Mid Century Butterfly Chair

Blue Painted Chair

Knoll Butterfly

Hans Wegner Butterfly Chair

Red Butterflies

Modern European Chairs

Pink Boucle Chair

Butterfly Iron

Furniture With Pierre Frey Fabric

Mid Century Butterfly Chair with Yellow Canvass Sling

$475

Mid Century Butterfly Chair with Yellow Canvass Sling

By Jorge Ferrari-Hardoy, Knoll

Located in New York, NY

Midcentury butterfly chair with yellow canvas sling seat. Clean, ready to use condition.

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs

Materials

Wrought Iron

Mid Century Butterfly Chair with Black Canvass Sling

$475

$813 / item

Mid Century Butterfly Dining Chair, Light Creme Boucle, Poland, 1960s

Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL

Dining chair called "Butterfly" with medium light stained beech legs and fully upholstered seat and back in beautiful boucle italian fabric (color number 01). This chair can be c...

Category

20th Century Polish Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Fabric, Beech, Bouclé

Recent Sales

Rare Mid-Century Modern Butterfly chair by Inge & Luciano Rubino, 1963

Unavailable

H 31.89 in W 20.87 in D 18.12 in

Rare Mid-Century Modern Butterfly chair by Inge & Luciano Rubino, 1963

By Sorø Stolefabrik, Inge & Luciano Rubino

Located in Berlin, Germany

Rare Mid-Century Modern Butterfly chair by Inge & Luciano Rubino, 1963 This chair was designed in 1963 by Inge & Luciano Rubino and produced by Danish company Sorø Mobelfabrik.

Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Faux Leather, Teak

Mid-Century Modern Butterfly Style Stackable Iron Framed Leather Chairs

Unavailable

H 36 in W 28 in D 24 in

Mid-Century Modern Butterfly Style Stackable Iron Framed Leather Chairs

Located in Culver City, CA

Mid-Century Modern butterfly style stackable iron framed leather chairs, original leather middle seam redone designed by J.

Category

Mid-20th Century French Wingback Chairs

Materials

Iron

Pedro Friedeberg "Butterfly" Chair

Unavailable

Pedro Friedeberg "Butterfly" Chair

By Pedro Friedeberg

Located in Los Angeles, CA

A really great example. Fully signed.

Unavailable

H 33 in W 33.5 in D 35.5 in

Mid-Century Modern Solid Iron Butterfly Canvas Chair

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Dimensions: W 33.5 D 35.5 H 33 SW 20 SD 17 SH 12 Please note these chairs are not collapsible. Chair are solid made, straight from manufacturer’s dead stock. Style: Mid century M...

Category

Vintage 1980s Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Iron

Sold

H 35 in W 33 in D 35 in

Mid Century Butterfly Chair with Original Cow Hide

Located in Los Angeles, CA

A very nice mid century butterly chair with original cow hide

Category

Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Iron

Mid Century Butterfly Chairs with Canvas Slings, a Pair

Sold

H 33.5 in W 32.6 in D 22 in

Mid Century Butterfly Chairs with Canvas Slings, a Pair

By Jorge Ferrari-Hardoy

Located in Esperance, NY

Very nice pair of Butterfly chairs with canvas slings. The slings have been replaced recently and are made out of cotton.

Category

Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs

Materials

Canvas

Mid Century Butterfly Chair Newly Upholstered in Cactus Silk Tapestry

Sold

H 29.5 in W 29 in D 29 in

Mid Century Butterfly Chair Newly Upholstered in Cactus Silk Tapestry

Located in Pasadena, CA

This sculptural winged chair is upholstered in a vintage serene color combination cactus cloth tapestry from Morocco which is so inviting. It has been outfitted with new turned chubb...

Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Textile, Wood

Sold

Sold

Sold

H 34 in W 30 in D 24 in

Vintage Mid-Century BKF Hardoy Butterfly Chair for Knoll

By Knoll, Jorge Ferrari-Hardoy

Located in BROOKLYN, NY

Period BKF Hardoy butterfly chair for Knoll. Dynamic Classic form, for indoor or outdoor use. Orange canvas slings are original and in good condition with no holes, rips, or tears an...

Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs

Materials

Iron

Mid-Century Modern Butterfly Lounge Chair in Mohair, circa 1960s

Sold

H 30 in W 29 in D 31 in

Mid-Century Modern Butterfly Lounge Chair in Mohair, circa 1960s

Located in Westport, CT

Introducing a truly stunning vintage walnut chair, featuring a unique organic form with caning on the arms, now fully restored by the skilled craftsmen at Stamford Modern. This beaut...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs

Materials

Mohair, Walnut

Original Mid-Century Black Iron Leather Butterfly Chair Beautiful Patina

Sold

Sold

H 36 in W 32 in D 21 in

Pair McGuire Bamboo Rattan Butterfly Chairs

By McGuire

Located in Bradenton, FL

"Designed by Edward Tuttle, McGuire's famous Butterfly chair is a study in fluidity. This graceful design features sweeping arms of delicate rattan. The arching back displays a symme...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Bamboo

Mid-Century Modern Butterfly Chair by Knoll International in Original Leather

Sold

H 35.44 in W 31.5 in D 31.5 in

Mid-Century Modern Butterfly Chair by Knoll International in Original Leather

By Knoll, Jorge Ferrari-Hardoy

Located in Berlin, DE

Butterfly chair by Knoll International with exceptionally beautiful original leather in cognac on a black base. Designed by J. Ferrari-Hardoy, J. Kurchan, A. Bonet in 1938. Manufactu...

