Strap Barrel Chair
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Wool, Walnut
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Swivel Chairs
Bouclé, Walnut
Antique 1840s English Early Victorian Wingback Chairs
Upholstery
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Club Chairs
Velvet
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2010s American Modern Table Lamps
Steel, Brass, Silver Leaf
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and...
Aluminum
21st Century and Contemporary Mid-Century Modern Floor Mirrors and Full-...
Glass
2010s Modern Tables
Hardwood, Oak
2010s French Modern Chairs
Oak
2010s British Scandinavian Modern Ottomans and Poufs
Sheepskin, Oak
21st Century and Contemporary French Brutalist Night Stands
Oak
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and...
Brass, Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Sofas
Velvet, Walnut
2010s South African Minimalist Pedestals
Hardwood
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Wood
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Brass
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Chrome
2010s American Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Composition
2010s Austrian Jugendstil Chandeliers and Pendants
Silk
Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
Oak
Recent Sales
20th Century Lounge Chairs
Early 20th Century Danish Club Chairs
Leather
Late 20th Century American Rustic Game Tables
Steel
20th Century American Hollywood Regency Lounge Chairs
Bamboo, Rattan
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Fabric, Wood, Birch
Antique 19th Century Empire Bergere Chairs
Bronze
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Chrome
Mid-20th Century American Chairs
Wood, Leather
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Upholstery, Walnut
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.
- What is a barrel chair?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Barrel chairs are accent chairs that feature a curved back shaped like half of a barrel. In some cases, the back slopes down at the sides to form arms. Other pieces are armless or have separate rolled arms at the sides. You'll find a variety of barrel chairs on 1stDibs.
- What are barrel chairs?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertAugust 16, 2019
Barrel chairs have high, semicircular backs which form a single piece with the arms.
- What era are barrel chairs from?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2023The earliest barrel chairs are from is the era of the early 19th century. However, Frank Lloyd Wright created one of the most famous barrel chairs in 1937 as a part of his design for Wingspread, a home in Wind Point, Wisconsin. On 1stDibs, find a collection of barrel chairs.
- Who invented the barrel chair?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 3, 2023No one knows who invented the barrel chair originally, or even where the chairs appeared first. They became popular during the mid to late 19th century, but it was Frank Lloyd Wright who made them famous when he designed an iconic version for Wingspread, a home he designed in Wind Point, Wisconsin. Wright also used his Taliesin Barrel chair to furnish his own home in Wisconsin. Shop a selection of barrel chairs on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Reupholster a barrel back chair by first removing the old upholstery from the chair. Use the old pieces of material as a guide to help you cut the new upholstery into properly sized pieces. Reupholster the chair by using a furniture stapler to re-secure the new upholstery in the same manner that the old upholstery was attached. Shop a range of vintage and contemporary barrel back chairs on 1stDibs.
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