White Modern Armchairs
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Contemporary Rattan Armchair Set in White Washed Solid Oak
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary rattan armchair set of two. The seat is upholstered in white Bouclé and the back in woven natural cane. The solid oakwood structure provides strength and lightness to th...
Category
2010s European Modern Armchairs
Materials
Bouclé, Rattan, Oak
Massimo Iosa Ghini Armchair New Tone in white long pile cotton for Moroso, Italy
By Moroso, Massimo Iosa Ghini
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Stylish armchair model 'New Tone' designed by Massimo Iosa Ghini for Moroso, Italy. Wooden seat shell covered with tension-resistant polyurethane foam with different densities and po...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Armchairs
Materials
Aluminum
H 29.93 in W 31.11 in D 31.11 in
Smile Adjustable Rotating Leather Armchair by FSM
By De Sede, Georg Appeltshauser
Located in Brooklyn, NY
FSM Smile chair by De Sede. With its new, patented adjustment mechanism, Smile offers comfort that stands out from the rest and can be stopped at any angle without any effort. The tr...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Armchairs
Materials
Leather
De Sede International Steel Tube Armchair by Hans Eichenberger
By Hans Eichenberger, De Sede
Located in Brooklyn, NY
HE-113/01 armchair by De Sede.
Technical details:
Upholstery: SEDEX upholstery with wadding cushion. Strap cover in core leather black.
Frame: Chrome-plated steel tube frame. Bl...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Armchairs
Materials
Leather
DS-2011 Bauhaus Leather Armchair by De Sede
By De Sede
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Armchair DS-2011/01 by De Sede. Aesthetics and functionality in a harmonious combination. An impressive design with a solid steel construction and light upholstery. Casual cushions a...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Armchairs
Materials
Leather
Set of Two White Armchairs by Martin Eisler and Carlo Hauner
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in Milan, IT
Brazil, 1950s
Painted stainless steel, fabric upholstery
Set of two pieces.
Category
Vintage 1950s Brazilian Modern Armchairs
Materials
Stainless Steel
Filou Adjustable Reclining Leather Easy Lounge Chair by FSM
By Georg Appeltshauser, De Sede
Located in Brooklyn, NY
FSM Filou chair by De Sede. Filou's seat and footrest are fully crafted and can be stopped at any angle without any effort. A clever solution presents the upholstery from being undul...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Armchairs
Materials
Leather
De Sede Leather Club Chair by Kurt Erni
By Kurt Erni, De Sede
Located in Brooklyn, NY
DS-2620/01 armchair by De Sede.
Technical details:
Standard configuration: Legs beechwood black-coated. If not specified otherwise, the standard configuration will be confirmed....
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Armchairs
Materials
Leather
De Sede Leather Armchair by Stephan Hürlemann
By Stephan Hürlemann, De Sede
Located in Brooklyn, NY
DS-77/01 armchair by De Sede.
Technical details:
Standard configuration: Steel legs, matte dark nickel coating. Standard seat and back heights. Neck support in brushed stainless ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Armchairs
Materials
Leather
Sesam Adjustable Reclining Leather Armchair by FSM
By De Sede, Georg Appeltshauser
Located in Brooklyn, NY
FSM Sesam armchair by De Sede. The ultimate in comfort. A simple adjustment - that can even be made while seated - swivels out the footrest and reclines the seat. This offers body su...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Armchairs
Materials
Leather
Bauhaus Gabo Adjustable Cantilever Leather Chair by FSM
By De Sede, Markus Hartmann
Located in Brooklyn, NY
FSM Gabo chair by de Sede. Gabo is multi-faceted. Take the cantilever chair, sleek and stylish with its classic round-tube profile, or the elegant square-tube frame chair. Both combi...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Armchairs
Materials
Leather
Cleo Adjustable Reclining Leather Easy Lounge Chair by FSM
By Georg Appeltshauser, De Sede
Located in Brooklyn, NY
FSM Cleo chair by De Sede. Slim and self-assured in every setting – the Cleo easy-chair is made for relaxing. Its striking modern lines transform it into a contemporary sculpture tha...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Leather
Pavo Adjustable Leather Armchair by FSM
By De Sede, Markus Hartmann
Located in Brooklyn, NY
FSM Pavo chair by De Sede. The all-purpose armchair. Pavo has many facets, whether as an elegant side armchair or as a comfortable relaxing armchair with remarkable functions. Pavo o...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Armchairs
Materials
Leather
Pli Dual Rotation Multi-Functional Leather Armchair by FSM
By Stefan Heiliger, De Sede
Located in Brooklyn, NY
FSM Pli chair by De Sede. A miracle of rotation. The chair Pli consists of two armchair parts, each rotating about its own axis. Thanks to the option of Dual rotation the armchair ca...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Armchairs
Materials
Leather
De Sede Fixed Leather Armchair by Alfredo Häberli
By De Sede, Alfredo Häberli 1
Located in Brooklyn, NY
DS-110/101 armchair by De Sede.
