S33 Side Chair by Mart Stam, 1926

• Designed By - Mart Stam
• When - 1926
• Made From - Lacquered cast tubular steel and leather
• Manufactured By - SCP
• More Info - This is one of the earliest examples of a cantilever chair and it has a very springy frame. The leather or fabric seat and back are held in place by lacing which looks like the back of a corset.

Utrecht Chair by Gerrit Rietveld, 1935

• Designed By - Gerrit Rietveld
• When - 1935
• Made From - Steel frame, Polyurethane foam and polyester padding and fabric upholstery
• Manufactured By - Cassina
• More Info - This low armchair is not one of Rietveld’s best known designs but is an interesting and quite modern looking chair. It was actually his first upholstered lounge chair design. It has lovely white stitching along the edges, which stands out especially well against black fabric. It is available upholstered in fabric or leather in many different colours and has been manufactured by Cassina since 1988 which marked 100 years since his birth. There are also two-seater and three-seater sofa versions of it.

LC7 Swivel Chair by Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret and Charlotte Periand, 1928

• Designed By - Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret, Charlotte Periand 
• When - 1928
• Made From - Tubular stainless steel and leather upholstery
• Manufactured By - Cassina
• More Info - This chair was designed as part of the 'Living equipment' collection by le Corbusier at the Salon d'Automne in Paris 1929. It has a swivelling seat, designed to make it easier to talk to people around you without straining your neck or back. It is currently included in the design collection of the Museum Of Modern Art. It is available upholstered in black leather and cream, grey, red or black fabric. The tubular steel frame is available in polished chrome, matte black, gloss black, gloss grey, gloss light blue and gloss green. There is also now an ‘LC7 Outdoor’ edition.

Womb Chair by Eero Saarinen, 1948

• Designed By - Eero Saarinen
• When - 1948
• Made From - Upholstery, fiberglass and steel rods
• Manufactured By - Knoll
• More Info - This chair is designed to make whoever is sitting in it feel relaxed and secure and it is a good chair to curl up in, which is why it was named the Womb chair. It is available with wool, fabric or leather upholstery in many different colours. There are three adult sizes and there is a child’s version. There is a matching ottoman.

Ingram Street Chair by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, 1900

• Designed By - Charles Rennie Mackintosh
• When - 1900
• Made From - Oak and upholstery
• Manufactured By - Cassina
• More Info - This tall, elegant chair was designed for the Ingram Street Tea Rooms in Glasgow. This high back version is 148cm tall. There is also a lower back dining chair version. It is available in natural or black lacquered oak or ash. The seat is available upholstered in leather and a variety of fabrics.

Paimio Chair (model 41) by Alvar Aalto, 1932

• Designed By - Alvar Aalto
• When - 1932
• Made From - Laminated birch plywood and birch frame
• Manufactured By - Artek
• More Info - This chair was designed by Aalto for his Paimio Sanatorium which is a hospital in Finland. This is the most well known and popular of Aalto’s chairs. The seat and back of this cantilever chair are formed from a single piece of laminated birch ply in a beautiful scroll shape and fulfil Aalto’s desire to push shape and structure to the extremes but still using natural materials. The chair was designed to assist the posture and breathing of patients with TB, making then feel more comfortable. The chair caused a considerable stir when it was exhibited at Fortnum and Mason in London in 1933 as it was technologically groundbreaking and very different from anything else that had been seen before. It was inspired by Marcel Breuer’s Wassily Chair. It is the best known piece of furniture made by Artek and they are still made in the same factory, using some of the same tool and wood from the same forests as when they were first produced. It is in the permanent collection of many museums including MoMA. It is available with a white or black seat.

