Skip to main content

Early 1900s Wood Armchairs

to
133
592
291
896
Height
to
Width
to
Depth
to
449
248
23
30
11
15
6
7
1
3
1
1
128
116
48
29
25
11
11
11
9
7
7
5
3
2
2
1
790
262
196
188
159
895
895
895
38
35
30
27
16
Sort By
Four French Louis XV Style Gilt-Wood Carved & Chinoiserie Bergeres, Jansen Attr.
By Maison Jansen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A Fine and Rare Assembled Set of Four French Louis XV Style Gilt-Wood Carved and Japanned-Chinoiserie Lacquer Decorated Bergers Armchairs, attributed to Maison Jansen (House of Janse...
Category

Antique Early 1900s French Chinoiserie Armchairs

Materials

Velvet, Giltwood, Lacquer

Pair Georgian Gainsborough Arm Chairs Leather Revival
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Pair of Georgian Revival Gainsborough chairs Circa 1900 These chairs stand upon square tapered legs with and ''h'' frame for extra strength Will ship to anywhere in the world - inclu...
Category

Antique Early 1900s Armchairs

Materials

Wood

LOVELY GOTHIC REVIVAL HAND MADE IN ENGLAND OAK THRONE ARMCHAIR WiTH STEEPLE BACK
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this stunning original Gothic Revival circa 1900 English oak Throne armchair with steeple back Please note...
Category

Antique Early 1900s English Gothic Revival Armchairs

Materials

Oak

Pair of Edwardian Leather Library Arm Chairs
Located in Miami, FL
A pair of Edwardian leather library chairs.
Category

Antique Early 1900s British Armchairs

Materials

Leather, Wood

Arts & Crafts Armchair By Liberty & Co
Located in Petworth, GB
A wonderful Arts and Crafts Liberty & Co turned spindle chair with shaped arms and twisted supports, recovered with original Arts and Crafts velvet fabric Walnut Circa 1900 Height...
Category

Antique Early 1900s English Arts and Crafts Armchairs

Materials

Velvet, Walnut

Arts & Crafts Armchair By Liberty & Co
Arts & Crafts Armchair By Liberty & Co
H 45.28 in W 22.84 in D 22.45 in
Pair of Early 20th Century French Armchairs
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
A pair of early 20th Century French armchairs. Commonly referred to as 'crapaud chairs' on turned ebonised legs and castors. These chairs have been totally reupholstered in a neutra...
Category

Antique Early 1900s French Napoleon III Armchairs

Materials

Upholstery, Wood

Pair of Early 20th Century French Armchairs
Pair of Early 20th Century French Armchairs
H 31.5 in W 29.53 in D 27.56 in
German Jugendstil Armchair around 1900
Located in Reichenschwand, DE
A commanding presence from the early 20th century, this armchair captures the spirit of German Jugendstil with striking clarity. Its design reflects the forward-looking elegance of t...
Category

Antique Early 1900s German Jugendstil Armchairs

Materials

Fabric, Upholstery, Oak

German Jugendstil Armchair around 1900
German Jugendstil Armchair around 1900
H 44.69 in W 27.56 in D 28.55 in
Austrian Armchair Model No. 420 by Marcel Kammerer for Jacob and Josef Kohn
By Marcel Kammerer
Located in Reichenschwand, DE
This Austrian Armchair Model No. 420, designed by Marcel Kammerer for Jacob & Josef Kohn in Museal Manner, is a stunning embodiment of the Viennese Secession style, exemplifying the ...
Category

Antique Early 1900s Austrian Vienna Secession Armchairs

Materials

Bronze, Copper

English antique armchair
Located in Stroud, GB
Edwardian English armchair covered in Egyptian calico and natural hessian standing on mahogany legs and original castors.. Dimensions: H 32″ W 32″ D 37″ SD 24″ SH 14″ England Cir...
Category

Antique Early 1900s English Armchairs

Materials

Beech

English antique armchair
English antique armchair
H 32 in W 32 in D 37 in
Bentwood office chair no.88 by Thonet
By Thonet
Located in Banská Štiavnica, SK
Bentwood office chair no.88 by Thonet in excellent original condition.
Category

