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Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

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Office Chairs and Desk Chairs For Sale
Period: 19th Century
Period: 1950s
Pierre Jeanneret Office Chairs PJ-SI-28-A
Located in San Francisco, CA
This pair of floating back office chairs were used throughout the decades in various administrative buildings in Chandigarh, India. The markings on the back indicate their last desig...
Category

1950s Indian Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Cane, Teak

Antique Oak And Leather Desk Chair
Located in Accrington, GB
A quality antique desk chair that dates to the late part of the 19th century. The chair has quality in every detail from the cut of oak used, the brass castors, shaped saddled seat a...
Category

1880s British Victorian Antique Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Leather, Oak

Vintage Desk Chair with Armrests by Jean-Louis Bonnant (circa 1956)
By Jean-Louis Bonnant
Located in London, GB
Vintage French Desk Chair with Armrests by Jean-Louis Bonnant (circa 1956). Rare version of the black lacquered metal chair with an openwork ...
Category

1950s French Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Metal

William IV Hardwood Cane Bergere Library Armchair With Scrolled Arms on Castors
Located in High Wycombe, GB
William IV Hardwood Cane Bergere Library Armchair With Scrolled Arms With Brass Castors & Fluted Supports Additional dimensions: Height to seat 41cm I Height to arms 69cm Seat widt...
Category

19th Century British William IV Antique Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Brass

1960s Set of Two fully restored Erik Kirkegaard Oak Arm Chairs Green Upholstery
Located in Knebel, DK
1960s Set of Two fully restored Erik Kirkegaard Oak Arm Chairs Custom Upholstery This weeks offer as of friday November 9th. is a set of 6 elbow armchairs designed by the Danish desi...
Category

1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Oak

1950s “3217” Swivel desk chair by Arne Jacobsen for Fritz Hansen, Denmark
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A beautiful swivel desk chair, model “3217”, designed by Arne Jacobsen and manufactured by Fritz Hansen in Denmark around 1960. This highly recognizable piece has a chrome plated tu...
Category

1950s Danish Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Metal

Authentic Jean Prouvé Metropole "305 / Standard Chair" in Metal & Plywood 1950s
Located in Stockholm, SE
Rare "Standard Chair / Metropole 305" in black painted metal and plywood by Jean Prouvé produced by Ateliers Jean Prouvé, 1950s. In good vintage conditio...
Category

1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Metal

1950s Mid Century Modern Office Chair by Jorge Rasmussen
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Mid-century office chair designed and manufactured by Jorgen Rasmussen in Denmark circa 1950s. This desk chair features a plywood frame with a chrome metal base and four wheels, maki...
Category

1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Bentwood

19th Century Victorian Oak Bankers Desk Chair
Located in Germantown, MD
A 19th Century Victorian patinated Oak bankers desk Chair on wheels. Mesures 21.5" in width, 22" in depth and stands 32" tall. Seat height is 18.25...
Category

Late 19th Century American Victorian Antique Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Oak

Scandinavian Modern Office Chair, Model 3217, by Arne Jacobsen and Fritz Hansen
Located in Lejre, DK
"Seven" office chair, model 3217, with armrests and swivel function in cognac classic leather designed by Arne Jacobsen in the 1950s and manufactured by Fritz Hansen. This product w...
Category

1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Leather

Mid-Century Modern Industrial 3-Piece Office Set with Desk by Norman Bel Geddes
Located in Lafayette, IN
Three pieces of iconic mid-century industrial design combine to complete this fantastic home-office suite. - Simmons dresser/desk (by renowned designer Norman Bel Geddes) - Goof Form desk chair - Dazor desk lamp...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Aluminum, Steel

RESTORED ANTIQUE CIRCA 1880 BERGERE & BROWN LEATHER BARREL BACK CAPTAiNS CHAIR
Located in GB
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this fully restored circa 1880 Barrell back Bergere and hand dyed brown leather office chair with original wrought iron swivel movement on English Oak base 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. This chair is really quite exquisite, it’s one of the earliest types of swivel chairs I have ever seen, the frame is solid oak, the leather lovely thick English hide, the base swivels and it has solid brass castors. The base mechanism is a single coil sprung affair with a domed top, it’s a very early version of the later highly collectable Hillcrest design. The chair has been fully restored to include having the leather washed back, it’s then been hand dyed six times, antiqued and sealed, the oak frame has been stripped back and French polished from the ground up. These antique captains chairs...
Category

1880s English High Victorian Antique Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Leather, Oak

