Skip to main content

Items Similar to Rare 'People Chair' by John Risley, 1960s, Hand-Welded Steel, Mid-Century Modern

“Orque” Chair by Jean-Philippe Gleizes France, France 1985

“Orque” Chair by Jean-Philippe Gleizes France, France 1985

“Giraffe” Sculptural Prototype Chair by Architect, France, c. 1960

“Giraffe” Sculptural Prototype Chair by Architect, France, c. 1960

A Sculptural CONSTRUCTIVIST BRUTALIST chair by GIJS BOELAARS, Holland 1970

A Sculptural CONSTRUCTIVIST BRUTALIST chair by GIJS BOELAARS, Holland 1970

A Sculptural MID-CENTURY-MODERN MODERNIST CHAIR by RAOUL GUYS, France 1950

A Sculptural MID-CENTURY-MODERN MODERNIST CHAIR by RAOUL GUYS, France 1950

Rare vintage mid century figural chair by John Risley, USA 1960s

Rare vintage mid century figural chair by John Risley, USA 1960s

Matteo Grassi Sculptural Lounge Chair 'Equity' by Jacques Harold Pollard, 1987

Matteo Grassi Sculptural Lounge Chair 'Equity' by Jacques Harold Pollard, 1987

Video Loading

Want more images or videos?

Request additional images or videos from the seller

1 of 10

Rare 'People Chair' by John Risley, 1960s, Hand-Welded Steel, Mid-Century Modern

$3,210

£2,400.97

€2,806.94

CA$4,537.81

A$4,558.82

CHF 2,629.57

MX$55,478.55

NOK 30,546.10

SEK 30,985.72

DKK 20,983.53

About the Item

A sculptural “People Chair” by American artist and designer John Risley, rendered in hand-welded steel rod and finished in its characteristic black. Created in the early 1960s, Risley’s figural chairs translate the human body into a continuous line—playful, graphic, and unmistakably modern. Part furniture, part drawing in space, the chair depicts a stylized seated figure whose form emerges through a rhythm of curves and symmetry. Though whimsical at first glance, Risley’s work is rooted in a rigorous exploration of proportion, line, and structure—aligning him with the broader language of mid-century modern design while existing slightly outside of it. Originally produced both as one-off studio pieces and later through a 1963 Raymor line, these chairs were meticulously crafted from thin steel rods, designed for both indoor and outdoor use. Today, they are celebrated for their sculptural presence and the distinctive shadows they cast—objects that animate a space even when unoccupied. With its anthropomorphic form and light, open construction, the People Chair embodies Risley’s enduring idea: that a chair can be both a functional object and a character in the room. A rare and increasingly collectible example of American mid-century design at the intersection of art and utility.

Creator:
John Risley (Designer)
Dimensions:
Height: 52 in (132.08 cm)Width: 23 in (58.42 cm)Depth: 17.75 in (45.09 cm)Seat Height: 16 in (40.64 cm)
Materials and Techniques:
Paint,Steel,Welded
Place of Origin:
United States
Period:
1960-1969
Date of Manufacture:
1960s
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use.
Seller Location:
Montréal, CA
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU10850249257142

More From This Seller

Rare 'People Chair' by John Risley, Hand-Welded Steel, Mid-Century Modern

Rare 'People Chair' by John Risley, Hand-Welded Steel, Mid-Century Modern

Rare 'People Chair' by John Risley, Hand-Welded Steel, Mid-Century Modern

By John Risley

Located in Montréal, CA

A sculptural “People Chair” by American artist and designer John Risley, rendered in hand-welded steel rod and finished in its characteristic black. Created in the early 1960s, Risle...

Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Steel

Kwok Hoï Chan Kaïdo chair for Steiner, France, 1968

Kwok Hoï Chan Kaïdo chair for Steiner, France, 1968

Kwok Hoï Chan Kaïdo chair for Steiner, France, 1968

By Kwok Hoi Chan

Located in Montréal, CA

A striking example of French avant-garde design at its most sculptural, this Kaïdo lounge chair by Kwok Hoï Chan for Steiner is one of the most coveted and collectible pieces to emer...

Category

Vintage 1960s French Lounge Chairs

Materials

Velvet

Tom Dixon "Banana Chair" Wire Frame for Cappellini, 1988, 1st Edition

Tom Dixon "Banana Chair" Wire Frame for Cappellini, 1988, 1st Edition

Tom Dixon "Banana Chair" Wire Frame for Cappellini, 1988, 1st Edition

By Cappellini, Tom Dixon

Located in Montréal, CA

Tom Dixon designed the Banana Chair in 1988 for Cappellini, during the period that followed his breakout S Chair and cemented his reputation as a leading voice of British Creative Sa...

Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Industrial Lounge Chairs

Materials

Metal

20th Century Standing Figures Brutalist Copper Sculpture, Circa 1950

20th Century Standing Figures Brutalist Copper Sculpture, Circa 1950

20th Century Standing Figures Brutalist Copper Sculpture, Circa 1950

By Jordi Bonet

Located in Montréal, CA

A sculptural grouping composed of four stylized standing figures in copper, arranged in a tight circular formation. Each figure is defined by a simplified, architectural silhouette—f...

Category

Mid-20th Century Canadian Brutalist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Copper

Resin side table by Gaetano Pesce for Fish Design, Italy, circa 1990s–2000s

Resin side table by Gaetano Pesce for Fish Design, Italy, circa 1990s–2000s

Resin side table by Gaetano Pesce for Fish Design, Italy, circa 1990s–2000s

By Fish Design, Gaetano Pesce

Located in Montréal, CA

A striking sculptural side table by Gaetano Pesce, produced in Italy for the Fish Design collection. The table features a boldly colored, organically shaped top in hand-worked pigme...

Category

1990s Italian Side Tables

Materials

Steel

Rare Early Tom Dixon Gold Spiral Floor Lamp, c.1989

Rare Early Tom Dixon Gold Spiral Floor Lamp, c.1989

Rare Early Tom Dixon Gold Spiral Floor Lamp, c.1989

By Tom Dixon

Located in Montréal, CA

A rare and highly collectible early work by Tom Dixon, the Spiral Floor Lamp was designed in 1989 and is credited by the designer as his “first real lamp,” marking the beginning of h...

Category

Vintage 1980s British Floor Lamps

Materials

Steel, Gold Leaf

You May Also Like

Rare vintage mid century figural chair by John Risley, USA 1960s

Rare vintage mid century figural chair by John Risley, USA 1960s

Rare vintage mid century figural chair by John Risley, USA 1960s

By John Risley

Located in Hastings, GB

Rare whimsical mid century figural chair by John Risley, USA 1960s. Great as a sculptural accent. Black steel in the form of a rather demure lady

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Steel

Unique sculptural metal chair, France 1960s

Unique sculptural metal chair, France 1960s

Unique sculptural metal chair, France 1960s

Located in Rotterdam, ZH

Unique sculptural metal chair, France 1960s. Beautiful aerodynamic flowing shapes resulting in an outstanding sculptural object. The surface of ...

Category

Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Metal

Alain Gaubert Sculptural Low Chair, circa 1950s, France

Alain Gaubert Sculptural Low Chair, circa 1950s, France

Alain Gaubert Sculptural Low Chair, circa 1950s, France

By Alain Gaubert

Located in Tokyo, Tokyo

Rare and unique sculptural low chair in black designed by French designer Alain Gaubert. The chair can be used in 3 different positions; to sit on the chair normally as a low chair,...

Category

Vintage 1950s French Lounge Chairs

Materials

Beech, Plywood

French Brutalist Wrought Iron Accent Chair by Jean-Jacques Argueyrolles

French Brutalist Wrought Iron Accent Chair by Jean-Jacques Argueyrolles

French Brutalist Wrought Iron Accent Chair by Jean-Jacques Argueyrolles

By Jean-Jacques Argueyrolles

Located in Chicago, IL

Sold and priced individually. This French Brutalist accent chair by Jean-Jacques Argueyrolles rejects convention in favor of mythic geometry. Crafted from iron, its back is defined ...

Category

1990s French Brutalist Side Chairs

Materials

Iron

Stage Chair by João Filgueiras Lima (Lelé), 1960s, Brazilian Mid-century Modern

Stage Chair by João Filgueiras Lima (Lelé), 1960s, Brazilian Mid-century Modern

Stage Chair by João Filgueiras Lima (Lelé), 1960s, Brazilian Mid-century Modern

Located in New York, NY

Stage Chair produced for the Music Auditorium of the University of Brasília. The seat and backrest are made of leather that passes through two wooden crossbars, forming the base of ...

Category

Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Iron

Jelle Jelles D60 chair TH Delft the Netherlands 1960

Jelle Jelles D60 chair TH Delft the Netherlands 1960

Jelle Jelles D60 chair TH Delft the Netherlands 1960

By Jelle Jelles

Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant

D60 Side Chair designed by Jelle Jelles for Technische Hogeschool Delft in The Netherlands 1960. This ultra-rare D60 chair is an outstanding example of postwar Dutch architectural de...

Category

Vintage 1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Steel