Hooded Porter Chairs
2010s British High Victorian Wingback Chairs
Beech
Vintage 1960s French Lounge Chairs
Fabric, Walnut
Mid-20th Century Organic Modern Chairs
Rattan
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Patio and Garden Furniture
Wicker
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Armchairs
Leather, Wood
People Also Browsed
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Textile
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Sofas
Velvet, Walnut
Vintage 1960s Philippine Armchairs
Rattan
Vintage 1930s Italian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Straw, Beech
1990s Chairs
Aluminum
Antique 19th Century British Early Victorian Wingback Chairs
Cotton, Silk, Mahogany
Antique Early 19th Century British Armchairs
Cotton
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Carrara Marble, Wrought Iron
Vintage 1940s American Mid-Century Modern Games
Metal, Steel, Stainless Steel
Antique 19th Century English Regency Armchairs
Leather, Mahogany
Antique Late 19th Century British Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Leather
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Aluminum
Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Steel
Mid-20th Century Louis XVI Side Chairs
Fabric, Paint
Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Rattan
Vintage 1950s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Linen, Wood
Recent Sales
Antique Mid-19th Century Victorian Club Chairs
Vintage 1950s French Louis XV Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Wood
Antique 19th Century Scottish Chairs
Vintage 1950s American Bergere Chairs
Wood, Fabric
Antique 1860s Scottish Rustic Wingback Chairs
Rush, Pine
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Club Chairs
Brass
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Wingback Chairs
Silk
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Steel, Wrought Iron
Vintage 1960s American Club Chairs
20th Century French Louis XV Bergere Chairs
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Canapes
Wrought Iron
Mid-20th Century American Late Victorian Patio and Garden Furniture
Wicker, Rush
Vintage 1960s Argentine Armchairs
Wood, Fabric
Late 20th Century American Neoclassical Revival Armchairs
Fabric, Cane, Wood
Mid-20th Century Louis XV Lounge Chairs
Cane, Wood, Beech, Upholstery
21st Century and Contemporary Louis XV Wingback Chairs
Burlap, Oak
20th Century European French Provincial Armchairs
Fabric, Chenille, Wood
Vintage 1920s Armchairs
Early 20th Century British Georgian Armchairs
Leather
20th Century American Wingback Chairs
Wood, Upholstery
Vintage 1960s American Wingback Chairs
Wood, Velvet
21st Century and Contemporary American Wingback Chairs
20th Century Unknown Chairs
Wicker, Paint
20th Century Louis XV Armchairs
Vintage 1920s Armchairs
Leather
20th Century Unknown Armchairs
20th Century Armchairs
Vintage 1940s American Rococo Revival Wingback Chairs
Wood, Cane, Velvet, Upholstery
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
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.