Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MID-CENTURY MODERN STYLE
Organically shaped, clean-lined and elegantly simple are three terms that well describe vintage mid-century modern furniture. The style, which emerged primarily in the years following World War II, is characterized by pieces that were conceived and made in an energetic, optimistic spirit by creators who believed that good design was an essential part of good living.
ORIGINS OF MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN
- Emerged during the mid-20th century
- Informed by European modernism, Bauhaus, International style, Scandinavian modernism and Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture
- A heyday of innovation in postwar America
- Experimentation with new ideas, new materials and new forms flourished in Scandinavia, Italy, the former Czechoslovakia and elsewhere in Europe
CHARACTERISTICS OF MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN
- Simplicity, organic forms, clean lines
- A blend of neutral and bold Pop art colors
- Use of natural and man-made materials — alluring woods such as teak, rosewood and oak; steel, fiberglass and molded plywood
- Light-filled spaces with colorful upholstery
- Glass walls and an emphasis on the outdoors
- Promotion of functionality
MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNERS TO KNOW
- Charles and Ray Eames
- Eero Saarinen
- Milo Baughman
- Florence Knoll
- Harry Bertoia
- Isamu Noguchi
- George Nelson
- Danish modernists Hans Wegner and Arne Jacobsen, whose emphasis on natural materials and craftsmanship influenced American designers and vice versa
ICONIC MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNS
- Eames lounge chair
- Nelson daybed
- Florence Knoll sofa
- Egg chair
- Womb chair
- Noguchi coffee table
- Barcelona chair
VINTAGE MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE ON 1STDIBS
The mid-century modern era saw leagues of postwar American architects and designers animated by new ideas and new technology. The lean, functionalist International-style architecture of Le Corbusier and Bauhaus eminences Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Walter Gropius had been promoted in the United States during the 1930s by Philip Johnson and others. New building techniques, such as “post-and-beam” construction, allowed the International-style schemes to be realized on a small scale in open-plan houses with long walls of glass.
Materials developed for wartime use became available for domestic goods and were incorporated into mid-century modern furniture designs. Charles and Ray Eames and Eero Saarinen, who had experimented extensively with molded plywood, eagerly embraced fiberglass for pieces such as the La Chaise and the Womb chair, respectively.
Architect, writer and designer George Nelson created with his team shades for the Bubble lamp using a new translucent polymer skin and, as design director at Herman Miller, recruited the Eameses, Alexander Girard and others for projects at the legendary Michigan furniture manufacturer.
Harry Bertoia and Isamu Noguchi devised chairs and tables built of wire mesh and wire struts. Materials were repurposed too: The Danish-born designer Jens Risom created a line of chairs using surplus parachute straps for webbed seats and backrests.
The Risom lounge chair was among the first pieces of furniture commissioned and produced by legendary manufacturer Knoll, a chief influencer in the rise of modern design in the United States, thanks to the work of Florence Knoll, the pioneering architect and designer who made the firm a leader in its field. The seating that Knoll created for office spaces — as well as pieces designed by Florence initially for commercial clients — soon became desirable for the home.
As the demand for casual, uncluttered furnishings grew, more mid-century furniture designers caught the spirit.
Classically oriented creators such as Edward Wormley, house designer for Dunbar Inc., offered such pieces as the sinuous Listen to Me chaise; the British expatriate T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings switched gears, creating items such as the tiered, biomorphic Mesa table. There were Young Turks such as Paul McCobb, who designed holistic groups of sleek, blond wood furniture, and Milo Baughman, who espoused a West Coast aesthetic in minimalist teak dining tables and lushly upholstered chairs and sofas with angular steel frames.
As the collection of vintage mid-century modern chairs, dressers, coffee tables and other furniture for the living room, dining room, bedroom and elsewhere on 1stDibs demonstrates, this period saw one of the most delightful and dramatic flowerings of creativity in design history.
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Style: Mid-Century Modern
Recognized Seller Listings
Hartmut Lohmeyer for Wilkhahn Pair of Lounge Chairs
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Hartmut Lohmeyer for Wilkhahn, pair of lounge chairs, teak, cane, green colored upholstery, Germany, 1962
This low reclining lounge chai...
