Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Chrome
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Bronze
1930s Czech Art Deco Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Walnut
1950s Czech Art Deco Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Walnut
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Brass
1880s Arts and Crafts Antique Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Walnut
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Steel, Chrome
20th Century English Victorian Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Leather, Beech
1970s American Modern Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Steel
1980s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Steel
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Metal, Chrome
19th Century English Chesterfield Antique Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Leather, Oak
Mid-20th Century Norwegian Mid-Century Modern Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Leather, Palisander
Early 20th Century Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Oak
1950s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Aluminum
2010s Swiss Modern Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Chrome
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Stainless Steel
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Aluminum
Mid-20th Century Swiss Mid-Century Modern Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Chrome
Early 2000s American Mid-Century Modern Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Aluminum, Steel
1950s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Metal
1920s Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Walnut
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Metal
Late 19th Century Country Antique Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Ash
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Metal
1970s American Modern Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Steel
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Wood, Leather
1890s Antique Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Fabric, Wood
1960s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Aluminum
1960s European Scandinavian Modern Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Faux Leather, Elm
2010s Swiss Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Leather
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Chrome
1930s Italian Art Deco Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Goatskin
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Brass
1970s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Aluminum, Chrome
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Steel
1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Upholstery
1950s Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Oak
1930s Czech Art Deco Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Walnut
1930s German Bauhaus Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Steel, Chrome
1980s German Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Aluminum
2010s Danish Mid-Century Modern Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Chrome
2010s American Modern Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Mexican Modern Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Natural Fiber, Wood, Bentwood
2010s Danish Mid-Century Modern Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Chrome
1960s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Steel
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Leather, Wood
1990s American Modern Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Aluminum
2010s North American Modern Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Aluminum
1980s European Post-Modern Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Metal
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Mahogany
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Fabric
2010s American Modern Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Aluminum
2010s American Modern Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Aluminum
Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Aluminum
2010s Polish Modern Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Aluminum
1970s Italian Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Metal, Chrome
1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
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.
Read More
Ask an Interior Designer: Work-from-Home Edition
Leaping into a design project, whether it's refreshing the bedroom or redoing the whole house, can be overwhelming. Luckily, we know more than a few interior designers. You asked questions on Instagram, and now they're answering.
18 Home Offices for Workaholic Design-Lovers
Proof that working from home is a perk.