Trends come and go but somethings never date. The dining table is the centrepiece of every home, especially at this time of year. Although the table has the starring role dining chairs go a long way to creating a stylish table setting.
If you are looking to invest in chairs then these are heirloom choices. These chairs have been fashionable for decades and are unlikely to lose their cool any time soon. Consider these chairs an investment rather than simply another home purchase. Most of them are still in production, however those that are traded by vintage furniture dealers and are highly sought after. However owing to their popularity, if you are on a budget, it is also easy to find fairly authentic copies of these pieces of furniture.
Classic Wooden Chairs
The Thonet bentwood chair
German cabinet maker Michael Thonet first produced this chair in the 1830’s. Using steam to bend wood to achieve the graceful curves was a revolutionary technique at the time which was later patented in Austria where he relocated under the patronage of Austrian Prince Metternich.
Ercol Windsor Chairs
The windsor chair also uses the technique of steam bending to achieve it’s curves. Originally commissioned by the board of trade at the end of the war as a low cost staple. The Ercol Windsor chair has become a design classic
Hans Wegner Wishbone Chair
First produced in 1949 the Wishbone chair was a collaboration between Danish designers Hans Wegner and Carl Hansen. Originally named simply CH24 it became known as the Wishbone chair because of it’s steam bent Y back frame.
Arne Jacobsen Series 7 Chair.
Arne Jacobsen designed this chair in 1955, setting a new standard for chair design. The design is now a true icon. The most sold stackable chair in design history. Now celebrating it's 60th anniversary and still as popular as ever.
Classic Metal Chairs
Bertoia Side Chair
Created in 1952 by sculptor Harry Bertoia. Strong yet comfortable in spite of their industrial appearance. 'If you look at these chairs, they are mainly made of air, like sculpture. Space passes through them,' said Bertoia.
Tolix Chair
The classic cafe chair first designed in 1934. The galvanised chairs have holes in the seats as they designed to be used outdoors in all weathers. Cafe owners complained they did not stack. The design was revised and in 1956 the classic Tolix stacking chair was created.
Moulded Chairs
Eames DSW chairs
Ultra stylish design from husband and wife team Charles and Ray Eames. Probably the most iconic mid-century modern item of furniture you could find - in homes, offices and restaurants - pretty much everywhere in the world.
Saarinen Tulip Chair
Another mid-century classic made of moulded fibre glass with or without arms. A perfect match to the covetable Tulip table.
Panton Chair
Designed by Verner Panton the S shaped stacking chair first appeared in 1967 and is still manufactured by Vitra today.
The New Classics
The Louis Ghost Chair
Designed by modern master of design Phillipe Starck this moulded plastic chair took the design world by storm when it first appeared in 2002. Inspired by popular Louis XVI chairs style chairs but created from transparent plastics previously unseen in chair design. It was an instant hit and I think it will be around for years to come.
Kartell Masters Chair
Another Philippe Starck design which launched more recently in 2011.
Look carefully at the outlines of the chair’s form and you can trace the outlines of the 3 mid-century masters - Eero Saarinen’s Tulip chair, Charles and Ray Eames’s Eiffel chair and Arne Jacobsen’s Series 7 chair - Pure genius!
Kartell Masters Chair - £159 from nest.co.uk
Gubi Beetle Chair
Launched in 2013 I’m tipping this one to become a modern classic. There are several versions - a dining chair, swivel chair, a lounge chair, bar stool and even a sofa. There is also a choice of upholstery fabrics including leather.
They particularly suit the current trend for velvet and I’m predicting beetle-mania is here to stay.
Tell us your favourite chair in the comments.