Technical details:
Standard configuration: Thread color according to the color of the body. For further versions, please inquire. If not specified...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Armchairs
Materials
Leather
Shelby Adjustable Swivel Leather Armchair by FSM
By De Sede, Georg Appeltshauser
Located in Brooklyn, NY
FSM Shelby chair by De Sede. Built for blissful relaxation, this easy chair takes its name from its constructional design: a hard shell containing a soft and cosy core with convenien...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Armchairs
Materials
Leather
Rex Posture Support Leather Armchair by FSM
By De Sede
Located in Brooklyn, NY
FSM Rex chair by De Sede. The armchair Rex revolutionizes the act of sitting. Like the De Sede model DS-343, the armchair Rex is based on a patented seat study developed over the las...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Armchairs
Materials
Leather
Meditation Armchair Offered in Pure White Chenille
By Munna Design Studio
Located in New York, NY
This unique piece is more than an armchair. It is a vessel for wellbeing, a temple for meditation and enlightenment. Designed to be used in your place of choice for a retreat, be it ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Armchairs
Materials
Wood, Velvet
De Sede International Steel Tube Armchair by Hans Eichenberger
By De Sede, Hans Eichenberger
Located in Brooklyn, NY
HE-113/01 armchair by De Sede.
Technical details:
Upholstery: SEDEX upholstery with wadding cushion. Strap cover in core leather black.
Frame: Chrome-plated steel tube frame. Bl...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Armchairs
Materials
Leather
Chiado Lounge Chair with Vigo Plantain and White
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Chiado Lounge chair is a comfortable chair with inviting curves and a comfortable soft seating. The chair has a fully upholstered backrest and elegant metal legs. The Chiado Loun...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Metal
Chiado Lounge Chair with Boucle Snow and White
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Chiado Lounge chair is a comfortable chair with inviting curves and a comfortable soft seating. The chair has a fully upholstered backrest and elegant metal legs. The Chiado Loun...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Metal
Chiado Lounge Chair with Vigo Blossom and White
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Chiado Lounge chair is a comfortable chair with inviting curves and a comfortable soft seating. The chair has a fully upholstered backrest and elegant metal legs. The Chiado Loun...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Metal
Cove 2.5 Seater Sofa in Chalk White
Located in London, England
The Cove Sofa’s adapts to any interior environment and beckons to be sat in all day. The modular design allows versatile combinations and lengths of two-, three- or more seaters with...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary British Modern Armchairs
Materials
Wool, Bouclé, Oak
Cove Armchair in Chalk White
Located in London, England
The Cove Armchair is defined by its sculptural and enveloping nature. Planes of beautifully grained oak wrap around the sides and back of the soft cushions, following the lines of th...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary British Modern Armchairs
Materials
Wool, Bouclé, Oak
Arflex Katrin Armchair in Natural Fur with White Metal Legs by Carlo Colombo
By Carlo Colombo, Arflex
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The continuous search for elegance and simplicity has brought the architect Carlo Colombo to the realization of Katrin Armchair, conceived as a body to be dressed with an elegant and...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Armchairs
Materials
Fur
H 30.71 in W 32.29 in D 33.08 in
Cape Lounge Chair, by Charlotte Høncke from Warm Nordic
Located in Viby J, DK
An elegant armchair with an organic design inspired by the puffed sleeves and layered designs of haute couture. Its soft lines and chic details make the cape armchair a real eyecatch...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Foam
Gandia Blasco Stack Dining Armchair in Aluminum by Borja Garcia
By Gandia Blasco
Located in New York, NY
Stack is Gandiablasco’s most free-and-easy collection of outdoor furniture. Inspired by aesthetics from the world of sailing, it is refreshingly reminiscent of the retro elegance of ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Armchairs
Materials
Aluminum
Bauhaus Gabo Adjustable Cantilever Leather Chair by FSM
By Markus Hartmann, De Sede
Located in Brooklyn, NY
FSM Gabo chair by de Sede. Gabo is multi-faceted. Take the cantilever chair, sleek and stylish with its classic round-tube profile, or the elegant square-tube frame chair. Both combi...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Armchairs
Materials
Leather
Shiro Kuramata Sofa With Arms in Chromed Tubular Metal for Cappellini
By Shiro Kuramata, Cappellini
Located in New York, NY
An homage to the masters of early 20th century modernism, the sofa with arms armchair by Shiro Kuramata has a structure made of chromed tubular metal, padded with polyurethane foam a...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Armchairs
Materials
Metal, Chrome
Reading Lounge Chair Upholstered in Leather with Headrest, Cream & Beach Gray
By MORADA Haute Furniture Boutique LLC
Located in Miami, FL
Inspired by the graciousness of stingrays and their flying movement underwater this MAN-T lounge chair invites you to chill. The wings of this accent allow you to rest your book, iPa...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Armchairs
Materials
Leather
H 41 in W 60 in D 46 in
Hayche Otto Chair, Oak Plywood and Powder Coated White Steel Frame, UK, In stock
Located in Liverpool, GB
The Otto armchair is a playful and sophisticated piece that blends a simple and functional metal frame, with a sculptural and warm plywood backrest and seating area. The metal connec...
