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Mid-Century Modern Furniture Icons
Innovations in manufacturing helped usher in the mid-century modern era, along with an egalitarian ethos that sought to guarantee great design was available for everyone. Explore some of our most iconic mid-century modern furniture favorites.
Eames® Lounge Chair with Ottoman by Herman Miller®
Arguably the best recognized mid-century modern lounge chair ever produced, this ultra-comfortable classic is still a favorite in modern homes thanks to a wide range of finishes and upholstery options.
Nelson Thin Edge Bed, Metal Base by Herman Miller®
George Nelson's modernist design endures with practical versatility. This timeless piece is all angles, with a natural cane headboard to soften the look just enough for the modern boudoir.
One of the most comfortable chairs ever conceived of from two masters of modern design. Florence Knoll challenged Eero Saarinen to create a lounge chair she could curl up in, and the resulting design becomes more covetable with each passing year.
CH24 Wishbone Chair by Carl Hansen
A Danish modern classic inspired by an Imperial Chinese design, Hans Wegner's masterpiece has been in continuous production since 1950. Each chair is handcrafted to the exact specifications of the original design, which hasn't changed in 70 years.
Noguchi Table by Herman Miller®
Sculptor Isamu Noguchi reiterated on his own prototype to create this famous coffee table after an English furniture designer appropriated his original idea. His act of revenge was the world's gain, and this legendary design increases in popularity as the decades pass.
The first chair to be produced as one single piece of plastic, Verner Panton's original cantilevered design required years of innovation and testing to get right. But did they ever get it right. This iconic chair is a testament to collaboration and the pursuit of perfection.
Saarinen Round Dining Table by Knoll
Designed to solve for the visual clutter of table and chair legs, the Pedestal collection designed by Eero Saarinen offers an elegant but approachable look suitable for both casual and high-end settings. This beautiful design is one of the best recognized and imitated tables of the modern era.
1966 Collection Lounge Chair with Arms by Knoll
Florence Knoll’s vision for a chic chair that could go anywhere was realized by Richard Schultz in the 1966 Collection. The vinyl fabric and aluminum frame are durable enough to last at least as long as this chair has been in style, and the available colorways all but guarantee a perfect fit in any modern home.
Combining the Eameses' knack for moulded plywood with an Eastern influence, Sori Yanagi's beloved design is fluid and delicate yet strong. Yanagi's aptitude for merging Japanese tradition with modern industrial design made him one of the most important designers of the mid-century era.
CH07 Lounge Chair by Carl Hansen
While initially not a runaway success at its 1963 launch, Hans Wegner's design eventually became a hit when it was relaunched in the 1990s. This chair makes great use of its materials, with the pressed hardwood laminate frame achieving seamless, swooping lines that wouldn't be possible otherwise.
Pirkka Dining Collection by Artek
Traditional Finnish furniture inspired designer Ilmari Tapiovaara, first creating the Pirkka Stool as the ideal post-sauna perch. This collection is airy and flexible, suiting a wide range of interior styles with its simple lines and friendly, approachable vibe that's distinctly Nordic in character.
Once an industrial design built to last on submarines, Emeco's beloved Navy Chair has seen several iterations in size, finish and material. The original aluminum design remains indelibly popular, with the same steadfast construction that was designed to withstand the abuse of wartime under the waves.
