Don Shoemaker Sling Sloucher Chairs Señal, Sculptural and Organic, Mexico
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in Santa Gertrudis, Baleares
Don S. Shoemaker (1919-1990) was a US (NE) born Mexican designer and painter, probably the most representative designer of Mexico Modernist furniture design. In 1960, he established...
Leather, Wood
Danish Modern BO 360 Suede Sling Chair by Erik Ole Jorgensen
By Bovirke, Erik Ole Jørgensen
Located in Kalamazoo, MI
Early 1960s metal and suede hoop sling chair by designer Erik Ole Jorgensen made by Bovirke in Denmark. Deceptively comfortable, this sling lounge chair conforms to your body providi...
Metal
$3,547Sale Price|20% Off
1970s Tripod Sling Chair in Solid Pine, Minimalist Design from France
By Charlotte Perriand, Sergio Rodrigues, Percival Lafer
Located in SOTTEVILLE-LÈS-ROUEN, FR
This rare tripod sling chair from the 1970s is a striking example of architectural minimalism and refined craftsmanship. Constructed entirely from solid pine wood, the frame features...
Pine
Vintage Butterfly Chair with Original Orange Canvass Sling Seat att. to Knoll
By Jorge Ferrari-Hardoy, Knoll
Located in New York, NY
Iconic Mid Century design lounge chair, attributed to Jorge Ferrari-Hardoy, for Knoll.
Wrought Iron
Brazilian Leather Sling Lounge Chairs Lina Bo Bardi Style with Sheepkins 1960s
By Lina Bo Bardi
Located in Atlanta, GA
Sculptural Pair of Brazilian Mid Century Lounge Chairs, in the style of Lina Bo Bardi, Brazil, circa 1960s.
Metal
$2,900Sale Price|29% Off
Leather 'Falcon' Sling Chair by Sigurd Ressell for Vatne Møbler, 1970s
By Vatne Møbler, Sigurd Resell
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This Falcon easy chair by Sigurd Russell for Vatne Mobler would work great in a Mid-Century Modern, Scandanavian Modern or Danish Modern home or penthouse apartment but could also lo...
Leather, Canvas, Wood
Brazilian Rosewood & Leather Sling Chair and Ottoman by Sergio Rodrigues for ISA
By Sergio Rodrigues
Located in Chattanooga, TN
The button tufting pattern we chose adds a subtle tailored look in accordance to the overall atmosphere of this rare and iconic chair. A striking example of mid-century Brazilian d...
Leather, Rosewood
Vintage Ikea 1978 Christer Blomquist Model Frej Canvas Sling Lounge Chair
By IKEA
Located in Munich, Bavaria
This IKEA Classic Vintage lounge chair was designed 1979 by Christer Blomquist. It has a solid frame made of beech wood. The Seat is well designed in canvas in a thin Sling shape w...
Leather, Wood, Pine
$2,080Sale Price|20% Off
Wrought Iron Jerry Johnson Leather Sling Lounge Chair (3) Leathercraft 1954
By Jerry Johnson
Located in Camden, ME
Wrought iron and leather sling lounge chairs designed by Jerry Johnson for Leathercraft, circa 1954. Three available, two as pictured the 3rd can be custom fitted to your choice of c...
Wrought Iron
Pair of Extruded Aluminum and Velvet Sling Lounge Chairs by Founders
By Founders Furniture Company
Located in Buffalo, NY
Fabulous matched pair of extruded aluminum and velvet slung lounge chairs manufactured by Founders, Classic elegance, extremely comfortable, amazing quality, flawless welds, joints, ...
Aluminum
$4,079Sale Price|20% Off
Mexican Modern, Don S Shoemaker, Sling Swinger chair with footstool, 1960's
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Uccle, BE
Iconic Don S. Shoemaker Sling Swinger chair with footrest. Made from cocobolo (Mexican rosewood) and black leather in the 1960s. The biomorphic lines of the exotic rosewood create an...
Leather, Cocobolo
Pair of Lucite and Brass "Sling" Lounge Chairs by Charles Hollis Jones
By Charles Hollis Jones
Located in Los Angeles, CA
CHJ 2001 Charles Hollis Jones sling chair, USA, 1969 Acrylic and solid brass frames Measures: 24.75 W x 27 D x 24.25 H inches Literature: Charles Hollis Jones, Jones and Wolf. ...
Brass
Don Shoemaker Sloucher Rosewood & Leather Sling Chairs for Señal, S.A., 1960s
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in Cedar Falls, IA
Iconic example of Organic, Mexican Mid-Century Modern design. Organic, bone-like shapes and structure, with solid cocobolo rosewood construction and pinned joints.
