Antique Carved Armrest Lion Head Chair
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Lounge Chairs
Brass
Antique Late 19th Century European Gothic Revival Armchairs
Brass
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Corner Chairs
Fabric, Wood, Walnut
Antique 19th Century German Baroque Armchairs
Walnut
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XIII Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Oak
Antique 1860s Italian High Victorian Benches
Oak
Antique 1890s Chaise Longues
Fabric, Teak
Antique 1850s British Jacobean Armchairs
Oak
Antique 19th Century Armchairs
Wood
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Early 20th Century English Charles II Settees
Tapestry, Velvet
Antique 19th Century English Aesthetic Movement Bookcases
Brass
20th Century English Victorian Armchairs
Leather
Antique 1820s French Empire Armchairs
Cherry
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Armchairs
Walnut
Antique 1860s English Victorian Chaise Longues
Leather
Antique 1870s English Victorian Bookcases
Mahogany
Antique 1860s English High Victorian Cupboards
Pine
Antique Early 19th Century Danish Biedermeier Sofas
Fabric, Mahogany
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Brass, Steel
Antique 19th Century French Renaissance Tables
Oak
Vintage 1950s British Baroque Beds and Bed Frames
Velvet, Oak
20th Century Empire Armchairs
Fabric, Wood, Beech
Antique 1890s French Renaissance Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Planters and Jardinieres
Cast Stone
Antique 1890s French Renaissance Tables
Oak
Recent Sales
Antique 1880s Italian Renaissance Chairs
Walnut
Antique Early 1900s Armchairs
Walnut
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XIII Armchairs
Leather, Walnut
Early 20th Century French Armchairs
Walnut, Suede, Upholstery
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Armchairs
Walnut
Antique Mid-19th Century Italian Renaissance Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Leather, 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.
Read More
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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.