Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Steel
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Cotton, Wood
1950s Czech Art Deco Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Walnut
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Leather, Rosewood
1950s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Metal
Early 20th Century English Arts and Crafts Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Leather, Oak
Early 20th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Oak, Rope
1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Steel
1950s Czech Art Deco Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Walnut
Early 20th Century British Arts and Crafts Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Mahogany
Early 20th Century American Chippendale Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Mahogany
Early 20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Chrome
Early 20th Century American Industrial Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Steel
Early 1900s German Art Nouveau Antique Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Beech
Early 20th Century English Arts and Crafts Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Oak
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Leather, Wool, Teak
Early 20th Century French Regency Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Mahogany, Synthetic
Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Wood
1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Sheet Metal
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Brass, Steel
Early 20th Century Austrian Jugendstil Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Leather, Beech
1950s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Chrome, Metal
Early 20th Century Dutch Arts and Crafts Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Brass
Early 20th Century English Arts and Crafts Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Oak
Early 20th Century American Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Metal
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Aluminum
1950s American Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Aluminum
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Steel
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Velvet, Mahogany
1950s American Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Cane, Cherry
1950s French Modern Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
1950s French Neoclassical Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Faux Leather, Wood
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Steel
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Teak, Upholstery
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Rosewood, Upholstery, Walnut
Early 20th Century British Chippendale Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Mahogany
1950s American Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Chrome
Early 20th Century Danish Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Wrought Iron
Early 20th Century English Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Early 20th Century German Jugendstil Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Leather, Oak, Wood
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Steel
1910s Austrian Vienna Secession Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Fabric, Beech, Bentwood
Early 20th Century Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Bentwood
Early 20th Century Unknown Art Deco Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Leather
Early 1900s English Arts and Crafts Antique Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Oak
Early 20th Century Industrial Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Brass, Iron
1920s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Beech, Bentwood
Early 20th Century American Industrial Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Wood
1950s Italian Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Metal
1950s Indian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Cane, Teak
Early 20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Bentwood
1950s Scandinavian Scandinavian Modern Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Leather, Teak
Early 20th Century German Bauhaus Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Iron
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Brass
Early 20th Century American Edwardian Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Iron
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Steel
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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