1920s Antique Loveseat
Vintage 1920s French Louis XVI Loveseats
Alpaca, Wood
Late 20th Century American Campaign End Tables
Wood, Paint
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Vintage 1940s Danish Mid-Century Modern Loveseats
Wool, Beech
20th Century American Organic Modern Beds and Bed Frames
Metal
2010s British Louis XVI Beds and Bed Frames
Wood, Paint
20th Century British Sofas
Cowhide
Vintage 1940s Danish Scandinavian Modern Sofas
Bouclé
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Textile
20th Century French Louis XVI Dining Room Chairs
Brass
2010s South African Minimalist Pedestals
Hardwood
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Organic Modern Side Tables
Travertine
Mid-20th Century Finnish Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Sets
Birch
2010s Belgian Modern Sofas
Linen
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Wall Mirrors
Gold Leaf
Vintage 1970s French Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Mohair, Velvet
Mid-20th Century American Campaign End Tables
Walnut, Mahogany
2010s Belgian Modern Sofas
Linen
Vintage 1970s Unknown Modern Screens and Room Dividers
Brass
Recent Sales
20th Century American Loveseats
Leather, Mahogany
Vintage 1920s French Louis XV Loveseats
Fabric, Mahogany
Vintage 1920s French Neoclassical Settees
Velvet, Wood
20th Century French Louis XV Settees
Fabric, Wood
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Settees
Fabric, 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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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.
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After years of diligent restoration, E-1027, the designer-cum-architect’s marriage of romance and modernism, is finally complete.