Frank Gehry Chairs
American, Canadian, b. 1929
With magnificent buildings such as the Guggenheim Bilbao, Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles and the new Foundation Louis Vuitton in Paris, Frank Gehry has changed the nature and spirit of contemporary architecture. Yet the world’s best-known living architect has also enjoyed a prolific career as a designer of artful and functional objects, ranging from furniture to jewelry, that even at smaller scale are as lively and captivating as his architectural designs.
Gehry was born in Toronto and moved with his family to Los Angeles in 1947. He received a degree in architecture from the University of Southern California in 1954 and — after several years of casting about that included a stint in the U.S. Army and studies at Harvard — Gehry opened his architectural practice in L.A. in 1962.
Idiosyncratic renovations to his small, traditional house in Santa Monica — such as cladding portions of the exterior in chain-link fencing and corrugated metal — drew attention to Gehry in architectural circles. Corporate and institutional commissions added to his reputation, culminating in the global acclaim that greeted the opening of the Guggenheim Bilbao in 1997. But the combination of visual dynamism and structural integrity expressed by that building had been evident for decades in Gehry’s designs. In 1972 he introduced a much-admired line of furniture he called Easy Edges. The curves and flowing lines of the pieces, which include the Wiggle chair, seem antithetical to the material are made from: cardboard — a presumably flimsy material that, when stacked, laminated and folded, is actually extraordinarily sturdy.
Many of Gehry’s designs feature an abstracted fish motif. For the architect, it is a symbol of vitality, strength and flexibility. The fish appears in a group of 1982 plastic lamps created for Formica (and exhibited by the Jewish Museum in New York in 2010). Gehry used the motif in crystal goblets for Swid Powell (1990), his Pito kettle for Alessi (1992) and as earrings for a 2006 jewelry collection for Tiffany that also includes torqued rings, necklaces and bangles.
Gehry returned to furniture design in 1992 with a remarkably energetic line of furniture for Knoll with frames and seating made of bent, lightweight wooden strops. (The pieces' names, such as Power Play and Cross Check, derive from ice hockey.) In 2004, Heller released a group of twisted, faceted furnishings in molded polyethylene meant to evoke Gehry’s architecture. But — whether its tableware, jewelry or furniture — all Gehry’s designs do that--sharing an animated aesthetic built on a solid foundational core. To possess a piece of Gehry design is to own one of his buildings, in miniature.
Find vintage Frank Gehry chairs, tables and other furniture on 1stDibs.
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Creator: Frank Gehry
Frank Gehry Prototype Accent Chair, 1970s Los Angeles
By Frank Gehry
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Extremely rare cardboard prototype chair for Frank Gehry from the estate of Margot Alofsin, an architect of Gehry Partners. Corrugated cardboard chair with two slender front legs and...
Category
1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Frank Gehry Chairs
Materials
Masonite, Paper
Frank Gehry 'Little Beaver' Cardboard Chair and Ottoman for Vitra, 1987 USA
By Vitra, Frank Gehry
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Extremely rare 'Little Beaver' chair designed by Frank Gehry, produced by Vitra in 1987. Comes with matching ottoman. Vitra plaques on underside of both ...
Category
1980s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Frank Gehry Chairs
Materials
Masonite, Paper
Knoll Frank Gehry Power Play Pair of Bentwood Armchairs and Matching Ottoman
By Knoll, Frank Gehry
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
A set of Knoll Frank Gehry "Power Play" armchairs and ottoman. This stunning set of artful furniture designed by Frank Gehry and produced by Knoll feature a bentwood construction with a ribbon-like design. These pieces are inspired by Gehry's childhood, specifically by the apple crates...
Category
1990s Frank Gehry Chairs
Materials
Bentwood
Mid Century Cross Check Bent Maple Chair by Frank Gehry for Knoll, 1993
By Frank Gehry
Located in Bedford Hills, NY
Inspired by the apple crates he had played on as a child, Pritzker Prize-winning architect Frank Gehry created the ribbon-like design of the Cross Check chair with interwoven maple s...
Category
1990s American Mid-Century Modern Frank Gehry Chairs
Materials
Maple
Vitra Frank Gehry "Easy Edges" Side Chair, 1970s
By Frank Gehry, Vitra
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rare experimental corrugated cardboard side chair from the "Easy Edges" series, designed by Frank Gehry for Vitra, c. 1970s. This version is no longer in production.
Gehry's experi...