Leather, Rosewood, Cocobolo
3 Matching Midcentury Leather and Oak Fireside Sling Chairs by Pierre Lottier
By Pierre Lottier
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
3 Matching midcentury Leather and Oak Fireside Sling Chairs by Pierre Lottier A Classic, the Slipper Chair, is in superb soft Black Leather hide on a Classic Neoclassical Oak X f...
Oak
Leather Sling Lounge Chair & Ottoman Set by Angel Pazmino, Ecuador, c. 1960s
By Angel Pazmino
Located in Deland, FL
Introducing a rare sling chair and ottoman set by the incomparable Angel Pazmino.
Leather, Jacaranda
Knoll International Sling Lounge Chair by Hannah Morrison Set of 2
By Knoll, Bruce Hannah & Andrew Morrison
Located in Munich, Bavaria
Knoll International manufactured these chairs. Bruce Hannah & Andrew Morrison design this circa 1970 and it was used in public spaces and as well in living rooms. The metal frame c...
Aluminum
Karin Mobring Model Diana Cognac Sling Lounge Chair Vintage Ikea Black Frame
By IKEA
Located in Munich, Bavaria
This Ikea Classic Vintage Lounge chair was designed 1972 by Karin Mobring. It is made of a solid scandinavian pine wood.This version is rare and it is black lacquerd from the produc...
Leather, Wood, Pine
1970s Black Vinyl on Black Metal Zermatt Tubular Sling Chairs Vecta
Located in Delray Beach, FL
Embrace the retro flair of the 1970s with the Black Vinyl in Black Metal Zermatt Tubular Sling Chairs by Vecta. These iconic chairs feature a minimalist design with a black vinyl sli...
Metal
Rare Early Set of Six Vladimir Kagan Sling Chairs, circa 1950
By Vladimir Kagan
Located in Raleigh, NC
This is an extremely rare hand made set of sling chairs from the "Classic Collection." These were made by Vladimir Kagan's father in their New York City workshop prior to the formin...
Wrought Iron
Don Shoemaker Sling "Swinger" Chair and Ottoman for Señal, S.A, 1960
By Senal, Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Los Angeles, CA
One set of Swinger chair and ottoman from Don Shoemaker for the iconic Señal, S.A workshop of Mexico. This chair has been refinished and are in excellent condition. The chairs retain...
Leather, Rosewood, Cocobolo
Pair of Pipsin Saarinen Swanson Wrought Iron Frame Chairs with Canvas Sling Seat
Located in Ferndale, MI
Pair of lounge chairs from the Ficks Reed Sol - Air line. Designed be husband wife team of Pipsin Saarinen and Robert Swanson. Black powder coated wrought iron frames hold white lacq...
Wrought Iron
$7,360Sale Price|20% Off
Julio Katinsky - 1959 - Brazil - Rare Sling Armchair Iron Frame Rosewood
By Julio Katinski
Located in Curitiba, PR
The Julio Roberto Katinsky Sling Chair, designed in 1959, is a notable example of Brazilian modern furniture design. Originally created to fulfill a private commission, this chair sh...
Iron
Takashi Okamura and Erik Marquard for Nelo, Sling Chair, Swedish Danish Modern
By Takashi Okamura and Erik Marquardsen, Nelo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Takashi Okamura and Erik Marquardsen FOR Nelo Swedish Danish Mid-Century Modern Nelo swivel sling chair from Sweden available in black glove leather.
Leather, Hardwood
Karin Mobring Model Diana brown Cognac Sling Lounge Chair Vintage Ikea, 1 of 2
By IKEA
Located in Munich, Bavaria
This Ikea Classic Vintage Lounge chair was designed 1975 by Karin Mobring. It is a different version of the Diana Model. It has a solid frame made of beech. The armrests has a great ...
Leather, Wood, Pine
Set of 2 Tooled Leather Sling Lounge Chairs by Angel Pazmino, Ecuador, c. 1960's
By Angel Pazmino
Located in Deland, FL
The very epitome of one-of-a-kind, make this sling chair set yours before it's truly gone forever.
Leather, Jacaranda
1960s Angelo Pazmino Muebles Wood Embossed Leather Sling Chairs, Set of 4
By Muebles De Estilo
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
On offer on this occasion is one of the most stunning and rare chairs you could hope to find. Outstanding design is exhibited throughout. The beautiful set is statement piece and pac...
Leather, Wood
Black Leather Sling Armchair by Åke Fribyter for Skipper Møbler, Sweden, 1970s
By Hans Brattrud for Hove Möbler
Located in Markington, GB
A stunning and highly sought-after black leather sling armchair designed by Åke Fribyter and produced by Skipper Møbler in Sweden during the 1960s. An iconic example of Scandinavian...
