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Chairs For Sale
Number in Set: Set of 2
Color:  Purple
Easton Dining Chair, Fully Wrapped Upholstered Leather in Navy Colour
Located in London, GB
And objects, product design studio founded by Martin Brudnizki and Nick Jeanes based in London. The Easton dining chair is uniquely crafted from...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary English Chairs

Materials

Brass, Stainless Steel

Handcrafted Matrice Chair in Gold Steel and Blue Velvet
Located in MONTROZIER, FR
Matrice side chair is a steel corset compressing a velvet fleece, an organic, carnal form, compressed by a wire mesh. The interaction of two antagonistic materials reminds us of the poetry of blown glass, the bodice on the waist, the imprint left on the body by the wicker chairs. We tried to give the seat a feeling of comfort, both visually and in its use. The iconic Chesterfield sofa quickly became a reference to be summoned. Matrice is a reinterpretation, a sensitive statement of its imprint: the upholstery here is turned over like a glove, revealing the wire mesh structure. The latter forms a corset compressing the softness of the seat and backrest to give it an organic geometry. Matrice is customizable on demand (colors of steel and fabrics, other fabrics), modular in chair or multi-seater bench, and each piece is numbered. This handcrafted chair...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Chairs

Materials

Steel, Metal

Armchair in Velvet Molteni&C by Gio Ponti D.154.2 - made in Italy
Located in New York, NY
D.154.2 Lovechair in Velvet by Gio Ponti. Expert-crafted in Italy exclusively by Molteni&C. The mid-century D.154.2 lovechair features a shell-like structure inspired by renowned It...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Velvet

Bondi Stackable Dining Chair in Ashwood
By Please Wait to be Seated, Fräg Woodall
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Please Wait to be Seated Bondi chair is inspired by designer Frag Woodall's earliest memories of watching artisans at work, fascinated by the way they joined and fitted timber. The s...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Danish Modern Chairs

Materials

Wood

Modern Black Green Gray White Orange Pink Red Purple or Blue Rabbit Accent Chair
Located in Origgio (VA), IT
Rabbit is a family of products with a strong media impact, one of Stefano Giovannoni's hat tricks, and immediately became a pop icon, a symbol of love and fertility, which brings goo...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Plastic

Chair in Wood and Leather Molteni&C by Tobia Scarpa - Made in Italy - Miss
Located in New York, NY
Miss Chair in Wood and Leather by Afra and Tobia Scarpa. Expert-crafted in Italy exclusively by Molteni&C. Husband and wife powerhouse designers Afra and...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Ash

Tube Chair in Canaletto Walnut, Upholster Seat, by Giopato & Coombes
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This tube chair is available with a Canaletto wood structure, and an upholstered seat in the listed fabrics. The tube chair is also available in beech and solid oak wood. Cristiana Giopato...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Wood, Upholstery

e15 Mr. Collins Stool by Stefan Diez
Located in New York, NY
With its dynamic form and ergonomic comfort, Mr. Collins is an endearing stool applicable in diverse arrangements for living or working situations. Based on couture construction meth...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary German Modern Chairs

Materials

Wood

Large Pink Decorative Sculptural Modern Plastic Rabbit Chair
Located in Origgio (VA), IT
Rabbit is a family of products with a strong media impact, one of Stefano Giovannoni's hat tricks, and immediately became a pop icon, a symbol of love and fertility, which brings goo...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Plastic

Hive Counter Stool by Royal Stranger
Located in Geneve, CH
The Hive counter stool by Royal Stranger Dimensions: D66 x W55 x H95 cm Materials: Marine cotton velvet, Polished brass. Weight: 15 kg Finish options: Upholstery Available in ...
Category

2010s Portuguese Post-Modern Chairs

Materials

Brass

Two Mid-Century Lavender and Blue Kangaroo Chairs Ernst Moeckl, Germany, 1968
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
The z.stuhl chair, designed by Ernst Moeckl (1931-2013) in the 1970s, is a cantilever chair made of polyurethane, which is available with and without armrests. In the vernacular, the chair is known by its geometry-related names such as "squatting man...
Category

20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Fiberglass

Two Mid-Century Purple and Blue Kangaroo Chairs, Ernst Moeckl, Germany, 1968
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
The z.stuhl chair, designed by Ernst Moeckl (1931-2013) in the 1970s, is a cantilever chair made of polyurethane, which is available with and without armrests. In the vernacular, the chair is known by its geometry-related names such as "squatting man...
Category

