1960’s MCM Chelsea Arkana Safari Chair Maurice Burke Cognac Faux Leather & Teak
By Maurice Burke, Arkana Furniture
Located in Topeka, KS
This is a SPECTACULAR vintage safari lounge chair model “Chelsea” designed by Maurice Burke for Arkana Furniture!
Metal
Mid-Century Arkana Teak & Steel Safari Chair & Ottoman, Maurice Burke 1970s
By Arkana Furniture, Maurice Burke
Located in Reading, Berkshire
Mid-Century Maurice Burke For Arkana Teak & Steel Safari Chair & Matching Footstool In Turquoise Upholstery With Branded "Arkana" Logo Under Chair Seat And Under Footstool Seat Ma...
Steel
Unavailable
H 28 in W 25 in D 25 in
Original Vintage Mid-century Arkana Black and Teak Safari Chair by Maurice Burke
By Maurice Burke, Arkana Furniture
Located in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire
An original arkana black and teak safari chair by Maurice Burke.
Metal
Mid-Century Safari Chair by Maurice Burke for Arkana
By Maurice Burke
Located in London, GB
An original safari chair designed by Maurice Burke for Arkana.
Faux Leather
Pair of Arkana Safari Chairs by Maurice Burke
By Maurice Burke, Arkana Furniture
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration a pair of Arkana Safari Chairs designed by Maurice Burke.
Metal
Arkana Safari Lounge Chair by Maurice Burke, 1970
By Maurice Burke, Arkana Furniture
Located in Ludwigslust, DE
Canadian designer Maurice Burke designed this model in the 1970s for the Scottish manufacturer Arkana. During this period, Burke and Arkana produced several mid-century icons, such a...
Faux Leather, Teak
Arkana Safari lounge chair by Maurice Burke, 1970
By Maurice Burke, Arkana Furniture
Located in Ludwigslust, DE
Burke and Arkana created several design classics during this period – this Safari chair is undoubtedly one of the most sought-after pieces for lovers of iconic mid-century design.
Faux Leather
Maurice Burke Designed Arkana Safari Chair and Ottoman
By Maurice Burke, Arkana Furniture
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Maurice Burkedesigned Arkana chair and ottoman. Never seen with the ottoman before! Super comfortable and easy to move around any space! Solid Teak Legs with metal tubular runners. E...
Metal, Brass
Maurice Burke For Arkana "Safari" Lounge Chair and Ottoman
By Arkana Furniture
Located in Chicago, IL
1960′s modernist lounge chair with matching ottoman designed by Maurice Burke for Arkana Furniture. Solid teak wood legs with lacquered steel stretchers and machined large head screw...
Steel
Sold
H 27.17 in W 25.6 in D 27.17 in
1960s Pair of Maurice Burke for Arkana Safari Campaign Lounge Chairs Black
By Maurice Burke, Arkana Furniture
Located in Sherborne, Dorset
These stunning Safari sling lounge chairs, are early examples of the “Chelsea” model, designed by Maurice Burke in the 1960s for Arkana.
Steel
Sold
H 27.5 in W 24.63 in D 26.5 in
1970s Arkana Safari Sling Teak Lounge Chair by Maurice Burke in Black Leather
By Arkana Furniture, Sergio Rodrigues, Maurice Burke
Located in Chattanooga, TN
Classic and iconic Chelsea Safari Chair designed by Maurice Burke for Arkana Furniture in Scotland.
Leather, Teak
Pair of Safari Chairs by Maurice Burke for Arkana
By Maurice Burke, Arkana Furniture
Located in Houston, TX
Pair of Arkana Safari Chairs designed by Maurice Burke. Chairs are freshly upholstered in a luxe grey Spinneybeck leather.
Maurice Burke Safari Chelsea Lounge Chairs Arkana, United Kingdom, 1970
By Maurice Burke, Arkana Furniture
Located in Etten-Leur, NL
Stunning safari Chelsea lounge chairs designed by Maurice Burke for Arkana, Bath England 1970s.
