Vitra Seating
Design house Vitra has garnered international recognition for more than 70 years — the Swiss family-owned furniture company has outfitted public spaces as well as residential properties and offices worldwide. It has been a proponent of modernist design since the 1950s. While the brand is heralded for its collaborations with mid-century modern icons such as Verner Panton, Charles and Ray Eames, Alexander Girard and others, Vitra’s German campus is also home to buildings designed by legendary architects Zaha Hadid and Frank Gehry. Among them is the Vitra Design Museum, an independent cultural institution that displays two centuries of design today.
Vitra was established in Weil Am Rhein, Germany, in 1950 by husband and wife team Willi and Erika Fehlbaum. On a trip to New York several years later, Willi Fehlbaum encountered the work of design polymaths Ray and Charles Eames in a furniture store and immediately knew that he had found his bliss.
In 1957, Vitra entered into a licensing agreement with Herman Miller, which saw the company producing designs by George Nelson, the Eameses and others. Later, Vitra partnered with Verner Panton and created the Panton chair, which was the first chair ever crafted from a single piece of molded plastic (it was also the first piece to be independently developed by Vitra). After 27 years of establishing the Vitra brand, the Fehlbaums passed control to their two sons, Rolf and Raymond Fehlbaum.
When a fire destroyed the factory in 1981, the brothers developed the Vitra Factory Campus, subsequently taking the opportunity to redirect the architectural landscape of the company. They created a masterplan with Nicholas Grimshaw, and together they erected four buildings in just a few short years.
In 1988, with the passing of Ray Eames and the disbandment of the Los Angeles Eames office, Rolf and Raymond acquired the furniture design portion of her estate, including the Eames prototypes and experimental models, housed today in the Vitra Design Museum.
Rolf and Roy opened the Vitra Design Museum in 1989. This began a period rich with design relationships, including collaborations with Antonio Citterio, Jasper Morrison, Maarten van Severen, Philippe Starck, Alberto Meda and others.
In 2012, leadership passed to Nora, the third generation of the Fehlbaums. Nora Fehlbaum has, like her grandparents, expanded the company and brought it into the 21st century with the acquisition of Finnish furniture manufacturer Artek. Nora has turned the company’s focus to sustainability yet still maintains its international and cultural relevance legacy.
Find a collection of Vitra lounge chairs, tables, side chairs, sofas and other furniture on 1stDibs.
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vitra Seating
Metal
Early 2000s German Mid-Century Modern Vitra Seating
Aluminum
Early 2000s German Mid-Century Modern Vitra Seating
Metal
Late 20th Century German Vitra Seating
Chrome
1980s Swiss Modern Vintage Vitra Seating
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary German Vitra Seating
Leather
Early 2000s Swiss Modern Vitra Seating
Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Hollywood Regency Vitra Seating
Chrome
Late 20th Century European Vitra Seating
Aluminum
1990s German Vitra Seating
Aluminum
2010s Swiss Modern Vitra Seating
Chrome
Early 2000s German Vitra Seating
Leather
2010s American Modern Vitra Seating
Aluminum, Steel
Early 2000s European Mid-Century Modern Vitra Seating
Aluminum, Steel
1980s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vitra Seating
Aluminum
21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Vitra Seating
Fabric, Ash, Oak
Early 2000s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Vitra Seating
Plastic, Bouclé
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Vitra Seating
Chrome
Early 2000s German Vitra Seating
Leather
21st Century and Contemporary Mid-Century Modern Vitra Seating
Aluminum
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Vitra Seating
Chrome
1950s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vitra Seating
Aluminum
2010s Swiss Modern Vitra Seating
Leather, Plastic
1960s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vitra Seating
Fiberglass
21st Century and Contemporary Vitra Seating
Fabric
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Vitra Seating
Textile
1950s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vitra Seating
Metal
1990s French Modern Vitra Seating
PVC
Early 2000s German Mid-Century Modern Vitra Seating
Chrome
1990s Vitra Seating
Aluminum
1990s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Vitra Seating
Metal
1990s Swiss Modern Vitra Seating
Leather, Plastic
1950s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vitra Seating
Aluminum
Early 2000s German Mid-Century Modern Vitra Seating
Aluminum
20th Century German Post-Modern Vitra Seating
Fabric
21st Century and Contemporary Bauhaus Vitra Seating
Leather
20th Century German Post-Modern Vitra Seating
Plastic
1950s Italian Modern Vintage Vitra Seating
Aluminum, Chrome
21st Century and Contemporary European Mid-Century Modern Vitra Seating
Chrome
Early 2000s German Vitra Seating
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary French Mid-Century Modern Vitra Seating
Steel
1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Vitra Seating
Acrylic, Laminate
2010s German Modern Vitra Seating
Steel
Early 2000s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Vitra Seating
Chrome
20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Vitra Seating
Metal
2010s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vitra Seating
Plastic
21st Century and Contemporary German Vitra Seating
Chrome
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Vitra Seating
Fabric
1990s German Post-Modern Vitra Seating
Plastic
2010s Vitra Seating
Marble
Early 2000s German Minimalist Vitra Seating
Birch, Plywood
2010s Swiss Modern Vitra Seating
Metal
Early 2000s American Modern Vitra Seating
Leather, Plastic
1980s Swiss Modern Vintage Vitra Seating
Aluminum, Steel
2010s German Modern Vitra Seating
Aluminum
2010s German Modern Vitra Seating
Fiberglass, Fabric, Plastic
20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Vitra Seating
Aluminum
Early 2000s German Vitra Seating
Metal
Vitra seating for sale on 1stDibs.