20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Fiberglass

e15 Houdini Side Chair by Stefan Diez
Located in New York, NY
E15 celebrates ten years of chair Houdini by Stefan Diez with a curated palette of anniversary colors. In his search for an ergonomic, organic seating shell without involving expensi...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary German Modern Chairs

Materials

Wood

Kartell Calice Stool in Violet by Ettore Sottsass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Calice vase is included in the "Kartell goes Sottsass - A Tribute to Memphis" collection, launched in homage to the movement founded by design guru Ettore...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Plastic

Goldfinger Velvet and Brass Dining Chair
Located in New York, NY
Minimalist comfort. Pared down geometry in polished brass meets Rialto navy velvet in our Goldfinger collection. A little bit, 1970s, a lot today. Goldfinger is the winning ticket th...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Chairs

Materials

Brass

Domo Stool Geometric Accent Chair
Located in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul
A decorative chair featuring a geometric design. Larissa Batista began designing the Jolly Seats Collection as an artistic depiction of early-20th-century’s Cubism movement. Eventually evolving into its own language, the Jolly Seats Collection came into fruition after gaining its own individually cheerful styling. The collection, currently composed of three pieces, marks the beginning of a new chapter in artistic upholstered furniture. "The Domo stool is an emblem of geometric expression in furniture design", says the designer Larissa Batista. Allowing the piece to achieve such an iconic profile, beautifully balanced and simple shapes provide the item a unique aura while still granting the use a contemporary and wide mix of fabric and color options— novelties that offer a new and contemporary...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Chairs

Materials

Fabric, Foam

Mariolina Chair in Anthracite Metal Legs, Silk Gray Shell, by E-GGs
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This Mariolina chair is offered with iron legs in anthracite, a shell in polypropylene silk grey and the option to select an upholstered cushion material for your chair. The iron leg...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal

Jasper Morrison Hi Pad Chair in Beech Plywood & Fabric or Leather for Cappellini
Located in New York, NY
The Hi pad chair, and accompanying Hi pad stool, are the result of a production process that represents the perfect balance between technology and artisan...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Foam, Beech, Plywood

Jasper Morrison Small Hi Pad Stool in Fabric or Leather Upholstery by Cappellini
Located in New York, NY
The Hi pad chair, and accompanying Hi pad Stool, are the result of a production process that represents the perfect balance between technology and artisan...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Foam, Beech, Plywood

Violet / Purple Rabbit Chair, Made in Italy
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Scroll down and click "view all from Seller" to see more than 500 other unique products. (2.2) The idea of the rabbit, a gentle, lovable and shy animal, comes from the association o...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Plastic

La Tuba Outdoor Chair, Maria Beckmann, Represented by Tuleste Factory
Located in New York, NY
Outdoor furniture design by Maria Beckmann. These outdoor chairs are made from steel tubing and thick canvas. La Tuba Outdoor Chair is available in multiple sizes. Materials: Steel...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary North American Chairs

Materials

Steel

Vintage Japanese Boro & Blackened Steel Chair
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The Inheritance Chair by Stephen Kenn is as comfortable as it is unique. The design features an exposed construction composed of three elements - a steel frame, plush upholstery, and supportive belts. The deep seating area is perfect for a relaxing lounge experience. Every Stephen Kenn piece is made to order through our Los Angeles studio in partnership with a number of small businesses and fabricators in the LA area. With this highly customizable chair, you can select from a wide range of finishes and materials to complement your space and lifestyle - please message us to see our Customization Guide with all available options. This version of our Inheritance Chair is upholstered in boro material - vintage Japanese family quilts made from scraps of clothing, kimonos, and other household textiles. We source these 100-200 year old quilts...
Category

2010s American Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal, Steel

Jasper Morrison Lotus High Chair in Polished Chrome for Cappellini
Located in New York, NY
The Lotus (High), by Jasper Morrison, is part of a complete collection of chairs, envisioned to be easily adaptable for both domestic and variegated professional settings. Available ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal

Semo Armchair with Purple Fabric and Polished Burl Wood
Located in New York, NY
SEMO is the perfect armchair for the ultimate side sitters and for those who love to swivel. The thick finger arms are great to place your legs while you turn left and right. Semo re...
Category

