Skip to main content

Antique Dolphin Chairs

19th Century Painted Chair Gilded  Dolphins French
19th Century Painted Chair Gilded  Dolphins French

19th Century Painted Chair Gilded Dolphins French

$2,941

H 38.98 in W 24.81 in D 22.45 in

19th Century Painted Chair Gilded Dolphins French

Located in Epfach, DE

19th century painted chair gilded and carved dolphins A rare and very comfortable chair with very

Category

1820s French Restauration Antique Dolphin Chairs

Materials

Wood

19th C. Windsor Style Chair with Dolphin Head Arms
19th C. Windsor Style Chair with Dolphin Head Arms

19th C. Windsor Style Chair with Dolphin Head Arms

By George Hunzinger

Located in Southampton, NJ

A scarcely seen 19th c. spindle back barrel accent chair with George Hunzinger & Windsor chair

Category

Late 19th Century American Aesthetic Movement Antique Dolphin Chairs

Materials

Upholstery, Walnut

Set of 5 Italian Neoclassical Dining Room Chairs with Giltwood Dolphin Backs
Set of 5 Italian Neoclassical Dining Room Chairs with Giltwood Dolphin Backs

Set of 5 Italian Neoclassical Dining Room Chairs with Giltwood Dolphin Backs

Located in Richmond, VA

Set of 5 Italian Neoclassical Dining Room Chairs with Giltwood Carved Dolphin backs. Four side

Category

Early 19th Century Italian Neoclassical Antique Dolphin Chairs

Materials

Walnut, Giltwood

A 19th Century Set of Four Biedermeier Chair Suite with Dolphin Motif, Germany
A 19th Century Set of Four Biedermeier Chair Suite with Dolphin Motif, Germany

A 19th Century Set of Four Biedermeier Chair Suite with Dolphin Motif, Germany

By Biedermeier

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

A refined Biedermeier seating set comprising two armchairs and two side chairs, crafted in

Category

Mid-19th Century Antique Dolphin Chairs

Materials

Birch

Pair of Italian Venetian Blue Tufted Chairs
Pair of Italian Venetian Blue Tufted Chairs

Pair of Italian Venetian Blue Tufted Chairs

$28,000 / set

H 32.5 in W 26 in D 31 in

Pair of Italian Venetian Blue Tufted Chairs

Located in Queens, NY

Pair of Italian Venetian style (19th Cent) silver gilt dolphin side chairs with carved back and

Category

19th Century Italian Rococo Antique Dolphin Chairs

Materials

Silver Leaf

Complete Set Of Twelve French 19th Century Neoclassical style Dining Chairs
Complete Set Of Twelve French 19th Century Neoclassical style Dining Chairs

Complete Set Of Twelve French 19th Century Neoclassical style Dining Chairs

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

dolphins on the side chairs, and large scale Giltwood swans on the armchairs. The armchairs display robust

Category

19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Dolphin Chairs

Materials

Ormolu

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

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

Located in Charleston, SC

Set of Eight English Chippendale mahogany dining room chairs with a serpentine carved acanthus

Category

1760s English Chippendale Antique Dolphin Chairs

Materials

Mahogany, Upholstery

Antique Georgian Figural Dolphin Carved Mahogany Upholstered Library Arm Chair
Antique Georgian Figural Dolphin Carved Mahogany Upholstered Library Arm Chair

Antique Georgian Figural Dolphin Carved Mahogany Upholstered Library Arm Chair

Located in Philadelphia, PA

Antique Georgian Figural Dolphin Carved Mahogany Upholstered Library Arm Chair. Item features

Category

Early 20th Century Unknown Georgian Antique Dolphin Chairs

Materials

Fabric, Mahogany

Mid 19th Century Brown Leather Library Chair with Carved Dolphin Arms, Mahogany
Mid 19th Century Brown Leather Library Chair with Carved Dolphin Arms, Mahogany

Mid 19th Century Brown Leather Library Chair with Carved Dolphin Arms, Mahogany

Located in Shrewsbury, GB

by three turned baulsters. The baulster legs benefir from lovely detail and brass castors. The chair

