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Vitra Chairs

Swiss

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.

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Style: Modern
Creator: Vitra
2012 Vitra Meda Desk Chair in Black Leather & Polished Aluminum by Alberto Meda
By Vitra, Alberto Meda
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale are multiple (sold separately) Vitra Meda black leather desk chairs, designed by Alberto Meda. The chairs feature clean leather in very nice...
Category

2010s German Modern Vitra Chairs

Materials

Aluminum

2013 Vitra ID Trim Desk Chair Polished Aluminum & Leather by Antonio Citterio 6x
By Antonio Citterio, Vitra
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is a single (multiple chairs are available but the price listed is for one chair) ID Trim chair in dark brown leather, designed by Antonio Citterio, produced by Vitra...
Category

2010s German Modern Vitra Chairs

Materials

Leather

2019 Set of 8 Jasper Morrison for Vitra HAL Gray Fabric Chair Pad - Covers Only
By Vitra, Jasper Morrison
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is a set of eight slip-on seat covers for the HAL chairs, designed by Jasper Morrison and produced by Vitra. These are slip-on covers, which came directly from Vitra....
Category

2010s German Modern Vitra Chairs

Materials

Fabric

Italian Alberto Meda Office Chair for Vitra in Red Leather 1990
By Vitra, Alberto Meda
Located in Byron Bay, NSW
Red Leather and aluminium adjstable office chair by Alberto Meda for Vitra 1990 Perfect working condition.
Category

20th Century Italian Modern Vitra Chairs

Materials

Aluminum

1 Vitra Meta Conference Chair by Alberto Meda 12 Available
By Vitra
Located in Pasadena, TX
Vitra Meta Conference chair Design by Alberto Meda 1996 The Meda Office swivel Chair Successfully combines comfort, technology, and elegance. Its simple design follows the movem...
Category

Late 20th Century European Modern Vitra Chairs

Materials

Leather

Greg Lynn "Ravioli" Chair & Ottoman, circa 2005, Switzerland
By Greg Lynn, Vitra
Located in Girona, Spain
Greg Lynn "Ravioli" Chair & Ottoman. Chair with ottoman. Original upholstery Made with fiberglass and reinforced plastic. Polyurethane foam with integrated cushioning and knitted...
Category

Early 2000s Swiss Modern Vitra Chairs

Materials

Fabric, Fiberglass

Related Items
Jean Prouvé Standard Chair in Natural Oak and Black Metal for Vitra
By Vitra, Jean Prouvé
Located in Glendale, CA
Jean Prouvé standard chair in natural oak and black metal for Vitra. The standard chair is an early masterpiece by the French designer and engine...
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21st Century and Contemporary German Mid-Century Modern Vitra Chairs

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Eames Aluminium Group Chairs for Herman Miller 3 Available
By Herman Miller, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
For your consideration are up to 5 Aluminium Group Management chairs in black mesh designed by Eames for Herman Miller. These are the most comfortable of all Eames aluminum Group cha...
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Midcentury Soft Pad Chairs by Eames for Herman Miller 'Two Available'
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Located in BROOKLYN, NY
For your consideration are these authentic Eames for Herman Miller vintage soft pad chair in white leather. Adjustable tilt and height with manual lift. This authentic vintage exampl...
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21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Vitra Chairs

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Charles & Ray Eames EA219 Office Chair in Chrome and Aubergine leather, Vitra
By Charles and Ray Eames, Vitra, Charles Eames
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Beautiful office chair EA219 belonging to the iconic Aluminium Series designed by Charles & Ray Eames for Herman Miller (US) / Vitra (EU). Exceptional comfort is guaranteed with the ...
Category

1960s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vitra Chairs

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Office Chair Vitra, Swivel Chair, Model AC1, Designed by the Antonio Citterio
By Vitra
Located in Delft, NL
Vitra, swivel chair, model AC1, designed by the Antonio Citterio The swivel chair by the manufacturer Vitra, model AC1, was designed by the designer Antonio Citterio. The seat is ...
Category

Late 20th Century German Vitra Chairs

Materials

Chrome

Charles & Ray Eames EA117 Office Chair in Aubergine Leather and Aluminum, Vitra
By Charles and Ray Eames, Vitra, Charles Eames
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Iconic office chair EA117 belonging to the famous Aluminum Series designed by Charles & Ray Eames for Herman Miller (US - EA334 Management Chair) / Vitra (EU). Exceptional comfort is...
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1950s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vitra Chairs

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Eames Walnut 670 Lounge Chair with Ottoman by Herman Miller
By Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Cincinnati, OH
The classic iconic Eames lounge chair and ottoman with walnut frame, soft black leather upholstered cushions and cast aluminum legs. Retains the manufactures tags to each piece by th...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Vitra Chairs

Materials

Aluminum

Charles & Ray Eames EA217 Office Chair in Chrome and Black leather, Vitra
By Charles and Ray Eames, Vitra
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Beautiful office chair EA217 belonging to the iconic Aluminium Series designed by Charles & Ray Eames for Herman Miller (US) / Vitra (EU). Exceptional comfort is guaranteed with the ...
Category

1960s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vitra Chairs

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Aluminum, Chrome

Geoffrey Harcourt for Artifort Swivel Office Chair in Deep Purple Upholstery
By Artifort, Geoffrey Harcourt
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Geoffrey Harcourt for Artifort, office chair, aluminum, upholstery, The Netherlands, 1970s This office chair was designed by Geoffrey Harcourt manufactured by Artifort in the sevent...
Category

