While most postwar furniture designers were looking to the future, Dan Johnson found inspiration in the past. The mid-century modern maverick is remembered for his beautiful armchairs, lounge chairs and dining tables with designs that are reminiscent of ancient Rome.
The American furniture designer began his career in the late 1940s by creating solid wood pieces like desks and dining chairs for California furniture manufacturer Hayden Hall. By the early 1950s, he was designing chairs and tables for American furniture importer and producer Selig. In 1955, Johnson moved to Rome on an apartment design commission. While there, he launched Dan Johnson Studio with the goal of bringing a modern approach to the Roman furniture of antiquity.
The pieces from this era of Johnson’s career are characterized by their sculptural metal designs. His most famous work was the elegant Gazelle line, sold in America by Selig. It features dining tables, coffee tables and multiple chair designs that involve a green “Pompeian Verde” patina, metal framing and traditional caning techniques. Due to a high manufacturing cost, the production line was limited and is highly exclusive today.
Another popular design by Johnson for Selig in the 1950s was the Viscount chair. More typical of the mid-century style, it was made with a wood frame, polished brass accents and orange leather upholstery. In the 1960s, Johnson designed a similar aluminum chair for American furniture manufacturer and distributor Shelby Williams, this one with blue upholstery.
Johnson died in 1978. The Gazelle armchair is in the collections of the Brooklyn Museum and Denver Art Museum, and a prototype of the Gazelle lounge chair is in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Interior designers regularly use Johnson’s furniture for upscale outdoor spaces in California and New York.
On 1stDibs, find Dan Johnson seating, tables, desks and more.
Dan Johnson “Viscount” Cognac Leather and Brass Accent Armchair for Selig
By Dan Johnson, Selig
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Mid Century Modern “Viscount” armchair designed by Dan Johnson for Selig in Denmark circa 1950’s. This elegant design features a newly refinished wa...
Brass
$4,520Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair of Gazelle 10B chairs in all cast aluminium by Dan Johnson
By Dan Johnson
Located in Kleinburg, ON
The Gazelle chair was designed by Dan Johnson in 1958 as part of a series of chairs that Johnson developed during and after completing a commission to design an apartment in Rome. Jo...
Aluminum
$3,600Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair of deep red leather 'Viscount' chairs by Dan Johnson for Selig
By Dan Johnson
Located in Kleinburg, ON
This stunning armchair is a rare example of Dan Johnson’s Viscount design for Selig, featuring a sleek brass frame and a rich cognac leather upholstery. The chair has a distinctive m...
Brass
1950s Black Lacquer Viscount Armchair by Dan Johnson for Selig
By Dan Johnson, Selig
Located in San Francisco, CA
An iconic Viscount armchair, designed by Dan Johnson for Selig. The frame has been carefully restored and finished in an elegant black lacquer. The brass armrests feature a rich, nat...
Brass
Mid-Century Modern Sculptural Black Lacquer with Brass Armchairs by Dan Johnson
By Dan Johnson
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fantastic pair of simple and elegant mid century armchairs in black lacquer over walnut with brass accents as well as the arms. One chair in a mellow yellow the other in a white faux...
Brass
Completely Restored Dan Johnson for Viscount Mid-Century Brass Armchair 1950s
By Kodawood, Dan Johnson
Located in St. Louis, MO
Dan Johnson "Viscount" for Kodawood, distributed by Selig, armchair or desk chair, circa 1950s. Refinished in dark ebony stain with new foam, orange leather and polished brass. Arm h...
Brass
Dan Johnson for Shelby Williams Aluminum Armchair
By Shelby Williams, Dan Johnson
Located in Chicago, IL
Cast aluminum chair designed by Dan Johnson for Shelby Williams. Manufactured by Crucible Products. This appears to be a early variation where no wood arms were ever attached. As T...
Aluminum
$5,995 / set
H 30.5 in W 29 in D 32 in
Danish Modern Walnut Lounge Chairs by Ib Kofod Larsen for Selig
By Ib Kofod-Larsen, Selig
Located in North Hollywood, CA
These exceptional Danish modern lounge chairs represent a masterful collaboration between renowned architect and furniture designer Ib Kofod-Larsen and Selig, dating to the 1960s. Ea...
