Chairs
to
238
906
586
1,551
Height
to
Width
to
Depth
to
871
468
80
160
34
136
16
51
10
24
8
32
193
175
121
116
61
37
27
26
26
24
20
19
10
9
8
7
7
5
633
2,293
13,232
13,294
1,117
6,834
3,474
242
61
200
392
434
1,773
2,091
1,743
872
285
1,338
391
300
261
251
1,128
334
191
183
148
1,551
1,551
1,551
55
22
22
21
19
Chairs For Sale
Period: Early 20th Century
Period: 1940s
Vintage Maple & Rush Harvest Chairs by L. Hitchcock
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Charming pair of vintage harvest chairs produced by the second iteration of the legendary Lambert Hitchcock Chair factory of Riverton, Connecticut dating to the 1940s. A solid maple ...
Category
1940s American American Colonial Vintage Chairs
Materials
Papercord, Wood, Hardwood, Maple
Antique LIMBERT Chair & Rocker Rare Find - Stickley Era - W5128/W5129
Located in Shamokin Dam, PA
This is a very rare pair of antique Charles Limbert pieces - Chair & Rocker Set. They are signed with the Limbert mark. Made with a wonderful selection of oak. Both pieces are in min...
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Chairs
Materials
Leather, Cotton, Upholstery, Oak
Antique Restored Cigar Brown Leather Chesterfield Tufted Library Armchair
By Chesterfield
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this absolutely stunning, circa 1900 fully restored Chesterfield tufted library armchair
A very rare find, I never come across original library ...
Category
Early 1900s English Late Victorian Antique Chairs
Materials
Leather
A Classic Charles Eames Evans DCW 1940's
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
A classic, original, early production Charles Eames Evans Products, DCW (dining chair wood) in red analine dye.
Category
1940s American Vintage Chairs
Materials
Mahogany
Moroccan Moorish Style 1900s Side Chair with Richly Carved Décor and Star Inlay
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Moroccan Moorish style accent side chair from the early 20th century, with richly carved décor, mother-of-pearl inlay, Arabic calligraphy and X-Form base. Created in Morocco during...
Category
Early 20th Century Moroccan Moorish Chairs
Materials
Mother-of-Pearl, Wood
Oak Duckboard Chair Model 103 by René Gabriel, 1941
By Rene Gabriel
Located in PARIS, FR
Oak duckboard chair model 103 by René Gabriel, 1941
Chair by René Gabriel designed in 1941 for the provisional construction department. This was the first emergency furniture for vi...
Category
1940s European Vintage Chairs
Materials
Oak
French Art Nouveau Chairs by Louis Majorelle
Located in Bridgewater, CT
French Art Nouveau chairs by Louis Majorelle.
Category
Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Chairs
Materials
Wood
Antique Iron Medical Exam or Operation Chair
Located in Norwalk, CT
An awesome piece of history this medical chair being the top of the line at its time, no expense spared for comfort on this one!
Category
Early 20th Century Chairs
Antique European Wood & Leather Chair W/ Nailhead Detail
Located in Malibu, CA
A gentleman's occasional European leather armchair with leather seat & back adorned with oversized antique brass studs/nailheads.Perfect for the li...
Category
Early 20th Century French Baroque Revival Chairs
Materials
Leather, Hardwood
Brazilian Midcentury Design, Solid Imbuia Dining Chairs with Armrests, 1950s
Located in New York, NY
This set of dining chairs is composed of solid Imbuia wood, with brown synthetic leather seats and backrests. The set is composed of 8 chairs.
Even with authorship unidentified, the...
Category
1940s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Chairs
Materials
Synthetic, Hardwood
Josef Hoffmann "Fledermaus" Bat Seating Group, Suite, Thonet, Art Nouveau, Deco
Located in Berlin, DE
Josef Hoffmann "Fledermaus" bat seating group. Suite. Thonet.
Consisting of four chairs and matching table.
The seating group is still in its original ...