Antique Early 1900s Austrian Armchairs

Materials

Rattan, Beech, Bentwood

Bentwood office chair no.88 by Thonet
Bentwood office chair no.88 by Thonet
H 37.01 in W 22.84 in D 19.69 in
Thonet Armchairs by Otto Wagner
By Otto Wagner, Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH
Located in Vienna, AT
Beach bentwood design by Otto Wagner about 1900 The fabric on the chairs is obsolete but I can offer you huge range Vienna Secession fabrics instad of. Delivery time 5-6 weeks  
Category

Antique Early 1900s Austrian Vienna Secession Armchairs

Materials

Beech, Bentwood

Thonet Armchairs by Otto Wagner
Thonet Armchairs by Otto Wagner
H 30.32 in W 19.69 in D 18.51 in
Biedermeier Armchair, Scandinavia, circa 1900, After Renovation
Located in Chorzów, PL
Biedermeier armchair, Western Europe, circa 1860. The furniture is in very good condition, after professional renovation, the seat and backrest have been covered with a new velvet fa...
Category

Antique Early 1900s German Biedermeier Armchairs

Materials

Velvet, Walnut

English Oak Lambing Chair Farmhouse Rustic Interiors 1900
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Carved oak farmhouse lambing chair with panelled back circa 1900 Great rustic look to this charming and characterful piece of farmhouse furniture Bought from a private house sale in ...
Category

Antique Early 1900s Armchairs

Materials

Oak

Thonet Model 81 Three-Legged Armchair
By Thonet
Located in Highland, IN
This elegant chair three-legged chair by Thonet made of stained beech with a seat upholstered in suede leather. 31.5"h X 25"w X 23"d
Category

Antique Early 1900s Austrian Vienna Secession Armchairs

Materials

Beech

Thonet Model 81 Three-Legged Armchair
Thonet Model 81 Three-Legged Armchair
H 31.5 in W 25 in D 23 in
Swedish Designer, Armchairs, Oak, Fabric, Sweden, 1900s
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of stained oak and off-white fabric armchairs designed and produced in Sweden, 1900s. Overall Dimensions (inches): 34.0"H x 25.5"W x 23.25"D Seat Height (inches): 19.0" Arm...
Category

Antique Early 1900s Swedish Armchairs

Materials

Fabric, Oak

Antique English deep seated armchair
Located in Stroud, GB
Deep Howard style antique English armchair Edwardian very deep seated armchair covered in Egyptian calico and natural hessian standing on tapered legs and brass castors Upholstery se...
Category

Antique Early 1900s English Edwardian Armchairs

Materials

Beech

Art Nouveau Armchair by Henry van de Velde, around 1900-1910
By Henry van de Velde
Located in Reichenschwand, DE
This gracefully curved Art Nouveau armchair, designed by the Belgian artist Henry van de Velde, stands as an elegant testament to the fluid, organic aesthetics of the turn of the 20t...
Category

Antique Early 1900s German Art Nouveau Armchairs

Materials

Brass

Secession armchairs no.1059 by Thonet Austria
By Thonet
Located in Banská Štiavnica, SK
Secession armchairs no.1059 by Thonet Austria. Professionally stained and repolished.
Category

Antique Early 1900s Austrian Vienna Secession Armchairs

Materials

Beech, Bentwood

Secession armchairs no.1059 by Thonet Austria
Secession armchairs no.1059 by Thonet Austria
H 36.62 in W 16.93 in D 17.33 in
Superb Pair French Louis XV Figural Needlepoint Throne Armchairs 1900
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a superb, very tall pair of French-made Louis XV style throne chairs. These armchairs are upholstered in gorgeous figural scenic needlepoint upholstery. The chairs are in go...
Category

