Voltaire Chair
Antique Mid-19th Century French Provincial Children's Furniture
Leather, Beech
Antique 1860s Dutch Victorian Armchairs
Satinwood
Antique Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Lounge Chairs
Wood
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Armchairs
Upholstery, Walnut
Antique 1880s French French Provincial Armchairs
Oak
20th Century British Chairs
Leather
Antique Mid-19th Century French Armchairs
Mahogany
Antique Late 19th Century French French Provincial Armchairs
Fruitwood
Vintage 1960s American Industrial Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Steel
Antique Mid-19th Century French Armchairs
Mahogany
Vintage 1940s Belgian Art Deco Dining Room Tables
Brass
Antique 1820s French Figurative Sculptures
Bronze
Vintage 1950s Belgian Art Deco Dining Room Tables
Brass
People Also Browsed
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Bergere Chairs
Velvet, Wood
20th Century English Chesterfield Footstools
Leather, Oak
Vintage 1920s British Victorian Sofas
Leather, Wood
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Settees
Rosewood
Mid-20th Century Swiss Mid-Century Modern Side Chairs
Aluminum, Steel
20th Century English Regency Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Leather
1990s Chairs
Aluminum
Vintage 1920s English Art Deco Club Chairs
Leather
Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Bergere Chairs
Textile, Beech
Antique Early 1800s French Directoire Armchairs
Brass
20th Century European Settees
Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Sofas
Bronze
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Armchairs
Leather
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Sectional Sofas
Leather, Ash, Fabric, Velvet, Wood
Vintage 1930s American Chairs
Down, Fabric, Wood
20th Century Dutch Mid-Century Modern Settees
Wood
Recent Sales
Antique Late 19th Century Dutch Victorian Lounge Chairs
Fabric, Mahogany
Early 20th Century French Armchairs
Upholstery, Walnut, Wood
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis Philippe Side Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Antique 19th Century Italian Rococo Armchairs
Wood, Upholstery
Antique 19th Century French Louis Philippe Armchairs
Antique 19th Century Chairs
Wood
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Children's Furniture
Velvet, Walnut
Antique 19th Century French Louis Philippe Armchairs
Walnut, Mohair
Antique 19th Century French Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Plaster
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Aluminum
Antique 19th Century French Chairs
Antique 19th Century English Armchairs
Walnut, Upholstery
Antique 19th Century French Armchairs
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Leather
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Fiberglass
Voltaire Chair For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Voltaire Chair?
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.