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Tom Dixon

British, b. 1959

Artistic, innovative and entrepreneurial, the self-taught creator Tom Dixon has been a contemporary design-world maverick for more than three decades. From his revolutionary art-meets-design projects of the 1980s and throughout his dynamic and influential career as a designer of furniture, housewares and interiors, the only consistent note has been change. Dixon’s chief fascination is exploring new materials and new ways of constructing things.

Dixon was restless even as a young man. He enjoyed ceramics and drawing in high school but later dropped out of the Chelsea School of Art in London. While repairing his motorcycle in 1983, Dixon learned how to weld and took to the craft. He began making what he has called semi-functional objects from scrap metal (sometime as performance art in a nightclub), then formed a furniture studio–cum–think tank called Creative Salvage. Amid the ritzy excess of the ’80s, Dixon — along with designers such as Tejo Remy and Ron Arad — forged a new, attention-getting aesthetic with furniture made from found materials.

In 1987, Dixon began working for the Italian furniture manufacturer Cappellini, which put his best-known design, the slender, sinuous S chair, into production, followed by such pieces as the Pylon chair (1992), a wire lattice that resembles electrical transmission towers. Starting in the 1990s, Dixon expanded his interests rapidly. He started a company to manufacture the stackable plastic Jack light; joined the housewares retailer Habitat as creative director; and breathed new life into Artek, the venerable Finnish maker that Alvar Aalto and his wife Aino helped cofound. Since 2002, Dixon has run his namesake company fabricating furnishings from novel materials like brass foil-clad wood and “vacuum-metalized” glass.

The hallmark of Dixon’s design is his captivation with the process of creating pieces such as chairs, tables and lighting fixtures. “A kind friend once described me as a ‘vertebrate designer,’” Dixon has said. “That means that I design from the bones outwards and am not really interested in surface.”

Classic Dixon pieces are those that exhibit the manner of their making — from his early work in welded scrap metal to the woven rattan seats and backs of his Fat chair for Cappellini. There are two ways to approach Dixon designs: as a collector, or as a decorator. The former will seek Dixon’s one-off and limited edition works and prototypes. These historical artifacts carry high prices that range from around $8,000 to $50,000 and above. Those more interested in a dynamic look will find that manufactured Dixon designs — such as his Jack lights or his Melt pendant — can be found for prices that range from about $300 to $1,000. Either way, as you will see on 1stDibs, the designs of Tom Dixon have a singular allure that makes them a noteworthy element in any room.

Average Sold Price
$1,165
Styles
Materials
Related Creators
Minimal Tom Dixon Beat Fat Brass Pendant Gold Hammered Pendant Light Fixture
By Tom Dixon
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Minimal Tom Dixon Beat Fat brass pendant gold hammered light fixture, contemporary. Gorgeous piece. Retails for 575 USD. The Tom Dixon Beat Fat pe...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary British Minimalist Tom Dixon

Materials

Metal, Brass

Tom Dixon for Cappellini Wicker S-Chair
By Tom Dixon, Cappellini
Located in London, GB
Designed by Tom Dixon, one of the best known British designers of the 21st century, the S-chair went into production with Cappellini in 1991. The S-chair is instantly recognisable, thanks to its sculptural silhouette and is part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art, making it a true design icon. The S-shaped seat is constructed from wicker, with a curved high backrest which flows seamlessly into the seat. The chair sits on a circular steel base, creating a cantilever effect, as if the seat is defying gravity. A true design classic, this Tom Dixon S...
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Tom Dixon

Materials

Wicker

  • Tom Dixon for Cappellini Wicker S-Chair
  • Tom Dixon for Cappellini Wicker S-Chair
  • Tom Dixon for Cappellini Wicker S-Chair
  • Tom Dixon for Cappellini Wicker S-Chair
H 40.16 in. W 19.69 in. D 22.45 in.
Tom Dixon Fat Chaise Lounge Right
By Tom Dixon
Located in Tulsa, OK
Tom Dixon Fat Chaise Lounge - Designed to hug the body and allowing for multiple sitting positions, this Tom Dixon Fat chaise lounge is upholstered in K...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary English Modern Tom Dixon