Category
1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Frank Gehry Chairs
Materials
Masonite, Paper
Mid Century Modern Vintage Cardboard Wiggle Side Chair by Frank O. Gehry, 1972
By Frank Gehry
Located in Vienna, AT
A mid century modern vintage cardboard wiggle chair, which is a great design side chair by Frank O. Gehry, 1972 for Jack Brogan, USA 1972-1973.
Reissued by Vitra from 1992 as Wiggle side chair...
Category
1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Frank Gehry Chairs
Materials
Paper
Vintage Contemporary Signed Frank Gehry for Knoll “High Sticking” Chair - a Pair
By Knoll, Frank Gehry
Located in west palm beach, FL
An exceptional pair of vintage Contemporary dining chairs. Designed by the iconic Frank Gehry for Knoll. Striking maple ribbons in a sculptural composition. Padded cushion in a pebbl...
Category
Late 20th Century North American Frank Gehry Chairs
Materials
Fabric, Maple
Frank Gehry for Knoll, Pair of Cross Check Chairs in Bent Maple Wood
By Frank Gehry
Located in Paris, FR
Inspired by the apple crates he had played on as a child, Pritzker Prize-winning architect Frank Gehry created the ribbon-like design of the Cross Check chair...
Category
1990s American Frank Gehry Chairs
Materials
Maple, Bentwood
Frank Gehry Power Play Chair and Ottoman for Knoll, Signed, Great Condition
By Knoll, Frank Gehry
Located in Kansas City, MO
Power play chair and ottoman designed by Frank Gehry for Knoll in very close to new condition. There are no chips, cracks or repairs to the wood slats...
Category
1990s American Post-Modern Frank Gehry Chairs
Materials
Maple
Frank Gehry Easy Edges Chairs and Ottomans
By Frank Gehry
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Frank Gehry pair of easy Edges chairs and ottomans. Easy Edges, Inc. Canada/USA, 1972. Laminated cardboard, masonite. Chair: 29¼ H × 23¼ W × 39 D in, ...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Frank Gehry Chairs
Materials
Masonite, Paper
Sitting Beaver Chair by Frank Gehry for New City Editions, 1979 / 1986
By Frank Gehry
Located in Kansas City, MO
"Sitting Beaver" / "Skinny Beaver" chair designed by Frank Gehry for the Experimental Edges series in 1979. Although designed in 1979, the furniture from this series was not produced...
Category
1980s Canadian Post-Modern Vintage Frank Gehry Chairs
Materials
Plywood, Paper
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Jean Prouvé Standard Chair in Natural Oak and Japanese Red for Vitra
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George Nakashima Straight Chair for Knoll
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Panton Chair by Verner Panton for Vitra, 1959
By Vitra, Verner Panton
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Timeless cantilever Panton Chair by Vitra made of high-quality polypropylene in white. Draft by Verner Panton in 1959.
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Frank Gehry Wiggle Stool
By Frank Gehry
Located in Dronten, NL
Frank Gehry Wiggle stool. Made of corrugated cardboard and hardboard to the edges.
Labeled underneath, excellent condition.
Frank Gehry is considered one of the most influential arc...
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21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Frank Gehry Chairs
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Panton Chair, Vitra / Herman Miller Collection
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Timeless cantilever Panton chair of the second generation (1968-1971) designed by Verner Panton in 1959. High-quality corpus in black made of polyurethane hard foam. Unique, almost u...
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Whimsical Postmodern Cardboard Sculptural Chair
By Frank Gehry
Located in Grand Cayman, KY
Postmodern whimsical cardboard sculptural chair from Germany 1980s in brown cardboard and reminiscent of Frank Gehry. The chair is surprisingly ergonomic and comfortable. It certainly adds playful flair and amusement to your space.
Condition is good vintage condition with some minimal and acceptable signs of wear.
Dimensions as follows:
Depth: 22.5 in (57 cm), width: 20 in (51 cm), height: 34.25 in (87 cm), seat height: 17.3 in (44 cm).
Having established his own firm in Los Angeles in 1961, Gehry saw a pile of corrugated cardboard outside his office and started to experiment. Inspired by a childhood spent exploring his grandfather’s hardware shop, Gehry set about creating the Easy Edges furniture series, highlighting the strength and versatility of cardboard.
“I discovered that by alternating the direction of layers of corrugations, the finished board had enough strength to support a small car...