Category
Early 20th Century Vienna Secession Chairs
Vintage Regency Trellis Cane Chair
Located in west palm beach, FL
Elevate your space with this exquisite Vintage Regency Trellis Cane Chair, a timeless piece that blends elegance and functionality. The chair features a stunning trellis back design ...
Category
Early 20th Century American Regency Chairs
Materials
Cane
Original Otto Wagner Armchair 1901 Jugendstil, Secession Style, 1901
Located in Vienna, AT
As pioneer and master of the Modern, Otto Wagner seized the then rather new technique of bending Wood for his furniture designs.
The design of this armchair dated back in 1901. This ...
Category
Early 1900s Austrian Vienna Secession Antique Chairs
Materials
Beech, Bentwood
N° 715 Gustav Siegel Armchair for Kohn, Fabric and Wood, Austria, 1900s
Located in Brussels, BE
N° 715 Gustav Siegel Armchair for Kohn, Fabric and Wood, Austria, 1900s - New Upholstery - 12 Available
Category
Early 1900s Antique Chairs
Materials
Fabric, Wood
Set of Original Josef Hoffmann / Otto Prutscher Attr. Chairs
Located in Vienna, AT
Very elegant and comfortable chairs attributed to Josef Hoffmann or Otto Prutscher. Has been rennovated over a while, the fabric is partly stained. Can be sold separately.
Category
Early 1900s Austrian Jugendstil Antique Chairs
Materials
Wood
Liberty and Co attri, An Arts and Crafts mahogany and Inlaid Armchair
Located in London, GB
Liberty and Co attri, An Arts and Crafts mahogany armchair, with carved stylized plant motif to the central splat flanked by chequered ebony and boxwood stringing and inlaid walnut s...
Category
Early 20th Century English Arts and Crafts Chairs
Materials
Mahogany
Pierre Jeanneret Chair in Cowhide
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pierre Jeanneret Chair in Cowhide.
Category
Early 20th Century Indian Chairs
Materials
Cowhide, Rosewood
Japanese Antique Black Chairs, Primitive Wooden Chair, Wabi-Sabi
Located in Katori-Shi, 12
A jet black dining chair.
The carefully carved frame gives off a sense of elegance, and the magnificent joints show the high level of craftsmanship. Compared to a typical dining cha...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Taisho Chairs
Materials
Wood
Wabi Sabi French Wooden Carved Tripod Chair, Early 20th Century
Located in Odense, DK
Sculptural wooden tripod chair, made in the early 20th century in France.
A beautiful brutalist object with a fine patina, well suited for the modern interior...
Category
Early 20th Century French Baroque Chairs
Materials
Wood, Pine
STUNNING PAIR OF ORIGINAL ART DECO HERITAGE BROWN LEATHER CIRCA 1920'S ARMCHAIRs
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques
Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this stunning, lightly restored pair of antique circa 1920's Art Deco, heritage brown leather Art Deco armchairs with feather filled seat cushions and fluted arms
Please note the delivery fee listed is just a guide, it covers within the M25 only for the UK and local Europe only for international, if you would like an accurate quote please send me your postcode and I’ll provide you with the exact price
An exceptionally good looking well-made and comfortable pair of armchairs, these are original Art Deco odeon chairs...
Category
1920s English Art Deco Vintage Chairs
Materials
Leather, Oak
3-legged African Wood Chair with Flat Back
Located in Toronto, CA
Three-legged African chair, dating from the first half of the twentieth century, made of black patinated hardwood. The round slightly-hollowed seat contrasts with the square carved b...
Category
1940s African Brutalist Vintage Chairs
Materials
Wood
Jugendstil Otto Wagner Chair Beech 1902 Österreichische Postsparkasse Vienna
By Thonet, Otto Wagner
Located in Vienna, AT
Jugendstil Otto Wagner One ( 1 ) Chair Side Chair Chocolate Brown Beech Österreichische Postsparkasse 1902 for Thonet 1904/1906 Vienna.
An iconic chair or side chair by the famed Aus...
Category
Early 20th Century Jugendstil Chairs
Materials
Beech
Early 20th Century Set of Two Rattan and Wood Chairs
Located in Barcelona, ES
Early 20th century set of two traditional rattan seat and wood chairs. In good original condition, with minor wear consistent with age and use, preserving a beautiful patina. ...