Chrome
Pair of Black Leather “Safari” Chairs by Maurice Burke for Arkana
By Arkana Furniture, Maurice Burke
Located in New York, NY
Wonderful pair of vintage teak wood and faux black leather 'Safari' arm chairs supported on black metal frames, designed by Maurice Burke for British furniture manufacturer Arkana, c...
Faux Leather, Teak
Pair Safari Chairs and Ottoman by Maurice Burke for Arkana, 1970's
By Arkana Furniture, Maurice Burke
Located in Buffalo, NY
Pair Safari chairs and ottoman By Maurice Burke for Arkana 1970's.
Naugahyde, Teak
Sold
H 27.17 in W 25.6 in D 27.17 in
1960s Black Faux Leather Teak Safari Lounge Chair by Maurice Burke for Arkana UK
By Arkana Furniture, Maurice Burke
Located in Sherborne, Dorset
Stunning Safari lounge chair, “Chelsea” model, designed by Maurice Burke in the 1960s for Arkana.
Steel
Maurice Burke for safari Arkana chair mid-century modern
By Maurice Burke
Located in Oxford, GB
Fantastic vintage Chelsea Safari Chair designed by Maurice Burke for Arkana Furniture wearing its original avocado green faux super rare colour leather or vinyl with a teak frame, tu...
Chrome
Arkana Safari Lounge Chair Maurice Burke, 1970s
By Arkana Furniture, Maurice Burke
Located in Den Haag, NL
Very nice lounge chair. Black wooden frame, comes with a black faux leather upholstery. Very good sitting comfort. Design by Maurice Burke for Arkana England. 1970s.
Faux Leather
Pair of Arkana Safari Lounge Chairs, 1970's
By Maurice Burke, Arkana Furniture
Located in Belmont, MA
Stunning pair of safari chairs designed by Maurice Burke in Bath England, 1970s. These black safari chairs are upholstered in a black marine grade vegan leather and are accented wit...
Leather, Teak
Arkana Safari Lounge Chair, 1970s by Maurice Burke
By Maurice Burke, Arkana Furniture
Located in Culver City, CA
Available right now we have this stunning safari chair designed by Maurice Burke in Bath England, 1970s. This black safari chair is upholstered in a black marine grade vegan leather ...
Teak
Sold
H 27 in W 25 in D 24 in
1970s Arkana Safari Sling Lounge Chair by Maurice Burke in New Cowhide Leather
By Maurice Burke, Arkana Furniture, Sergio Rodrigues
Located in Chattanooga, TN
Our restoration team has raised the bar for the Safari chair. Not only did we go with new, authentic cowhide leather, but the frame has been repainted to match the original black sat...
Cowhide
Pair of Black “Safari” Chairs by Maurice Burke for Arkana
By Maurice Burke, Arkana Furniture
Located in Miami, FL
Original vintage black eco leather and teak wood "Safari" chairs designed by Maurice Burke for Arkana.
Steel
Sold
H 28.75 in W 24.81 in D 25.2 in
Pair of Mid-Century Modern Safari Armchair by Maurice Burke for Arkana, 1960s
By Arkana Furniture, Maurice Burke
Located in Zagreb, HR
Rare edition vintage Safari chairs designed by Maurice Burke for Arkana Furniture, wearing their original red faux leather or vinyl with a coloured teak frame, tubular chrome metal r...
Metal
Pair of Mid-Century Modern Safari Chairs by Maurice Burke for Arkana
By Maurice Burke
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Stylish vintage modern lounge chairs by Maurice Burke for Arkana make an excellent addition to home or office. Modernist lounge chair with solid teak frames upholstered in heavy blac...
PVC, Teak, Faux Leather
Set of Arkana safari chairs by Maurice Burke, Scotland 1970s
By Arkana Furniture, Maurice Burke
Located in Antwerpen, VAN
Elevate your space with this distinguished set of two cognac leather Safari Chairs by Maurice Burke for Arkana. Designed to capture the essence of adventure and sophistication, these...
Leather, Oak
Arkana Four Safari Chairs and Stool
By Arkana Furniture
Located in London, GB
Arkana Safari chairs and foot stool. A set of four chairs and foot stool.
