Giltwood Needlepoint Chairs
20th Century Italian Louis XVI Bergere Chairs
Suede, Upholstery, Hardwood
Early 20th Century Empire Armchairs
Fabric, Mahogany
Antique 19th Century American Corner Chairs
Giltwood
Antique Late 19th Century French Armchairs
Upholstery, Giltwood
20th Century English Elizabethan Paintings
Canvas, Giltwood, Paint
Antique Early 19th Century French Louis XVI Living Room Sets
Upholstery, Giltwood
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Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XV Living Room Sets
Fabric, Giltwood
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Gustavian Armchairs
Beech
Antique Early 19th Century Russian Neoclassical Chairs
Giltwood
20th Century Russian Neoclassical Vases
Malachite, Ormolu
Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Bergere Chairs
Leather, Walnut
Vintage 1940s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Wood
20th Century Patio and Garden Furniture
Wicker, Paint
Antique Mid-19th Century English Victorian Armchairs
Walnut
Antique 1880s French Louis XV Chairs
Giltwood
Antique 19th Century European Neoclassical Vases
Malachite, Ormolu
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Armchairs
Gold Leaf
Antique 19th Century English Georgian Wingback Chairs
Brass
20th Century Unknown Louis XVI Bergere Chairs
Leather, Walnut
Antique 1880s French Napoleon III Sofas
Silk, Giltwood
Early 20th Century Louis XV Armchairs
Upholstery, Walnut
Vintage 1940s Danish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Wool, Beech
Recent Sales
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Louis XVI Armchairs
Giltwood
Antique 1850s French Louis XVI Corner Chairs
Giltwood
Antique 19th Century French Dining Room Chairs
Giltwood
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Side Chairs
Wood, Giltwood
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Side Chairs
Gold Leaf
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Bergere Chairs
Antique Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Chairs
Tapestry, Giltwood, Paint
Antique 1880s French Armchairs
Upholstery, Giltwood
Antique 19th Century French Armchairs
Giltwood
Antique 19th Century French Armchairs
Giltwood
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Living Room Sets
Upholstery, Giltwood
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XIV Side Chairs
Tapestry, Upholstery, Giltwood
Antique 19th Century American Neoclassical Side Chairs
Giltwood, Silk, Upholstery
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis XVI Chairs
Giltwood
Vintage 1920s French Chairs
Giltwood
Antique 19th Century Italian Rococo Dining Room Chairs
Wool, Wood, Giltwood
Antique Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Chairs
Tapestry, Giltwood, Paint
Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Bergere Chairs
Giltwood
Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Armchairs
Tapestry, Upholstery, Giltwood
Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Settees
Giltwood, Upholstery
Antique 19th Century British Rococo Revival Slipper Chairs
Metal
Antique 19th Century Side Chairs
Giltwood
Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Armchairs
Giltwood, Upholstery, Walnut
Antique Mid-18th Century French Louis XV Armchairs
Upholstery, Giltwood
Early 20th Century Swedish Empire Dining Room Chairs
Giltwood, Paint
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis XVI Living Room Sets
Textile, Giltwood
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.
Read More
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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.