"Chair design is so difficult that even designing skyscrapers can be easier."
— German designer Ludwig Mies van der Rohe

Chairs are indispensable elements in everyone’s life. A successful chair is not just a fusion of engineering, materials, form, and function—it represents the pinnacle of artistic achievement.

The 20th century marked the golden age of modern chair design. Rapid advancements in production technology provided designers with more material choices, like handing the world’s most esteemed architects a new magic wand. As a result, a plethora of classic chairs emerged, showcasing the talent and inspiration of their creators.

1. Thonet <209>

1900 / Austria

When plastic and plywood could be molded into incredible shapes, chairs began evolving into a design fashion. In 1900, Austrian and German cabinet maker Michael Thonet revolutionized furniture by inventing bentwood pieces.

The Thonet 209 armchair, made from just six pieces of bentwood, remains one of the world’s most recognizable designs. Le Corbusier used these chairs in all his early avant-garde buildings, as they were the only chairs he felt matched the modernity of his architecture. To this day, they continue to captivate us.

2. Le Corbusier

1928 / France

Co-designed by Charlotte Perriand and Pierre Jeanneret, the Grand Confort is a masterpiece featuring an open frame and comfortable cushions. Corbu described it as a "cushion basket."

With its chrome-plated exoskeleton and classic leather cushions, it set the trend for luxurious comfort in international furniture design from the 1930s to the 1970s.

3. Ludwig Mies van der Rohe

1929 / Germany

Designed for the German Pavilion at the 1929 Barcelona International Exhibition, this chair was never intended for mass production.

It is one of the 20th century’s most famous objects, akin to the Rolex and Rolls-Royce of chairs, and a symbol of the modern movement. Its slightly industrial steel frame paired with luxurious leather seating is both modern and timeless.

4. Marcel Breuer

1928 / Germany

Two significant milestones in modern furniture history are Breuer’s masterpieces: the Wassily and B32/Cesca chairs.

The Wassily chair, inspired by bicycle frames and influenced by De Stijl’s constructivist theories, transformed classic club chairs into basic lines and planes, altering the course of furniture design.

The B32/Cesca chair, created in 1928, is considered the first bent tubular steel chair design and the first mass-produced chair. Its simple design combines the tubular steel aesthetic of the industrial age with rattan and wood, providing a bouncy, cloud-like seating experience that quickly became popular among the wealthy and fashionable.

5. Eileen Gray

1927 / France

Inspired by steamship deck chairs, this piece is named after the abbreviation for "transatlantic." The frame features intricate joinery and chrome brackets, with the seat being a suspended sling with a swiveling headrest.

In an era dominated by male designers, Eileen Gray’s designs stood out, meriting study and collection. Her Dragons armchair, designed around 1917, once owned by Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé, fetched $27.8 million at a 2009 auction, making it the most expensive chair ever sold.

6. Eames

1956 / 1946 / USA

Charles and Ray Eames’ chairs are akin to the iPhone of the design world—revolutionizing the field. The 1950s saw the rise of modern icons defining the mid-century modernist movement, led by the Eames duo. They pioneered new techniques with molded plywood, striving to "get the best to the most for the least."

The Lounge & Ottoman, an upgraded version of their early molded plywood experiments, features luxurious leather and plush cushioning, capable of swiveling and tilting. Paired with a stylish footrest, it quickly became synonymous with high taste.

The LCW (Lounge Chair Wood) series, significant for its historical importance, debuted during WWII with innovative lightweight leg splints, later adapted for their famous plywood chairs, becoming a true icon of the 20th century.

7. Eero Saarinen

1955 / USA

This Finnish-American designer’s venture into single-material, single-form chairs revolutionized traditional design. Saarinen sought to "clear up the slum of legs" and make chairs unified entities again.

Inspired by 1960s pop culture, Saarinen designed a series of one-legged furniture resembling flowers or stemmed glasses. The result was epic, majestic, and beautiful like a tulip.

8. Hans Wegner

1949 / 1954 / Denmark

The Danish design master Hans Wegner created iconic pieces that have stood the test of time.

The Wishbone chair, essential to Scandinavian style, was designed in 1949 for Carl Hansen & Søn and has been in continuous production since its debut. Its unique Y-shaped back provides stable support for the steam-bent top, with a geometric seat woven from about 120 meters of paper cord, lasting up to 50 years.

The Papa Bear chair, while not the most innovative, ranks highest in comfort. Its precisely calculated spacing and depth, carefully considered angles, and materials make it a perfect, cozy cradle, where once you sit, you never want to stand up. It remains hand-crafted to this day.

9. Arne Jacobsen

1958 / Denmark

Jacobsen designed the Egg and a series of furniture for the SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen, which quickly became world favorites.

Following pioneers like Mies van der Rohe and Breuer, modernism continued to evolve. In 1958, Danish architect and designer Arne Jacobsen introduced The Egg. To achieve the perfect shape, he sculpted the shell-like exterior in his basement using clay. Decades later, this futuristic piece still looks as timeless as when it was first designed, embodying sexiness, softness, mystery, and elegance.

10. Verner Panton

1960 / Denmark

Created by Danish designer Verner Panton in the 1960s, it was the first chair made entirely of plastic and produced as a single piece.

Designed around 1960, it was not mass-produced until 1967 with Vitra. The Panton chair exudes "Swinging Sixties" vibes and has won multiple international design awards, featured in numerous renowned museums.