Antique Desk Swivel Captains Chair
Located in Antwerp, BE
Beautiful traditional shipping era swivel Chippendale desk chair. The Captain's Chair, with the modern addition of a turn and tilt mechanism. The comfortable desk chair is in its ori...
Category

1890s English Chesterfield Antique Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Upholstery, Wood

Chair model 3117 by Arne Jacobsen for Fritz Hansen, 1950s
Located in Lasne, BE
Wood and metal office chair. Rotates on itself and height adjustable. Maximum height: 87 cm, maximum seat height: 55 cm. Stamped on the und...
Category

1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Metal

Marquetry Armchair with Satinwood Inlays, New York, circa 1890
Located in Miami, FL
A late 19th century New York armchair in the early 18th century Dutch-Style in mahogany decorated with inlays in other woods of bows, birds, rinceau ...
Category

19th Century American Rococo Revival Antique Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Tulipwood, Kingwood, Mahogany, Satinwood

Rare Vittorio Nobili "Medea" 1950s Swivel Office Chair Made of Teak Plywood
Located in Wolfurt, AT
This 1950s swivel office chair “Medea” was designed by Vittorio Nobili and manufactured by Fratelli Tagliabue in Meda, Italy. The teak plywood seat swivels in all directions on a dar...
Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Iron

Pierre Jeanneret Office Chair, circa 1955-56, Punjab University, Chandigarh
Located in Edogawa-ku Tokyo, JP
Office chair in solid teak with seat and backrest in cane. Slanted, slightly curved backrest, separate from the seat. Small scratches and chips for the ages can be found. Please chec...
Category

1950s Indian Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Cane, Teak

Flat Steel Industrial Task Chair by Remington Rand..original , pure unmolested
Located in Buffalo, NY
Flat Steel Industrial Task Chair by Remington Rand..original , pure unmolested... Amazing original condition,,Adjustable height..Extremely comfortable..
Category

1830s American Industrial Antique Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Metal, Steel

Victorian English Desk Chair
Located in Schellebelle, BE
Elegant Victorian, English Desk Chair from around 1850, the Oak and Mahogany Wood have a beautiful Shine and Wear, based and 4 elegant feet and rotating, very fine arms and back of t...
Category

1850s British Antique Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Oak

Antique Porter's Hall Chair, English, Leather, Rotary Desk Seat, Victorian, 1880
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique porter's hall chair. An English, mahogany and leather rotary desk seat, dating to the Victorian period, circa 1880. Superb colour and gra...
Category

Late 19th Century British Antique Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Leather

VINTAGE RESTORED GAINSBOROUGH HAND DYED WHISKY BROWN LEATHER OFFICE DESK CHAiR
Located in GB
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this lovely hand made in England circa 1950's fully restored Whisky brown leather Gainsborough carver desk a...
Category

1950s English Mid-Century Modern Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Leather, Beech

Modernist Iron and Plywood side chair attributed to Egon Eiermann, Germany
Located in Buffalo, NY
Modernist Iron and Plywood side chair attributed to Egon Eiermann, Germany.. Dramatic lines,,exaggerated curved iron back support as well as unusual back seat rest,,Extremely comfort...
Category

1950s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Iron

VERY FiNE RESTORED ANTIQUE CHESTERFIELD WILLIAM IV OAK BROWN LEATHER DESK CHAIr
Located in GB
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this absolutely exquisite and very well made, English circa 1830 William IV limed oak and leather, chesterfield desk chair...
Category

1830s English William IV Antique Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Leather, Oak

RESTORED HARRODS LONDON CHESTERFiELD BROWN LEATHER ARMCHAIR CLAW & BALL FEET
Located in GB
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this exceptionally rare original circa 1950’s Harrods London fully restored office or occasional armchair ...
Category

1950s English Regency Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Leather, Hardwood

Victorian Cast Iron Lion Base Blue Leather Ships Captains Swivel Office Chair
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this absolutely stunning mid Victorian Ships Swivel armchair on a solid cast iron base with Lion head detailing A very good looking and decorati...
Category

19th Century English Victorian Antique Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Iron

William IV Desk Chair Carver Chair Office Chair Elbow Chair
Located in Whaley Bridge, GB
P0244 fine quality, solid mahogany William IV occasional chair, having shaped top rail above carved mid rails and drop in seat upholstered in cream fabric flanked by open scroll arms...
Category

19th Century English Antique Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Mahogany

Louis XVI style desk chair.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
"Louis XVI style desk chair" Office chairs, wickerwork, 19th century, Louis XVI style, very fine quality h: 94cm, l: 50cm, p: 45cm
Category

