Stendig Co. played a pivotal role in introducing modern European furniture to the American market, thanks to the business acumen of founder Charles Stendig.
Around 1950, the Brooklyn, New York–born Stendig (1924–2024) worked for Raymor, a purveyor of modern china and accessories that is best known for distributing designer Russel Wright’s American Modern line of ceramics. While at Raymor, Stendig focused on the company’s less popular pieces that were made in Italy and Scandinavia, recognizing their potential for the American market. In 1955, he left the company and decided to establish Stendig Co.
That year, a chance encounter with a Finnish trade representative led him to furniture company Asko — one of the largest companies operating in Scandinavia. Asko invited him and Joseph Carreiro, a professor at the Philadelphia College of Art (now the University of the Arts), to help refine their designs.
At Asko’s production facility in Finland, Stendig met several renowned Finnish designers such as Ilmari Tapiovaara, Tapio Wirkkala and Eero Aarnio, the iconic Ball chair creator. Stendig’s trip there was a success, and Stendig Co. began importing Finnish furniture to the United States.
In 1956, the first Stendig Co. showroom opened in Manhattan. A year later, during a trip to Zurich, Stendig came across a Bauhaus–inspired furniture store featuring pieces by Swiss designers Kurt Thut, Hans Eichenberger and Robert Haussmann, the store’s co-owner. Following a meeting with Haussmann, Stendig became the retailer’s exclusive U.S. distributor.
Throughout the late 1950s and early 1960s, Stendig Co. imported and sold furniture from influential European designers, including Swiss designer Bruno Rey, Italian architect and industrial designer Vico Magistretti and Hungarian-American architect and designer Marcel Breuer, creator of the Wassily lounge chair.
By the late 1960s, Stendig Co. moved its headquarters to an expansive space on Manhattan’s East Side and opened showrooms in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago, each home to the company’s striking collection of mid-century European armchairs, sofas, dining room chairs, coffee tables and other furnishings. Stendig’s founder was by then representing Italian manufacturers Poltronova and Gufram and bringing revolutionary works of Italian Radical design to American shores.
In 1971, Charles Stendig sold the company to Burlington Industries. He retired in 1976. Today Stendig’s European imports are coveted by interior designers and vintage furniture collectors, and he will be forever known as the man who introduced modern European design to the United States.
Find a range of vintage Stendig Co. furniture on 1stDibs.
Pair of Vintage Mid Century Modern Black Leather Wassily Lounge Chairs for Knoll
By Stendig Co., Marcel Breuer, Knoll
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Pair of Vintage Mid Century Modern Black leather Wassily lounge chairs for Knoll. The Wassily lounge chair was designed by Marcel Breuer in Black full leather. Has flat caps on the e...
Steel, Chrome
$3,600Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair of Vintage Mid-Century Modern Black Leather Wassily Lounge Chairs for Knoll
By Knoll, Marcel Breuer, Stendig Co.
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Pair of Vintage Mid-Century Modern Black leather wassily lounge chairs for Knoll. The Wassily lounge chair was designed by Marcel Breuer in Black full leather. Has flat caps on the e...
Steel, Chrome
Mies Van Der Rohe MR20 Chrome & Wicker Lounge Chairs, 1970s / sTENDIG
By Stendig Co., Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
Located in Buffalo, NY
Mies Van Der Rohe MR20 Chrome & Wicker Lounge Chairs, 1970s. manufactured by Stendig... Classic Bauhaus / Modernist design,, Superior quality and construction.. Extremely comfortable...
Steel, Chrome
$4,200Sale Price|20% Off
Pair of Mid Century Robert Haussmann Lounge chairs for Stendig De Sede
By Stendig Co., Robert Haussmann
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Pair of Mid Century Robert Haussmann Lounge chairs for Stendig De Sede. Nice pair of cube club chairs with flat bar chrome frames and tan woven fabric cushions. Labeled Stendig under...
Chrome
Cognac Leather and Chrome Lounge Chair by Robert Haussmann for De Sede
By Stendig Co., Robert and Trix Haussmann, De Sede
Located in Atlanta, GA
Cognac Leather and Chrome Architectural Lounge Chair, designed by Robert and Trix Hausmann for De Sede, Switzerland, circa 1970s. Imported to the US by Stendig and signed with Stendi...
