Aarnio Rattan Chairs
Vintage 1970s European Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Upholstery, Rattan
20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Metal
People Also Browsed
Mid-20th Century Italian French Provincial Lounge Chairs
Bamboo
2010s American End Tables
Wood, Lacquer
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights an...
Metal
2010s American Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Brass, Bronze, Enamel, Nickel
2010s South African Minimalist Night Stands
Burl, Poplar
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Benches
Fabric, Velvet, Lacquer, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Sofas
Velvet, Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Textile
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Wood
2010s British Scandinavian Modern Ottomans and Poufs
Mohair, Velvet, Oak
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Mid-Century Modern Side Tables
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary French Brutalist Night Stands
Oak
2010s Austrian Jugendstil Chandeliers and Pendants
Silk
21st Century and Contemporary Mexican Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
Textile, Wood
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Metal
20th Century Italian Post-Modern Lounge Chairs
Fur, Fabric, Wood, Pine
Recent Sales
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Wicker, Rattan
Mid-20th Century Finnish Organic Modern Lounge Chairs
Rattan
Vintage 1960s Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Velvet, Rattan
Vintage 1960s Finnish Chairs
Wicker, Rattan
Vintage 1960s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Rattan, Wicker
Vintage 1960s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Wicker, Rattan
Mid-20th Century Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Rattan, Sheepskin
2010s Finnish Modern Footstools
Rattan
Vintage 1970s Chairs
Rattan
Vintage 1960s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Living Room Sets
Fabric, Wicker, Glass
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Side Chairs
Rattan
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Rattan
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Stools
Wicker, Rattan
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Wicker
Vintage 1960s Hong Kong Club Chairs
Wicker, Rattan
Vintage 1960s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Wicker, Rattan
20th Century British Mid-Century Modern Stools
Metal
20th Century American Hollywood Regency Patio and Garden Furniture
Reed, Bamboo, Wicker, Cane
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Cowhide, Wicker, Rattan
Vintage 1960s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Rattan
Vintage 1960s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Cotton, Down, Rattan, Wicker
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.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 1, 2024Whether or not Eero Aarnio Ball chairs are comfortable or not is largely a matter of personal opinion. When the chair debuted in 1966, the New York Times reporter who saw it at the International Furniture Fair in Cologne suggested that the seating on display was "designed more for laughs than for comfort." However, the distinctive chair brought Aarnio instant commercial success. Today, many people still find the inviting foam-filled fabric seat inside its molded-fiberglass orb to be as comfortable to sit on as it is pleasing to the eye. Shop an assortment of vintage Eero Aarnio Ball chairs on 1stDibs.
- How do I renew a rattan chair?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022To renew a rattan chair, start by stripping away its old finish. Apply a conditioner approved for use on rattan, and then refinish as desired. Shop a variety of antique and vintage rattan chairs from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
- Can I refinish rattan chairs?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Yes, you can usually refinish rattan chairs. First, you will need to strip away the old finish. Then, you can apply a new finish to the chair. The type of finish you should use depends on whether you will display your chair indoors or outdoors. You'll find a range of rattan chairs on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Round rattan chairs are known as papasan chairs. Papasan chairs are characterized by their large bowl shape, which rests in a rattan frame, and is complete with a large cushion. Shop a collection of Papasan chairs from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
Read More
The 21 Most Popular Mid-Century Modern Chairs
You know the designs, now get the stories about how they came to be.
Fred Rigby’s Modular Seating Can Be Configured in So Many Handy Ways
The plush Cove Slipper 2.5 Seater sofa is just one of many convenient combinations from the London-based maker.
This Chubby-Chic Quilted Stool Stands on Its Own Two Feet
Sam Klemick's cool stool is edgy, cozy and environmentally sustainable all at once.
Riotous Shapes and Colors Have Made Uchronia’s Designs the Toast of Paris
Julien Sebban’s energetic design collective is radically reshaping the look of 21st-century European furniture and interiors.
Is Lionel Jadot the Willy Wonka of Upcycled Belgian Design?
From his massive collaborative workshop in a former paper factory, the designer concocts funky furniture from disused materials, as well as luxe hotel interiors like the new Mix Brussels.
Rock Your Cares Away on This Sunny Hand-Crocheted Swing
The boho-chic Enchanted Forest Swing, handmade by marginalized women from Turkey and Syria, is uplifting in every way.
Learn Why Designer Maarten Baas Set This Charles Rennie Mackintosh Chair on Fire
What happens when you do something to a piece of furniture that you shouldn’t? It becomes an entirely new object.
Eileen Gray’s Famed Cliffside Villa in the South of France Is Returned to Its Modernist Glory
After years of diligent restoration, E-1027, the designer-cum-architect’s marriage of romance and modernism, is finally complete.