Category

Mid-19th Century Antique Dolphin Chairs

Materials

Leather, Mahogany

French Empire Mahogany Arm Chair
French Empire Mahogany Arm Chair

French Empire Mahogany Arm Chair

$7,600

H 30.25 in W 24.5 in D 23.5 in

French Empire Mahogany Arm Chair

Located in Queens, NY

French Empire style (19th Cent) mahogany round back dolphin arm chair with bronze trim and gold

Category

19th Century French Empire Antique Dolphin Chairs

Materials

Bronze

Pair of French Empire Mahogany and Gilt Bronze Mounted Armchairs
Pair of French Empire Mahogany and Gilt Bronze Mounted Armchairs

Pair of French Empire Mahogany and Gilt Bronze Mounted Armchairs

$5,600Sale Price|30% Off

H 36 in W 22 in D 20 in

Pair of French Empire Mahogany and Gilt Bronze Mounted Armchairs

Located in Vancouver, British Columbia

terminate in carved dolphins. The chairs have been re-upholsterd in a cream and dark green striped antique

Category

Mid-19th Century French Empire Antique Dolphin Chairs

Materials

Silk, Mahogany

Recent Sales

Set of Four 19th Century Jacobean Side Chairs
Set of Four 19th Century Jacobean Side Chairs

Set of Four 19th Century Jacobean Side Chairs

Unavailable

H 43.75 in W 17.5 in D 14.5 in

Set of Four 19th Century Jacobean Side Chairs

Located in Boston, MA

Set of four 19th century Jacobean side chairs with inlaid scroll and dolphin detailing

Category

19th Century German Jacobean Antique Dolphin Chairs

Materials

Oak

1st Empire Dolphin Tub Chair
1st Empire Dolphin Tub Chair

1st Empire Dolphin Tub Chair

Unavailable

H 30.75 in W 21.5 in D 21 in

1st Empire Dolphin Tub Chair

Located in Houston, TX

Early 1800 's Parisian mahogany dolphin tub chair with parcel gilding to dolphin arms and ormolu

Category

19th Century French First Empire Antique Dolphin Chairs

Materials

Gold Leaf, Bronze

Mid-19th Century French Carved Walnut Desk Chair
Mid-19th Century French Carved Walnut Desk Chair

Mid-19th Century French Carved Walnut Desk Chair

Unavailable

H 37 in W 26.5 in D 23.5 in

Mid-19th Century French Carved Walnut Desk Chair

Located in London, west Sussex

stylised dolphins. This gorgeous chair stands on carved paw feet with the original castors. It measures 26

Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Dolphin Chairs

Materials

Upholstery, Walnut

Superb George II Style Mahogany Gainsborough Open Armchair or Library Chair
Superb George II Style Mahogany Gainsborough Open Armchair or Library Chair

Superb George II Style Mahogany Gainsborough Open Armchair or Library Chair

Located in Suffolk, GB

chair maker – carved with acanthus, C-scrolls and scaling on the front legs which terminate with dolphin

Category

Early 20th Century English George II Antique Dolphin Chairs

Materials

Mahogany

Pair of Late 19th Century George II Style Mahogany Gainsborough Armchairs
Pair of Late 19th Century George II Style Mahogany Gainsborough Armchairs

Pair of Late 19th Century George II Style Mahogany Gainsborough Armchairs

Located in Suffolk, GB

chair maker – carved with acanthus, C-scrolls and scaling on the front legs which terminate with dolphin

Category

Late 19th Century George II Antique Dolphin Chairs

Materials

Upholstery, Mahogany

Pair of His and Hers Ebonized Empire Style Dolphin Chairs with Brass Mounts
Pair of His and Hers Ebonized Empire Style Dolphin Chairs with Brass Mounts

Pair of His and Hers Ebonized Empire Style Dolphin Chairs with Brass Mounts

Located in Troy, MI

Late 19th century pair of upholstered his and hers chairs. Frames are made of ebonized mahogany

Category

19th Century French Empire Antique Dolphin Chairs

Materials

Fabric, Upholstery

Turn of the Century Italian Fantasy Chair with Dolphin Arms
Turn of the Century Italian Fantasy Chair with Dolphin Arms

Turn of the Century Italian Fantasy Chair with Dolphin Arms

Located in Tarrytown, NY

Carved wood, turn of the century fantasy chair with dolphin arms and sea shell back, from Italy.

