Carolean Sofa
20th Century Sofas
Upholstery
Antique Late 19th Century English Charles II Settees
Velvet
Late 20th Century Indian Aesthetic Movement Indian Rugs
Wool
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21st Century and Contemporary Italian Rococo Pillows and Throws
Metallic Thread
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Classical Roman Stone Sinks
Carrara Marble
Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Garden Ornaments
Bronze
Antique 1890s German Dinner Plates
Porcelain
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Sofas
Walnut, Organic Material
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and...
Brass
Antique 18th Century English Georgian Sofas
Beech
Antique Early 19th Century Dutch Empire Sofas
Cotton, Mahogany
2010s British Louis XVI Beds and Bed Frames
Wood
2010s American Folk Art Figurative Sculptures
Steel
20th Century American Georgian Settees
Fabric, Wood
Late 20th Century Indian Modern Indian Rugs
Wool
Vintage 1920s British Art Deco Furniture
Velvet
Antique Late 18th Century French Side Chairs
Silk, Velvet, Giltwood
Antique 19th Century Georgian Sofas
Fabric, Wood
Early 20th Century English George III Sofas
Mahogany
Recent Sales
Early 20th Century English Sofas
Wood
Antique 19th Century Sofas
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis XIII Canapes
Upholstery, Oak
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.