Metal
Robert Haussmann for De Sede RH-304 chrome and 1970s lounge chair by Stendig
By Robert Haussmann, Stendig Co., De Sede
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Robert Haussmann for De Sede RH-304 chrome and 1970s lounge chair with Stendig tags. Great condition–chromed steel caging and original upholstery in such a satisfying, groovy warm p...
Chrome
Baron Lounge Chairs by Robert Haussmann for Stendig, Cream Leather, 1970
By Robert Haussmann, Stendig Co.
Located in Chicago, IL
Baron lounge chair by Robert Haussmann for Stendig, Cream Leather, 1970. Original leather with beautiful patina. Sofa is sold in separate ...
Leather
1950's Authentic Le Corbusier Marked STENDIG LC1 Basculant Chairs Thonet Cassina
By Le Corbusier, Stendig Co.
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is a pair of very special and original vintage LC1 Basculant Sling chairs. They were designed most notably by Le Corbusier, along with Pi...
Chrome
$5,910Sale Price|40% Off
Italian Chrome Tufted Lounge Chair and Ottoman by Stendig
By Stendig Co.
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This lounge chair and ottoman by Stendig is quite the show stopper. It features overlapping curvilinear supports in chrome that attach to the base of each piece. It may look like a...
Chrome
DS-16 Leather Lounge Chair and Ottoman by De Sede
By De Sede
Located in New York, NY
D-16 Leather Lounge Chair and Ottoman by De Sede, Switzerland, circa 1970s. Upholstered in original dark brown leather.
Leather, Wood
$2,490
H 25.6 in W 25.6 in D 33.47 in
De Sede DS 14 Lounge Chair in Patinated Cognac Leather, Switzerland, 1970s
By De Sede
Located in Almelo, NL
De Sede DS 14 lounge chair in patinated cognac leather, Switzerland, 1970s This robust patinated De Sede lounge chair ensures ultimate comfort and bu...
Leather, Beech
$2,592Sale Price|20% Off
H 33.5 in W 22.25 in D 32 in
Pair of Mies Van Der Rohe MR20 Chrome and Leather Chairs.
By Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Gavina
Located in Chicago, IL
Pair of leather and chromed steel cantilevered arm chairs designed by Ludwig Mies Van Der Rohe. There is no manufacturer listed but they do have “made in Italy” tags on them. Simila...
Steel, Chrome
Vintage Set of Knoll Wassily Chairs by Marcel Breuer
By Marcel Breuer, Knoll
Located in Las Vegas, NV
All original, Vintage pair of Wassily chairs by Marcel Breuer for Knoll. Originally designed in 1925, this is a truly Classic and timeless design. One chair retains its original Knol...
Chrome
$4,650
H 28 in W 25 in D 26 in
Pair of Mid-Century Modern Sculptural Lounge Chairs "657" Charles Pollock Knoll
By Knoll, Charles Pollock
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous pair of 657 chairs by Charles Pollock for Knoll. C1960 design signed in two places by Knoll. In excellent vintage condition with minimal wear. Some ...
Chrome
$8,630 / set
H 30.5 in W 35.75 in D 24.5 in
Pair of Warren Platner Mid Century Modern Lounge Chairs for Knoll
By Warren Platner, Knoll
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fantastic pair of Mid Century Modern Sculptural Lounge Chairs by Warren Platner for Knoll International. An ottoman, listed separately, is also available. This pair of lounge chair...
Steel, Chrome
$2,950
H 33.47 in W 27.56 in D 35.44 in
Ueli Berger for De Sede 'DS-80' Lounge Chair in Cognac Leather
By Ueli Berger, De Sede
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Ueli Berger for De Sede, lounge chair, model 'DS-80', wood, leather, Switzerland, 1970s The 'DS-80' lounge chair designed by Ueli Berger for De Sede. The frame is a stark, dark grey...
Leather, Wood
$3,435 / set
H 32.29 in W 22.45 in D 39.38 in
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe MR20 vintage Lounge chair and ottoman, 1960s
By Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Stendig Co.
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe lounge chair with ottoman, rattan seat and back. Steel frame. Model MR20, made by Stendig.
