Carriage Stool
Antique Late 18th Century British Stools
Upholstery
Antique Mid-19th Century British Early Victorian Footstools
Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary German Modern Stools
Stainless Steel
21st Century and Contemporary German Modern Stools
Stainless Steel
Antique Late 19th Century English Regency Revival Footstools
Cane, Mahogany
Antique Mid-19th Century American Federal Fireplace Tools and Chimney Pots
Brass
Early 20th Century Modern Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Pencil
People Also Browsed
21st Century and Contemporary American Industrial Stools
Iron
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Benches
Fabric, Velvet, Lacquer, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Western European Rugs
Natural Fiber, Synthetic, Wool
2010s French Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Marble, Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Night Stands
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Art Deco Armchairs
Velvet, Foam, Plywood
2010s American Modern Stools
Steel
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Stools
Wood
2010s Portuguese Modern Armchairs
Bronze
Vintage 1960s Austrian Chinese Export Armchairs
Ceramic
21st Century and Contemporary Nepalese Modern Western European Rugs
Cotton
Mid-20th Century American Chinoiserie Stools
Brass
2010s Portuguese Modern Beds and Bed Frames
Velvet, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Mid-Century Modern Cabinets
Walnut
20th Century Italian Hollywood Regency Stools
Ceramic
2010s American Modern Ottomans and Poufs
Velvet
Recent Sales
Antique Early 18th Century English George III Stools
Steel
Antique 19th Century English Early Victorian Stools
Antique Late 19th Century British Late Victorian Stools
Textile, Wood
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Stools
Walnut
Antique Mid-19th Century British Stools
Walnut
Vintage 1950s American Stools
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Footstools
Walnut
Antique Mid-19th Century English Victorian Footstools
Tapestry, Walnut
Vintage 1950s American Dining Room Tables
Steel
Antique Mid-19th Century English High Victorian Stools
Walnut
Antique Mid-19th Century English Victorian Stools
Walnut
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Footstools
Mahogany
Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Stools
Walnut
Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Stools
Steel, Chrome
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Footstools
Tapestry, Mahogany
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Footstools
Walnut
Early 20th Century Chinese Rustic Furniture
Elm
Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Patio and Garden Furniture
Wicker, Rattan
Antique 19th Century Persian Footstools
Brass
Antique 19th Century English Stools
Brass
Antique 19th Century English Fireplace Tools and Chimney Pots
Steel, Brass
Antique 19th Century British Armchairs
Antique 19th Century British Chairs
Vintage 1930s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Stools
Leather, Birch
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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Fred Rigby’s Modular Seating Can Be Configured in So Many Handy Ways
The plush Cove Slipper 2.5 Seater sofa is just one of many convenient combinations from the London-based maker.
This Chubby-Chic Quilted Stool Stands on Its Own Two Feet
Sam Klemick's cool stool is edgy, cozy and environmentally sustainable all at once.
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.