Antique Courting Couch
Late 19th Century American High Victorian Antique Courting Couch
Mohair, Walnut
1880s Victorian Antique Courting Couch
Wood
Recent Sales
Mid-19th Century English Early Victorian Antique Courting Couch
Fruitwood
Late 19th Century English Aesthetic Movement Antique Courting Couch
Rosewood
People Also Browsed
Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Antique Courting Couch
Gold Leaf, Spelter, Metal
Mid-20th Century Polish Mid-Century Modern Antique Courting Couch
Cane, Wood
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Courting Couch
Fabric, Wood
Late 19th Century Antique Courting Couch
Canvas, Wood, Oil
20th Century Belgian Art Nouveau Antique Courting Couch
Glass
Late 19th Century Symbolist Antique Courting Couch
Canvas, Oil
1880s Victorian Antique Courting Couch
Giltwood
Early 1900s Antique Courting Couch
Silver
1970s American Art Deco Antique Courting Couch
Art Glass
19th Century Louis XVI Antique Courting Couch
Velvet, Rosewood
19th Century European Neoclassical Revival Antique Courting Couch
Other, Iron
1890s English Art Nouveau Antique Courting Couch
Brass
1880s Swiss Black Forest Antique Courting Couch
Marble
19th Century Chinese Qing Antique Courting Couch
Wood, Giltwood, Lacquer
Early 19th Century English Victorian Antique Courting Couch
Velvet, Hardwood
Early 20th Century Spanish Art Nouveau Antique Courting Couch
Wood
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
See How New York City Designers Experiment on Their Own Homes
There are many lessons to be learned from the lofts, apartments and townhouses of architects and decorators in Manhattan and beyond.
Canadian Designer Philip Mitchell Masterfully Balances Tradition and Glamour
Enriching rooms with layers of visual interest is key to the New York– and Toronto-based decorator’s signature style.