Hale Chair
2010s American Dining Room Chairs
Upholstery
21st Century and Contemporary American Dining Room Chairs
Brass
1940s Surrealist Figurative Prints
Drypoint, Etching
1940s Surrealist Abstract Prints
Drypoint
1960s Naturalistic Animal Paintings
Oil
People Also Browsed
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Armchairs
Wood, Cedar
2010s South African Minimalist Pedestals
Walnut
2010s French Modern Chairs
Oak
21st Century and Contemporary Mexican Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and...
Onyx
Vintage 1930s Czech Art Deco Dining Room Chairs
Beech, Plywood
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary British Organic Modern Wall Lights and Sco...
Plaster
2010s British Scandinavian Modern Ottomans and Poufs
Mohair, Velvet, Oak
2010s British Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Stainless Steel, Metal
2010s American Modern Side Tables
Oak
2010s Portuguese Modern Chairs
Stainless Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs
Velvet, Wood
2010s South African Minimalist Pedestals
Hardwood
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Steel
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Loveseats
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Empire Center Tables
Wood
Recent Sales
2010s Italian Other Chairs
Aluminum
2010s Italian Other Chairs
Aluminum
2010s Italian Other Chairs
Aluminum
2010s Italian Other Chairs
Aluminum
2010s Italian Other Chairs
Aluminum
2010s Italian Other Chairs
Aluminum
2010s Italian Other Chairs
Aluminum
Vintage 1950s American Hollywood Regency Chairs
21st Century and Contemporary American Chairs
Bronze
Antique Early 19th Century British Regency Chairs
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Slipper Chairs
Leather, Upholstery
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Slipper Chairs
Leather, Upholstery
Antique 19th Century American American Classical Windsor Chairs
Wood
Antique 19th Century American American Colonial Windsor Chairs
Wood
Mid-20th Century American Hollywood Regency Side Chairs
Lucite
Antique 19th Century English Regency Dining Room Chairs
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century English Regency Dining Room Chairs
Mahogany
Early 20th Century Dining Room Chairs
Metal
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Wood
Antique 19th Century French Louis XIV Armchairs
Chenille, Damask, Upholstery, Silk, Giltwood
Antique 19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Dining Room Tables
Birch
Vintage 1960s American Bauhaus Armchairs
Stainless Steel
Vintage 1960s Italian Hollywood Regency Armchairs
Lacquer
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Patio and Garden Furniture
Iron
Antique Late 19th Century Baroque Revival Armchairs
Walnut, Trimming
Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Bathroom Fixtures
Metal, Tin
2010s Italian Other Chairs
Aluminum
2010s Italian Other Chairs
Aluminum
2010s Italian Other Chairs
Aluminum
2010s Italian Other Chairs
Aluminum
2010s Italian Other Chairs
Aluminum
2010s Italian Other Chairs
Aluminum
2010s Italian Other Chairs
Aluminum
Mid-20th Century American George III Windsor Chairs
Oak
Mid-20th Century American George III Windsor Chairs
Oak
Mid-20th Century American George III Windsor Chairs
Oak
20th Century Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Teak
21st Century and Contemporary American Corner Chairs
Vintage 1950s European Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Fabric, Upholstery, Velvet, Beech
Vintage 1950s British Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Abalone, Velvet, Beech, Elm
Vintage 1950s British Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Damask, Velvet, Beech, Elm
Late 20th Century English Regency Dining Room Sets
Early 1900s American Impressionist Figurative Prints
Laid Paper, Drypoint
1950s Abstract Expressionist Abstract Drawings and Watercolors
Ink, Encaustic
Mid-20th Century American Dining Room Chairs
Walnut
Mid-20th Century American Dining Room Chairs
Walnut
1940s American Modern Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Vintage 1930s French Club Chairs
1990s British Hepplewhite Dining Room Chairs
Antique 19th Century Hollywood Regency Side Chairs
Bamboo, Cane, Lacquer
Early 20th Century Biedermeier Dining Room Chairs
Burl
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Patio and Garden Furniture
Metal
Antique Late 19th Century European Dining Room Tables
Marble, Iron
20th Century American Modern Sofas
Leather, Linen, Down
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
The plush Cove Slipper 2.5 Seater sofa is just one of many convenient combinations from the London-based maker.
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.