Leather
Chelsea Safari Chair by Maurice Burke for Arkana, 1960s
By Arkana Furniture, Maurice Burke
Located in Warsaw, PL
This Chelsea chair was designed by Maurice Burke and manufactured by the Arkana factory in Falkirk, Scotland, during the 1960s.
Teak
Chelsea Safari Chair by Maurice Burke for Arkana, 1960s
By Arkana Furniture, Maurice Burke
Located in Warsaw, PL
This Chelsea chair was designed by Maurice Burke and manufactured by the Arkana factory in Falkirk, Scotland, during the 1960s.
Teak
Pair of 1970 Black Safari Chairs by Maurice Burke for Arkana
By Arkana Furniture, Maurice Burke
Located in Geneva, CH
Set of two "Chelsea" chairs in black leatherette, designed by Maurice Burke in the 1970s. Very comfortable and sturdy pieces, it is a Classic design now.
Metal
Vintage Red Safari Armchair for Maurice Burke Arkana
By Maurice Burke
Located in Princeton Junction, NJ
Beautiful vibrant red Safari arm chair by Maurice Burke for Arkana.
Leather, Wood
Black Vinyl Safari Chair by Maurice Burke for Arkana, 1980s
By Arkana Furniture, Maurice Burke
Located in London, GB
Black vinyl safari chair on metal frame designed by Maurice Burke for British furniture manufacturer Arkana in the 1980s.
Metal
Sold
H 28.35 in W 25.2 in D 25.99 in
Pair of Safari Chair Lounge Chairs by Maurice Burke for Arkana, 1960s
By Arkana Furniture, Maurice Burke
Located in Udenhout, Noord Brabant
A pair of Safari lounge chairs designed by Maurice Burke for Arkana in the 1960s.
Leather, Rosewood
$3,595 / set
H 28.5 in W 28 in D 30.25 in
Restored Mid Century Danish Modern Lounge Chair & Ottoman by Ib Kofod Larsen
By Ib Kofod-Larsen
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Totally restored Mid century lounge chair with adjustable ottoman foot rest attributed to Ib Kofod-Larsen. All new fabric with new foam on both pieces. Vintage retro looking fabric i...
Steel
Mart Stam S34 Dining Armchair in Cognac Saddle Leather, 1970s
By Mart Stam, Fasem International
Located in Pijnacker, Zuid-Holland
Mart Stam S34 dining armchair by Fasem – Italy, circa 1960-70. Designer: Mart Stam Manufacturer: Fasem Country: Italy Model: S34 arm dining chair Color: Tan cognac saddle leather ...
Chrome
Abel Gonzalez Sling Safari Chair in Cognac Leather
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Abel Gonzalez, sling safari chair, wood, leather, brass, Argentina, 1960s. This safari chair by the Argentinian designer Abel Gonzalez is based on a proportioned layout. Straight li...
Brass
$4,400 / set
H 27.17 in W 28.35 in D 26.78 in
Pair of Scandinavian Easy Chairs with Teak and Leather by Westnofa, 1960s
By Westnofa Furniture
Located in Rosendahl, DE
Beautiful "Scandinavian Modern" easy chairs, by Westnofa, made in the 1960s. The chairs are made from teak and high quality aniline leather and come fully restored.
Leather, Teak
Mid-Century Modern Walnut Lounge Chairs, USA, 1950s
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Elevate your living space with this exquisite pair of mid-century modern lounge chairs, handcrafted in the USA. Built upon sturdy oak frames with a refined walnut stain, these chairs...
Fabric, Walnut
$3,495 / set
H 33 in W 27 in D 27.5 in
Pair of Mid-Century Modern Walnut w Knoll Fabric Cushions on Baumritter Frames
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fantastic pair of Mid-Century Modern Sculptural Walnut Lounge Chairs by Baumritter reupholstered with Knoll fabric. New webbing to support cushions. Walnut was lightly restored and l...
