What is a dining chair with arms called?

A dining chair with arms is called a carver chair or elbow chair. It is a traditional dining chair with arms added to it for a more structured look and is a popular option for dining seats for a spot to comfortably rest your arms. Shop a selection of dining chairs on 1stDibs.

Should dining room chairs have arms?

Dining room chairs with arms require more space than armless ones.

What are dining room chairs with arms called?

Dining room chairs with arms are simply called armchairs. They are not to be confused with armchairs used in seating areas. A dining chair without arms is a side chair. You'll find a collection of antique and vintage dining chairs on 1stDibs.

Why are dining chairs with arms called carvers?

No one knows for sure why some dining chairs with arms are called carvers. However, it likely relates to the historical use of these chairs. Technically, carver is the nickname for a specific type of dining chair with arms, not for all dining armchairs. A Colonial American design, a carver chair features a backrest that wraps around the sides and forms arms. Traditionally, the carver chair went at the head of the table, and often the family member responsible for carving the primary entrée sat at this place. As a result, the chair's purpose for seating the carver of the meal is one potential explanation for the nickname. Another is that the name comes from John Carver, the governor of the Plymouth Colony. Reportedly, Carver owned one of these chairs, and people began referring to them by his name as a result. On 1stDibs, find an assortment of carver chairs.

What are dining chairs without arms called?

Dining chairs without arms are called side chairs. Their counterpart, the armchair, is often found at the head of the table, with the side chairs filling in the seats along the side of the table. Shop a collection of side chairs from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.

How can you tell if a dining chair is antique?

To tell if a dining chair is antique, first look for markings that can help you identify the maker. You will normally find these under the seat. By using information published on trusted online resources, you can research the markings to learn who made the chair and when the maker was active. Any dining chair made 100 years ago or earlier is an antique. Another way to identify antique chairs is to examine their details closely. Most antique dining chairs are handmade, so you can expect to see subtle tool markings and slight irregularities. A lack of these characteristics may indicate that a dining chair is machine-made and less likely to be an antique. For assistance with dating your dining chairs, consult a certified appraiser or knowledgeable antique dealer. On 1stDibs, find a large selection of antique dining chairs.

Antique Dining Chair With Arms

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Set of 11 Antique Dining Chairs with 9 Sides & 2 Arms in West Indies Mahogany

$14,500 / set

H 34 in W 18 in D 21.5 in

Set of 11 Antique Dining Chairs with 9 Sides & 2 Arms in West Indies Mahogany

Located in INTERLAKEN, NY

A very lovely set of 11 antique Christian VIII dining chairs in fine Cuban/ West Indies mahogany

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Early 19th Century Danish Regency Antique Dining Chair With Arms

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Mahogany

Set of Eight 1920s Black Forest Dining Room Chairs with Hand-Carved Floral Décor

$16,200 / set

H 41 in W 19.5 in D 21 in

Set of Eight 1920s Black Forest Dining Room Chairs with Hand-Carved Floral Décor

Located in Atlanta, GA

A set of eight Black Forest dining room chairs from the early 20th century, with carved foliage

Category

Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Antique Dining Chair With Arms

Materials

Upholstery, Wood

Set of Eight Regency Bronze Mounted Mahogany Dining Chairs

$14,000 / set

H 35 in W 20 in D 21 in

Set of Eight Regency Bronze Mounted Mahogany Dining Chairs

Located in Pittsburgh, PA

This set of eight English Regency dining chairs include two armchairs with scrolled arms. Each

Category

19th Century English Regency Antique Dining Chair With Arms

Materials

Bronze

Set of Eight English Regency Painted & Silver Gilt Dining Room Chairs. C. 1790

$32,000 / set

H 32.5 in W 20.75 in D 21 in

Set of Eight English Regency Painted & Silver Gilt Dining Room Chairs. C. 1790

Located in Charleston, SC

Set of Eight English Regency painted and silver gilt dining room chairs with flanking scrolled arms

