offered for sale is a set of 8 Eames Plastic Side Chair RE DSR originally designed by Charles & Ray Ea...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary German Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Metal
Pair Tell City Chair Co. Duncan Phyfe Mahogany and Vinyl Upholstered Side Chairs
By Tell City Chair Co.
Located in Germantown, MD
A Pair of Tell City Chair Co. Duncan Phyfe Style Mahogany and Raised Vinyl Upholstered Side Chairs. Recently refinished. Seat and back in raised Vinyl with no tear or crack. Measure...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Side Chairs
Materials
Plastic, Mahogany
Italian glossy black plastic Selene chairs, Vico Magistretti for Artemide, 1960s
By Artemide, Vico Magistretti
Located in MIlano, IT
Selene chairs, of modern Italian design, entirely in glossy black plastic, designed by Vico Magistretti for Artemide in the 1960s. Pair of Selene model chairs with monocoque structur...
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Plastic
Mid-Century Side Chair, 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Side Chair, 1960s, in Very Good conditions.
Category
20th Century Mid-Century Modern Side Chairs
Materials
Metal
Kartell Lou Lou Vintage Children's Ghost Chair Crystal Plastic Philippe Starck
By Kartell, Philippe Starck
Located in Miami, FL
We offer the Vintage Classic Lou Lou Kartell Ghost Chair for Kids in transparent Plastic. Philippe Starck's Lou Lou Ghost vintage Armchair for the fun world of Kids. Made by Kartell ...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Plastic
2000s Eames Molded Plastic Side Chair
By Herman Miller, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Esperance, NY
Modern Living — In the 1950s, the Eames molded shell changed everything about what a chair could be–sculptural, practical, mass-produced. Now in recyclable polypropylene, this staple...
Category
Early 2000s American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Metal
Set of 4 Stackable Plastic Chairs by Pierre Paulin for Henry Massonnet
By Pierre Paulin
Located in Wolfurt, AT
This set of 4 stackable plastic chairs was designed by Pierre Paulin for Henry Massonet and manufactured by STAMP in France in 1988. The chairs stand out with their geometric shapes ...
Category
Antique 1680s French Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Plastic
Vintage Mid-Century Modern Iron Rod Side Chair, Paul McCobb / Arbuck Manner
Located in Trenton, NJ
A precisely designed and quietly authoritative mid-century modern side chair in black enameled iron rod, executed in the manner of Paul McCobb's influential work for Arbuck Inc. of B...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Metal
Mid Century Blue Cado Chair, Steen Østergaard, Europe, 1960s
By Ostergaard Steen
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Polish production chairs from Plastics Factory 'Krywald' in Knurow have embossed signatures. They come from the 70s. The author of this project is the Danish architect Steen Østergaa...
Category
20th Century Polish Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Plastic
Brazilian Designer, Garden Lounge Chair, Iron, Plastic, Brazil, 1960s
Located in High Point, NC
A lacquered iron and green plastic band garden lounge chair designed and produced in Brazil, c. 1960s. Very heavy oxidation to metal legs and frame. Overall Dimensions (inches): 40...
Category
Vintage 1960s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Iron
Brazilian Designer, Garden Lounge Chairs, Iron, Plastic, Brazil, 1960s
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of black-painted iron and yellow plastic band garden lounge chairs designed and produced in Brazil, c. 1960s. Very light oxidation to iron legs. Overall Dimensions (inches):...
Category
Vintage 1960s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Iron
Mid Century Glossy Orange Cado Chair, Steen Østergaard, 1974
By Ostergaard Steen
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Polish production chairs from Plastics Factory 'Krywald' in Knurow have embossed signatures. They come from the 1970s. The author of this project is the Danish architect Steen Østerg...
Category
20th Century Polish Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Plastic
Thonet Chair in Birch and Plastic by Gerd Lange, West-Germany, 1973
By Thonet, Gerd Lange
Located in Pijnacker, Zuid-Holland
Designer: Gerd Lange Manufacturer: THONET Model: Flex chair Material: Birch / Plastic Design period: 1973 Size in cm: 49 x 49 x 79 seat height 46cm. Condition: Good...
Category
Vintage 1970s German Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Plastic, Birch
Mid Century Glossy Red Cado Chair, Steen Østergaard, 1974
By Ostergaard Steen
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Polish production chairs from Plastics Factory 'Krywald' in Knurow have embossed signatures. They come from the 1970s. The author of this project is the Danish architect Steen Østerg...
Category
20th Century Polish Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Plastic
Pr. Tubular Chrome and Woven Plastic Cantilevered Lounge Chairs
By Lloyd Loom
Located in New York, NY
Pair of cantilevered lounge chairs having tubular chrome frames and continuous plastic wicker style woven seats and backs. Very chic design, manufacture attributed to Lloyd Loom, uns...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Chrome
Green Plastic Chairs 4875 by Carlo Bartoli for Kartell 1970s, Set of 8
By Kartell, Carlo Bartoli
Located in Padova, IT
Oustanding and rare set of 8 yellow plastic chairs 4875 model, designed by Carlo Bartoli and produced by Kartell 1970s. In Good condition, wear consistent with age and use.