Antique Early 1900s French Louis XV Armchairs

Materials

Walnut

Pair of Arts & Crafts English Oak Armchairs, 1900s
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Stunning and elegant pair of Arts & Crafts armchairs. Striking English design from the 1900s. Solid oak frames with nicely curved armrests. The back rest This wonderful pair of Arts ...
Category

Antique Early 1900s British Arts and Crafts Armchairs

Materials

Oak

Louis XVI Style Gilt Wood Armchair
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Louis XVI style gilt wood armchair, circa 1900. With a foliate carved cupids bow crest rail, down swept arms with beaded carvings ending in acanthus carvings, foliate carved apron, t...
Category

Antique Early 1900s Unknown Louis XVI Armchairs

Materials

Gold Leaf

Louis XVI Style Gilt Wood Armchair
Louis XVI Style Gilt Wood Armchair
H 41 in W 21 in D 26.5 in
Original of Time Otto Wagner Armchair 1901 Jugendstil, Secession Style, 1901
By Thonet-Mundus, Otto Wagner, Woka Lamps
Located in Vienna, AT
As pioneer and master of the Modern, Otto Wagner seized the then rather new technique of bending Wood for his furniture designs. The design of this armchair dated back in 1901. This ...
Category

Antique Early 1900s Austrian Vienna Secession Armchairs

Materials

Beech, Bentwood

Swedish Designer, Armchair, Birch, Leather, Sweden, 1900s
Located in High Point, NC
A stained birch and green leather armchair designed and produced in Sweden, c. 1900s. Multiple tears present in leather seat. Dimensions: 32.3” H x 26.625” W x 22.5” D Seat Height...
Category

Antique Early 1900s Swedish Armchairs

Materials

Leather, Birch

Large Howard & Sons Club Armchair
Located in Shipston-On-Stour, GB
A large and deep seated Howard & Sons club armchair, with strong frame and raised on square tapering legs and original brass castors, stamped Howard & Sons to all four castors and re...
Category

Antique Early 1900s English Victorian Armchairs

Materials

Upholstery, Wood

Large Howard & Sons Club Armchair
Large Howard & Sons Club Armchair
H 30 in W 32 in D 45 in
Pair of Walnut Armchairs
Located in London, England
Pair of French walnut open armchairs, in original hessian lining. France Circa 1900 H 99cm x W 62cm x D 53cm x SH 41cm
Category

Antique Early 1900s Armchairs

Materials

Walnut

Pair of Walnut Armchairs
Pair of Walnut Armchairs
H 36.23 in W 24.41 in D 20.87 in
Arts & Crafts Oak Adjustable Armchair
Located in Petworth, GB
Arts & Crafts oak adjustable armchair With slatted sides and paddle arms Tapering legs with mushroom shaped feet Re-uphlostered in Morris & Co linen fabric Circa 1900 Height 98c...
Category

Antique Early 1900s English Arts and Crafts Armchairs

Materials

Linen, Oak

Arts & Crafts Oak Adjustable Armchair
Arts & Crafts Oak Adjustable Armchair
H 38.59 in W 27.56 in D 37.41 in
Antque French Louis XVI Style Painted Walnut Armchair
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Antique French handcarved walnut armchair, in the style of Louis XVI , painted white with gold touches and distressed finish.
Category

Antique Early 1900s French French Provincial Armchairs

Materials

Walnut

Armchair Model No. 511 by Wiener Werkstätten for Thonet in Museal Manner, 1904
By Wiener Werkstätte
Located in Reichenschwand, DE
This rare upholstered version of Armchair No. 511 is an extraordinary find, particularly in its entirely original condition. With its distinctive design originating from the Vienna W...
Category

Antique Early 1900s Austrian Vienna Secession Armchairs

Materials

Fabric, Linen, Upholstery, Cord, Bentwood, Lacquer, Trimming

Antique French Louis XVI Pair Of Armchair
Located in Senonches, Centre-Val de Loire
Pair of Louis xvi armchairs from the 1900s, known as "Marie Antoinette". The slightly curved back, the armrests, and the padded seats make them comfortable and perfect for daily use...
Category

