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Postmodern Prototype Chair 1
Located in Surbiton, GB
Unattributed, rare, late 20th century prototype chair. Formed from a steel frame supporting a high
Category
Late 20th Century Unknown Post-Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel
Robert Whitton Prototype Chair
By Robert Whitton
Located in Phoenix, AZ
This Robert Whitton prototype chair, crafted entirely from aluminum, is a striking piece of usable
Category
Vintage 1980s American Post-Modern Chairs
Materials
Aluminum
Robert Whitton Prototype Chair
By Robert Whitton
Located in Phoenix, AZ
This Robert Whitton prototype chair, crafted entirely from aluminum, is a striking piece of usable
Category
Vintage 1980s American Post-Modern Chairs
Materials
Aluminum
Robert Whitton Prototype Chair
By Robert Whitton
Located in Phoenix, AZ
This Robert Whitton prototype chair, crafted entirely from aluminum, is a striking piece of usable
Category
Vintage 1980s American Post-Modern Chairs
Materials
Aluminum
Robert Whitton Prototype Chair
By Robert Whitton
Located in Phoenix, AZ
This Robert Whitton prototype chair, crafted entirely from aluminum, is a striking piece of usable
Category
Vintage 1980s American Post-Modern Chairs
Materials
Aluminum
Robert Whitton Prototype Chair
By Robert Whitton
Located in Phoenix, AZ
This Robert Whitton prototype chair, crafted entirely from aluminum, is a striking piece of usable
Category
Vintage 1980s American Post-Modern Chairs
Materials
Aluminum
Robert Whitton Prototype Chair
By Robert Whitton
Located in Phoenix, AZ
This Robert Whitton prototype chair, crafted entirely from aluminum, is a striking piece of usable
Category
Vintage 1980s American Post-Modern Chairs
Materials
Aluminum
Robert Whitton Prototype Chair
By Robert Whitton
Located in Phoenix, AZ
This Robert Whitton prototype chair, crafted entirely from aluminum, is a striking piece of usable
Category
Vintage 1980s American Post-Modern Chairs
Materials
Aluminum
Robert Whitton Prototype Chair
By Robert Whitton
Located in Phoenix, AZ
This Robert Whitton prototype chair, crafted entirely from aluminum, is a striking piece of usable
Category
Vintage 1980s American Post-Modern Chairs
Materials
Aluminum
Robert Whitton Prototype Chair
By Robert Whitton
Located in Phoenix, AZ
This Robert Whitton prototype chair, crafted entirely from aluminum, is a striking piece of usable
Category
Vintage 1980s American Post-Modern Chairs
Materials
Aluminum
Robert Whitton Prototype Chair
By Robert Whitton
Located in Phoenix, AZ
This Robert Whitton prototype chair, crafted entirely from aluminum, is a striking piece of usable
Category
Vintage 1980s American Post-Modern Chairs
Materials
Aluminum
Robert Whitton Prototype Chair
By Robert Whitton
Located in Phoenix, AZ
This Robert Whitton prototype chair, crafted entirely from aluminum, is a striking piece of usable
Category
Vintage 1980s American Post-Modern Chairs
Materials
Aluminum
Robert Whitton Prototype Chair
By Robert Whitton
Located in Phoenix, AZ
This Robert Whitton prototype chair, crafted entirely from aluminum, is a striking piece of usable
Category
Vintage 1980s Post-Modern Chairs
Materials
Aluminum
Robert Whitton Prototype Chair
By Robert Whitton
Located in Phoenix, AZ
This Robert Whitton prototype chair, crafted entirely from aluminum, is a striking piece of usable
Category
Vintage 1980s American Post-Modern Chairs
Materials
Aluminum
Robert Whitton Prototype Chair
By Robert Whitton
Located in Phoenix, AZ
This Robert Whitton prototype chair, crafted entirely from aluminum, is a striking piece of usable
Category
Vintage 1980s American Post-Modern Chairs
Materials
Aluminum
Robert Whitton Prototype Chair
By Robert Whitton
Located in Phoenix, AZ
This Robert Whitton prototype chair, crafted entirely from aluminum, is a striking piece of usable
Category
Vintage 1980s American Post-Modern Chairs
Materials
Aluminum
Robert Whitton Prototype Chair
By Robert Whitton
Located in Phoenix, AZ
This Robert Whitton prototype chair, crafted entirely from aluminum, is a striking piece of usable
Category
Vintage 1980s American Post-Modern Chairs
Materials
Aluminum
Funny Prototype Chair with System, circa 1970-1980
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Funny prototype chair with system, circa 1970-1980.
