Bamboo Chiavari Chair
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Side Chairs
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Chippendale Chairs
Faux Leather, PVC, Wood
20th Century Side Chairs
Faux Bamboo
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Metal
Vintage 1950s American Dining Room Chairs
Metal
Antique Early 19th Century Hollywood Regency Dining Room Chairs
Rush, Giltwood
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Wood, Bamboo, Cane, Beech, Rattan
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Brass
People Also Browsed
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Lacquer
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Side Chairs
Rattan
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Swivel Chairs
Upholstery, Bamboo
Late 20th Century Chinese Chippendale Dining Room Chairs
Faux Bamboo
20th Century Italian Hollywood Regency Gueridon
Marble, Gold Leaf, Iron
20th Century American Organic Modern Dining Room Tables
Iron
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Velvet, Upholstery
Vintage 1960s Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Teak
Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Dining Room Chairs
Bouclé, Upholstery, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Adam Style Wall Mirrors
Wire
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
Metal
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Iron
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Velvet
Vintage 1970s American Dining Room Chairs
Wood, Lacquer, Upholstery
Vintage 1950s French Planters and Jardinieres
Iron
Antique Mid-19th Century Austrian Rustic Wall Mirrors
Mirror, Softwood
Recent Sales
Vintage 1940s Italian Side Chairs
Brass
Vintage 1940s Italian Side Chairs
Brass
Vintage 1950s Italian Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Brass
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
Bamboo, Lacquer
Vintage 1950s Italian Chinoiserie Side Chairs
Cane, Wood
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Brass
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 Chiavari chair?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMay 3, 2024A Chiavari chair is a dining chair with a specific set of characteristics. Usually crafted out of wood, the chair features carvings that give it the jointed look of bamboo. The chair gets its name from Chiavari, Italy, where furniture maker Giuseppe Gaetano Descalzi first created the style in 1807. Find a collection of Chiavari chairs on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021Chiavari chairs became popular after they were used at the wedding reception for John and Jackie Kennedy. Since then, as they have been used at the Oscars and other celebrity ceremonies they have only gained more traction.
- Are bamboo chairs strong?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Although construction methods also affect durability, bamboo chairs are generally strong due to the properties of bamboo. The tensile strength of bamboo per square inch is greater than that of many other materials, including steel. Shop a variety of bamboo chairs on 1stDibs.
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