Bench With Folding Foot
Antique 1830s French Benches
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century Political and Patriotic Memorabilia
Canvas
People Also Browsed
Antique Early 1900s French French Provincial Benches
Pine, Paint
Antique Late 19th Century French Gothic Revival Benches
Oak
Antique Late 19th Century French Industrial Sideboards
Beech
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Benches
Fabric, Beech
Antique 19th Century French Paintings
Wood
Antique Early 19th Century French Charles X Architectural Elements
Stone, Copper
Early 20th Century British Sports Equipment and Memorabilia
Hickory
Early 20th Century American Modern Contemporary Art
Canvas, Paint
Antique Mid-19th Century English Early Victorian Paintings
Paper
Antique 18th Century French Louis XV Benches
Giltwood
Antique Mid-19th Century English Victorian Benches
Mahogany
Vintage 1930s French Mid-Century Modern Benches
Wood
Vintage 1960s Benches
Wood
Antique Early 19th Century English George III Books
Paper
Vintage 1930s French Mid-Century Modern Benches
Wood
Antique Mid-19th Century English Early Victorian Taxidermy
Glass, Plaster, Pine
Recent Sales
Early 20th Century American Industrial Benches
Iron
Mid-20th Century Benches
Antique 19th Century French Benches
Early 20th Century English Regency Patio and Garden Furniture
Iron, Metal
Late 20th Century Ottomans and Poufs
Early 20th Century American Industrial Benches
Iron
Early 20th Century American Industrial Benches
Iron
Antique Late 19th Century Benches
Vintage 1970s American Hollywood Regency Ottomans and Poufs
Faux Leather, Laminate
Antique Mid-19th Century English Campaign Chaise Longues
Mahogany, Cane
Late 20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Patio and Garden Furniture
Beech
Vintage 1920s French Gothic Revival Blanket Chests
Oak
Late 20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Patio and Garden Furniture
Beech
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.
- 1stDibs ExpertOctober 19, 2021A bench at the foot of a bed is called a bedroom bench or an end-of-bed bench. It has many uses — it can be a place to keep a folded blanket or bedspread or a surface to keep your robe or sleepwear ready for bedtime. Shop a range of vintage and antique bedroom benches on 1stDibs.
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