Fabric, Walnut
Safari Armchair in Natural Cognac Leather
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Safari lounge chair, leather, stained beech, metal, Europe, 1970s Stunning safari lounge chair covered in original upholstery made of natural cognac brown leather. The chair shows v...
Metal
$1,800 / set
pair of chairs by J. RISOM
By Jens Risom
Located in Brooklyn, NY
located in france
Birch
Dan Johnson Iron Lounge Chair with Bent Walnut Plywood Armrest
By Dan Johnson
Located in Dallas, TX
Early production lounge chair by Dan Johnson 1960s. The lounge chair is constructed of iron with sculpted walnut armrest and upholstered in a new Perennial fabric.
Iron
Dan Johnson, Lounge Chair, Cowhide, Iron, Wood, USA, 1950s
By Dan Johnson
Located in High Point, NC
A green-dyed cowhide, black-lacquered iron and wood lounge chair designed by Dan Johnson and produced by Selig, USA, c. 1950s. Wear to wood arms and metal frame consistent with age ...
Iron
$6,595 / set
H 27 in W 30 in D 32 in
Yellow Leather Lawrence Peabody for Selig Danish Modern Danish Lounge Chairs
By Lawrence Peabody, Selig, Folke Ohlsson, Ib Kofod-Larsen
Located in Chattanooga, TN
Imagine a pair of iconic Mid-Century Modern masterpieces, whose elegant silhouettes speak to a golden era of Danish design: these are the Number 596 lounge chairs, conceived by the v...
Leather, Upholstery, Beech
1970s Cognac Leather Armchair, Italy
Located in Praha, CZ
- Good /very good condition with minor signs of use - heigh of seat 36 cm
Leather
Mid-Century Modern Sculptural Walnut Armchair By Boling Chair Co.
By Boling Chair Company, Adrian Pearsall
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This sculptural Mid-Century Modern armchair was manufactured by the Boling Chair Company circa mid-twentieth century. With it's carved walnut frame and curvaceous profile, the chair ...
Leather, Fabric, Walnut
$12,000 / set
H 35.5 in W 22 in D 22 in
Mid-Century Modern Sculptural Walnut Armchairs By M. Singer & Sons
By Bertha Schaefer, Carlo di Carli, M. Singer & Sons
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This pair of Mid-Century Modern armchairs are by the maker M. Singer & Sons circa late 1950s. They are attributed to American designer Bertha Schaefer and Italian designer Carlo ...
Walnut, Fabric
Dan Johnson Walnut and Brass Viscount Chair by Selig
By Dan Johnson
Located in Wilton, CT
This Dan Johnson Viscount chair is in its original condition. It has a lovely patina and has kept its structural integrity due to its fine ...
Brass
$5,176 / set
H 39.38 in W 21.26 in D 20.08 in
Pair of black lacquered Campanino armchairs, Enzo Rotella, Chiavari, Italy 1950s
Located in Chiavari, Liguria
Pair of Campanino armchairs produced by Enzo Rotella, made of stained beech wood and straw, manufactured in Chiavari, Italy, in the 1950s. The wide seat and curved armrests characte...
Beech
$4,068Sale Price / set|31% Off
H 30.5 in W 19 in D 17 in
Aluminum Gazelle Armchairs by Shelby Williams, Set of Four
By Shelby Williams
Located in Van Nuys, CA
A set of four circa 1950 aluminum Gazelle chairs made by Shelby Williams with original seat coverings. These chairs are masterfully crafted of cast aluminum frames that are sculpted and taperd into an iconic and graceful form with dark stained armrests and original factory gold vinyl upholstery. We have 2 additional Gazelle Armchairs...
