Your Guide to Great Chair Design

History of Chair Design

The Campaign for Better Seating
A short history of chair design
Design Language Etc.-Modern Classics
Provides an extensive discussion of the history of several popular easy chairs in relation to design
FM4:Furniture
A listing of helpful information regarding the furniture industry, design, and history as well as an extensive list of prominent furniture designers.

Museums

Bauhaus Museum of Design
A museum in Germany featuring the works of Bauhaus artists many of which were the chair designers and architects in the early to mid 1900s.
Guggenheim Museum
Art museum in New York City designed by chair designer and architect Frank Lloyd Wright. They feature chairs by Frank Gehry and Frank Lloyd Wright
Museum of Modern Art
Great museum in New York City to see modern chair design. Also has an online store!
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Large New York City art museum with several chairs on display. This site includes an art history timeline and educational resources.

Where Have I Seen That Chair Before?

Jetset-Designs for Modern Living-Sightings
Your source for tracking down popular chairs in movies, tv, commercials, advertisements, etc.

Chair Designers

Bertoia Studio
Site ran by the son of Harry Bertoia, includes a bio, gallery and store
Eames Office
Learn everything you ever wanted to know about Ray and Charles Eames.
Unofficial Frank Gehry Site
Included is a bio, gallery, and building map of the works of Frank Gehry, designer and architect
Charles Rennie Mackintosh website
This website has been designed to celebrate the work of Glasgow Art Nouveau artist and architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh and his wife Margaret MacDonald
Vernor Panton Design
Website of Vernor Panton Design including bio, gallery and contact information
Scandinavian Design - Eero Saarinen
Bio of Eero Saarinen, chair designer
Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation
The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to conserving the work of Frank Lloyd Wright and advancing the principles of organic architecture
George Nelson-Articulating the Eye by Judith Nasatir
An article discussing the works, philosophy, and life of George Nelson
Gerrit Rietveld's Red and Blue Chair
An interesting article regarding the design of the Red and Blue Chair by Rietveld
Pierre Paulin at Design Addict
Online exhibition of Paulin's works

Modern Chair Manufacturers

Vitra
Manufacturer of chairs designed by Eames, Gehry, Nelson, Starcke, and Panton among others
Artifort
Manufacturer of chairs designed by Pierre Paulin among others
Knoll
Manufacturer of chairs designed by Saarinen among others with a focus on modern office furniture
Herman Miller
Manufacturer of chairs designed by Eames among others with a focus on modern office furniture, includes a special section for designers/architects

What should you look for in a seat?

Campaign for better Seating
Provides guidelines for proper seating position

Books

1000 Chairs
This book has pictures of 1000 different kinds of chairs and is a great resource. It has adequate information about Eames chairs which have become known worldwide.
It has many other kinds of chairs including some very exotic chairs.
The Modern Chair
Includes detailed explanations of designers and chairs with many photos

Online Chair Galleries and Shops

Bauhaus and Modern Classics furniture
retromodern.com
GOMOD :: modern furniture classics
Deco Echoes
1950: mid-century modern furniture
Boomerang for Mid-Century Modern Furniture
FIFTIE-FIFTIE
Industrial Home: Seating
SWANK - 521 DESIGN
Modern Living USA - Vintage home furnishings
Modern furniture online
Design Within Reach
Modern Classics Furniture
Modern Classics
highbrowfurniture.com: Modern furniture
R 20th Century Design