Wood
Mid-Century Faux Bamboo Folding Leather Sling Chair
Located in Queens, NY
Mid-Century folding sling chair with a faux bamboo x-shaped frame with ball finials supporting a taupe brown leather sling back and seat.
Leather, Wood
Bruce Hannah & Andrew Morrison Sling / aluminum armchair for Knoll 1970
By Bruce Hannah & Andrew Morrison, Knoll
Located in Buffalo, NY
"Sling" armchair from the 70s for Knoll by designers Andrew Morrison and Bruce Hannah in a dark brown leather -like fabric and cast aluminum. Original design and clever assembly of...
Aluminum
Tandem Sling Armchair by Ray and Charles Eames for Herman Miller, c 1970
By Herman Miller, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This single 'Tandem' sling armchair, designed by Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller, is part of the iconic modular seating system originally introduced for airports and public s...
Aluminum
$1,920Sale Price|20% Off
Tandem Sling Armchair by Ray and Charles Eames for Herman Miller, c 1970
By Charles and Ray Eames, Herman Miller
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This single 'Tandem' sling armchair, designed by Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller, is part of the iconic modular seating system originally introduced for airports and public s...
Aluminum
Set of 2 Rare "Sloucher" Chairs by Don S. Shoemaker for Señal Furniture, 1960's
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Deland, FL
Introducing a rare set of two mid-century modern leather "sloucher" sling chairs designed by Don Shoemaker in solid cocobolo rosewood manufactured by Senal S.A., Mexico.
Rosewood
MCM Style Directors Chairs White Chrome Attr Robert Kjer Jakobsen & Virtue Bros
By Virtue Brothers, Robert Kjer Jakobsen
Located in Topeka, KS
Gorgeous pair of MCM a.k.a. Mid-Century Modern Campaign style sling director’s chairs attributed to Robert Kjer Jakobsen for Virtue Brothers.
Chrome
$3,975Sale Price|29% Off
Sculptural Cocobolo Rosewood Leather Lounge Chair and Ottoman by Don Shoemaker
By Don S. Shoemaker, Senal
Located in San Jose, CA
Mid-Century Modern leather sling lounge chair and ottoman designed by Don Shoemaker in cocobolo rosewood manufactured by Senal S.A., Mexico.
Leather, Rosewood
Bamboo Style Sling Chair
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This single armchair has all the bells and whistles: bamboo styled frame, leather sling arms, brass accents, and finished off with nail head trimming. The oak frame has been turned t...
Leather, Faux Bamboo, Oak
1960s Robert Kjer Jakobsen & Virtue Bros Directors Chairs White Chrome
By Virtue Brothers
Located in Charleston, SC
Mid-Century Modern Campaign style sling director’s chairs attributed to Robert Kjer Jakobsen for Virtue Brothers.
Chrome
$1,916Sale Price|20% Off
Mid-Century Lounge Chair Rusty Cognac Suede Leather Sling Swedese Yngve Ekstrom
By Swedese, Yngve Ekström
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Lamino Series Low Back Yngve Ekstrom Chair in Warm Light Brown Leather. Bent Oak Frame with Teak inlayed sculptural arm rests. W 27.25 x D 28.25 x Seat H 15.75 / Arm H 20.25 / Back ...
Oak, Teak
Vintage Bamboo Adjustable Sling Chaise Chair
By Franco Albini
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Mid-Century Modern large diameter bamboo frame adjustable sling design chaise lounge.
Bamboo
Abel Gonzalez Sling Safari Chair in Cognac Leather
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Abel Gonzalez, sling safari chair, wood, leather, brass, Argentina, 1960s. This safari chair by the Argentinian designer Abel Gonzalez is based on a proportioned layout. Straight li...
Brass
Lina Bo Bardi Sling Lounge chairs, Iron and Leather, Brazil, 1950s
By Lina Bo Bardi
Located in Washington, DC
An exceptionally rare pair of deck chairs designed by Lina Bo Bardi, one of the most influential architects and designers of the twentieth century. Created in Brazil circa 1958, thes...
Metal
MCM Hannah Morrison Style Chrome Tubular Sling Dining Chairs - Set of 4
Located in Chicago, IL
Mid Century Modern Hannah Morrison Style Chrome Tubular Sling Dining Chairs - Set of 4
Chrome
Set of Three Garden Patio Poolside Sling Seat Lounge Chairs by Salterini
By Salterini, Woodard Furniture Co.
Located in New York, NY
Voguish suite of three sling seat lounge chairs by noted garden furniture maker, Salterini. The chais features a suspended upholstered continuous back, seat rest in original diamond ...