Category

1790s English Regency Antique Dining Chair With Arms

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Ormolu

Antique 18th Century Chinese Yoke-Back Armchair in Lacquered Pearwood

$3,900

H 47.25 in W 25.2 in D 23.63 in

Antique 18th Century Chinese Yoke-Back Armchair in Lacquered Pearwood

Located in Meer, VAN

China from an early date - both for dining and relaxing. Chairs with arms were more honorific than those

Category

18th Century Chinese Antique Dining Chair With Arms

Materials

Pearwood

Recent Sales

Six Danish Midcentury Swivel Chairs

Unavailable

H 31 in W 24 in D 18 in

Six Danish Midcentury Swivel Chairs

Located in Santa Monica, CA

Unique dining or office chair with blonde wood arms and back and stainless steel base. Adjustable

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1670s Danish Mid-Century Modern Antique Dining Chair With Arms

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Textile, Birch

Set of Eight 19th Century Arts & Crafts Oak Dining Chairs 'All with Arms'

Unavailable

H 41 in W 24 in D 24 in

Set of Eight 19th Century Arts & Crafts Oak Dining Chairs 'All with Arms'

By Bruce James Talbert

Located in Gloucestershire, GB

Very fine set of eight oak antique dining chairs all with arms. These imposing chairs are large

Category

19th Century British Arts and Crafts Antique Dining Chair With Arms

Materials

Oak

Set of 6 Art Deco Oak Dining Chairs with Arms

Sold

H 36 in W 22 in D 20 in

Set of 6 Art Deco Oak Dining Chairs with Arms

Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight

Set of 6 Art Deco oak dining chairs with arms This is a superb quality heavy weight set of

Category

Early 20th Century Art Deco Antique Dining Chair With Arms

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Oak

Set of Twelve 19th Century Chippendale Inspired, Carved Mahogany Dining Chairs

Sold

H 40 in W 26.25 in D 21.25 in

Set of Twelve 19th Century Chippendale Inspired, Carved Mahogany Dining Chairs

Located in Debenham, Suffolk

Fine quality set of 12 Chippendale armchairs circa 1890. 12 dining chairs with arms

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Late 19th Century English Chippendale Antique Dining Chair With Arms

Materials

Mahogany

Set of 10 Swedish Painted Wheat Back Dining Chairs with Two Arms and Eight Sides

Sold

H 38.6 in W 18.9 in D 16.9 in

Set of 10 Swedish Painted Wheat Back Dining Chairs with Two Arms and Eight Sides

Located in Atlanta, GA

A set of 10 Swedish painted wood wheat back dining room chairs from the late 19th century, with two

Category

Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Dining Chair With Arms

Materials

Wood

Set of 8 French Oak Louis XIII Chairs with Turned Arms and Legs

Sold

H 35 in W 21 in D 21 in

Set of 8 French Oak Louis XIII Chairs with Turned Arms and Legs

Located in Troy, MI

arms. New upholstery in cream and navy stripes. Sold and priced as a set. Arm Height: 26.75” Seat

Category

19th Century French Louis XIII Antique Dining Chair With Arms

Materials

Upholstery

Eight Hepplewhite Style Shield Back Dining Chairs

Sold

H 37.75 in W 24.5 in D 21 in

Eight Hepplewhite Style Shield Back Dining Chairs

Located in Bradenton, FL

Set of eight late 19th century Hepplewhite dining chairs, two chairs with arms and six side chairs

Category

Late 19th Century American Hepplewhite Antique Dining Chair With Arms

Materials

Textile, Wood

Louis XV Style Upholstered Dining Chairs, 12

Sold

H 37.5 in W 25.25 in D 23 in

Louis XV Style Upholstered Dining Chairs, 12

Located in Astoria, NY

Set of Twelve Louis XV Style Upholstered Dining Chairs, two with arms, champagne tone satin

Category

Early 20th Century Louis XV Antique Dining Chair With Arms

Materials

Upholstery, Wood

Set of Eight Italian 19th Century Painted Wood Venetian Style Dining Chairs

Sold

H 36.75 in W 19.75 in D 20.75 in

Set of Eight Italian 19th Century Painted Wood Venetian Style Dining Chairs

Located in Atlanta, GA

A set of eight Italian 19th century upholstered painted wood venetian style dining chairs with

