Velvet Shell Chairs
20th Century Czech Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Fabric, Bouclé, Velvet, Beech
2010s Polish Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Bouclé, Linen, Velvet, Beech
2010s Polish Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Bouclé, Linen, Velvet, Beech
2010s Polish Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Bouclé, Linen, Velvet, Beech
2010s Polish Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Bouclé, Linen, Velvet, Beech
2010s Polish Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Bouclé, Linen, Velvet, Beech
2010s Polish Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Bouclé, Velvet, Beech
2010s Polish Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Bouclé, Velvet, Beech
2010s Polish Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Bouclé, Velvet, Beech
2010s Polish Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Bouclé, Velvet, Beech
2010s Polish Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Bouclé, Velvet, Beech
20th Century Czech Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Fabric, Bouclé, Velvet, Beech
20th Century Czech Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Fabric, Bouclé, Velvet, Beech
2010s Armchairs
Steel
20th Century Polish Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Velvet, Wood, Beech, Plywood
20th Century Polish Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Wood, Beech, Plywood, Velvet
Antique Late 19th Century Chairs
Velvet
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs
Leather, Fabric, Velvet, Ebony, Oak, Walnut
Vintage 1950s Italian Club Chairs
Wood, Velvet
Vintage 1970s American Empire Side Chairs
Bronze
Early 20th Century European Art Deco Chairs
Velvet
2010s American Modern Swivel Chairs
Brass
2010s American Modern Swivel Chairs
Brass
20th Century French Slipper Chairs
Velvet, Oak
20th Century American Chairs
Wood, Velvet
Early 20th Century Art Deco Club Chairs
Velvet, Wood
Vintage 1940s American Hollywood Regency Club Chairs
Upholstery, Velvet, Lucite
Vintage 1970s French Space Age Lounge Chairs
Iron
Mid-20th Century British Other Dining Room Sets
Velvet
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Velvet, Wood
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Fiberglass, Velvet
Antique 1880s English Victorian Chairs
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary American Dining Room Chairs
Velvet, Mahogany
20th Century Italian Side Chairs
Velvet, Wood, Beech
20th Century Italian Hollywood Regency Chairs
Gold Leaf
20th Century Italian Side Chairs
Velvet, Wood, Beech
Vintage 1940s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Club Chairs
Velvet, Beech
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Space Age Chairs
Velvet, Wood
Antique 1840s English Early Victorian Side Chairs
Velvet, Mahogany
Vintage 1960s Unknown Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Velvet, Hardwood
Mid-20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Brass
2010s Lithuanian Scandinavian Modern Swivel Chairs
Steel
2010s Lithuanian Scandinavian Modern Swivel Chairs
Steel
2010s Lithuanian Scandinavian Modern Side Chairs
Steel
Vintage 1940s American Chairs
20th Century Italian Slipper Chairs
Plastic, Rubber, Shell, Textile, Velvet
Vintage 1960s Italian Lounge Chairs
Plastic, Rubber, Shell, Textile, Velvet
Mid-20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Brass
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Velvet Shell Chairs For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much are Velvet Shell Chairs?
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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