Grotto Armchair
Set of Four 19th Century Italian Wood Grotto Armchairs
Located in East Hampton, NY
Set of four 19th century Italian wood Grotto armchairs.
Category
Antique 19th Century Italian Armchairs
Materials
Wood
Grotto Giltwood Venetian Armchair
Located in Montreal, QC
Venetian Grotto, giltwood and polychrome shell back, seahorse sides and dolphin armrest in giltwood
Category
Antique 1850s Italian Armchairs
Materials
Wood
Pair of Rhubarb Leaf Grotto Style Armchairs
By Bartolozzi & Maioli
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Pair of Italian hand carved rhubarb Grotto style leaf armchairs by Bartolozzi and Maioli
Chairs are
Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Hollywood Regency Armchairs
Materials
Wood
Antique Dolphin Arm Venetian Grotto Swivel Brown Leather Chesterfield Armchair
Located in GB
, fully restored swivel armchair
What a find! I have never seen another carved with the Dolphin arms
Category
Antique 1830s Italian Regency Armchairs
Materials
Leather, Walnut
H 36.23 in W 24.02 in D 24.81 in
Maitland Smith Painted Grotto Shell Armchairs or Dining Chairs in Pink and Green
By Maitland Smith
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
An exquisite pair of hand-painted grotto armchairs by Maitland Smith. This pair will be an
Category
20th Century Philippine Hollywood Regency Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Fabric, Wood, Paint
H 41.25 in W 24.5 in D 21 in
The Monumental Grotto Garden Oyster Chair
Located in Banbury, GB
An exceptional carved teak garden/Grotto chair. The large back carved stylistically in the form of
Category
21st Century and Contemporary European Armchairs
Materials
Teak
Pair of 19th century Venetian grotto chairs
Located in Haywards Heath, GB
Wonderful 19th century pair of Venetian grotto chairs. Made with solid oak, hand carved.
Category
Antique 19th Century Italian Rococo Armchairs
Materials
Hardwood
Gold Leaf Venetian Grotto Style Shell Back Chair
By Tony Duquette
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Antique gold leaf Venetian grotto style shell back armchair. Seat has been newly reupholstered in
Category
Vintage 1980s Spanish Rococo Armchairs
Materials
Wood
Set of Two Italian Grotto Style Armchairs
Located in Bradenton, FL
Set of two Grotto Style beautifully carved armchairs. The chairs feature shell and dolphin motifs
Category
20th Century Italian Rococo Chairs
Materials
Wood
Pair of Venetian Grotto Style Walnut Shell Back Dining Armchairs
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Italian regency pair of walnut shell back armchairs or dining chairs made in the Venetian grotto
Category
20th Century Italian Hollywood Regency Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Brass
Set of 8 Venetian Grotto Style Scalloped Shell Back Dining Chairs
Located in Dallas, TX
Add a daringly stylish essence to your dining room design with these Grotto style shell back dining
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Hollywood Regency Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Upholstery, Wood
People Also Browsed
Pair of Shell Grotto Garden Chairs, 20th Century
Located in Bagshot, GB
Unusual and rare shell Grotto Garden chairs, 20th century.
It has taken us a long time to source 2 pairs of these very rare garden composite Shell Grotto garden chairs.
These ...
Category
Mid-20th Century British Rococo Patio and Garden Furniture
Materials
Composition
21st Century Contemporary Minimal White Velvet Bench With Black Lacquered Base
Located in Porto, PT
Fifih Bench is a luxury bench upholstered in velvet and wood base. A contemporary design bench is perfect for minimalist and modern interior architecture projects.
Materials: Uphols...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Benches
Materials
Fabric, Velvet, Lacquer, Wood
H 18.51 in W 63 in D 19.69 in
Six Italian Decorative Venetian Shell Back Dining Chairs
Located in New York, NY
Italian Venetian Grotto, wood framed chairs having a scalloped design with cushioned fabric seats. Shell-back chairs.
