Mid 20th Century Guido Chiappe for Sedie Chiavari Ebonized High-Back Side Chair

Details

Description

Quick Hits:
Mid-20th century designer side chair attributed to Guido Chiappe
Elegant ebonized finish with French-polished beech wood
Hand-woven cane … Read more Quick Hits:
Mid-20th century designer side chair attributed to Guido Chiappe
Elegant ebonized finish with French-polished beech wood
Hand-woven cane seat in excellent condition
Lightweight yet sturdy construction ideal for refined interiors
Timeless Italian craftsmanship with Gio Ponti influence
Manufacturer's label affixed to underside of seat

More About This Item:
This rare and refined designer side chair, attributed to Guido Chiappe for Sedie Chiavari, is a masterclass in Italian craftsmanship. With its elongated high back, gently curved spindles, and iconic Chiavari silhouette, this piece feels just as relevant in a modern home as it would have in a 1950s Milanese villa. The hand-woven cane seat offers organic texture and visual contrast against the rich ebonized beech wood, which has been polished to a warm mahogany tone.

Crafted in Chiavari, a small Italian town famous for producing some of the most iconic seating of the 20th century, this chair is impressively lightweight yet remarkably strong—qualities that made it a favorite among Italian architects and designers. If you’ve been coveting a Gio Ponti–inspired silhouette (his Superleggera design was famously influenced by Chiavari chairs), this is the real deal.

Whether you're styling a minimalist breakfast nook, a moody library corner, or adding a unique accent to your hallway, this sculptural chair delivers timeless elegance with Italian soul.

Design Style:
Think Italian modernism meets classic elegance. The tall, tapered back evokes a sense of formality, while the caned seat softens the look, grounding it in natural materials. Perfectly at home in Hollywood Regency, mid-century, or even Japandi-inspired interiors, this chair is a standout piece for collectors and designers alike.

Brand Legacy:
The Chiavari chair—named for the town where it was born—became a staple of Italian design in the 19th and 20th centuries. Attributed here to Guido Chiappe, this version embodies the fine details and light structural engineering that earned Chiavari chairs international acclaim. Influencing icons like Gio Ponti, who reinterpreted the form into the now-famous Superleggera, these chairs bridged traditional craftsmanship with modernist ideals. Today, original Chiavari chairs are sought after by collectors and interior designers for their minimalist silhouette and cultural significance.

The inspiration behind the Chiavarine design has had a significant impact on the world of design, including the renowned Italian architect and designer Gio Ponti. His Leggera chair in the early 1950s and the Superleggera chair in 1958 were both influenced by the Chiavarine's sturdy yet lightweight construction. See less