Alvar Alto Chair
Vintage 1970s Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Cane, Wood
Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Fabric, Wood
Vintage 1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Fabric, Wood
Antique 19th Century Finnish Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Wool, Birch
Vintage 1930s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Armchairs
Birch
Vintage 1930s Italian Art Deco Animal Sculptures
Murano Glass
People Also Browsed
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Textile
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
Travertine, Metal, Nickel
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and...
Brass, Metal
2010s American Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Brass, Bronze, Enamel, Nickel
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and...
Brass, Metal, Aluminum
2010s French Modern Chairs
Oak
2010s American Flush Mount
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights an...
Metal
Vintage 1960s Italian Directoire End Tables
Brass
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Stools
Oak, Walnut
Vintage 1960s German Bauhaus Chairs
Chrome
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chaise Longues
Steel
Mid-20th Century Finnish Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Sets
Birch
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Side Tables
Walnut
Vintage 1960s German Bauhaus Side Chairs
Steel, Chrome
Recent Sales
Late 20th Century Finnish Side Chairs
Late 20th Century Finnish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Bentwood
Vintage 1960s American Club Chairs
Wood, Upholstery
Vintage 1930s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Sheepskin, Birch
Vintage 1980s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Birch
Vintage 1930s Finnish Chairs
Wood
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Wrought Iron
Late 20th Century Finnish Scandinavian Modern Living Room Sets
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Cane, Birch, Plywood
Vintage 1950s Finnish Side Chairs
Laminate
Vintage 1980s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Club Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
20th Century Finnish Chairs
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.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2024The Paimio chair, designed by Alvar Aalto, is a type of armchair created in 1932. Also called the Armchair 41, it was intended to help people breathe easier and was designed for a tuberculosis sanatorium in the Finnish city of Paimio. For the chair's frame, Aalto and his wife, Aino, opted to use Finland's native birchwood, which is strong and inexpensive and felt warmer and more organic than the tubular steel found in similarly shaped pieces. Laminated wood loops form the arms, legs and a pair of flat skids, while its sculptural seat and back are built from a single piece of thin plywood. Shop a variety of Alvar Aalto Paimio chairs on 1stDibs.
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.