Beyond the Tour: 8 Designer chairs we found in a charming 4-room resale HDB
By Shannon Osztonits -
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From Marcel Breuer’s ‘Wassily Chair’ to the ‘Barcelona’ by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe to Verner Panton’s ‘Panton Chair’... Calling in all Singaporeans from near and far with a serious obsession for designer chairs…
After linking up with the homeowner, Say Wai, our own designer furniture heart skipped multiple beats the moment we walked into his bachelor pad, flexing designer chairs around every turn. It almost feels like you’re wandering the halls of some sort of lived-in showroom.
(In hindsight, his home pretty much is!)
To get your hands on any of these sorts of highly-appraised pieces comes with a price tag, too, ranging from thousands to even millions of dollars, especially for the super rare kind. Designer chair pieces are very popular at auction sales.
In essence, they’re a work of art. Each design made iconic for a reason...
What makes a designer chair?
- One-of-a-kind, super innovative design.
- Ergonomic design: despite its sculptural form, the chair is still comfortable to sit in.
- Its historical significance: a chair was designed for a specific event in the history books, or a place or person of royalty, for example, a palace.
- Quality of craftsmanship, including materials: designer chairs stand the test of time for a reason.
Often, designer chairs are replicated in the mainstream with a more affordable, copied version. For example, the original Wishbone Chair by Hans J. Wegner is now one of the most popular types of design used for dining room table chairs.
Some original chairs, like the Wishbone, have been in continuous production since the original was released, and are manufactured by the original company.
Egg Chair by Arne Jacobsen ($10,000 - $22,000)
- Year: 1958
- Country: Denmark
Designed in 1958 for the reception areas of the SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen, the Egg™ chair by Arne Jacobsen is a quintessential masterpiece of Danish Modernism that revolutionised furniture production. Its significance lies in Jacobsen’s pioneering use of a firm foam inner shell beneath the upholstery—a technological leap that allowed him to move beyond the linear constraints of traditional wood to create fluid, sculptural curves.
Modelled by hand in clay to achieve its organic silhouette, the chair was specifically conceived to provide a sense of refuge and acoustic privacy within the hotel’s expansive, glass-fronted lobby. Its cocoon-like wings and high back create a private “room within a room”, making it as functional as it is aesthetic. Today, it remains an enduring symbol of 20th-century design, celebrated for its perfect synthesis of industrial innovation and artisanal craftsmanship.
Where to buy in Singapore? The authentic Egg chair is manufactured exclusively by Fritz Hansen. In Singapore, you can purchase the original piece through their official flagship store and authorised partners such as W. Atelier (at 201 Henderson Road, #01-01), and the Fritz Hansen Lounge (Tan Boon Liat Building).
Maxalto Acanto Chair by Antonio Citterio ($2,800 - $5,500)
- Year: 2010
- Country: Italy
The Maxalto Acanto chair, designed by Antonio Citterio in 2010, represents a masterful modern interpretation of the classic Italian timber chair. Its significance in contemporary design stems from its rigorous architectural silhouette and the seamless integration of traditional woodworking with ergonomic comfort.
Citterio, known for his refined “quiet luxury” aesthetic, utilised solid wood frames—typically oak or wenge—to create a sense of permanence and structural integrity that pays homage to Italian craftsmanship. The chair’s distinctive feature is its delicately balanced proportions; the slender, tapered legs support a softly padded seat and backrest, ensuring it remains visually light while offering the support of a formal dining chair.
As part of the Maxalto collection, the Acanto has become a staple for sophisticated interiors, embodying a timeless elegance that transcends fleeting trends through its “New Classic” philosophy.
Where to buy in Singapore? The Maxalto collection is officially represented and distributed through high-end luxury furniture boutiques: Space Furniture (77 Bencoolen Street), and B&B Italia Singapore.
Vitra Butterfly Stool by Sori Yanagi ($1,100 - $1,800)
- Year: 1956
- Country: Japan
The Vitra Butterfly Stool, designed by Sori Yanagi in 1954, is a landmark in furniture history for its poetic fusion of Eastern aesthetics and Western industrial technology. Its significance lies in Yanagi’s ingenious application of the plywood-moulding techniques pioneered by Charles and Ray Eames to create a form that is distinctly Japanese.
Comprising two identical, symmetrical pieces of curved plywood joined by a single brass rod, the stool’s silhouette evokes both the delicate wings of a butterfly and the architectural grandeur of a Shinto torii gate. This “New Classic” achieved international acclaim after winning the gold medal at the 1957 Triennale di Milano, effectively introducing the world to the “Mingei” (folk craft) philosophy of finding beauty in functional, everyday objects.
Today, it is part of the permanent collections at MoMA and the Louvre, celebrated as a masterpiece of structural simplicity and sculptural grace.
Where to buy in Singapore? The Butterfly Stool is available through authorized Vitra retailers. As it is a compact and highly sought-after “design object,” it is often kept in stock or available for quick delivery compared to larger furniture. Think W. Atelier, Grafunkt, Space Furniture.
Wishbone Chair by Hans J. Wegner ($850 - $2,500)
- Year: 1949
- Country: Denmark
The Wishbone Chair (or CH24), designed by Hans J. Wegner in 1949, is arguably the most famous piece of Danish furniture in existence. Its significance lies in Wegner’s ability to take the heavy, ceremonial Ming Dynasty chairs of China and “purify” them into a lightweight, organic form.
The chair’s signature feature—the steam-bent Y-shaped backrest—was a technical triumph that provided structural stability to the curved top rail while allowing for a minimal, sculptural aesthetic. Each chair is a testament to intensive craftsmanship, requiring over 100 manual steps to produce, including the hand-weaving of the seat using 120 metres of durable paper cord.
