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Oct 23, 2024

The Design History Behind 29 Of The World’s Most Iconic Chairs

You're probably doing it right now. It wouldn’t be at all surprising–the average American spends some 6.5 hours a day doing it. All over the world, humans spend an astonishing amount of time engaged

You're probably doing it right now. It wouldn’t be at all surprising–the average American spends some 6.5 hours a day doing it. All over the world, humans spend an astonishing amount of time engaged in this one simple act. Sitting–life is a series of places we sit.

Chairs can tell us a lot about the time they were created. The rise of steel and plastic in the 20th century, seen in designs like the Eames Molded Plastic Chair, is a marker of the era's embrace of mass production. The streamlined, minimalist forms of mid-century modern chairs reflect post-WWII ideals of simplicity and functionality. The ornate designs of Victorian-era chairs display a preference for luxury and detail and a culture with strict social hierarchies. During times of economic scarcity, designs tend to be more practical and cost-effective. In boom periods like the 1980s, a time of consumerism, chairs were bold and experimental.

10th March 1970: Julie Philpott from Surrey, sits comfortably in the Asco Bomb Chair, with a ... [+] built-in telephone. The chair is on show at the 'Into The 70's' exhibition designed by Homes And Gardens, and held at Maples' department store on Tottenham Court Road, London. (Photo by Leonard Burt/Central Press/Getty Images)

Chairs are the steadfast companions that have carried us through. From intimate conversations and grand dinner parties to moments of deep thought and reflection, chairs have held us in our most significant moments. And while their function has mostly stayed the same, their form constantly evolves.

Whether Space Age or primitive, each chair reveals its own moment in history. Here, we look at some of the most iconic chairs of all time–each one playing a part in how we connect, think, and unwind. After all, every great story starts with a seat.

Hans Wegner Wishbone Chair

First manufactured in 1950, Hands Wegner's Wishbone Chair is an enduring icon of Danish design. Its Y-shaped backrest and hand-woven seat draw inspiration from the wide-seated, high-backed thrones of the Ming dynasty. Crafted from 14 components, it requires over 100 individual processes to chisel, carve, sand, and shape.

Wooden 1940s Evans Plywood Products Eames LCW - Ply Lounge Chair Wood

Dubbed the "Best Design of the 20th Century" by Time magazine, the Eames LCW (Lounge Chair Wood) was created using techniques developed during the war years. It was constructed of five layers of plywood molded with heat and a bicycle pump. Released in 1945, it was a revelation for the post-war period.

Panton Chair Verner Panton, 1959/1999

Verner Panton's 1967 masterpiece, the Panton Chair, was the first single-form plastic chair with a cantilevered design in history. Reconciling the design's contours with the realities of plastic technology at the time turned out to be an almost impossible feat, yet still, Panton prevailed. Its swooping curves and vibrant colors made it a Space Age, Pop Art favorite, capturing the spirit of the '60s in a way that few pieces of furniture have.

Louis Ghost chair from Kartell. (Photo by Edward Wong/South China Morning Post via Getty Images)

Philippe Starck's 2002 Louis Ghost Chair reimagines the stately style of the 18th century in 20th-century transparent or colored polycarbonate. It also tips its hat to a notorious moment in furniture history—the Louis XVI chair dubbed the "goût grec," which became a symbol of luxury during the doomed reign of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.

Bistro Chair

Fermob's 1889 Bistro Chair was designed to be durable and quickly foldable. Why? It was envisioned so that café owners could tuck them away and sidestep France's terrace licensing fees. The Bistro chair has become the unofficial seat of Parisian sidewalk cafes. It is simple, colorful, quintessentially French, and globally recognized.

Pierre Jeanneret Office Chair

In the 1950s, India’s prime minister commissioned architect Le Corbusier to create the plans for Chandigarh, a new, utopian city unlike any before it. The architect called on his cousin, Pierre Jeanneret, to create equally avant-garde furnishings, including the Office Chair. The now coveted collectible was then crafted from Burma Teak, which was resistant to both the humidity and the bug population of the area.

Mathew Jarron, Curator of Museum Services with the "Wiggle Side Chair" made from cardboard by Frank ... [+] Gehry at Dundee University. A collection of rare chairs went on show today to mark the arrival of the latest professors at a seat of learning. (Photo by Andrew Milligan - PA Images/PA Images via Getty Images)

The iconic architect Frank Gehry, known for his works, including the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles and the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao in Spain, designed the Wiggle Side Chair in 1972 as part of his 'Easy Edges' furniture series. Gehry elevated a humble material like cardboard to a surprisingly comfortable and strong sculpture.

