Butterfly Settee
Antique 19th Century French Neoclassical Settees
Mahogany
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Settees
Fabric, Cherry
20th Century American Organic Modern Living Room Sets
Fabric, Wicker, Rattan, Wood
Antique 19th Century American Gothic Revival Benches
Walnut
Vintage 1940s Singaporean Loveseats
Mother-of-Pearl, Rosewood
Antique Early 1900s Benches
Hardwood
People Also Browsed
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Console Tables
Travertine, Marble, Brass
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Canapes
Mohair, Silk, Giltwood, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Center Tables
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Sofas
Metal
2010s Austrian Jugendstil Chandeliers and Pendants
Silk
2010s Belgian Modern Sofas
Linen
21st Century and Contemporary American Bohemian Chandeliers and Pendants
Brass
20th Century American Organic Modern Beds and Bed Frames
Metal
Mid-20th Century English Regency Planters and Jardinieres
Wicker, Pine
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Fabric, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Benches
Velvet, Wood, Ebony
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sectional Sofas
Chrome
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Sofas
Velvet, Wood
2010s British Scandinavian Modern Ottomans and Poufs
Sheepskin, Oak
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Brass
Recent Sales
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Settees
Leather, Teak
Antique 1860s European Napoleon III Sofas
Antique Early 1900s Chairs
Hardwood
20th Century Italian Sofas
Cotton, Linen, Bamboo, Rattan
Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Settees
Fabric
Vintage 1980s Sheraton Settees
Velvet, Cane, Wood
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Furniture
Marble
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Wood, Burl
20th Century Chinese Furniture
Wood
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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Learn Why Designer Maarten Baas Set This Charles Rennie Mackintosh Chair on Fire
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After years of diligent restoration, E-1027, the designer-cum-architect’s marriage of romance and modernism, is finally complete.