Harp String Chair
20th Century Danish Modern Lounge Chairs
Ash
Antique 1660s Danish Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Rope, Wood, Ash
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Wood, String
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21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Art Deco Carts and Bar Carts
Marble
Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Cabinets
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and...
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Wall Mirrors
Glass, Plastic
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Sofas
Velvet, Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary Mexican Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Textile, Wood
2010s American Modern Table Lamps
Steel, Brass, Silver Leaf
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Minimalist Side Tables
Marble, Travertine
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Sofas
Leather
2010s Belgian Modern Sofas
Linen
Vintage 1930s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Wingback Chairs
Sheepskin, Elm
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Textile
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Ash, Upholstery
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Bouclé, Wood
Mid-20th Century Finnish Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Sets
Birch
Vintage 1930s French Mid-Century Modern Club Chairs
Fruitwood
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1990s Danish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Rope, Beech
Vintage 1960s Danish Chairs
Wood, String
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Rope, Wood, Ash
Vintage 1960s Danish Chairs
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Chairs
String, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Chairs
Stainless Steel
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Ash
20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Antique 19th Century English Sheraton Armchairs
Wood
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Antique 18th Century and Earlier English Side Chairs
Mahogany
Antique 1810s American American Classical Card Tables and Tea Tables
Brass
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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