Gerrit Thomas Rietveld, Zig Zag Chair

Gerrit Thomas Rietveld made his Zig Zag chair entirely from flat wooden planks. This striking piece, often noted as an example of the De Stijl modern art movement, is inspired by geometric shapes. By challenging traditional four-legged forms, Rietveld crafted a piece with visual instability and physical stability.

Courtesy of thonet.de

The Thonet 209 is a paragon of classic bentwood design. The backrest and armrest are shaped from a piece of solid beech wood, skillfully bent into a distinctive form. Famously favored by architects like Le Corbusier, it adorns several of his buildings, including the Stuttgart Weissenhof Estate.

Butaque by Clara Porset

The Butaque first appeared in Cumaná, Venezuela, in the late 16th century, blending elements from pre-Columbian duhos and the X-form folding chairs brought by Spanish conquistadors. The earliest mentions in Mexico come from cargo records in Campeche and Veracruz. Clara Porset saw the butaque as a reflection of Mexico's complex identity, studying its design—how the curved legs are shaped from the wood, and how the seat and support are securely joined using small, efficient planks.

Visit to the Kirkland Museum and viewing the Eero Saarinen show of furniture on Tuesday, October 12, ... [+] 2010. The "Womb Chair and the Womb Ottoman." Cyrus McCrimmon, The Denver Post (Photo By Cyrus McCrimmon/The Denver Post via Getty Images)

Eero Saarinen's Womb Chair, designed in 1948 for Knoll, put comfort above all. With its enveloping shape and plush cushioning, this chair was designed at Florence Knoll's request to feel like a "basket full of pillows," redefining what comfort in modern furniture could be.

Arne Jacobsen's Egg chair in buff leather, designed in 1958. From Design & Decoration ($3,500). ... [+] February 21, 1988. (Photo by Thomas/Fairfax Media via Getty Images).

The Egg was a key element of Arne Jacobsen's interior design for the SAS Royal Hotel, Copenhagen's first skyscraper, which opened in 1960. Jacobsen pioneered a new approach to furniture design, using hard foam instead of steel and wood, which was padded and upholstered. Its free, sculptural curves reflected a post-WWII design movement, where architects in America and Europe embraced industrial materials and organic forms.

(GERMANY OUT) BARCELONA CHAIR. Barcelona chair after the design of American (German-born) architect ... [+] Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. Originally designed for the Barcelona World Fair of 1929 as part of the German Pavilion. Photograph, c1970. Full caption: Conor, Harry - ullstein bild (Photo by Harry Croner/ullstein bild via Getty Images)

The Barcelona Chair, created by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe in 1929, sits as a symbol of Bauhaus minimalism. Drawing inspiration from ancient designs, its simple scissor-like shape, known as a curule seat, can be traced back to 1500 BC. This style, which has appeared in Egyptian, Greek, and Roman history, was often linked to positions of authority and power.

16 October 2018, Hamburg: A visitor walks through the exhibition "68. Pop and Protest" in the Museum ... [+] für Kunst und Gewerbe. In the foreground are the chairs "UP 5 and UP 6 (Donna and Bambino)" by Gaetano Pesce and the chair "Floris" (r) by Günter Beltzig. The exhibition runs from 18.10.2018 to 17.03.2019. Photo: Georg Wendt/dpa (Photo by Georg Wendt/picture alliance via Getty Images)

Gaetano Pesce's 1969 Donna chair has become an icon of the feminist movement. Its curvaceous shape represents the female form, with an attached ball symbolizing the constraints women face. Made from vacuum-compressed polyurethane foam, the chair expands when unpacked. It is regarded as a feminist manifesto, addressing themes of captivity and gender inequality, and remains a significant part of modern design history.

Charlotte Perriand

Charlotte Perriand's first prototype of the Méribel Chair was created during her visit to Japan. It is a nod to the French Alps, where it was designed for a ski resort. Its wooden frame and slatted seat capture the rustic charm of mountain living while exuding an effortless, understated elegance.

1006 Navy Chair

Thanks to its brushed aluminum construction, the Navy Chair made by Emeco is practically indestructible. Originally built in 1944 for US Navy warships during World War II, the chair later became a designer favorite used in high-end restaurants and public spaces. In any context, it was celebrated for its durability and industrial style.

Eames Molded Plastic Chair

A democratic statement of the mid-century, the Eames Molded Plastic Chair brought affordable, stylish seating to the masses. First designed in 1950, it's still a favorite today, offering an often colorful blend of form, function, and minimalist charm.

