Dragon Settee
Antique Late 19th Century American Victorian Settees
Oak
Late 20th Century American American Colonial Sofas
Textile, Wood
Antique 19th Century American Neoclassical Benches
Brass, Wrought Iron
Antique 19th Century Italian Baroque Revival Buffets
Marble
Antique Late 19th Century Italian Renaissance Revival Dining Room Sets
Leather, Oak
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Antique 1890s French Art Nouveau Daybeds
Iron
2010s British Louis XVI Sofas
Giltwood
Antique Late 19th Century American Sofas
Upholstery
20th Century American Hollywood Regency Sofas
Fabric, Wood
Vintage 1980s American Hollywood Regency Sofas
Upholstery
20th Century American Hollywood Regency Sofas
Fabric, Wood
Vintage 1940s Danish Art Deco Sofas
Fabric, Wood
Antique 19th Century Chinese Qing Cabinets
Brass
Early 2000s British Sofas
Damask
20th Century American Classical Sofas
Fabric, Wood
Early 2000s American Georgian Sofas
Leather
21st Century and Contemporary American Chinoiserie Cabinets
Marble
Antique 1780s English Chippendale Sofas
Upholstery, Mahogany
Antique Late 19th Century English Renaissance Revival Benches
Oak
20th Century English Sofas
Linen
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Sofas
Walnut, Organic Material
Recent Sales
Antique 19th Century Chinese Settees
Rosewood
Antique 1820s Settees
Fabric
Antique 19th Century French Directoire Settees
20th Century Settees
Hardwood
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Settees
Mahogany
20th Century Settees
20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Settees
Marble
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Settees
Hardwood
Antique Late 19th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Wood
Antique 19th Century Chinese Benches
Wood
Antique 19th Century French Directoire Chairs
Antique 1890s Italian Renaissance Benches
Oak
Antique Early 18th Century French Régence Settees
Tapestry, Walnut
Antique 19th Century Italian Sofas
Walnut
Antique Late 19th Century Italian Renaissance Revival Benches
Walnut
Early 20th Century American Sofas
Mahogany
20th Century American Sofas
Wood, Silk, Linen
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Italian Sofas
Wood
20th Century American Living Room Sets
Velvet
Antique 1890s Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Wood
Antique Mid-18th Century English Screens and Room Dividers
Leather
Antique 1880s Japanese Japonisme Settees
Wood
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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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.