Category
1960s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Upholstery, Cane, Teak
Etienne Henri-Martin "SK 250" Armchairs for Steiner, France, 1950s
By Steiner
Located in Utrecht, NL
Etienne-Henri Martin’s design work combined elements of classic and avant-garde French design. The French designer and decorator designed this model in the early 1950s, symbolizing F...
Category
1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Fabric, Wood
Edward Wormley for Mobilier Universel Set of Six Dining Chairs
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Edward Wormley for Dunbar executed by Mobilier Universel, Jules Wabbes, set of six armchairs, lacquered black wood and fabric, Belgium, 1960s.
This set of six grand armchairs is exe...
Category
1960s Belgian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Fabric, Wood
Adrian & Frida Minet for Vibo Pair of Armchairs in Wicker Straw
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Adrien Audoux & Frida Minet for Vibo, pair of armchairs, stained beech, straw, France, 1950s
Pair of armchairs designed by the duo Adrien Audoux and Frida Minet. The seating and bac...
Category
1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Straw, Beech
Guillerme & Chambron 'Gregoire' Lounge Chair in Oak
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Guillerme et Chambron for Votre Maison, lounge chair, model 'Gregoire', burgundy red fabric, oak, France, 1960s
Comfortable lounge chair designed by Guillerme and Chambron. These ...
Category
1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Fabric, Oak
Pair of Lounge Chairs in Oak With Slatted Backs in Dark Blue Upholstery
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Pair of lounge chairs, oak, fabric, Czech Republic, 1950s
These beautifully designed lounge chairs hold a striking construction by means of the sculpted elements discernible in the ...
Category
1950s Czech Vintage Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Fabric, Oak
Guillerme & Chambron 'Mid Repos' Lounge Chair in Oak and Red Upholstery
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Guillerme et Chambron for Votre Maison, lounge chair, model Mid Repos, oak, fabric, France, 1960s
Guillerme & Chambron are known for their high quality solid oak furniture, from whi...
Category
1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Fabric, Oak
Sergio Mazza & Giuliana Gramigna Set of Six 'Viscontea' Dining Chairs
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Sergio Mazza & Giuliana Gramigna for Full, set of six dining chairs model 'Viscontea', leatherette, plastic, Italy, 1971.
This rare set of armchairs by the Italian designer duo Ser...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Leather, Plastic
Jorge Pensi 'Toledo' Armchairs in Aluminium
By Jorge Pensi
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Jorge Pensi, armchairs, aluminum, Spain, 1988
A set of Jorge Spensi's aluminum chairs of the Toledo collection. Pensi designed the 'Toledo' chairs and the 'Toledo' table for the man...
Category
1980s Spanish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Aluminum
Pair of Chrome and Leather Lounge Chairs with Ottomans by Richard Hersberger
Located in Shippensburg, PA
RARE PAIR OF CHROME AND LEATHER LOUNGE CHAIRS AND OTTOMANS
Richard Hersberger for Pace ca. 1970s unmarked
Item # 311GNP13S
...
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Chrome
Oak Worpsweder Armchair by Willi Ohler for Erich Schultz, Germany 1920s
By Willi Ohler
Located in Utrecht, NL
This beautiful 'Worpsweder' armchair was designed in the 1920s by German artist, Willi Ohler and was manufactured by Erich Schultz in Germany. The so-called “Worpsweder” either deno...
Category
1920s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Rush, Oak
Set of Eight Italian Dining Chairs in Oak and White Upholstery
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Set of eight dining chairs, black lacquered oak, white fabric, Italy, 1970s.
Outstanding set of eight geometric Italian dining chairs. These chairs combine a sculptural design that ...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Fabric, Oak
Pierre Dariel 'Hendaye' Armchair in Wood and Cane
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Pierre Dariel, 'Hendaye' armchair, beech, cane, France, 1930s.
Sturdy Hendaye model lounge chair designed by Pierre Dariel in the 1930s. The wooden framework is executed in beech, ...
Category
1930s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Cane, Beech
Upholstered Italian Armchairs attributed to Paolo Buffa, Italy 1950s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Utrecht, NL
Italian Modern furniture is defined by unique design, perfect execution, and exclusivity. This pair of armchairs is attributed to Italian design icon, Paolo Buffa. Coinciding with co...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Fabric, Wood
Jorge Pensi 'Toledo' Armchairs in Aluminium
By Jorge Pensi
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Jorge Pensi, armchairs, aluminum, Spain, 1988
A set of of Jorge Spensi's aluminum chairs of the Toledo collection. Pensi designed the 'Toledo' chairs and the 'Toledo' table for the ...
