What is the significance of the Ball chair?

The significance of the Ball chair is that it became an instant commercial success, and its groundbreaking form shook up the modern design world. After its debut at the 1966 International Furniture Fair in Cologne, buyers from 30 countries placed orders for their homes. Celebrities like Sammy Davis Jr. and Grace Kelly were among the early purchasers, as were royal figures like the Shah of Iran. Today, Eero Aarnio Originals makes the Ball chair, and it's featured in movies, magazines and museums all over the planet, even as it appears to have arrived from another solar system. On 1stDibs, find a selection of Eero Aarnio Ball chairs.

What is the Ball Chair made of?

The iconic Ball Chair is made of fiberglass, creating that rounded shape. The interior of a Ball Chair is upholstered in fine fabrics. Originally designed by Finnish furniture designer Eero Aarnio in 1963, this rounded chair is considered a classic display of industrial design. Shop a collection of Ball Chairs from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.

Are Eero Aarnio Ball chairs comfortable?

Whether or not Eero Aarnio Ball chairs are comfortable or not is largely a matter of personal opinion. When the chair debuted in 1966, the New York Times reporter who saw it at the International Furniture Fair in Cologne suggested that the seating on display was "designed more for laughs than for comfort." However, the distinctive chair brought Aarnio instant commercial success. Today, many people still find the inviting foam-filled fabric seat inside its molded-fiberglass orb to be as comfortable to sit on as it is pleasing to the eye. Shop an assortment of vintage Eero Aarnio Ball chairs on 1stDibs.

Seven Ball Chair

J And J Kohn Hoffmann

Josef Originals

Josef Hoffman Chair

Antique Bench Chair

Original Josef Hoffmann & Jacob & Josef Kohn "24-Ball" Table #1263

$23,108

Original Josef Hoffmann & Jacob & Josef Kohn "24-Ball" Table #1263

By Jacob & Josef Kohn, Woka Lamps, Josef Hoffmann

Located in Vienna, AT

On the veranda, there was also a seven-ball bench. For us, the seven-ball bench, armchair and chairs, as well as the 24-Ball table, are amongst the most modern and pioneering designs...

Category

Antique Early 1900s Austrian Jugendstil Tables

Materials

Beech, Plywood

Recent Sales

Aldo Rossi Postmodern Dining Chairs-Set of 6, 1980s

Sold

H 41.25 in W 17.5 in D 18.25 in

Aldo Rossi Postmodern Dining Chairs-Set of 6, 1980s

By Aldo Rossi

Located in Chicago, IL

A similar design to Josef Hoffman’s “Seven Ball" chair from 1907-1908. Aldo Rossi (Milan, May 3, 1931 - Milan, September 4, 1997) was one of the greatest Italian architects of the 1...

Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Modern Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Upholstery, Lacquer

Vintage Eero Aarnio Inspired Finn Stone Ball Chair, Set of Seven

Sold

H 21 in W 21 in D 21 in

Vintage Eero Aarnio Inspired Finn Stone Ball Chair, Set of Seven

By Finn Stone, Eero Aarnio

Located in Wichita, KS

Vintage indoor outdoor ball seats - inspired by Eero Aarnio ball chair and Conceived by Irish sculptor and designer Finn Stone for XL Boom. The 'Ball Chair' offers a playful and comf...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Irish Modern Chairs

Materials

Plastic, Paint

Collection of 12 Vitra Miniature Chairs

Sold

H 5.25 in W 6.25 in D 5 in

Collection of 12 Vitra Miniature Chairs

By Vitra

Located in East Hampton, NY

Josef Hoffman - Cabaret Fledermaus chair 4. Alvar Aalto - 41/ Paimio chair 5. Josef Hoffman - Seven Ball chair 6.

Category

20th Century Models and Miniatures

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Seven Ball Chair For Sale on 1stDibs

With a vast inventory of beautiful furniture at 1stDibs, we’ve got just the seven ball chair you’re looking for. Frequently made of wood, beech and hardwood, every seven ball chair was constructed with great care. Whether you’re looking for an older or newer seven ball chair, there are earlier versions available from the 19th Century and newer variations made as recently as the 20th Century. Each seven ball chair bearing Art Nouveau, mid-century modern or Georgian hallmarks is very popular. Many designers have produced at least one well-made seven ball chair over the years, but those crafted by Jacob and Josef Kohn, Josef Hoffmann and Woka Lamps are often thought to be among the most beautiful.

How Much is a Seven Ball Chair?

Prices for a seven ball chair can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, they begin at $1,250 and can go as high as $19,081, while the average can fetch as much as $4,302.

Questions About Seven Ball Chair

What is the significance of the Ball chair?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2024
The significance of the Ball chair is that it became an instant commercial success, and its groundbreaking form shook up the modern design world. After its debut at the 1966 International Furniture Fair in Cologne, buyers from 30 countries placed orders for their homes. Celebrities like Sammy Davis Jr. and Grace Kelly were among the early purchasers, as were royal figures like the Shah of Iran. Today, Eero Aarnio Originals makes the Ball chair, and it's featured in movies, magazines and museums all over the planet, even as it appears to have arrived from another solar system. On 1stDibs, find a selection of Eero Aarnio Ball chairs.
What is the Ball Chair made of?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
The iconic Ball Chair is made of fiberglass, creating that rounded shape. The interior of a Ball Chair is upholstered in fine fabrics. Originally designed by Finnish furniture designer Eero Aarnio in 1963, this rounded chair is considered a classic display of industrial design. Shop a collection of Ball Chairs from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
Are Eero Aarnio Ball chairs comfortable?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertFebruary 1, 2024
Whether or not Eero Aarnio Ball chairs are comfortable or not is largely a matter of personal opinion. When the chair debuted in 1966, the New York Times reporter who saw it at the International Furniture Fair in Cologne suggested that the seating on display was "designed more for laughs than for comfort." However, the distinctive chair brought Aarnio instant commercial success. Today, many people still find the inviting foam-filled fabric seat inside its molded-fiberglass orb to be as comfortable to sit on as it is pleasing to the eye. Shop an assortment of vintage Eero Aarnio Ball chairs on 1stDibs.

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