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19th Century Italian Antique Dining Chair With Arms

Materials

Upholstery, Wood

Set of 8 English George III Mahogany Dining Chairs, Late 18th Century

Sold

H 35.5 in W 21.5 in D 20 in

Set of 8 English George III Mahogany Dining Chairs, Late 18th Century

Located in Atlanta, GA

A set of 8 English George III Mahogany Dining Chairs with 2 arms and 6 sides. Inventory #US1376

Category

18th Century and Earlier English Antique Dining Chair With Arms

Materials

Mahogany

18th Century Set of Eight High Back Windsor Dining Chairs with Arms

Sold

H 41 in W 19 in D 15 in

18th Century Set of Eight High Back Windsor Dining Chairs with Arms

Located in Savannah, GA

An assembled set of eight high backed, comb back Windsor’s featuring curved arms and splayed turned

Category

Late 18th Century Unknown Country Antique Dining Chair With Arms

Materials

Wood

19th Century Italian Walnut Dining Chairs with Rattan Seats, Six Sides, Two Arms

Sold

H 41 in W 26 in D 18 in

19th Century Italian Walnut Dining Chairs with Rattan Seats, Six Sides, Two Arms

Located in Buchanan, MI

19th century Italian walnut dining chairs with Rattan seats, six sides, two arms. Excellent shape

Category

19th Century Italian Antique Dining Chair With Arms

Materials

Walnut

Set Seven Figural RJ Horner Carved Oak Dining Chairs with Lion Head Arms c1900

Sold

H 41.5 in W 26.5 in D 26 in

Set Seven Figural RJ Horner Carved Oak Dining Chairs with Lion Head Arms c1900

Located in Big Flats, NY

An antique set of seven figural RJ Horner dining chairs offer oak construction with carved foliate

Category

Early 20th Century American Antique Dining Chair With Arms

Materials

Upholstery, Oak

SET OF 6 CARVED CHAIRS WiTH LIONS ON THE BACK ARMORIAL CREST/ COAT OF ARMS

Sold

H 44.89 in W 18.12 in D 19.3 in

SET OF 6 CARVED CHAIRS WiTH LIONS ON THE BACK ARMORIAL CREST/ COAT OF ARMS

Located in West Sussex, Pulborough

dining chairs. A very decorative set of chairs with elaborately carved backs, each upholstered in red

Category

19th Century European Jacobean Antique Dining Chair With Arms

Materials

Velvet, Oak

Set of 6 Regency English Mahogany Dining Chairs

Sold

H 34.5 in W 20.5 in D 21.5 in

Set of 6 Regency English Mahogany Dining Chairs

Located in Atlanta, GA

The set of 6 English Regency dining chairs with curved backs, scrolled arms (2 armchairs) and

Category

Early 19th Century English Regency Antique Dining Chair With Arms

Materials

Mahogany

Set of Eight Early 20th Century Arts & Crafts Dining Chairs

Sold

H 40.95 in W 16.54 in D 18.9 in

Set of Eight Early 20th Century Arts & Crafts Dining Chairs

Located in Petworth, West Sussex

A set of eight Arts & Crafts oak dining chairs, including two carvers, with squared arms, early

Category

Late 19th Century British Arts and Crafts Antique Dining Chair With Arms

Materials

Oak

Set of Eight American Federal Mahogany Acanthus Carved Dining Chairs Circa 1820

Sold

H 34 in W 21 in D 18.5 in

Set of Eight American Federal Mahogany Acanthus Carved Dining Chairs Circa 1820

Located in Charleston, SC

Set of eight American Federal mahogany acanthus carved dining room chairs with scrolled arms

Category

1820s American Federal Antique Dining Chair With Arms

Materials

Silk, Upholstery, Mahogany

Set of Six Spanish Barley Twist Chairs

Sold

H 35.5 in W 23 in D 20.5 in

Set of Six Spanish Barley Twist Chairs

Located in Troy, MI

Circa 1920s set of six Spanish dining chairs with carved barley twist legs, arms and stretchers