Category
1940s Spanish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Chairs
Materials
Rattan, Wood
Easy Chair by AB Erik Ek's Snickerifabrik, Malmö, Sweden, 1940s
Located in Stockholm, SE
"Fåtölj nr 186". Excellent condition. Newly reupholstered in honey colored sheepskin.
Category
1940s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Chairs
Materials
Sheepskin
Thonet Bentwood Bistro Chair, Czechoslovakia 1940s
By Thonet
Located in Zohor, SK
Beautiful vintage chair designed by Thonet. Bentwood details and construction makes this piece a timeless item. Plywood seat and backrest. Strong oak wood. The chair was partially re...
Category
1940s Czech Bauhaus Vintage Chairs
Materials
Oak, Bentwood, Plywood
Pair of Gold Leaf Grotto Shell Back Chairs
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Pair of gold leaf grotto shell back side chairs.
These have been professionally restored, gold leafed and reupholstered. Please ask for upholstery fabric swatch if needed.
We also ha...
Category
1940s Spanish Hollywood Regency Vintage Chairs
Materials
Beech
Antique Japanese leather chair, Primitive Chair, Wabi-Sabi
Located in Katori-Shi, 12
This is an antique chair from the Showa era.
The deep-colored genuine leather has a unique texture and soft feel that comes from years of use. You can enjoy the changes in the leath...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Showa Chairs
Materials
Leather
1940s Neo-Classical Style Carved Mahogany Side Chairs, Pair
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a pair of carved mahogany neo-classical style side chairs. The backs are carved urns with ram form accents. The striped upholstery is vintage but in good condition. They are ...
Category
1940s American Neoclassical Vintage Chairs
Materials
Mahogany
Four Moroccan Armchairs Art Deco circa 1930, Carved Pine
Located in Labrit, Landes
Pair of Moroccan Art Deco armchairs, circa 1930
One of the fauteuils has the particularity of having armrests lower than the others.
Original antique condition
Frames are sound a...
Category
Early 20th Century Moroccan Art Deco Chairs
Materials
Upholstery, Pine
Sitzmaschine Chair by Josef Hoffman, Model No. 670
Located in Dallas, TX
Sitzmaschine chair with adjustable back,
Stained beechwood.
Produced by Jacob and Josef Kohn, Vienna, 1906.
Stamped with makers mark under seat.
Category
Early 1900s Austrian Antique Chairs
Materials
Beech
Six Super Light Chiavarina Dining Chairs, Painted Wood, Wicker Seat, Italy, 1940
Located in Berlin, DE
Six super light 'Chiavarina' dining chairs in black lacquered beech, cherry or maple wood with original braided wicker seat. This chair, model 'Campanino' was created by Giuseppe Gae...
Category
1940s Italian Neoclassical Vintage Chairs
Materials
Wicker, Wood
Italian Art Nouveau Chiavarina chairs in black wood and wicker, early 1900s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian Art Nouveau Chiavarina chairs in black wood and wicker, early 1900s
Set of ten Chiavarina chairs in black painted wood. The structure is decorated with rounded curved lines, ...
Category
Early 1900s Italian Antique Chairs
Materials
Wicker, Wood
Louis XV Style Carved Gilt Wood Side Accent Leather Chair
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Louis XV style side chair with carved scrolled gilt accents and curved cabriole legs. This highly decorated small accent chair is upholstered in da...
Category
Early 20th Century Louis XV Chairs
Materials
Brass
Pair of Safari Chairs
Located in Courbevoie, FR
Pair of safari chairs in beech and brow patinated leather. Unknown designer. From the 1940s. Comes with scratch and cracks. Price for the pair.
Category
1940s Danish Vintage Chairs
Materials
Leather, Beech
Senoufo African Folding Chair Fish Pattern on the Back Ivory Coast.
