Antique Railway Bench
1890s English Arts and Crafts Antique Railway Bench
Mother-of-Pearl, Oak
Late 19th Century British Late Victorian Antique Railway Bench
Pine
People Also Browsed
Late 19th Century European Moorish Antique Railway Bench
Wrought Iron
1890s French Art Nouveau Antique Railway Bench
Iron
Early 20th Century English Arts and Crafts Antique Railway Bench
Mahogany
Early 1900s English Arts and Crafts Antique Railway Bench
Oak
Late 19th Century English Arts and Crafts Antique Railway Bench
Oak
Late 19th Century Spanish Spanish Colonial Antique Railway Bench
Cane, Walnut
Early 1900s Arts and Crafts Antique Railway Bench
Oak
1860s French Gothic Revival Antique Railway Bench
Walnut
20th Century Moorish Antique Railway Bench
Wood, Mother-of-Pearl, Fabric, Upholstery, Walnut
Late 19th Century English Chippendale Antique Railway Bench
Upholstery, Mahogany
Early 1900s Scottish Arts and Crafts Antique Railway Bench
Fabric, Oak
1890s Syrian Victorian Antique Railway Bench
Walnut
1890s Scottish Arts and Crafts Antique Railway Bench
Oak
1870s English Aesthetic Movement Antique Railway Bench
Marble
Late 19th Century Portuguese Baroque Antique Railway Bench
Walnut
19th Century Asian Moorish Antique Railway Bench
Walnut
Recent Sales
19th Century British Antique Railway Bench
Early 20th Century European Antique Railway Bench
Teak
1920s Antique Railway Bench
Wood
1850s English High Victorian Antique Railway Bench
Gold Leaf
1920s American Neoclassical Revival Antique Railway Bench
Iron
Early 20th Century American Antique Railway Bench
Wood
Late 19th Century British Victorian Antique Railway Bench
Wood
Early 19th Century British Victorian Antique Railway Bench
Iron
Early 1900s French Rustic Antique Railway Bench
Pine
Late 19th Century English Antique Railway Bench
Pine
Early 20th Century English Country Antique Railway Bench
Pine
1920s American Antique Railway Bench
Iron
Early 20th Century Estonian Mid-Century Modern Antique Railway Bench
Bentwood
19th Century Scottish Victorian Antique Railway Bench
Oak, Leather
Late 19th Century French Antique Railway Bench
Brass, Copper
Early 1900s English Antique Railway Bench
Giltwood, Paint, Canvas, Wood
Early 20th Century Antique Railway Bench
Paper, Watercolor
1850s English Antique Railway Bench
Pine
Early 19th Century British Early Victorian Antique Railway Bench
Wood
1890s Late Victorian Antique Railway Bench
Iron
Late 19th Century English Industrial Antique Railway Bench
Iron
19th Century English Antique Railway Bench
Early 1900s British Victorian Antique Railway Bench
Oak, Pine
Late 19th Century Zimbabwean Antique Railway Bench
Teak
19th Century American Antique Railway Bench
Iron
19th Century English Antique Railway Bench
Oak
19th Century American Antique Railway Bench
19th Century French Antique Railway Bench
Mahogany
Early 20th Century American Antique Railway Bench
Pine
19th Century American Antique Railway Bench
Oak
19th Century Spanish Antique Railway Bench
Mahogany
19th Century American Antique Railway Bench
Mid-19th Century English Early Victorian Antique Railway Bench
Wrought Iron
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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Fred Rigby’s Modular Seating Can Be Configured in So Many Handy Ways
The plush Cove Slipper 2.5 Seater sofa is just one of many convenient combinations from the London-based maker.
This Chubby-Chic Quilted Stool Stands on Its Own Two Feet
Sam Klemick's cool stool is edgy, cozy and environmentally sustainable all at once.
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.