Creators Similar to Vitra
- What is Vitra?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 22, 2024Vitra is a Swiss family-owned furniture company. The husband-and-wife team, Willi and Erika Fehlbaum, established Vitra in Weil am Rhein, Germany, in 1950. For more than 70 years, it has outfitted public spaces as well as residential properties and offices worldwide. While the brand is heralded for its collaborations with mid-century modern icons such as Verner Panton, Charles and Ray Eames, Alexander Girard and others, Vitra's German campus is also home to buildings designed by legendary architects Zaha Hadid and Frank Gehry. On 1stDibs, shop a variety of Vitra furniture.
- Who makes Vitra?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Vitra is a furniture design company that was founded in 1950 by Willi and Erika Fehlbaum. Today, Vitra products are designed in collaboration with independent designers, architects and graphic artists and manufactured by the company. Shop a collection of Vitra furniture from top sellers on 1stDibs.
- Is Vitra a good brand?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 26, 2024Yes, Vitra is a good brand. Since the 1950s, the Swiss furniture company has partnered with iconic designers, such as Verner Panton, Charles and Ray Eames and Alexander Girard, to create pieces that boast intelligent and visually appealing designs. Online reviewers consistently praise the quality of Vitra's materials and craftsmanship. Shop a variety of Vitra furniture on 1stDibs.
- Is Vitra Swiss or German?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertAugust 8, 2024Whether Vitra is Swiss or German is a matter of perspective. The husband and wife team that founded Vitra, Willi and Erika Fehlbaum, are Swiss, but they established the company in Weil am Rhein, Germany, in 1950. The couple had previously owned a shopfitting company in Basel, Switzerland, and conducted some of Vitra's business there. In 1956, Vitra moved to a location in Birsfelden, Switzerland, where its headquarters has remained ever since. However, Vitra continues to operate manufacturing facilities in Germany. As a result, you might say that Vitra is a Swiss company with strong ties to Germany. Shop a collection of Vitra furniture on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022In Vitra's collection of home furnishings, RAR means the rocking armchair rod base. It refers to wooden rocker arms with angled metal rod legs. Vitra adds them to a number of plastic chairs originally designed by Charles and Ray Eames to create rocking chairs. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of Eames furniture.
- 1stDibs ExpertAugust 8, 2024The height of a Vitra Standard chair is around 32.25 inches from the bottom of the legs to the top of the chair back. Its seat height is approximately 18.25 inches tall. Jean Prouvé originally designed the chair in 1934. Since then, the dining chair has evolved into one of the most famous classics of the French “constructeur.” The seat and backrest of this understated, iconic piece are available in various types of wood, and the metal frame comes in different colors. On 1stDibs, explore a diverse assortment of Vitra Standard chairs.
- 1stDibs ExpertNovember 20, 2024To tell if a Vitra chair is real, turn it over. Under the seat or base, you will find a name on a sticker, label or stamped directly on the piece. You can find images of authentic Vitra marks on trusted online resources and then compare them to those on your item to assess its authenticity. Next, research the specific type of chair that you have and learn about its key characteristics, such as its crafting techniques, materials and dimensions. You can use these traits as criteria for authenticating your chair. Alternatively, you can have a certified appraiser or knowledgeable antiques dealer inspect your chair for you. On 1stDibs, explore a selection of Vitra chairs.