African Throne Stool
21st Century and Contemporary Belgian Modern Stools
Wood, Walnut
2010s Spanish Modern Stools
Wood
Vintage 1940s Tanzanian Tribal Chairs
Wood
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2010s American Streamlined Moderne Wall Lights and Sconces
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary British Organic Modern Wall Lights and Sco...
Plaster
2010s North American Modern Side Chairs
Hardwood
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Ash
21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Flush Mount
Brass
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Aluminum
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Armchairs
Fur
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Ash
21st Century and Contemporary Russian Brutalist Chairs
Oak
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Ash
21st Century and Contemporary French Organic Modern Vases
Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Benches
Ash
Vintage 1950s Tanzanian Primitive Figurative Sculptures
Ebony
Early 20th Century Malian Tribal Chairs
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Side Tables
Ash
20th Century Kenyan Arts and Crafts Decorative Bowls
Wood
Recent Sales
Mid-20th Century Ivorian Stools
Wood
Early 20th Century Nigerian Tribal Tribal Art
Wood
1990s American Benches
Giltwood, Lucite
Early 20th Century Congolese Tribal Stools
Brass, Iron
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Stools
Suede, Wenge
2010s Belgian Post-Modern Chairs
Steel
Mid-20th Century Czech Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Cotton, Beech, Elm
Mid-20th Century Slovak Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Linen, Beech
Mid-20th Century Slovak Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Fabric, Beech
Early 20th Century Congolese Tribal Stools
Brass, Iron
Vintage 1920s Ghanaian Tribal More Furniture and Collectibles
Wood
Vintage 1950s Ghanaian Stools
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
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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.