Many of today’s most popular outdoor furniture designs exist thanks to the talents of designer Richard Schultz. Working in his fluid mid-century modern style, Schultz introduced a wealth of unimposing pieces to gardens and outdoor spaces that proved highly influential in the decades that followed. The airy shapes and timeless appeal of his vintage patio furniture and other works reflect his motto: “Form follows technique.”
Born Moses Richard Schultz in Lafayette, Indiana, in 1926, he displayed an early talent for building steam engines in his family’s basement. Although he had an aptitude for engineering, Schultz's struggles with mathematics later prevented him from completing his engineering coursework at Iowa State University. He joined the U.S. Navy, working as a radio operator. Following his military service, he enrolled at the Institute of Design in Chicago.
After he graduated in 1950, Schultz traveled to Europe, where he spent the summer sketching. When he returned to the United States in 1951, he applied for a position as a designer at the furniture manufacturer Knoll Inc. It is said that Florence Knoll — the company's cofounder and a visionary designer in her own right — hired him on the spot based solely on his sketches.
At Knoll's production facilities in Pennsylvania, Schultz was initially tasked with supporting Italian-American designer and metalsmith Harry Bertoia with the Bertoia Wire collection.
Schultz’s 715 chaise longue, with its adjustable frame and signature solid wheel, paired well with Bertoia’s celebrated woven steel-wire work. It was acquired in 1963 by the Museum of Modern Art for the institution's permanent collection. Another iconic piece Schultz produced around this time was the Petal table. Its wooden “petal” tabletop and enameled metal base were inspired by the plant known as Queen Anne’s lace.
In 1966, one of Schultz’s most esteemed series, the Leisure collection (reissued in 1992 as the 1966 collection), was developed when Florence Knoll requested some outdoor furniture for her Florida home that could withstand the salty ocean air. Schultz designed a line of aluminum patio coffee tables and lounge chairs that were not only fashionable and comfortable but also wouldn't rust.
In 1972, Knoll laid off its designers as part of the company's cost-cutting measures at the time. Schultz's role was a casualty of the reorganization, and he started his design studio — Richard Schultz Design — out of a Pennsylvania farmhouse. He enjoyed success with another of his influential pieces, the Paradigm office chair, which he sold to furniture manufacturer Stow & Davis in 1978. In 2012, Knoll acquired Richard Schultz Design and reissued many of his classic works.
Schultz is recognized today for having been one of the 20th century’s most celebrated outdoor furniture creators.
Shop vintage Richard Schultz tables, seating and other furniture on 1stDibs.
Set of Four Richard Schultz 1966 Series Dining Chairs
By Knoll, Richard Schultz
Located in Chicago, IL
Richard Schultz 1966 series Knoll. Set of four outdoor dining chairs Model No. 1966-46-H. Seat and back are woven vinyl coated polyester mesh with vinyl s...
Stainless Steel, Steel
Eight Dining Chairs by Richard Schultz for Knoll, White Frames, Red Orange Seats
By Richard Schultz
Located in Kansas City, MO
Set of 8 Richard Schultz dining chairs, made by Knoll, 1960s. The frames and seat backs have been expertly refinished in a soft white / ivory color and the original red orange seats...
Steel
$2,900 / set
1407 Chairs by Richard Schultz for Knoll
By Richard Schultz, Knoll
Located in Chicago, IL
c. 1980s. Price is for the set. Contact us if you’d like to purchase a single item. Upholstered in salmon naugahyde. Grey metal frames. Tagged.
Metal
2001 Prototype Richard Schultz 2002 Collection Stainless Steel Mesh Dining Chair
By Richard Schultz
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is a Richard Schultz 2002 Collection stainless steel dining chair prototype with custom polished perforated steel seat. The chair measures 31 inches tall by 23 inches...
Stainless Steel
1993 Prototype Richard Schultz Topiary Collection Cafe Dining Chair
By Richard Schultz
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is a Richard Schultz Topiary Collection stacking cafe chair prototype with a black powder-coated finish. This is a marvelous an...
Steel
2001 Prototype Richard Schultz 2002 Collection Mesh Cantilever Dining Chair
By Richard Schultz
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is a Richard Schultz 2002 Collection stainless steel cantilever dining chair prototype with mesh upholstery. This is a marvelous and rare example of a 2002 collection...
Stainless Steel
Prototype Richard Schultz 2002 Collection Stainless & Leather Dining Chair
By Richard Schultz
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is a Richard Schultz 2002 Collection stainless steel dining chair prototype with custom leather sling. The arm height is 26" from the ground. Total height is approxim...
Steel
2011 Prototype Richard Schultz Mateo Collection Raw Aluminum & Mesh Dining Chair
By Richard Schultz
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is a Richard Schultz 2011 Mateo Collection aluminum lounge chair prototype with mesh upholstery. This is a marvelous and rare example of a Mateo collection lounge cha...
