Cane Ladder Back Chairs 19th Century
Antique 19th Century Victorian Side Chairs
Cane, Maple
Antique Mid-19th Century American Adirondack Chairs
Wood, Cane
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XIII Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Oak
Antique 19th Century American Arts and Crafts Children's Furniture
Cane, Wood
Antique Late 19th Century French French Provincial Corner Chairs
Rush, Oak
Antique 19th Century French French Provincial Corner Chairs
Rush, Oak
Antique Late 19th Century French Chairs
Wood
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2010s French Modern Chairs
Oak
Antique Late 19th Century American Louis XIII Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Leather, Oak
Vintage 1920s Swedish Folk Art Decorative Boxes
Pine
Vintage 1930s Dutch Art Deco Armchairs
Rush, Oak
Vintage 1970s Dutch Brutalist Dining Room Chairs
Oak
Antique 19th Century British Empire Chairs
Leather, Cane, Beech
Vintage 1930s Danish Scandinavian Modern Armchairs
Leather, Mahogany
Vintage 1920s Dutch Country Lounge Chairs
Rush, Oak
Antique 19th Century French Louis XIII Desks
Bronze
Early 20th Century French Renaissance Revival Drop-leaf and Pembroke Tables
Oak
Antique 19th Century French Louis XIII Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
Antique 1870s English Arts and Crafts Armchairs
Rush, Elm
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis XV Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Fabric, Cane, Walnut
Antique Mid-19th Century French Gothic Revival Chairs
Oak
Antique 19th Century American Rocking Chairs
Rush, Wood, Paint
Early 20th Century Swedish Side Tables
Wood
Recent Sales
Antique Early 19th Century American Antiquities
Cane, Wood
Antique 19th Century Belgian Biedermeier Dining Room Chairs
Cane, Cherry
Antique Early 19th Century American Side Chairs
Wood
Antique 19th Century European Hollywood Regency Side Chairs
Giltwood
Antique Early 1800s American Shaker Rocking Chairs
Maple
Antique 19th Century Dining Room Chairs
Wood, Cane
Antique Late 19th Century American American Colonial Chairs
Cane, Hardwood
Antique Late 19th Century Chairs
Cane, Mahogany
Antique Late 19th Century English Regency Armchairs
Metal
Antique 19th Century American Rocking Chairs
Maple, Cane
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.
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