Antique Early 1900s French Louis XVI Armchairs

Materials

Beech

Antique French Louis XVI Pair Of Armchair
Antique French Louis XVI Pair Of Armchair
H 34.26 in W 25.2 in D 25.2 in
F. O. Schmidt - Adolf Loos - Armchair - Bureau Chair - Leather, Oak
By Adolf Loos
Located in Budapest, HU
Bureau Chair (Armchair) Vienna, c. 1900, Design by Adolf Loos, Manufactured by F. O. Schmidt, c. 1905/10 This elegant Bureau Chair, designed by renowned architect Adolf Loos, is a d...
Category

Antique Early 1900s Austrian Art Nouveau Armchairs

Materials

Leather, Oak

J.&J. Kohn - Josef Hoffmann - Armchair - Fledermaus - Beech
By Josef Hoffmann, Jacob & Josef Kohn
Located in Budapest, HU
This Fledermaus armchair, designed by Josef Hoffmann for J.&J. Kohn around 1900, is a striking example of early 20th-century Viennese design. Hoffmann, a key figure in the Wiener Wer...
Category

Antique Early 1900s Austrian Art Nouveau Armchairs

Materials

Fabric, Beech

Marcel Kammerer Original Gerbruder Thonet Armchair in Beech and Cane 1909
By Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH, Marcel Kammerer
Located in Montecatini Terme, IT
A single armchair manufactured by Gebruder Thonet in 1909 and designed by the Viennese architect Marcel Kammerer. This Thonet armchair presents a structure in dark brown stained bent...
Category

Antique Early 1900s Austrian Vienna Secession Armchairs

Materials

Cane, Beech

Antique Italian Renaissance Carved Walnut Savonarola Throne Arm Chairs - a Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Italian Renaissance Carved Walnut Savonarola Throne Arm Chairs - a Pair. Item features turn carved stretcher supports, loose seat cushion, solid wood construction, nicely car...
Category

Antique Early 1900s Unknown Renaissance Armchairs

Materials

Fabric, Walnut

Howard and sons open armchair
By Howard and Sons
Located in Batley, GB
A Howard and sons open armchair raised on square tapered walnut legs and unusual arm supports. The back legs splayed and all legs bearing the original H&S stamped casters. Currently ...
Category

Antique Early 1900s British Edwardian Armchairs

Materials

Walnut

Howard and sons open armchair
Howard and sons open armchair
H 31.5 in W 27.56 in D 33.47 in
Antique Country House Captain's Chair, English Elm, Smoker's Bow Seat, Victorian
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique country house captain's chair. An English, elm smoker's bow or elbow seat, dating to the late Victorian period, circa 1900. Superb country house appeal with the c...
Category

Antique Early 1900s British Late Victorian Armchairs

Materials

Elm

Louis Majorelle. Art Nouveau carved walnut armchair with original period fabric
By Louis Majorelle
Located in London, GB
An Art Nouveau armchair in carved walnut retaining the original period fabric that has an extra back pad stitched to the top of the back rest. A slight variation to this armchair can...
Category

Antique Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Armchairs

Materials

Walnut

Heal and Son (attributed). An Arts and Crafts six-legged oak armchair
By Heal's
Located in London, GB
Heal and Son, attributed. An Arts and Crafts six-legged oak armchair, with pierced heart and scroll decoration to the head rest. Professionally re-upholstered in green leather. Seat ...
Category

Antique Early 1900s Arts and Crafts Armchairs

Materials

Oak

Pair of Antique Georgian Style Carver Armchairs
Located in London, GB
A smart and very well made pair of antique leather carver armchairs. They were made in England, and date from around the 1900-1910 period. They are beautifully made and are of very ...
Category

Antique Early 1900s British Georgian Armchairs

Materials

Leather, Wood

Pair of Antique Georgian Style Carver Armchairs
Pair of Antique Georgian Style Carver Armchairs
H 36.23 in W 20.08 in D 20.08 in
Antique wooden armchair with cane seat, France ca. 1900
Located in Meulebeke, BE
France / 1900 / chair / wood, cane / Romantic / Antique / Rustic French antique armchair in solid wood crafted in France around 1900. This rustic chair has nice geometric carvings...
Category

