Danish architect and industrial designer Steen Østergaard was decades ahead of his time with his futuristic Space Age designs. Through his innovative chairs, tables and other furniture, Østergaard elevated Scandinavian modern design during the mid-20th century.
Born in 1935, Østergaard studied furniture design and architecture at the School of Arts and Crafts in Copenhagen in 1957, graduating with honors in 1960. That same year, he won first prize in furniture design at the Danish Upholstery Guild’s annual awards, presented at Copenhagen’s Designmuseum Danmark.
From 1962 to 1965, Østergaard worked in the studio of revered furniture designer and architect Finn Juhl before establishing his own firm. Østergaard’s watershed moment came in 1968 when he created the iconic Cado 290 chair. Later produced in 1970 by Danish designer Poul Cadovius’s Cado company, the chair — a brilliant one-piece work of polyamide nylon reinforced with fiberglass by way of injection-molding — features an elegant form inspired by the stackable seats created by Danish designer Verner Panton, who started experimenting with the concept of single-piece plastic chairs in the late 1950s. However, unlike the revolutionary Panton chair, Østergaard’s design includes optional cushions that can be affixed directly onto the chair’s frame.
Another of Østergaard’s exemplary seating pieces is the President Meteor lounge chair designed in 1968 as part of Cado’s A-Line collection. The indoor and outdoor chair was originally produced in six colors — beige, brown, green, white, red and blue — and incorporates a molded plastic frame with a deep, upholstered seat. The lounge chair appeared in the original Star Trek television series and film Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan and was used at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.
Østergaard is also known for furnishings such as his molded plastic dining room chairs, patio and garden furniture and ergonomic club chairs. In 1981, he designed and constructed the first Action Recliner chair, which included a built-in footrest, a piece now replicated around the world.
Østergaard’s furniture has been featured in exhibitions throughout Europe and the United States, including at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Deutsches Museum in Munich and Designmuseum Danmark.
On 1stDibs, discover a range of vintage Steen Østergaard chairs and other furniture.
President Lounge Chair by Steen Ostergaard for Poul Cadovius, Denmark 1970s
By Steen Ostergaard, Poul Cadovius
Located in Haderslev, DK
Iconic lounge chair from the 1970s by Steen Ostergaard for Poul Cadovius. The model is called President lounge chair. It has been fully r...
Felt, Fiberglass
Space Age Vintage Brown Orange Plastic Lounge Chair Steen Ostergaard 1960s
By Steen Ostergaard
Located in Vienna, AT
Space Age vintage lounge chair or club chair Meteor or President Chair from plastic and textile upholstery in the colors brown and orange. A bold authentic freestanding lounge chair perfect to relax and read a book as fireside chair or could work wonderfully in your library. Stamp embossed underneath: CADO Design Steen Ostergaard...
Upholstery, Plastic
Steen Østergaard Lounge Chair in Oak and Moss Green Upholstery
By Stol-Ex, Steen Ostergaard
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Steen Østergaard for Stol-Ex, lounge chair, oak, fabric, Denmark, 1962 Made in 1962, this armchair bears the mark of Danish architect and industrial designer, Steen Østergaard, craf...
Fabric, Oak
$5,834 / item
H 29.93 in W 27.17 in D 31.11 in
ARCH Lounge Chair in Oak and Sheepskin Upholstery by Mazo Design
Located in Geneve, CH
ARCH Lounge Chair in Oak and Sheepskin Upholstery by Mazo Design Dimensions: W 69 x D 79 x H 76 cm Materials: Oak, Sheepskin. With the new ARCH collection, mazo forges new paths wit...
Other
$4,978 / set
H 32.68 in W 33.08 in D 31.5 in
Two Swedish 1960s "Ilona" Lounge Chairs Attr. Arne Norell
By Arne Norell
Located in Shepperton, Surrey
Two imposing 1960s "Ilona" lounge chairs attributed to Swedish designer Arne Norell. In cognac leather, they are in excellent structural and visual condition. The deep cushions are...
Leather, Beech
$1,928
H 37.41 in W 27.56 in D 39.38 in
Brutalist Oak Lounge Chair and Ottoman with Upholstery in Goat Hide
Located in Langemark-Poelkapelle, BE
Robust and heavy massive oak lounge chair with ottoman, both upholstered in goathide. Brutalism is a movement within architecture that originated from modernism. It is characterized ...