Category

Early 20th Century Spanish Antique Dining Chair With Arms

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Upholstery, Wood

Set of 8 1920's dining chairs with arms

Sold

H 30 in W 21 in D 18 in

Set of 8 1920's dining chairs with arms

Located in Bridgehampton, NY

A smart set of 8 dining chairs, circa 1920, with new upholstery. Curved arms are low enough to fit

Category

Early 20th Century Antique Dining Chair With Arms

Set of Six Antique Chinese Elm Dining Chairs

Sold

H 35 in W 27 in D 25 in

Set of Six Antique Chinese Elm Dining Chairs

Located in New York, NY

Set of Six Antique Chinese Elm Dining Chairs With Arms & Hand Carved Back Detail

Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Dining Chair With Arms

Materials

Elm

18th Century Carver Chair or Desk Chair

Sold

H 37.5 in W 24 in D 22 in

18th Century Carver Chair or Desk Chair

Located in Gloucestershire, GB

Very fine quality antique dining chair with arms, also known as an antique carver chair. This sort

Category

Late 18th Century British Antique Dining Chair With Arms

English Early 19th Century Set of Eight Spindleback Dining Chairs with Two Arms

Sold

H 36.75 in W 15 in D 18.75 in

English Early 19th Century Set of Eight Spindleback Dining Chairs with Two Arms

Located in Wells, ME

English early 19th century assembled set of eight spindleback dining chairs including two armchairs

Category

Early 19th Century English Country Antique Dining Chair With Arms

Materials

Rush, Ash, Elm

Cotswold Oak Six Dining Chairs

Sold

H 35.5 in W 17.5 in D 16 in

Cotswold Oak Six Dining Chairs

By Heal's

Located in London, GB

Attributed to Heals Set of Cotswold style oak lattice back dining chairs, two arms, four sides

Category

1920s British Arts and Crafts Antique Dining Chair With Arms

Materials

Oak

Set of 16 Dining Arm Chairs

Sold

Set of 16 Dining Arm Chairs

Located in Gloucestershire, GB

Set of 16 oak dining chairs, all with arms, standing on turned and reeded legs and with ebonised

Category

19th Century British Victorian Antique Dining Chair With Arms

Set of 10 Chairs

Sold

H 41 in W 24 in D 20 in

Set of 10 Chairs

Located in San Francisco, CA

Set of 10 19th century Italian dining chairs. @ arms with 8 sides. In gray paint, upholstered in

Category

19th Century Italian Antique Dining Chair With Arms

Materials

Wood

Set of Ten Edward Wormley for Dunbar Dining Chairs

Sold

H 33 in W 25.5 in D 20 in

Set of Ten Edward Wormley for Dunbar Dining Chairs

By Edward Wormley

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Unusual set of ten Wormley dining chairs eight with two arms without. These chairs date from 1945

Category

Early 1900s American Antique Dining Chair With Arms

Materials

Mahogany

524 F Thonet Chair

Sold

H 30.32 in W 21.66 in D 21.66 in

524 F Thonet Chair

By Thonet-Mundus

Located in Brno, CZ

A rare bentwood dining chair with a unique shape of arms and particularly beautiful veneered

Category

Early 20th Century Czech Art Deco Antique Dining Chair With Arms

Materials

Walnut, Bentwood

Set of 7 Antique Dining Chairs All With Arms

Sold

Set of 7 Antique Dining Chairs All With Arms

Located in Gloucestershire, GB

Very unusual set of 7 dining chairs, all with arms! They are from the reign of George III and

Category

18th Century and Earlier British Antique Dining Chair With Arms

Good Set of Ten Louis XVI Style Dining Chairs

Sold

H 34.65 in W 19.3 in D 18.9 in

Good Set of Ten Louis XVI Style Dining Chairs

Located in Gloucestershire, GB

A good quality set of ten continental Louis XVI style white-painted and parcel-gilt dining chairs

Category

Late 19th Century European Louis XVI Antique Dining Chair With Arms

Materials

Giltwood, Paint

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A Classic Empire style grey cerused oak oatmeal stained center table with a carved ogee edge, raised on an octagonal pedestal base. Dimensions: 42" W x 42" D x 30" H. Clearance: 27"

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Set of Eight English Chippendale Mahogany Upholstered Dining Room Chairs, C 1760

$48,000 / set

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Set of Eight English Chippendale mahogany dining room chairs with a serpentine carved acanthus ribbon cresting rail, scrolled foliage ears, molded edge stiles, ornate ribbon medallio...

