17th Century Claw Chairs
Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Armchairs
Fabric, Mahogany, Paint
Antique Late 17th Century Swedish Baroque Armchairs
Rope, Ash, Beech
Late 20th Century American Chippendale Armchairs
Fabric, Mahogany
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Vintage 1960s American Wingback Chairs
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Oak
Antique 1860s English Victorian Stools
Walnut
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Teak, Fabric
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Side Tables
Teak
20th Century French Modern Nesting Tables and Stacking Tables
Wrought Iron
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Brass
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Sofas
Upholstery, Teak
20th Century American Chippendale Chairs
Bamboo, Paint
Early 2000s Chippendale Dining Room Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Chairs
Fabric, Faux Bamboo
Early 20th Century North American American Colonial Cupboards
Glass, Wood
Vintage 1980s Chippendale Dining Room Chairs
Cotton, Hardwood
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Cabinets
Walnut
Late 20th Century American Chinese Chippendale Armchairs
Upholstery, Wood
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Oak
Recent Sales
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Portuguese Chairs
Wood
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Portuguese Armchairs
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Portuguese Armchairs
Antique 1780s Dutch Dining Room Chairs
Walnut
Antique Early 18th Century English George I Wingback Chairs
Leather
Antique Early 1900s English Victorian Stools
Leather, Hardwood
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Italian Renaissance Chairs
Giltwood
Antique Early 17th Century Dutch Queen Anne Chairs
Fruitwood
Antique 18th Century and Earlier English Wingback Chairs
Antique 19th Century English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
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.
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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.
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After years of diligent restoration, E-1027, the designer-cum-architect’s marriage of romance and modernism, is finally complete.