Lit A Repos
Antique 18th Century Italian Daybeds
Cane, Walnut
Vintage 1960s Dutch Daybeds
Wood
Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Daybeds
Walnut, Upholstery
Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
Metal
Antique 19th Century French Empire Beds and Bed Frames
Brass
People Also Browsed
Vintage 1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
Metal
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Canapes
Mohair, Silk, Giltwood, Wood
2010s Mexican Brutalist Contemporary Art
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Mexican Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
Textile, Wood
2010s French Modern Chairs
Oak
Mid-20th Century German Space Age Chairs
Velvet, Fiberglass
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Textile
2010s British Ottomans and Poufs
Fabric, Bouclé, Walnut
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Wood
Mid-20th Century Finnish Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Sets
Birch
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Daybeds
Oak
Vintage 1940s American Hollywood Regency Side Tables
Leather, Mahogany
Vintage 1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
Metal
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XV Daybeds
Walnut
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Night Stands
Fruitwood
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XV Daybeds
Velvet, Walnut
Recent Sales
Antique 19th Century French Restauration Chaise Longues
Upholstery, Mahogany
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Spanish Daybeds
Wood, Silk
Antique 1790s Chaise Longues
Wood
20th Century French Neoclassical Canapes
Maple, Linen
Antique Mid-19th Century French Benches
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Chaise Longues
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century French Daybeds
Vintage 1920s French Louis XVI Daybeds
Wood, Paint
Antique Mid-18th Century Italian Chaise Longues
Walnut, Cane
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Canapes
Linen, Upholstery, Wood
Antique 19th Century French Daybeds
Walnut
Antique 19th Century French Beds and Bed Frames
Wood
20th Century French Daybeds
Giltwood, Upholstery
Antique 19th Century French Daybeds
Rosewood
Antique 19th Century Daybeds
Antique 19th Century French Daybeds
Wood, Upholstery
Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
Metal
Antique 19th Century French French Provincial Daybeds
Cotton, Walnut
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Daybeds
Wood, Fabric
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.