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Wood
Aldo Tura Rolling Bar Cabinet
By Aldo Tura
Located in Hanover, MA
1960 Aldo Tura "Organetto" cocktail bar cabinet trolley in beautifully grained pallisander and lacquered goatskin parchment with gilt brass hardware, key and wheels. This whimsical d...
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Dry Bars
Materials
Brass
One of a Kind Fully Restored Hardwood Chesterfield Captains Directors Armchair
By Chesterfield
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely one of a kind Chesterfield button Directors armchair upholstered in plush woven linen
A very good looking well made and comfortable...
Category
20th Century English Chesterfield Swivel Chairs
Materials
Leather, Hardwood
H 44.49 in W 32.68 in D 30.12 in
Vintage High Back Chesterfield Heritage Leather Office Captains Swivel Chair
By Harrods, Chesterfield
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely, large, very comfortable Chesterfield leather wing style office armchair
This is a very comfortable captain’s indeed, it’s like your...
Category
20th Century English Chesterfield Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Materials
Leather
H 44.89 in W 29.53 in D 30.71 in
Rare 19th Century Italian Memento Mori Bust / Sculpture Carrara Marble Vanitas
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Masterfully carved Italian Vanitas / Memento Mori bust in solid marble from late 19th century.
White Carrara marble skull combined with masterfully carved hood & robes all from one...
Category
Antique Late 19th Century Italian Renaissance Revival Busts
Materials
Carrara Marble
Free Shipping
H 28.75 in W 15.75 in D 8.67 in
Antique Venetian Paint Decorated Secretary Bookcase
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A tall cabinet made in two parts in blue paint with polychrome painted floral and gilt figural decoration. With a serpentine baroque crest with a gilt landscape in the center cartouc...
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Italian Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Modern Carved Wood Organic Coffee Table by Bartolozzi E Maoili
By Bartolozzi & Maioli
Located in Miami, FL
Beautifully carved base, with a glass top. The large leaves seem to float in the wind.
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Wood
Drexel Heritage Regency Tufted Leather Executive Office Armchair
By Drexel
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Classic English regency style high-back tufted leather executive office armchair made by Drexel-Heritage. The grand chair has a tilt and swivel seat made from a hardwood frame. The g...
Category
20th Century American Regency Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Materials
Brass
Chesterfield Vintage Captain's Office Chair in Green Leather
Located in Berlin, DE
Stunning original handmade in England hand dyed deep green leather captain's chair, a stunning piece, the frame is solid and beautifully finished mahogany, the leather is English cow...
Category
20th Century English Chesterfield Armchairs
Materials
Leather
Original 17th Century Andrea Brustolon Hand Carved Italian Walnut Armchair
By Andrea Brustolon
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning original 17th century attributed to Andrea Brustolon hand carved Italian walnut armchair with Cherubs throughout
This chair is abso...
Category
Antique 17th Century Italian Baroque Armchairs
Materials
Velvet, Walnut
H 36.03 in W 28.15 in D 27.96 in
Bartolozzi e Maioli Hand Carved Wood Foliate Faux Bois Leaf Chair, 1970s
By Bartolozzi & Maioli
Located in Jensen Beach, FL
Whimsical Bartolozzi e Maioli hand carved leaf chair.
Seat Width: 17.5”
Seat Depth: 16”
Category
Vintage 1970s Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Wood
Italian Antique Wooden Grotto Stool w/Carved-Shell Seat
Located in Atlanta, GA
A beautiful Italian Venetian carved-wood grotto chair, with adjustable height, from the turn of the 19th and 20th century. This antique bench from Italy features a fruitwood carved-c...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Stools
Materials
Wood
Knole Settee, Cowdray Park, English, Lengyon & Co, olive velvet, tapestry
Located in BUNGAY, SUFFOLK
- EXCEPTIONALLY, RARE, MUSEUM QUALITY PIECE, THE COWDRAY PARK KNOLE SETTEE, INVENTORY NUMBER D2029
- Supplied by Lengyon & Co, the pre-eminent maker, to Viscount Cowdray, Cowdray Pa...