It represents the pinnacle of “Organic Functionality,” a design movement that prioritised the human form and natural materials, ensuring its continuous production for over seven decades without ever falling out of fashion.
Where to buy in Singapore? The Wishbone Chair is manufactured by Carl Hansen & Søn. To ensure you are purchasing an authentic piece (rather than a “replica”), you should visit these authorised retailers: Carl Hansen & Søn Flagship Store (28 Ann Siang Road), Danish Design Co (100E Pasir Panjang Road), XTRA (Marina Square), Cult Design Asia (48 Club Street).
Manila Chair by Andreu World ($1,100 - $2,600)
- Year: 1999
- Country: Spain
The Manila Chair, designed in 1999 by the Lievore Altherr Molina studio for Andreu World, is a contemporary classic that exemplifies the Spanish mastery of timber joinery and “New Classic” design. Its significance lies in its ability to bridge the gap between traditional craftsmanship and modern architectural needs; while its solid beech or oak frame pays homage to Mediterranean woodworking heritage, its sleek, stackable silhouette is engineered for high-end contract and residential spaces.
The chair is particularly noted for its refined upholstery details, often featuring a signature cross-stitching or quilting that adds a layer of tactile luxury to its understated form. By successfully adapting a classic language to a current context, the Manila has become a staple in luxury hotels and corporate lobbies worldwide, representing Andreu World’s commitment to durability, sustainability, and timeless serenity.
Where to buy in Singapore? Andreu World is represented by premier furniture retailers that specialise in designer “contract” and residential furniture: XTRA (Marina Square), Space Furniture (77 Bencoolen Street), Stylecraft (100G Pasir Panjang Road).
Zig Zag Chair by Gerrit Thomas Rietveld ($3,200 - $4,600)
- Year: 1934
- Country: Netherlands
The Zig Zag chair, designed in 1934 by Gerrit Thomas Rietveld, is a seminal work of the Dutch De Stijl movement and remains one of the most radical departures in furniture history. Its significance lies in its "cantilevered" wooden structure, which completely eliminates the need for traditional legs, stretching the structural limits of timber.
Comprising four flat wooden planes joined in a rhythmic, angular sequence, the chair serves as a functional sculpture that embodies the De Stijl principles of abstraction and geometric purity. While it appears precarious, its stability is achieved through masterful joinery, specifically the use of dovetail joints reinforced with internal screws and wooden wedges.
Rietveld famously referred to it as a "designer's joke," yet it represents a serious achievement in deconstructing the chair to its barest essentials, influencing generations of minimalist and architectural design.
Where to buy in Singapore? The authentic Zig Zag chair is produced exclusively by the Italian manufacturer Cassina as part of their “I Maestri” collection. In Singapore, you can find it at:W. Atelier (201 Henderson Road), and Space Furniture (77 Bencoolen Street).
Chinese Elm Butcher Stool
Chinese Elm Butcher Stool ($40 - $2,500)
- Year: 1920
- Country: China (Shanghai)
The Chinese Elm Butcher Stool (often referred to as a “worker’s stool” or “noodle stool”) is a foundational piece of vernacular design that has transitioned from a humble utilitarian object to a global “Wabi-Sabi” icon. Originating primarily from Northern China during the Qing Dynasty (and continuing through the early 20th century), its significance lies in its “primitive” honesty and exceptional durability.
Crafted from Northern Elm (Yumu)—a wood prized for its density and resistant grain—these stools were built to withstand the rigorous environments of open-air markets and kitchens. They are celebrated for their mortise-and-tenon joinery, constructed entirely without nails or screws, which allows the timber to expand and contract with the seasons.
Today, the stool is revered by interior designers as a “textural anchor” that introduces history, soul, and a weathered patina into modern, minimalist spaces.
Where to buy in Singapore? You will find two distinct markets for this stool: authentic antiques (sourced from Chinese provinces like Shanxi or Shandong) and contemporary reproductions (newly made in the same style).
- Empress & 1929 (Antique Specialists): Located at Tan Boon Liat Building (315 Outram Road). They are specialists in sourcing authentic, restored Chinese elm furniture.
- Journey East: Also in the Tan Boon Liat Building. They curate a “Vintage & Retro” collection that often includes reclaimed elm wood stools and benches.
- Woodford Antiques: A long-standing boutique that frequently carries rural Chinese antiques including worker’s stools and butchery blocks.
- Lazada / Shopee (Modern Reproductions)
Eames Plywood LCW Lounge Chair by Charles Eames and Herman Miller ($1,600 - $4,500)
- Year: 1947
- Country: USA
The Eames Plywood Lounge Chair Wood (LCW), designed by Charles and Ray Eames in 1945 and released in 1946, is frequently cited by design historians as the “chair of the century.” Its significance lies in the Eameses’ groundbreaking perfection of the complex, multi-dimensional moulding of plywood—a technique they refined while developing lightweight leg splints for the U.S. Navy during World War II.
Moving away from the rigid, single-shell designs of the past, the LCW features separate moulded panels for the seat and back, connected by a slender wooden spine and rubber “shock mounts.” These mounts were a major innovation, allowing the chair to flex slightly with the user’s movement to provide exceptional comfort without the need for traditional upholstery.
Its organic, low-slung profile was a radical departure from the heavy, formal furniture of the era, helping to usher in the casual, human-centric aesthetic of Mid-Century Modernism.
Where to buy in Singapore? The LCW chair is manufactured exclusively by Herman Miller in the United States and Vitra in Europe. In Singapore, you can purchase an authentic piece from XTRA, W. Atelier, and Journey East.