Goatskin, Oak
PIA Chair by Poul Cadovius, Walnut
By Poul Cadovius, DK3
Located in Paris, IDF
PIA chair Solid oak frame, paper cordel seat Dimensions: H 75 x 49 x 48 cm (seat height 45cm) Wood: – Oak – Smoked oak – Black lacquered oak – Walnut Paper cordel: – Natural – Black (Contact us) -- The Pia chair signed by DK3 was imagined and designed by the famous designer Poul...
Walnut
$2,591 / set
H 29.53 in W 32.29 in D 31.5 in
Vintage Danish Modern Lounge Chairs by Kurt Østervig for Ryesberg Møbler, 1960
By Ryesberg Møbler, Kurt Østervig
Located in Asaa, DK
Vintage Danish modern lounge chairs by Kurt Østervig for Ryesberg Møbler, 1960. Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern pair of green upholstered...
Wool, Teak
Art Deco Lounge Chairs in Green Olive Velvet Upholstery
Located in Antwerp, BE
The soft and sensuous green olive velvet upholstery is in absolutely outstanding original condition. Rippled waterfall style pleated tailoring is punct...
Upholstery, Wood
1970s Slope Wrought Iron and Steel Mesh Lounge Chairs, a Pair
By BoConcept
Located in Germantown, MD
Comfortable, close to maintenance-free and with a style punch to accompany it, this BoConcept Style outdoor furniture is the perfect setting for great outdoor moments. With a light, ...
Iron, Wire
Space Age Lounge Chair by Raphaël Raffel, France 1960s
By Raphael Raffel
Located in Chicago, IL
A rare 1960s Space Age lounge chair by French designer Raphaël Raffel. This Modernist chair features a molded smoked acrylic shell that graceful...
Leather, Acrylic
Space Age Leather Cantilever Lounge Chair, 1960's
Located in Antwerp, Antwerp
This 1960's lounge chair embodies the sleek, futuristic aesthetics of space-age design. Upholstered in premium grey eco-leather, it features a sculptural, ergonomic form that offers ...
Metal
Italian Midcentury Club Chair, Late 1960s
Located in bari, IT
1960s design chair with chromed steel tubular structure with original leather seat.
Steel
$5,400 / set
H 40.95 in W 33.08 in D 30.71 in
Pair of Danish Modern Highback Lounge Chairs in Style of Henning Kjærnulf, 1960s
By Henning Kjærnulf
Located in Odense, DK
A sculptural pair of comfortable highback lounge chairs crafted from high-quality materials, and their style is reminiscent of the work of Danish designer Henning Kjærnulf. Armrest c...
Fabric, Oak
Ryo Lounge Chairs in Moss Green Velvet by Dagmar
Located in London, England
Dagmar Ryo Lounge Chair A custom made lounge chair developed and produced at our workshops in London using the highest quality materials. These examples are upholstered in luxurious...
Wool, Beech
Sold
H 33.75 in W 34 in D 35.5 in
'President' Fiberglass Lounge Chairs by Steen Ostergaard for Cado, 1968, Signed
By Cado, Steen Ostergaard
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This beautiful pair of rare 'President' Lounge chairs, Model #265 by Steen Ostergaard for Cado, Denmark (each chair signed with Cado embossed logo on frame), was designed in 1968 and produced at Krauss Maffei, Munich, Germany for a short time in limited quantities. For collectors of 1960s and 1970s Space Age, this is a sought-after and coveted design to have. Produced in fiberglass reinforced poly-amide nylon and is anti-static, full depth colored, and can not delaminate, and were cast in the largest injection mold in the world at the time. The head / neck rest is adjustable via the two dials on the back and can be raised or lowered to your desired setting. The President Lounge, which was part of the A-Line series, was prominently featured in many books, magazines and movies such as 'Star Trek' where it appears in Captain Kirk's 23rd century San Francisco apartment. ABOUT THE DESIGNER: Educated Cabinetmaker and Imagery Carver – Bronze Medal 1957. Graduated from the SCHOOL of ARTS & CRAFTS, Copenhagen, Denmark 1960, with certificate – Highest Marks. Officer in the Royal Danish Army 1960-1962. ACTIVITIES: Own Design offices in Denmark, respectively England, Germany and France. Main activities – Furniture design – Industrial Design – Professional product development. Designer and inventor of worlds first chair injection moulded in one piece. Developer and designer of the first Action Recliner furniture...
