Postmodern Alessandra

Javier Mariscal made a name for himself as a multidisciplinary creative — with such a fascinating range of projects under his belt, it would be difficult to confine him to labels such as artist, graphic designer or furniture maker. 

While Mariscal integrates generous portions of plastics, polished chrome and other manmade materials into the creation of his furniture and decor, his work is stylish and forward-looking in a manner that dispenses with the institutional look of synthetic design. Vintage Javier Mariscal stools, lighting and tables are playful and lively, and are demonstrative of venturesome experimentation with form. 

Born in Valencia, Spain, Mariscal attended the Elisava School in Barcelona in the 1970s to study design. He left school early, driven to learn from the world around him. His first major experience in real-world artistic pursuits was as an illustrator for a Spanish-language comic book in the mid-1970s. By 1979, Mariscal had shifted to product and furniture design. He created his distinctive chrome and leather Duplex stool that year, a piece that was manufactured by BD Barcelona Design for Bar Dúplex — a bar he co-owned and designed in his hometown. 

Throughout the 1980s, Mariscal created some variations of the Duplex stool, developed furniture for iconic postmodern design collaborative the Memphis Group and made a foray into textiles. He created a range of rug designs that culminated in an exhibition at the Vinçon salon in Barcelona and led to collaborations with legendary textiles brand nanimarquina, which was established by designer Nani Marquina in 1987.

In 1989, the International Olympic Committee chose Mariscal's entry Cobi — a mountain dog designed in the Cubist style — as the official mascot of the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. To date, Cobi stands as one of the most recognizable Olympic mascots of all time.

Also in 1989, he opened his own studio — Estudio Mariscal. There he immersed himself in countless projects, collaborating with many notable names such as the famous Spanish architect Alfredo Arribas and Japanese architect Arata Isozaki. In 1999, the Spanish Department of Industry and the BCD Foundation recognized Mariscal for his many contributions to art across a wealth of industries. 

Mariscal has since explored a variety of disciplines, from painting murals to drawing and co-directing for animated films including the 2010 feature-length animated movie Chico and Rita. He currently lives and works in Barcelona.

On 1stDibs, browse Javier Mariscal seating, rugs and tables.

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.