Category

Early 1900s Antique Dolphin Chairs

Pair of William IV Mahogany Hall Chairs with Dolphin Carved Backs
Pair of William IV Mahogany Hall Chairs with Dolphin Carved Backs

Pair of William IV Mahogany Hall Chairs with Dolphin Carved Backs

Located in Essex, MA

Unusual, each chair back with two carved dolphins and central painted coats of arms, solid wood

Category

1830s William IV Antique Dolphin Chairs

Materials

Mahogany

A French mahogany Dolphin Desk Chair
A French mahogany Dolphin Desk Chair

A French mahogany Dolphin Desk Chair

Located in London, GB

A fine mid 19th century mahogany desk chair with concave back, scrolled arms terminating in finely

Category

19th Century French Aesthetic Movement Antique Dolphin Chairs

Pair of Antique Figural Continental Carved Mahogany Dolphin Armchairs
Pair of Antique Figural Continental Carved Mahogany Dolphin Armchairs

Pair of Antique Figural Continental Carved Mahogany Dolphin Armchairs

Located in Big Flats, NY

Antique pair of figural Continental carved mahogany chairs feature open arms with cared dolphins

Category

19th Century European Antique Dolphin Chairs

Materials

Upholstery, Mahogany

Set of Six Henry II circa 1880 French Oak & Embossed Leather Lion Dining Chairs
Set of Six Henry II circa 1880 French Oak & Embossed Leather Lion Dining Chairs

Set of Six Henry II circa 1880 French Oak & Embossed Leather Lion Dining Chairs

Located in West Sussex, Pulborough

brown leather upholster Henry II circa 1880 dining chairs with bronze dolphin handles A very rare and

Category

1880s French Victorian Antique Dolphin Chairs

Materials

Leather, Oak

French 19th Century Dolphin Arm Hardwood Library Chair
French 19th Century Dolphin Arm Hardwood Library Chair

French 19th Century Dolphin Arm Hardwood Library Chair

Located in London, GB

A fine mid-19th century walnut library armchair with wing back and unusual dolphin carving to the

Category

Mid-19th Century Italian Antique Dolphin Chairs

Materials

Walnut

Pair of Regency Italian Painted and Gilt Dolphin Arm Chairs
Pair of Regency Italian Painted and Gilt Dolphin Arm Chairs

Pair of Regency Italian Painted and Gilt Dolphin Arm Chairs

Located in Charleston, SC

Pair of Regency Italian painted and gilt dolphin arm chairs with floral medallions, stripped

Category

18th Century and Earlier Italian Regency Antique Dolphin Chairs

3 Pc Victorian Empire Mahogany Dolphin Carved Parlor Set Settee Armchair & Chair
3 Pc Victorian Empire Mahogany Dolphin Carved Parlor Set Settee Armchair & Chair

3 Pc Victorian Empire Mahogany Dolphin Carved Parlor Set Settee Armchair & Chair

Located in Philadelphia, PA

chair, open mouth gesso dolphins, floral fabric, beautiful wood grain, and great style and form, circa

Category

Late 19th Century American Empire Antique Dolphin Chairs

Materials

Fabric, Mahogany

Grotto Chair
Grotto Chair

Grotto Chair

Sold

H 39 in W 23.5 in D 28 in

Grotto Chair

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Venetian carved wood grotto chair with dolphin motif

Category

19th Century Italian Antique Dolphin Chairs

Materials

Wood

Pair of French Empire 19th Century Fauteuils
Pair of French Empire 19th Century Fauteuils

Pair of French Empire 19th Century Fauteuils

Sold

H 34 in W 22.75 in D 19 in

Pair of French Empire 19th Century Fauteuils

Located in Baton Rouge, LA

back, down curved arms with dolphin supports - seat of chair is slightly bowed in the front. Fauteuils

Category

19th Century French Antique Dolphin Chairs

19th Century Biedermeier Style Dolphin Chair
19th Century Biedermeier Style Dolphin Chair

19th Century Biedermeier Style Dolphin Chair

Sold

H 31.89 in W 23.63 in D 22.05 in

19th Century Biedermeier Style Dolphin Chair

Located in Berlin, DE

Musealer Dolphin chair Biedermeier or Empire, circa 1830, mahogany. Massive mahogany, partially

Category

19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Dolphin Chairs

Materials

Wood, Mahogany

Pair of French Empire Style Mahogany Bergere Armchairs with Dolphins
Pair of French Empire Style Mahogany Bergere Armchairs with Dolphins