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Plastic
Set of 2 Plastic BA 1171 Stacking Chairs by Helmut Bätzner for Bofinger, 1960s
By Helmut Bätzner 1
Located in Hamburg, DE
Additional information: Materials: Plastic Color: Yellow Styles: Mid-Century Modern Period: 1960s Country of Origin: Germany Item Type: Vintage, Antique or Pre-owned Dimensions: 20.8...
Category
20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Plastic
Stackable Mid-Century Modern Metal Chairs, Slovenia, 1970s Design
$367Sale Price|20% Off
Stackable Mid-Century Modern Metal Chairs, Slovenia, 1970s Design
Located in Ljubljana, SI
Metal chairs 1970s pair. Stackable and firm/heavy chairs. Beautiful patina. H-77 cm W-44cm D-45 cm SH-44 cm
Category
Vintage 1970s Slovenian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Metal
Mid Century Red Cado Chair, Steen Østergaard, Europe, 1960s
By Ostergaard Steen
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Polish production chairs from Plastics Factory 'Krywald' in Knurow have embossed signatures. They come from the 70s. The author of this project is the Danish architect Steen Østergaa...
Category
20th Century Polish Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Plastic
Rare Plastic Organic Chair in Yellow, circa 1970
Located in Amsterdam IJMuiden, NL
This chair is part of the private collection of Casey Godrie and is situated in his private house. Ask him for competitive shipping quotes. His incredible Dune Villa, Amsterdam Beac...
Category
Vintage 1970s German Mid-Century Modern Side Chairs
Materials
Plastic
Mid Century Modern Blue Aluminum Vintage Chair Side Chair Vaghi circa 1960 Italy
Located in Vienna, AT
Mid Century Modern vintage chair or side chair or office chair from aluminum by Vaghi circa 1960 Italy.
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Aluminum
Mid Century Sea Blue Cado Chair, Steen Østergaard, Europe, 1960s
By Ostergaard Steen
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Polish production chairs from Plastics Factory 'Krywald' in Knurow have embossed signatures. They come from the 70s. The author of this project is the Danish architect Steen Østergaa...
Category
20th Century Polish Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Plastic
Set of 3 German Mid-Century Garden Stacking Chairs from Mauser
By Mauser Werke
Located in Hamburg, DE
Additional information: Materials: Metal, Plastic Color: Black Styles: Mid-Century Modern Period: 1960s Country of Origin: Germany Item Type: Vintage, Antique or Pre-owned Diamension...
Category
20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Metal
Mid-Century Black & Birch 'Strax' Stacking Chairs by Hartmut Lohmeyer for Casala
By Casala, Hartmut Lohmeyer
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Leg-to-shell connections are handled by bracket-style joints where the plastic shell meets the natural beech. Casala, the German manufacturer founded in the mid-twentieth century, b...
Category
Vintage 1970s German Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Plastic, Beech
Pair of Mid-Century Modern Gio Ponti Style Chairs, 1950s
By Gio Ponti
Located in Rome, IT
This pair of midcentury chairs features the unique design style of Gio Ponti. Two-tone upholstery and curved back and armrests make these a stylish selection for any room.
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Plastic, Wood
Mid-Century Italian Space Age Plia Folding Chair by Giancarlo Piretti, 1960s
By Giancarlo Piretti
Located in Hamburg, DE
This piece has an attribution mark, Additional information: Materials: Metal, Plastic Color: Silver Period: 1960s Country of Origin: Italy Item Type: Vintage, Antique or Pre-owned S...
Category
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Metal
Mid-Century design wicker chair by Dirk Sliedrecht , 1950’s
Located in Delft, NL
Dimensions: 70cm H, 59cm W, 38cm H seat, 60 cm D Condtion: Good Material: Metal , wicker Color: Brown , black
Category
Vintage 1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Metal
Pair Leatherette Dining Chairs of Mid-century, Czechoslovakia, 1980's.
Located in Praha, CZ
Made of Leatherette,Metal,Chrome,Plastic Seat Height is 46cm Original condition
Category
Vintage 1980s Czech Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Metal, Chrome
Mid-Century Space Age German Stackable Chair by Helmut Bätzner for Bofinger, 60s
By Helmut Bätzner 1
Located in Hamburg, DE
Additional information: Materials: Plastic Styles: Mid-Century Modern Period: 1960s Country of Origin: Germany Item Type: Vintage, Antique or Pre-owned Dimensions: 20.87ʺW × 18.9ʺD ×...
Category
20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Plastic
Roger L. Gerber Space Age Plastic Lounge Chair for Venture Line, 1960s
By Ettore Sottsass
Located in Miami, FL
Mid-Century modern space age moulded white industrial plastic indoor / outdoor lounge chair designed by Roger L.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Space Age Lounge Chairs
Materials
Plastic
Plastic Molded Spherical Lighted Accent Garden Chair by Souluxe, USA, c. 2000s
Located in Deland, FL
Title: Mid-Century Post Modern Futurist Outdoor Plastic Molded Spherical Lighted Accent Garden Chair by Souluxe, USA, c. 2000s About: Introducing a rare Mid-Century Post Modern ligh...