Model 412 Cab Chair by Mario Bellini, 1977

• Designed By - Mario Bellini
• When - 1977
• Made From - Steel frame and leather
• Manufactured By - Cassina
• More Info - This chair has an enamelled steel frame with a leather skin on top that zips up at the sides. It has a very simple form but the leather covering gives it a twist and makes it very tactile. It received the 1979 ASID & ROSCOE awards and is included in collections in the Museum of Modern Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The design is also available as an armchair and a barstool and it is available in 9 colours.

F585 by Geoffrey Harcourt, 1967

• Designed By - Geoffrey Harcourt
• When - 1967
• Made From - Foam upholstered shell, powder coated metal base
• Manufactured By - Artifort
• More Info - This comfortable, quite futuristic looking chair is part of a series of chairs which are all the same shape but have different heights and widths, and a matching ottoman. There are many fabric and leather upholstery options to choose from and the base is available in different colours and finishes.

Embryo Chair by Marc Newson, 1988

• Designed By - Marc Newson
• When - 1988
• Made From - Moulded polyurethane foam, chromed steel, bi-elastic fabric
• Manufactured By - de de ce (in Sydney) and by Idee (in Tokyo)
• More Info - This chair was designed for Cappellini. It is a simple smooth shape and is available in many colours. It only has three legs, the front two legs are joined and run through the chair. The Embryo chair was the first Newson chair to go into production. The Embryo chair looks familiar now, but its rounded shape was radically new 20 years ago. Newson said “no one was making things in bright colours that were curvy and seductive and sensual. I’d been subconsciously developing a style, and with that piece I think I defined what that style was.”

Amoebe Chair by Verner Panton, 1970

• Designed By - Verner Panton
• When - 1970
• Made From - Laminated structure, foam and wool upholstery
• Manufactured By - Vitra
• More Info - This low, curvy lounge chair is very attractive and very comfortable as it has a flexible back. There was also a high back version designed. The upholstery is available in purple, black, brown, white blue, red, grey, orange and green upholstery.

Military Chair by Gerrit Rietveld, 1923

• Designed By - Gerrit Rietveld
• When - 1923
• Made From - Painted plywood and chromed steel bolts
• Manufactured By - G.A. Van De Groenkan
• More Info - Rietveld was commissioned to make furniture for the Katholiek Militair Tehuis (Catholic Serviceman’s Home) in Utrecht in 1923. There is also a matching table and stool: the ‘Military Table’ and ‘Military Stool’. They are available in black, grey, white, black and red, black and white and black and yellow.

Peacock Chair by Hans J Wegner, 1947

• Designed By - Hans J Wegner
• When - 1947
• Made From - Ash and cord
• Manufactured By - Johannes Hansen
• More Info - This wonderful chair gets its name from it’s fan-like back which resembles a peacocks tail feathers. It was inspired by a traditional Windsor chair. The spindles are flattened in the area a person’s shoulders would rest for comfort. It is available made from walnut, maple, ash and oak and with either a natural or black woven cord seat.

Ball Chair by Eero Aarnio, 1963

• Designed By - Eero Aarnio
• When - 1963
• Made From - Fibreglass shell and upholstered with foam and Danish wool
• Manufactured By - Adelta
• More Info - The Ball Chair was designed by simple cutting off part of a sphere. It is a very unconventional chair, especially for it’s time. Because there are sort of walls around you when you sit in it, it is very cosy and is like a private space. It is sometimes called the Globe Chair and is considered a classic of industrial design. It was originally upholstered only in red fabric but now many colours are available and other version such as ones with MP3 player integration have been created. Larger ones have also been made however the original was designed to be able to fit through a doorway.

ND-04 Armchair by Nanna Ditzel, 1995

• Designed By - Nanna Ditzel
• When - 1995
• Made From - Wood and upholstery
• Manufactured By - Kitani Co.
• More Info - The back and armrest of this chair is just one U-shaped piece of bent wood. It is a very simple and versatile chair which makes it useable in a large range of places.

