Spindle Bobbin Chair
Mid-20th Century Spanish Colonial Chairs
Wood
20th Century English Arts and Crafts Chairs
Fabric, Wood
Antique 1890s English Jacobean Chairs
Wood
Antique 19th Century European Renaissance Revival Corner Chairs
Upholstery, Oak
Early 20th Century British Late Victorian Windsor Chairs
Elm
Antique 1870s English Arts and Crafts Armchairs
Rush, Elm
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Early 20th Century Dutch Commodes and Chests of Drawers
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2010s American Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Brass, Bronze, Enamel, Nickel
2010s Danish Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Oak
21st Century and Contemporary American Bohemian Chandeliers and Pendants
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Benches
Fabric, Velvet, Lacquer, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Organic Modern Center Tables
Travertine
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights an...
Metal
2010s British Scandinavian Modern Tables
Mohair, Oak
Mid-20th Century French Neoclassical Benches
Bronze, Wrought Iron
Antique Early 1900s French French Provincial Corner Chairs
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Antique Late 19th Century Dutch Rustic Corner Chairs
Wicker, Oak
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Modern End Tables
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21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Textile
2010s Austrian Art Deco Chandeliers and Pendants
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21st Century and Contemporary Mexican Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
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2010s Austrian Jugendstil Chandeliers and Pendants
Silk
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Antique 1820s English Dining Room Chairs
Ash
Antique 1890s English Victorian Armchairs
Oak
Antique 19th Century English Corner Chairs
Oak
Mid-20th Century Corner Chairs
Upholstery
Early 20th Century North American Arts and Crafts Side Chairs
Fabric, Wood
Vintage 1920s Belgian Jacobean Corner Chairs
Rush, Wood
Antique 19th Century Rocking Chairs
Beech, Walnut
Antique 19th Century English Armchairs
Fruitwood, Linen, Wood
Antique Late 19th Century American Victorian Rocking Chairs
Metal
Antique 19th Century Armchairs
Rosewood
Antique 19th Century Victorian Dining Room Chairs
Antique 19th Century Armchairs
Upholstery, Wood
Antique 19th Century Scottish Armchairs
Fruitwood, Ash, Birch
Early 20th Century English Victorian Armchairs
Ash, Elm, Oak
Antique 19th Century English Armchairs
Elm, Yew
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Chairs
Linen, Oak
Antique 19th Century English Side Chairs
Linen, Mahogany
Antique Late 19th Century Arts and Crafts Lounge Chairs
Wood
Antique Mid-19th Century English Armchairs
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century English Lounge Chairs
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Chairs
Antique 19th Century American Victorian Rocking Chairs
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century English Side Chairs
Oak
Antique 19th Century Dining Room Chairs
Ash, Elm
20th Century English Lounge Chairs
Brass
Antique Early 1900s Arts and Crafts Armchairs
Antique 19th Century French Armchairs
Antique 1850s Danish Armchairs
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Armchairs
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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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.