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Shell Dining Chair, Linen Schwarzwald Dedar, by Vintola Studio, Europe, Poland

$1,166 / item

H 32.29 in W 21.66 in D 19.69 in

Shell Dining Chair, Linen Schwarzwald Dedar, by Vintola Studio, Europe, Poland

Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL

Springy, very comfortable and stabile dining seats. They are contemporary chairs inspired of 1960s style. They can be used as armchairs and dining chairs. Chair was designed by Vi...

Category

2010s Polish Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Bouclé, Velvet, Beech, Linen

$3,773

H 62.21 in W 64.57 in D 1.19 in

Early 20th Century French Coastal Painted Screen

Located in Gloucestershire, GB

A charmingly naive early 20th Century French hand painted three fold screen. Depicting coastal life, Circa 1900.

Category

20th Century French Screens and Room Dividers

Materials

Paper

20th Century Pair of Italian Triton Garden Statues - Antique Marble Sculptures

$96,000 / set

H 47.5 in W 35.5 in D 29.5 in

20th Century Pair of Italian Triton Garden Statues - Antique Marble Sculptures

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

Circa 20th Century, a pair of large antique garden statues hand carved in natural stone named Biancone d’Istria Marble. These antique natural stone statues or garden ornaments were p...

Category

Early 20th Century Italian Statues

Materials

Marble

Brass and Parchment Paper Chandelier by Diego Mardegan for Glustin Luminaires

$13,416 / item

H 49.22 in Dm 70.87 in

Brass and Parchment Paper Chandelier by Diego Mardegan for Glustin Luminaires

By Diego Mardegan

Located in Saint-Ouen, IDF

Impressive chandelier made of white enameled brass arms holding six beautiful parchment paper shades, which can be adjusted thanks to the handle of each socket. Signed by the arti...

Category

2010s Italian Modern Chandeliers and Pendants

Materials

Brass

$167Sale Price|20% Off

H 22 in W 22 in D 4 in

Wheatland Natural Linen Pillow with Down Feather Insert

Located in Old Town Orange, CA

Our latest collection of beautiful hand blocked and linen pillows can be arranged to create beauty and bring a pop of color to your room while adding softness! This item is made to...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Pillows and Throws

Materials

Linen, Down

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Mid Century Butterfly Chair For Sale on 1stDibs

Choose from an assortment of styles, material and more with respect to the mid century butterfly chair you’re looking for at 1stDibs. Each mid century butterfly chair for sale was constructed with extraordinary care, often using metal, animal skin and leather. Your living room may not be complete without a mid century butterfly chair — find older editions for sale from the 19th Century and newer versions made as recently as the 20th Century. Each mid century butterfly chair bearing Mid-Century Modern, Scandinavian Modern or Folk Art hallmarks is very popular. A well-made mid century butterfly chair has long been a part of the offerings for many furniture designers and manufacturers, but those produced by Jorge Ferrari Hardoy, Knoll and Pierre Paulin are consistently popular.

How Much is a Mid Century Butterfly Chair?

Prices for a mid century butterfly chair can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, they begin at $250 and can go as high as $24,774, while the average can fetch as much as $2,478.

A Close Look at Mid-century Modern Furniture

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

Emerged during the mid-20th century
Informed by European modernism, Bauhaus, International style, Scandinavian modernism and Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture
A heyday of innovation in postwar America
Experimentation with new ideas, new materials and new forms flourished in Scandinavia, Italy, the former Czechoslovakia and elsewhere in Europe

CHARACTERISTICS OF MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN

Simplicity, organic forms, clean lines
A blend of neutral and bold Pop art colors
Use of natural and man-made materials — alluring woods such as teak, rosewood and oak; steel, fiberglass and molded plywood
Light-filled spaces with colorful upholstery
Glass walls and an emphasis on the outdoors
Promotion of functionality

MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNERS TO KNOW

Charles and Ray Eames
Eero Saarinen
Milo Baughman
Florence Knoll
Harry Bertoia
Isamu Noguchi
George Nelson
Danish modernists Hans Wegner and Arne Jacobsen, whose emphasis on natural materials and craftsmanship influenced American designers and vice versa

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.

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.

How Top Designers Are Using Mid-Century Chairs in Today’s Interiors

Modern icons are showing up in gracefully layered dining nooks, living rooms and lounges — proof that great design only gets better with context.

The 21 Most Popular Mid-Century Modern Chairs

You know the designs, now get the stories about how they came to be.

Mies van der Rohe’s Barcelona Chair Shook Modernism and Charmed Hollywood

The enduring appeal of the Barcelona chair is in the details.

Herman Miller Got Its Start in the Office, but Its Legacy Is in the Home

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.