Cordoba Dining Chair
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Dining Room Chairs
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Dining Room Chairs
Fabric, Lacquer, Wood
Vintage 1970s Argentine Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Wood
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21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Sofas
Velvet, Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Chairs
Bouclé, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Night Stands
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21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Armchairs
Brass
Antique Late 19th Century German Neoclassical Sterling Silver
Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Chairs
Brass, Stainless Steel, Nickel
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Sofas
Leather, Wood, Bouclé, Fabric
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Chairs
Brass
Vintage 1950s Argentine Mid-Century Modern Carts and Bar Carts
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Benches
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Dining Room Chairs
Fabric, Lacquer
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Stools
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Dining Room Chairs
Fabric, Lacquer
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Night Stands
Brass, Stainless Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Chairs
Brass
20th Century Portuguese Chairs
Walnut
Finding the Right chairs for You
Chairs are an indispensable component of your home and office. Can you imagine your life without the vintage, new or antique chairs you love?
With the exception of rocking chairs, the majority of the seating in our homes today — Windsor chairs, chaise longues, wingback chairs — originated in either England or France. Art Nouveau chairs, the style of which also originated in those regions, embraced the inherent magnificence of the natural world with decorative flourishes and refined designs that blended both curved and geometric contour lines. While craftsmanship and styles have evolved in the past century, chairs have had a singular significance in our lives, no matter what your favorite chair looks like.
“The chair is the piece of furniture that is closest to human beings,” said Hans Wegner. The revered Danish cabinetmaker and furniture designer was prolific, having designed nearly 500 chairs over the course of his lifetime. His beloved designs include the Wishbone chair, the wingback Papa Bear chair and many more.
Other designers of Scandinavian modernist chairs introduced new dynamics to this staple with sculptural flowing lines, curvaceous shapes and efficient functionality. The Paimio armchair, Swan chair and Panton chair are vintage works of Finnish and Danish seating that left an indelible mark on the history of good furniture design.
“What works good is better than what looks good, because what works good lasts,” said Ray Eames.
Visionary polymaths Ray and Charles Eames experimented with bent plywood and fiberglass with the goal of producing affordable furniture for a mass market. Like other celebrated mid-century modern furniture designers of elegant low-profile furnishings — among them Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Finn Juhl — the Eameses considered ergonomic support, durability and cost, all of which should be top of mind when shopping for the perfect chair. The mid-century years yielded many popular chairs.
The Eameses introduced numerous icons for manufacturer Herman Miller, such as the Eames lounge chair and ottoman, molded plywood dining chairs the DCM and DCW (which can be artfully mismatched around your dining table) and a wealth of other treasured pieces for the home and office.
A good chair anchors us to a place and can become an object of timeless appeal. Take a seat and browse the rich variety of vintage, new and antique chairs on 1stDibs today.
- What is a dining chair?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2024A dining chair is a chair used to provide seating while dining at a table. There are two main types: side chairs and armchairs. As the name suggests, armchairs feature integrated arms, and they typically go along the short ends of rectangular tables. Free of arms, side chairs are usually arranged along the sides of rectangular tables. On 1stDibs, shop a large selection of dining chairs.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021Dining chairs should be around 18 inches tall. Since most dining tables are 30 inches high, 18 inch tall dining chairs allow for a comfortable amount of legroom. As a general rule of thumb, there should be around 12 inches between a dining table and a seat.
- What is a carver dining chair?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertOctober 12, 2021A carver dining chair is a kind of spool chair with legs rising above the seat level to frame the back and support the armrests. A theory about how carver chairs got their name is that the “master of the household” would sit at the head of the dining table and carve the meat that would be served for dinner. A widely reported origin story for the carver chair is that the name references a Pilgrim named John Carver, who was the founder of the Plymouth colony of Massachusetts in the United States. On 1stDibs, shop a range of antique and vintage carver chairs.
- 1stDibs ExpertNovember 6, 2023The difference between an accent chair and a dining chair comes down to function and design. An accent chair usually goes in a seating area, and makers craft them with comfort in mind. As a result, most accent chairs feature cushioning and upholstery and are characterized by generous proportions. The purpose of a dining chair is to provide a place to sit while enjoying a meal. Usually, dining chairs are lighter and smaller than accent chairs for easy maneuvering. While they may have padded seats and backrests, dining chairs generally aren't as abundantly cushioned as accent chairs. Explore a large selection of chairs on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertSeptember 25, 2019
Dining room chairs with arms require more space than armless ones.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2023A good width for a dining chair is generally considered to be 16 to 20 inches. Chairs within this size range typically provide enough space for most people to sit comfortably. Shop a collection of dining chairs on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022A dining chair with arms is called a carver chair or elbow chair. It is a traditional dining chair with arms added to it for a more structured look and is a popular option for dining seats for a spot to comfortably rest your arms. Shop a selection of dining chairs on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 3, 2023Whether leather is good for dining chairs is largely a matter of personal opinion. However, many people find leather to be easy to wipe clean and appreciate its texture and appearance. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of leather dining chairs.
- 1stDibs ExpertSeptember 25, 2019
Dining room chairs and dining tables do not necessarily have to match.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022The entire back of a dining chair is simply called the chair back. It may have another name that more accurately describes the shape such as an X back or a cross back. The individual parts of a chair back include the ear, top rail, cross rail, stile and back post. On 1stDibs, find vintage and contemporary dining chairs from top sellers around the world.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021Choosing a fabric for reupholstering dining chairs is dependent on a number of factors. Cotton, faux suede, leather, tweed, velvet and vinyl are all popular options though each has different benefits. It is important to consider durability, ability to clean, and coordinating with decor.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022The end chairs are called an armchair. Typically found at the head of the table, these specific chairs have armrests and give off a more formal feel. You can shop a collection of armchairs and dining tables from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Dining chairs without arms are called side chairs. Their counterpart, the armchair, is often found at the head of the table, with the side chairs filling in the seats along the side of the table. Shop a collection of side chairs from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Dining room chairs with arms are simply called armchairs. They are not to be confused with armchairs used in seating areas. A dining chair without arms is a side chair. You'll find a collection of antique and vintage dining chairs on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022No, your dining room table and chairs do not need to match. Coordinated colors and styles can add visual flair to a space, and is a great way to show off your personal style. Shop a collection of dining room tables and chairs from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertSeptember 25, 2019
The seat of a dining room chair is typically 18 inches from the floor and 16 to 20 inches wide.
- 1stDibs ExpertNovember 2, 2021To pick a fabric for dining room chairs, one should consider durable, easy to maintain or stain-resistant materials. While choosing a fabric is a personal choice, the most commonly preferred upholstery materials include cotton and linen — both are prone to staining, however — as well as leather and synthetic fabrics such as polyester. Shop a collection of antique, vintage, and contemporary dining chairs from some of the world’s top dealers on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertJune 15, 2023To protect your woven dining chairs, try a fabric protection spray designed for the specific type of material. Follow the application directions printed on the bottle for best results. Also, wipe your chairs clean after every meal with a slightly damp cloth to reduce the risk of stains. On 1stDibs, find a range of woven dining chairs.
- 1stDibs ExpertAugust 17, 2021The best fabric for dining room chairs is really a matter of preference. Those who are looking for maximum durability should opt for a smooth synthetic fabric that is liquid repellant. Shop dining room chairs in a variety of fabrics on 1stDibs.
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