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Mid-Century Modern Stools

MID-CENTURY MODERN STYLE

Organically shaped, clean-lined and elegantly simple are three terms that well describe vintage mid-century modern furniture. The style, which emerged primarily in the years following World War II, is characterized by pieces that were conceived and made in an energetic, optimistic spirit by creators who believed that good design was an essential part of good living.

ORIGINS OF MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN

CHARACTERISTICS OF MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN

MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNERS TO KNOW

ICONIC MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNS

VINTAGE MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE ON 1STDIBS

The mid-century modern era saw leagues of postwar American architects and designers animated by new ideas and new technology. The lean, functionalist International-style architecture of Le Corbusier and Bauhaus eminences Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Walter Gropius had been promoted in the United States during the 1930s by Philip Johnson and others. New building techniques, such as “post-and-beam” construction, allowed the International-style schemes to be realized on a small scale in open-plan houses with long walls of glass.

Materials developed for wartime use became available for domestic goods and were incorporated into mid-century modern furniture designs. Charles and Ray Eames and Eero Saarinen, who had experimented extensively with molded plywood, eagerly embraced fiberglass for pieces such as the La Chaise and the Womb chair, respectively. 

Architect, writer and designer George Nelson created with his team shades for the Bubble lamp using a new translucent polymer skin and, as design director at Herman Miller, recruited the Eameses, Alexander Girard and others for projects at the legendary Michigan furniture manufacturer

Harry Bertoia and Isamu Noguchi devised chairs and tables built of wire mesh and wire struts. Materials were repurposed too: The Danish-born designer Jens Risom created a line of chairs using surplus parachute straps for webbed seats and backrests.

The Risom lounge chair was among the first pieces of furniture commissioned and produced by legendary manufacturer Knoll, a chief influencer in the rise of modern design in the United States, thanks to the work of Florence Knoll, the pioneering architect and designer who made the firm a leader in its field. The seating that Knoll created for office spaces — as well as pieces designed by Florence initially for commercial clients — soon became desirable for the home.

As the demand for casual, uncluttered furnishings grew, more mid-century furniture designers caught the spirit.

Classically oriented creators such as Edward Wormley, house designer for Dunbar Inc., offered such pieces as the sinuous Listen to Me chaise; the British expatriate T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings switched gears, creating items such as the tiered, biomorphic Mesa table. There were Young Turks such as Paul McCobb, who designed holistic groups of sleek, blond wood furniture, and Milo Baughman, who espoused a West Coast aesthetic in minimalist teak dining tables and lushly upholstered chairs and sofas with angular steel frames.

As the collection of vintage mid-century modern chairs, dressers, coffee tables and other furniture for the living room, dining room, bedroom and elsewhere on 1stDibs demonstrates, this period saw one of the most delightful and dramatic flowerings of creativity in design history.

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Style: Mid-Century Modern
Early Alvar Aalto Bentwood Stool
Located in Garnerville, NY
A very early example of Aalto's iconic use of laminated and bentwood. This stool has all the patina, wear and bruises of time and use, circa 1940-1950. Some screws are missing from r...
Category

1940s Finnish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Stools

Materials

Upholstery, Birch

Pair of 20th Century Light Blue Velvet Pattern Stools, 1960s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Stools from the turn of the 1960s and 1970s. Beautiful velvet blue upholstery. The stools consists of an upholstered part, a seat and wooden legs narrowing downwards, characteristic ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Polish Mid-Century Modern Stools

Materials

Velvet, Beech

Yngve Ekström, "Palle" Stools, Solid Birch, Stolab, Sweden, 1950s
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of "Palle" birch stools designed by Yngve Ekström and produced by Stolab, Sweden, 1950s.
Category

1950s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Stools

Materials

Birch

Vintage Mid-Century Modern Atomic Orange Metal Stool
Located in Wilmington, DE
Offered is a vintage Mid-Century Modern atomic orange metal stool, circa 1960's. This piece is made of welded steel and features gracefully styled legs a...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Stools