Category
Vintage 1970s European Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Metal
Rare Plywood Prototype Chair C.1960's
Located in Long Island City, NY
Rare plywood prototype chair circa 1960's designed by an unknown student from the Chicago school of
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Side Chairs
Materials
Wood
Robert Whitton Powder Coat Red Prototype Chair
By Robert Whitton
Located in Phoenix, AZ
This Robert Whitton prototype chair, crafted entirely from aluminum, is a striking piece of usable
Category
Vintage 1980s American Post-Modern Chairs
Materials
Aluminum
Prototype Chair (Left) by Joop Rutjes, ca. 1990
Located in AMSTERDAM, NL
This striking prototype chair by Dutch architect Joop Rutjes (1937–2017) embodies his post-modern
Category
20th Century Chairs
Materials
Metal
Asian American George Suyeoka Studio Prototype Chair in the Style of Nakashima
By George Nakashima
Located in Cincinnati, OH
artist to the seat bottom in ink and in pencil it states " prototype chair for Fritz Hansen " . He is
Category
Mid-20th Century American American Craftsman Chairs
Materials
Wood, Walnut
H 28 in W 19.5 in D 22.5 in
Japanese designers Antiques Nippon Gakki YAMAHA Prototype Chair 2 Chairs Set
Located in Niiza, JP
Nippon Gakki YAMAHA Yamaha Prototype Chair 2 Chairs Set
420 (W) x 410/765 (Seat H/Total Length H) x
Category
20th Century Japanese Furniture
Materials
Plywood
H 30.32 in W 16.54 in D 18.51 in
German Prototype Chair by Albert Haberer, 1950s
By Albert Haberer
Located in Berlin, DE
A rare prototype easy chair designed by Albert Haberer in the 1950s, Germany. Only three of these
Category
Vintage 1950s German Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Leather, Fabric, Oak
Geoffrey Harcourt prototype chair Artifort Netherlands 1970
By Geoffrey Harcourt, Artifort
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Extremely special and rare prototype of the 508 lounge chair by Geoffrey Harcourt manufactured by
Category
Vintage 1970s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Upholstery
Martin Visser Modernist Prototype Chair SE20 Spectrum, 1988
By Martin Visser
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Rare prototype side chair designed by Martin Visser and manufactured by ’t Spectrum Bergeyk 1988
Category
Vintage 1980s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Plywood
Unique Prototype Chair by Marcel Wanders with Chrome Flower Décor
By MARCEL WANDERS
Located in Doornspijk, NL
MOOOI in Amsterdam in 2005. The chrome has a flower pattern.
This chair never actually went into
Category
1990s Dutch Post-Modern Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Chrome
Set of 5 Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern Minimalist Black Wire Prototype Chair
Located in Warszawa, Mazowieckie
This set of five minimalist chairs was designed during the 1960s. It is probably a prototype made
Category
Vintage 1960s Swedish Industrial Chairs
Materials
Metal
H 33.08 in W 19.3 in D 23.63 in
Gio Ponti, original drawing for Knoll, prototype chair, autenthicated
By Knoll, Gio Ponti
Located in Milano, IT
some ideas for chairs and armchairs. The result of the collaboration was a big dining chair in wood
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Drawings
Materials
Paper
Pair of White Modern Powder Coated Steel Prototype Sol Chairs by Jonathan Nesci
By Jonathan Nesci
Located in Chicago, IL
Two prototype chairs in powder coated steel for the Sol Chair by Jonathan Nesci for Volume Gallery
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel
H 28 in W 17 in D 17 in
Robert Whitton Prototype Foldable Drafting Chair
By Robert Whitton
Located in Phoenix, AZ
This Robert Whitton prototype chair, crafted entirely from aluminum, is a striking piece of usable
Category
Vintage 1980s American Post-Modern Chairs
Materials
Aluminum
Robert Whitton Prototype Foldable Drafting Chair
By Robert Whitton
Located in Phoenix, AZ
This Robert Whitton prototype chair, crafted entirely from aluminum, is a striking piece of usable
Category
Vintage 1980s American Post-Modern Chairs
Materials
Aluminum
Robert Whitton Prototype Foldable Drafting Chair - 2 Available
By Robert Whitton
Located in Phoenix, AZ
This Robert Whitton prototype chair, crafted entirely from aluminum, is a striking piece of usable
Category
Vintage 1980s American Post-Modern Chairs
Materials
Aluminum
Wind Swept Chair, manner of Jasper Morrison
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Prototype chair looking like it's been wind swept. Comfortable and a great piece of art
Category
Vintage 1960s American Chairs
Materials
Steel
Frank Gehry Prototype Accent Chair, 1970s Los Angeles
By Frank Gehry
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Extremely rare cardboard prototype chair for Frank Gehry from the estate of Margot Alofsin, an
Category
Vintage 1970s Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Masonite, Paper
Rattan and Iron Chair
Located in Los Angeles, CA
iron frame. One of a kind, prototype chair. Very good vintage condition.
