How can you tell how old an antique chair is?

To tell how old an antique chair is, you have a few options. One is to conduct research on your own using trusted online resources and print references from your local library. If your chair has a maker's mark, learning more about the company, artisan or workshop that produced it can be a good starting point. Dating unmarked chairs can be more difficult because certain styles remained in production for long periods. In this case, you may wish to have a certified appraiser or knowledgeable antique dealer evaluate your chair for you. Shop a wide range of antique chairs on 1stDibs.

Old Antique Wooden Chairs

Wabi Sabi Dining Chairs

Rustic Wood Chair

Hand Carved Wooden Chair

Indian Antique Rustic Low Seat Wooden Chair with Carved Rosettes and Rope Seat

$2,900

H 29 in W 20 in D 20 in

Indian Antique Rustic Low Seat Wooden Chair with Carved Rosettes and Rope Seat

Located in Yonkers, NY

An old Indian rustic wooden low chair from the early 20th century, with handwoven rope seat and

Category

Early 20th Century Indian Old Antique Wooden Chairs

Materials

Rope, Wood

Antique Indian Rustic Low Seat Wooden Chair with Carved Rosettes and Twine Seat

$1,700

H 29 in W 21.5 in D 18.5 in

Antique Indian Rustic Low Seat Wooden Chair with Carved Rosettes and Twine Seat

Located in Yonkers, NY

An old Indian rustic wooden low chair from the early 20th century, with hand-woven twine and carved

Category

Early 20th Century Indian Rustic Old Antique Wooden Chairs

Materials

Twine, Wood

Antique Japanese wooden lattice chair / 1868-1920 / Simple and rustic stool

$1,000

H 14.77 in W 15.36 in D 15.75 in

Antique Japanese wooden lattice chair / 1868-1920 / Simple and rustic stool

Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba

This is an old wooden chair believed to have been made between the Meiji and Taisho periods, or

Category

Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Old Antique Wooden Chairs

Materials

Oak

Recent Sales

Old wooden cane chair

Sold

H 33.86 in W 16.15 in D 18.12 in

Old wooden cane chair

Located in AIGNAN, FR

Wooden caned chair from the 1920s. It will be perfect by mixing it with other mismatched chairs or

Category

Early 20th Century European Old Antique Wooden Chairs

Materials

Rattan, Wood

Old Chinese Wooden Chair / Small Nicely Designed Chair / 20th Century

Sold

H 22.56 in W 17.13 in D 17.72 in

Old Chinese Wooden Chair / Small Nicely Designed Chair / 20th Century

Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba

This is an old chair made in China. All parts have curves and are very beautiful. Not many

Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Other Old Antique Wooden Chairs

Materials

Other

Very rare old wooden primitive low chair/1900-1950/originally in East Asia

Sold

H 22.45 in W 25.99 in D 19.1 in

Very rare old wooden primitive low chair/1900-1950/originally in East Asia

Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba

I would like to introduce a chair with a very interesting shape. This is a chair that a doctor who

Category

Early 20th Century East Asian Other Old Antique Wooden Chairs

Materials

Wood

Japanese Old Wooden Stool 1860s-1900s/Antique Chair Stand Stepping Stone Table

Sold

H 24.61 in W 20.08 in D 12.8 in

Japanese Old Wooden Stool 1860s-1900s/Antique Chair Stand Stepping Stone Table

Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba

It is an old Japanese stepping stone. It can also be used as a chair or stool. It is an item from

Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Old Antique Wooden Chairs

Materials

Cedar

Japanese Antique Wooden Chair / 1912s-1926s / Japandi

Sold

H 35.83 in W 15.56 in D 16.54 in

Japanese Antique Wooden Chair / 1912s-1926s / Japandi

Located in Iwate-gun Shizukuishi-cho, Iwate Prefecture

This is an old wooden Japanese chair. Zelkova is used for both frames and sheets. The square form

Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Taisho Old Antique Wooden Chairs

