Antique Bamboo Settee
Antique Late 19th Century North American Eastlake Settees
Bamboo
Early 20th Century American Adirondack Patio and Garden Furniture
Rattan
People Also Browsed
21st Century and Contemporary German Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Plywood
2010s British Scandinavian Modern Ottomans and Poufs
Sheepskin, Oak
21st Century and Contemporary French Brutalist Night Stands
Oak
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Beds and Bed Frames
Oak
21st Century and Contemporary American Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights a...
Steel, Zinc
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Western European Rugs
Natural Fiber, Synthetic, Wool
21st Century and Contemporary French Aesthetic Movement Chandeliers and ...
Plaster
2010s Belgian Modern Club Chairs
Linen
Mid-20th Century North American Chinese Chippendale Dining Room Chairs
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Card Tables and Tea Tables
Walnut
Antique 19th Century French Victorian Ceramics
Majolica
20th Century American Adirondack Rocking Chairs
Hickory
Antique 18th Century George III Armchairs
Mahogany
1990s American Ottomans and Poufs
Rattan
Vintage 1950s Italian Minimalist Benches
Wood
Antique 19th Century French Other Benches
Oak
Recent Sales
Antique Late 18th Century Settees
Antique 19th Century English Sofas
Bamboo
Antique 19th Century American Victorian Settees
Upholstery, Bamboo, Hardwood
Vintage 1930s English Chinese Chippendale Settees
Antique Late 19th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Bamboo, Wood
20th Century English Sofas
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Chaise Longues
Bamboo, Rattan
Mid-20th Century French French Provincial Armchairs
Bamboo, Cane, Bentwood
Antique 19th Century Settees
Linen, Bamboo
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Settees
Leather, Bamboo
Mid-20th Century Federal Dining Room Chairs
Walnut
Antique 19th Century French Sofas
Bamboo
Antique 19th Century English Settees
Faux Bamboo, Cane
Mid-20th Century American Settees
Early 20th Century French Benches
Rattan, Bamboo
20th Century French Sofas
Wood, Leather
Vintage 1940s Living Room Sets
Rattan, Upholstery
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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After years of diligent restoration, E-1027, the designer-cum-architect’s marriage of romance and modernism, is finally complete.