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Mid-Century Modern Seating

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
Number in Set: Single Piece
Vintage Coastal Four Strand Bent Rattan Loveseat After Frankl
Located in west palm beach, FL
Embrace coastal sophistication with this Vintage Four Strand Bent Rattan Sofa, reminiscent of iconic designs by Frankl. Crafted with American flair, its elegant four-strand construct...
Category

Mid-20th Century Philippine Mid-Century Modern Seating

Materials

Upholstery, Rattan

Yrjo Kukkapuro Saturn Lounge Chair Model B-175-18 1960 Finland
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
Rare Mid century modern space age brown leather and Fiberglass lounge chair. Designed by Yrjo Kukkapuro Saturn Lounge Chair Model B-175-18. Circa 1960...
Category

1960s Finnish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Seating

Materials

Leather, Fiberglass

Maralunga 3-Seater Sofa by Vico Magistretti for Cassina, 1990s
Located in RADOMSKO, PL
Discover the international bestseller – Maralunga Sofa. With its inviting shapes and unique characteristic feature, the Maralunga series is a testament to innovation and comfort. Eng...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Seating

Materials

Textile

Maralunga 2-Seater Sofa by Vico Magistretti for Cassina, 1990s
Located in RADOMSKO, PL
Discover the international bestseller – Maralunga Sofa. With its inviting shapes and unique characteristic feature, the Maralunga series is a testament to innovation and comfort. Eng...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Seating

Materials

Fabric

VERY RARE armchair by Miroslav Navrátil for Zdeněk Plesník - 1940s
Located in Praha, CZ
- Czechoslovakia, 1949 - Very rare - Only few pieces made - Completely original and well preserved condition - Published in books and found in museum in Brno.  
Category

1940s Czech Vintage Mid-Century Modern Seating

Materials

Wicker, Wood

Rare Pair of Arthur Umanoff Chrome Stools for Contemporary Shells
Located in Chicago, IL
A seldom seen pair of chromed steel bar height barstools, by Arthur Umanoff, one of the most prolific designers of the mid 20th century, for Creative Shells. The stools are comprised...
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Seating

Materials

Steel, Chrome

Skye Lounge Chair by Tord Bjorklund for Ikea, 1970s
Located in RADOMSKO, PL
The Skye Lounge Chair, a creation of Tord Bjorklund for Ikea, epitomizes vintage Scandinavian design from the 1970s. Crafted in Sweden, it boasts a harmonious blend of black leather ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Seating

Materials

Metal

Italian Terracotta Burgundy color velvet sofa bed, 70's - France
Located in Valladolid, ES
Italian Sophisticated and very refined three-seater velvet sofa in burgundy color, design from the 70s. Equipped with an oriental and exotic profile, it has the peculiarity that its...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Seating

Materials

Velvet, Wood

Black Leather & Chrome Barcelona Lounge Chair by Mies van der Rohe for Knoll
Located in Outremont, QC
Authentic Barcelona black leather lounge chair with chrome X base designed by Mies van der Rohe for Knoll Black leather Excellent condition 29” height, 29.5” width, 32” depth, 17...
Category

Late 20th Century Mid-Century Modern Seating

Materials

Chrome

Off-white velvet armchair, 1960s Italy
Located in Brussels , BE
Comfortable Off-white velvet armchair, 1960s Italy
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Seating

Materials

Textile

FRANZ ROMERO De Sede ds57 Bugatti
Located in Grenoble, FR
The Bugatti type 57, an icon of Art Deco design, inspired Franz Romero when he designed the DS-57 armchair for De Sede. The designer not only managed to incorporate the characteristi...
Category

Mid-20th Century Swiss Mid-Century Modern Seating

Materials

Aluminum

Andrianna Shamaris Impressive Minimalist Hand Carved Teak Wood Bench
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful single slab of teak wood taken from my finest collection is hand carved by our master carver to produce this impressive bench. The Mid-Century Couture Collection, feature...
Category

1950s Indonesian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Seating

Materials

Wood, Teak, Reclaimed Wood

Italian mid-century modern Chair in curved wood and black metal, 1960s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian mid-century modern Chair in curved wood and black metal, 1960s Chair with shaped seat and back in curved wood. On the backrest it has a decorative oval hole and round metal s...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Seating

Materials

Metal

Solid Cherry Armchair by Andreas Hansen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Solid Cherry Armchair by Andreas Hansen. Manufacture: Hadsten Mobelindustri Material: Solid Cherry w/ Leather Seat Denmark
Category