Pair of French Empire Style Mahogany Bergere Armchairs with Dolphins

Located in Pembroke, MA

arm ends and dolphin tails and scales where the arms meet the back (early 20th century). These chairs

Category

Early 20th Century French Empire Antique Dolphin Chairs

Materials

Mohair, Silk, Upholstery, Velvet, Mahogany

Pair of Upholstered French Napoleon III Bergères with Carved Dolphin circa 1870
Pair of Upholstered French Napoleon III Bergères with Carved Dolphin circa 1870

Pair of Upholstered French Napoleon III Bergères with Carved Dolphin circa 1870

Located in INTERLAKEN, NY

A pair of Napoleon III bergères in walnut with carved dolphins as armrests, turned and carved legs

Category

1860s French Napoleon III Antique Dolphin Chairs

Materials

Upholstery, Walnut

Late 19th Century Rare Italian Shellback Grotto Chair
Late 19th Century Rare Italian Shellback Grotto Chair

Late 19th Century Rare Italian Shellback Grotto Chair

Located in San Francisco, CA

Ornate walnut grotto chair with carved dolphin arms and shell back.

Category

Late 19th Century Italian Antique Dolphin Chairs

Materials

Wood

French, Charles X, Dolphin Arm Chair
French, Charles X, Dolphin Arm Chair

French, Charles X, Dolphin Arm Chair

Sold

H 36 in W 24 in D 19 in

French, Charles X, Dolphin Arm Chair

Located in Miami Beach, FL

Dolphin Arm Chair French, Charles the 10th Carved Fruit Wood 36 x 24 x 19 inches, Seat Height

Category

19th Century French Charles X Antique Dolphin Chairs

Materials

Fruitwood

French, Charles X, Dolphin Arm Chair
French, Charles X, Dolphin Arm Chair

French, Charles X, Dolphin Arm Chair

Sold

H 37 in W 24 in D 23 in

French, Charles X, Dolphin Arm Chair

Located in Miami Beach, FL

A beautifully understated armchair with extraordinary carved dolphin motif armrests. After

Category

19th Century French Charles X Antique Dolphin Chairs

Dutch Embossed Dolphin Design Open Arm Wing Chair
Dutch Embossed Dolphin Design Open Arm Wing Chair

Dutch Embossed Dolphin Design Open Arm Wing Chair

Located in Southampton, NY

DUTCH LEATHER UPHOLSTERED LATE 19TH EARLY 20TH CENT. 0PEN ARM WING CHAIR WITH CARVED SCROLLED

Category

19th Century Unknown Antique Dolphin Chairs

Antique French Carved Dolphin Dining Chairs set 6
Antique French Carved Dolphin Dining Chairs set 6

Antique French Carved Dolphin Dining Chairs set 6

Located in Summerland, CA

Antique French Dolphin carved chairs. Set of 6. Beautifully carved intertwining dolphins in walnut

Category

Late 19th Century Antique Dolphin Chairs

Materials

Walnut

Pair of French Empire Style Walnut Side Chairs with Dolphin Carvings, Circa 1900
Pair of French Empire Style Walnut Side Chairs with Dolphin Carvings, Circa 1900

Pair of French Empire Style Walnut Side Chairs with Dolphin Carvings, Circa 1900

Located in Atlanta, GA

A pair of French walnut Empire style side chairs with dolphin carvings on the arms from the turn

Category

Early 20th Century French Empire Antique Dolphin Chairs

Materials

Upholstery, Walnut

Pair of Viennese Side Chairs
Pair of Viennese Side Chairs

Pair of Viennese Side Chairs

Sold

H 39 in W 18.5 in D 18 in

Pair of Viennese Side Chairs

Located in Hudson, NY

Set of four Viennese karelian birch wood side chairs with carved dolphin heads. Circa 1830's

Category

19th Century Antique Dolphin Chairs

Materials

Burl

Pair of diminutive Empire arm chairs
Pair of diminutive Empire arm chairs

Pair of diminutive Empire arm chairs

Sold

H 34.5 in W 25 in D 19 in

Pair of diminutive Empire arm chairs

Located in Boston, MA

Pair of diminutive Second Empire arm chairs with dolphin carved arms. Price is for the pair.