Category
Vintage 1970s French Corner Chairs
Materials
Iron
Grand Louvre Side Chair by Jean-Michel Wilmotte for Tecno, Set of 8
By Tecno, Jean-Michel Wilmotte
Located in Brescia, IT
.
This prototype chair is part of a commission created as public seating for the Rizhelien wing of the
Category
1990s Italian Modern Chairs
Materials
Wood
Gregg Fleishman Lumbarest Chair
By Gregg Fleishman
Located in Los Angeles, CA
1980s Lumabrest Prototype Chair by Gregg Fleishman.
This conversation starter is an incredibly
Category
Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Birch, Plywood
Prototype Pierre Paulin Blub Lounge Chair, Artifort, 1971
By Pierre Paulin
Located in Den Haag, NL
Pierre Paulin prototype Blub lounge chair, Artifort 1971.
Rare opportunity to own a one of a
Category
Mid-20th Century Dutch Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Wool, Fiberglass
Pair of Robert Whitton Side Chairs
By Robert Whitton
Located in Phoenix, AZ
This Robert Whitton prototype chair, crafted entirely from aluminum, is a striking piece of usable
Category
Vintage 1980s American Post-Modern Chairs
Materials
Aluminum
Pierre Jeanneret Scissors Chairs for Knoll Associates - Upholstery Options
By Pierre Jeanneret, Knoll
Located in Saint Paul, MN
early prototype chair by Pierre Jeanneret. This early example borrowed the inverted V shape found in his
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Maple
H 31.5 in W 22.75 in D 29.5 in
Zigzag chair prototype - Netherlands, 1970
Located in Bruxelles, BE
Iconic Zigzag chair prototype
Netherlands, 1970
73,5 x 39 x 39,5 cm
Iconic chair composed by four
Category
Vintage 1970s Belgian Modern Chairs
Materials
Wood
Prototype Rocking Chair by Arturo Pani
By Arturo Pani
Located in Chicago, IL
Prototype hand-forged, steel rocker designed by Arturo Pani and executed by Telleres Chacon, Mexico
Category
Vintage 1960s Mexican Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel
Prototype Steel Chair by Tom Dixon, 1989
By Tom Dixon
Located in Berlin, DE
Prototype steel chair by Tom Dixon, 1989.
Category
Vintage 1980s English Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel
Prototype Wood Chair Resembling a Flower Stamen
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
The chair is crafted of all wood, its slender legs and back support extending gracefully like the
Category
Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Wood
Bernard Rancillac Elephant Chair Prototype 1960s
By Bernard Rancillac
Located in Dallas, TX
This example is not one of the chairs produced as part of the limited edition series of 100 in the
Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Steel
Gerrit Rietveld Jr. Prototype Salon Chair, Netherlands, 1955
By Gerrit Rietveld Jr.
Located in Pijnacker, Zuid-Holland
Museum piece! Prototype for a salon chair by Gerrit Rietveld Jr. 1920 - 1961, son of the famous
Category
Vintage 1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Wood, Plywood
Rare Prototype of ClassiCon Munich Chair Brown Leather
By Sauerbruch Hutton
Located in Munich, Bavaria
Model Munich chair designed by Sauerbruch Hutton.
Manufactured by ClassiCon.
