Although now dubbed the King of Slovenian Design, Niko Kralj was for many years one of the great unsung heroes of industrial design.
The late architect and furniture designer Kralj was known for groundbreaking seating and tables that seamlessly blend functionality with an elegant economy of line. He received little recognition outside his own country, despite registering 120-plus patents and models, including those for the Mosquito bar stool — named for its winglike seat and first produced in 2012 — and a number of inventive “foldables,” like the Rex coffee table and Rex daybed for children.
Sleek and space-saving, Kralj's iconic foldable Rex rocking chair was created in 1956 — it epitomizes his sleek and laconic minimalism, conveying a sense of strength and fluidity, both in its pleasingly geometric open form and its gracefully arching folded silhouette. A contemporary version of Kralj’s mid-century masterwork is produced by the Ljubljana-based furniture company Rex Kralj.
Over the course of his career, Kralj also established close ties with such design giants as Charles and Ray Eames, Richard Buckminster Fuller, Olof Pira and Ilmari Tapiovaara, all proponents, like him, of an aesthetic that inhabits the sweet spot between elegant simplicity and pragmatism.
Today, Kralj’s timeless rocking chairs are in the collections of a number of international museums, including New York’s Museum of Modern Art, Copenhagen’s Designmuseum Denmark and the National Technical Museum Prague.
Find vintage Niko Kralj furniture on 1stDibs.
4455 Dining Chair with Metal Frame, Solid Oak Backrest and Black Plywood Seat
By Niko Kralj
Located in Ljubljana, SI
The 4455 chair has an airy appearance thanks to the open space between the armrests and seat. With its distinctive formal presence, the 4455 Chair is completely at home in modern arc...
Metal
Mosquito Dining Chair in Walnut, Wooden Frame and Plywood, Mid-Century Modern
By Niko Kralj
Located in Ljubljana, SI
Named after its wing-like seat, the mosquito chair is a genuine eyecatcher, an elegant piece with a touch of poetry. This innovative design proved too demanding for 1950s manufacturing methods. But thanks to the recent efforts of Rex Kralj...
Walnut
Mosquito Dining Chair in Black Oak, Wooden Frame and Plywood, Mid-Century Modern
By Niko Kralj
Located in Ljubljana, SI
Named after its wing-like seat, the Mosquito Chair is a genuine eyecatcher, an elegant piece with a touch of poetry. This innovative design proved too demanding for 1950s manufacturing methods. But thanks to the recent efforts of Rex Kralj...
Oak
1960 Wood Dining Chair Black Oak, Solid Frame + Plywood, MidCentury Modern Style
By Niko Kralj
Located in Ljubljana, SI
Designed at a time when the combination of solid wood and plywood led to an unbeatable type of chair, the 1960 wood chair embodies retro chic and is built to last. The chair is easy ...
Oak
1960 Wood Chair Natural Walnut, Solid Frame + Plywood, MidCentury Modern Style
By Niko Kralj
Located in Ljubljana, SI
Designed at a time when the combination of solid wood and plywood led to an unbeatable type of chair, the 1960 wood chair embodies retro chic and is built to last. The chair is easy ...
Walnut
Mosquito Dining Chair, Leaf Green Oak, Wood Frame + Plywood, Mid-Century Modern
By Niko Kralj
Located in Ljubljana, SI
Named after its wing-like seat, the Mosquito chair is a genuine eyecatcher, an elegant piece with a touch of poetry. This innovative design proved too demanding for 1950s manufacturing methods. But thanks to the recent efforts of Rex Kralj...
Oak
Rex Dining Chair in Natural Oak, Solid Frame + Plywood, Mid-Century Modern Style
By Niko Kralj
Located in Ljubljana, SI
The story of the Rex furniture collection begins in the 1950s with the Rex foldable chair. Its design incorporates innovation, functionality and beau...
Oak
1960 Chair in Natural Oak with Metal Frame and Plywood, Mid-Century Modern Style
By Niko Kralj
Located in Ljubljana, SI
Geometric lines meet smooth curves in the 1960 chair. The fluent curves of the plywood are supported by a square frame, which creates a lightweight chair wi...
Oak
1960 Chair in Black Oak with metal frame and Plywood, Mid-Century Modern Style
By Niko Kralj
Located in Ljubljana, SI
Geometric lines meet smooth curves in the 1960 Chair. The fluent curves of the plywood are supported by a square frame, which creates a lightweight chair wi...
Oak
Mosquito Chair in Vermillion Red Oak, Wooden Frame + Plywood, Mid-Century Modern
By Niko Kralj
Located in Ljubljana, SI
Named after its wing-like seat, the Mosquito chair is a genuine eyecatcher, an elegant piece with a touch of poetry. This innovative design proved too d...
Oak
1960 Wood Chair Natural Oak, Solid Frame + Plywood, MidCentury Modern Style
By Niko Kralj
Located in Ljubljana, SI
Designed at a time when the combination of solid wood and plywood led to an unbeatable type of chair, the 1960 wood chair embodies retro chic and is built to last. The chair is easy ...
Oak
Mosquito Dining Chair in Cobalt Blue, Wooden Frame + Plywood, Mid-Century Modern
By Niko Kralj
Located in Ljubljana, SI
Named after its wing-like seat, the Mosquito Chair is a genuine eyecatcher, an elegant piece with a touch of poetry. This innovative design proved too demanding for 1950s manufacturing methods. But thanks to the recent efforts of Rex Kralj...
