Empire Style Seating 8 Piece
Late 20th Century Unknown Empire Revival Living Room Sets
Bronze
Vintage 1920s French Empire Living Room Sets
Marble, Bronze
Antique 1860s Scottish High Victorian Sofas
Leather
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Antique 19th Century French Porcelain
Porcelain
Antique 19th Century French Neoclassical Vases
Bronze
Early 20th Century American American Classical Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Bird Cages
Copper, Iron, Bronze
Antique Late 19th Century French Neoclassical Mounted Objects
Ormolu, Bronze
Antique Late 19th Century Italian Grand Tour Figurative Sculptures
Bronze
1970s Old Masters Portrait Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Antique 19th Century Windows
Stained Glass
Antique 1890s French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Antique 18th Century French Louis XVI Canapes
Upholstery, Wood
20th Century American Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Antique 19th Century French Empire Revival Buffets
Marble, Bronze
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Dining Room Chairs
Giltwood
Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Living Room Sets
Fabric, Wood
Antique 19th Century French Neoclassical Revival Decorative Bowls
Bronze
Antique 19th Century Belgian Gothic Revival Architectural Elements
Oak
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Early 20th Century Swedish Empire Revival Living Room Sets
Fabric, Mahogany
Antique 1880s French Empire Sofas
Ormolu
Early 20th Century French Dining Room Chairs
Early 20th Century Empire Sofas
Fabric, Mahogany, Giltwood
Vintage 1950s American Empire Dining Room Chairs
Upholstery, Walnut
Antique 1850s French Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Leather, Mahogany
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Country Benches
Walnut, Rush
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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