84 Chair by Donald Judd

Donald Judd's sculptures and installations helped pioneer mid-20th-century Minimalism. Echoing his famous architectural sculptures, the 84 chair was designed out of necessity for his children's bedrooms in Marga, Texas. With its clean lines and angular form, this chair is about lines and functionality.

LC2 Armchair

Le Corbusier's LC2 Armchair, designed in 1928, was made for ease of conversation. First exhibited at the Salon d'Automne in Paris, its authors interpreted it as "household equipment," a tool for living. Consistent with the principles of Rationalism, its boxy leather and steel frame create a bold, modern silhouette—a piece that's become a classic in living rooms worldwide.

Poäng Chair

Noboru Nakamura's Poäng Chair, introduced by IKEA in 1976, has become one of the brand's most popular designs. With its smooth bentwood frame and cantilevered seat, the chair is both stylish and comfortable at an affordable price. Since its debut, over 30 million Poäng chairs have been sold, and it remains one of IKEA's top-selling armchairs, moving around 1.5 million units annually.

A woman relaxes in a ball chair created by Finnish designer Eero Aarnio.

The Finnish designer Eero Aarnio's Ball Chair, designed in 1963, expressed the new Pop aesthetic in design and was an emblem of the Space Age. Fascinated by the potential of fiberglass at the time, Aarnio created this futuristic, enclosed chair that is like a mini room within a room.

A woman sitting in an Eames Lounge Chair at the New Homes Show in Central Hall, Westminster, Hall, ... [+] UK, 25th June 1963. (Photo by Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

The Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman debuted on national television alongside its creators, Charles and Ray Eames, in 1956. Dreamt up to look like a well-worn baseball glove, the classic, warm style has become part of the permanent collections at the MoMA in New York and the Art Institute of Chicago and the subject of documentary films and books.

Birthing Chair

With roots stretching back to ancient Egypt and medieval Europe, the birthing chair has been a quiet hero in countless baby deliveries. This low-seated, high-backed chair with handle cutouts helped utilize gravity to ease labor—a more natural, upright approach to childbirth. Each handcrafted chair was often passed down through generations, symbolizing a profound connection to traditional birthing practices.

LC4 Chaise Lounge

Often dubbed the "relaxing machine," the LC4 Chaise Lounge was designed in 1928 by Le Corbusier, Charlotte Perriand, and Pierre Jeanneret. Its jagged steel frame and ergonomic design are directly related to the position of the human body. Upholstered in leather or cowhide, this chaise is an icon of industrial aesthetic.

Top right, a Marcel Breuer hand-woven rattan Cesca chair from Artes Studios, $996. March 01, 1990. ... [+] (Photo by Simon Alekna/Fairfax Media via Getty Images).

Marcel Breuer's Cesca Chair from 1928 boldly abandoned back legs, floating on tubular steel instead. Named after Breuer's daughter, Francesca, this Bauhaus classic was both innovative and stylish. With a woven cane seat and sleek steel frame, it brought machine-age aspirations right into the living room, inspiring designers for generations.

ITALY - JULY 02: Sant'Elia chair, 1936, by Giuseppe Terragni (1904-1943), produced by Zanotta. ... [+] Italy, 20th century. (Photo by DeAgostini/Getty Images)

Giuseppe Terragni's Sant'Elia chair from 1936, named for futurist architect Antonio Sant'Elia, is a celebrated piece of Italian Rationalism. Its tubular steel frame and cantilevered seat capture the avant-garde spirit of the early 20th century, blending sleek design with durability—a functional work of art.

(GERMANY OUT) Möbelklassiker: Wassily-Stuhl aus dem Jahr 1925. . (Photo by Wallocha/ullstein bild ... [+] via Getty Images)

Marcel Breuer's Wassily Chair, crafted in 1925, was inspired by bicycle frames and Bauhaus principles. In fact, it was designed while Breuer was the head of the cabinet-making workshop at the Bauhaus, in Dessau, Germany. Originally called the Model B3, this instant classic caught the eye of painter Wassily Kandinsky, who ordered one for his studio, cementing its new name forever.

Hans Wegner Peacock Chair

Designed in 1947, Hans Wegner's Peacock Chair was an ode to the Windsor chair with a Danish twist. Fellow designer Finn Juhl gave it its name, likening its back to a peacock's feathers. This chair celebrates organic functionalism, a practical piece that feels as light and elegant as its namesake.

Eero Saarinen Design Archive, Tulip Sketches

Eero Saarinen spent five years perfecting the Tulip Chair, finally achieving his vision of a single pedestal base in 1956. By eliminating the "mess" of legs, Saarinen created a streamlined form that today has become one of the most celebrated styles of the Space Age.

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