Cool Modern Chairs

You've picked your sofa, and now you need that pair of chairs to sit either side, or maybe you are setting up a cozy sitting area for that cup of tea and a chat with a friend.

Dwell Magazine - Philip M. Isaacson Home

Pappas - Miron Interior Design

Eve Robinson Associates

A pair of modern chairs will get you that cool vibe. There are the usual suspects, like Mies Van Der Rohe or Hans Wegener, and then there are the unusual. Whichever you go, it will be fun to see what you can find at auction. 

Stair Galleries, Hudson, NY - 20th Century Decorative Arts sale Dec. 4th

Both these pairs of chairs are included in the Stair Galleries auction coming up in Hudson, NY December 4th. The top set are the classic Barcelona chairs by Mies Van Der Rohe/Knoll, and always a perfect cool modern statement. These are Lot 39 and have an auction estimate of $800 - $1,200. On anything like this, I recommend some internet research to find out what might be the right top bid. 

I like the pair of Italian contemporary chairs in white leather very much. They're a bit different, and an equally cool modern statement. These are Lot 48, and have an auction estimate of $500 - $700.

Wright Modern, Chicago, IL - Important Design - Auction December 14th

Wright has an auction set for December 14th titled Important Design. It's full of terrific modern design with all the names you would expect. I love both these sets of chairs by Italian designers (I love ANYTHING Italian!). The top photo is Lot 171, and they were designed by Giovanni Zoncada (1954). I love the shape and the buckle detail on the back. They have an auction estimate of $5,000 - $7,000.

The black and white leather chairs are by the incomparable Gio Ponti (1952). These are Lot 183 and have an auction estimate of $10,000 - $15,000. A bit pricey, but don't you just want to sink in to them and make your mid-century modern statement?

Christie's Interiors Sale, New York - 16 - 17 December

The Christie's Interiors sale in New York in December includes a good selection of modern chairs. I like these two sets. For that bit of color pop, the top pair of mid-century French metal and turquoise faux lizard chairs (Lot 506) would fit the bill. These are attributed to Marc du Plantier, and have an auction estimate of $800 - $1,200.

The second set of chairs were designed by Phillipe Starck and are described as 'Len Niggelman' lounge chairs (Lot 534). I love the graphic upholstery that reminds me of the Gio Ponti chairs at Wright, but at a more modest auction estimate of $1,200 - $1,800.

You can have lots of fun experimenting with style, or stick with the classics of modern. Either way, these chairs make your cool, modern vibe statement!