Fabric, Walnut
$1,885 / set
H 30 in W 27 in D 29 in
Vintage Teak Lounge Chair + Ottoman by Rolf Rastad + Adolf Relling for Westnofa
By Adolf Relling and Rolf Rastad, Westnofa Furniture, Adolf Relling, Rolf Rastad
Located in Decatur, GA
Vintage sculptural old growth teak lounge chair and ottoman by Rolf Rastad and Adolf Relling for Westnofa, circa 1960s. All original and in excellent condition. Original turquoise an...
Wool, Teak
Safari Chair by Kaare Klindt in Cognac Leather
By Kaare Klint, Rud Rasmussen
Located in Karlstad, SE
Classic Safari chair by Kaare Klindt, manufactured by Rud Rasmusen, Denmark. This chair shows perfect original patina on the leather. Condition: The leather is well taken care of an...
Leather, Ash
$2,607 / set
H 24.41 in W 30.12 in D 28.75 in
Pair of Mid Century Modern Teak Lounge Chairs in Wool Bouclé, 1960s
Located in Rødding, DK
A pair of Danish teak lounge chairs, 1960s. Solid teak frames with a clean, open construction that reads well from every angle — the joinery is precise and the proportions are well-r...
Fabric, Teak
$3,200
H 29.14 in W 27.17 in D 29.93 in
Pair of Mid-Century Scandinavian Teak Lounge Chair Armchair, Denmark, 1960
By Grete Jalk
Located in Saarbruecken, DE
Mid-century teak lounge chair armchair, Denmark 1960. Set of 2 ! New uoholstery in torquois blue.
Fabric, Teak
$50,000 / set
H 23.25 in W 20.5 in D 25.5 in
Pierre Jeanneret, French Mid-Century, Kangaroo Chairs, Teak, Cane, India, 1960s
By Pierre Jeanneret
Located in Stamford, CT
Pierre Jeanneret, French Mid-Century, Kangaroo Chairs, Teak, Cane, India, 1960s Pierre Jeanneret 'Kangourou' chairs, Model PJ-SI-59-A. Chic and stylish lounge or slipper chair by Pi...
Cane, Teak
Mid-Century Modern Wood and Cognac Leather Safari Armchair
Located in Austin, TX
A handsome mid-century safari-style armchair combining a warm wood frame with beautifully aged cognac leather. The chair is constructed with turned and gently shaped wooden uprights ...
Leather, Wood
$36,614
H 29.53 in W 31.5 in D 30.32 in
Easy Chair in Teak and Original Cognac Leather by Ib Kofod-Larsen, 1950s
By Ib Kofod-Larsen, OPE Möbler
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Easy Chair in Teak and Original Cognac Leather by Ib Kofod-Larsen Additional Information: Material: Teak and original cognac leather Style: Mid century, Scandinavian Easy chair mode...
Leather, Teak
$2,150
H 33 in W 26 in D 24 in
1950s American Modern MCM Solid Walnut & Naugahyde Armchair by Gunlocke
By Gunlocke
Located in San Diego, CA
Rare Mid-Century Modern Walnut Lounge Chair by Gunlocke – Original Naugahyde Upholstery A rare and elegant Mid-Century Modern lounge chair by Gunlocke, beautifully crafted with scul...
Naugahyde, Walnut
Mid-Century Lounge Chair and Matching Ottoman By Dyrlund
By Dyrlund
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Elegant mid-century modern lounge chair and matching ottoman by Dyrlund, showcasing exceptional Danish craftsmanship and timeless Scandinavian design. The chair and ottoman feature b...
Teak
$2,604Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 39 in W 27 in D 32 in
Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chair & Ottoman by Westnofa, Teak, 1970s
By Westnofa Furniture
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Beautiful vintage modern lounge chair and ottoman with sculpted teak frames and elegant plush blue upholstery. Sleek design offers the ability for both pieces to recline for optimal ...
Upholstery, Teak
Bertu Counter Stools, White Oak Counter Stool, Chile Stool
By Bertu Furniture
Located in Oak Harbor, OH
Bertu Counter Stools, White Oak Counter Stool, Chile Stool This White Oak Chile Counter Stool is beautifully constructed from solid wood in Ohio, USA. The stool is chunky and modern...