Antique Early 1900s French Rustic Armchairs

Materials

Cane, Wood

Pair of Antique Swedish Leather Club Armchairs
Located in London, GB
A beautiful pair of antique Swedish leather club armchairs. They were recently imported from Sweden, they date from around the 1900-1910 period. The quality is outstanding, they are...
Category

Antique Early 1900s British Chesterfield Armchairs

Materials

Leather, Oak

Pair of Antique Swedish Leather Club Armchairs
Pair of Antique Swedish Leather Club Armchairs
H 35.04 in W 33.86 in D 32.29 in
C R Ashbee for The Guild of Handicraft. A rare Arts and Crafts oak armchair
By The Guild of Handicraft
Located in London, GB
C R Ashbee for The Guild of Handicraft. A rare Arts and Crafts oak armchair with larger proportions than usual. The shaped back makes this armchair ergonomically perfect and rather c...
Category

Antique Early 1900s British Arts and Crafts Armchairs

Materials

Oak

Italian Neoclassical Parcel Gilt Cream Louis XVI Directoire Arm Chairs - a Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Italian Neoclassical Parcel Gilt Cream Louis XVI Directoire Arm Chairs - a Pair. Item featured has a cream and gold gilt finish, solid wood frame, upholstered armrests, nicel...
Category

Antique Early 1900s Unknown Neoclassical Armchairs

Materials

Fabric, Wood

Pair Louis XVI Style Carved Walnut Arm Chairs with Caned Back & Seat
Located in San Francisco, CA
each of good proportion the ribbon crest above an oval caned back over a serpentine caned seat flanked by open arms; all raised on turned fluted supports ending in toupie feet
Category

Antique Early 1900s French Louis XVI Armchairs

Materials

Walnut

Josef Hoffmann Armchair – Model No. A 811/F for Thonet
By Thonet, Josef Hoffmann
Located in Budapest, HU
Josef Hoffmann Armchair – Model No. A 811/F for Thonet (1900s) This exquisite armchair, Model No. A 811/F, designed by the renowned architect and designer Josef Hoffmann for Thonet ...
Category

Antique Early 1900s Austrian Art Nouveau Armchairs

Materials

Reed, Beech

Antique Charles Stickley Large Chair with Slats. Marked! - W8106 MUST SELL
By Gustav Stickley
Located in Shamokin Dam, PA
This is a nice, large Charles Stickley mission chair in good condition. It is marked with the maker's mark on the back stretcher. Reupholstered with top quality hand-spun leather. ...
Category

Antique Early 1900s American Arts and Crafts Armchairs

Materials

Leather, Oak

Pair of N° 715 Gustav Siegel Armchairs for Kohn, Austria, 1900s
By Seigel
Located in Brussels, BE
Pair of N° 715 Gustav Siegel Armchairs for Kohn, Austria, 1900s Wood and Leather
Category

Antique Early 1900s Austrian Armchairs

Materials

Leather, Wood

Pair of mod 719 armchairs designed by Koloman Moser for J & J Kohn, Austria
By Koloman Moser, Jacob & Josef Kohn
Located in Firenze, FI
These model 719 armchairs designed by Koloman Moser for the firm Jacob & Jjosef Kohn in 1902 , their dimensions are H 86 cm., width 53 cm., depth 52 cm. and seat height 44 cm. (with...
Category

Antique Early 1900s Austrian Armchairs

Materials

Brass

Jugendstil Armchair No 714 by Otto Wagner for Jacob & Josef Kohn
By Jacob & Josef Kohn, Otto Wagner
Located in Toronto, CA
Iconic Jugendstil armchair, Model No. 714, designed by Otto Wagner and produced by Jacob & Josef Kohn. Made of mahogany stained beechwood and shellac hand polished, lending that air ...
Category

