French Gilt Tassel Bench
Antique Early 1800s French Empire Busts
Bronze
Antique Late 19th Century French Rococo Urns
Bronze
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Early 20th Century Russian Picture Frames
Diamond, Silver, Enamel
20th Century French Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Enamel, Gold
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Stairs
Walnut
Early 20th Century Swiss Islamic Paintings
Giltwood, Canvas
Antique Early 1900s French Louis XVI Bergere Chairs
Ormolu
Mid-20th Century English Neoclassical Porcelain
Porcelain
Early 20th Century French Belle Époque Paintings
Canvas, Wood
Antique 1810s English George III Wine Coolers
Silver, Sterling Silver
Antique 1820s Russian Decorative Boxes
Glass
Early 20th Century French Paintings
Wood, Giltwood, Paint
Antique 19th Century English Other Vases
Glass
Antique Early 1900s Italian Beaux Arts Figurative Sculptures
Carrara Marble
Antique Early 19th Century Russian Neoclassical Vases
Porcelain
Antique 19th Century English Georgian Club Chairs
Leather, Mahogany
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Vases
Silver
Antique 19th Century Italian Romantic Figurative Sculptures
Carrara Marble
Recent Sales
Vintage 1950s French Baroque Benches
Metal
Antique 18th Century and Earlier American Benches
Vintage 1940s French Rococo Benches
Metal
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XIV Benches
Silk, Walnut
Early 20th Century French Hollywood Regency Stools
Iron, Metal
Vintage 1950s French Footstools
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Ottomans and Poufs
Iron
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Benches
Vintage 1970s Ottomans and Poufs
Wood
Mid-20th Century Italian Hollywood Regency Stools
Wrought Iron
Vintage 1950s French Benches
Wrought Iron
Antique 19th Century French Benches
20th Century French Stools
Metal
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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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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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.