Fabric, Fiberglass
Sold
H 25.99 in W 27.56 in D 19.69 in
Pair of Midcentury Lounge Chairs in Oak by Steen Østergaard, 1960s
By Stol-Ex, Steen Ostergaard
Located in Lejre, DK
Pair of easy chairs in solid oak and new fabric. Designed by Steen Østergaard, made by Stol-ex Denmark.
Fabric, Oak
Sold
H 33.75 in W 34 in D 35.5 in
'President' Fiberglass Lounge Chairs by Steen Ostergaard for Cado, 1968, Signed
By Cado, Steen Ostergaard
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This beautiful pair of rare 'President' Lounge chairs, Model #265 by Steen Ostergaard for Cado, Denmark (each chair signed with Cado embossed logo on frame), was designed in 1968 and produced at Krauss Maffei, Munich, Germany for a short time in limited quantities. For collectors of 1960s and 1970s Space Age, this is a sought-after and coveted design to have. Produced in fiberglass reinforced poly-amide nylon and is anti-static, full depth colored, and can not delaminate, and were cast in the largest injection mold in the world at the time. The head / neck rest is adjustable via the two dials on the back and can be raised or lowered to your desired setting. The President Lounge, which was part of the A-Line series, was prominently featured in many books, magazines and movies such as 'Star Trek' where it appears in Captain Kirk's 23rd century San Francisco apartment. ABOUT THE DESIGNER: Educated Cabinetmaker and Imagery Carver – Bronze Medal 1957. Graduated from the SCHOOL of ARTS & CRAFTS, Copenhagen, Denmark 1960, with certificate – Highest Marks. Officer in the Royal Danish Army 1960-1962. ACTIVITIES: Own Design offices in Denmark, respectively England, Germany and France. Main activities – Furniture design – Industrial Design – Professional product development. Designer and inventor of worlds first chair injection moulded in one piece. Developer and designer of the first Action Recliner furniture...
Fabric, Fiberglass
Sold
H 35.44 in W 34.65 in D 34.26 in
President Lounge Chair with Ottoman by Steen Østergaard for Cado, Denmark, 1970s
By Poul Cadovius, Steen Ostergaard, Cado
Located in Haderslev, DK
All refurbished set President lounge chair by Steen Østergaard for Poul Cadovius, Denmark, 1970s. Space Age seat with ottoman with new dark g...
Felt, Fiberglass
Sold
H 28.35 in W 26.77 in D 28.35 in
Steen Ostergaard Mid-century Danish Steel and Leather Lounge Chair and Ottoman
By Steen Ostergaard
Located in Oakland, CA
Steen Ostergaard steel frame lounge chair with original patinated leather cushions filled with down and rare foot stool.
Steel
Sold
H 32.5 in W 34 in L 32.5 in
Iconic Space Age "Meteor" Lounge Chair by Steen Ostergaard for Cado, Denmark
By Steen Ostergaard, Cado
Located in Buffalo, NY
Iconic Space Age "meteor" lounge chair by Steen Ostergaard for Cado. Denmark. Classic 60 pop modernist design, molded plastic and pink upholstery. Adjustable back rest. Hand delivery...
Fabric, Plastic
Tango Lounge Chair and Stool
By Steen Ostergaard
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Lounge chair and stool in steel and patinated leather. Model "tango" Designed by Steen Ostergaard. Maker Terrex Art. The stool is very rare.
Steel
Steen Ostergaard Lounge Chair, Meteor for Cado
By Cado, Steen Ostergaard
Located in Munster, NRW
In good condition, this is one of the most Iconic pieces from the 1970s.
Plastic
"Action Recliner 1" by Steen Ostergaard
By Bramin Mobler, Steen Ostergaard
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Designed 1982 for Bramin A/S, Denmark. The chair is the first chair with synchronic movement of back and footrest, always in balance without using breaks, handles or gas cylinder...
Metal