Antique Early 1900s Austrian Vienna Secession Armchairs

Materials

Wood

Set of Original Josef Hoffmann / Otto Prutscher Attr. Chairs
By Josef Hoffmann, Otto Prutscher, Woka Lamps
Located in Vienna, AT
Very elegant and comfortable chairs attributed to Josef Hoffmann or Otto Prutscher. Has been rennovated over a while, the fabric is partly stained. Can be sold separately.
Category

Antique Early 1900s Austrian Jugendstil Chairs

Materials

Wood

Arts and Crafts English Oak Shapland and Petter Armchair
By Shapland & Petter
Located in Fort Collins, CO
Arts & Crafts mastery abounds in these classic English oak armchairs by Shapland & Petter, out of England. The peg joinery and hand carved oak is a masterclass in traditional woodwor...
Category

Antique Early 1900s English Arts and Crafts Armchairs

Materials

Oak

Armchair number 6151 by Adolf Loos for Thonet, 1900s, France
By Adolf Loos, Thonet
Located in Brussels, BE
Armchair number 6151 by Adolf Loos for Thonet, 1900s, France Adolf Franz Karl Viktor Maria Loos( 10 December 1870 – 23 August 1933) was an Austrian and Czechoslovak architect, influ...
Category

Antique Early 1900s Vienna Secession Armchairs

Materials

Beech

Antique Edwardian Walnut Caned Armchair
Located in London, GB
A beautiful antique Edwardian walnut caned armchair, made in England and dating from around the 1900-1910 period. This is of superb quality, it has a elegant yet sturdy design. The ...
Category

Antique Early 1900s British Edwardian Armchairs

Materials

Fabric, Cane, Walnut

Antique Edwardian Walnut Caned Armchair
Antique Edwardian Walnut Caned Armchair
H 33.86 in W 24.02 in D 24.02 in
Beech Chairs by Adolf Loos for Thonet
By Adolf Loos
Located in Budapest, HU
These armchairs can be attributed to Adolf Loos, following the essay of Giovanni Renzi: Thonet uses the modern term only once in the 1904 catalog, on what I call the "Loos page." Thi...
Category

Antique Early 1900s Austrian Jugendstil Armchairs

Materials

Leather, Beech

Beech Chairs by Adolf Loos for Thonet
Beech Chairs by Adolf Loos for Thonet
H 30.71 in W 22.84 in D 18.51 in
Thonet - Michael Thonet - Armchair (2) - No. 81 - Beech
By Michael Thonet
Located in Budapest, HU
The Thonet No. 81 Chair is a beautifully crafted piece of design history, originally conceived by the renowned Michael Thonet in the early 1900s. Constructed from high-quality Beech ...
Category

Antique Early 1900s Austrian Jugendstil Armchairs

Materials

Upholstery, Beech

Armchair, Northern Europe, circa 1900.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Armchair, Northern Europe, circa 1900. Very good condition, after professional renovation and replacement of upholstery. dimensions : height 82 cm seat height 47 cm width 56 cm de...
Category

Antique Early 1900s Unknown Art Nouveau Armchairs

Materials

Fabric, Wood

Armchair, Northern Europe, circa 1900.
Armchair, Northern Europe, circa 1900.
H 32.29 in W 22.05 in D 22.45 in
Antique Leather Gainsborough Armchair
Located in London, GB
A smart and very well made antique leather Gainsborough armchair. This was made in England, it dates from around the 1900-1910 period. The quality is superb, this is a nice early mo...
Category

Antique Early 1900s British Chippendale Armchairs

Materials

Leather, Wood

Antique Leather Gainsborough Armchair
Antique Leather Gainsborough Armchair
H 39.38 in W 24.81 in D 27.17 in
Pair of Antique French Armchairs Directoire Style
Located in Buxton, GB
Add an elegant touch to your living space with this pair of Antique Directoire style Bergere Armchairs. These chairs boast a stunning Square shape and have Cotton upholstery fabric w...
Category

Antique Early 1900s French Directoire Armchairs

Materials

Upholstery, Wood

Set of Four French Louis XV Painted Dining C. 1900
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Set of four Painted French Louis XV style armchairs. The armchairs are upholstered in a washed Belgium linen with nailhead trim detail. The wooden frame is ornately carved with flo...
Category

Antique Early 1900s French Louis XV Armchairs

Materials

Linen, Wood, Paint

  • 1
  • ...
Get Updated with New Arrivals
Save "Early 1900s Wood Armchairs", and we’ll notify you when there are new listings in this category.