Category
1980s Spanish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Aluminum
Guillerme & Chambron Hazelnut Velvet Lounge Chairs, France 1950
Located in New York, NY
Never seen before (at least by Me) model, Branded and with their original velour fabric, great patina to wood.
COM available.
Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Velvet, Oak
Clara Porset Lounge Chairs 'Butaque' in Original Patinated Leather
By Clara Porset
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Attributed to Clara Porset, armchairs 'Butaque', patinated leather, cypress wood, Mexico, circa 1947
Wonderful ‘Butaque’ armchair attributed to Clara Porset. It features a strong re...
Category
1940s Mexican Vintage Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Leather, Cypress
Elegant Set of Four Lounge Chairs in Yellow Velvet and Ash
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Set of four club chairs, velvet, stained ash, Italy, 1950s
This lovely set of Italian lounge chairs is characterized by a sophisticated aesthetic due...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Velvet, Ash
Spanish Lounge Chair in Peach Leather and Brass
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Lounge chair, leather, brass, Spain, 1980s
A highly delicate club chair with voluminous shapes and eccentric decorations. The brass frame is composed of curved tubes that are beauti...
Category
1980s Spanish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Brass
Pair Italian Armchairs with Bentwood Frames
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Pair of dining chairs, lacquered wood, reupholstered in bouclé, Italy, 1970s
This lovely set of Italian dining chair has a strong resemblance to Augusto Savini's 'Pamplona' chair (1...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Bouclé, Wood
Set of Six Model 3238 'Spanish' Dining Chairs Designed by Borge Mogensen
Located in Stockholm, SE
Set of six model 3238 ‘Spanish’ dining chairs designed by Borge Mogensen for Fredericia Stolefabrik,
Denmark, 1950s.
Oak and leather.
The set contain...
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Leather, Oak
Afra & Tobia Scarpa Pair of 'Coronado' Lounge Chairs in Cognac Leather
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Afra & Tobia Scarpa for B&B Italia, pair of 'Coronado' lounge chairs, cognac leather, Italy, 1966
The 'Coronado' lounge chair is designed by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for B&B talia. The s...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Leather
Marco Zanuso for Arflex 'Regent' Lounge Chair and Ottoman in Black Leather
By Marco Zanuso, Arflex
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Marco Zanuso for Arflex, lounge chair and ottoman model 'Regent', leather, metal, Italy, designed in 1960
This admirable lounge chair named ‘Regent’ is designed by the talented Ital...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Metal
Italian Easy Chair in Walnut and Red Leatherette
By Cassina
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Easy chair, walnut, red leatherette , Italy 1960s.
Beautiful Italian armchair in walnut created in the 1960s. The chair features a gorgeous, sculptural frame with gracious forms. Th...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Faux Leather, Walnut
Italian Wingback Lounge Chair in Black Leather and Mahogany
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Pair of lounge chairs, leather, mahogany, Italy, 1960s
This wonderful sturdy and voluminous lounge chair shows beautiful details and elegant lines. The 'ears' and armrest are beauti...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Leather, Mahogany
Herbert Saiger for Russell Woodard Pair of Chairs in Aluminum
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Herbert Saiger for Russell Woodard, pair of armchairs, leatherette, aluminum, United States, 1960s.
These stylized armchairs were designed by Herbert Saiger in the 1960s. Originally...
Category
1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Aluminum
'Safari' Lounge Chair in Black Vinyl
Located in Waalwijk, NL
'Safari' lounge chair, vinyl, lacquered wood, metal, United Kingdom, circa 1965
This well-constructed armchair has a solid appearance. The frame is made up of four cube-shaped legs ...
Category
1960s British Vintage Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Metal
BBPR Pair of Lounge Chairs in Burgundy Upholstery and Oak
By Studio BBPR
Located in Waalwijk, NL
BBPR, pair of armchairs, leatherette, oak, Italy, 1950s
This sculptural pair of lounge chairs are clearly a design by the architects of BBPR. The model with a wide seat has the characteristic, sculptural frame. The tapered and tilted legs with sharp edges are typical for the designers. The sculpted seat contains a high back with space between the upholstered back and the frame, a beautiful detail. The red colour of the skai leather forms a warm combination with the oak wood.