1960s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Seating

Materials

Leather, Cherry

Hans J. Wegner, Three-Seat Sofa, Model 290, Oak
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Hans J. Wegner three-seat sofa made of solid soap treated oak. New upholstered with Hallingdal 180 from Kvadrat Model 290, made by GETAMA.
Category

1960s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Seating

Materials

Wool, Oak

Sesann sofa by Gianfranco Frattini, for Cassina, Italy, 1960's
Located in Brussels , BE
Sesann sofa by Gianfranco Frattini, for Cassina, Italy, 1960's leather and chrome tubular metal
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Seating

Materials

Chrome

Brown Leather Sofa Karl Wittmann Atrium, Austria 1970
Located in Vienna, AT
Brown leather bed- sofa Karl Wittmann‚ Atrium’ in original brown leather, Austria, circa 1970 Very well preserved convertible double-seat sofa by Karl Wittmann in original conditio...
Category

1970s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Seating

Materials

Steel

Sesann sofa by Gianfranco Frattini, for Cassina, Italy, 1960's
Located in Brussels , BE
Sesann sofa by Gianfranco Frattini, for Cassina, Italy, 1960's Leather and chrome tubular metal
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Seating

Materials

Chrome

Danish Pair of Stools Birch Club Legs. Seat Upholstered Lambs Wool
Located in Bonita Springs, FL
A very cute pair of stools with birch club legs. Seat upholstered with lambs wool.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Danish Mid-Century Modern Seating

Materials

Wool, Wood

Rare Midcentury Balance Variable Knee Chair, Peter Opsvik, Norway, 1980s
Located in Praha, CZ
- rare type
Category

1980s Norwegian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Seating

Materials

Fabric, Wood

Topa Bench by Lawson-Fenning
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The Topa bench features a handcrafted roundover frame and secured tufted cushion. The Lawson-Fenning Collection is designed and handmade in Los Angeles, California. Reach out to dis...
Category

2010s American Mid-Century Modern Seating

Materials

Upholstery, Walnut

Vintage Mid Century Modern Pierre Paulin Style Groovy Wave Chrome Chaise Lounge
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Mid Century Modern Pierre Paulin Style Groovy Fabric Sculptural Wave Chaise Lounge. Item features a sculptural chrome plated metal frame, original 1960s-70s groovy fabric, cl...
Category

1960s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Seating

Materials

Metal

Portola Lounge Chair by Lawson-Fenning
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Portola lounge chair has a handcrafted solid wood frame with loose cushions. A matching ottoman is also available. The Lawson-Fenning Collection is designed and handmade in Los Ange...
Category

2010s American Mid-Century Modern Seating

Materials

Upholstery, Walnut

Early 20th Century Set of Two French Provincial Rattan and Wood Chairs
Located in Barcelona, ES
Early 20th century set of two provenzal chairs. Wooden chairs with a traditional rattan seat, curved lines and characteristic details of French Provincial style. In good original co...
Category

Early 20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Seating

Materials

Wood

Mid Century Modern George Nelson for Herman Miller Long Bench
Located in Tulsa, OK
**Please Read Entire Description** Please view all listing pictures on a laptop if possible. Some cell phones don’t display all listing pictures and some could be pictures relati...
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Seating

Materials

Oak

Guillerme & Chambron Petit Repos Armchair in Green Bouclé, France 1950's
Located in New York, NY
An early example of the petit repos chair in original patina, newly upholstered in a green bouclé.
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Seating

Materials

Bouclé, Oak

Onda Chair by Nikolai LaFuge
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The Onda chair is striking on its own, but a set forms a sculptural wave motif to create even more visual impact. The Onda chair references the tranquility of nature and Japanese con...
Category

2010s American Mid-Century Modern Seating

Materials

Cedar

American Designer, Lounge Chair, Bamboo, Rattan, Velvet, USA, 1950s
Located in High Point, NC
A moulded bamboo, rattan and green velvet lounge chair designed and produced in the US, c. 1950s. Seat height: 18”
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Seating

Materials

Velvet, Bamboo, Rattan

Andrianna Shamaris Impressive Minimalist Hand Carved Teak Wood Bench
Located in New York, NY
Furniture constructed by hand from start to finish. A beautiful single slab of teak wood taken from my finest collection is hand carved by our master carver to produce this impressiv...
Category

1950s Indonesian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Seating

Materials

Wood, Teak, Reclaimed Wood

Milo Baughman for Thayer Coggin Mid Century Chrome Lounge Chair
Located in Countryside, IL
Milo Baughman for Thayer Coggin Mid Century Chrome Lounge Chair This lounge chair measures: 38 wide x 35 deep x 30 high, with a seat height of 17 and arm height/chair clearance 27.5...
Category

