Baker Ming Chairs
Mid-20th Century American Hollywood Regency Dining Room Chairs
Upholstery, Mahogany
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Faux Leather, Wood
Vintage 1970s Ming Club Chairs
Tapestry, Chenille, Cane, Walnut
Mid-20th Century American Ming Sofas
Mohair, Bouclé, Wood
Mid-20th Century American Ming Lounge Chairs
Ultrasuede, Walnut, Latex
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1990s American Modern Lounge Chairs
Leather, Cotton, Hardwood
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Cabinets
Mahogany
Mid-20th Century American Hepplewhite Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Metal
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
Mahogany
Late 20th Century American Chippendale Wardrobes and Armoires
Brass
Vintage 1970s French Provincial Dining Room Chairs
Cane, Wood
Mid-20th Century American Empire Dressers
Brass
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Slipper Chairs
Wood, Upholstery
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Beds and Bed Frames
Mahogany
Mid-20th Century American Campaign Night Stands
Mahogany
20th Century American Regency Dining Room Chairs
Burl, Fabric, Wood
1990s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Walnut, Leather
Early 20th Century Chinese Ming Armchairs
Bamboo, Wood
Vintage 1970s French Provincial Game Tables
Oak
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Upholstery, Cane, Burl
Recent Sales
Vintage 1970s American Ming Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Brass
Vintage 1980s Chinoiserie Dining Room Chairs
Upholstery, Elm
Vintage 1960s American Lounge Chairs
Brass
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Vintage 1950s American Lounge Chairs
Wood, Lacquer
20th Century American Lounge Chairs
Brass
Late 20th Century American Ming Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Glass, Wood, Burl
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
Walnut
Vintage 1980s American Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Upholstery, Wood
Mid-20th Century American Ming Center Tables
Walnut
Late 20th Century American Chinoiserie Lounge Chairs
Brass
20th Century American Ming Armchairs
Rattan, Fabric, Bamboo, Cane
Vintage 1960s American Lounge Chairs
Wood, Lacquer
Vintage 1970s American Armchairs
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.
- What is a Ming chair?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertNovember 2, 2021A Ming chair refers to a typically elaborate and sophisticated piece of seating furniture that was designed during China’s Ming dynasty — an era that saw a deepening of interest in interior design and furniture in the East Asian country owing to the evolution of joinery techniques and a rise in Chinese commerce. Celebrated Danish furniture maker Hans Wegner transitioned from cabinetry to furniture design in the 1940s and, in 1944, began to develop seating based on Ming dynasty chairs.
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