Courting Couch
Antique Late 19th Century American High Victorian Settees
Mohair, Walnut
Antique 1880s Victorian Chairs
Wood
Recent Sales
Late 20th Century Spanish Armchairs
Wicker
Antique Mid-19th Century English Early Victorian Sofas
Fruitwood
Antique Late 19th Century English Aesthetic Movement Settees
Rosewood
People Also Browsed
Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Jewelry Boxes
Metal, Spelter, Gold Leaf
Mid-20th Century Polish Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Cane, Wood
Late 19th Century Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Wood, Oil
Vintage 1970s American Art Deco Decorative Dishes and Vide-Poche
Art Glass
20th Century Belgian Art Nouveau Table Lamps
Glass
Antique 19th Century Louis XVI Benches
Velvet, Rosewood
Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Sofas
Fabric, Wood
Antique 1880s Victorian Chairs
Giltwood
Antique 1890s English Art Nouveau Decorative Boxes
Brass
Antique 19th Century European Neoclassical Revival Decorative Boxes
Other, Iron
Antique Early 1900s Sports Equipment and Memorabilia
Silver
Antique 1880s Swiss Black Forest Bookcases
Marble
Antique 19th Century Chinese Qing Floor Lamps
Wood, Giltwood, Lacquer
Early 20th Century Spanish Art Nouveau Architectural Elements
Wood
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chaise Longues
Velvet, Wood
19th Century Rococo Figurative Paintings
Oil
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.
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