Category

19th Century French Antique Dolphin Chairs

Materials

Wood

Pair of 19th Century French Mahogany Tub Chairs
Pair of 19th Century French Mahogany Tub Chairs

Pair of 19th Century French Mahogany Tub Chairs

Sold

H 35.83 in W 24.02 in D 24.81 in

Pair of 19th Century French Mahogany Tub Chairs

Located in Salisbury, GB

A matched pair of early 19th century French mahogany dolphin headed tub chairs on sabre front legs

Category

Early 19th Century Antique Dolphin Chairs

Eight Empire Style Dining Chairs
Eight Empire Style Dining Chairs

Eight Empire Style Dining Chairs

Sold

H 35 in W 18 in D 16 in

Eight Empire Style Dining Chairs

Located in New Orleans, LA

Eight gondola style dining chairs, the curved back flaring forward, ending in dolphin heads at the

Category

19th Century French Antique Dolphin Chairs

Materials

Upholstery

Savonarola chair
Savonarola chair

Savonarola chair

Sold

H 33 in W 25.5 in D 25 in

Savonarola chair

Located in Boston, MA

An highly carved Savonarola chair with carved dolphin feet and rams head arms.

Category

19th Century Italian Antique Dolphin Chairs

Materials

Oak

19th Century German Carved Mahogany Throne Chair
19th Century German Carved Mahogany Throne Chair

19th Century German Carved Mahogany Throne Chair

Located in Salt Lake City, UT

dolphin motif decorates the side chair rails with a lion crest carving presented on the front seat rail

Category

19th Century German Louis XV Antique Dolphin Chairs

Materials

Mahogany, Upholstery

pair 19c italian walnut armchairs
pair 19c italian walnut armchairs

pair 19c italian walnut armchairs

Sold

H 50 in W 27 in D 31 in

pair 19c italian walnut armchairs

Located in Culver City, CA

Pair of chairs with carved dolphin arms. newly upholstered.

Category

19th Century Italian Antique Dolphin Chairs

Materials

Walnut

Italian 'Empire' Giltwood Sofa and Pair of Armchairs
Italian 'Empire' Giltwood Sofa and Pair of Armchairs

Italian 'Empire' Giltwood Sofa and Pair of Armchairs

Located in London, GB

Italian “Empire” Giltwood Sofa & Pair of Armchairs with Sabre Legs & Dolphin Armrests c.1830

Category

19th Century Italian Antique Dolphin Chairs

Materials

Giltwood

An exceptional Italian early 19th Century armchair
An exceptional Italian early 19th Century armchair

An exceptional Italian early 19th Century armchair

Located in Bantam, CT

dolphins. For an identical chair from a set of 10 at the Pitti Palace see Enrico Colle " Italian Empire

Category

19th Century Italian Antique Dolphin Chairs

Materials

Walnut

People Also Browsed

19th Century Painted Gilded Armchair Dolphins France
19th Century Painted Gilded Armchair Dolphins France

19th Century Painted Gilded Armchair Dolphins France

$6,118

H 38.98 in W 24.81 in D 22.45 in

19th Century Painted Gilded Armchair Dolphins France

Located in Epfach, DE

A rare and very comfortable armchair with carved dolphins. Original setting and gilding. The snails on the armrests and the dolphins make the armchair look very interesting and decor...

Category

1820s French Restauration Antique Dolphin Chairs

Materials

Wood

Get Updated with New Arrivals
Save "Antique Dolphin Chairs", and we’ll notify you when there are new listings in this category.

Antique Dolphin Chairs For Sale on 1stDibs

There is a range of antique dolphin chairs for sale on 1stDibs. Frequently made of wood, mahogany and fabric, all antique dolphin chairs available were constructed with great care. There are all kinds of antique dolphin chairs available, from those produced as long ago as the 18th Century to those made as recently as the 20th Century. Antique dolphin chairs bearing Empire or Regency hallmarks are very popular at 1stDibs. There have been many well-made antique dolphin chairs over the years, but those made by Chesterfield, Jacob Freres Rue Meslée and Josef Danhauser are often thought to be among the most beautiful.

How Much are Antique Dolphin Chairs?

Prices for antique dolphin chairs can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, antique dolphin chairs begin at $610 and can go as high as $443,813, while the average can fetch as much as $5,100.

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.