Last updated: August 20, 2026
The Pier 1 papasan chair was the version most Americans actually owned, and the reason people still search for it by name is simple: Pier 1 Imports filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in February 2020, announced later that year that it would wind down and close its stores, and the chain that sold the chair for decades stopped existing.
This guide covers what happened to the brand, why the Pier 1 papasan was set up differently from most, whether a replacement cushion for an old one is still findable, and where the equivalent chair is sold now. Retail availability moves constantly, so treat the sources here as places to check rather than guarantees of stock.
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Quick Answer
Where do you buy a Pier 1 style papasan chair now?
- The store chain is gone. Pier 1 Imports filed for Chapter 11 in February 2020 and wound down its stores that year; the brand name was later bought and relaunched as an online only operation.
- The chair itself was never exclusive to Pier 1. The same rattan bowl and base format is sold by plenty of retailers and marketplaces.
- If you still own the frame, buy a cushion, not a chair. Measure the rim first, because you cannot look up a discontinued model number.
- Secondhand listings are full of sound Pier 1 frames with dead cushions, and that combination is the closest thing to the original at the lowest cost.
- Pier 1 sold the frame and the cushion as separate purchases, and buying that way still gives you the best result.
What Happened to Pier 1
Pier 1 Imports filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in February 2020, and after failing to find a going concern buyer it moved to wind down, closing its remaining stores through that year. The brand name and intellectual property were subsequently bought and relaunched as an online only retailer, which is why the name still appears in search results.
What matters for a shopper is that the online brand is a different operation from the store chain. The assortment is not the old catalog, model names do not carry over reliably, and a cushion that fit a chair bought in a Pier 1 store years ago will not be findable by looking up its old name. Measure the chair instead.
Why the Pier 1 Papasan Was Different
Pier 1 sold the papasan as two purchases rather than one. You picked a frame and base, then chose a cushion separately from a wall of fabrics and colors, which is why two Pier 1 papasans from the same era can look nothing alike. It also meant customers were used to the idea that the cushion is a replaceable part.
That habit is still the right one. Buying the frame and the cushion separately gets you a better cushion than the one bundled into a complete chair listing, and it means you already know where to go when the fill compresses in a few years. Our cushion sizing guide covers how to measure a frame you already own.
Was It a Special Chair?
Not structurally. The Pier 1 papasan used the same construction as the format generally: bent rattan poles bound at the joints, a bowl resting loose in a separate base, one thick tufted cushion dropped in. What Pier 1 supplied was availability, a huge cushion range and a store where you could sit in one. The chair itself was not proprietary.
Where the Equivalent Is Sold Now
The format is widely available; it is the one stop store experience that disappeared. Sources now split into four groups, and which one suits you depends on whether you need a whole chair, only a cushion, or specifically an older frame that matches something you already own.
| Source | Best for | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Online marketplaces | Complete chairs and the widest cushion range | Check stated dimensions and capacity; listings vary in quality |
| Home and decor chains | Sitting in one before buying | Stock is seasonal and the papasan is not always carried |
| Secondhand listings | Sound frames at low cost, including old Pier 1 stock | Inspect the binding at the joints; ignore the cushion |
| Cushion specialists | Replacing the cushion on a frame you already own | Order by your own measurement, not by an old model name |
The secondhand route deserves more attention than it gets. Frames outlive cushions by years, so the market is full of intact Pier 1 bowls being given away because the cushion is flat. A used frame plus a new cushion reproduces the original chair almost exactly.
What to Buy
Work out which half you need before shopping. A flat cushion on a solid frame is a cushion purchase. A broken or warped frame is a whole chair purchase. And if you want the Pier 1 experience of choosing the cover separately, that is still available; it just happens in a search box now.
🪑 Complete rattan papasan
The direct equivalent of what Pier 1 sold: a rattan bowl, a matching base and a cushion. Check the published assembled dimensions and weight capacity on the listing.
🛋️ Cushion for an existing frame
The purchase most former Pier 1 customers actually need. Measure the rim diameter first; the old model name will not help you.
👥 The double version
Pier 1 sold the oval two person format alongside the single, and the same shape is still sold as a double papasan or mamasan.
🧺 Cover to refresh an old cushion
If the fill is still supportive and only the fabric is tired, a slipcover does the job without replacing anything.
Buying an Old Pier 1 Frame Secondhand
Judge a used frame on its joints, not its weave. On a natural rattan papasan the poles are bound with wrapped cane or rattan peel, and it is that wrapping that splits and loosens. Press down hard in the center of the bowl and watch the joints for movement before you agree to anything.
Then check the shape. Sight across the rim from the side to confirm the bowl is still round, because a frame stored under weight or left in a damp garage takes on a flat spot that no cushion will hide. Our guide to papasan frames covers the full inspection.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Searching for a discontinued model number. Measure the frame; the old catalog is not coming back.
- Assuming the online brand sells the old range. It is a different operation from the store chain.
- Replacing a whole chair because the cushion is flat. The frame is usually the part that survived.
- Buying a used frame without checking the binding. Loose wrapping at the joints means flex under load.
- Paying a premium for the name. The construction was never exclusive to one retailer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Pier 1 still sell papasan chairs? The store chain closed. Pier 1 Imports filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in February 2020 and wound down its stores that year, after which the brand name was bought and relaunched as an online only retailer with a different assortment.
Where can I buy a Pier 1 style papasan chair now? Online marketplaces carry the same rattan bowl and base format with the widest cushion selection, home and decor chains stock it seasonally, and secondhand listings are full of sound frames from the Pier 1 era.
Can I still get a replacement cushion for my Pier 1 papasan? Yes, but order by measurement rather than by model name. Measure the diameter across the outside of the rim through the center and match that to the diameter stated on the cushion listing.
Was the Pier 1 papasan better made than others? It used the same construction as papasan chairs generally: bound rattan poles, a loose bowl and a separate base. What Pier 1 added was availability and an unusually large cushion range, not a different design.
Is a used Pier 1 papasan frame worth buying? Often yes, because frames outlive cushions and many are sold cheaply purely because the cushion has flattened. Check the binding at the joints and confirm the bowl is still round before buying.
What was the Pier 1 papasan cushion size? Cushions were sold separately in the sizes matching their frames, and sizes differed across the years the chair was sold. Measure your own frame rather than relying on a remembered figure.
The Bottom Line
The chain is gone but the chair is not. The Pier 1 papasan was a standard rattan bowl and base with an unusually good cushion selection, and both halves are still easy to buy separately. If your frame is sound, measure the rim and buy a cushion. If you want the whole chair, a used frame from the Pier 1 era plus a new cushion is the closest match there is, and a current rattan set is the simplest.