Category
Early 20th Century English Charles II Settees
Materials
Tapestry, Velvet
H 43.71 in W 69.3 in D 27.17 in
Bed Venetian Painted Trompe-L’œil Baroque Fortuny Superking Mattress
Located in BUNGAY, SUFFOLK
Magnificent, 18th Century, Venetian, Trompe-L’œil, Painted, Bed, Superking 6ft, 180cm wide, With Massive 213cm, 6ft 10in Shaped Headboard & 149cm, 5ft Shaped Footboard & Fortuny Bedc...
Category
Antique 1730s European Baroque Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Paint
H 83.47 in W 74.81 in D 88.19 in
Recent Sales
Late 19th Century Italian Silver Giltwood Grotto Arm Chair
Located in Corona Del Mar, CA
Italian handcarved silver gilt grotto armchair features stylized shell seat and back with arms in
Category
Antique 19th Century Italian Armchairs
Grotto Chair
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Italian carved grotto chair
Category
Antique 19th Century Italian Armchairs
Grotto Chair
Located in Stamford, CT
A Thomas Chippendale design of a Grotto chair carved in walnut. Probably Italian.
Category
Antique 19th Century Italian Armchairs
Grotto Chair
By Michael Von Jakubowski
Located in New York, NY
This is a design based on Venetian 'Grotto' furniture of the mid 19th century.
There
Category
21st Century and Contemporary German Armchairs
Carved Wood Italian Grotto Chair
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This unique Italian grotto chair has a large-scale shell motif on the back and seat. Carved sea
Category
Antique 1880s Armchairs
Materials
Wood
Pair of Italian Carved Hall Chairs
Located in Chicago, IL
These amazing chairs have an almost “Grotto” like feel. They feature lovely carved legs and arm
Category
Antique 19th Century Italian Armchairs
Materials
Chestnut
Louis XV Rococo Style Set of Six Dinning Chairs
Located in Livingston, NJ
and two armchairs with grotto-style carved details throughout the entire frame. The seat is
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Rococo Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Wood, Chenille
Italian Grotto Armchair
Located in Dallas, TX
Whimsical Italian Grotto Armchair,
with shell form back and seat,
dolphin form arms
Category
Antique 19th Century Italian Armchairs
Materials
Wood, Gesso, Paint
Italian Grotto Armchair
Located in Nashville, TN
A grotto armchair with shell, dolphin and horse motifs .Varying pearlescent shell colors of greens
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Baroque Revival Armchairs
Pair of Important 19th c. Venetian Grotto Armchairs
Located in New York, NY
grotto armchairs is composed of silver gilt wood and features carved seashell backs and seats with
Category
Antique 19th Century Italian Rococo Armchairs
Mid 20th Century Carved Walnut Venetian Grotto Armchair
Located in Charlotte, NC
An Italian Venetian style grotto armchair, unbranded. Walnut with a decoratively carved shell
Category
Mid-20th Century American Other Armchairs
Materials
Fabric, Walnut
Antique Venetian Grotto Armchair
Located in Madrid, ES
19th century Venetian walnut grotto style armchair with carved shell form seat, back with dolphin
Category
Antique Late 19th Century Italian Rococo Revival Armchairs
Materials
Hardwood
Antique Venetian Grotto Armchair
Located in Madrid, ES
19th century Venetian walnut grotto style armchair with carved shell form seat, back with dolphin
Category
Antique Late 19th Century Italian Rococo Revival Armchairs
Materials
Hardwood
Pair of Venetian Carved Grotto Armchairs
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A Pair of 20th Century Venetian Grotto Chairs. Venetian Grotto furniture was originally created for
Category
Vintage 1930s Italian Armchairs
Materials
Gold
Antique Wooden Carved Grotto Armchair, circa 1880
Located in Berghuelen, DE
An antique carved armchair in grotto design. Seat and backrest in the shape of a sea shell, arm
Category
Antique Late 19th Century Italian Victorian Armchairs
Materials
Wood
Set of Six Carved Paint and Parcel Giltwood Grotto Armchairs with Dolphin Arms
Located in Montreal, QC
Set of Six Fabulous Painted and Parcel Gilt Carved Wood Grotto Shell form Dining Armchairs with
Category
Vintage 1960s Armchairs
19th Century Italian Carved Walnut Grotto Chair
Located in East Hampton, NY
19th century Italian craved walnut Grotto armchair, 1880s.
