Bullion Fringe Sofa
20th Century American Sofas
Velvet
21st Century and Contemporary American Sofas
Synthetic
21st Century and Contemporary American Sofas
Synthetic
Vintage 1980s Italian Classical Roman Sofas
Velvet
2010s American Benches
Fabric, Foam, Wood
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Settees
Upholstery
People Also Browsed
1990s North American Sofas
Upholstery
2010s American Modern Night Stands
Maple, Oak, Walnut
2010s French Other Wall Mirrors
Ceramic
21st Century and Contemporary European Neoclassical Benches
Iron
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Sectional Sofas
Velvet
21st Century and Contemporary Sofas
Linen, Foam, Down
Antique Late 18th Century Italian Neoclassical Bed Coronas
Wood, Giltwood
2010s Danish Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Oak
2010s Austrian Jugendstil Chandeliers and Pendants
Silk
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Modern End Tables
Wood
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Upholstery
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Upholstery, Walnut
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Fireplace Tools and Chimney Pots
Carrara Marble
2010s American Chinoiserie Wallpaper
Silk
20th Century English Country Sofas
Upholstery, Beech, Oak
Early 20th Century English Charles II Settees
Tapestry, Velvet
Recent Sales
21st Century and Contemporary Sofas
Fabric
20th Century Sofas
1950s Unknown Chinese Dresses
20th Century Hollywood Regency Sofas
Upholstery
Vintage 1970s European Mid-Century Modern Sectional Sofas
Velvet
21st Century and Contemporary American Hollywood Regency Sectional Sofas
Cotton, Wood, Velvet, Down
21st Century and Contemporary American Sofas
Upholstery
Late 20th Century American Chesterfield Sofas
Metal
20th Century American Modern Settees
Wood, Fabric
2010s English Victorian Settees
Velvet
Early 20th Century Indonesian Tribal Textiles
Silk
Vintage 1970s Central American Victorian Ottomans and Poufs
Damask
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Suede, Wood
Antique 19th Century French Sofas
Mohair, Upholstery
Early 20th Century English Sofas
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Russian Sofas
2010s American Sofas
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.
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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
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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.