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Paper
1970s Style Frank Gehry Chaise Lounge LA Art Chair
By Frank Gehry
Located in Chula Vista, CA
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Hat Trick Chair and Powerplay Ottoman by Frank Gehry for Knoll
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Previously Available Items
Wiggle Chair by Frank Gehry for Vitra
By Frank Gehry
Located in Princeton Junction, NJ
Wiggle Chair by Frank Gehry for Vitra
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Frank Gehry "Easy Edges" Wiggle Side Chair
By Frank Gehry
Located in Dronten, NL
Frank Gehry "Easy Edges" wiggle chair by Vitra. Labeled underneath, excellent condition.
The chair was designed in 1972 by Frank O. Gehry for Jack Brogan, USA 1972-1973.
Reissued by...
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Frank Gehry Wiggle Chair
By Frank Gehry
Located in Dronten, NL
Frank Gehry "Easy Edges" wiggle chair made by Vitra. Labeled underneath, excellent condition.
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Frank Gehry 'Easy Edges' Chair Art Object, 1970s
By Frank Gehry
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An early example of one of Frank Gehry's cardboard chairs.
Nice architectural design with a great patina and wear consistent with age and use.
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Frank Gehry Pair of Rocking Chaise Lounge
By Frank Gehry
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Frank Gehry pair of rocking chaise lounge. Easy Edges, Inc. Canada/USA, 1972. Laminated cardboard, masonite, in great condition. The price is $78...
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Frank Gehry Wiggle Chair
By Frank Gehry
Located in Dronten, NL
Frank Gehry "Easy Edges" wiggle chair made by Vitra.
Made of corrugated cardboard and hardboard to the edges.
Labeled underneath, excellent condition.
...
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21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Frank Gehry Chairs
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Frank Gehry Cross Check Armchairs
By Frank Gehry
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Pair of Cross Check Armchairs, designed by Frank Gehry for Knoll. A dynamic design that debuted as a part of the architect’s innovative collection explorin...
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Pair of Vitra Wiggle Chairs Designed by Frank Gehry
By Frank Gehry, Vitra
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Corrugated cardboard wiggle side chair designed by Frank O. Gehry and reissued by Vitra. Each chair measures 14" wide, 25.5" deep and 33.25" high. Seat height is 18".
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Frank Gehry Wiggle Stool
By Frank Gehry
Located in Dronten, NL
Frank Gehry wiggle stool. Made of corrugated cardboard and hardboard to the edges.
Labeled underneath, excellent condition.
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21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Frank Gehry Chairs
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Frank Gehry Cardboard Stool, Vitra, deconstructivist, Easy Edges, Irwin, 1972
By Vitra, Frank Gehry
Located in Antwerp, BE
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1970s Canadian Organic Modern Vintage Frank Gehry Chairs
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H 21.26 in W 26.19 in D 18.12 in
Contemporary Modernist Emeco Superlight Brushed Aluminum Chair by Frank Gehry
By Emeco, Frank Gehry
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
For your consideration is an ecclectic side or accent chair, made of brushed aluminum, by Frank Gehry for Emeco. In excellent condition. The dimensions are 16.5" W x 26" D x 31" B.H....
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H 31 in W 16.5 in D 26 in
Frank Gehry chairs for sale on 1stDibs.
Frank Gehry chairs are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Frank Gehry chairs, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original chairs by Frank Gehry were created in the mid-century modern style in north america during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider chairs by T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings, Ward Bennett, and Edmond J. Spence. Prices for Frank Gehry chairs can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $1,500 and can go as high as $16,000, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $5,675.
Creators Similar to Frank Gehry
Questions About Frank Gehry Chairs
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 27, 2024The name of Frank Gehry's chair depends on which piece you're referring to, as the designer has produced quite a few chairs over the course of his career. Arguably, his most famous chair is the S-shaped Wiggle chair, crafted out of corrugated cardboard. He also designed several chairs out of ribbon-like pieces of bent wood, such as the armless, low-backed Hat Trick chair, the curvy Cross Check chair and the tall High Sticking chair. On 1stDibs, find a collection of vintage Frank Gehry chairs.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 27, 2024The material used in Frank Gehry's Wiggle chair is the type of corrugated cardboard that is typically reserved for making architectural models. The piece comes from Gehry's Easy Edges collection of paper furniture. Gehry was inspired to produce the Wiggle chair and the rest of his Easy Edges pieces because he believed that the seating options available to consumers when the chair debuted in 1972 were too expensive. Find a selection of vintage Frank Gehry furniture on 1stDibs.