19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Wicker, Wood

Victorian Antique Bergere Library Swivel Armchair with Leather Seat
Located in High Wycombe, GB
An elegant and rare, Early Victorian antique Bergere library, office, desk, swivel armchair with original maroon leather seat & stud details, on a claw base with Castors. The cha...
Category

Mid-19th Century English Early Victorian Antique Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Wrought Iron

Vintage Office Chair Silvio Cavatorta
Located in Catania, IT
Office chair attributable to Silvio Cavatorta in plywood with a metal frame. Chair in good condition and very rar.
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Metal

Antique Regency Quality Carved Mahogany Desk Chair
Located in Suffolk, GB
Antique Regency quality carved mahogany desk chair having a figured mahogany carved top rail, quality carved splat to the centre, shaped reeded open arms with turned supports, newly ...
Category

19th Century English Regency Antique Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Other

Sedus Wooden Beech Swivel Chair Height Adjustable Mid-Century Modern
Located in Verviers, BE
Sedus wooden beech swivel chair height adjustable Mid-Century Modern Seat height adjustable 51 cm to 58 cm Adjustable in Total Height 83 cm max 90 cm Chair has a Very Nice Ori...
Category

1950s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Metal

Gothic Curule Armchair in Carved Walnut, France, circa 1880
Located in VÉZELAY, FR
Beautiful curule / armchair / "dagobert" / throne in carved solid walnut. Carvings of acanthus leaves on the armrests, mascaron / head of demon / lion in the center, and "bushel" mo...
Category

1880s French Renaissance Revival Antique Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Wood, Walnut

Victorian Mahogany Revolving Office Chair
Located in Whaley Bridge, GB
Sn5425 An English Victorian solid mahogany desk chair, having shaped top rail with carved uprights, generous seat and open scroll arms, all standing on four cabriole les terminating ...
Category

19th Century English Antique Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Mahogany

Paul McCobb Model 1530 Mid-Century Modern Chair, Early Winchendon Label
Located in Buffalo, NY
Classic Paul McCobb Model 1530 Mid-Century Modern Chair, Retains early Winchendon Modern label. Pre Planner Group. Wonderful original condition, color, finish, patina. Functional Art...
Category

1950s American Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Wood, Maple

Unique Antique 1880 George Hepplewhite Wheatgrass Captains Chair Brown Leather
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this exceptionally rare and super collectable Antique Victorian George Hepplewhite Wheatgrass revolving captains chair which has been fully restore...
Category

1880s English High Victorian Antique Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Leather, Oak

Antique 1880 Art Nouveau Carved Fully Restored Brown Leather Library Desk Chair
Located in GB
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this very rare and highly collectable, fully restored circa 1880 Art Nouveau carved, Chesterfield hand dye...
Category

1880s English Art Nouveau Antique Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Leather, Oak

Pair Early Victorian Mahogany Elbow Chairs
By King & Sons
Located in Dereham, GB
Pair Early Victorian Mahogany Elbow Chairs Curved top rail, Carved Back Splat, Pair Open Scroll shaped Elbows, Pair Turned Front Legs, Leather Drop in seats, recently Uphols...
Category

1840s British Victorian Antique Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Mahogany

19th Century French Empire Cherry Wood Desk Barrel Armchair with Gilt Mounts
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a man's office or study with this elegant antique armchair. Hand carved in France circa 1870 and built of cherry, the armchair stands on tapered front legs ending with paw sabot feet, over a bombe apron decorated with a brass laurel leaf motif mount. The rounded rail back over shaped slat, is embellished with gilt metal mounts, ending scrolled armrests decorated with elegant gilt bronze Egyptian female figure supports. The seat is dressed with black vinyl leather like upholstery, and embellished with decorative brass nail head trim. The comfortable barrel desk chair...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Empire Antique Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Bronze

German Cherry Workstool "Kiss the Future" by Markus Friedrich Staab
Located in Frankfurt am Main, DE
German work stool contemporized by carving, painting and assembling. Pink feet for the crazy ones among us. I learn out of a past that has been created for me, a foundation to bui...
Category

Mid-19th Century German Adam Style Antique Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Metal

Aluminum Chairs by Charles & Ray Eames for Vitra, USA, 1958
Located in Antwerp, BE
Aluminum Chair; Charles & Ray Eames; Vitra; 1958; Office Chair; Leather; Chrome; Brown; The Aluminum Group; USA; Aluminum chair designed by Charles & Ray Eames and manufactured by ...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Aluminum