Aluminum
Ten Dining Chairs Designed by Richard McCarthy for Selrite
By Richard McCarthy, Selrite
Located in Dallas, TX
A unique set of ten dining chairs designed by Richard McCarthy and manufactured by Selrite. The black painted iron against the smooth grain of the wood perfectly embodies the Industrial feel of the era. Consists of eight arm and two armless chairs. The armchairs feature curved wood arms...
Metal
$6,806 / set
H 36 in W 18 in D 23 in
Set of 4 Black Leather Cantilevered Dining Chairs with Matt Chrome Feet
By Peter Draenert
Located in Chicago, IL
Elegantly finished and extremely comfortable design chairs by Draenert. Made in Germany. Set of 4 cantilevered chairs in black leather with matt chrome skids. Dimensions 18"...
Chrome
Preview Mid Century Cantilever Chrome Dining Chairs - Set of 6
By Preview
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Preview Mid Century Cantilever Chrome Dining Chairs - Set of 6 Each chair measures: 20.5 wide x 24 deep x 35 inches high, with a seat height/chair clearance of 19.5 inches All piec...
Chrome
$1,210Sale Price / item|15% Off
H 29.75 in W 24.25 in D 20.25 in
Blackened White Oak Dining Chair with Leather Seat / Dining Chair GH1
By Klein Agency
Located in Los Angeles, CA
We’ve been tasked to design an effortless, elegant, honest and most importantly comfortable dining chair for chef Eric Bost, whose restaurant Auburn, we've been designing for the past few years. After a good year...
Leather, Oak
$1,282Sale Price / item|10% Off
H 29.75 in W 24.25 in D 20.25 in
White Oak Dining Chair with Leather Seat / Dining Chair GH1
By Klein Agency
Located in Los Angeles, CA
We’ve been tasked to design an effortless, elegant, honest and most importantly comfortable dining chair for Chef Eric Bost, whose restaurant Auburn, we've been designing for the past few years. After a good year...
Leather, Oak
$5,985 / set
H 26.5 in W 22.5 in D 28.5 in
Set of Four Richard Schultz 1966 Series Armless Lounge Chairs
By Richard Schultz, Knoll
Located in Chicago, IL
Richard Schultz for 1966 series for Knoll. Set of four outdoor lounge chairs. No longer in production. Seat and back are woven vinyl coated polyester mesh with vinyl straps and stai...
Stainless Steel, Metal
$2,300 / set
H 35.25 in W 22.25 in D 24.25 in
Set of Four Mid-Century Modern Knoll Style Brno Dining Chairs
By Knoll, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This set of four vintage dining chairs features unique flat chrome frame cantilever design, with rounded armrests, and comfortably padded seats. Unique scrolled top seat back and stunning chrome finish add to Mid-Century charm of the set, with details added to the original Mies van der Rohe...
Chrome
$5,846 / set
H 27.56 in W 18.9 in D 24.41 in
Afra & Tobia Scarpa Midcentury Leather and Plywood Dining Chair, 1966, Set of 4
By Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Vicenza, IT
Directly from our private collection, a set of four dining chairs designed by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for a Villa in Francavilla Fontana, near Brindisi, Italy, in the late 60s. The shape...
Leather, Ash
$6,204 / set
H 36.03 in W 19.1 in D 18.51 in
Eight Hand Carved Walnut Gothic Revival Dining Chairs circa 1840 Stunning Frames
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to this lovely suite of eight Gothic Revival hand carved walnut dining chairs A very good looking and well made suite, made in circa 1840 but based on a much earl...
Walnut
$2,200
H 26 in W 66 in D 28.25 in
2000s Richard Schultz for Knoll 1966 Series 3-Seater Outdoor Sofa w/ Beige Mesh
By Knoll, Richard Schultz
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Schultz 1966 three seat lounge chair with arms, originally designed by Richard Schultz in 1966. This particular example was produced by Knoll in the USA in the 2000s. The l...
Aluminum, Steel
French Midcentury Cantilever Chrome Dining Chairs
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
French midcentury (circa 1970) set of six dining chairs using cantilevered seats on chrome frames, in the manner of designers Willy Rizzo and Giovanni Offredi. The original upholster...
Metal, Chrome
Richard Schultz Prototype Aluminum Stacking Chair #2
By Richard Schultz
Located in New York, NY
Prototype stacking chair hand-built of aluminum by furniture designer and artist Richard Schultz as a full-size 3-D model exploring the ergonomic and sculptural qualities of a design...