Materials

Wrought Iron

Set of Three Arthur Umanoff Vintage Stools
Located in Brooklyn, NY
With contrasting colors of vinyl seat coverings, these vintage stools feature metal backs with playful decorative patterns. Made by Arthur Umanoff for Shaver Howard. Please confirm i...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Stools

Materials

Metal

Flora Counter Stool in Brown Leather and Black Steel by Steven Bukowski
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Flora bar stool is composed of just three pieces of steel: an L-shaped back piece that touches the floor and rises up again at an angle to create a...
Category

2010s American Mid-Century Modern Stools

Materials

Steel

Mid-Century Modern Pier Luigi Colli Wrought Iron Foot Stool
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Mid-Century Modern wrought iron hammered dotted design gold leaf finish foot stool attributed to Pier Luigi Colli Made in Italy, foam fabric cover seat.
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Stools

Materials

Iron

Mid-Century Modern Blue White Blue Brass Italian Pouf, 1950
Located in Madrid, ES
Square pouf, made of solid wood structure and white linen/wool upholstery with geometric cotton upholstery hand painted by Livio de Simone. Finished in brass legs. *price per item
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Stools

Materials

Brass

DOOQ Mid-Century Modern Counter Chair Alma with Dark Brown Velvet, Walnut Wood
By DOOQ
Located in Lisbon, PT
DOOQ Mid-Century Modern Counter Chair Alma with Dark Brown Velvet, Walnut Wood In a piece that combines classic and modern aesthetics we can find a certain harmonic gracefulness paired with an intimate voluptuousness that can embrace you and surprisingly break the frontiers of sophistication and elegance, with a rich Cotton Velvet finish. On another note, Alma Counter Chair...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Mid-Century Modern Stools

Materials

Brass

Guillerme et Chambron Sculptural Oak Stool, France, 1950s
Located in New York, NY
Guillerme et Chambron for Edition Votre Maison solid oak stool with elegant sculptural form, France, 1950s. The stool's composition is playfully graphic with the top composed of slig...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Stools

Materials

Oak

Swiss Design Eternit Concrete Stool by Ludwig Walser, Special Edition
Located in Renens, CH
Handcrafted Eternit stool or Hocker designed by Ludwig Walser in 1959, introduced during the horticultural exhibition (G59) in Zürich in that same year. This footstool is consider...
Category

Late 20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Stools

Materials

Concrete

Wooden Stools by Nicolet
Located in Saint-Ouen (PARIS), FR
Exceptional stools in sculpted ash-wood signed by the french artist Nicolet. France, 2021.
Category

2010s French Mid-Century Modern Stools

Materials

Ash

Vintage Time Life Walnut Stool
Located in New York, NY
A lathe-turned wood stool by Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller, USA, circa 1950. Ships from Hudson, NY. Dimensions: 15 inches H x 13 inches W.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Stools

Materials

Wood

Cleo Baldon High Stools
Located in Chicago, IL
Cleo Baldon high stools, solid walnut arm and runners, on wrought iron frames with new leather cushions. Great for pool side, bar or billiards room.
Category

1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Stools

Materials

Iron

Mid-Century Modern Rian Cantilever Barstool, Woven Danish Cord Seat Deck
Located in Issaquah, WA
Rian Cantilever Barstool, please specify height when ordering: 24", 25", 26" H Hardwood and woven danish cord come together in this one of a kind ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Stools

Materials

Cord, Hardwood

Pine Stool Attributed to Charlotte Perriand, France, 1960s
Located in SAINT-OUEN, FR
Carved solid pinewood stool design Les Arcs attributed to Charlotte Perriand. Famous design like Pierre Jeanneret, Chandigarh, Le Corbusier, Jean Prouvé. Price by stool, in sale s...
Category

1960s European Vintage Mid-Century Modern Stools

Materials

Wood, Pine

Stool ‘Futura’ by David Rosen for Nordiska Kompaniet, Sweden. 1951.
Located in Stockholm, SE
Stool ‘Futura’ by David Rosen for Nordiska Kompaniet, Sweden. 1951. Imitation leather and stained beech. Measurements: H: 53 cm/ 1' 8 7/8" SH: 47 cm/ 1' 6 1/2" W: 53 cm/ 1' 8 7/8" ...
Category