Hill House Chair by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, 1902

• Designed By - Charles Rennie Mackintosh
• When - 1902
• Made From - Ashwood frame stained black and velvet seat upholstery
• Manufactured By - Cassina
• More Info - This chair is named after the Hill House in Scotland, and was exclusively designed for the 'White Bedroom'. It was designed to be decorative and is certainly a very aesthetically pleasing design. It is geometric and minimalist and looks quite modern for when it was designed. The high back supports the body and it is actually very stable. It is 141cm tall. The chair is available upholstered in many colours of fabric and more recently, leather.

Statuette Chair by Lloyd Schwan, 1995

• Designed By - Lloyd Schwan
• When - 1995
• Made From - Lacquered fibreglass, steel and beech
• Manufactured By - Cappellini
• More Info - This chair has is very elegant  and is really more of a sculpture than a chair. It does have arms on it which can be used to put small objects on. It had a sturdy metal base and the chair is available in 7 colours. It was designed for Cappellini.

Crown Chair by Tom Dixon, 1989

• Designed By - Tom Dixon
• When - 1989
• Made From - Steel and gold leaf
• Manufactured By - Unknown
• More Info - As with many of Dixon’s designs, this chair is more of a sculpture than a chair, it is not very comfortable. There is also a plain steel version.

Dr. No by Philippe Starck, 1996

• Designed By - Philippe Starck
• When - 1996
• Made From - Polypropylene and aluminium
• Manufactured By - Kartell
• More Info - This stylish chair is comfortable, light, easy to clean, very suitable for restaurant use and made from a recyclable plastic. It is suitable for indoor and outdoor use and can easily withstand temperature changes. It can be stacked up to four high and is available in many colours, mainly pastel shades. There is matching table: the ‘Dr. Na’.

Bird Chair by Harry Bertoia, 1952

• Designed By - Harry Bertoia
• When - 1952
• Made From - Steel
• Manufactured By - Knoll
• More Info - This beautiful wire chair was designed as part of the Bertoia Seating Collection in 1952. It is available with no upholstery, only seat upholstery or fully upholstered and in a range of colours. There is also a matching ottoman.

Model 406 Armchair by Alvar Aalto, 1939

• Designed By - Alvar Aalto
• When - 1939
• Made From - Birch and linen webbing
• Manufactured By - Artek
• More Info - This chair is a variation of the chaise lounge Aalto designed for the Finnish Pavilion at the Paris shows. It has a beautiful cantilevered, bent birch frame which really pushes what bent wood can do. The comfortable woven seat and back are made of linen webbing which is available in 6 colours.

MR10 Chair by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, 1927

• Designed By - Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
• When - 1927
• Made From - Chrome-plated tubular steel and leather
• Manufactured By - Thonet
• More Info - This cantilever side chair was one of many similar tubular steel chairs designed by architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and interior designer Lilly Reich, for the buildings van der Rohe designed. It is available with a wicker seat and back and with or without arms.

Plastic Orgone Chair by Marc Newson, 1998

• Designed By - Marc Newson
• When - 1998
• Made From - Polyethylene
• Manufactured By - Artificial
• More Info - This is a plastic version of the Orgone chair which was designed in 1983 and made from aluminium. It is made in one piece by rotation moulding procedure. It is very comfortable because the shape seems to be moulded to the shape of the back and the seat is slightly flexible. It is lightweight and strong. The chair has three stout legs and is hollow which means it could also be used for storage . It can be used both inside and outside and is available in many colours.

Lady Chair by Marco Zanuso, 1951

• Designed By - Marco Zanuso
• When - 1951
• Made From - Wooden frame, chromed tubular metal, foam and fabric
• Manufactured By - Arflex
• More Info - It was awarded a Gold Medal at the Milan Triennale of 1951 for its design, concept and production method. The fabric upholstery is available in many colours and patterns. The metal legs come in aluminium, gold or black colour.