Materials

Velvet

  • Tom Dixon Fat Chaise Lounge Right
  • Tom Dixon Fat Chaise Lounge Right
  • Tom Dixon Fat Chaise Lounge Right
  • Tom Dixon Fat Chaise Lounge Right
H 27.4 in. W 72.5 in. D 33.9 in.
Flash Rectangular Table by Tom Dixon
By Tom Dixon
Located in New York, NY
A series of sophisticated tables with an uncompromising metallic surface. Available in brass and now black, the mirrored glass top and iron base result in a table that is both sturdy...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Modern Tom Dixon

Materials

Steel

  • Flash Rectangular Table by Tom Dixon
  • Flash Rectangular Table by Tom Dixon
  • Flash Rectangular Table by Tom Dixon
  • Flash Rectangular Table by Tom Dixon
BrassBlack
H 15.7 in. W 19.7 in. D 11.8 in.
Spin Mini Candelabra in Cast Iron by Tom Dixon
By Tom Dixon
Located in New York, NY
An industrial-strength piece of table-top engineering designed to act as a kinetic centrepiece and produce infinite arrangements. Able to hold tea lights and taper candles with equal...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary English Modern Tom Dixon

Materials

Iron

  • Spin Mini Candelabra in Cast Iron by Tom Dixon
  • Spin Mini Candelabra in Cast Iron by Tom Dixon
  • Spin Mini Candelabra in Cast Iron by Tom Dixon
  • Spin Mini Candelabra in Cast Iron by Tom Dixon
H 15.2 in. W 14.8 in. D 4.7 in.
Melt Mini LED Surface Light by Tom Dixon
By Tom Dixon
Located in New York, NY
Melt is evocative of molten glass, the interior of a melting glacier or images of deep space. An imperfect, organic and naturalistic light that produces a mesmerizing hotblown glass ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary German Modern Tom Dixon

Materials

Other

Bone Extra Large Bowl in Brass by Tom Dixon
By Tom Dixon
Located in New York, NY
The extra large bone bowl is part of a series of sculptural artefacts cast in solid brass with a matte finish bearing a bone-like quality. Bone bowls can be displayed on their own as...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Tom Dixon

Materials

Brass

Bone Small Bowl in Brass by Tom Dixon
By Tom Dixon
Located in New York, NY
The small bone bowl is part of a series of sculptural artefacts cast in solid brass with a matt finish bearing a bone-like quality. Bone bowls can be displa...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Tom Dixon

Materials

Brass

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More Tom Dixon Designs
Tom Dixon S Chair
Tom Dixon S Chair
Average Price
$2,161
Number Available
5
Tom Dixon S Chair
By Tom Dixon
Materials
Metal, Natural Fiber, Steel, Wicker, Plastic
Styles
Modern
Seeming to defy gravity, the S-chair springs upward from its base in a sinuous, fluid flourish. It’s a sculptural yet practical masterpiece by British designer Tom Dixon (b. 1959), who saw it go into production through a collaboration with Italian manufacturer Cappellini in 1991. It began as a sketch that had bird-like qualities.“I have often been asked what the inspiration was behind the S-chair and, honestly, the only memory I have is of drawing a small doodle of a chicken . . . and thinkin...
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Tom Dixon furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Tom Dixon furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Tom Dixon furniture, although black editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 20 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 46 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original furniture by Tom Dixon were created in the modern style in europe during the 21st century and contemporary. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Tom Kirk, Tino Seubert, and Stuart Scott. Prices for Tom Dixon furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at £156 and can go as high as £23,938, while a piece like these, on average, fetch £1,154.
Questions About Tom Dixon
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Tom Dixon originally created the S chair in the mid-1980s. The chair is characterized by its welded steel frame and woven rush upholstery. Shop a collection of Tom Dixon’s designs from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.

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