Category
Antique 19th Century Italian Armchairs
Vintage Coastal Venetian Shell Back Carved Grotto Armchair - Hollywood Regency
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
An exquisitely carved wood Venetian shell back armchair. This gorgeous piece is carved of rich dark
Category
20th Century American Hollywood Regency Chairs
Materials
Fabric, Wood
H 39.25 in W 24 in D 20 in
Pair of Vintage Grotto Style Armchairs
Located in Miami, FL
Pair of vintage grotto style armchairs
Wooden armchair features a Venetian grotto style scalloped
Category
Vintage 1970s American Rococo Armchairs
Materials
Wood
19th c. Venetian Grotto Fruitwood Armchair
Located in New York, NY
Nineteenth century Venetian grotto fruitwood armchair featuring carved shell-form back, seat, and
Category
Antique 19th Century Italian Armchairs
Materials
Fruitwood
Pair of Italian Silverleaf Grotto Shell Armchairs
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of Italian Silverleaf Grotto Shell Armchairs, 19th century
Category
Antique 19th Century Italian Armchairs
Pair of Italian Venetian Grotto Shell Form Armchairs
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Italian Venetian Grotto style armchairs with a silver gilt finish and carved shell and
Category
Antique 19th Century Italian Rococo Armchairs
Materials
Silver Leaf
Grotto Chair
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Venetian carved wood grotto chair with dolphin motif
Category
Antique 19th Century Italian Armchairs
Materials
Wood
Grotto Chair
Located in Stamford, CT
A Thomas Chippendale design of a Grotto chair carved in walnut. Probably Italian.
Category
Antique 19th Century Italian Armchairs
Set of Four Lacquered Venetian Grotto Shell Back Armchairs
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Hollywood Regency set of four Venetian grotto style shell back armchairs featuring a Florida
Category
20th Century American Hollywood Regency Armchairs
Materials
Fabric, Wood
Grotto chairs
Located in Bronx, NY
Silver and gold leaf
Category
Early 20th Century French Armchairs
Italian Grotto Style Painted and Gilt Shell Back Armchair
Located in Houston, TX
Stylish Italian painted and giltwood armchair newly upholstered in cream velvet with spaced French
Category
Vintage 1920s Italian Palladian Armchairs
Venetian Grotto Chair
Located in New Orleans, LA
Venetian grotto chair circa 1820. Superb condition
Category
Antique 19th Century Italian Armchairs
Materials
Silver Leaf
Mahogany Grotto Chair
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Venetian stained mahogany grotto chair. Shell carved back and seat with dolphin arms. Morticed
Category
Antique Late 19th Century Italian Armchairs
Materials
Mahogany
Pair of Grotto Chairs
Located in North Miami, FL
A pair of Venetian Grotto or "Fantasy" chairs. These chairs are from a prominent Miami Estate and
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Armchairs
Materials
Wood, Paint
19th Century Venetian Gilt Swan Grotto Chair
Located in Essex, MA
Rare and complete 19th century carved and gilt Venetian swan Grotto chair.
