Purple Thonet
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Wood
1990s Austrian Modern Chairs
Fabric, Silk, Wood
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Chrome
Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Rocking Chairs
Beech, Oak
Vintage 1960s Czech Mid-Century Modern Rocking Chairs
Fabric, Bentwood, Oak
Early 2000s American Pedestals and Columns
Maple
Early 2000s American Chairs
Fabric, Wood
Vintage 1970s Czech Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Sets
Cane, Beech, Bentwood
Vintage 1970s Czech Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Fabric, Beech
Vintage 1970s Czech Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Fabric, Beech
Vintage 1970s Czech Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Fabric, Beech
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2010s American Modern Stools
Oak
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Sectional Sofas
Upholstery
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Metal
Vintage 1960s European Mid-Century Modern Loveseats
Aluminum, Iron
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Sofas
Velvet, Walnut
Vintage 1970s Norwegian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Leather, Rosewood
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Night Stands
Chrome, Steel
Vintage 1970s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Leather, Rosewood
Mid-20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Upholstery
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Textile
Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Chrome
Mid-20th Century Bauhaus Dining Room Chairs
Steel
Vintage 1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Walnut
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Fabric, Oak
20th Century Polish Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Velvet
Antique 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Children's Furniture
Fabric, Bentwood
Recent Sales
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs
Wood, Fabric
Vintage 1970s American Space Age Lounge Chairs
Chrome, Steel
Mid-20th Century Czech Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Abalone, Chenille, Foam, Beech, Elm
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Wood
Vintage 1930s Czech Bauhaus Lounge Chairs
Chrome, Steel
Vintage 1970s Czech Brutalist Lounge Chairs
Fabric, Bentwood
20th Century French Armchairs
Wood
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Chrome
Vintage 1930s German Bauhaus Armchairs
Chrome
Vintage 1930s Czech Art Deco Lounge Chairs
Steel, Chrome
1990s Austrian Post-Modern Dining Room Chairs
Metal
Vintage 1950s French Chairs
Mid-20th Century American Art Deco Chairs
Chrome
Vintage 1960s Chairs
Vintage 1970s German Mid-Century Modern Rocking Chairs
Steel
20th Century Czech Bauhaus Desks and Writing Tables
Chrome, Steel
Purple Thonet For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Purple Thonet?
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
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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.