2010s Turkish Arts and Crafts Chairs

Materials

Wood, Fabric

Fried Egg Three Tone Chair, by Hans Olsen from Warm Nordic
Located in Viby J, DK
A unique asymmetrical lounge chair, designed by the highly acclaimed Danish architect, Hans Olsen in the 1950s. Fried egg is also available in an exclusive anniversary edition with s...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Chairs

Materials

Foam

Pair of Two Garden Chairs in Wrought Iron
Located in Miami, FL
Pair of two garden chairs in wrought iron for indoor or outdoor You must indicate if you want the product with the special treatment for...
Category

2010s Spanish Country Chairs

Materials

Wrought Iron

Dos À Dos Louvre Double Seat Blueberry by La Cividina
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Dos à Dos was designed in 1967 for the Louvre Museum, where its curves had the discreet but essential role of accommodating visitors as they admired the spel...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Chairs

Materials

Steel

Modern Minimal Outdoor Sling by Studio Stirling in Blues
Located in Johannesburg, ZA
"Our Outdoor Sling hanging chair swing seat is crafted with Spradling Silvertex material – a highly sustainable environmentally-friendly vegan material. The Slings can be ordered ...
Category

2010s South African Minimalist Chairs

Materials

Stainless Steel

Mula Chair in Black Metal Leg Base with Upholstery Seat, by E-GGs
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mula chair is offered with iron rebar metal base, varnished in black. The seat and back are made with an injected flame-retardant polyurethane foam, upholstered in the listed fabrics. The body is packed separately from the base. Here you are shown the Mula Chair in Black Metal Base with Upholstery Seat. This item is also available in a swivel office chair option. Formed by Gaia Giotti, Giona Scarselli and Cristina Razzanelli, E-GGS deals with design with a transversal approach, ranging between product design, interior and architecture. Attention and curiosity are captured by the discovery of the unusual in everyday life, in the search for new expressive and material languages. Additional information: Dimensions: Seat height 46.7 cm, overall chair height 78 cm, width of chair 57...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal

Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret, Charlotte Perriand LC1 Villa Church Chair
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Chair designed by Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret, Charlotte Perriand in 1928. Relaunched in 2012. Manufactured by Cassina in Italy. Armchair with structure in polished trivalent ...
Category

2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Steel

Ola Chair with Armrest in Violet 19 Pink Upholstery & Satin Brass Legs by Saba
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Ola family extends to the dining room: Ola chair originates from the same concept of curved sheets, each converging towards a single center point. Four sheets become two sheets f...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Upholstery

Contemporary Chair WEI by Studio 1+11, in Blue Edition , 21st Century Germany
Located in Berlin, DE
The Chair WEI by Studio ONE PLUS ELEVEN is delicately hand made steel in geometrical, graphical forms . The Chair is metal made but it gets a very del...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary German Minimalist Chairs

Materials

Stainless Steel

Leda Cushion Armchair in Black Metal Base, by Francesco Beghetto
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This Leda chair with is shown with an upholstered cushion and armrests, as well as in the black Metal structure. The chair is available without arms as well...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal

Customizable Artifort Orange Slice Junior Chair by Pierre Paulin
Located in New York, NY
If you’re a design-lover and your son or daughter likes to have their own chair with the “big people” then Artifort’s Junior Collection is for you. Like the junior version of the Ora...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Dutch Modern Chairs

Materials

Textile

Customizable Tacchini Set of two Eddy Swivel Chair Designed by PearsonLloyd
Located in New York, NY
From the British PearsonLloyd design studio, Eddy is a boldly charming chair. This sleek, compact armchair features distinctive lines and ample opportunities for customization in choice of upholstery. An aesthetic convergence point is formed where the rounded shape of the backrest and the opening between and the seat meet. At the same time, the space serves as a practical handhold to easily move the chair. Contrasting piping...
Category

2010s Italian Chairs

Materials

Leather, Fabric

Mid Century Violet Blue Heart Cotton-Velvet Chair, Europe, 1960s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Chair type A5828. Colloquially called "heart". The furniture was designed by Helena and Jerzy Kurmanowicz. Chair was produced in Radomsko Woodworking Factory and we thoroughly renova...
Category

20th Century Polish Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Beech, Fabric, Cotton, Velvet

Scalene Outdoor Armchair in a Dark Blue Fabric
Located in Miami, FL
The Scalene armchair was created by our amazing Uultis Design team, with an upholstered beautiful dark blue fabric, features a welded aluminum structure that gives this chair more re...
Category