Category
Early 2000s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Plastic
Mod Molded White Plastic, Chocolate Vinyl Lounge Chairs, 1970s. ONE AVAILABLE!
Located in Kansas City, MO
ONLY ONE AVAILABLE. Molded plastic lounge chairs. Fun, kitschy, mod design. These would be great chairs for a gaming room or party room. Vinyl removable brown vinyl seat pads and arms.
Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Plastic
Mid-Century German SE 66 Chair by Egon Eiermann for Wilde + Spieth, 1950s
By Egon Eiermann
Located in Hamburg, DE
This piece has an attribution mark. design: egon eiermann, 1952 manufacturer: wilde + spieth model: se 66 Additional information: Materials: Metal, Plastic Color: Black Styles: Mid-...
Category
20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Metal
Set of Eight Mid Century Blue Cado Chairs, Steen Østergaard, Europe, 1960s
By Ostergaard Steen
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Polish production chairs from Plastics Factory 'Krywald' in Knurow have embossed signatures. They come from the 70s. The author of this project is the Danish architect Steen Østergaa...
Category
20th Century Polish Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Plastic
Mid-Century Space Age Garden Egg Chair Senftenberg Ei by Peter Ghyczy, 1960s
By Peter Ghyczy
Located in Hamburg, DE
Additional information: Materials: Metal, Plastic Color: Black Styles: Mid-Century Modern Designer Peter Ghyczy Country of Origin: Germany Item Type: Vintage, Antique or Pre-owned Di...
Category
20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Metal
Late 20th Century Set of Four Philippe Starck Style Red Molded Plastic Armchairs
By Philippe Starck
Located in Elkton, MD
Set of four molded plastic armchairs in red, after the “Louis” chair design by Philippe Starck for Kartell. Produced in a heavy, rigid molded plastic with substantial weight and stru...
Category
Mid-20th Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Plastic
Set of Two Black Mid Century Cado Chairs, Steen Østergaard, Europe, 1960s
By Ostergaard Steen
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Polish production chairs from Plastics Factory 'Krywald' in Knurow have embossed signatures. They come from the 1960s. The author of this project is the Danish architect Steen Østerg...
Category
20th Century Polish Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Plastic
Set of Four Mid Century Sea Blue Cado Chairs, Steen Østergaard, Europe, 1960s
By Ostergaard Steen
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Polish production chairs from Plastics Factory 'Krywald' in Knurow have embossed signatures. They come from the 70s. The author of this project is the Danish architect Steen Østergaa...
Category
20th Century Polish Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Plastic
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Plastic Mid Century Chairs For Sale on 1stDibs
An assortment of plastic mid century chairs is available at 1stDibs. Frequently made of plastic, metal and fabric, all plastic mid century chairs available were constructed with great care. Find 1682 antique and vintage plastic mid century chairs at 1stDibs now, or shop our selection of 8 modern versions for a more contemporary example of this long-cherished furniture. Plastic mid century 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. Plastic mid century chairs made by mid-century modern designers — as well as those associated with modern — are very popular at 1stDibs. Many plastic mid century chairs are appealing in their simplicity, but Knoll, Charles and Ray Eames and Herman Miller produced popular plastic mid century chairs that are worth a look.
How Much are Plastic Mid Century Chairs?
Prices for plastic mid century chairs can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, plastic mid century chairs begin at $22 and can go as high as $700,000, while the average can fetch as much as $3,231.
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
- Emerged during the mid-20th century
- Informed by European modernism, Bauhaus, International style, Scandinavian modernism and Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture
- A heyday of innovation in postwar America
- Experimentation with new ideas, new materials and new forms flourished in Scandinavia, Italy, the former Czechoslovakia and elsewhere in Europe
CHARACTERISTICS OF MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN
- Simplicity, organic forms, clean lines
- A blend of neutral and bold Pop art colors
- Use of natural and man-made materials — alluring woods such as teak, rosewood and oak; steel, fiberglass and molded plywood
- Light-filled spaces with colorful upholstery
- Glass walls and an emphasis on the outdoors
- Promotion of functionality
MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNERS TO KNOW
- Charles and Ray Eames
- Eero Saarinen
- Milo Baughman
- Florence Knoll
- Harry Bertoia
- Isamu Noguchi
- George Nelson
- Danish modernists Hans Wegner and Arne Jacobsen, whose emphasis on natural materials and craftsmanship influenced American designers and vice versa
ICONIC MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNS
- Eames lounge chair
- Nelson daybed
- Florence Knoll sofa
- Egg chair
- Womb chair
- Noguchi coffee table
- Barcelona chair
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.
Materials: Plastic Furniture
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.
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.
Questions About Plastic Mid Century Chairs
- What is a mid-century chair?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertOctober 19, 2021A 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, 2023To 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, 2022Yes, 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.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 3, 2023Some 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.
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