High Back Banquette
2010s American Mid-Century Modern Benches
Linen, Faux Leather
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Benches
Metal
20th Century Hollywood Regency Settees
Mohair
2010s American Modern Sofas
Linen, Maple, Trimming
2010s American Modern Benches
Wood
2010s American Benches
Fabric, Foam, Wood
Antique Early 1800s Swedish Empire Sofas
Birch
21st Century and Contemporary English Post-Modern Sofas
Metal
Antique Mid-19th Century Italian Renaissance Revival Benches
Walnut
People Also Browsed
2010s American Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Brass, Bronze, Enamel, Nickel
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and...
Aluminum, Brass, Gold Leaf, Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Benches
Brass
2010s Swedish Side Tables
Oak
21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights an...
Brass, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Sofas
Velvet, Walnut
2010s Canadian Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Benches
Fabric, Velvet, Lacquer, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Western European Rugs
Natural Fiber, Synthetic, Wool
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights an...
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Benches
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Mexican Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Textile, Wood
2010s Guatemalan Modern Screens and Room Dividers
Wood, Mahogany
2010s American Modern Beds and Bed Frames
Upholstery
2010s Vietnamese Organic Modern Side Tables
Plaster
2010s Austrian Art Deco Chandeliers and Pendants
Brass
Recent Sales
21st Century and Contemporary American Benches
Wood
Antique 19th Century French Benches
Antique Late 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Canapes
Velvet, Wood
Late 20th Century Benches
Leather, Wood
Early 20th Century French Canapes
Walnut
Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Daybeds
Fabric, Pine, Upholstery
2010s American Modern Benches
Upholstery, Wood, Mohair
Antique Early 1900s English Arts and Crafts Benches
Oak
Antique Late 19th Century Italian Renaissance Revival Benches
Walnut
Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Settees
Wood, Paint, Linen
20th Century French Sofas
High Back Banquette For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a High Back Banquette?
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 ExpertOctober 12, 2021A high back office chair has a tall backrest to provide support to both your back and neck. It helps minimize the risk of chronic neck and back problems. These chairs also come with wheels attached for ease of mobility. Shop a range of antique and vintage high back office chairs on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertJune 15, 2023High-backed old-fashioned chairs are often called wingback chairs. They may not offer structural support, but the wings on antique and vintage wingback chairs certainly do have a purpose or did, when the design was first conceived in England in the 1600s. Back then, the armchair protrusions were meant to protect the sitter from drafts and from the strong heat radiating from the large fireplaces that were popular at the time. This explains why the wingback is so strongly associated with cozying up by the fireplace. Although the functional aspect of a wingback may be obsolete in the 21st century, the chairs have maintained their popularity over the years and have seen waves of revivals. On 1stDibs, find a variety of antique, vintage and modern wingback chairs from some of the world's top sellers on 1stDibs.
Read More
The 21 Most Popular Mid-Century Modern Chairs
You know the designs, now get the stories about how they came to be.
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.