Studio B.B.P.R. was an Italian architectural partnership founded in Milan in 1932 by Gianluigi Banfi (1910-1945), Lodovico Barbiano di Belgiojoso (1909-2004), Enrico Peressutti (1908-1976) and Ernesto Nathan Rogers (1909-1969) who had studied at the Politecnico di Milano. B.B.P.R. was thus an acronym formed from the first letters of their family names. The architects found each other in their opposition to fascism in Italy in the 1930s and 1940s during Mussolini's autocratic regime. The architects therefore believed in developing a style that would have no references to contemporary politics. During the Second World War, they all joined the resistance. However, Rogers, a Jew, fled to Switzerland and both Belgiojoso and Banfi were deported to the Mauthausen concentration camp in Austria, where Banfi died in 1945. Despite the immense loss of Banfi, their architectural practice continued in the same name as before after...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Faux Leather, Oak
The Flag Halyard Chair designed by Hans J. Wegner for Getama, Denmark, 1950
By GETAMA, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Stockholm, SE
The Flag Halyard Chair designed by Hans J. Wegner for Getama,
Denmark, 1950
Lacquered steel frame, wooden "shoes", textile and chromed steel top...
Category
1950s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Steel, Chrome
Studio APA for Lenzi Lounge Chair in Red Upholstery
By Lenzi
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Studio APA for Lenzi, club chair model 'M538', fabric, metal, brass, Italy, 1960s
This dynamic armchair originates from Italy and features a well-proportioned construction of sharp ...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Metal, Brass
Vladimir Kagan Early Rare High Back Barrel Lounge Chair and Ottoman, USA, 1950s
Located in New York, NY
Vladimir Kagan early rare high back barrel lounge chair and matching ottoman with angled splayed maple legs, USA, 1950s. Thi...
Category
1950s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Upholstery, Maple, Wood
Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs in Velvet with Steel Frames, Italy 1960s
Located in Utrecht, NL
In the bustling design landscape of 1960s Italy, this pair of elegant yet striking armchairs embody the aesthetic innovation that defined the era. Crafted in the 1960s, these chairs ...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Steel
Guillerme et Chambron, Dominique, Oversized Armchair , France, Mid-century
Located in New York, NY
Robert Guillerme studied design and architecture at the École Boule, graduating in 1934. After the Second World War he moved to Lille, in the north of France, where he decorated home...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Upholstery, Oak
Italian Wingback Chair in Maroon Fabric
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Wingback armchair, fabric, wood, Italy, 1950s.
This classic Italian wingback chair has all the traits of midcentury Italian design. The unusually high back, the gracious wings, the ...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Fabric, Wood
Scandinavian Cabinetmaker Upholstered Armchair, Scandinavia ca 1950s
Located in Utrecht, NL
Scandinavian Modernism can be visually described by this beautiful armchair: sleek, organic and timeless. These attributes are met with high quality materials and the famous craftsma...
Category
1950s Scandinavian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Fabric, Wool, Wood
Franz Sartori for Flexform Pair of Armchairs in Black Leather
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Franz Sartori for Flexform, pair of lounge chairs, leather, stained wood, Italy, circa 1965.
Sturdy pair of lounge chairs in black leather by the Italian sculptor Franz Sartori. The...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Leather, Wood
20th Century Ignazio Gardella Pair of Armchairs mod. Digamma for Gavina, 1950s
Located in Turin, Turin
Ignazio Gardella (1905-1999) was an Italian architect, engineer and designer. His long professional career produced an enormous number of projects and achievements. Among the first b...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Metal, Brass
Martin Visser for 't Spectrum Pair of Armchairs in Patinated Cognac Leather
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Martin Visser for 't Spectrum Bergeijk, pair of lounge chairs model 'SZ 02', leather, brushed steel, The Netherlands, 1965
These modern, Minimalist easy chairs are made of a tubular...
Category
1960s Dutch Vintage Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Steel
Pair of armchairs ‘The Spanish Chair’ model 2226 designed by Börge Mogensen Oak
Located in Stockholm, SE
Pair of armchairs ‘The Spanish Chair’ model 2226 designed by Börge Mogensen for Fredericia Stolefabrik
Denmark, 1958.
Oak and cognac leather.
The robust construction, simple lines, ...
