While most chairs can be pretty affordable, others can quickly rise to thousands and even millions of dollars. You cannot find these chairs in Ikea, but you will definitely need to have real deep pockets and a love for history, or maybe just gold and jewels. Ranging in price from $20,000 to $28 million, check out the top twelve most expensive chairs in the world.
What Makes a Chair Expensive?
There are many factors that go into chairs becoming so expensive. Some of these categories are listed below:
- Materials: While most materials for furniture are relatively affordable, only the best materials are used for expensive chairs. These can include leather, diamonds, form-fitting foam, and others that will increase the price.
- Production Number: The less of a product there is, the more people will want the item, and the price follows suit. Several of the chairs on our list have limited production runs, which reflect on the high prices.
- Age: Our final factor is age. While some of these chairs are not made with precious materials, they do have a history, and can be a statement piece. For instance, a chair can be over a hundred years old, or belong to a former president.
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12. The Wegner Chair, $20,000
Our twelfth selection for most expensive chairs is the Wegner Chair, which may seem minimal, but the value lies in another place. The Danish design is made from high-quality materials like leather, wood, and chrome piping, and the superior craftsmanship raises the value to $20,000. The chair is a blend of comfort and sleek aesthetic to fit in modern and minimalist designs.
11. 1958 Arne Jacobsen Egg Chair, $20,000
Arne Jacobsen, a renowned designer who was famous for designing wallpapers, furniture, and textiles, designed our eleventh selection for the most expensive chairs list in 1958 to go into luxurious hotels. The chair originally came with a footstool and if you find a matching pair today in good original condition, it’ll fetch close to $20,000.
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10. Finn Juhl 1944 Chieftains Chair, $35,000
Ranking tenth on our most expensive chairs list is this piece designed by Finn Juhl in 1944, inspired by weaponry and is also known as the “King’s Chair”. The Copenhagen designer constructed the chair from natural resources, including walnut, leather, and one in good condition today will fetch $35,000 on the market.
9. J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter Chair, $50,000
Context is everything when going under the hammer at auction. And this chair clearly had a special meaning for someone growing up in the 2000s, ranking ninth on our list of most expensive chairs. This is the chair JK Rowling sat on when writing the first Harry Potter book, The Philosopher’s Stone. It is engraved with symbols and wording related to the Harry Potter franchise and was sold at auction for roughly $50,000.
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8. The Banqueted Panda Chair, $113,000
Don’t panic, these aren’t real pandas. This chair is completely covered in soft toys and was designed by the Campana Brothers. Only 25 of these chairs exist – hence the $113,000 price. Our eighth selection for the most expensive chairs list clearly has a style of its own and is undoubtedly comfortable. In fact, the only element that isn’t a soft panda toy is the legs, which are made from pure stainless steel.
7. Kennedy Cabinet Chairs, $180,000
These plain-looking chairs might seem like any other 1960s seat. However, they have a history that spans decades. These chairs were used by John F. Kennedy during his Presidency and in time, became a gift from Jacky Kennedy, the First Lady, to Robert McNamara, the Secretary of Defense. Because the Kennedy administration is one of the most famed in U.S. history, it is unsurprising to see the $180,000 price tag.
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6. PlumeBlanche Diamond-Encrusted Chair, $300,000
A most expensive chairs list would be incomplete without at least one piece containing precious metals and gemstones. The first on on our list is the PlumeBlanche Diamond-Encrusted Chair, with diamonds covering the chair. The limited edition piece only has 50 copies, directly influencing the value at $300,000.
5. Z-Chair by Zaha Hadid, $375,000
Coming in sixth for our most expensive chairs list, the Z-Chair by Zaha Hadid, currently on sale for $375,000. The chair was designed by Zaha Hadid, an Iraqi-British architect, made completely from polished stainless steel, giving it a futuristic look. Only 25 pieces were created, increasing the price tag and collectibility of this item.
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4. The Skull Chair, $600,000
Made from 24 Karat gold, the finest leather, and shaped like a human skull, our fourth selection for most expensive chairs certainly fits in on this list. The Skull Chair fits wealthy goth teenagers and Bond villains alike. Handmade and one of a kind, this chair is valued at $600,000.
3. Pininfarina Aresline Xten, $1.4 Million
This chair was made by an Italian car company Pininfarina, a company famous for working on Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Maserati. It is said to be the most comfortable chair ever made. It uses a special technology called Technogel that is shaped to the person buying the chair. This offers maximum support, cushioning, and comfort. It was clearly made for the super-rich who demand the utmost comfort.
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2. Marc Newson Lockheed Lounge Chair, $2.9 Million
The Lockheed Lounge Chair was designed by famed Australian designer Marc Newson, and was sold by auction in 2006 for $2.9 million. The chair itself is curved, includes three legs, and is covered in smooth rubber. It has been showcased in a number of videos over the years and remains one of the most expensive chairs ever sold.
1. The Dragon’s Chair, $28 Million
The Dragon Chair was made by Irish designer Eileen Gray between 1917 and 1919 and takes the cake for most expensive chairs. It is composed of a wooden framework and brown leather, with the wood sculpted and colored with a brownish-orange dye. The design showcases two dragons intertwined. At a 2009 auction at Christie’s the chair was estimated to be worth between $2.5m and $3.5m but sold for a staggering $28 million, making it the most expensive chair in the world.