Walnut
Rex Dining Chair in Black Oak, Solid Frame + Plywood, Mid-Century Modern Style
By Niko Kralj
Located in Ljubljana, SI
The story of the Rex furniture collection begins in the 1950s with the Rex foldable chair. Its design incorporates innovation, functionality and beau...
Oak
Mosquito Dining Chair in Natural Oak, Wooden Frame + Plywood, Mid-Century Modern
By Niko Kralj
Located in Ljubljana, SI
Named after its wing-like seat, the Mosquito chair is a genuine eyecatcher, an elegant piece with a touch of poetry. This innovative design proved too demanding for 1950s manufacturing methods. But thanks to the recent efforts of Rex Kralj...
Oak
$2,882Sale Price / set|35% Off
H 42.52 in W 16.93 in D 19.1 in
Mid Century Modern Black Vintage Dining Chairs by Pietro Costantini 1970 Italy
By Pietro Costantini
Located in Vienna, AT
Mid Century Modern vintage set of four black dining chairs designed by Pietro Costantini from solid black lacquered beechwood. The seats are n...
Leather, Beech
$2,995 / set
H 32.5 in W 23.5 in D 23 in
Mid-Century Modern to Modern Oak Maroon Vinyl Rolling Game or Dining Chairs
Located in Topeka, KS
Wonderful Mid-Century Modern to modern rolling game or dining chairs comprised of oak frames, maroon vinyl seats and backs, brass sabots, and casters. Beautiful condition, keeping in...
Faux Leather, Oak
$950 / item
H 32.29 in W 19.1 in D 21.26 in
Minimalist Modern Chair in Natural Solid Wood Upholstered Seating with Arms
By SIMONINI
Located in Vila Cordeiro, São Paulo
Evo Chair collection. Our Evo collection is based in the harmonic fusion between geometrical forms and the modern interpretation of wood archetypes. All elements that compose ...
Textile, Upholstery, Hardwood
Sculpted Chair N3 in Solid Oak Wood
By Sóha
Located in Paris, IDF
Chair made of solid oak (+ linseed oil) (Outdoor use OK) Dimensions: H. 82 x 48 x 48 cm (SH 45 cm) Warm furniture’s made by Russian designer Denis Milovanov from "Soha" studio. Sim...
Oak
$2,000 / item
H 33.5 in W 21 in D 24 in
Modern White Oak Dining Chair with Ebony Finish and Upholstered Seat
By Jhon Ortiz, The Tailored Home
Located in Greenwich, CT
A dining chair constructed of white oak with an ebony finish, shown in cut velvet upholstery. The upholstered seat and structured frame provide support suited for dining and hospital...
Oak
$1,210Sale Price / item|15% Off
H 29.75 in W 24.25 in D 20.25 in
Blackened White Oak Dining Chair with Leather Seat / Dining Chair GH1
By Klein Agency
Located in Los Angeles, CA
We’ve been tasked to design an effortless, elegant, honest and most importantly comfortable dining chair for chef Eric Bost, whose restaurant Auburn, we've been designing for the past few years. After a good year...
Leather, Oak
Industrial Plywood Marko School Chair, Netherlands, 1960s
By Marko
Located in Voorburg, NL
Very comfortable Industrial Marko Plywood school chair, produced by Marko Holland in the 1960s. We only have one chair available. The chair has a black t...
Steel
$2,615Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 31.89 in W 19.3 in D 16.93 in
Set of 4 Vintage Scandinavian Midcentury Modern Teak Wood & Fabric Dining Chairs
By Glostrup Møbelfabrik
Located in Warszawa, Mazowieckie
This set of four modernist chairs was manufactured by the Danish manufacturer Glostrup Møbelfabrik during the 1960s. They are made of solid teak in a warm shade of brown. The seat is...
Fabric, Teak
$3,661 / item
H 32.09 in W 22.45 in D 22.45 in
Marlon Modern Dining Chair, Upholstered Fabric, Solid Wood, Portugal
Located in Frazão, Porto
The impressive design of the MARLON chair was thought to accommodate and comfort you, thanks to its enveloping shape. The bold design finds balance in the relaxing, immersive seating...
Leather, Fabric, Faux Leather, Wood
$2,759 / item
H 33.08 in W 23.63 in D 24.41 in
Invicta Dining Chair in Velvet, Modern Design, Solid Wood, Portugal
Located in Frazão, Porto
The Invicta dining chair is a unique piece, and the impressive design with just one leg in the back, in solid wood, will make the dining room a so...
Fabric, Lacquer, Upholstery, Wood
$950 / item
H 32.29 in W 20.87 in D 21.26 in
Contemporary Chair in Natural Solid Wood, Upholstered, Natural Wood Back, Arms
By SIMONINI
Located in Vila Cordeiro, São Paulo
Dry chair collection. The dry chair concept is to work in a mixture of distinct references resulting in a modern classic in a dance between the retro and the modern. A heavy and i...
Leather, Textile, Upholstery, Laminate, Hardwood
$1,282Sale Price / item|10% Off
H 29.75 in W 24.25 in D 20.25 in
White Oak Dining Chair with Leather Seat / Dining Chair GH1
By Klein Agency
Located in Los Angeles, CA
We’ve been tasked to design an effortless, elegant, honest and most importantly comfortable dining chair for Chef Eric Bost, whose restaurant Auburn, we've been designing for the past few years. After a good year...
Leather, Oak
1950s Rex Folding Plywood Chairs, Set of 4
By Niko Kralj
Located in High Point, NC
This cleverly folded plywood chair, is minimal, practical and functional. World renowned by designers for it's "calm contemporary elegance and a feelin...
Plywood