Category
1950s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Leather, Oak
Guido Canali Set of Eight Rare Dining Chairs in Walnut and Cognac Leather
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Guido Canali, set of eight dining chairs, walnut, leather, brass, Italy, 1960s
This set is one of the rare furniture designs by the architect Guido Canali (born 1935). The chairs, d...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Brass
Set of Six Oak "Wishbone" Chair by Hans Wegner for Carl Hansen & Son
Located in Montreal, QC
Set of six oak and paper cord "Wishbone" chair by Hans Wegner for Carl Hansen & Son.
CH24 'Wishbone' chair designed by Hans J. Wegner in 1949 and made in Denmark in 1965 by Carl Han...
Category
1960s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Oak
Extraordinary Lounge Chair in Ash and Off-White Upholstery
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Lounge chair, ash, fabric, metal, Europe, 1970s.
Unconventional lounge chair that features an outstanding design. The seating contains multiple tube-shaped cushions attached togeth...
Category
1970s European Vintage Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Metal
Set of Six Italian Armchairs with Bentwood Frames in Grey Boucle
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Set of six dining chairs, lacquered wood, reupholstered in bouclé, Italy, 1970s
This lovely set of Italian dining chair has a strong resemblance to Augusto Savini's 'Pamplona' chair...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Wood, Bouclé
Móveis Drago ‘Novelty’ Armchair in Blue Velvet and Brazilian Hardwood
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Móveis Drago, lounge chair, model ‘Novelty’, velvet Kvadrat – Harald 182, hardwood, coated steel, brass, Brazil, 1950s
This 'novelty' lounge chair is cre...
Category
1950s Brazilian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Brass, Steel
BBPR Lounge Chair in Burgundy Leatherette
By Studio BBPR
Located in Waalwijk, NL
BBPR, armchair, skai leather and oak, Italy, 1950s.
This sculptural lounge chair is clearly a design by the architects of BBPR. The model with a wide seat has the characteristic, sc...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Faux Leather, Oak
Robert Heritage for Archie Shine Armchairs in Mahogany and Corduroy
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Robert Heritage for Archie Shine, armchairs, mahogany, red corduroy, United Kingdom, 1960s.
This design is sensuous, sculptural and elegant. The design features a high, sculpted bac...
Category
1960s British Vintage Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Velvet, Mahogany
Robert Haussmann for De Sede Pair of 'DS-201' Armchairs in Leather
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Robert Haussmann for De Sede, pair of armchairs model 'DS-201', chrome-plated metal, leather, Switzerland, designed in 1957
A design by Robert Haussmann that features a cubic shape...
Category
1950s Swiss Vintage Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Metal, Chrome
Pair of Armchairs based on a design by Tito Agnoli, 1957
By Tito Agnoli
Located in Milan, IT
Pair of small armchairs with armrests based on a design by Tito Agnoli. We restored this pair of armchairs using the same glossy vinyl leather that was originally present.
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Wood
20th Century Gavina Studio Pair of Armchairs mod. Viscontea Red Leather, 1980s
Located in Turin, Turin
Dino Gavina began his activity as early as the 1940s with objects for theater sets, his great passion. Convinced of the need for design that was modern but also rich in poetry, he gr...
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Faux Leather, Wood
Ernst Moeckl Set of Six 'Kangaroo' Dining Chairs in Soft Pink
By Trabant, Ernst Moeckl
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Ernst Moeckl for Trabant, set of six 'Kangaroo' or 'Z' armchairs, fiberglass, Germany, designed in 1968
This set of pink 'Kangaroo' chairs is designed by Ernst Moeckl in 1968. The c...
Category
1960s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Fiberglass
John Vesey, Arm Chairs, Wrought Iron, Cane, USA, 1950s
By John Vesey
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of wrought iron and cane side chairs designed by John Vesey and produced by John Vesey, Inc. circa 1958.
Category
1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Wrought Iron
Taichiro Nakay for La Permanente Mobili Cantù Armchair in Cherry
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Taichiro Nakay (Nakai) for La Permanente Mobili La Permanente Mobili Cantù, armchair, cherry, fabric, Italy, 1955
Taichiro Nakay is an incredibly talented Japanese designer who is m...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Fabric, Cherry
Upholstered Armchair by Bas Van Pelt for My Home, The Netherlands 1940s
By Bas Van Pelt
Located in Utrecht, NL
This elegant armchair by Dutch designer, Bas Van Pelt is a classically luxe model with a level of craftsmanship that’s immediately visible to any eye. The construction of this rare 1940s design is simple at its core, but thanks to the details, it is a unique representation of early Dutch modernism.
