Clerks High Chair
Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Chairs
Beech, Elm
Antique Mid-19th Century English Victorian Chairs
Ash, Elm
Antique 1840s English Early Victorian Dining Room Chairs
Leather, Hardwood
Mid-20th Century American Dining Room Chairs
Walnut
Antique 19th Century American Victorian Dining Room Sets
Oak
Antique 1880s Scottish Arts and Crafts Chandeliers and Pendants
Bronze
People Also Browsed
1990s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Brass
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary Bergere Chairs
Linen
Antique 15th Century and Earlier German Decorative Art
Other
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
Brass
Vintage 1940s French Art Deco Dining Room Chairs
Brass
Antique Late 19th Century English Late Victorian Corner Chairs
Walnut
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Velvet, Beech
Mid-20th Century American Colonial Windsor Chairs
Maple
Vintage 1910s English Neoclassical Dinner Plates
Porcelain
Vintage 1950s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Cane, Rosewood
2010s Mexican Modern Dining Room Tables
Hardwood, Oak
Antique 19th Century British Campaign Desk Sets
Brass
2010s American Modern Decorative Art
Wool, Felt
Antique 19th Century English Chinoiserie Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
Early 20th Century English Slipper Chairs
Leather, Wood
Recent Sales
Early 20th Century British Arts and Crafts Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Oak
Antique 1890s English Victorian Chairs
Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Armchairs
Cotton, Lacquer
Vintage 1930s French Provincial Slipper Chairs
Upholstery, Hardwood
Vintage 1930s Louis XVI Side Chairs
Upholstery, Satinwood
Mid-20th Century Rococo Dining Room Chairs
Upholstery, Walnut
Vintage 1930s Louis XVI Vanities
Satinwood, Upholstery
Vintage 1930s Louis XV Vanities
Upholstery, Mirror, Walnut
20th Century Indian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Cane, Teak
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.
- Are wooden high chairs safe?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021While antique wooden high chairs look nice and are a fun idea, they are not often the safest choice of seating for babies. Old fashioned wooden high chairs that feature removable wooden trays or arms don't typically meet modern safety standards. Parents must be cautious if they wish to use these chairs.
- 1stDibs ExpertOctober 12, 2021A high back office chair has a tall backrest to provide support to both your back and neck. It helps minimize the risk of chronic neck and back problems. These chairs also come with wheels attached for ease of mobility. Shop a range of antique and vintage high back office chairs on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertOctober 12, 2021There is no universal guideline for determining the value of antique high chairs. Typically, high chairs can cost anywhere between $50 and $500. The price of a high chair is determined by the condition of the chair, its construction, whether or not all parts are intact and its desirability.
- 1stDibs ExpertJune 15, 2023High-backed old-fashioned chairs are often called wingback chairs. They may not offer structural support, but the wings on antique and vintage wingback chairs certainly do have a purpose or did, when the design was first conceived in England in the 1600s. Back then, the armchair protrusions were meant to protect the sitter from drafts and from the strong heat radiating from the large fireplaces that were popular at the time. This explains why the wingback is so strongly associated with cozying up by the fireplace. Although the functional aspect of a wingback may be obsolete in the 21st century, the chairs have maintained their popularity over the years and have seen waves of revivals. On 1stDibs, find a variety of antique, vintage and modern wingback chairs from some of the world's top sellers on 1stDibs.
Read More
The 21 Most Popular Mid-Century Modern Chairs
You know the designs, now get the stories about how they came to be.
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.