Belter Carved Victorian Chair
Antique Mid-19th Century American Rococo Revival Side Chairs
Fabric, Walnut
Antique 19th Century Victorian Side Chairs
Mahogany, Walnut
Antique 19th Century American Victorian Armchairs
Velvet, Rosewood
Antique 19th Century American Victorian Side Chairs
Rosewood
People Also Browsed
20th Century Tableware
Sterling Silver
Antique 1880s English Victorian Lounge Chairs
Hardwood
Late 20th Century Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Stainless Steel
Antique Late 19th Century Tableware
Sterling Silver
Vintage 1920s French Louis XVI Beds and Bed Frames
Walnut
Antique Early 19th Century British Early Victorian Slipper Chairs
Upholstery, Hardwood
Antique 1880s English Kilim Armchairs
Upholstery, Hardwood
Antique 19th Century Irish Armchairs
Upholstery, Yew
Antique Late 19th Century English Late Victorian Armchairs
Leather
Antique 19th Century American High Victorian Desks
Walnut
Antique 1850s English Victorian Chairs
Walnut
20th Century Italian Louis XV Beds and Bed Frames
Beech
Antique 18th Century French Baroque Tapestries
Wool, Silk
Antique Early 19th Century French Louis XVI Armchairs
Wood
Antique 1890s French Art Nouveau Daybeds
Iron
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Chairs
Walnut
Recent Sales
Early 20th Century American Victorian Side Chairs
Rosewood, Upholstery
Antique Mid-19th Century American Rococo Revival Armchairs
Mahogany
20th Century Danish Victorian Club Chairs
Leather, Oak
Vintage 1980s English Dining Room Sets
Birch, Mahogany
Antique 19th Century American Victorian Side Chairs
Rosewood
Antique 1890s American Victorian Chairs
Wood
Antique 19th Century English Chairs
Rosewood
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
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.