Steel
$15,000
H 35 in W 27.5 in D 21.5 in
C. 1927 Mies van der Rohe MR 11-12 Lounge Chair in Leather with Steel Frame
By Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a very early MR 11-12 Lounge Chair. We acquired the piece from an estate in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and it is all original. The frame is tubular steel with lots of of patina...
Steel
$9,000
H 38 in W 33.25 in D 30.5 in
Pair of Marcus Jehs and Jurgen Laub for Knoll black leather lounge chairs
By Knoll, Jehs & Laub
Located in Ferndale, MI
In my mind this is the 21st century Womb chair . Jehs and Laub lounges for Knoll . Wide seat and comfortable backrest would allow one to easily curl up on it . Strikingly simple Lo...
Steel, Chrome
$5,390 / set
H 32.29 in W 22.05 in D 29.53 in
Vintage Wicker and Chrome THONET MR20 Ludwig Mies van der Rohe MR20 armchairs
By Thonet, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
Located in Highclere, Newbury
A pair of vintage natural cane, Wicker and chrome MR20 Ludwig Mies van der Rohe MR20 armchairs for Thonet. The MR20 (the armchair version of the MR10) is a hallmark of Bauhaus and M...
Chrome
$2,800
H 33 in W 25.5 in D 36.25 in
Mies Van der Rohe Knoll custom order chrome with black leather MR chair
By Knoll, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
Located in Ferndale, MI
MR lounge chair designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe 1927 . This is a licensed Knoll edition maybe 1975 . Custom ordered with contrasting straps . Above average condition some roughn...
Chrome
$3,000 / item
H 28.75 in W 31 in D 27 in
1960s Wassily Chairs by Marcel Breuer for Gavina / Knoll in Original Canvas
By Marcel Breuer, Gavina, Knoll
Located in Philadelphia, PA
These are original Wassily Lounge Chairs, model B3, initially designed by Marcel Breuer in 1925. These particular examples were produced by Gavina in Italy in the 1960s, and were imp...
Steel, Chrome
Robert Haussmann for De Sed 'DS-201' Armchairs in Leather
By De Sede, Robert Haussmann
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Robert Haussmann for De Sede, armchairs, model 'DS-201', chrome-plated steel, leather, Switzerland, designed in 1957 A design by Robert Haussmann that features a cubic shaped struct...
Chrome, Steel
$3,000
H 28.75 in W 31 in D 27 in
1970s Marcel Breuer Knoll / Gavina Wassily Lounge Chair, Leather & Chrome
By Marcel Breuer
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Wassily Lounge Chair, originally designed by Marcel Breuer in 1925. This example was produced in Italy in the 1970s by Gavina, which was later acquired by Knoll. This is a ...
Steel
Pair of Stendig Wassily Chairs with great Patina!
By Marcel Breuer, Stendig Co.
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Nice early pair of Waselie chairs sold through standing. Chairs date to the early 60s in a chocolate brown leather that shows loads of personality and patina. Some new stitching has ...
Chrome
Sold
H 28 in W 30 in D 26 in
Pair of Vintage Mid-Century Modern canvas Wassily Lounge Chairs for Knoll
By Knoll, Marcel Breuer, Stendig Co.
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Pair of Vintage Mid-Century Modern natural canvas cloth wassily lounge chairs for Knoll. The Wassily lounge chair was originally designed by Marcel Breuer has flat caps on the end tu...
Steel, Chrome
Sold
H 28 in W 30 in D 26 in
Pair of Vintage Mid-Century Modern Brown Leather Wassily lounge Chairs for Knoll
By Stendig Co., Marcel Breuer, Knoll
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Pair of Vintage Mid-Century Modern brown leather wassily lounge chairs for Knoll. The Wassily lounge chair was designed by Marcel Breuer in Dark Brown full leather. Has flat caps on ...
Chrome
Sold
H 27.96 in W 29.93 in D 35.83 in
'Hyaline' armchairs in light pink suède by Fabio Lenci for Stendig, 1960s
By Stendig Co., Fabio Lenci
Located in amstelveen, NL
Hyaline light pink/beige suède and glass armchairs by Fabio Lenci for Stendig Italy 1960s, set of 2 The thick suede rolls are interconnected in a flexible form and are fixed to the ...
