Round French Footstool
20th Century Belgian Louis XVI Footstools
Brass
Vintage 1980s French Footstools
Textile, Wood
Antique Mid-19th Century French Footstools
Velvet, Wood
20th Century French French Provincial Footstools
Bronze
20th Century American French Provincial Stools
Fabric, Giltwood
Antique 19th Century French Neoclassical Figurative Sculptures
Belgian Black Marble, Ormolu
Vintage 1980s French Mid-Century Modern Sectional Sofas
Fabric
Early 20th Century Czech Art Deco Ottomans and Poufs
Fabric
People Also Browsed
21st Century and Contemporary European Neoclassical Benches
Iron
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Textile
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Mid-Century Modern Wall Mirrors
Brass
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Metal
Early 20th Century Spanish Spanish Colonial Night Stands
Iron
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Cane, Ash
2010s British Scandinavian Modern Ottomans and Poufs
Mohair, Velvet, Oak
Antique 19th Century French Benches
Rush, Walnut
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Dining Room Chairs
Cane, Walnut
Antique 1680s English Charles II Benches
Velvet, Oak
Vintage 1950s European Egyptian Revival Stools
Wood
Vintage 1970s Italian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Leather, Cane, Maple
Antique Late 19th Century Spanish Baroque Console Tables
Walnut
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
Antique 19th Century French Benches
Upholstery, Walnut
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Teak, Cane
Recent Sales
Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Footstools
Linen, Oak
Vintage 1960s French Footstools
Antique 19th Century French Footstools
Brass
Early 20th Century French Footstools
Wood
Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Footstools
Tapestry, Walnut
Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Footstools
Silk, Beech
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Footstools
Upholstery, Velvet, Wood
Mid-20th Century French Louis XV Footstools
Walnut, Leather
20th Century French Footstools
Leather, Wood
Vintage 1970s French Louis XVI Footstools
Wood
20th Century French Louis XVI Footstools
Wood
Antique 1880s European Footstools
Upholstery, Wood
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Footstools
Bamboo
Early 20th Century Indian Folk Art Footstools
Leather, Wood
Late 20th Century French Provincial Stools
Upholstery, Hardwood
Vintage 1940s French Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Animal Skin, Wood
Vintage 1940s French Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Animal Skin, Wood
Mid-20th Century French Club Chairs
Leather, Cherry
Vintage 1940s French Mid-Century Modern Benches
Wood, Rope
Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Benches
Linen, Wood, Paint
Antique 19th Century French French Provincial Stools
Tapestry
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Ottomans and Poufs
Upholstery, Velvet, Wood
Early 20th Century French Rococo Revival Footstools
Fruitwood, Leather
Antique 19th Century French Footstools
Silk, Velvet, Wood
Antique 1880s French Victorian Footstools
Wood
20th Century French French Provincial Footstools
Bronze
Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Ottomans and Poufs
Fabric, Oak
Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Ottomans and Poufs
Fabric, Oak
Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Benches
Antique 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Benches
Paint, Linen, Wood
Early 2000s Italian Armchairs
Fabric
Vintage 1930s Czech Art Deco Stools
Fabric, Wood
Vintage 1930s Czech Art Deco Stools
Fabric, Wood
Vintage 1930s Czech Art Deco Stools
Fabric, Wood
Vintage 1930s Czech Art Deco Stools
Fabric, Wood
Vintage 1930s Czech Art Deco Stools
Fabric, Wood
Vintage 1930s Czech Art Deco Stools
Fabric, Wood
Vintage 1930s Czech Art Deco Stools
Fabric, Wood
Vintage 1930s Czech Art Deco Stools
Fabric, Wood
2010s French Modern Ottomans and Poufs
Fabric
Early 20th Century Czech Art Deco Ottomans and Poufs
Upholstery, Sycamore
Mid-20th Century French Louis XV Ottomans and Poufs
Upholstery, Oak
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Footstools
Giltwood, Upholstery
Vintage 1950s French Footstools
Wrought Iron
Vintage 1950s French Footstools
Wrought Iron
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Footstools
20th Century Unknown Footstools
Wood
Antique 19th Century French Stools
Wood, Tapestry
Antique Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Footstools
Wood
Antique Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Footstools
Steel
Mid-20th Century French Empire Footstools
Brass, Metal
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.