Other designers of Scandinavian modernist chairs introduced new dynamics to this staple with sculptural flowing lines, curvaceous shapes and efficient functionality. The Paimio armchair, Swan chair and Panton chair are vintage works of Finnish and Danish seating that left an indelible mark on the history of good furniture design.

As the demand for casual, uncluttered furnishings grew, more mid-century furniture designers caught the spirit. Classically oriented creators such as Edward Wormley, house designer for Dunbar Inc., offered such pieces as the sinuous Listen to Me chaise; the British expatriate T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings switched gears, creating items such as the tiered, biomorphic Mesa table. There were Young Turks such as Paul McCobb, who designed holistic groups of sleek, blond wood furniture, and Milo Baughman, who espoused a West Coast aesthetic in minimalist teak dining tables and lushly upholstered chairs and sofas with angular steel frames.This three-piece set is the second Aldi garden furniture buy we tried. Also arriving in a big box, we were happy not to have to construct anything, as the table and chairs was complete and ready to use. The set features a rattan design throughout, and this weaved finish has added stylish texture to our outdoor space. Two cushions are also included for seat comfort, and their slimline shape makes for compact storage when not in use. We have a small garden, and have arranged the rattan bistro set on our patio. As one of the two sets we tested, we found this set to be perfect for every type of outdoor space – be that big or small. With a fairly titchy garden ourselves, we didn’t find that it made the space feel overcrowded. The three-piece set arrived in a large box with all the pieces neatly wrapped, and assembly was particularly easy, and took us around 15 minutes to build. As a side note, we’d have liked it if there was an option for it to be taken away and recycled though. Once up, we were impressed by how comfortable it was. Plus, the cushions provide ample support and offer the perfect base for lounging in the sunshine. Danish modernists Hans Wegner and Arne Jacobsen, whose emphasis on natural materials and craftsmanship influenced American designers and vice versa Chairs are an indispensable component of your home and office. Can you imagine your life without the vintage, new or antique chairs you love?

Looking for a durable garden chair with a timeless design? Look no further than wooden garden chairs. Their neutral hues and rustic charm will complement your garden furniture, whether you’re soaking up the rays on your very own garden throne or lazing on a chic wooden sun lounger. Rattan garden chairs Informed by European modernism, Bauhaus, International style, Scandinavian modernism and Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture Visionary polymaths Ray and Charles Eames experimented with bent plywood and fiberglass with the goal of producing affordable furniture for a mass market. Like other celebrated mid-century modern furniture designers of elegant low-profile furnishings — among them Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Finn Juhl — the Eameses considered ergonomic support, durability and cost, all of which should be top of mind when shopping for the perfect chair. The Eameses introduced numerous icons for manufacturer Herman Miller, such as the Eames lounge chair and ottoman, molded plywood dining chairs the DCM and DCW (which can be artfully mismatched around your dining table) and a wealth of other treasured pieces for the home and office. Materials developed for wartime use became available for domestic goods and were incorporated into mid-century modern furniture designs. Charles and Ray Eames and Eero Saarinen, who had experimented extensively with molded plywood, eagerly embraced fiberglass for pieces such as the La Chaise and the Womb chair, respectively. Organically shaped, clean-lined and elegantly simple are three terms that well describe vintage mid-century modern furniture. The style, which emerged primarily in the years following World War II, is characterized by pieces that were conceived and made in an energetic, optimistic spirit by creators who believed that good design was an essential part of good living.

The mid-century modern era saw leagues of postwar American architects and designers animated by new ideas and new technology. The lean, functionalist International-style architecture of Le Corbusier and Bauhaus eminences Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Walter Gropius had been promoted in the United States during the 1930s by Philip Johnson and others. New building techniques, such as “post-and-beam” construction, allowed the International-style schemes to be realized on a small scale in open-plan houses with long walls of glass. Use of natural and man-made materials — alluring woods such as teak, rosewood and oak; steel, fiberglass and molded plywood

Experimentation with new ideas, new materials and new forms flourished in Scandinavia, Italy, the former Czechoslovakia and elsewhere in EuropeArchitect, writer and designer George Nelson created with his team shades for the Bubble lamp using a new translucent polymer skin and, as design director at Herman Miller, recruited the Eameses, Alexander Girard and others for projects at the legendary Michigan furniture manufacturer.