Suede, Glass
Sold
H 27 in W 36 in D 30 in
Afra & Tobia Scarpa Bastiano Lounge Chair in Rosewood by Stendig Italy 1970s
By Stendig Co., Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in San Diego, CA
Klassik and chic club/lounge chair from the Bastiano series, designed by the iconic Italian designer duo Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Gavina, imported by standig Italy, circa 1960. The c...
Fabric, Rosewood
Sold
H 28.5 in W 31.75 in D 27 in
Pair of Vintage Wassily Chairs by Marcel Breuer for Stendig / Gavina
By Gavina, Stendig Co., Marcel Breuer
Located in San Diego, CA
Pair of vintage "Wassily" chairs in Cognac patinated leather and chrome by Marcel Breuer for Stendig and manufactured by Gavina, circa 1960s. The pair are in good condition the chrom...
Chrome
Sold
H 30 in W 45.38 in D 33.38 in
Pair of Afra & Tobia Scarpa Super-sized Artona Lounge Armchairs Circa 1970s
By Stendig Co., Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Peabody, MA
A pair of oversized Artona armchairs (45 3/8" wide) upholstered in leather and designed by the husband and wife team of Afra & Tobia Scarpa, imported to the US by Stendig, circa mid ...
Leather, Wood
Fabio Lenci 'Hyaline' Lounge Chair for Stendig
By Stendig Co., Fabio Lenci
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Fabio Lenci "Hyaline" lounge chair, Italy, c.1970s. The chair features two thick tempered glass side panels with a strip of suede bolster cushions down the middle serving as a sling ...
Chrome
Sold
H 28.75 in W 30 in D 27.25 in
Pair Signed Stendig Marcel Breuer Wassily Lounge Chairs Italy 60s Black Leather
By Stendig Co., Marcel Breuer
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Designed by Bauhaus legend Marcel Breuer, these iconic chairs were made by the collaborative efforts of Stendig and Gavina during the mid to late 1960s. Stendig was not always just a...
Steel, Chrome
Mid Century Caramel Brown Leather Lounge Chairs by Stendig 1960s
By Stendig Co.
Located in Detroit, MI
This stunning pair of vintage mid century modern lounge chairs were produced by Stendig circa 1960. These matching lou...
Steel, Chrome
Sold
H 29.5 in W 28 in D 28 in
Mid Century Modern Swivel Tulip Lounge Chair by Stendig in Fuchsia Mohair
By Stendig Co., Milo Baughman, Pierre Paulin
Located in Chicago, IL
Mid Century Modern Swivel Tulip Lounge Chair by Stendig in Fuchsia Mohair Mid century modern space-age aluminum tulip base swivel lounge ch...
Aluminum
Pair of Vintage Wassily Chairs by Marcel Breuer for Stendig / Gavina
By Marcel Breuer, Stendig Co., Gavina
Located in San Diego, CA
Pair of vintage "Wassily" chairs in brown leather and chrome by Marcel Breuer for Stendig and manufactured by Gavina, circa 1960s. The pair are in very good condition and measure 31"...
Chrome
Sold
H 28.75 in W 30 in D 27.25 in
Pair of Signed Marcel Breuer Wassily Lounge Chairs Stendig Made in Finland 1970s
By Stendig Co., Marcel Breuer
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A rare pair of signed Marcel Breuer for Stendig pair of model B3 lounge chairs, also known as Wassily chairs. Originally designed for and named after Bauhaus artist Wassily Kandinsky...
Steel, Chrome
De Sede Robert Haussmann Model RH 302 Lounge Arm Chair, Leather + Chrome
By Stendig Co., De Sede, Le Corbusier, Robert Haussmann
Located in Decatur, GA
Exquisite model RH302 lounge chair designed by Robert Haussmann. Built by De Sede in Switzerland and imported to the states by Stendig circa 1960. This model does not surface in the ...
Steel, Chrome
Sold
H 30 in W 26 in D 39 in
Mid Century Modern Mr Lounge Chairs in Leather by Mies Van Der Rohe for Stendig
By Stendig Co., Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A lovely classic pair MR lounge chairs designed by Mies van der Rohe and produced by Stendig circa 1970's These feature chromed steel cantilever chair frames with gray leather seat c...
Chrome