Materials

Wood

Japanese Antique Wooden Folding Chair / 1912s-1926s / Primitive Wabi-sabi

Sold

H 32.68 in W 15.95 in D 17.72 in

Japanese Antique Wooden Folding Chair / 1912s-1926s / Primitive Wabi-sabi

Located in Iwate-gun Shizukuishi-cho, Iwate Prefecture

This is an old wooden Japanese chair. The hemp cord of the seat and backrest uses the hemp string

Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Taisho Old Antique Wooden Chairs

Materials

Wood

Japanese Old Wabi-Sabi Little Wooden Stool /Chair/ Decoration Wooden Stand

Sold

H 8.67 in W 11.82 in D 5.63 in

Japanese Old Wabi-Sabi Little Wooden Stool /Chair/ Decoration Wooden Stand

Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba

chair that the Japanese craftsmen were sitting on when working. The material is made of oak or chestnut

Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Taisho Old Antique Wooden Chairs

Materials

Oak

Japanese Old Wooden Huge Long Bench / Long Chair / Wabi-Sabi Exhibition Stand

Sold

H 18.51 in W 78.75 in D 23.63 in

Japanese Old Wooden Huge Long Bench / Long Chair / Wabi-Sabi Exhibition Stand

Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba

It is a work table used in a woodworking factory in Japan. This is from 1950 to 1980. This was done by arranging two of the same items side by side and placing a board on them for wo...

Category

19th Century Japanese Showa Old Antique Wooden Chairs

Materials

Pine

Old Chinese Wooden Bench / the Republic of China Era / Wabi-Sabi / Mingei/Chair

Sold

H 20.08 in W 52.25 in D 13.39 in

Old Chinese Wooden Bench / the Republic of China Era / Wabi-Sabi / Mingei/Chair

Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba

It is an old bench with a Chinese design. Probably made during the Republic of China. Since it

Category

Late 19th Century Chinese Other Old Antique Wooden Chairs

Materials

Oak

Pair of Old Punjabi Handcrafted Wooden Tribal Wedding Chairs

Sold

H 30.32 in W 17.33 in D 19.69 in

Pair of Old Punjabi Handcrafted Wooden Tribal Wedding Chairs

Located in Leuven , BE

A pair of old Punjabi handcrafted wooden tribal wedding chairs with intricate woven rope seating

Category

Late 19th Century Indian Old Antique Wooden Chairs

Materials

Rope, Wood

Set of Six French Leather Barley Twist Dining Chairs, Circa 1920's

Sold

H 42.25 in W 19.5 in D 21.5 in

Set of Six French Leather Barley Twist Dining Chairs, Circa 1920's

Located in BENSENVILLE, IL

Set of (6) circa 1920's leather covered French barley twist dining chairs. Old fashion wooden peg

Category

Early 20th Century French Old Antique Wooden Chairs

Materials

Leather

Old Japanese Wooden Stool / Early 20th Century / Square Chair / Mingei

Sold

H 17.92 in W 20.67 in D 8.27 in

Old Japanese Wooden Stool / Early 20th Century / Square Chair / Mingei

Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba

We have a unique Japanese aesthetic sense. And only we can introduce unique items through our purchasing channels in Japan and the experience we have gained so far, in such a way th...

Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Taisho Old Antique Wooden Chairs

Materials

Cedar

Japanese old wooden stool/1868-1920/Wabi-sabi chair/Mingei/Meiji-Showa

Sold

H 14.77 in W 18.9 in D 10.44 in

Japanese old wooden stool/1868-1920/Wabi-sabi chair/Mingei/Meiji-Showa

Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba

I would like to introduce a very nice stool. This is a wooden stool made in Japan from the Meiji to

Category

Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Old Antique Wooden Chairs

Materials

Cedar

Japanese Old Wooden Stool 1860s-1900s/Antique Chair Stand Object Wabisabi-Art

Sold

H 14.77 in W 18.12 in D 11.82 in

Japanese Old Wooden Stool 1860s-1900s/Antique Chair Stand Object Wabisabi-Art

Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba

It is an old Japanese stool. It is an item from the Meiji era. (1860s-1900s) The material is

Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Old Antique Wooden Chairs

Materials

Cedar

Japanese Old Wooden Stool / 1900-1950 / Beautiful Chair Made of Cedar Wood

Sold

H 16.5 in W 13.31 in D 8.43 in

Japanese Old Wooden Stool / 1900-1950 / Beautiful Chair Made of Cedar Wood

Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba

We are introducing old Japanese items that are likely to be available and are surprisingly

Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Showa Old Antique Wooden Chairs

Materials

Cedar

Japanese Old Wooden Stool 1900-1945/Antique Chair Stand Stepping Stone/Mingei

Sold

H 24.02 in W 17.72 in D 15.16 in

Japanese Old Wooden Stool 1900-1945/Antique Chair Stand Stepping Stone/Mingei

Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba

We have a unique Japanese aesthetic sense. And only we can introduce unique items through our purchasing channels in Japan and the experience we have gained so far, in such a way th...

Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Old Antique Wooden Chairs

Materials

Cedar

Rustic Wabi-Sabi Japanese Old Black Wooden Stool / Chair / Mingei / 1926-1960

Sold

H 19.1 in W 10.63 in D 10.04 in

Rustic Wabi-Sabi Japanese Old Black Wooden Stool / Chair / Mingei / 1926-1960

Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba

A simple Japanese stool made of cedar wood. It's lighter than it looks, so it's very easy to move. You can sit without problems, but if you move your weight from side to side, it...

Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Showa Old Antique Wooden Chairs

Materials

Cedar

Japanese old wooden stool/19th to 20th century/Meiji-Showa period/WabiSabi chair

Sold

H 12.21 in W 11.82 in D 10.63 in

Japanese old wooden stool/19th to 20th century/Meiji-Showa period/WabiSabi chair

Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba

This is a wooden stool made from the Meiji period to the early Showa period in Japan. It is thought

Category

19th Century Japanese Meiji Old Antique Wooden Chairs

Materials

Cedar

Basque Chair

Sold

Basque Chair

Located in New York, NY

Old wooden Basque chair

Category

Early 20th Century French Old Antique Wooden Chairs

Materials

Wood

Basque Chair

Sold

Basque Chair

Located in New York, NY

Old wooden Basque chair

Category

Early 20th Century French Old Antique Wooden Chairs

Materials

Wood

Rare Pair of Old Hickory Cabin Chairs

Sold

H 33.13 in W 43 in D 36 in

Rare Pair of Old Hickory Cabin Chairs

By Old Hickory Furniture Company

Located in Bridgehampton, NY

Rare pair of Old Hickory wooden cabin chairs with great presence. Cushions are new in muslin, ready

Category

Early 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Old Antique Wooden Chairs

Materials

Upholstery, Hickory

Very Old Gothic Style Chair with Carved Animal Heads

Sold

H 41 in W 21.5 in D 18.75 in

Very Old Gothic Style Chair with Carved Animal Heads

Located in Charlevoix, MI

An incredibly old carved wooden chair with Gothic tracery back, dating from the early 1600s or

Category

17th Century European Gothic Old Antique Wooden Chairs

Materials

Oak

Vintage Spanish Rush Seat Chair, Wicker and turned wood Castillian Chair

Sold

H 39.38 in W 16.54 in D 14.97 in

Vintage Spanish Rush Seat Chair, Wicker and turned wood Castillian Chair

Located in PEGO, Alicante

comfortable ladder style rounded back, old wooden dining chairs, these are very prominent and authentic

Category

Early 20th Century Spanish Old Antique Wooden Chairs

Materials

Rush, Hardwood

People Also Browsed

Shagreen Bedside Tables & Side Tables, Cream Color Shagreen & Palm Wood, Order

$9,950 / set

H 24 in W 19.75 in D 19.75 in

Shagreen Bedside Tables & Side Tables, Cream Color Shagreen & Palm Wood, Order

By R & Y Augousti

Located in New York, NY

Decorative shagreen bedside tables or side tables with two drawers. The side tables have palm wood inside the opening. Shagreen is made of stingray, a very beautiful material. They...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Old Antique Wooden Chairs

Materials

Shagreen, Palmwood

Crackle Textured Handmade Ceramic Mushroom Lamp, Blue

$1,250 / item

H 16 in W 11.5 in D 11.5 in

Crackle Textured Handmade Ceramic Mushroom Lamp, Blue

By Ethan Streicher, Streicher Goods

Located in Brooklyn, NY

Every mushroom lamp is hand-made and hand-painted by Ethan Streicher, the founder and designer behind the Streicher Goods brand in Brooklyn, NY. The lamp's silhouette is simple and c...