Realistically and
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Italian Rococo Armchairs
Materials
Wood, Beech
Pair of Antique Silver Leaf Grotto Chairs
Located in Lambertville, NJ
A pair of Venetian carved wood silver leaf grotto chairs. Whimsically carved chairs with shell back
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Armchairs
Materials
Hardwood
Maitland Smith Venetian Grotto Chair With Dolphin Arms
By Maitland Smith
Located in Chicago, IL
grotto chair with dolphin arms.
Category
Vintage 1970s Philippine Armchairs
Materials
Wood, Lacquer
Pair of Vintage Cerused Oak Shell Form Grotto Chairs
Located in Locust Valley, NY
A pair of vintage cerused oak shell form Grotto chairs newly reupholstered in a Quadrille coral
Category
Mid-20th Century American Beaux Arts Armchairs
Materials
Wood
Vintage Coastal Hand Carved Grotto Arm Chairs, a Pair
Located in west palm beach, FL
Fantastic vintage Coastal dining arm chairs. A pair of the iconic Grotto shape. Acquired from a
Category
Late 20th Century North American Armchairs
Materials
Wood
Maitland Smith Carved Wood Grotto Chair with Dolphin Arms
By Maitland Smith
Located in Chicago, IL
Italian grotto chair with dolphin arms.
Category
Vintage 1970s Philippine Armchairs
Materials
Wood
Pair of Italian Venetian Silver Gilt 19thC Grotto Arm Chairs
Located in New York, NY
These rare early 19thC grotto arm chairs have a carved seashell back and seat. The arms are carved
Category
Antique 19th Century Italian Armchairs
Materials
Vermeil, Silver
Pair Italian Grotto Arm Chairs In Walnut With Suede Upholstery
Located in Chicago, IL
Beautifully carved with a shell form back, and a seat upholstered in a taupe suede trimmed with brass nailheads, these chairs were made in Italy for Bamberger's department store.
Category
20th Century Italian Armchairs
Materials
Walnut, Suede
American Carved Mahogany Arm Chair
Located in Petaluma, CA
Very fine example of what is known as a "grotto chair." Carved from high-grade mahogany by a
Category
Antique 19th Century American Armchairs
Materials
Mahogany
Pair Shell Back Chairs
Located in North Miami, FL
A pair of chairs in the "grotto" style. Nicely carved shell back. Graceful legs.
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Armchairs
Materials
Wood
American Victorian "Grotesque" Steambent Chair
Located in Asheville, NC
Italian grottoes. The carved face on the back of the chair is of “maskerones,” or “mask,” that was also
Category
20th Century American Armchairs
A Hardwood Grotto Seat
Located in Conwy, GB
A weathered hardwood grotto or garden armchair.
Category
Mid-20th Century European Patio and Garden Furniture
Materials
Hardwood
Vintage Coastal Cerused Carved Grotto Chairs, Set of Four
Located in west palm beach, FL
A fabulous set of vintage Coastal dining chairs. Four beautiful hand carved armchairs in a chic
Category
Late 20th Century American Chairs
Materials
Wood
18th Century Italian Carved and Painted Grotto Confident Courting Chair
Located in Dallas, TX
This exquisite, antique tete a tete "confident" armchair was created in Northern Italy, circa 1780
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Italian Rococo Chairs
Materials
Silver Leaf
Pair of White Carved Wood Grotto Armchairs
Located in East Hampton, NY
Pair of four painted white carved wood Grotto armchairs.
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Armchairs
Materials
Wood
Antique Venetian Grotto Armchairs
By Pauly et Cie
Located in Rochester, NY
Pair of antique Venetian grotto chairs with well detailed carved dolphin arms / shell backs / conch
Category
Antique 1890s Italian Baroque Armchairs
Materials
Wood
Antique Wooden Carved Grotto Armchair, circa 1880
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique carved walnut armchair in grotto design. seat and backrest in the shape of a sea shell, arm
Category
Antique 19th Century Italian Victorian Armchairs
Materials
Wood
Italian 19th Century Grotto Chair
Located in Atlanta, GA
A stunning 19th century Venetian Grotto armchair in giltwood. Hand-carved with the seat and back in
Category
Antique 19th Century Italian Armchairs
Materials
Wood
Grotto Style Silver-Gilt Armchair
Located in Montreal, QC
Grotto style silver-gilt and carved wood armchair in the form of an opened scallop, the arms are in
Category
Antique 19th Century Italian Armchairs
Venetian Grotto Style Shell Back Armchair
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Venetian Grotto style gold leafed shell back armchair. Only one left.