1950s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Stools

Materials

Faux Leather, Beech

Pair of French Modernist Stools / Benches in Wrought Iron with Upholstered Seats
Located in New York, NY
Chic pair of modernist stools/benches with simple, pure rectangular wrought iron bases upon which rest upholstered cushions.
Category

Late 20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Stools

Materials

Wrought Iron

Paul McCobb for Calvin Mid-Century Brass X Base Stool Ottoman
Located in Countryside, IL
Paul McCobb for Calvin mid century brass x base stool ottoman. Stool measures: 20 wide x 20 deep x 15.5 inches high. All pieces of furniture can be had in what we call restored...
Category

1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Stools

Materials

Brass

Pair of 20th Century Baby Pink Stools, 1960s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Stools from the turn of the 1960s and 1970s. Beautiful velvet baby pink upholstery. The stools consists of an upholstered part, a seat and wooden legs narrowing downwards, characteri...
Category

Mid-20th Century Polish Mid-Century Modern Stools

Materials

Velvet, Beech

Pair of Chrome Adjustable Vintage Industrial Swivel Stools
Located in Wilmington, DE
Pair of midcentury industrial swivel stools Offered is a pair of midcentury industrial swivel stools. These stools are adjustable. The orange vinyl seats have staining and the chr...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Stools

Materials

Chrome

Set of 3 Contemporary Kitchen Counter Bar Stool Brass Metal & Black Leather
Located in Alcoy, Alicante
The Hug contemporary counter stool is designed and conceived with a light aesthetic, the slight oscillation of the steel rod of 12 mm is complemented by the flexibility of the double...
Category

2010s Spanish Mid-Century Modern Stools

Materials

Steel

Mid-Century Modern Carl Koch for Vermont Tubbs Sno Shu Bar Stool Raw Hide 1950s
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
For your consideration is an eclectic side or accent high chair, with raw hide webbing, by Carl Koch for Vermont Tubbs, circa the 1950s. In excellent vintage condition. The dimension...
Category

1950s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Stools

Materials

Wood

Caramel Stitched Saddle Leather Gentleman's Clothing Suit Valet Butler Stand
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Caramel stitched saddle leather gentleman's clothing suit valet butler stand. Item features remarkable quality, believed to be Italian. Maker unknown, Cir...
Category

Late 20th Century Mid-Century Modern Stools

Materials

Leather

Midcentury Stool or Tabouret, 1960s
Located in Praha, CZ
Made in Czechoslovakia Made of wood, fabric Original condition.
Category

1960s Czech Vintage Mid-Century Modern Stools

Materials

Fabric, Wood

Rare Pair of Gio Ponti Arm Stools 687 for Cassina, Italy, 1953
Located in Berlin, DE
Rare pair of Gio Ponti arm stools 687 for Cassina, Italy, 1953 Upholstered in white fabric and in very good condition.
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Stools

Materials

Fabric, Wood

Set of Two Blue Vintage Stools, Edmund Homa, 1960s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Stools from the turn of the 1960s. Beautiful blue high quality upholstery. The stools consists of an upholstered part, a seat and wooden legs narrowing downwards, characteristic of t...
Category

Mid-20th Century Polish Mid-Century Modern Stools

Materials

Fabric

Set of Three 20th Century Stools, 1960s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Stools from the turn of the 1960s and 1970s. Beautiful velour upholstery. The stools consists of an upholstered part, a seat and wooden legs narrowing downwards, characteristic of th...
Category

Mid-20th Century Polish Mid-Century Modern Stools

Materials

Velvet, Wood

Unique Diy Mid Century Studio Stool with Copper Pipes and Webbing, USA, 1960s
Located in Berlin, DE
Unique DIY Studio Stool with copper pipes and webbing, USA, 1960s.
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Stools

Materials

Copper

Pair of Mid-Century Modern Rosewood Stools with Boucle Fabric
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Mid-Century Modern rosewood stools. Nice rosewood grain having triangular shaped bases with round off-white bouclé fabric covered cushioned seats.
Category