Wrought Iron
Pair of Walnut Carved Tolled Leather Sling Seats Arm Chairs by Angel Pazmino
By Edmond J. Spence, Angel Pazmino
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Pair of walnut carved tolled leather sling seats arm chairs by Angel Pazmino.
Leather, Walnut
$10,000Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair of Aluminum Warren McArthur Sling Lounge Chairs Style No. 1000-A, 1938
By Warren McArthur Corporation, Warren McArthur
Located in Camden, ME
Pair of lounge chairs by Warren McArthur manufactured at his factory in Connecticut in the late 1930s. The designs that Warren introduced in the very beginning of his furniture makin...
Aluminum
$1,970Sale Price / set|42% Off
Pair of Collapsible French Mid-Century Modern Leather Lounge Chairs by Lama
By Lama
Located in New York, NY
Elegant pair of French Mid-Century Modern sling lounge chairs in patent leather by Lama.
Steel, Chrome
Henry Glass Prototype Folding Sling Chair
By Henry Glass
Located in New York, NY
The present piece, never produced, channels Gerrit Rietveld in proposing a low-cost mid-century outdoor chair with narrow proportions and a sculptural mien.
Metal
$4,850 / item
Rare Pair of Harvey Probber Sling Chair, circa 1948
By Harvey Probber
Located in St. Louis, MO
Rare pair of Harvey Probber sling chairs. This design was selected for by the Museum of Modern Art in 1948 for their good design exhibit. Bentwood frame with new chocolate brown velv...
Upholstery, Bentwood
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 celebrated 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.
Generations turn over, and mid-century modern remains arguably the most popular style going. 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.
With entire areas of our homes reserved for “sitting rooms,” the value of quality antique and vintage seating cannot be overstated.
Fortunately, the design of side chairs, armchairs and other lounge furniture — since what were, quite literally, the early perches of our ancestors — has evolved considerably.
Among the earliest standard seating furniture were stools. Egyptian stools, for example, designed for one person with no seat back, were x-shaped and typically folded to be tucked away. These rudimentary chairs informed the design of Greek and Roman stools, all of which were a long way from Sori Yanagi's Butterfly stool or Alvar Aalto's Stool 60. In the 18th century and earlier, seats with backs and armrests were largely reserved for high nobility.
The seating of today is more inclusive but the style and placement of chairs can still make a statement. Antique desk chairs and armchairs designed in the style of Louis XV, which eventually included painted furniture and were often made of rare woods, feature prominently curved legs as well as Chinese themes and varied ornaments. Much like the thrones of fairy tales and the regency, elegant lounges crafted in the Louis XV style convey wealth and prestige. In the kitchen, the dining chair placed at the head of the table is typically reserved for the head of the household or a revered guest.
Of course, with luxurious vintage or antique furnishings, every chair can seem like the best seat in the house. Whether your preference is stretching out on a plush sofa, such as the Serpentine, designed by Vladimir Kagan, or cozying up in a vintage wingback chair, there is likely to be a comfy classic or contemporary gem for you on 1stDibs.
With respect to the latest obsessions in design, cane seating has been cropping up everywhere, from sleek armchairs to lounge chairs, while bouclé fabric, a staple of modern furniture design, can be seen in mid-century modern, Scandinavian modern and Hollywood Regency furniture styles.
Admirers of the sophisticated craftsmanship and dark woods frequently associated with mid-century modern seating can find timeless furnishings in our expansive collection of lounge chairs, dining chairs and other items — whether they’re vintage editions or alluring official reproductions of iconic designs from the likes of Hans Wegner or from Charles and Ray Eames. Shop our inventory of Egg chairs, designed in 1958 by Arne Jacobsen, the Florence Knoll lounge chair and more.
No matter your style, the collection of unique chairs, sofas and other seating on 1stDibs is surely worthy of a standing ovation.
Modern icons are showing up in gracefully layered dining nooks, living rooms and lounges — proof that great design only gets better with context.
You know the designs, now get the stories about how they came to be.
The enduring appeal of the Barcelona chair is in the details.
The brand that turned Charles and Ray Eames, Isamu Noguchi and George Nelson into mid-century household names is just as relevant today as it was six decades ago.
Our feed is filled with the world's most beautiful spaces. See the rooms our followers have deemed the best of the best this month.
Our feed is filled with the world's most beautiful spaces. See the 10 our followers have deemed the best of the best this month.
There are many lessons to be learned from the lofts, apartments and townhouses of architects and decorators in Manhattan and beyond.
Having created extravagant homes for reality TV’s biggest stars, the designer is stepping into the spotlight with his first book.