Offered at Gallery
Category
Vintage 1970s Spanish Hollywood Regency Armchairs
Materials
Wood
Pair of Maitland Smith Grotto Chairs, 1990s
By Maitland Smith
Located in Donhead St Mary, Wiltshire
Pair of Venetian style, silvered Grotto armchairs with a clam shell back and seat with neoclassical
Category
Late 20th Century Philippine Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Wood
Midcentury Painted and Silver Gilt Italian Grotto Chair
Located in Stamford, CT
A midcentury painted and silver gilt Grotto chair with hand carved dolphin legs and arms.
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Baroque Armchairs
Materials
Wood
Vintage Italian Carved Wood Grotto Chair Clam Sea Shell and Full Dolphin Arms
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Italian carved wood grotto chair clam sea shell and full dolphin arms. Item features hand
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Regency Armchairs
Materials
Wood
H 36.5 in W 23 in D 24 in
Eight Venetian Grotto Style Scalloped Shell Back Dining Chairs
Located in Dallas, TX
Eight Venetian grotto style scalloped shell back dining chairs. Consist of two armchairs and six
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Hollywood Regency Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Upholstery, Wood
Set of Six Venetian Shell Back Grotto Dining Chairs
Located in Rio Vista, CA
scalloped design back. Made in the grotto style the set consists of four side chairs and two armchairs
Category
20th Century American Hollywood Regency Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Fabric, Wood
Set of Venetian Grotto Style Scalloped Shell Back Dining Chairs
Located in Dallas, TX
A set of six Venetian grotto style scalloped shell back dining chairs. Consist of two armchairs and
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Hollywood Regency Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Upholstery, Wood
Set of Twelve Italian Dining Chairs
Located in Los Angeles, CA
eleven side chairs and a single armchair with grotto-style carved details throughout the entire frame
Category
Vintage 1910s Italian Rococo Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Linen, Upholstery, Fabric, Foam, Wood, Paint
Venetian Grotto Chair
By Pauly & Co.
Located in New York, NY
The so-called grotto chair, made from clusters of shell-form elements, was introduced in the 1880s
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Arts and Crafts Armchairs
Materials
Wood
Pair of Venetian Silver Gilt "Fantasy" Grotto Armchairs
Located in Natchez, MS
Pair of Silver Gilt "Fantasy" Grotto Armchairs with clamshell backs and seats, dolphin arms and
Category
Antique 19th Century Italian Armchairs
Grotto Armchair
Located in Long Island City, NY
The scallop shell seat and back with stylized dolpin arms and stylized seahorse legs.
Category
Antique 19th Century Italian Armchairs
Materials
Walnut
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Grotto Armchair For Sale on 1stDibs
Find many varieties of an authentic grotto armchair available at 1stDibs. Frequently made of wood, hardwood and metal, every grotto armchair was constructed with great care. You’ve searched high and low for the perfect grotto armchair — we have versions that date back to the 19th Century alongside those produced as recently as the 21st Century are available. When you’re browsing for the right grotto armchair, those designed in Rococo, Hollywood Regency and Baroque styles are of considerable interest. Pauly & Co., David Barrett and Maitland Smith each produced at least one beautiful grotto armchair that is worth considering.
How Much is a Grotto Armchair?
The average selling price for a grotto armchair at 1stDibs is $6,500, while they’re typically $1,600 on the low end and $42,000 for the highest priced.
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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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.
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