Bobbin Ottoman
Early 20th Century Tudor Stools
Upholstery, Oak
20th Century English Tudor Benches
Brass
People Also Browsed
2010s French Modern Chairs
Oak
2010s American Flush Mount
Brass
2010s Table Lamps
Iron
2010s Austrian Jugendstil Chandeliers and Pendants
Silk
2010s American Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Mexican Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
Textile, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary American Bohemian Chandeliers and Pendants
Brass
Antique 19th Century Spanish Renaissance Revival Stools
Velvet, Walnut, Trimming, Wood
Antique 17th Century French Louis XIII Stools
Bouclé, Walnut
Antique Early 1900s English Baroque Revival Armchairs
Velvet
Antique 1890s English Late Victorian Benches
Oak
2010s American Benches
Oak
20th Century French Louis XV Stools
Velvet, Wood, Giltwood, Trimming
Antique 1680s English William and Mary Stools
Fabric, Beech
Antique 19th Century French Other Benches
Oak
Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Stools
Velvet, Oak
Recent Sales
Antique Late 19th Century English Ottomans and Poufs
Muslin, Upholstery, Wood
20th Century English Country Footstools
Fabric, Walnut
Early 20th Century English Benches
Wool, Mahogany
Early 20th Century French Lounge Chairs
Wood, Muslin
Antique 1850s French Louis XIII Armchairs
Tapestry, Walnut
Vintage 1960s British British Colonial Ottomans and Poufs
Leather, Mahogany
21st Century and Contemporary English Ottomans and Poufs
Antique 19th Century English Ottomans and Poufs
Walnut, Fabric
Vintage 1930s American Armchairs
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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This Chubby-Chic Quilted Stool Stands on Its Own Two Feet
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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.