Category

2010s American Mid-Century Modern Old Antique Wooden Chairs

Materials

Brass

Custom Made Modern English Arm Sofa in Performance Linen Velvet - 86"

$4,900 / item

H 34 in W 86 in D 42 in

Custom Made Modern English Arm Sofa in Performance Linen Velvet - 86"

By Bloom Home Inc

Located in Old Town Orange, CA

This beautiful english arm sofa has a modern twist, with its single bench cushion, and beautiful curved apron sides. It’s upholstered in a Linen Velvet Performance fabric. Shown in...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Old Antique Wooden Chairs

Materials

Linen, Velvet

18th Century Chinoiserie Lacquered Table Mirror

$780

H 15.36 in W 9.06 in D 1.19 in

18th Century Chinoiserie Lacquered Table Mirror

Located in LA CIOTAT, FR

This unusual table-top 'Psyche' table mirror dates from the 18th century, its wooden frame beautifully crafted from yellow-lacquered wood and decorated with hand-painted chinoiserie ...

Category

18th Century French Chinoiserie Old Antique Wooden Chairs

Materials

Mirror, Wood

Japanese Low Table, Wabi-sabi, 1920s, Japan

$1,000

H 13.98 in W 47.25 in D 47.25 in

Japanese Low Table, Wabi-sabi, 1920s, Japan

Located in Tokyo, Tokyo

The antique low table, that was crafted from old Japanese wood. The top panel has been roughly shaved and showcases various marks and scratches that tell a story of its history. It...

Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Old Antique Wooden Chairs

Materials

Wood

'900 Style Wooden Desk in Cherrywood by Morelato

$6,520 / item

H 30.71 in W 63 in D 31.5 in

'900 Style Wooden Desk in Cherrywood by Morelato

By Morelato

Located in Salizzole, IT

Flaminia is a '900 style writing desk made of cherrywood with 7 drawers.

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Old Antique Wooden Chairs

Materials

Cherry

Contemporary Checker Patterned Ceramic Mushroom Lamp, Cream

$1,150 / item

H 16 in W 11 in D 11 in

Contemporary Checker Patterned Ceramic Mushroom Lamp, Cream

By Ethan Streicher, Streicher Goods

Located in Brooklyn, NY

Every mushroom lamp is hand-made and hand-painted by Ethan Streicher, the founder and designer behind the Streicher Goods brand in Brooklyn, NY. The lamp's silhouette is simple and c...

Category

2010s American Mid-Century Modern Old Antique Wooden Chairs

Materials

Brass

Soda Blown Murano Glass High Coffee Table in Petrol by Yiannis Ghikas

$2,000Sale Price / item|20% Off

H 17.72 in Dm 14.97 in

Soda Blown Murano Glass High Coffee Table in Petrol by Yiannis Ghikas

By Miniforms, Yiannis Ghikas

Located in Brooklyn, NY

Soda was born upside-down, with a puff of air. It weighs 20 kilos, and it is blown, drawn out and shaped by three master glassmakers. The result is a single volume of glass with thre...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Old Antique Wooden Chairs

Materials

Blown Glass

LU Swing Sconce Plug-In

$1,800 / item

H 15 in W 5 in D 25.75 in

LU Swing Sconce Plug-In

By Lumfardo Luminaires

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Beautiful plug-in version of our Lumfardo Luminaires brass LU swing sconce in patinated brass. Wired with an E26 medium based socket. Light bulb provided as well as all mounting hard...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Old Antique Wooden Chairs

Materials

Brass

Pair of Brutalist Chairs

$2,850Sale Price / set|25% Off

H 36.23 in W 18.51 in D 16.93 in

Pair of Brutalist Chairs

By Pierre Chapo

Located in Brooklyn, NY

Very nice sculpted rustic chairs in plain wood. Close to the work of Chapo.