Cesca Chair by Marcel Breuer, 1928

• Designed By - Marcel Breuer
• When - 1928
• Made From - Tubular steel, solid beech, woven cane
• Manufactured By - Standard-Möbel, then Thonet, then Gallina, then Knoll
• More Info - This is one of the best known and most popular of all cantilever chair designs. It was originally called the B32 but in 1960 it was renamed Cesca after Breuer’s daughter Francesca. It was designed by Breuer while he was still teaching at the Bauhaus and is a popular choice for a dining chair. An original is included in MoMA’s permanent collection and the curator there, Cara McCarty, said “it’s among the 10 most important chairs of the 20th century”. It is also available fully upholstered and with arms.

W.W Stool by Philippe Starck, 1990

• Designed By - Philippe Starck
• When - 1990
• Made From - Varnished sand-cast aluminium
• Manufactured By - Vitra
• More Info - This is a very sculptural stool and definitely more focused on form than function as there is barely a surface to sit on. It seems to resemble a root or sprout of a plant. It was designed as part of a fantasy office environment for film director, Wim Wenders.

Red and Blue Chair by Gerrit Rietveld, 1918

• Designed By - Gerrit Rietveld
• When - 1918
• Made From - Wood
• Manufactured By - Cassina
• More Info - This iconic lounge chair is one of the most well known designs from the De Stijl art movement and one of the first 3D pieces done in the style. The colours were added in 1923. It was influenced by the artwork of Piet Mondrian, as it is made up of straight lines and only uses black and the three primary colours: blue, red and yellow. It is shown in the permanent collection at MoMA. A white version was also made. A self assembly kit for one is now available so you can make your own.

Trinadad Chair by Nanna Ditzel, 1993

• Designed By - Nanna Ditzel
• When - 1993
• Made From - Beech, steel
• Manufactured By - Fredericia Furniture
• More Info - This light and elegant stacking chair is a modern classic and Nanna Ditzel’s greatest success. The chair won the 1995 ID Prize. It is available with and without armrests and there is also a bar stool version. The legs come in matte chrome, black, and metallic grey paint and the back and seat in maple, cherry, beech, birch and walnut, as well as many colours of lacquer. Trinidad chair is also available with an upholstered seat in fabric or leather.

DCM by Charles and Ray Eames, 1946

• Designed By - Charles and Ray Eames
• When - 1946
• Made From - Moulded plywood and chrome plated steel with rubber shock mounts
• Manufactured By - Herman Miller, then Vitra
• More Info - DCM stands for Dining Chair Metal. The moulded plywood seat and back are shaped to fit the human body, making it very comfortable. It is one of a series of plywood chairs designed by the Eames’. It was exhibited at MoMA in 1946 and became in instant success. It was named Best Design Of The 20th Century by Time Magazine. Versions of the chair that have three legs were produced but were too unstable so weren’t put into production. It is available in many different woods, colours and pony hides.

Platner Lounge Chair by Warren Platner, 1966

• Designed By - Warren Platner
• When - 1966
• Made From - Steel wire rod, moulded fibreglass shell and moulded latex foam cushion
• Manufactured By - Knoll
• More Info - This is one of two chairs from Platner’s Lounge collection of sculptural furniture which is made using steel wire to create a very fine, graceful effect. The collection won the American Institute of Architects International Award in1966. The upholstery is available in 12 colours and the wire base in bright nickel with clear lacquer protection or painted bronze metallic frame.

Tomato Chair by Eero Aarnio, 1971

• Designed By - Eero Aarnio
• When - 1971
• Made From - Fiberglass
• Manufactured By - Adelta
• More Info - This sculptural chair is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. The chair came about because Aarnio wanted to create a chair that is balanced enough to float on water. It got it’s name because at the front it has two circle shapes, which resemble the word tomato.

Felt Chair by Marc Newson, 1989

• Designed By - Marc Newson
• When - 1989
• Made From - Polish lacquered fibreglass, metal
• Manufactured By - Cappellini
• More Info - This chair has become a modern classic. It’s simplicity and beautiful shiny surface make it very attractive. It is suitable for indoor and outdoor use. It is available in red, green, black, yellow, blue, orange and white. There is also a leather version.