Located in Linkebeek, BE
African hand-carved wooden chair with a beautiful dark brown patina. This folding chair, made up of two pieces that fit together, is made from a single piece of West African cabinet wood. Also called a guard chair, this traditional African folding chair was once reserved for the African elite. Suitable for indoor or outdoor use, this African club chair features a carved fish design on the back.
ethnic...
Category
Early 20th Century African Brutalist Chairs
Materials
Wood
Mid-century Sculpted Teak Occasional Chair by T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings Widdicomb
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Early Mid-century sculpted teak occasional chair by designer T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings for the Widdicomb furniture company. The chair features a dark stain and a U-shaped back that form...
Category
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Chairs
Materials
Teak
French Art Deco Oakwood Armchair by Charles Dudouyt
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
An armchair designed by Charles Dudouyt in the 1940s.
Foldable back.
The Art Deco design is exquisitely wonderful, and it blends in well with the vintage of the mid-century perio...
Category
1940s French Art Deco Vintage Chairs
Materials
Oak
Bentwood Black Armchair with Caned Seat and Back from Italy (Two Available)
Located in Austin, TX
A fine Italian bentwood armchair with an elegant black-painted frame - featuring a shaped back with caned back rest and scroll arms with caned seat set upon four legs with round stre...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Chairs
Materials
Rattan, Wood, Bentwood
Art Deco Club Chair
Located in Faversham, GB
A rare and unusual English Art Deco aviator-style club chair in oak.
The supple cognac leather fluted back complements the generous leather hide spri...
Category
Early 20th Century British Art Deco Chairs
Materials
Leather, Oak
Industrial Factory Bauhaus Stool by Rowac / Robert Wagner Germany, 1910-1920s
By Rowac, Robert Wagner
Located in Niederdorfelden, Hessen
This iconic three-legged steel stool "Stahl Schemel Modell 1" is made by Rowac (Karl RObert WAgner in Chemnitz) and is known to enthusiasts and collectors as a industrial design classic. It was developed 1905 and exhibited for the first time 1909 at the Leipzig Fair. it was used at the Bauhaus and is considered the original type of workshop stool. Walter Gropius used the stool for his new Bauhaus building in Dessau.
The Rowac Stool...
Category
1910s German Bauhaus Vintage Chairs
Materials
Steel
Liberty & Co. Style of CFA Voysey. A Pair of Oak Rush Seat Ladderback Armchairs
Located in London, GB
Liberty & Co, in the style of C F A Voysey.
A pair of oak rush seat ladderback armchairs with circular caps to the tops and wavy ladders to the back, the arms with subtle outward sha...
Category
Early 1900s English Arts and Crafts Antique Chairs
Materials
Rush, Oak
Two Chrome Base, Green Faux Leather Chairs Made by Blaha, Austria, 1970s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Offered is a set of two gorgeous lounge chairs. Once used in the seating areas of homes, these chrome steel frame chairs were manufactured by manufa...
Category
Early 20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Metal, Chrome
Art Deco Set of 6 Chairs, France, 1940
Located in Kaštel Sućurac, Splitsko-dalmatinska županija
Set of six upholstered high back chairs covered in white vynil, exhibiting traditional French design elements in a deep oak finish.
In the style of René Prou, Albert-Lucien Guenot...
Category
1940s French Art Deco Vintage Chairs
Materials
Brass
1930s Oak & Rope Bentwood Lounge Chair by Bas Van Pelt
By Bas Van Pelt
Located in Conwy, GB
An unrestored original example.
Category
Early 20th Century Dutch Chairs
Materials
Rope, Oak
Eero Saarinen for Knoll 'Executive' Dining Chair in Ocher Yellow Upholstery
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Eero Saarinen for Knoll International, dining chair model 72, plywood, fabric, United States, design 1948, later production
An organic shaped chair designed by Eero Saarinen. A flui...
Category
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Chairs
Materials
Fabric, Wood
Antique Stickley Arts and Crafts Mission Oak Slat Back Arm Chair C1910
Located in Big Flats, NY
***Reduced In-House Delivery Rates - Click on “Ask Seller” to Request a Quote***
Antique Stickley Arts and Crafts Mission Oak Slat Back Arm Chair C1910
Measures - 36.25"H x 27.5"W ...
