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Why is it called a chair?

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Why is it called a chair?
Why the furniture used for seating is called a chair has to do with the history of language. The word comes from the 13th-century English word chaer, which in turn can be traced back to the Latin word cathedra, meaning seat. If that word reminds you of the word cathedral, it's no accident. The word cathedral gets its name from the fact that a cathedral is where the bishop of a parish has his seat. On 1stDibs, shop a wide range of chairs.
1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2024
Shop for Chairs on 1stDibs
A Pair of Studio Prototype Plywood & Iron Chairs Sculptural
Located in Bonita Springs, FL
A pair of studio made plywood and iron chairs. These beautiful chair were a studio made prototype. There is a sculptural element to these chairs that would enhance any room and turn...
Category

20th Century American Brutalist Chairs

Materials

Iron

Afra & Tobia Scarpa Black Leather and Monk Dining Chair for Molteni, Set of 8
Located in Vicenza, IT
Set of eight “Monk” dining chairs designed by Afra and Tobia Scarpa for Molteni in 1973. Made of black leather and ash wood. Fully restored in Italy. Interesting is the ‘flat’ s...
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Leather, Ash

Minimal Style, Solid Wood Stool, Textiles or Leather Seatings, Caning Backboard
Located in Vila Cordeiro, São Paulo
The Wing chair solid wood collection, flexibility, modern aesthetics, comfort and softness are the keywords for this collection. The concept is inspired by the B-52 plane design, this inspiration gave us the freedom to create a collection where the design appropriate subtle elements, harmonic transitions and thin but resistant wood thicknesses, that gave life to a unique and contemporary collection. Our studio objective was to abstract most of the figurative elements and arrive in the very sweet spot in this design, the “cream”, driving the details in a three dimensional way. All our objects are drawn using the Da Vinci's "golden section", and the wing collection is not an exception, this assures pleasing proportions and contrast between each design part that composes the object in a deep study in the thicknesses and the relationship between each component sizing. The Wing chairs and stools are crafted with passion using premium materials and the latest technologies in furniture manufacturing, with a very precise quality control, on its beauty there is the subtle variations between the wood veins in a real living item without ethnic appeal yet been warm resulting in well-rounded comfortable pieces, delicate in design and sturdy in construction. All this qualities converge in and merge in a collection made to participate in the life of our clients as a breeze, comfortably, pleasant, harmonic and positive. We offer a caning back solution and a solid back option, stools and chairs versions. There are three solid wood tonalities as standard and a solid Ebonized black, we also offer wood harmonisation if needed, so we work the tonality to approximate a particular target. All woods and materials are certified and responsibly sourced and manufactured. Listing features the black ebonized solid wood stool...
Category

2010s Brazilian Modern Stools

Materials

Textile, Cane, Wood, Hardwood, Leather

Green Plastic Chairs 4875 by Carlo Bartoli for Kartell 1970s, Set of 8
Located in Padova, IT
Oustanding and rare set of 8 yellow plastic chairs 4875 model, designed by Carlo Bartoli and produced by Kartell 1970s. In Good condition, wear consistent with age and use.
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Plastic

Rare pair of "El Rey" by Mats Theselius, 1999
Located in Stockholm, SE
Brass frame, seat and back in crocodile patterned prime leather. Leatherclothes-wound armrests. Limited edition of 360 chairs produced in 1999. This is chair #234 and #235. Excellent...
Category

1990s Swedish Modern Chairs

Materials

Brass

Eric Schmitt (*1955), Osselet Chairs, 1996
Located in New York, NY
Pair of sculptural " Osselet " side chairs by Eric Schmitt. Patinated bronze frames and cognac leather seats.
Category

1990s French Modern Chairs

Materials

Bronze

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