1960s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Stools

Materials

Fabric, Rosewood

Swedish, Stool, Teak, Plywood, Lacquered Metal, Sweden, 1950s
Located in High Point, NC
A teak, plywood and lacquered metal stool designed and produced in Sweden, 1950s.   
Category

1950s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Stools

Materials

Metal

'Le Temoin' Stool by Man Ray for Gavina
Located in Little Burstead, Essex
Beautiful example in pristine condition, designed by Man Ray for Gavina's ultramobile exhibition.
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Stools

Materials

Faux Leather, Acrylic, Foam, Plywood

Pair of Low Slung Asian Inspired Midcentury Stools
Located in Atlanta, GA
Low slung Asian inspired midcentury stools, American, circa 1950s. These pieces were probably reupholstered in their Asian style geometric fabric within the past few years. Black lac...
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Stools

Materials

Upholstery, Wood

Mid-Century Stool / Tabouret in the Style of Jindřich Halabala, 1958
Located in Praha, CZ
- made in Czechoslovakia - made of wood, fabric - springs - good, original condition.
Category

1950s Czech Vintage Mid-Century Modern Stools

Materials

Fabric, Wood

Mid-Century Modern Rattan and Bamboo Italian Round Stool, 1960s
Located in Roma, IT
Mid-Century Modern rattan and bamboo round stool. This amazing item was produced in Italy during 1960s. This piece is fantastic as it is very adaptable in very good original condi...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Stools

Materials

Bamboo, Rattan

Restored Stick Rattan Bar Stools in the Manner of Albini, Pair
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Restored pair of stick rattan bar stools in the manner of Albini featuring a spiraling stick rattan seat with pole rattan legs.
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Stools

Materials

Rattan

Vintage Stools with embroidery at Cost Price
Located in Saint-Ouen (PARIS), FR
Beautiful pair of vintage stools, entirely restored and reupholstered with a bouclette fabric with embroidery, Italy, 1980s. Price for the pair
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Stools

Materials

Steel

Vintage Pair of English Midcentury Faux Bamboo Walnut Stools with Rush Seats
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of English vintage walnut stools from the mid-20th century, with faux bamboo bases and rush seats. Created in England during the midcentur...
Category

Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Stools

Materials

Faux Bamboo, Rush, Walnut

Italian Bar Stool
Located in New York, NY
The stool is metal with brass trim and a brown, soft leather seat. Measures: 32.5" height, seat diameter is 10".
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Stools

Materials

Metal, Brass

Woven Leather Backed Bar Stool in Walnut and Tan Leather by Mel Smilow
Located in New York, NY
Originally designed by Mel Smilow in 1956 and officially reintroduced by his daughter Judy Smilow in 2016, the Woven Leather Backed Counter stool...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Stools

Materials

Leather, Walnut

Mid-Century Modern Bar Chair w/ Dark Green Cotton Velvet, Walnut Wood and Brass
By DOOQ
Located in Lisbon, PT
In a piece that combines classic and modern aesthetics we can find a certain harmonic gracefulness paired with an intimate voluptuousness that can embrace you and surprisingly break ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Mid-Century Modern Stools

Materials

Brass

Flora Counter Stool in Brown Leather and Bronzed Steel by Steven Bukowski
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Flora bar stool is composed of just three pieces of steel: an L-shaped back piece that touches the floor and rises up again at an angle to create a...
Category

2010s American Mid-Century Modern Stools

Materials

Steel

1960 Rare Oak Stool, Czechoslovakia
Located in Praha, CZ
Produced by Krasna Jizba, Czechoslovakia. Good original condition with original strips in good condition.
Category

1960s Czech Vintage Mid-Century Modern Stools

Materials

Oak

Mid-Century Modern Lucite Waterfall Bench Stool With Faux Snake Skin Upholstery
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Mid-Century Modern Lucite stool with faux snake skin upholstery. Elegant and chic, this gleaming lucite stool is attributed to Hollis Jones. Original chrome-plated casters, the lucit...
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Stools

Materials

Upholstery, Lucite

Flora Bar Stool in Black Leather and Black Steel by Steven Bukowski
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The flora bar stool is composed of just three pieces of steel: an L-shaped back piece that touches the floor and rises up again at an angle to create a...
Category