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1760s English Chippendale Antique Dining Chair With Arms

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Set of 8 Neoclassical Style Mastercraft Dining Chairs

$9,000 / set

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Set of 8 Neoclassical Style Mastercraft Dining Chairs

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Located in West Palm Beach, FL

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$1,995

H 30.25 in W 27.5 in D 23.5 in

Pillow Chair by Ash - Mint Velvet

By ASH NYC

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2010s Antique Dining Chair With Arms

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Custom Regency Style 56" Diameter Mahogany Dining Table

$15,900 / item

H 30 in Dm 56 in

Custom Regency Style 56" Diameter Mahogany Dining Table

Located in Woodbury, CT

Swathed in the finest figured mahogany, this 56” diameter table features a bold pedestal comprised of a tapered octagonal column having an ebonized collar and terminating on a platfo...

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21st Century and Contemporary British Regency Antique Dining Chair With Arms

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Mahogany, Satinwood, Ebony

The Albert, Custom Made Belgian Linen Armchair

$5,041 / item

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The Albert, Custom Made Belgian Linen Armchair

Located in Jesteburg, DE

Introducing the home collection. A small selection of timeless Flemish designs made by hand for us in a small third generation workshop in Belgium. Has been used by many influent...

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2010s Belgian Modern Antique Dining Chair With Arms

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Florian Schulz Double Onos 55-Pendant Lamp with Side Counter Weights

$6,950 / item

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Florian Schulz Double Onos 55-Pendant Lamp with Side Counter Weights

By Florian Schulz

Located in Berlin, DE

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2010s German Mid-Century Modern Antique Dining Chair With Arms

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English Georgian Mahogany Gadrooned and Upholstered Tester Bed, Circa 1800

$26,000

H 102 in W 61.5 in D 79 in

English Georgian Mahogany Gadrooned and Upholstered Tester Bed, Circa 1800

Located in Charleston, SC

English Georgian mahogany four-poster bed with a carved molded inset headboard, tapered head post, serpentine gadrooned and upholstered tester with a centered carved urn & swags, dec...

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Early 1800s English Georgian Antique Dining Chair With Arms

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Set of Four English Regency Mahogany Dining Room Chairs, Circa 1810

$8,000 / set

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Located in Westwood, NJ

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$4,200

H 36 in W 37 in D 21 in

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Located in Charleston, SC

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19th Century Antique Dining Chair With Arms

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Maison Jansen Stamped Sofa, Louis XV Style, France

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$3,480

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$16,150 / item

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Antique and Vintage Seating

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Antique Dining Chair With Arms For Sale on 1stDibs

At 1stDibs, there are several options of antique dining chair with arms available for sale. Each of these unique antique dining chair with arms was constructed with extraordinary care, often using wood, oak and ash. Antique dining chair with arms have long been popular, with older editions for sale from the 18th Century and newer versions made as recently as the 20th Century. Antique dining chair with arms are generally popular furniture pieces, but Arts and Crafts and Art Deco styles are often sought at 1stDibs. Antique dining chair with arms have been a part of the life’s work for many furniture makers, but those produced by Bruce James Talbert are consistently popular.

How Much are Antique Dining Chair With Arms?

Prices for antique dining chair with arms can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, antique dining chair with arms begin at $1,766 and can go as high as $26,000, while the average can fetch as much as $6,138.

Finding the Right Dining-room-chairs for You

No matter what your dream dining experience looks like, there is a wide-ranging variety of vintage, new and antique dining room chairs on 1stDibs. Find upholstered dining room chairs, wood dining room chairs and more to outfit any space designated for a good meal, be it in your home or in the great outdoors.