Category
Early 20th Century Chairs
Materials
Oak
Indian Antique Rustic Low Seat Wooden Chair with Carved Rosettes and Rope Seat
Located in Yonkers, NY
An old Indian rustic wooden low chair from the early 20th century, with handwoven rope seat and carved motifs. Charming our eyes with its rustic appearance, this old Indian wooden low chair from the early 20th century captures the essence of traditional craftsmanship. The low seat features a handwoven rope, providing a comfortable and authentic touch. The chair's back is short and slightly slanted, adorned with three rosettes hand-carved in low relief within medallions. Below these rosettes, a series of petite hourglass-shaped motifs and pierced accents add to the chair's intricate detailing.
The rectangular rope seat rests on four short feet, with the front legs being baluster-shaped and the back ones showcasing a pyramidal silhouette, enhancing the chair's unique profile. The nicely weathered appearance, combined with the delicate carved décor, tells a story of time and tradition, making it a captivating piece.
This Indian wooden chair...
Category
Early 20th Century Indian Chairs
Materials
Rope, Wood
Unusual Early 20th Century Photographer's Posing Chair with Ornate Carving
Located in Lafayette, IN
This is a very unique photographer's posing chair from the early 20th Century. Chair features original upholstery, tooled leather, ornately carved wood fr...
Category
Early 20th Century American Neoclassical Chairs
Materials
Leather, Fabric, Wood
Antique Rural Dutch Carved Corner Bobbin Chair with New Rush
Located in Boven Leeuwen, NL
Very charming Bobbin chair that fits perfect in a corner.
The rush of the seat is new and therefore it is still a bit green but that will soon fade.
The front of the wood has becom...
Category
1920s Dutch French Provincial Vintage Chairs
Materials
Rush, Oak
Antique Italian Savonarola Chair
Located in New York, NY
A circa 1900 Italian carved chair with leather seat and back.
Measurements:
Height: 34"
Width: 27.5"
Depth: 18.5"
Category
Early 1900s Italian Antique Chairs
Materials
Leather, Wood
German Jugendstil Chair in the Style of Bruno Paul, around 1905
By Bruno Paul
Located in Reichenschwand, DE
This slender Jugendstil chair, dating from around 1905, reflects the refined design language of the early 20th century with elegant restraint. Its form echoes the work of German arch...
Category
Early 1900s German Jugendstil Antique Chairs
Materials
Rattan, Oak
Scandinavian Blue Painted Chair
Located in New York, NY
Scandinavian blue painted chair. Vintage blue painted wood side chair with shaped back perfect in the bath. Sweden, first quarter 20th century.
Di...
Category
Early 20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Chairs
Materials
Wood
Bauhaus B34 Cantilever Chair in Plywood & Chrome by Marcel Breuer, 1930s
Located in Żory, PL
This tubular steel chair, type B34, was designed in 1928 by Marcel Breuer. This is an early and rare version with a seat and backrest made of plywood, probably made in the early 193...
Category
Early 20th Century Bauhaus Chairs
Materials
Steel
A Pair of French Louis XVI style painted side chairs
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This quality pair of chairs appear to be in the manner of Maison Jansen. The openwork splats appear to be in the form of a hot air balloon, over a rounded seat supported by an apron ...
Category
Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Chairs
Materials
Wood, Paint
Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Carved Mahogany Chair, Leatherette Seat
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Early 20th century French Art Nouveau carved mahogany chair with leatherette tobacco color seat with springs. Restored and polished to wax.
Precious chair also for a modern desk.
P...
Category
Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Chairs
Materials
Leather, Mahogany
Antique Morris Chair c. early 1900s. "Michigan Chair Com" - Stickley Era SALE
Located in Shamokin Dam, PA
Antique Morris Chair c. early 1900s. "Michigan Chair Company" - Stickley Era
3 DAYS SALE SALE SALE
This is an antique ...
