Gustavian Barrel Back
Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Armchairs
Linen, Wood, Paint
Antique Late 18th Century European Gustavian Armchairs
Linen, Wood, Paint
Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Chairs
Wood
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Chairs
Pine
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Gustavian Armchairs
Beech
Early 20th Century Swedish Gustavian Armchairs
Linen, Wood, Paint
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Lounge Chairs
Linen, Wood, Paint
Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Lounge Chairs
Linen, Wood, Paint
Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Lounge Chairs
Linen, Wood, Paint
Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Armchairs
Fabric, Beech
Mid-20th Century Swedish Gustavian Armchairs
Linen, Wood, Paint
Mid-20th Century Swedish Gustavian Armchairs
Linen, Wood, Paint
Early 20th Century Swedish Gustavian Armchairs
Linen, Wood, Paint
Antique Late 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Armchairs
Linen, Wood, Paint
Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Sofas
Wood
Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Armchairs
Upholstery, Giltwood, Paint
Antique 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Chairs
Giltwood
People Also Browsed
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
Travertine
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Gustavian Armchairs
Beech
2010s Austrian Jugendstil Chandeliers and Pendants
Silk
Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Sofas
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Bergere Chairs
Linen
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Fabric, Wood
Antique 18th Century Swedish Neoclassical Beds and Bed Frames
Wood
Antique 18th Century Swedish Baroque Cabinets
Wood
2010s British Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Sheepskin, Beech
Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Benches
Fabric, Cotton, Upholstery, Pine
2010s Italian Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Metal, Brass
Mid-20th Century Swedish Gustavian Dining Room Tables
Birch
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Upholstery, Walnut
Antique Late 19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Dining Room Chairs
Birch
Antique 19th Century Swedish Louis XVI Settees
Upholstery, Wood, Paint
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
Recent Sales
Antique Early 19th Century Chairs
Early 20th Century Swedish Gustavian Armchairs
Wood, Cotton, Upholstery
Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Armchairs
Wood, Paint
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Armchairs
Wood
Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Side Chairs
Wood
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Chairs
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Armchairs
Pine
Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Armchairs
Wood
Antique 19th Century Swedish Armchairs
Giltwood, Paint
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Armchairs
Fabric, Wood
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Armchairs
Wood
Antique 19th Century Swedish Armchairs
Wood, Paint, Upholstery
Early 20th Century Swedish Gustavian Armchairs
Linen, Wood, Paint
Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Armchairs
Linen
Early 20th Century Swedish Gustavian Armchairs
Wood, Paint, Linen
Early 20th Century Swedish Gustavian Armchairs
Birch
Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Chairs
Fabric, Wood, Paint
Early 20th Century Swedish Gustavian Armchairs
Linen, Wood, Paint
Early 20th Century Swedish Gustavian Armchairs
Paint
Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Armchairs
Linen, Wood
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Swedish Neoclassical Armchairs
Wood
Antique 19th Century European Gustavian Armchairs
Linen, Wood, Paint
Antique 19th Century Swedish Armchairs
Giltwood
Antique 19th Century Gustavian Sofas
Linen, Hemp, Pine
Antique Late 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Armchairs
Pine
Antique Late 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Armchairs
Pine
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Swedish Neoclassical Armchairs
Vintage 1930s Swedish Armchairs
Wood, Cherry, Fabric
Vintage 1970s American Directoire Armchairs
Upholstery, Wood
Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Chairs
Wood
Vintage 1970s Directoire Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Armchairs
Antique Late 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Armchairs
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Swedish Gustavian Armchairs
Mid-20th Century Swedish Gustavian Armchairs
Linen, Wood, Paint
Antique Late 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Armchairs
Muslin, Linen, Wood, Paint
Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Sofas
Upholstery, Wood
Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Settees
Paint
Early 20th Century Swedish Gustavian Armchairs
Fabric, Linen, Wood, Paint
Antique 19th Century Swedish Armchairs
Wood
Antique 19th Century European Gustavian Lounge Chairs
Linen, Wood, Paint
Antique 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Lounge Chairs
Wood, Paint
Antique 19th Century Swedish Armchairs
Wood
Antique 19th Century Swedish Armchairs
Wood
20th Century French Louis XV Bergere Chairs
Antique 1810s Swedish Neoclassical Sofas
Wood, Linen
Antique 19th Century Swedish Armchairs
Linen, Wood, Paint
Vintage 1930s French Gustavian Bergere Chairs
Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Armchairs
Wood
Antique 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Armchairs
Antique Late 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Armchairs
Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Armchairs
Linen, Wood, Paint
Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Settees
Wood, Paint, Linen
Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Sofas
Upholstery, Wood
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Armchairs
Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Armchairs
Pine
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Armchairs
Wood
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Armchairs
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Gustavian Armchairs
Beech
Gustavian Barrel Back For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Gustavian Barrel Back?
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 ExpertApril 5, 2022Reupholster a barrel back chair by first removing the old upholstery from the chair. Use the old pieces of material as a guide to help you cut the new upholstery into properly sized pieces. Reupholster the chair by using a furniture stapler to re-secure the new upholstery in the same manner that the old upholstery was attached. Shop a range of vintage and contemporary barrel back chairs on 1stDibs.