Aluminum
Richard Schultz for Knoll Dining Chairs 1966
By Richard Schultz, Knoll
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Set of 4 dining chairs with arms by Richard Schultz for Knoll. Chairs are made from cast and extruded aluminium with a weather-resistant polyester powder coat finish. The upholstery ...
Aluminum
Sold
H 31.5 in W 20 in D 21 in
Richard Schultz Dining Chairs for Knoll in Original Oyster White Wool 1961
By Knoll, Richard Schultz
Located in Dallas, TX
Set of four dining or game table swivel chairs designed by Richard Schultz for Knoll. These chairs originated from an architecturally significant residence in NOLA and were rarely us...
Wool
Sold
H 33.5 in W 26.75 in D 24.38 in
Set of Six Topiary Collection Dining Chairs by Richard Schultz for Knoll, 1997
By Knoll, Richard Schultz
Located in Hamburg, PA
A wonderful Topiary Collection of Six White Powder-Coated Dining Chairs for Knoll. These chairs were designed by renowned designer Richard Schultz who creates objects to look like ar...
Aluminum
Sold
H 29.25 in W 23.25 in D 17.5 in
Vintage Midcentury Richard Schultz 1966 Series Dining Chairs - Set of 8
By Richard Schultz
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A fantastic set of 8 vintage outdoor dining chairs. Made by the iconic Richard Schultz and tagged on the bottom. White mesh seats with bro...
Aluminum
Knoll Richard Schultz Garden Chairs, Pair
By Richard Schultz
Located in Astoria, NY
Richard Schultz (American, b. 1926) for Knoll 1966 collection dining chairs (designed 1966), for indoor or outdoor use, the pair with leather and...
Metal
Set of 4 Richard Schultz Chairs for Knoll
By Knoll, Richard Schultz
Located in New York, NY
Set of 4 pedestal chairs designed by Richard Schultz for Knoll circa 1960's. The chairs feature a bright chrome pedestal, a four star base, fiberglass shells, and brown tweed fabric....
Chrome
Sold
H 29 in W 23 in D 23 in
Set of Six Richard Shultz Mid Century Modern Outdoor Dining Chairs for Knoll
By Florence Knoll, Richard Schultz
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Beautiful set of 6 powder coated cast aluminum with nylon mesh and leather armchairs in excellent vintage condition with minimal wear. All are armchairs, seat hgt is 16. All tagged R...
Aluminum
Sold
H 29.25 in W 22.5 in D 21.25 in
Set Eight Mid Century Outdoor Dining Armchairs Richard Shultz for Knoll
By Knoll, Richard Schultz
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous set of 8 dining armchairs by Richard Shultz for Knoll. Powder coated armchairs with his signature style mesh with leather strapping....
Aluminum
Sold
H 31 in W 23.25 in L 31 in
Richard Schultz White and Brown 1966 Dining Armchairs for Knoll, 6 Available
By Knoll, Richard Schultz
Located in Miami, FL
Six almost new Richard Schultz 1966 dining armchairs in all white with brown banding for Knoll. These are showroom quality with only minor scuffing on a fe...
Aluminum
Sold
H 29.5 in W 23 in D 23.5 in
Mid-Century Modern White Patio Chairs and Table Set by Richard Schultz for Knoll
By Knoll, Richard Schultz
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A complete outdoor dining set designed by Richard Schultz and produced by Knoll. The set includes 6 armchairs and one rectangular dining table. Features aluminum framing, white sling...
Aluminum
Set of Four Richard Schultz Stacking Dining Chairs for Knoll
By Knoll, Richard Schultz, Art Metal Co.
Located in Topeka, KS
Incredible set of four I48 stacking chairs by Richard Schultz for Knoll. This set is in wonderful vintage condition. The black faux leather or Naugahyde is in fabulous shape; however, the white finish on the shells, shaft, and feet has some imperfections. There is cracking, chipping, scuffs, and abrasions on the textured paint, mostly on the bottoms; but, the overall condition and look is good. Please see photos, circa 1960s. This is quite an incredible set of chairs! Designed by Richard Schultz for Knoll and introduced in 1961. Named the I 48 Stacking Chair, it is comprised of a shell of fiberglass with black Naugahyde upholstery on a steel shaft base with four pronged feet which have an off white textured paint. There is a split in the seat for stacking purposes. Quite innovative and unique. Each chair is marked in some way; one has both the small Knoll sticker and the larger fabric tag, two have only the small Knoll sticker, and one has only the larger fabric tag. The fabric tag reads: Art Metal – Knoll...
Steel
Richard Schultz for Knoll Six Dining Chairs with Rare Plated Base, 1960
By Knoll, Richard Schultz
Located in Amarillo, TX
Richard Schultz for Knoll dining chairs with upholstered backs and rare plated base, USA, 1960s. Knoll. Original canary yellow u...
Chrome, Steel