First Chair Memphis
Vintage 1980s European Chairs
Aluminum
Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Chairs
Metal
Vintage 1980s Chairs
Aluminum
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs
Metal
Vintage 1980s Italian Chairs
Wood
Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Lounge Chairs
Wood, Leather
Vintage 1980s Italian Side Chairs
Metal
Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Side Chairs
Metal
Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Chairs
Metal
Vintage 1980s Spanish Post-Modern Chairs
Steel
Late 20th Century Armchairs
Steel
2010s Lebanese Modern Chairs
Concrete
1990s Italian Post-Modern Drawings
Paper
Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Chairs
Metal
Vintage 1980s German Post-Modern Chairs
Wood
Early 2000s Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Metal
Late 20th Century German Post-Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Side Chairs
Fiberglass
1990s French Modern Club Chairs
Bronze
Vintage 1970s American Modern Club Chairs
Chrome
2010s Italian Armchairs
Fabric, Wool, Wood
Vintage 1980s American Post-Modern Stools
Iron
Vintage 1970s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Steel, Chrome
Vintage 1980s Danish Post-Modern Armchairs
Stainless Steel
Late 20th Century Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Stainless Steel
Vintage 1980s Dutch Post-Modern Living Room Sets
Metal
Early 20th Century Italian Paintings
Canvas
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Religious Items
Brass, Steel
People Also Browsed
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Table Lamps
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Benches
Fabric, Velvet, Lacquer, Wood
2010s Austrian Jugendstil Chandeliers and Pendants
Silk
2010s African Minimalist Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Travertine
Vintage 1980s Italian Dining Room Tables
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Side Tables
Plastic
Vintage 1980s Canadian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Fabric, Faux Leather
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Table Lamps
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Bookcases
Plastic
2010s Carts and Bar Carts
Metal
Vintage 1980s European Post-Modern Dining Room Chairs
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Platters and Serveware
Ceramic
Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Decorative Bowls
Ceramic
Antique 1880s Belgian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Stools
Plastic
Recent Sales
Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Armchairs
Metal
Late 20th Century Italian Dining Room Tables
Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Chairs
Metal
Vintage 1980s Italian Modern Chairs
Metal
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Vintage 1980s Italian Side Chairs
Metal
Vintage 1980s Italian Modern Side Chairs
Steel
Vintage 1980s Post-Modern Chairs
Vintage 1980s Italian Chairs
Late 20th Century Italian Dining Room Chairs
Metal
Vintage 1980s American Post-Modern Chairs
Wood
Vintage 1970s Italian Memphis Group Lounge Chairs
Steel
Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Armchairs
Steel
Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Chairs
Metal
Late 20th Century Philippine Chairs
Iron
Early 2000s Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Metal
Early 2000s Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Metal
1990s Philippine Lounge Chairs
Iron
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Metal
Vintage 1970s Italian Post-Modern Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Plastic
Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Armchairs
Leather
Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Sofas
Leather
Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Sofas
Leather
Late 20th Century Philippine Armchairs
Iron
Vintage 1980s Italian Sofas
Metal
20th Century Italian Modern Chairs
Metal
Vintage 1980s Italian Chairs
Metal
Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Side Chairs
Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Side Chairs
Steel
Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Chairs
Metal
Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Chairs
Metal, Enamel
Vintage 1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Side Chairs
Metal
Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Dining Room Chairs
Steel
Vintage 1980s Italian Memphis Group Chairs
Metal
Vintage 1920s Italian Art Nouveau Chairs
Aluminum, Steel, Iron
2010s Lebanese Modern Chairs
Concrete
2010s Lebanese Modern Chairs
Concrete
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Metal, Chrome
Vintage 1980s American Post-Modern Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Aluminum
Vintage 1980s Unknown Post-Modern Armchairs
Iron
Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Prints
Glass, Wood, Paper
1990s American Doors and Gates
Steel
1990s American Doors and Gates
Steel
Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Chairs
Metal
Late 20th Century Post-Modern Side Chairs
Metal
Late 20th Century Italian Chairs
Metal
Late 20th Century Italian Chairs
Metal
Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Side Chairs
Late 20th Century Italian Chairs
Metal
Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Dining Room Chairs
Vintage 1980s Italian Chairs
Late 20th Century Italian Side Chairs
Late 20th Century Italian Memphis Group Armchairs
Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Side Tables
Laminate, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Armchairs
Fiberglass
Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Chairs
Metal
Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Chairs
Metal
Late 20th Century Italian Chairs
Wood
Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Chairs
Steel
Vintage 1970s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Beech
First Chair Memphis For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much are First Chair Memphis?
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.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 21, 2024Although the very first chair to be invented is up for speculation, one of the earliest was created during the Early Dynastic Period of Egypt around 3100 B.C. Early chairs produced by the ancient Egyptians usually featured wood construction and upholstery made of leather or cloth. Interestingly, they were much lower than today's chairs, with seat heights of around 10 inches versus the average modern dining chair seat height of 18 to 23 inches. On 1stDibs, find a wide variety of antique, vintage and contemporary chairs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022In 1928, a patent was issued to two American cousins, Edward Knabush and Edwin Shoemaker, which trademarked the design of a reclining wooden bench. This patent would later go on to become La-Z-Boy. Shop a collection of reclining furniture from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMay 5, 2023In Britain, John Wilkinson made the first mass-produced iron chairs during the 1770s. However, handcrafted iron chairs appeared much earlier. In the mid-thirteenth century, King Edward I commissioned three iron chairs for St. Paul’s Cathedral. The artisan who made these pieces is unknown. On 1stDibs, find a range of iron chairs.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 1, 2024While we don't know for sure what the first ever chair looked like, early examples of chairs dating back to ancient Egypt can give us some idea of its form. Archaeologists have uncovered chairs from around 3100 B.C. They tend to have boxy shapes and upholstery made of cloth or leather. Compared to modern chairs, seat heights were much lower, at around 10 inches above the floor. Find a large collection of chairs on 1stDibs.
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This Chubby-Chic Quilted Stool Stands on Its Own Two Feet
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Riotous Shapes and Colors Have Made Uchronia’s Designs the Toast of Paris
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Learn Why Designer Maarten Baas Set This Charles Rennie Mackintosh Chair on Fire
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After years of diligent restoration, E-1027, the designer-cum-architect’s marriage of romance and modernism, is finally complete.