Iconic chairs every home should have

From dining to loungers, the chair epitomises changes in design trends more powerfully than any other type of furniture

The chair is essential for many daily tasks, and different activities and spaces in the home call for very specific types of chairs. From the late 19th century and into the 20th, chair evolution accelerated down revolutionary new avenues, with leading designers attempting to put their own spin on this indispensable piece of furniture.

From Tulips to Eggs, swivel to stacking, designers were influenced by the latest lifestyle trends, experimenting with exciting new materials such as fibreglass and plastic, while also taking influences from history, creating iconic chairs that remain popular today, both in their original vintage and contemporary forms. Here, we explore seven key chair brands and styles that should be on your wishlist.

Parker Knoll

A thoroughly British brand, the Parker Knoll story started in the drawing rooms of Victorian gentry in 1869, survived through the war years and is still going strong today. Founded on a commitment to creating well-designed and comfortable chairs, Frederick Parker learnt his craft from his father, a cabinetmaker, and passed his skills on to his own sons. Today, Parker Knoll furniture is handmade in the company’s Nottinghamshire factory.

While Parker Knoll chairs, both vintage and new, come in several styles, it was the recliner that made their name. In the 1960s, reclining chairs made by companies such as Lazy Boy became hugely popular in the States, but their success didn’t translate to the UK. In 1966, Parker Knoll launched its signature N30 reclining chair, the most expensive product they’d ever manufactured, and after moving production to their Chipping Norton factory in Oxfordshire to keep up with huge demand, they sold 250,000 recliners over the next 25 years.

In 2019, as part of the company’s 150th birthday celebrations, the Norton 150+ reclining chair was launched, retaining the retro styling of the original’s iconic curved arms and back-stitch detailing – but with modern motorised mechanics. While the original N30 chairs may be harder to find than other styles, there are still plenty of beautifully designed Parker Knoll chairs to be snapped up – with tired pieces ideal for a revamp through reupholstering – from classic wingbacks to mid-century lounge chairs or stylish 1960s swivel Statesman chairs.

To buy

Pick up an original Parker Knoll chair that’s ripe for a reupholstery project on eBay, or visit Pamono for a good selection of vintage pieces. The Parker Knoll site offers new pieces in a range of styles.

Ercol

With light, elegant proportions that work so well in modern homes, it’s not surprising that vintage Ercol remains incredibly popular. A British brand founded in 1920 in High Wycombe by an Italian designer, Lucian Ercolani, Ercol furniture is recognisable for its clean lines, functional design and quality craftsmanship.

Dining chairs are perhaps the trademark chair for collectors today, from the iconic spindle-backed rounded Windsor to the elegant high-backed, splayed legged Quaker and Goldsmith dining chairs. It’s still possible to pick up individual or sets of vintage Ercol dining chairs without blowing the budget too.

Often made using lighter woods such as elm, beech and ash, Ercol furniture looks surprisingly contemporary. The daybeds and small studio couches are perfect to use as occasional sofas in smaller spaces such as a kitchen, garden room or bedroom, while the Windsor armchairs make lovely statement pieces for living spaces, or occasional chairs for bedrooms. While you may find chairs with their original fabrics, reupholstering is a wonderful way to make them suit your style.

To buy

The Ercol brand continues to thrive today, and new collections are not a great departure from vintage pieces if you like the look. Or check out Retro Cactus, which specialises in refurbed original vintage Ercol pieces, including chairs.

Tolix

A classic French industrial design, the zinc-galvanised steel Model A Tolix chair was invented in 1934 by Xavier Pauchard. His father and grandfather were zinc roofers, and in 1907 his knowledge of metalworking led to the discovery that you could prevent sheet metal from rusting by dipping it in molten zinc, or galvanising it. Ten years later Pauchard had set up his Tolix factory producing steel household products, and the Tolix chair eventually became his most enduring invention.

The Model A was designed as an all-weather indoor and outdoor chair, complete with drainage holes in the seat. Following feedback from customers, in 1956 he tweaked the design to make the chairs slimmer and stackable which was a huge success, providing practical seating at venues ranging from pavement cafés, to hospitals, factories and offices.

The ultimate in democratic design, the Tolix was beautifully designed and built to last, but was also mass-produced, accessible and affordable. The simple, iconic design has been widely copied in the decades since, with many companies producing Tolix-style chairs. Original vintage Tolix chairs are not too difficult to find, and usually come in a natural steel colour or red, or they may have been painted and can either be stripped back to their original metal or repainted.

Robust and practical, Tolix chairs work brilliantly in the garden, conservatories or in industrial-style indoor spaces such as kitchens, workshops and studios.