In the early 18th century, most dining room tables and other furniture was designed to look masculine. In America, dining rooms weren’t even much of a concept until the late 1700s, when a space set aside specifically for dining became a part of the construction of homes for the wealthy. Dining room chairs of the era were likely made of walnut or oak. In Europe, neoclassical dining chairs emerged during the 1750s owing to nostalgia for classical antiquity, while the curving chair crests of Queen Anne furniture in the United States preceded the artistically bold seat backs that characterized the Chippendale chairs that followed. If there weren't enough dining chairs at suppertime in the American colonies, men were prioritized and women stood.

In the dining rooms of today, however, there is enough space for everyone to have a seat at the table. Modern styles introduce innovative design choices that play with shape and style. Icons of mid-century modern dining room chairs are plentiful: With its distinctive bentwood back, there is the DCW dining chair by Charles and Ray Eames, while Hans Wegner's timeless classic, the Wishbone chair, remains relevant and elegant decades after its debut. Stefano Giovannoni's White Rabbit dining chairs, in their lovable polyethylene biomorphism, reinvent what dining can look like.

Today's wide range of dining room chairs also means that they can now be styled in different ways, bringing functionality and fun to any sumptuous dining space. No longer do tables have to be accompanied by a matching set of seats. Skillfully mixing and matching colors and designs allows you to showcase your personality without sacrificing the cohesion of a given space.

By furnishing your dining room with cozy chairs — vintage, antique or otherwise — family time can extend far beyond mealtime. The plush upholstery of Victorian-style dining room chairs is perfect for game nights that stretch from dinner to midnight snack. Outdoor tables and dining chairs can also present an excellent opportunity for bonding and eating — what goes better with a delicious meal than fresh air, anyway?

Whether you prefer your chairs streamlined and stackable or ornate and one of a kind, the offerings on 1stDibs will elevate your mealtime and beyond.

Questions About Antique Dining Chair With Arms

What is a dining chair with arms called?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
A dining chair with arms is called a carver chair or elbow chair. It is a traditional dining chair with arms added to it for a more structured look and is a popular option for dining seats for a spot to comfortably rest your arms. Shop a selection of dining chairs on 1stDibs.
Should dining room chairs have arms?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertSeptember 25, 2019
Dining room chairs with arms require more space than armless ones.
What are dining room chairs with arms called?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
Dining room chairs with arms are simply called armchairs. They are not to be confused with armchairs used in seating areas. A dining chair without arms is a side chair. You'll find a collection of antique and vintage dining chairs on 1stDibs.
Why are dining chairs with arms called carvers?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertNovember 13, 2024
No one knows for sure why some dining chairs with arms are called carvers. However, it likely relates to the historical use of these chairs. Technically, carver is the nickname for a specific type of dining chair with arms, not for all dining armchairs. A Colonial American design, a carver chair features a backrest that wraps around the sides and forms arms. Traditionally, the carver chair went at the head of the table, and often the family member responsible for carving the primary entrée sat at this place. As a result, the chair's purpose for seating the carver of the meal is one potential explanation for the nickname. Another is that the name comes from John Carver, the governor of the Plymouth Colony. Reportedly, Carver owned one of these chairs, and people began referring to them by his name as a result. On 1stDibs, find an assortment of carver chairs.
What are dining chairs without arms called?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
Dining chairs without arms are called side chairs. Their counterpart, the armchair, is often found at the head of the table, with the side chairs filling in the seats along the side of the table. Shop a collection of side chairs from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
How can you tell if a dining chair is antique?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertAugust 15, 2024
To tell if a dining chair is antique, first look for markings that can help you identify the maker. You will normally find these under the seat. By using information published on trusted online resources, you can research the markings to learn who made the chair and when the maker was active. Any dining chair made 100 years ago or earlier is an antique. Another way to identify antique chairs is to examine their details closely. Most antique dining chairs are handmade, so you can expect to see subtle tool markings and slight irregularities. A lack of these characteristics may indicate that a dining chair is machine-made and less likely to be an antique. For assistance with dating your dining chairs, consult a certified appraiser or knowledgeable antique dealer. On 1stDibs, find a large selection of antique dining chairs.

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