Category
2010s British Modern Armchairs
Materials
Metal
H 29.53 in W 21.26 in D 20.48 in
De Sede Leather Club Chair by Kurt Erni
By Kurt Erni, De Sede
Located in Brooklyn, NY
DS-2620/01 armchair by De Sede.
Technical details:
Standard configuration: Legs beechwood black-coated. If not specified otherwise, the standard configuration will be confirmed....
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Armchairs
Materials
Leather
Cape Lounge Chair with Stitches, by Charlotte Høncke from Warm Nordic
Located in Viby J, DK
An elegant armchair with an organic design inspired by the puffed sleeves and layered designs of haute couture. Its soft lines and chic details make the Cape armchair a real eyecatch...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Foam
Shelby Adjustable Swivel Leather Armchair by FSM
By De Sede, Georg Appeltshauser
Located in Brooklyn, NY
FSM Shelby chair by De Sede. Built for blissful relaxation, this easy chair takes its name from its constructional design: a hard shell containing a soft and cosy core with convenien...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Armchairs
Materials
Leather
Customizable Artifort Tulip Lounge with Swivel Base by Pierre Paulin
By Artifort, Pierre Paulin
Located in New York, NY
The tulip armchair for Artifort…. as if designer Pierre Paulin had premonitions of flower power! The simple tulip spreads its half-open petals around the sitter, inviting and warming...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Dutch Modern Armchairs
Materials
Textile
H 37.01 in W 35.04 in D 31.89 in
Modern Liberty Armchair Low Back in Polished Brass and White Sheep Fur Cushions
By Bessa
Located in Oporto, PT
Inspiration:
The sculptural forms of the 30s inspired the Liberty Collection. The tubular and steel structures that have marked those years are combined with a new inspiration that...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Armchairs
Materials
Brass, Metal
H 33.47 in W 44.1 in D 38.59 in
Modern Brass Armchair or Dining Chair in Black White Green or Pink
By Andrea Branzi, Qeeboo
Located in Origgio (VA), IT
Pupa armchair signed by Andrea Branzi is agile and voluptuous at the same time. It leans on a light metallic frame leaving the volume floating in the space. Born with chrome frame fo...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Armchairs
Materials
Plastic
Jasper Morrison Thinking Man's Outdoor Chair in Varnished Metal for Cappellini
By Cappellini, Jasper Morrison
Located in New York, NY
An eloquent name for a product that invites contemplation. For the Thinking Man’s Chair, Jasper Morrison envisioned a design in which all the elements are functional contributions th...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Armchairs
Materials
Metal
H 27.56 in W 25.01 in D 37.8 in
Erwan Bouroullec Spring Armchair in Satined Stainless Steel for Cappellini
By Cappellini, Erwan Bouroullec
Located in New York, NY
Based on a slender structure in satined stainless steel, the sophisticated Spring chair was designed by Erwan Bouroullec. The distinctive shell is made of rigid polyurethane foam wit...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Armchairs
Materials
Metal, Stainless Steel
Corolla 270 White Armchair by Cristina Celestino
By Cristina Celestino, Billiani 1911
Located in Milan, IT
An intricate, tone-on-tone pattern accents the singular tailored flair of this luminous armchair, richly padded and upholstered with white fabric (Golena 2616) all along the seat and...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Armchairs
Materials
Wood
Modern Black White or Green Brass Armchair or Accent Chair by Marcantonio
By Qeeboo, MARCANTONIO
Located in Origgio (VA), IT
The prickly pear is an iconic plant of the Mediterranean. It represents the welcoming traits of the land in which it grows, a magic territory that tastes like holiday and discovery. ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Armchairs
Materials
Plastic
H 33.47 in W 36.62 in D 28.35 in
Sesam Adjustable Reclining Leather Armchair by FSM
By De Sede, Georg Appeltshauser
Located in Brooklyn, NY
FSM Sesam armchair by De Sede. The ultimate in comfort. A simple adjustment - that can even be made while seated - swivels out the footrest and reclines the seat. This offers body su...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Armchairs
Materials
Leather
Marc Newson Embyro Armchair in Chromed Steel and Fabric Upholstery by Cappellini
By Marc Newson, Cappellini
Located in New York, NY
Designed by Marc Newson, the Embryo chair has three legs and a chromed steel structure padded with molded polyurethane foam. The fixed bi-elastic fabric cover is available in white, ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Armchairs