1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Seating

Materials

Chrome

Mid-Century Set of 8 Dining Chairs
Located in London, GB
A set of eight rush and beech dining chairs, in the manner of Charlotte Perriand. Spain, Mid 20th Century 87 cm high by 41 cm wide by 41 cm depth, seat height 45.5 cm
Category

Mid-20th Century Spanish Mid-Century Modern Seating

Materials

Rush, Beech

Modern Steel + Wood Occasional Chair
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Modernist design. Limited production. Painting steel with mesh seat and backrest with ash wood legs. Sits comfortable with a little bounce on the seat and the backrest hugging the bo...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Seating

Materials

Steel

Classic Modernist Lounge Chair by Heywood Wakefield , after Gio Ponti
Located in Buffalo, NY
Classic Modernist Lounge Chair by Heywood Wakefield , Reminiscent of amazing designed chairs by Gio Ponti. Angular solid birch wood legs.Recently reupholstered in a nice cream /off w...
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Seating

Materials

Fabric, Birch

1 of 6 Mid-Century Dining Chairs in Bent Tubular Steel and Wicker Cane, 1960s
Located in Zagreb, HR
Vintage wood, wicker cane and chrome frame dining chairs, attributed to designs by Antonio Ari Colombo for Arflex, produced in the late 1960s or early 1970s. In good condition with ...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Seating

Materials

Steel, Chrome

1 of 3 Vintage Carlo Bartoli 4875 Chairs for Kartell, White Edition, 1972 Italy
Located in Zagreb, HR
Chair model 4875, designed by Carlo Bartoli for Kartell in the early 1970s. It has a single seat-backrest unit with four screwable legs that made it the world’s first single polyprop...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Seating

Materials

Plastic

Mario Bellini "CAB 413" Dining Chairs for Cassina, 1977
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Mario Bellini "CAB 413" dining chairs for Cassina, dark brown Tobacco leather, Italy, 1977. The "CAB" is the world's first free-standing cowhide design chair, informed by the relati...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Seating

Materials

Steel

Elegant Newly Upholstered Curved Harvey Probber Sofa
Located in Hudson, NY
Stunning freshly upholstery Harvey Probber sofa. The upholstery is a modern and sensible cotton blend weave which will wear and clean very well. The overall color reads as a creamy w...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Seating

Materials

Upholstery, Walnut

Mia armchair by Franco Marabelli for B&B Italia, 1980's
Located in Brussels , BE
Beautiful green Mia armchair by Franco Marabelli for B&B Italia, 1980's
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Seating

Materials

Textile

Audoux Minet Rope Barstools, France 1950's
Located in New York, NY
Barstools in wrought iron, the stem wrapped in thick natural rope on wooden ball feet.
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Seating

Materials

Steel

Mid-Century Danish Modern Sofa by Kurt Olsen Model 220 Papa Bear Style, 1960's
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Mid-Century Modern Scandinavian designed sofa by Kurt Olsen for Slagelse Mobelvaerk as Model 220. This iconic sofa has a slight curve to it and teak "nails" on the armrest in typica...
Category

1960s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Seating

Materials

Wool

1 of 3 Iconic 'Amanta' Chairs by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia, 1970s
Located in Zagreb, HR
Three iconic 'Amanta' lounge chairs, designed by Mario Bellini and produced by B&B Italia from 1966 onwards. Iconic Italian design, awarded the “Compasso d’Oro” in 1970. Sold per pi...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Seating

Materials

Upholstery, Fiberglass, Foam

Dutch The Rock Gerard van den Berg midcentury modern rattan leather 2 seat sofa
Located in Zevenaar, NL
This rare and very comfortable mid-century 'Rock' style sofa was designed in the style of the famous Rock by the famous Dutch designer Gerard van de Berg for Montis. Period: 1970s ...
Category

1970s Dutch Vintage Mid-Century Modern Seating

Materials

Leather, Rattan

Ash Mid-Century Modern High Back Sofa by Frits Eschauzier Jr, 1967
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Magnificent and one of a kind Mid-Century Modern high back sofa or bench. Design by Frits Eschauzier Jr. Striking Dutch design from the 1960s. Solid ash frame and the cushions are re...
Category

1960s Dutch Vintage Mid-Century Modern Seating

Materials

Bouclé, Ash

GP, Swedish Mid-Century Modern, Bench, Pine, Sweden, 1978
Located in Stamford, CT
GP, Swedish Designer, Mid-Century Modern, Bench, Pine, Sweden, 1978 Mid-century modern bench designed and produced in Sweden in 1978. This example features an interesting carved apr...
Category