Aluminum
Dan Johnson "Viscount" Armchair for Selig
By Dan Johnson, Selig
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Armchair by Dan Johnson for Selig, c.1950s, USA. The seat cushions have been reupholstered with a cream colored Loro Piana cotton fabric. The armrests feature a sleek brass rod that wraps around the back of each seat cushion. The frame is a stained birch featuring an "x" seat base and tapered dowel legs. Two available. Priced individually. Dimensions 22.25" width x 20.5" depth x 28" height; 17.75" seat height, 26.5" arm height. Condition Good restored condition, professionally refinished with new Loro Piana upholstery.
Brass
Dan Johnson"Viscount" Chair
By Dan Johnson, Selig
Located in Highland, IN
Often incorrectly attributed to Danish designer Ib Kofod-Larsen, these elegant chairs are an early design by American architect Dan Johnson. They were produced and distributed by Sel...
Brass
Sold
H 26.25 in W 22 in D 20 in
Dan Johnson “Viscount” Brass Accent & Cognac Leather Armchair for Selig
By Dan Johnson, Selig
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Mid Century Modern “Viscount” armchair designed by Dan Johnson for Selig in Denmark circa 1950’s. This elegant design features a newly refinished wa...
Brass
Sold
H 23.25 in W 24.88 in L 23.25 in
1960s Dan Johnson for Shelby Williams Cast Aluminum Swivel-Back Arm Chair
By Shelby Williams, Dan Johnson
Located in Shippensburg, PA
Built to last an eternity, this cast aluminum chair was designed by Dan Johnson for Shelby Williams and still retains the original manufacturer tag from Crucible Products. It retains...
Aluminum
Sold
H 30.75 in W 24.88 in D 23.25 in
1960s Dan Johnson for Shelby Williams Cast Aluminum Swivel-Back Armchair
By Shelby Williams, Dan Johnson
Located in Shippensburg, PA
Built to last an eternity, this cast aluminum chair was designed by Dan Johnson for Shelby Williams and still retains the original manufacturer tag from Crucible Products. It retains...
Aluminum
Sold
H 30.75 in W 24.88 in D 23.25 in
Rare Dan Johnson for Shelby Williams Walnut and Aluminum Armchair, circa 1960s
By Shelby Williams, Dan Johnson
Located in Shippensburg, PA
A RARE DAN JOHNSON FOR SHELBY WILLIAMS CAST ALUMINUM AND WALNUT SWIVEL-BACK ARM CHAIR Manufactured by Crucible, circa 1960s Item # 011FPA11K-1 Built to last an eternity, this cast a...
Aluminum
Dan Johnson “Viscount” Brass Accent Armchair for Selig
By Selig, Dan Johnson
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Dan Johnson “Viscount” brass accent armchair for Selig.
Wood, Fabric, Beech
Dan Johnson “Viscount” Brass Accent Armchair for Selig
By Selig, Dan Johnson
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Dan Johnson “Viscount” brass accent armchair for Selig.
Brass
Dan Johnson Occasional or Desk Chair
By Dan Johnson
Located in Phoenix, AZ
Ebonized mahogany and anodized aluminum chair by Dan Johnson, circa late 1960s. This example has been masterfully refinished and reupholstered ...
Aluminum
Sold
H 27.75 in W 21.5 in D 20 in
Pair of Viscount Chairs by Dan Johnson, White / Ivory with Brass Arms, Original
By Dan Johnson
Located in Kansas City, MO
Pair of Dan Johnson viscount armchairs, 1950s, Denmark. Completely original. Off-white leather like upholstery with solid brass arms (not...
Brass
Dan Johnson Viscount Brass Armchairs, circa 1950s, Restored
By Dan Johnson
Located in St. Louis, MO
Dan Johnson "Viscount" brass armchairs, circa 1950s. Refinished in dark stain with new foam, orange leather and polished brass. Arm height 26-3/8". COM option is available on these c...
Brass
Dan Johnson "Viscount Chairs", Denmark, 1950s
By Dan Johnson
Located in Chicago, IL
Pair of "Viscount Chairs" designed by Dan Johnson. Produced in Denmark, 1950s. Restored. Espresso wood tone, polished brass, black leather upholstery.
Brass