19th Century English Victorian Mahogany Desk Chair
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
For sale is a Victorian mahogany desk chair, in the Arts & Crafts style, revolving and with four down swept legs terminating on scroll fe...
Category

Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Mahogany

19th Century Green German Antique Biedermeier Mahogany, Maplewood Armchair
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A light-brown, antique Biedermeier German single armchair made of hand crafted shellac polished Mahogany, the fiber décor is made of Maplewood in good condition. The seat backrest of...
Category

Mid-19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Mahogany, Maple

"Seven" Office Chair by Arne Jacobsen for Fritz Hansen, Denmark, 1950s
Located in Stockholm, SE
Rare early version of Arne Jacobsen’s “Seven” office chair, with the original wheel base. Elegant black leather upholstery.
Category

1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Steel

Pierre Jeanneret Office Chairs, 1950s Chandigargh
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Fantastic collection of Pierre Jeanneret office chairs. Model PJ-0101-6S. Solid teak chairs with compass style legs, cane seat, and cane seat back. Slanted, slightly curved backrest. Hand stenciling on the back of both chairs reads : ASM, (L) -006 and ASM, (L) - 004 respectively. These chairs came directly from India, and have never hit the open market for sale. Stenciling on each chair designating the location of the chairs in Chandigarh. Made for the university housing in Sector 14. Have all photos from before and after careful restoration. Restoration performed by artisans in India that specialize in Pierre Jeanneret. New cushions. Last 4 images on the listing are pre restoration. Seat height without cushion: 18" 4 chairs available. Priced individually. Jeanneret Chandigargh Book - Jacques Dworczak...
Category

1950s Indian Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Cane, Teak

Charles Eames Wire Chairs with Bikini Cover on Eiffel Base's
Located in Buffalo, NY
Classic pair Eames wire chairs on a black Eiffel base with the bikini covers for Herman Miller, Naugahyde bikini tops missing elastic connector...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Steel

Rio Rosewood & Leather Model 431 Lounge Chairs Set by Arne Vodder, Denmark 1950s
Located in Geneva, CH
Rio Rosewood and black leather pair of model 431 lounge chairs by Arne Vodder produced by Sibast Mobler, Denmark circa late 1950s Superb quality with fine details and patina. Manuf...
Category

1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Leather, Rosewood

Victorian Captains Chair
Located in Whaley Bridge, GB
0240 Late Victorian ash and elm smokers bow armchair with shaped top rail supported on turned uprights and generous seat, all standing on substantial turn...
Category

Late 19th Century English Antique Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Ash

Gainsborough Armchair 19th century
Located in Vosselaar, BE
Good 19th century Gainsborough armchair in mahogany with new crimson linnen upholstery. This type of chair was named after the famous painter Tho...
Category

Early 19th Century English Georgian Antique Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Mahogany

Unique Thonet Desk Chair, Museum Piece
Located in Delft, NL
One of our unique Thonet desk chair, Museum piece It's from a collection of a Museum, The Haque, Netherlands The chair is adjustable from 85 cm t...
Category

19th Century Antique Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Wood

Fine Antique circa 1860 Chesterfield Cigar Brown Leather Swivel Captains Chair
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this rare circa 1860 Barrell back Chesterfield hand dyed brown leather office chair. This chair is re...
Category

1860s English High Victorian Antique Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Leather

Pair of Rare Chairs with Armrests by Martin Eisler, circa 1955 Midcentury Brazil
Located in New York, NY
Designed in 1955 by Martin Eisler for "Forma," the rare chai with armrests is made of Jatobá wood and leather Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler are most known by well-shaped armchairs made in iron, but the production it's away more complex, handcrafted, and extensive. The wood pieces produced by Forma Móveis...
Category

1950s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Leather, Wood

Midcentury Armchair in Teak and Patinated Leather, 1950s
Located in Lejre, DK
Danish armchair in patinated leather and solid teak frame. Designedand made in Denmark. Great original condition.
Category

1950s Scandinavian Scandinavian Modern Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Leather, Teak

Mid-Century Modern Design Skai Leather Office Chair Set, Italy, 1950s
Located in Oud-Turnhout, VAN
Vintage Mid-Century Modern Italian Design Skai leather office armchair set of 2. Made in Italy, 1950s. Bordeaux skai faux leather formed seat on brass covered metal legs. Beautifully...
Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Metal

Regency William IV Polished Tan Leather Captains Library Chair with Castors
Located in High Wycombe, GB
An Original British, 1830s William IV polished tan leather chesterfield captains chair with brass stud detailing On Porcelain Castors. C...
Category

Early 19th Century English William IV Antique Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Brass