2010s American Mid-Century Modern Stools

Materials

Steel

Tufted Rolling Stool
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Vintage tufted stool with chrome frame on casters. (Please confirm item location - NY or NJ - with dealer).    
Category

1960s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Stools

Materials

Chrome

Wooden Stool in Style of Charlotte Perriand, France, 1950's
Located in Den Haag, NL
Wooden stool in style of Charlotte Perriand, France, 1950's.
Category

1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Stools

Materials

Wood

Pair of Midcentury Stools or Tabourets, 1950s
Located in Praha, CZ
- Very practical.
Category

1950s Czech Vintage Mid-Century Modern Stools

Materials

Fabric, Wood

Midcentury Stool or Tabouret, 1950s
Located in Praha, CZ
Midcentury small stool made of wood and fabric. Original well preserved condition.
Category

Mid-20th Century Czech Mid-Century Modern Stools

Materials

Wood

Studio Craft Iron and Woven Leather Stool by Lila Swift and Donald Monell
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Leather is heavily worn and dry but still usable with gentle uses. Looks amazing and is all original. A survivor.
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Stools

Materials

Iron

Barstool, 26", Cantilever, Black Danish Cord, Walnut, Mid Century, Semigood
Located in Issaquah, WA
Midcentury inspired walnut and black Danish cord Rian cantilever barstool. Can be made with any domestic or exotic hardwood of your choosing. Danish cord comes in three colors: Kraft...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Stools

Materials

Cord, Hardwood

Italian Designer, Stools, Solid Walnut, Italy, 1940s
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of solid walnut designed and produced in Italy, 1940s.
Category

1940s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Stools

Materials

Walnut

Mid-Century Modern Riviera Style Vintage Brown Rattan Wicker Stool 1950s Austria
Located in Vienna, AT
Mid-Century Modern Riviera style vintage brown stool or footstool from rattan 1950s Austria in beautiful shape with rattan network and two lateral rests. Furniture pieces made of ra...
Category

Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Stools

Materials

Rattan

Charles Dudouyt, Pair of Round Midcentury Stools, France, circa 1950
Located in New York, NY
Round polished-oak and red leather stools by French designer Charles Dudouyt.
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Stools

Materials

Leather, Oak

Classic Contemporary Bar Stool Silver Aged Steel & Black Leather
Located in Alcoy, Alicante
The Wanderlust contemporary barstool belongs to a collection of minimalist and serene pieces where exclusivity and precision are shown in small details such as the hand-turned metal ...
Category

2010s Spanish Mid-Century Modern Stools

Materials

Steel

Original Stools in Lacquered Metal, in the Style of Jacques Adnet circa 1940/195
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
2 stools in lacquered metal, in the style of Jacques Adnet circa 1940/1950. many gaps and wear to the lacquer. 1 table, a sideboard and 6 chairs are also available and presented i...
Category

1940s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Stools

Materials

Metal

Mid-Century Modern Counter Chair with Celadon Velvet and Polished Brass Odisseia
By DOOQ
Located in Lisbon, PT
Odisseia counter chair embodies the aesthetic spirit of the space age, a new kind of discreet luxury and comfort inspired by a futuristic era created by new visual experiences and co...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Mid-Century Modern Stools

Materials

Brass

Mid-Century Modern Ottoman / Foot-Stool by Bradley Hughes, Sheepskin Upholstery
Located in Stamford, CT
Mid-Century Modern Ottoman / Foot-Stool by Bradley Hughes, Sheepskin Upholstery Italian Mid-Century Modern ottoman having Bradley Hughes sheepskin uph...
Category

Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Stools

Materials

Sheepskin, Wood

Mid-century Modern stools for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Mid-Century Modern stools for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage stools created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include seating, tables, building and garden elements and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Mid-Century Modern stools made in a specific country, there are Europe, North America, and United States pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original stools, popular names associated with this style include Charlotte Perriand, Lawson-Fenning, Knoll, and Cassina. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for stools differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $132 and tops out at $133,498 while the average work can sell for $1,746.

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