Early1900s Rocking Chairs
Antique Early 1900s Victorian Rocking Chairs
Cane, Walnut
Antique Early 1900s Victorian Dining Room Chairs
Cane, Walnut
Mid-20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Leather, Wood
Antique Early 1900s Victorian Children's Furniture
Tapestry, Maple
Antique Early 1900s Victorian Sofas
Wicker, Rattan, Bentwood
Mid-20th Century Austrian Vienna Secession Stools
Oak
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Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Rocking Chairs
Fabric, Upholstery, Wood, Hardwood, Beech
Vintage 1970s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Ceramics
Terracotta, String, Wood
Early 20th Century American Mission Rocking Chairs
Oak
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Rocking Chairs
Leather, Oak
Antique 19th Century Arts and Crafts Children's Furniture
Cord, Rope, Oak
Vintage 1910s British William and Mary Settees
Cotton, Giltwood, Walnut
2010s Mexican Bauhaus Armchairs
Teak
Antique Late 19th Century European Victorian Rocking Chairs
Wood, Beech
20th Century Mexican Collectible Jewelry
Malachite, Silver
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Rocking Chairs
Bamboo, Rattan
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Rocking Chairs
Brass
Vintage 1940s Mexican Spanish Colonial Armchairs
Leather, Wood
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Rocking Chairs
Leather, Oak
Antique Late 19th Century Late Victorian Rocking Chairs
Oak
Early 20th Century American Eastlake Toys and Dolls
Fruitwood, Paint
Early 20th Century American Victorian Rocking Chairs
Walnut, Upholstery
Recent Sales
Antique 1830s English William IV Rocking Chairs
Leather, Hardwood
Early 20th Century Czech Rocking Chairs
Early 20th Century American Chairs
Walnut, Paint
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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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.