Pair of Midcentury Chairs in Ebonized Walnut Base W/ Holly Hunt Fabric
Located in New York, NY
This elegant pair of midcentury chairs were realized in the United States circa 1950. They feature cylindrical legs with rectilinear cross stretchers in ebonized walnut. The top of the backs have a subtle incised streamlined cut out, testifying to the fact that no detail was overlooked in their construction. With their refined color palate and clean modernist lines, these chairs are as versatile as they are beautiful, blending perfectly with any style of interior from Classic midcentury to contemporary. They have been newly reupholstered in sumptuous patterned and metallic Holly Hunt fabric...
Category

1950s American Art Deco Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Fabric, Walnut

Antique Original Regency 1815 Black Leather Hardwood Horseshoe Office Desk Chair
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this exquisite original circa 1815 Black leather Regency office chair with sculpted Horseshoe frame ...
Category

1810s English Regency Antique Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Leather, Hardwood

Antique Cane Corner Chair
Located in Denton, TX
Hand carved curved beechwood French corner chair with blind hole cane and removable cushion. Please see pictures of the fire breathing salamander with crown stamped on the bottom.
Category

19th Century French Louis XV Antique Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Cane, Beech

Office Cane Chairs by Pierre Jeanneret, PJ-SI-28-A, Chandigarh, 1955
Located in Antwerp, BE
Iconic "Office Cane Chairs" created by Pierre Jeanneret in the 1950s for the city of Chandigarh in India, the utopian city designed by his cousin Le Corbusier. Made of solid wood with seat and backrest in braided canework. Tilted backrest and asymmetric flat profiled "compass"-type double side leg assembly, with the legs connected by a crosspiece and supporting the armrests. Slanted, slightly curved backrest, separate from the seat. The seemingly floating back as well as the "compass"-type legs are very typical for this office chair. These specific features make the design even more powerful and interesting. The office chair was part of the furniture from the administrative buildings of Chandigarh. It's a true icon, one of the most famous pieces of all Chandigarh items. Jeanneret’s designs stand out for their essential forms and simple materials, a balance between modern European ideals and traditional Indian spirit. Another interesting and nowadays relevant fact about these and other Chandigarh chairs is that all pieces were made from the trees which were logged because the city was built, so an early adaptation of ecological thinking. We have four office chairs...
Category

1950s Indian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Cane, Wood

Antique and Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

An essential part of every office or home workstation, office chairs and desk chairs are critically important to your comfort and getting the job done.

Desk chairs have evolved over time. While writing the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson pined for a wider range of motion and introduced some improvements to his English-style Windsor chair, inventing the swivel chair along the way. So the next time you roll, recline or swivel at your vintage desk, remember: The third president of the United States had a lot to do with that functionality.

Changes in the availability of resources have also led to innovations in desk chair design. After World War II, for example, optimistic American designers made use of wartime materials in their efforts to create practical domestic goods.

Mid-century modernism is the name given to the broad postwar time period that prioritized thoughtful design. Journalist Cara Greenberg, who coined the term “mid-century modernism,” cites “ergonomic wisdom” as part of the reason for the longevity of the era’s furnishings, and when it comes to sitting in a desk chair for hours at a time, what could be more important than ergonomic support?

As mid-century modernism was marked by resourcefulness and boundless creativity — and produced designers who, in most cases, prioritized comfort and support — it follows that all mid-century chairs are not the same. Nowhere is this perhaps more evident than at Herman Miller. The legendary Michigan furniture manufacturer got its start in the office, with design director George Nelson enlisting the likes of Charles and Ray Eames to produce desk chairs and lounge chairs that are still celebrated today. Elsewhere at the time, the numerous pieces Florence Knoll created for Knoll’s office furniture line were envisioned as design solutions for the changing needs of residential and office spaces.

If you’re working remotely and streamlined seating isn’t your thing, don’t be afraid of making a statement with your office chair. Introduce a touch of drama to your video calls by way of 19th-century desk accessories and the alluring forms we typically associate with antique desk chairs designed in the Empire and Regency styles. For a minimalist touch, a spare, utilitarian Industrial-style office chair can work in any space but will fit in particularly well amid the exposed brick and steel architecture that characterizes a loft apartment.

An inspiring home office cleverly mixes materials and styles to create a welcoming place of productivity and comfort, and if you’re gathering with colleagues at your company HQ, an array of wood, leather and metal office chairs can help integrate disparate textures in a conference room or any other collaborative space. On 1stDibs, explore a diverse collection of office and desk chairs today.

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