Materials
Steel, Chrome
Gandia Blasco Textile Club Armchair in Steel by Ana Llobet
By Gandia Blasco, Ana Llobet
Located in New York, NY
"Joining the pieces that make up the collection is made possible through a system that simulates the seams of garments. This way a highly flexible piece is achieved that adapts to ev...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Armchairs
Materials
Steel
Cappellini Sunset Armchair in Beech with Fabric or Leather by Christophe Pillet
By Cappellini, Christophe Pillet
Located in New York, NY
The Sunset armchair by Christophe Pillet has a swiveling design and backrest and seat made of curved beech wood; the base is made of satined stainless steel. The padding of the Sunse...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Armchairs
Materials
Stainless Steel
Jasper Morrison Thinking Man's Chair in Varnished Metal for Cappellini
By Jasper Morrison, Cappellini
Located in New York, NY
An eloquent name for a product that invites contemplation. For the Thinking Man’s chair, Jasper Morrison envisioned a design in which all the elements are functional contributions th...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Armchairs
Materials
Metal
H 27.56 in W 25.01 in D 37.8 in
Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec Basket 011 Armchair in Varnish Metal for Cappellini
By Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec, Cappellini
Located in New York, NY
A casual, relaxed appeal characterizes the Basket 011 sofa, created for Cappellini by the French designer-duo, Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec. The collection, composed of a two and three...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Armchairs
Materials
Metal
Plush Modern Black Side or Arm Chair with Chrome Legs by Andrea Branzi
By Andrea Branzi, Qeeboo
Located in Origgio (VA), IT
Pupa armchair signed by Andrea Branzi is agile and voluptuous at the same time. It leans on a light metallic frame leaving the volume floating in the space. Born with chrome frame fo...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Armchairs
Materials
Plastic
H 33.08 in W 30.71 in D 34.26 in
DS-2011 Bauhaus Leather Armchair by De Sede
By De Sede
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Armchair DS-2011/01 by De Sede. Aesthetics and functionality in a harmonious combination. An impressive design with a solid steel construction and light upholstery. Casual cushions a...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Armchairs
Materials
Leather
Cappellini Orla Swivel Armchair in Poplar and Fabric by Jasper Morrison
By Jasper Morrison, Cappellini
Located in New York, NY
Classic and contemporary stylistic elements define the Orla sofas and armchairs by Jasper Morrison, a masterpiece of contemporary design that has entered the collection of the Tate M...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Armchairs
Materials
Metal
Amura 'Panis' Sectional in White Fabric by Emanuel Gargano & Anton Cristell
By Amura
Located in GRUMO APPULA (BA), IT
The Panis Collection takes its inspiration from the iconic image of a large loaf of bread, a veritable local cult, becomes thus the inspiration for a line of upholstery with generous...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Armchairs
Materials
Fabric
H 27.56 in W 159.85 in D 104.34 in
De Sede DS-164 Armchair in Off White Upholstery by Hugo de Ruiter
By De Sede, Hugo de Ruiter
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Revolutionary back-push mechanism DS-164 can be transformed from an open sofa into an elegant chaise longue in a single movement, while the backrest can be stylefull rotated infinite...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Armchairs
Materials
Leather
Cappellini Small Orla Sofa in Foam Seat with Metal Frame by Jasper Morrison
By Cappellini, Jasper Morrison
Located in New York, NY
Classic and contemporary stylistic elements define the Orla sofas and armchairs by Jasper Morrison, a masterpiece of contemporary design that has entered the collection of the Tate M...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Armchairs
Materials
Metal
Jasper Morrison Thinking Man's Chair in Gypsum White for Cappellini
By Cappellini, Jasper Morrison
Located in New York, NY
An eloquent name for a product that invites contemplation. For the Thinking Man’s chair, Jasper Morrison envisioned a design in which all the elements are functional contributions th...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Armchairs
Materials
Metal
