Carved Alpine Chair
Antique Late 18th Century German Baroque Chairs
Wood, Walnut
Antique Late 19th Century German Black Forest Chairs
Satinwood, Walnut
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Chairs
Satinwood, Walnut
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Chairs
Satinwood, Walnut
2010s Italian Dining Room Chairs
Metal, Brass
Antique 19th Century Swiss Black Forest Chairs
Walnut
Antique Late 19th Century Swiss Chairs
Walnut
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Stools
Hardwood
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Early 2000s American Black Forest Bedroom Sets
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century Tableware
Sterling Silver
2010s French Modern Chairs
Oak
Antique Early 1800s Austrian Neoclassical Wardrobes and Armoires
Fir
Antique 1830s Austrian Rustic Wardrobes and Armoires
Fir
Antique 17th Century French Panelling
Softwood
Antique Mid-19th Century English High Victorian Taxidermy
Other
Antique 17th Century Italian Baroque Bookcases
Spruce
2010s Belgian Modern Sofas
Linen
Antique 19th Century French Empire Table Lamps
Bronze
Vintage 1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Brass
2010s Belgian Modern Club Chairs
Linen
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Textile
Antique Mid-19th Century Swiss Black Forest Models and Miniatures
Metal
Antique 19th Century Side Chairs
Wood
Antique 1880s Swiss Black Forest Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Walnut
Recent Sales
Antique Mid-18th Century Swedish Chairs
Antique 19th Century Swiss Side Chairs
Antique Early 1900s Austrian Country Side Chairs
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century European Side Chairs
Wood
Antique Mid-19th Century Baroque Side Chairs
Oak
Antique 19th Century American Chairs
Pine
Antique 1860s German Chairs
Mid-20th Century French Chairs
Wood
20th Century American Chairs
Bronze
Vintage 1920s French French Provincial Dining Room Chairs
Oak
Antique 19th Century Swiss Black Forest Animal Sculptures
Wood
Early 20th Century Belgian Rustic Chairs
Pine
Vintage 1950s Belgian Brutalist Chairs
Pine
Antique Mid-19th Century Austrian Country Side Chairs
Pine
Antique 19th Century Italian Rustic Chairs
Walnut
Antique 19th Century Austrian Side Chairs
Oak
Early 20th Century French Primitive Side Chairs
Ash
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Spanish Dining Room Chairs
Oak, Leather, Velvet
Antique 1820s Swiss Rustic Chairs
Walnut
Early 20th Century Swiss Folk Art Chairs
Walnut
Antique Mid-18th Century Swiss Chairs
Walnut
Early 20th Century French Primitive Side Chairs
Ash
Early 20th Century Side Chairs
Wood
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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Fred Rigby’s Modular Seating Can Be Configured in So Many Handy Ways
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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.