Chippendale Chesterfield Sofa
Vintage 1960s British Chinese Chippendale Sofas
Mahogany
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Settees
Leather, Oak
Recent Sales
Vintage 1980s Settees
Vintage 1980s Living Room Sets
Vintage 1980s Living Room Sets
Vintage 1980s Living Room Sets
Vintage 1980s Chaise Longues
Vintage 1980s Settees
Vintage 1980s Living Room Sets
Vintage 1980s Living Room Sets
Vintage 1980s Living Room Sets
1990s Living Room Sets
Vintage 1980s Armchairs
Vintage 1980s Living Room Sets
Vintage 1980s Living Room Sets
Vintage 1980s Armchairs
Vintage 1980s Armchairs
Vintage 1980s Armchairs
Vintage 1980s Settees
Vintage 1980s Settees
1990s Settees
Vintage 1980s Living Room Sets
1990s Armchairs
20th Century Settees
1990s Living Room Sets
20th Century American Chippendale Sofas
Leather, Mahogany
Vintage 1980s American Chippendale Sofas
Leather
Antique 1860s English Early Victorian Settees
Leather
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Settees
Leather, Walnut
Antique Late 19th Century British Late Victorian Club Chairs
Leather, Hardwood, Oak
Mid-20th Century American Chesterfield Sofas
Leather, Wood
Vintage 1960s British Chinese Chippendale Sofas
Brass
20th Century Chippendale Sofas
Leather
Vintage 1940s American Chippendale Sofas
Leather
Mid-20th Century British Chippendale Sofas
Leather, Wood
Antique Early 1900s Great Britain (UK) Chesterfield Living Room Sets
Leather, Oak
Vintage 1960s British Chinese Chippendale Sofas
Mahogany
Late 20th Century English Chesterfield Living Room Sets
1990s Living Room Sets
1990s Living Room Sets
1990s Living Room Sets
1990s Living Room Sets
Vintage 1950s Settees
Vintage 1980s Living Room Sets
1990s Living Room Sets
Early 20th Century Living Room Sets
Vintage 1980s Settees
1990s Living Room Sets
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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.
- What is a Chesterfield sofa?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021A Chesterfield sofa is a couch with rolled arms that are as tall as the back of the sofa. They always feature deep button tufting everywhere, including the cushion.
- 1stDibs ExpertNovember 13, 2024Why it is called a Chesterfield sofa is because of the person who is believed to have first commissioned it. Popular lore dates the Chesterfield sofa to Philip Dormer Stanhope, fourth Earl of Chesterfield. The arbiter of taste and manners in 18th-century England was best known for publishing guides on how to behave in society to attain success. The story goes that he commissioned a sofa in the mid-1700s designed so he could sit on it while not wrinkling his clothes. He later bequeathed it to his godson, and the seating style spread in popularity, eventually becoming an icon of British interior design. On 1stDibs, shop a selection of Chesterfield sofas.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Yes, you can indeed reupholster a Chesterfield sofa. Reupholstering your sofa is a great way to make the piece unique and in line with your personal taste. You can also shop a collection of Chesterfield sofas from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022A genuine Chesterfield sofa has layers of padding, which is wrapped in horsehair. Also, look for imperfections in the leather. Chesterfields are made with leather, as opposed to synthetic material. Shop a selection of Chesterfield sofas from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
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