Shell Carved Chair
Antique Late 18th Century Italian Baroque Swivel Chairs
Wood
20th Century Slipper Chairs
Fabric
20th Century Dining Room Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
20th Century French Louis XV Dining Room Chairs
Rush, Wood, Oak
Mid-20th Century North American Spanish Colonial Dining Room Chairs
Fabric, Wood
Mid-20th Century American Louis XV Dining Room Chairs
Walnut
Late 20th Century American Louis XV Armchairs
Upholstery, Wood
Mid-20th Century Italian Regency Armchairs
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XV Religious Items
Velvet, Walnut
Antique 18th Century American Chippendale Side Chairs
Wood
Antique 18th Century Mexican Spanish Colonial Chairs
Pine
20th Century American Side Chairs
Upholstery
Antique 19th Century Irish Chairs
Early 20th Century English Side Chairs
Antique Mid-19th Century English Early Victorian Side Chairs
Mahogany
Early 20th Century English Chairs
Oak
Vintage 1940s Chairs
Wood
Antique Mid-19th Century Great Britain (UK) Chairs
Mahogany
Antique 18th Century and Earlier British George II Side Chairs
Walnut
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Chairs
Shell, Upholstery, Wood
Antique Late 19th Century Italian Chairs
Gold Leaf, Silver Leaf
Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Chairs
Wood
Antique 19th Century Italian Side Chairs
Wood
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Side Chairs
Antique 18th Century and Earlier English Dining Room Chairs
Wood
Antique 1830s English William IV Dining Room Chairs
Mahogany
Vintage 1920s Italian Art Deco Armchairs
Silk, Walnut
Antique Mid-18th Century French Louis XV Armchairs
Upholstery, Giltwood
20th Century French Armchairs
Mohair, Walnut
Vintage 1930s French Armchairs
Wood, Upholstery
Antique Early 19th Century British Palladian Chairs
Mahogany
Vintage 1910s European Queen Anne Dining Room Chairs
Walnut
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Shell Carved Chair For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Shell Carved Chair?
Finding the Right Seating for You
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.
- What are Shell Chairs?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 31, 2023Shell chairs are iconic mid-century modern chairs designed by Hans J. Wegner and first released in 1963. In terms of both process and aesthetics, the Shell chair was ahead of its time when it was introduced. The expressive seat and back are made out of form-pressed oak or walnut laminates and topped with upholstered cushions for maximum comfort. Its design includes a tapered three-leg structure with two front legs made of one continuous piece and a separate hind leg that supports the backrest. This gives the chair a feeling of lightness without sacrificing stability. On 1stDibs, find a selection of Shell chairs.
- Is the Shell Chair comfortable?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2023Whether the Shell chair is comfortable is largely a matter of personal opinion. However, creator Hans J. Wegner designed the curves of the backrest and the seat to complement the contours of the human body in order to provide ample support when the Shell chair made its debut in 1963. Chairs became Wegner’s specialty, and over the years he designed over 500 of them. More than 100 of his designs, such as the Wishbone chair and the Papa Bear chair, went into production. Shop a selection of Shell chairs and other vintage Hans Wegner seating on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Whether or not the Wegner shell chair is comfortable is largely a matter of personal preference. Wegner did design the dramatically curved seat and gently tapered back to properly support the contours of the human body. On 1stDibs, shop a range of Hans Wegner chairs.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2024The history of the Wegner Shell Chair begins in 1963. Hans J. Wegner unveiled the chair at the Furniture Guild Exhibition in Copenhagen, Denmark. Often described as being "wing-like," the chair's radical fluid lines were considered a bit too futuristic at the time. Initially, mixed reviews from critics and the general public, as well as production difficulties, resulted in a very limited early run. Twelve new models were produced for a retrospective exhibition celebrating Wegner's 77th birthday in 1989, and the design began garnering renewed attention (a photograph of the chair was even selected to grace the cover of the exhibition catalog). In 1998, nearly a decade following the piece's reemergence at the retrospective event, Carl Hansen Søn reintroduced the Shell chair 35 years after it was first released, and it has felt relevant ever since. On 1stDibs, shop an assortment of Hans Wegner Shell chairs.
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