2010s Brazilian Chairs

Materials

Metal

Kartell Madame Chair in Rome Print by Philippe Starck
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Thanks to its neutral colour palette, this chair makes the ideal furniture piece for inserting in sophisticated residential interiors or the most refined contract projects.    
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Fabric

One GF General Fireproofing Side Chair with Polished Aluminum Frame and Base
Located in Pasadena, TX
One midcentury desk or dining chair made by GF. The chairs are on a four-star polished aluminum base and swivel. Reupholstery recommended. 100 available.
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Chairs

Materials

Aluminum

21st Century WEENball Chair by Alex Brokamp and Madsteez
Located in Dubai, AE
The WEENball chair is a playful functional conversation piece for the home. The chair is inspired by uncommon upholstery techniques paired with a delicate childlike sophistication. ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Chairs

Materials

Glass

Mula Chair in Stained Black Ash Base, Upholstery Seat, by E-GGs
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mula chair is offered with black stained wooden ash base with seat and back in injected flame-retardant polyurethane foam upholstered in the listed fabrics. The body is packed separately from the base. The leg base finish is also available in a natural ash finish, anthracite metal or ash, black metal, and copper metal. If you are interested in one of the previously listed bases. Formed by Gaia Giotti, Giona Scarselli and Cristina Razzanelli, E-GGS deals with design with a transversal approach, ranging between product design, interior and architecture. Attention and curiosity are captured by the discovery of the unusual in everyday life, in the search for new expressive and material languages. Additional information: Dimensions: Seat height 46.7 cm, overall chair height 78 cm, width of chair 57...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Upholstery, Wood

Pair of Italian Armchairs of Fratelli Consonni Production in Purple Velvet
Located in Milano, IT
Elegant pair of 1950's Italian armchairs reupholstered in purple velvet fabric. Finishing the velvet seat is an elegant red velvet border that creates an elegant play of color. The f...
Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Chairs

Materials

Velvet, Walnut

Pair Aubergine Scoop Swivel Lounge Chairs, Metal Base by Barbara Barry for HBF
Located in Topeka, KS
Handsome pair of Scoop swivel lounge chairs with a metal base by Barbara Barry for HBF. This pair is in wonderful vintage condition as far as the base, frame and stability are concerned. However, the aubergine colored upholstery, even though we have had it professionally cleaned, most likely will need replaced. Please see photos. We have priced them accordingly. Circa early 21st century. If you are looking for a beautiful pair of contemporary lounge chairs that speak to the past….look no further! This pair of Scoop lounge chairs designed by the legendary Barbara Barry are modern yet familiar in form. Their modern look is enhanced by their brushed steel base. The four prong base swivels and is self-centering making them the perfect conversational and TV viewing chairs you will find. Produced by HBF a leader in exquisitely crafted and exceptionally constructed products they will last more than a lifetime. Combine that with Barbara Barry’s timeless design and you have a classic. Barbara Barry is an internationally known award-winning designer. She is known for her streamlined and elegant designs that speak of luxury and comfort. Her design philosophy being that living simply with quality is the highest form of luxury. Her firm not only does residential and commercial interior design but has partnered with companies such as Baker, Henredon, Kallista, Kravet, and Tufenkian producing celebrated home products. Barry’s designs and collections are sold worldwide in fine stores and design centers. HBF, formerly known as Hickory Business Furniture, was founded in 1979. They are currently a subsidiary of HNI Corporation and manufacture and supply furniture to corporate, hospitality, and residential environments. Their products represent the finest in contemporary design yet remain timeless in appeal. They work with renowned designers worldwide. This pair of royal purple swivel chairs...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal

Customizable Artifort Apollo Lounge Chair by Patrick Norguet
Located in New York, NY
A sweeping stroke of elegant calligraphy. Poised. Open. Ergonomics at its best. Destined to be a Classic. Designed by Patrick Norguet, the Apollo radiates balance and harmony. Develo...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Dutch Modern Chairs

Materials

Textile

Pair of Eames for Miller MKX Wire Mesh Chairs
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Genuine set of Mid-Century Modern Eames for Herman Miller MKX-l wire mesh dining chairs. The chairs feature the iconic wire mesh seat conjoined ...
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Steel

Ghidini 1961 Katana Lounge Chair in Fabric and Satin Brass by Paolo Rizzatto
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
In the Katana sofa, Paolo Rizzatto, being the refined and expert designer he is, puts great care in the proportions of the structural elements of the produ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Fabric

