Curved Sette
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Settees
Upholstery, Maple
Antique 18th Century English British Colonial Benches
Pine
Mid-20th Century Romantic Patio and Garden Furniture
Metal, Iron, Wrought Iron
People Also Browsed
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
Travertine
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Art Deco Carts and Bar Carts
Marble
2010s Chandeliers and Pendants
Metal
2010s South African Minimalist Pedestals
Wood
2010s British Ottomans and Poufs
Fabric, Bouclé, Walnut
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Patio and Garden Furniture
Wrought Iron
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Iron, Wrought Iron
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Country Beds and Bed Frames
Oak
2010s British Scandinavian Modern Ottomans and Poufs
Sheepskin, Oak
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Benches
Fabric, Velvet, Lacquer, Wood
Antique Late 19th Century European Moorish Architectural Elements
Wrought Iron
Antique Late 19th Century British Settees
Oak
Antique 19th Century Windows
Stained Glass
Antique Late 18th Century Spanish Benches
Pine
Vintage 1940s American Hollywood Regency Patio and Garden Furniture
Wrought Iron
2010s American Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Brass
Recent Sales
21st Century and Contemporary American Settees
Maple, Upholstery
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Sculptures
Acrylic, Lucite
20th Century Sofas
Upholstery
Vintage 1920s French Louis XV Settees
Fruitwood
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Settees
Walnut, Cane
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Settees
Upholstery, Wood
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Settees
Chenille, Velvet, Wood
Vintage 1980s Post-Modern Chaise Longues
Textile
Vintage 1960s American Sofas
Oak, Foam, Suede
21st Century and Contemporary American Settees
Maple, Upholstery
Vintage 1940s Danish Settees
Oak, Cane
Antique 19th Century French Settees
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
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Rock Your Cares Away on This Sunny Hand-Crocheted Swing
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Learn Why Designer Maarten Baas Set This Charles Rennie Mackintosh Chair on Fire
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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.