1970s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Seating

Materials

Pine

Swiss Design Permesso Bench in cowhide, by Girsberger - 2000s
Located in Renens, CH
Permesso, conceived by designers Kurt Müller and Daniel Leist, offers a contemporary take on the conventional bench. Its allure lies in its formal simplicity and lightness, reimagi...
Category

Early 2000s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Seating

Materials

Steel

Elegant Osvaldo Borsani Armchairs 'Model P35', 1948
Located in Berlin, DE
Two elegant and fine arm chairs (Model P 35) by Italian architect and designer Osvaldo Borsani. The chairs can be bought as a pair or individually. Upholstered seat, velvet cover an...
Category

1940s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Seating

Materials

Velvet, Ash, Plywood

Mid-Century Modern High Back Lounge Chair by Jan den Drijver for De Stijl, 1950s
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Elegant and rare Mid-Century Modern high back lounge chair. Design by Jan den Drijver for De Stijl Den Haag. A true example of Dutch Modern,Jan den Drijver designed this distinctive ...
Category

1950s Dutch Vintage Mid-Century Modern Seating

Materials

Bouclé, Oak

Rattan armchair with metal base attributed to Franco Albini circa
Located in Grenoble, FR
Rattan armchair in the shape of a sun, metal base. Very representative of the 50s often attributed to Franco Albini Very good original condition we often find an attribution to Janin...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Seating

Materials

Metal

Mesa Swivel Chair by Lawson-Fenning in White Alpaca bouclé
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Mesa swivel chair by Lawson-Fenning in white Alpaca bouclé. The Mesa swivel chair is a fully upholstered club chair that features a walnut or oak inset base. The Lawson-Fenning Coll...
Category

2010s American Mid-Century Modern Seating

Materials

Alpaca, Bouclé, Oak

High Back Rattan and Wicker Chair in the Style of Bonacina, Italy, 1960s
Located in Roma, IT
Beautiful organic high back chair in bamboo, rattan and hand-woven wicker. This fantastic chair was produced in Italy in the 1960s and is attributed to Bonacina. The chair feature a...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Seating

Materials

Bamboo, Cane, Rattan

Wooden Concrete Chair by Jonas Bohlin, Sweden, 1981
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Swedish designer Jonas Bohlin's pioneering and minimalist approach to design reshaped the contemporary furniture landscape in Scandinavia. Manufactured under the prestigious label ...
Category

1980s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Seating

Materials

Steel

Mid-Century Danish Modern Beautiful cognac Leather 2 Seat Sofa Birch Legs
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
Midcentury Danish modern beautiful cognac leather 2 seat sofa birch legs. Style of Børge Mogensen. Beautiful cognac leather is soft and shows little to no signs of use but broken in ...
Category

1960s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Seating

Materials

Leather, Birch

Malatesta and Mason Armchair, Year 1950
Located in Bastia Umbra, IT
Malatesta and Mason armchair, 1950s, Made in Italy. Ebonized wood armchair with original patina of the period. The fabric of the armchair is red faux leather and is original. This s...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Seating

Materials

Wood

French Curved Sofa in Pink Mohair
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Sofa, mohair, stained beech, France, 1960s This baroque-inspired sofa of French origin features a a voluptuous body with delicate lines and decorative accents. The luxurious and chi...
Category

1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Seating

Materials

Mohair, Beech

Camaleonda Sofa by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia, Italy
Located in Brussels, BE
The Original Camaleonda modular sofa by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia is a renowned piece of furniture from the 1970s. It comprises three large and two smaller seating elements with ...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Seating

Materials

Fabric, Velvet

Tomado Style Black Metal Stool with Round Backrest, Italy 1970s
Located in Naples, IT
This sturdy industrial stool in Tomado's style features a round seat covered in blue fabric and a steel wire frame.
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Seating

Materials

Metal

Dyrlund Teak Chair 1960s Vintage - Repaired
Located in Hannover, DE
Vintage chair by manufacturer Dyrlund, Denmark. Production period: 1960s. Chair frame was repaired in the back area. See photos. The chair frame is sturdy and the chair can be us...
Category

1960s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Seating

Materials

Teak

Curved Bamboo Stools in Blue Mohair, France 1950's
Located in New York, NY
Pair of curved Bamboo stools upholstered in mohair.
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Seating

Materials

Mohair, Bamboo

Mid-century Modern seating for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Mid-Century Modern seating 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 seating 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, fabric and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Mid-Century Modern seating 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 seating, popular names associated with this style include Cassina, Knoll, Herman Miller, and Charles and Ray Eames. 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.

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