Shell Antique Chairs Shell Chairs
19th Century Egyptian Moorish Shell Antique Chairs Shell Chairs
Shell, Mother-of-Pearl, Wood
Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Shell Antique Chairs Shell Chairs
Oak
18th Century Swedish Shell Antique Chairs Shell Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Shell Antique Chairs Shell Chairs
Fruitwood
Late 19th Century Italian Grand Tour Shell Antique Chairs Shell Chairs
Gold Leaf
19th Century English Regency Shell Antique Chairs Shell Chairs
Mahogany
1780s English Georgian Shell Antique Chairs Shell Chairs
Hardwood
1760s English George II Shell Antique Chairs Shell Chairs
Muslin, Walnut
Early 18th Century English George II Shell Antique Chairs Shell Chairs
Walnut
Mid-18th Century American Chippendale Shell Antique Chairs Shell Chairs
Silk, Walnut
1740s English Queen Anne Shell Antique Chairs Shell Chairs
Muslin, Mahogany
Late 19th Century Syrian Moorish Shell Antique Chairs Shell Chairs
Bone, Shell, Walnut
Early 19th Century Shell Antique Chairs Shell Chairs
Rattan, Oak
1760s Swedish Rococo Shell Antique Chairs Shell Chairs
Birch
1920s French Shell Antique Chairs Shell Chairs
Fabric, Upholstery, Mahogany
18th Century British Neoclassical Shell Antique Chairs Shell Chairs
Giltwood
1890s English Chippendale Shell Antique Chairs Shell Chairs
Fabric, Upholstery, Mahogany
1760s European Chippendale Shell Antique Chairs Shell Chairs
Mahogany
19th Century Egyptian Moorish Shell Antique Chairs Shell Chairs
Shell, Mother-of-Pearl, Wood
1920s Queen Anne Shell Antique Chairs Shell Chairs
Walnut
Late 19th Century German Mid-Century Modern Shell Antique Chairs Shell Chairs
Ash
18th Century Victorian Shell Antique Chairs Shell Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
1880s English George I Shell Antique Chairs Shell Chairs
Walnut
1750s Irish Shell Antique Chairs Shell Chairs
1880s English Queen Anne Shell Antique Chairs Shell Chairs
Leather, Upholstery, Walnut, Burl
Late 19th Century American Industrial Shell Antique Chairs Shell Chairs
Iron
Early 20th Century French Louis XIV Shell Antique Chairs Shell Chairs
Oak
18th Century Portuguese Baroque Shell Antique Chairs Shell Chairs
Walnut
18th Century English Chippendale Shell Antique Chairs Shell Chairs
Wood, Walnut
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Shell Antique Chairs Shell Chairs
Cane, Giltwood
Late 19th Century English Victorian Shell Antique Chairs Shell Chairs
Fabric, Walnut
1920s French Provincial Shell Antique Chairs Shell Chairs
Giltwood
19th Century English French Provincial Shell Antique Chairs Shell Chairs
Wood, Hardwood, Oak
1770s Swedish Rococo Shell Antique Chairs Shell Chairs
Birch
1880s English George II Shell Antique Chairs Shell Chairs
Leather, Walnut
18th Century English Chippendale Shell Antique Chairs Shell Chairs
Wood, Mahogany
Mid-17th Century French Baroque Shell Antique Chairs Shell Chairs
Wood
Early 20th Century Belgian Louis XIV Shell Antique Chairs Shell Chairs
Silk, Oak
Early 18th Century British George II Shell Antique Chairs Shell Chairs
Walnut
Early 19th Century English Regency Shell Antique Chairs Shell Chairs
Mahogany
Early 19th Century English Regency Shell Antique Chairs Shell Chairs
Mahogany
Early 19th Century George III Shell Antique Chairs Shell Chairs
Mahogany
1780s German Baroque Shell Antique Chairs Shell Chairs
Oak
Early 20th Century Indian Anglo-Indian Shell Antique Chairs Shell Chairs
Bone, Mother-of-Pearl, Abalone, Shell
Early 20th Century Belgian Louis XIV Shell Antique Chairs Shell Chairs
Leather, Oak
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Shell Antique Chairs Shell Chairs
Tapestry, Walnut
1880s French Louis XV Shell Antique Chairs Shell Chairs
Giltwood
1750s English George II Shell Antique Chairs Shell Chairs
Walnut
Early 18th Century English Shell Antique Chairs Shell Chairs
Early 19th Century American Sheraton Shell Antique Chairs Shell Chairs
Rush, Wood, Paint
19th Century French Louis XV Shell Antique Chairs Shell Chairs
Oak
18th Century Swedish Baroque Shell Antique Chairs Shell Chairs
Wood
Early 18th Century Swedish Shell Antique Chairs Shell Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
Mid-18th Century Italian Rococo Shell Antique Chairs Shell Chairs
Giltwood
Early 18th Century English George I Shell Antique Chairs Shell Chairs
Mahogany
Mid-19th Century French Shell Antique Chairs Shell Chairs
Mohair, Walnut
Mid-19th Century Italian Renaissance Shell Antique Chairs Shell Chairs
Walnut
1920s Swedish Rococo Shell Antique Chairs Shell Chairs
Fabric, Giltwood
Early 19th Century English Regency Shell Antique Chairs Shell Chairs
Wood
Early 20th Century Northern Irish Chippendale Shell Antique Chairs Shell Chairs
Upholstery, Mahogany
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Shell Antique Chairs Shell Chairs For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much are Shell Antique Chairs Shell Chairs?
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.
- What are Shell Chairs?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 31, 2023Shell chairs are iconic mid-century modern chairs designed by Hans J. Wegner and first released in 1963. In terms of both process and aesthetics, the Shell chair was ahead of its time when it was introduced. The expressive seat and back are made out of form-pressed oak or walnut laminates and topped with upholstered cushions for maximum comfort. Its design includes a tapered three-leg structure with two front legs made of one continuous piece and a separate hind leg that supports the backrest. This gives the chair a feeling of lightness without sacrificing stability. On 1stDibs, find a selection of Shell chairs.
- Is the Shell Chair comfortable?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2023Whether the Shell chair is comfortable is largely a matter of personal opinion. However, creator Hans J. Wegner designed the curves of the backrest and the seat to complement the contours of the human body in order to provide ample support when the Shell chair made its debut in 1963. Chairs became Wegner’s specialty, and over the years he designed over 500 of them. More than 100 of his designs, such as the Wishbone chair and the Papa Bear chair, went into production. Shop a selection of Shell chairs and other vintage Hans Wegner seating on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Whether or not the Wegner shell chair is comfortable is largely a matter of personal preference. Wegner did design the dramatically curved seat and gently tapered back to properly support the contours of the human body. On 1stDibs, shop a range of Hans Wegner chairs.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2024The history of the Wegner Shell Chair begins in 1963. Hans J. Wegner unveiled the chair at the Furniture Guild Exhibition in Copenhagen, Denmark. Often described as being "wing-like," the chair's radical fluid lines were considered a bit too futuristic at the time. Initially, mixed reviews from critics and the general public, as well as production difficulties, resulted in a very limited early run. Twelve new models were produced for a retrospective exhibition celebrating Wegner's 77th birthday in 1989, and the design began garnering renewed attention (a photograph of the chair was even selected to grace the cover of the exhibition catalog). In 1998, nearly a decade following the piece's reemergence at the retrospective event, Carl Hansen & Søn reintroduced the Shell chair 35 years after it was first released, and it has felt relevant ever since. On 1stDibs, shop an assortment of Hans Wegner Shell chairs.
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