Gandia Blasco Textile Dining Armchair in Steel by Ana Llobet
By Ana Llobet, Gandia Blasco
Located in New York, NY
The Textile collection was conceived through a fashion inspired project that transferred the concepts and techniques used in textiles to the world of furniture.”– Ana Llobet (Designe...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Armchairs
Materials
Steel
Modern Brass Armchair or Dining Chair in Black White Green or Pink
By Andrea Branzi, Qeeboo
Located in Origgio (VA), IT
Unbridled and light at the same time, the Pupa armchair supports and suspends its enveloping volume on a base with a thin brass structure, which enhances its sensual elegance. Andrea...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Armchairs
Materials
Plastic
Marc Newson Felt Armchair in Fiberglass Shell with Glossy Finish for Cappellini
By Marc Newson, Cappellini
Located in New York, NY
An explosion of vitality: Felt chair by Marc Newson has a reinforced fiberglass shell that can be varnished with a glossy finish in a vast array of colors: orange, red, blue, white o...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Armchairs
Materials
Aluminum
Cherner Style Natural Beech Armchair with White Leather Upholstery, 2 Available
By Norman Cherner
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Cherner style natural beech armchair with white leather upholstery, 2 available
Sold individually
The seat is 19" W x 16" D
Arm height is 26" high, the seat height is 18".
Category
Late 20th Century American Modern Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Leather, Beech
H 31.5 in W 24 in D 24 in
Cleo Adjustable Reclining Leather Easy Lounge Chair by FSM
By De Sede, Georg Appeltshauser
Located in Brooklyn, NY
FSM Cleo chair by De Sede. Slim and self-assured in every setting – the Cleo easy-chair is made for relaxing. Its striking modern lines transform it into a contemporary sculpture tha...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Leather
Pavo Adjustable Leather Armchair by FSM
By De Sede, Markus Hartmann
Located in Brooklyn, NY
FSM Pavo chair by De Sede. The all-purpose armchair. Pavo has many facets, whether as an elegant side armchair or as a comfortable relaxing armchair with remarkable functions. Pavo o...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Armchairs
Materials
Leather
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White Modern Armchairs For Sale on 1stDibs
There is a range of white modern armchairs for sale on 1stDibs. Each of these unique white modern armchairs was constructed with extraordinary care, often using animal skin, leather and plastic. We have 8 antique and vintage white modern armchairs in-stock, while there are 62 modern editions to choose from as well. There are all kinds of white modern armchairs available, from those produced as long ago as the 20th Century to those made as recently as the 21st Century. There have been many well-made white modern armchairs over the years, but those made by Cappellini, De Sede and Jasper Morrison are often thought to be among the most beautiful.
How Much are White Modern Armchairs?
Prices for white modern armchairs start at $326 and top out at $25,061 with the average selling for $3,664.
A Close Look at Modern Furniture
The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw sweeping social change and major scientific advances — both of which contributed to a new aesthetic: modernism. Rejecting the rigidity of Victorian artistic conventions, modernists sought a new means of expression. References to the natural world and ornate classical embellishments gave way to the sleek simplicity of the Machine Age. Architect Philip Johnson characterized the hallmarks of modernism as “machine-like simplicity, smoothness or surface [and] avoidance of ornament.”
Early practitioners of modernist design include the De Stijl (“The Style”) group, founded in the Netherlands in 1917, and the Bauhaus School, founded two years later in Germany.
Followers of both groups produced sleek, spare designs — many of which became icons of daily life in the 20th century. The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics. While Bauhaus principals Marcel Breuer and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe created furniture from mass-produced, chrome-plated steel, American visionaries like Charles and Ray Eames worked in materials as novel as molded plywood and fiberglass. Today, Breuer’s Wassily chair, Mies van der Rohe’s Barcelona chair — crafted with his romantic partner, designer Lilly Reich — and the Eames lounge chair are emblems of progressive design and vintage originals are prized cornerstones of collections.