While Bas Van Pelt's creative work was primarily influenced by the 1920s straight lines dominated by The Hague School, this armchair is the result of his more mature design era, which was primarily dominated by natural materials and more curvature. While made of solid wood, this armchair has an open feel to it thanks to the airy arrangement of the arms and legs. The curved lines of the armrests are beautifully crafted and follow the raised seat’s angle. The curves nicely contrast with the straight lines of the frame, keeping it from appearing too strict. Apart from the expert woodwork, the upholstered seat and back stand out as well. The light bouclé fabric is tightly fitted around the frame, and the seat’s thick shape is an especially pleasing element that offers plenty of comfort both figuratively and literally. The overreaching backs further enhance the back’s widening shape and thus allow the individual loops of the yarn to stand out. The block legs blend seamlessly into the back and form a gentle angle. Thanks to the well-chosen proportions and the luxurious upholstery, this armchair provides great comfort. This model can be easily used as an accent chair thanks to its characteristic details, but can also complement a wide variety of interior styles with it refined and elegant style.
Bas van Pelt’s progressive designs were, in many ways, ahead of his era. The Dordrecht-born designer’s furniture models are quite rare, a few are preserved in the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam for modern art, contemporary art, and design.
Condition:
In good vintage condition. Wear consistent with age and use. The chair has been reupholstered recently in a premium bouclé fabric. Each of our items can be re-upholstered by our in-house atelier in a fabric of choice. Please reach out for more information.
Dimensions:
24.6 in W x 24.4 in D x 37 in H; Seat height 15.35 in; Arm height 23.22 in
62.5 cm W x 62 cm D x 94 cm H; Seat height 39 cm; Arm height 59 cm
About the Designer:
Bas Van Pelt (1900 Dordrecht (NL) - 1945 Sandbostel (DE) was a well-known Dutch interior and furniture designer, known for the clarity and quality of his designs. His works created in the 1930s and 1940s are regarded for their progressive design and quality.
While he is most well-known for his chair designs, van Pelt was also active as an interior designer. He also designed fabrics for window coverings...
Category
1940s Dutch Vintage Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Wood, Bouclé
Set of Twelve Dining Chairs With Elegant Wooden Frames
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Set of twelve dining chairs, beech, fabric, Europe, 1960s
Set of twelve dining chairs, made in Europe in the 1960s. These dining chairs feature frames in a light beech wood. They sh...
Category
1960s European Vintage Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Fabric, Beech
Finnish Designer, Armchair, Walnut, Fabric, Finland, 1950s
Located in High Point, NC
A walnut and off-white fabric armchair designed and produced in Finland, 1950s.
Provenance: Helsingin Puhelinyhdistys
Seat height: 19.5”
Category
1950s Finnish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Fabric, Walnut
Spanish Armchair in Pine and Woven Straw
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Armchair, stained pine, straw, Spain, 1960s
This beautifully constructed lounge chair embraces an evolved pastoral character with great quality of elegance. The wooden frame feature...
Category
1960s Spanish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Straw, Pine
Elegant Pair of Armchairs in Dark Grey Upholstery and Stained Wood
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Pair of armchairs, fabric, stained wood, Europe, 1970s
A fluid, sculptural form. This organic shaped chair has a timeless and versatile design that continues to fit seamlessly into...
Category
1970s European Vintage Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Fabric, Wood
W. Andersag Lounge Chair in Patinated Black Leather and Teak
Located in Waalwijk, NL
W.D. Andersag, lounge chair, teak, leather, steel, Italy, 1960s
Beautiful armchair designed by W.D. Ansersag. This design has a very dynamic appearance by means of the sharp lines d...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Steel
Mid-century Modern armchairs for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Mid-Century Modern armchairs for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage armchairs created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include seating, building and garden elements, tables and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, fabric and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Mid-Century Modern armchairs made in a specific country, there are Europe, Italy, and North America pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original armchairs, popular names associated with this style include Cassina, Artifort, Knoll, and Pierre Paulin. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for armchairs differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $145 and tops out at $134,145 while the average work can sell for $3,694.
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