Clover Armchair
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Armchairs
Plastic
Antique 19th Century Arts and Crafts Armchairs
Fabric, Rush, Oak
Antique 1840s Irish Armchairs
Damask, Oak
Antique Late 18th Century Italian Neoclassical Armchairs
Wood
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Velvet, Beech, Fabric, Upholstery
Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Fabric, Oak
Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Fabric, Oak
People Also Browsed
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Minimalist Side Tables
Marble, Travertine
2010s Italian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Textile
2010s American Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Flush Mount
Steel, Brass
2010s French Modern Chairs
Oak
2010s American Flush Mount
Brass
Antique 1830s Irish George IV Armchairs
Brass
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Brass
Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Sofas
Wood, Giltwood
2010s American Modern Stools
Oak
Early 20th Century Louis XV Dining Room Chairs
Leather, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Abstract Sculptures
Cement
21st Century and Contemporary American Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights a...
Nickel, Brass
Vintage 1970s French Modern End Tables
Oak
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Plastic
Recent Sales
Vintage 1980s Armchairs
Antique 19th Century American American Classical Armchairs
Antique 18th Century Danish Louis XVI Armchairs
Fabric, Beech
Antique 18th Century Danish Louis XVI Armchairs
Fabric, Beech
Vintage 1950s French Modern Armchairs
Oak
Vintage 1950s Danish Armchairs
Textile, Wood
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Mahogany, Rosewood, Upholstery
Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Oak
20th Century Gothic Armchairs
Oak
Mid-20th Century French Rustic Armchairs
Rush, Elm
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Armchairs
Walnut
Vintage 1950s Belgian Armchairs
Metal
20th Century French Patio and Garden Furniture
Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Patio and Garden Furniture
Mid-20th Century French Patio and Garden Furniture
Wrought Iron, Sheet Metal
20th Century Pakistani Islamic Armchairs
Brass
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Side Tables
Travertine, Brass
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
Vintage 1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Vintage 1940s French Art Deco Armchairs
20th Century French Armchairs
Mahogany, Wool
Vintage 1940s French Armchairs
Early 20th Century English Armchairs
Walnut
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
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.