Ees Chair
21st Century and Contemporary Dutch Modern Lounge Chairs
Leather
Antique 18th Century English Regency Dining Room Chairs
Rattan, Hardwood
21st Century and Contemporary Dutch Modern Sofas
Textile
2010s Dutch Stools
Fabric, Wood
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21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary French Brutalist Night Stands
Oak
21st Century and Contemporary Mexican Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
Textile, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Mexican Organic Modern Table Lamps
Linen, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Benches
Fabric, Velvet, Lacquer, Wood
2010s French Modern Chairs
Oak
Antique Late 19th Century Northern Irish Victorian Tea Sets
Porcelain
Early 2000s American Mid-Century Modern Stools
Steel, Stainless Steel, Chrome
Early 2000s Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Stainless Steel
21st Century and Contemporary German Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and ...
Metal, Iron
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Sofas
Leather
21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Ch...
Steel, Chrome
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Sofas
Leather, Teak
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Chrome
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Sofas
Leather, Birch
Recent Sales
Vintage 1960s Italian Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Stainless Steel
Late 20th Century Canadian Louis XV Bergere Chairs
Silk, Beech
2010s Dutch Armchairs
Leather
2010s Dutch Modern Armchairs
Leather
Antique Early 1900s English Edwardian Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Boxwood, Ebony, Mahogany
2010s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Leather
2010s Dutch Lounge Chairs
Velvet
2010s Dutch Armchairs
Leather
Finding the Right seating for You
With entire areas of our homes reserved for “sitting rooms,” the value of quality antique and vintage seating cannot be overstated.
Fortunately, the design of side chairs, armchairs and other lounge furniture — since what were, quite literally, the early perches of our ancestors — has evolved considerably.
Among the earliest standard seating furniture were stools. Egyptian stools, for example, designed for one person with no seat back, were x-shaped and typically folded to be tucked away. These rudimentary chairs informed the design of Greek and Roman stools, all of which were a long way from Sori Yanagi's Butterfly stool or Alvar Aalto's Stool 60. In the 18th century and earlier, seats with backs and armrests were largely reserved for high nobility.
The seating of today is more inclusive but the style and placement of chairs can still make a statement. Antique desk chairs and armchairs designed in the style of Louis XV, which eventually included painted furniture and were often made of rare woods, feature prominently curved legs as well as Chinese themes and varied ornaments. Much like the thrones of fairy tales and the regency, elegant lounges crafted in the Louis XV style convey wealth and prestige. In the kitchen, the dining chair placed at the head of the table is typically reserved for the head of the household or a revered guest.
Of course, with luxurious vintage or antique furnishings, every chair can seem like the best seat in the house. Whether your preference is stretching out on a plush sofa, such as the Serpentine, designed by Vladimir Kagan, or cozying up in a vintage wingback chair, there is likely to be a comfy classic or contemporary gem for you on 1stDibs.
With respect to the latest obsessions in design, cane seating has been cropping up everywhere, from sleek armchairs to lounge chairs, while bouclé fabric, a staple of modern furniture design, can be seen in mid-century modern, Scandinavian modern and Hollywood Regency furniture styles.
Admirers of the sophisticated craftsmanship and dark woods frequently associated with mid-century modern seating can find timeless furnishings in our expansive collection of lounge chairs, dining chairs and other items — whether they’re vintage editions or alluring official reproductions of iconic designs from the likes of Hans Wegner or from Charles and Ray Eames. Shop our inventory of Egg chairs, designed in 1958 by Arne Jacobsen, the Florence Knoll lounge chair and more.
No matter your style, the collection of unique chairs, sofas and other seating on 1stDibs is surely worthy of a standing ovation.
Read More
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After years of diligent restoration, E-1027, the designer-cum-architect’s marriage of romance and modernism, is finally complete.