1970s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vitra Chairs

Materials

Aluminum

Pink Mohair Lounge Chair and Ottoman by Design Institute of America
By Design Institute America
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A beautiful 1980’s pink soft mohair lounge chair and ottoman by Design Institute of America. The chair rocks, newly recovered. Retains DIA label. Measurements: chair- 36” hig...
Category

1980s American Modern Vintage Vitra Chairs

Materials

Mohair

Single Eames Aluminium Group Chair by Vitra, 1980s
By Jean-Pierre Vitrac, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in London, GB
Single Eames aluminium group chair by Vitra, 1980s.
Category

Late 20th Century American Vitra Chairs

Materials

Aluminum, Chrome

Postmodern Chrome & Black Leather Timeless Lounge Chairs by Antonio Citterio
By Antonio Citterio, Flexform
Located in Detroit, MI
This exceptional pair of vintage Antonio Citterio for Flexform “Timeless” chrome & black leather lounge chairs are a sleek, postmodern interpretation of classic Mid-Century Modern st...
Category

1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Vitra Chairs

Materials

Chrome, Steel

Previously Available Items
Eames ES 108 Lobby Time Life Executive Office Chair for Vitra
By Vitra
Located in London, GB
Eames ES 108 Lobby Time Life executive lobby chair for Vitra in Chocolate Brown, circa 2009. Originally designed in 1960s, this chair was designed to furn...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Vitra Chairs

Materials

Leather

Shiro Kuramata " How High the Moon " Chair for Vitra
By Shiro Kuramata, Vitra
Located in Costa Mesa, CA
Shiro Kuramata " How High the Moon " chair for Vitra. Nickel-plated steel mesh with vitra tag to the underside.
Category

20th Century German Modern Vitra Chairs

Materials

Nickel

Ron Arad Cobalt Blue Tom Vac Plastic Shell Chair for Vitra
By Ron Arad, Vitra
Located in Miami, FL
Cobalt blue Tom Vac plastic shell chair designed by Ron Arad and manufactured by Vitra, Germany 1999. This color has been discontinued and is no longer availab...
Category

1990s German Modern Vitra Chairs

Materials

Aluminum

Vitra Miniature Chair Art 41 Paimio by Alvar Aalto 1930s
By Alvar Aalto, Vitra
Located in Atlanta, GA
Iconic miniature Paimio chair designed by Alvar Aalto, circa 1930, and edited by Vitra. Alvar Aalto designed the Paimio chair in 1932-33, which revolutionized both the aesthetics and technology of modern furniture design. The arms are constructed of layers of bent laminated birch while the Aalto Paimio chair seat is molded from a single piece of birch plywood. The profile of the Paimio chair is nothing less than striking. Although this chair is generally referred to as the "Paimio Chair", it was not produced specially for the sanitorium at Paimio as the name would indicate. It received its name because it was developed during the period when Alvar Aalto was working on the design of the sanitorium. Each Vitra miniature...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Vitra Chairs

Materials

Wood

Leather Armchairs by Antonio Citterio & Glen Oliver Low for Vitra
By Antonio Citterio, Glen Oliver Löw, Vitra
Located in Costa Mesa, CA
Set of four brown leather armchairs by Antonio Citterio & Glen Oliver Low for Vitra, 1999.
Category

20th Century German Modern Vitra Chairs

Materials

Leather

5 Miniatures 2panton Chairs 1 Wassilychair 1 Thonetchair 1Fledermauschair Vitra
By Vitra
Located in Diest, Vlaams Brabant
5 miniatures chairs of popular chairs made by Vitra two panton chair in black and white 1 Thonet armchair 1 Wassily armchair in chrome and leather black 1 Fledemaus chair in ...
Category

1990s German Modern Vitra Chairs

Materials

Composition

Vitra Eames Coconut Easy Chair in Premium Leather Art Modern Cool
By Charles and Ray Eames, Vitra, Charles Eames
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this absolutely stunning original Vitra Eames Coconut premium black leather armchair RRP £4590 designed by George Nelson Offered in very lightly...
Category

20th Century Italian Modern Vitra Chairs

Materials

Leather

Set of Six Panton Chairs by Verner Panton for Vitra
By Vitra, Verner Panton
Located in Dorchester, MA
Captivated by the potential of plastic, Danish designer Verner Panton created the first single-form injection-molded chair, which was originally manufactured by Vitra for Herman Miller in 1967. Cantilevered into a sinuous S, the chair is easily stackable. This set of six glossy chairs...
Category

Late 20th Century Swiss Modern Vitra Chairs

Materials

Plastic

Easy Edges Cardboard Side Chair by Frank Gehry
By Vitra, Frank Gehry
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Iconic easy edges side chair. Designed by Frank Gehry for Vitra in the 1980s. The chair is constructed of cardboard and Masonite. The chair is in good condition with a small piece ...
Category

1980s German Modern Vintage Vitra Chairs

Gaetano Pesce "Greene Street Chair" Vitra 1984 Modernist No°31 Memphis
By Gaetano Pesce, Vitra
Located in Munster, NRW
Extremely rare and early Greene Street chair numbered 31! by Gaetano Pesce for Vitra - perfect condition, coming from a private collection in Paris.
Category

1980s Italian Modern Vintage Vitra Chairs

Materials

Steel

Vitra chairs for sale on 1stDibs.

Vitra chairs are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of plastic and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Vitra chairs, although black editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 24 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 4 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original chairs by Vitra were created in the mid-century modern style in europe during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider chairs by Markus Friedrich Staab, Walter Knoll, and Ernst Moeckl. Prices for Vitra chairs can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $229 and can go as high as $24,318, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $1,646.
Questions About Vitra Chairs
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Vitra 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.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    In 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.

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