It’s difficult to overstate the influence that modernism continues to wield over designers and architects — and equally difficult to overstate how revolutionary it was when it first appeared a century ago. But because modernist furniture designs are so simple, they can blend in seamlessly with just about any type of décor. Don’t overlook them.
Finding the Right Armchairs for You
Armchairs have run the gamut from prestige to ease and everything in between, and everyone has an antique or vintage armchair that they love.
Long before industrial mass production democratized seating, armchairs conveyed status and power.
In ancient Egypt, the commoners took stools, while in early Greece, ceremonial chairs of carved marble were designated for nobility. But the high-backed early thrones of yore, elevated and ornate, were merely grandiose iterations of today’s armchairs.
Modern-day armchairs, built with functionality and comfort in mind, are now central to tasks throughout your home. Formal dining armchairs support your guests at a table for a cheery feast, a good drafting chair with a deep seat is parked in front of an easel where you create art and, elsewhere, an ergonomic wonder of sorts positions you at the desk for your 9 to 5.
When placed under just the right lamp where you can lounge comfortably, both elbows resting on the padded supports on each side of you, an upholstered armchair — or a rattan armchair for your light-suffused sunroom — can be the sanctuary where you’ll read for hours.
If you’re in the mood for company, your velvet chesterfield armchair is a place to relax and be part of the conversation that swirls around you. Maybe the dialogue is about the beloved Papa Bear chair, a mid-century modern masterpiece from Danish carpenter and furniture maker Hans Wegner, and the wingback’s strong association with the concept of cozying up by the fireplace, which we can trace back to its origins in 1600s-era England, when the seat’s distinctive arm protrusions protected the sitter from the heat of the period’s large fireplaces.
If the fireside armchair chat involves spirited comparisons, your companions will likely probe the merits of antique and vintage armchairs such as Queen Anne armchairs, Victorian armchairs or even Louis XVI armchairs, as well as the pros and cons of restoration versus conservation.
Everyone seems to have a favorite armchair and most people will be all too willing to talk about their beloved design. Whether that’s the unique Favela chair by Brazilian sibling furniture designers Fernando and Humberto Campana, who repurposed everyday objects to provocative effect; or Marcel Breuer’s futuristic tubular metal Wassily lounge chair; the functionality-first LC series from Charlotte Perriand, Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret; or the Eames lounge chair of the mid-1950s created by Charles and Ray Eames, there is an iconic armchair for everyone and every purpose. Find yours on 1stDibs right now.
Read More
The 21 Most Popular Mid-Century Modern Chairs
You know the designs, now get the stories about how they came to be.
Eileen Gray’s Famed Cliffside Villa in the South of France Is Returned to Its Modernist Glory
After years of diligent restoration, E-1027, the designer-cum-architect’s marriage of romance and modernism, is finally complete.
See How New York City Designers Experiment on Their Own Homes
There are many lessons to be learned from the lofts, apartments and townhouses of architects and decorators in Manhattan and beyond.
Why Drew McGukin’s Colorful Home Differs from Those of His Clients
The New York–based designer has a high-impact style that's all his own, as his loft in the Chelsea Flower District makes abundantly clear.
Jeff Andrews Captures Old Hollywood Glamour in His Cinematic Spaces
Having created extravagant homes for reality TV’s biggest stars, the designer is stepping into the spotlight with his first book.
New Orleans’ Lee Ledbetter Makes Design Magic by Mixing Past and Present
The Louisiana-born and -bred architect talks to 1stdibs about the art of making timeless places that matter.
How a Modernist Hamptons Home on the Water Became the Ideal Weekend Refuge
Damon Liss and Stelle Lomont Rouhani Architects collaborated on this serene getaway for a minimalism-minded Manhattan family of four.
Desert Modern Designer Arthur Elrod Finally Gets His Day in the Sun
The Palm Springs interior decorator developed a mid-century style that defined the vacation homes of celebrities and other notables, including Bob Hope and Lucille Ball.
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Rattan Set Of Two
Red White And Blue Chair
Plastic Shell Chair
White Cane Back
Yellow Leather Chair
Cantilever Black Leather
Chrome Leather Round
Orange Shelf
Pair Of Painted Green Chairs
Vintage Steel Door
Aluminum High Back Chairs
Blue Orange Chair
Yellow Leather Chairs
Brass White Dining Chairs
Black Leather Folding Chairs
Purple Blue Chair
Red Leather White Chair
Black Pink Chair