Wertheim Chair by Peter Behrens, 1902

• Designed By - Peter Behrens
• When - 1902
• Made From - Oak and woven rush
• Manufactured By - Anton Blüggel
• More Info - This chair was designed as part of a dining room in the ‘modern interiors’ exhibition at the Wertheim department store in Berlin.

Balzac Chair by Matthew Hilton, 1991

• Designed By - Matthew Hilton
• When - 1991
• Made From - Beech frame, steel springs, elasticated webbing, foam and leather upholstery
• Manufactured By - SCP
• More Info - This is a voluptuous armchair for slouching and relaxing. It resembles Gerard Van Den Berg’s Loge Easy Chair. It is SCP’s best selling chair. It is available upholstered in a choice of leathers and fabrics and there is a matching ottoman: the Balzac footstool. There is also a two-seater and a three-seater sofa version of the design. It is permanently shown in many museums including the Geffrye Museum in London.

C1 Lounge Chair by Verner Panton, 1959

• Designed By - Verner Panton
• When - 1959
• Made From - Laminated body, brushed stainless steel base and central tube, polyurethane foam upholstery
• Manufactured By - Vitra
• More Info - This chairs shape is basically a section of a sphere that  is on a tilt mounted on a very simple base. It is comfortable leaning back and sitting upright in. It is available an many colours and has a matching ottoman.

BA3 Dining Chair by Ernst Race, 1945

• Designed By - Ernst Race
• When - 1945
• Made From - Cast aluminium alloy, upholstered plywood seat and back
• Manufactured By - Race Furniture Ltd.
• More Info - This chair was originally made from re-cast scrap aluminium that was left over from the aircraft industry as there was a shortage of wood in Britain at the time. It was shown at the ‘Britain Can Make It’ exhibition in 1946 and it won a Gold Medal  at the Milan Triennale of 1951 and became Race’s first major success. It was one of the first mass produced pieces of furniture made in Britain and 250,000 were sold between 1945 and 1969. It is in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, New York, the V&A Museum, London and the Brighton Pavilion Museum, Brighton. The chair is available in many different fabrics. There is also a version with arms.

Little Tulip Chair by Pierre Paulin, 1965

• Designed By - Pierre Paulin
• When - 1965
• Made From - Upholstered shell, chrome base
• Manufactured By - Artifort
• More Info - This chair is a lower version of the Tulip chair, which has a head rest. There is also a barstool version and one with a cross base. It is a very elegant and inviting chair which would make a perfect side, dining or desk chair. It is available upholstered in leather or fabric in many colours.

S Chair by Tom Dixon, 1992

• Designed By - Tom Dixon
• When - 1992
• Made From - Steel frame, wicker or straw
• Manufactured By - Cappellini
• More Info - This iconic chair is a beautiful piece and  a very comfy seat. It is elegant and very sculptural because it is just one curved shape. Cappellini first introduced the S-Chair in 1989 and it is now in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York. It is now available in leather and a variety of fabrics. It was the piece that made Dixon into a famous designer. 

Landi Chair by Hans Coray, 1938

• Designed By - Hans Coray
• When - 1938
• Made From - Aluminium with rubber feet
• Manufactured By - Zanotta
• More Info - This chair was designed for the Swiss National Exhibition ‘Landesausstellung’ which was nicknamed ‘Landi’ which was how the chair got it’s name. It is Coray’s best known piece. This is a very light, strong and durable chair. It only weighs 7 pounds (3kg) and is stackable, making it very practical. The back and seat are made from a single piece of aluminium and the legs are screwed on. The holes punched in the seat and back make the chair lighter and create graphic patterns and shadows. It is suitable for use inside and outside, but is mainly used outside. It is available in either plain aluminium or with a white or cream finish.