Wood, Oak
Modern Counter Stools in Walnut, Cicely Collection
By Bertu Furniture
Located in Oak Harbor, OH
These walnut counter height cicely stools are beautifully constructed from solid walnut in Ohio, USA. This stool was style-spotted at the Spring 2022 High Point Market. These stools ...
Walnut
$2,503 / item
H 15.75 in Dm 21.66 in
Mustard Mohair Velvet Round Ottoman with Oak Feet, Modern UK Design
Located in London, England
Dagmar Design - Round Ottoman Custom-made ottoman developed & produced at our workshops in London using the highest quality materials. These examples are upholstered in a mustar...
Oak, Mohair, Velvet
$2,500 / item
H 17.72 in Dm 14.97 in
Soda Blown Murano Glass High Coffee Table in Petrol by Yiannis Ghikas
By Yiannis Ghikas, Miniforms
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...
Blown Glass
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...
Brass
$5,596 / set
H 24.01 in W 18.12 in D 14.18 in
Pair of Park Night Stands in Iroko Wood by Yaniv Chen for Lemon
By Lemon
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Structure: Made from Iroko veneer with solid oak edging, the Park Nightstand is finished with matching veneer on both the exterior and interior. The inside includes an adjustable she...
Wood
Argentine Designer, Lounge Chair, Wood, Leather, Argentina, 1970s
Located in High Point, NC
A wood and brown leather lounge chair designed and produced in Argentina, c. 1970s. Wear consistent with age and use. Overall Dimensions (inches): 25.5"H x 27.65"W x 32.0"D Seat H...
Leather, Wood
Jindřich Halabala Art Deco 'Tulip' Stool in Floral Tapestry, 1930s
By Up Závody, Jindřich Halabala
Located in Prague, New Town
Art Deco 'Tulip' stool, designed by Jindřich Halabala. Produced by Spojené UP závody Brno, Czechoslovakia, 1930s. Recently reupholstered in floral tapestry. Dimensions: Height: 44 c...
Fabric, Tapestry, Wood
$185 / item
H 34.5 in W 14.5 in D 17 in
Large Group of Cafe Chairs from Old Time Saratoga NY Adelphi Hotel
Located in New York, NY
46 ice cream style cafe chairs, originally from the landmark Adelphi Hotel in Saratoga NY. Hand-wrought iron frame with upholstered pad seat, seats show some wear, normal and consist...
Wrought Iron
$5,600
H 25.5 in W 81.13 in D 19.5 in
Sling Sofa in Steel and Bouclé by Bruce Hannah and Andrew Morrison for Knoll
By Bruce Hannah & Andrew Morrison, Knoll
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Vintage three-seat armless sofa in charcoal bouclé with an off-white powder-coated steel frame designed by Bruce Hannah and Andrew Morrison for Knoll (1971, New York, NY USA). The de...
Steel
$2,256
H 13 in Dm 17.33 in L 13 in
Substantial Brass Pendant Light by Svend Aage Holm Sorensen, 1960s, Denmark
By Holm Sørensen, Svend Aage Holm Sørensen
Located in Værløse, DK
Substantial Brutalist brass pendant light designed by Svend Aage Holm Sørensen in the 1960s. * Large pendant light with layered flame-cut brass slats * Designer: Svend Aage Holm Sør...
Brass
$3,250
H 37 in W 27 in D 27 in
Scandinavian Danish black leather Safari sling lounge chair with ottoman
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Scandinavian Modernist safari chair with a teak frame featuring sculpted arms straight rounded stretchers and straight round supports. Has a thick black leather sling seat and a matc...
Leather, Teak
$13,425Sale Price / set|25% Off
H 26.75 in W 32.25 in D 22 in
Børge Mogensen Vintage Pair of Spanish Chairs Oak Leather, Denmark, 1960s
By Fredericia Stolefabrik, Børge Mogensen
Located in Vienna, AT
Pair of vintage Spanish chairs with newly upholsterd vachetta leather- by Børge Mogensen, Denmark, Fredericia Stolefabrik, labelled, midcentury. A pair of labelled Børge Mogensen's ...