To buy

Merchant & Found has a large selection of vintage Tolix, or buy new on the Tolix website.

Eames

The fruit of a powerful creative and life partnership, the Eames chairs designed by husband-and-wife team Charles and Ray Eames have become modern classics. Although they also worked on notable architecture projects, it’s their contribution to modern seating design that has become their most famous legacy.

Launched in 1950, their moulded fibreglass Shell chair was created for an international low-cost furniture design competition sponsored by MoMA. This was the first chair design with a moulded seat and backrest formed in one piece of light, robust fibreglass – a material that had never been used for furniture in this way before – and was created to meet post-war demand for functional furniture that could be mass-produced at an affordable price. The curved fibreglass seat on an aluminium base was an instant hit, and became a template for armchair, side and rocking chair designs in a variety of colours, materials and finishes.

But the Eames Lounge chair and Ottoman – two separate designs that were, and still are, often paired together – have become even more iconic. They were produced by the Herman Miller company in 1956, and the design was a departure from their simpler, sleeker pieces. This was a chair designed to sink into and relax, with a distinctive curved base made of plywood that was heated and bent into shape, and topped with leather or fabric upholstery.

Original vintage Lounge chairs are highly collectable and come with a steep price tag, while new Eames pieces are still produced today. Eames – or Eames-style – Shell chairs are a great choice for light and practical dining chairs, while the Lounge and Ottoman pairing is a classic choice for a study or reading corner.

To buy

Go to Eames.com to find originals (plus tips on how to spot the real thing), or Heal’s and The Conran Shop for contemporary pieces.

Wishbone

Hans J Wegner is a leading name in Danish mid-century chair design, creating pieces that revolutionised design history. He was responsible for classics such as the Peacock chair, which enjoyed a late bloom of success 50 years after it was first designed, and the Round chair, popularised after appearing in the televised presidential debates between Nixon and Kennedy.

In 1947, established Danish furniture makers Carl Hansen & Son took a chance on Wegner, a promising young designer with radical ideas for sleek new furnishing designs, putting five of his pieces into production in 1950. All are still made today.

Inspired by a Chinese Ming dynasty throne, it’s perhaps the Wishbone chair that is Wegner’s most enduring creation, a deceptively simple design created for Carl Hansen & Son, which takes three weeks to build, incorporating over 100 different processes. With its rounded top rail, sculptural shape and a seat made from paper spun to look like rope (sisal was scarce during the post-war years), this light yet supportive chair was a hit, and has been in continuous production ever since, although it is now available in a variety of finishes and colours.

A set of elegant Wishbones would work beautifully with a dining or breakfast table, or a single chair would make a simple and stylish addition to a bathroom or bedroom.

To buy

For original vintage Wishbone chairs and other Wegner designs, try Vinterior and VTNG. Skandium and Nest stock modern CH24 Wishbone chairs in a range of finishes, or for beautiful Wishbone-inspired designs check out Where Saints Go.

G Plan

Recognisable for its combination of timeless teak and simple contours, British brand G Plan was created to fulfil the post-war need for modern, attractive and affordable furniture. Founded by Ebenezer Gomme, his designs for pieces for every room of the home were created to be sold individually so they could be bought gradually, without breaking the budget.

By the 1960s, facing serious competition from popular Danish furniture, G Plan made a smart move and collaborated with celebrated Danish designer Ib Kofod Larsen to bring a touch of Scandi style to their own collections, cementing its reputation as the leading UK homeware brand.

While G Plan’s beautifully made mid-century vintage pieces such as sideboards and coffee tables are perhaps most sought-after today, there are several G Plan chair designs worth looking out for, from butterfly chairs with their signature curved backrests, to a classic teak carver or Fresco dining chairs, as well as the iconic swivel wingback lounge chair. This latter design, produced in the 1960s and often known as the ‘Blofeld chair’ – as it was used in at least one James Bond film – was advertised by G Plan as ‘The World’s Most Comfortable Chair’ and it swivelled, rocked and glided. Throughout the late 1960s and 70s, G Plan continued to develop its reputation for swivel chairs, producing arguably the most stylish versions on the market.

The G Plan brand continues to produce new and classic products, including an exciting new collaboration with furniture restorer and The Repair Shop presenter Jay Blades.

To buy

Vinterior and VTNG have plentiful G Plan chairs and other furniture options. After Noah stocks restored vintage (and new) pieces from G Plan, as well as other mid-century brands. For new pieces, including a collection designed by Jay Blades, go to G Plan’s website.

WORDS: LINDSEY HARRAD