This object is a
Category
Early 2000s German Modern Chairs
Materials
Aluminum
George Nelson Prototype DAF Chair for Herman Miller
By George Nelson
Located in Cincinnati, OH
An early per production prototype fiberglass arm shell or DAF chair designed by George Nelson. This
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Fiberglass
A Pair of Studio Prototype Plywood & Iron Chairs Sculptural
Located in Bonita Springs, FL
A pair of studio made plywood and iron chairs. These beautiful chair were a studio made prototype
Category
20th Century American Brutalist Chairs
Materials
Iron
Prototype Model "Sexibiti" Chair by Bieke Hoet, Belgium 2004
Located in Brussels, BE
Prototype model "Sexibiti" chair by Bieke Hoet - Belgium 2004.
Category
Early 2000s Belgian Modern Chairs
Materials
Wood
Gregg Fleishman Prototype European cutout plywood "Lumbarest" or Puzzle Chair
By Gregg Fleishman
Located in Linkebeek, BE
Gregg Fleishman Prototype European cutout plywood "Lumbarest" or Puzzle Chair
Gregg Fleishman
Category
20th Century American Modern Chairs
Materials
Plywood
H 42.13 in W 23.63 in D 20.48 in
Ilmari Tapiovaara Prototype Congo Folding Chair Finland 1954
By Ilmari Tapiovaara
Located in Camden, ME
Finland.
This prototype of the Congo chair comes from the estate of Ilmari Tapiovaara.
Rare.
In very
Category
Vintage 1950s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Metal, Steel
Italian Prototype Rocking Chair by Pierluigi Ghianda, 1960s
By Pierluigi Ghianda
Located in Antwerp, Antwerp
Rocking chair Prototype handmade and designed by the important Italian craftsman Pierluigi Ghianda
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Rocking Chairs
Materials
Wood
Martin Visser Prototype SE20 Chair, 'T Spectrum, 1988
By Martin Visser, 't Spectrum Bergeijk
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A very rare prototype of the SE20 chair, designed by Martin Visser for 't Spectrum, the Netherlands
Category
Late 20th Century Dutch Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Wood, Paint
Prototype aluminum + leather Ate Van Appledoorn small chair, unique, 1960s
Located in Forest, BE
Very unique handmade aluminum tubular and leather chair. the dimensions are smaller than a regular
Category
Mid-20th Century Dutch Brutalist Chairs
Materials
Aluminum
H 33.71 in W 14.34 in D 14.34 in
Handcrafted Chair Unique Prototype Mounted on Cylinder Solid Wood 1980s Unique
Located in Ternay, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
French chair from the 80s made by unidentified craftsmen. This unique model (prototype) was
Category
Vintage 1980s French Industrial Chairs
Materials
Metal
H 41.34 in W 17.72 in D 23.63 in
Rye for Marble Furniture Co. Chair Prototype Tubular Steel Cushion Lenor Larsen
By Ralph Rye
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
A unique chair prototype – a lounge chair by Ralph Rye for Marble Furniture Company. Circa 1970
Category
Vintage 1970s American Chairs
Materials
Steel
H 26.5 in W 39 in D 34.5 in
Prototype Richard Schultz for Steelcase Sheet Metal Dining Chair from Circa 1985
By Richard Schultz, Steelcase
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is a Richard Schultz sheet metal dining chair prototype for Steelcase, dating to
Category
Vintage 1980s American Modern Chairs
Materials
Aluminum
H 30 in W 18 in D 20 in
Ralph Rye for Dunbar Chair Prototype Tubular Steel Cushion Orange Knoll Fabric
By Ralph Rye
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
A rare chair prototype – the “Rye Chair” by Ralph Rye for Dunbar / Dux Furniture. Circa 1970. The
Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Chrome
H 34.25 in W 24.25 in D 30 in
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Prototype Chair For Sale on 1stDibs
With a vast inventory of beautiful furniture at 1stDibs, we’ve got just the prototype chair you’re looking for. Frequently made of wood, metal and fabric, every prototype chair was constructed with great care. If you’re shopping for a prototype chair, we have 88 options in-stock, while there are 4 modern editions to choose from as well. There are many kinds of the prototype chair you’re looking for, from those produced as long ago as the 20th Century to those made as recently as the 21st Century. A prototype chair is a generally popular piece of furniture, but those created in Mid-Century Modern, Modern and Scandinavian Modern styles are sought with frequency. You’ll likely find more than one prototype chair that is appealing in its simplicity, but Rob Edley Welborn, ClassiCon and Gruppo Alchimia produced versions that are worth a look.
How Much is a Prototype Chair?
Prices for a prototype chair can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, they begin at $550 and can go as high as $95,000, while the average can fetch as much as $4,500.
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.
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