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Chairs
Materials
Leather, Cotton, Upholstery, Oak
Antique Colliapsible W.S. Tubbs SnoShu Folding Canoe Chair c.1900
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT
Turn of the century Snowshoe chair with Ash frame, rawhide lacing and steel brackets. These lightweight, portable chairs were used in canoes for...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Chairs
Materials
Leather, Wood, Ash
20 Century Hand Carved Folding Palaver Wooden Chair in African Style, circa 1930
Located in Sofia, BG
This foldable chair is made of solid wood and can easily be disassembled in two parts. The model is known as a "palaver" chair. It is handcrafted and elegantly decorated with small g...
Category
Early 20th Century French Chairs
Materials
Wood
Shop Antique and Vintage Chairs on 1stDibs: Lounge Chairs, Dining Chairs and Other Seating for Sale
Chairs are an indispensable component of your home and office. Can you imagine your life without the vintage, new or antique chairs you love?
With the exception of rocking chairs, the majority of the seating in our homes today — Windsor chairs, chaise longues, wingback chairs — originated in either England or France. Art Nouveau chairs, the style of which also originated in those regions, embraced the inherent magnificence of the natural world with decorative flourishes and refined designs that blended both curved and geometric contour lines. While craftsmanship and styles have evolved in the past century, chairs have had a singular significance in our lives, no matter what your favorite chair looks like.
“The chair is the piece of furniture that is closest to human beings,” said Hans Wegner. The revered Danish cabinetmaker and furniture designer was prolific, having designed nearly 500 chairs over the course of his lifetime. His beloved designs include the Wishbone chair, the wingback Papa Bear chair and many more.
Other designers of Scandinavian modernist chairs introduced new dynamics to this staple with sculptural flowing lines, curvaceous shapes and efficient functionality. The Paimio armchair, Swan chair and Panton chair are vintage works of Finnish and Danish seating that left an indelible mark on the history of good furniture design.
“What works good is better than what looks good, because what works good lasts,” said Ray Eames.
Visionary polymaths Ray and Charles Eames experimented with bent plywood and fiberglass with the goal of producing affordable furniture for a mass market. Like other celebrated mid-century modern furniture designers of elegant low-profile furnishings — among them Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Finn Juhl — the Eameses considered ergonomic support, durability and cost, all of which should be top of mind when shopping for the perfect chair. The mid-century years yielded many popular chairs.
The Eameses introduced numerous icons for manufacturer Herman Miller, such as the Eames lounge chair and ottoman, molded plywood dining chairs the DCM and DCW (which can be artfully mismatched around your dining table) and a wealth of other treasured pieces for the home and office.
A good chair anchors us to a place and can become an object of timeless appeal. Take a seat and browse the rich variety of vintage, new and antique chairs on 1stDibs today.
Read More
The 21 Most Popular Mid-Century Modern Chairs
You know the designs, now get the stories about how they came to be.
Is Lionel Jadot the Willy Wonka of Upcycled Belgian Design?
From his massive collaborative workshop in a former paper factory, the designer concocts funky furniture from disused materials, as well as luxe hotel interiors like the new Mix Brussels.
Learn Why Designer Maarten Baas Set This Charles Rennie Mackintosh Chair on Fire
What happens when you do something to a piece of furniture that you shouldn’t? It becomes an entirely new object.
Kaleidoscopic Upholstery Makes This Edward Wormley Chair a Showstopper
What at first glance seems an unusual choice jibes perfectly with the designer's aesthetic.
Design Icon Ilse Crawford on Her Colorful New Hans Wegner Chairs
If anyone is brave, humble and adept enough to recolor these mid-century masterpieces, it’s Ilse Crawford. Here, she gives us the details on her five earthy paint choices and tells us how she feels about design collaborations.
How to Reupholster a Chair
Want to update an old chair that still has good bones? We spoke to experts to find out how they approach reupholstering antique furniture.
How to Spot Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI Chairs
A field guide for anyone who wants to brush up on their knowledge of French antiques
The Ball Chair, Eero Aarnio’s Space Age Masterpiece, Was Almost Never Made
Now considered emblematic of 1960s mod aesthetics, the Finnish designer's famous creation was far from an overnight success.