Rosewood Parlor Set
Antique Mid-19th Century European Benches
Rosewood
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Leather, Hardwood
Antique 1850s American Rococo Revival Chaise Longues
Wood
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20th Century Neoclassical Dining Room Tables
Glass, Plaster
Antique 19th Century French Victorian Chandeliers and Pendants
Crystal, Brass
Antique Mid-19th Century American American Craftsman Benches
Birch, Mahogany, Pine
Vintage 1940s Danish Organic Modern Sofas
Sheepskin, Beech
Antique 17th Century French Panelling
Softwood
Antique Mid-19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Benches
Maple
Vintage 1970s Italian Post-Modern Dry Bars
Steel, Chrome
Antique Early 1900s American Louis XVI Table Lamps
Bronze
Early 20th Century French Empire Center Tables
Malachite, Ormolu
21st Century and Contemporary English Chinoiserie Pier Mirrors and Conso...
Paint, Wood, Gesso
2010s Italian Modern Sofas
Fabric, Bouclé
Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Benches
Fabric, Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
Brass, Metal
21st Century and Contemporary English Sofas
Velvet, Mahogany
2010s British Louis XVI Beds and Bed Frames
Wood
Antique 19th Century European Renaissance Revival Side Chairs
Upholstery, Walnut, Burl
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Antique Mid-19th Century American Sofas
Silk, Damask, Rosewood
Antique Mid-19th Century European Benches
Rosewood
Antique 19th Century American Living Room Sets
Rosewood
Antique 1870s North American Victorian Musical Instruments
Wood
Antique 1840s American Louis Philippe Side Chairs
Upholstery, Muslin
Antique 19th Century American Rococo Revival Living Room Sets
Rosewood, Upholstery
Vintage 1960s Danish Living Room Sets
Rosewood, Silk
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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This Chubby-Chic Quilted Stool Stands on Its Own Two Feet
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Riotous Shapes and Colors Have Made Uchronia’s Designs the Toast of Paris
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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.