Vintage Mid Century Polished Chrome Frame Rolled Back Dining Chairs, Set of 4
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Mid Century Modern polished chrome frame rolled back dining chairs - set of 4. Set includes (4) side chairs, polished chrome frames, uph...
Category

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

Materials

Chrome

Fritz Hansen Oxford Desk Chair Designed by Arne Jacobsen, 1963 Denmark
Located in Antwerp, BE
Oxford low back desk chair by Arne Jacobsen for Fritz Hansen. Designed in 1963 for the professors of St. Catherine’s College in Oxford. Blue uphols...
Category

1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Chairs

Materials

Aluminum

Mixed Public-Private Boundary #03 Chair/Side Table by Cometabolism Studio
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
The "Mixed public-private boundary" collection of Cometabolism Studio uses objects in public and private spaces to reorganize and reproduce, forming installations suitable for both "...
Category

2010s Chinese Chairs

Materials

Stainless Steel

Danese Milano Abchair Chair Violet with Red Seat by Paolo Rizzatto
Located in Hicksville, NY
Abchair is a stackable seat made from a single sheet of anodized aluminium. The structure is made of two laser-cut parts that are that are shaped like teeth of a comb. These are then...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Aluminum

Handcrafted Matrice Chair in Black Steel and Blue Velvet Customizable
Located in MONTROZIER, FR
Matrice chair is a subtle steel corset that compresses a soft and comfortable material; a nice reminder of the Italian traditional expertise, when the blown glass was assembling the metal structure of the lamp in the early 20th century. Matrice is customizable on demand, modular single or two-seat bench, and each piece is numbered. This version is with a very robust velvet. This handcrafted chair...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Chairs

Materials

Steel, Metal

Pair Wrought Iron Chairs after Tony Paul
Located in New York, NY
Stylish pair of midcentury wrought iron chairs, having hoop form backs, and newly upholstered pad seats (blue Sunbrella fabric). Both cha...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Wrought Iron

Original K1 Cone Chairs Design Blue Red by Verner Panton, Denmark, 1950s
Located in Vienna, AT
Original K1 cone chairs design blue red by Verner Panton, Denmark 1950s. They are wearing its original woven fabric in very good and comfortable original condition. The chairs are ba...
Category

1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Chairs

Materials

Metal

Pair of Anton Lorenz Chairs for Thonet Model SS33
Located in Buffalo, NY
Pair of Anton Lorenz chairs for Thonet model SS33. Original electric blue naugahyde upholstery, tubular chrome cantilivered frame.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Chrome

Weaving High Back Chair
Located in Paris, FR
Chair weaving high back with aluminium structure in blue lacquered finish. Seat and back made with blue elastic belts. Indoor or outdoor use. Also availabl...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Chairs

Materials

Aluminum

Poul Henningsen, Pair of Foldable Theatre Chairs for the Betty Nansen Theatre, 1
By Poul Henningsen, Andreas Christensen
Located in Uppsala, SE
Rare pair of foldable theatre chairs designed by Poul Henningsen in 1957 for the renovation of the Betty Nansen Theatre (earlier The Young Theatre) in Copenhagen and made by Andreas Christensen...
Category

1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Chairs

Materials

Metal, Brass

Opus Garden Magenta Chair with Armrests by Carlo Rampazzi
Located in Milan, IT
This stunning chair is defined by an open and aetherial silhouette that conveys simplicity, comfort, and stability. Evoking a classic style, the frame is made of hand-bent iron rods ...
Category

2010s Italian Chairs

Materials

Iron

Pair of Modern Biomorphic Lounge Chairs by Weiman, 1980s
Located in Dallas, TX
These stunning Avant Garde lounge/slipper chairs by Weiman Furniture are no exception. From their visually striking silhouette to their overstuffed, over-sized frames, stylish comfort is of top priority; they are minimalist. Upholstered in a luxurious sapphire blue silk dupioni fabric...
Category

1980s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Chairs

Materials

Upholstery

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. 

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Kaleidoscopic Upholstery Makes This Edward Wormley Chair a Showstopper

What at first glance seems an unusual choice jibes perfectly with the designer's aesthetic.

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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

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Now considered emblematic of 1960s mod aesthetics, the Finnish designer's famous creation was far from an overnight success.

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