Category

Mid-20th Century French Brutalist Old Antique Wooden Chairs

Materials

Elm

Japanese Antique BK Small Drawer 1860s-1900s / Tansu Storage Wabisabi

$550

H 17.33 in W 16.34 in D 12.8 in

Japanese Antique BK Small Drawer 1860s-1900s / Tansu Storage Wabisabi

Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba

Very old Japanese small drawer. This furniture is from the Meiji period (1860s-1900s). It is made of cedar wood. The drawer is tasteful, rustic, simple and beautiful. There is no wa...

Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Old Antique Wooden Chairs

Materials

Cedar

Brutalist Wabi Sabi Coffee Table, France, 1950s

Sold|~~$3,300~~

H 14.57 in W 46.86 in D 24.41 in

Brutalist Wabi Sabi Coffee Table, France, 1950s

Located in Antwerp, BE

This rustic brutalist coffee table captures the raw beauty of minimalist design with its bold, two-legged base and solid wood construction. The rectangular surface offers generous sp...

Category

1950s French Brutalist Old Antique Wooden Chairs

Materials

Wood

Japanese Antique Small Chest of Drawers, Meiji Era '1868–1912', Wabi Sabi

$1,100

H 23.82 in W 24.41 in D 13.39 in

Japanese Antique Small Chest of Drawers, Meiji Era '1868–1912', Wabi Sabi

Located in Hitachiomiya-shi, 08

This antique small chest of drawers was crafted in the Meiji Era (1868-1912). Its compact size makes it an ideal addition to any space, offering both practicality and unique charac...

Category

Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Old Antique Wooden Chairs

Materials

Cedar

20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Birchwood Room Divider - Vintage Screen

$8,900

H 72 in W 77.5 in D 13 in

20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Birchwood Room Divider - Vintage Screen

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

A sculptural, vintage Mid-Century modern Danish room divider made of hand crafted polished Birchwood, in good condition. The large Scandinavian screen has two adjustable, flexible wa...

Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Old Antique Wooden Chairs

Materials

Metal, Chrome

Pair of Vintage Art Deco Style Green Moroccan Upholstered Stools

On Hold|~~$500 / set~~

H 17 in Dm 18 in

Pair of Vintage Art Deco Style Green Moroccan Upholstered Stools

Located in Moreno Valley, CA

Pair of Art Deco Style jade green and gold Moroccan style stools. Pair of modern Contemporary round Moroccan Moorish style stool in lime green fabric upholstery in 1970s style. Art...

Category

20th Century American Art Deco Old Antique Wooden Chairs

Materials

Fabric

Wooden Low Table, Japanese Antique, Wabi-Sabi, Mingei

$1,000

H 6.5 in W 37.41 in D 15.36 in

Wooden Low Table, Japanese Antique, Wabi-Sabi, Mingei

Located in Katori-Shi, 12

This low table was loved by craftsmen as a "workbench" during the Meiji period. The wood grain, which has deepened with age, is reminiscent of the warm lifestyle of that time. A cu...

Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Old Antique Wooden Chairs

Materials

Wood

Seating Under $2,000

Antique and Vintage Seating

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Old Antique Wooden Chairs For Sale on 1stDibs

At 1stDibs, there are several options of old antique wooden chairs available for sale. Each of these unique old antique wooden chairs was constructed with extraordinary care, often using wood, cedar and oak. Old antique wooden chairs have been produced for many years, with earlier versions available from the 19th Century and newer variations made as recently as the 20th Century.

How Much are Old Antique Wooden Chairs?

The average selling price for at 1stDibs is $900, while they’re typically $600 on the low end and $3,280 highest priced.

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.

Questions About Old Antique Wooden Chairs

How can you tell how old an antique chair is?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertOctober 24, 2024
To tell how old an antique chair is, you have a few options. One is to conduct research on your own using trusted online resources and print references from your local library. If your chair has a maker's mark, learning more about the company, artisan or workshop that produced it can be a good starting point. Dating unmarked chairs can be more difficult because certain styles remained in production for long periods. In this case, you may wish to have a certified appraiser or knowledgeable antique dealer evaluate your chair for you. Shop a wide range of antique chairs on 1stDibs.

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