Leather, Oak
$2,810 / set
H 27.17 in W 22.45 in D 25.6 in
Art Deco Bauhaus Lounge Chairs by Erich Dieckmann, Germany, 1930
By Erich Dieckmann
Located in Almelo, NL
Art Deco Bauhaus Lounge Chairs by Erich Dieckmann, Germany, 1930 This stunning pair of Art Deco Bauhaus lounge chairs, designed by the renowned Erich Dieckmann (1896-1944), exemplif...
Cane, Beech
$12,976 / item
H 49.22 in Dm 70.87 in
Brass and Parchment Paper Chandelier by Diego Mardegan for Glustin Luminaires
By Diego Mardegan
Located in Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine, IDF
Impressive chandelier made of white enameled brass arms holding six beautiful parchment paper shades, which can be adjusted thanks to the handle of each socket. Signed by the arti...
Brass
$2,485
H 27.5 in W 25 in D 24.7 in
Early Karin Mobring Model Cognac Leather Safari Lounge Chair Vintage Ikea, 1970s
Located in Lisse, NL
Beautiful design and amazing original condition chair. The design and the look and feel of this rare chair reminded me of what someone once taught me about good sculptures, "they lo...
Leather, Wood, Pine
Organically shaped, clean-lined and elegantly simple are three terms that well describe vintage mid-century modern furniture. The style, which emerged primarily in the years following World War II, is characterized by pieces that were conceived and made in an energetic, optimistic spirit by creators who believed that good design was an essential part of good living.
ORIGINS OF MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN
CHARACTERISTICS OF MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN
MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNERS TO KNOW
ICONIC MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNS
VINTAGE MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE ON 1STDIBS
The mid-century modern era saw leagues of postwar American architects and designers animated by new ideas and new technology. The lean, functionalist International-style architecture of Le Corbusier and Bauhaus eminences Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Walter Gropius had been promoted in the United States during the 1930s by Philip Johnson and others. New building techniques, such as “post-and-beam” construction, allowed the International-style schemes to be realized on a small scale in open-plan houses with long walls of glass.
Materials developed for wartime use became available for domestic goods and were incorporated into mid-century modern furniture designs. Charles and Ray Eames and Eero Saarinen, who had experimented extensively with molded plywood, eagerly embraced fiberglass for pieces such as the La Chaise and the Womb chair, respectively.
Architect, writer and designer George Nelson created with his team shades for the Bubble lamp using a new translucent polymer skin and, as design director at Herman Miller, recruited the Eameses, Alexander Girard and others for projects at the legendary Michigan furniture manufacturer.
Harry Bertoia and Isamu Noguchi devised chairs and tables built of wire mesh and wire struts. Materials were repurposed too: The Danish-born designer Jens Risom created a line of chairs using surplus parachute straps for webbed seats and backrests.
The Risom lounge chair was among the first pieces of furniture commissioned and produced by celebrated manufacturer Knoll, a chief influencer in the rise of modern design in the United States, thanks to the work of Florence Knoll, the pioneering architect and designer who made the firm a leader in its field. The seating that Knoll created for office spaces — as well as pieces designed by Florence initially for commercial clients — soon became desirable for the home.
As the demand for casual, uncluttered furnishings grew, more mid-century furniture designers caught the spirit.
Classically oriented creators such as Edward Wormley, house designer for Dunbar Inc., offered such pieces as the sinuous Listen to Me chaise; the British expatriate T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings switched gears, creating items such as the tiered, biomorphic Mesa table. There were Young Turks such as Paul McCobb, who designed holistic groups of sleek, blond wood furniture, and Milo Baughman, who espoused a West Coast aesthetic in minimalist teak dining tables and lushly upholstered chairs and sofas with angular steel frames.
Generations turn over, and mid-century modern remains arguably the most popular style going. As the collection of vintage mid-century modern chairs, dressers, coffee tables and other furniture for the living room, dining room, bedroom and elsewhere on 1stDibs demonstrates, this period saw one of the most delightful and dramatic flowerings of creativity in design history.
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.