Early 1900s Wood Armchairs For Sale on 1stDibs

At 1stDibs, there are several options of early 1900s wood armchairs available for sale. Early 1900s wood armchairs made by Art Nouveau designers — as well as those associated with Arts and Crafts — are very popular at 1stDibs. Early 1900s wood armchairs have been a part of the life’s work for many furniture makers, but those produced by Jacob and Josef Kohn, Otto Wagner and Thonet are consistently popular.

How Much are Early 1900s Wood Armchairs?

Prices for early 1900s wood armchairs start at $350 and top out at $76,495 with the average selling for $2,897.

Finding the Right Armchairs for You

Armchairs have run the gamut from prestige to ease and everything in between, and everyone has an antique or vintage armchair that they love.

Long before industrial mass production democratized seating, armchairs conveyed status and power.

In ancient Egypt, the commoners took stools, while in early Greece, ceremonial chairs of carved marble were designated for nobility. But the high-backed early thrones of yore, elevated and ornate, were merely grandiose iterations of today’s armchairs.

Modern-day armchairs, built with functionality and comfort in mind, are now central to tasks throughout your home. Formal dining armchairs support your guests at a table for a cheery feast, a good drafting chair with a deep seat is parked in front of an easel where you create art and, elsewhere, an ergonomic wonder of sorts positions you at the desk for your 9 to 5.

When placed under just the right lamp where you can lounge comfortably, both elbows resting on the padded supports on each side of you, an upholstered armchair — or a rattan armchair for your light-suffused sunroom — can be the sanctuary where you’ll read for hours.

If you’re in the mood for company, your velvet chesterfield armchair is a place to relax and be part of the conversation that swirls around you. Maybe the dialogue is about the beloved Papa Bear chair, a mid-century modern masterpiece from Danish carpenter and furniture maker Hans Wegner, and the wingback’s strong association with the concept of cozying up by the fireplace, which we can trace back to its origins in 1600s-era England, when the seat’s distinctive arm protrusions protected the sitter from the heat of the period’s large fireplaces.

If the fireside armchair chat involves spirited comparisons, your companions will likely probe the merits of antique and vintage armchairs such as Queen Anne armchairs, Victorian armchairs or even Louis XVI armchairs, as well as the pros and cons of restoration versus conservation.

Everyone seems to have a favorite armchair and most people will be all too willing to talk about their beloved design. Whether that’s the unique Favela chair by Brazilian sibling furniture designers Fernando and Humberto Campana, who repurposed everyday objects to provocative effect; or Marcel Breuer’s futuristic tubular metal Wassily lounge chair; the functionality-first LC series from Charlotte Perriand, Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret; or the Eames lounge chair of the mid-1950s created by Charles and Ray Eames, there is an iconic armchair for everyone and every purpose. Find yours on 1stDibs right now.

Questions About Early 1900s Wood Armchairs
  • 1stDibs ExpertNovember 21, 2023
    In the early 1900s, engagement rings often looked like other jewelry from the Edwardian era, which coincided with the reign of King Edward VII in the United Kingdom from 1901 to 1910. Cutters used new diamond saws and jewelry lathes to refine the old European cut. The resulting stones, designed to sparkle in the light from candles and gas lamps, are beloved by connoisseurs for their inner fire and romantic glow. The invention of the oxyacetylene torch enabled jewelers to use platinum, which had previously been too challenging to work with. This technological advancement made it possible for Edwardian rings to show off lacy filigree and milgrain work. Nature also influenced jewelry in the early 1900s. Flowing and floral garland motifs were so popular that the Edwardian age is sometimes called the "garland era." Find a selection of Edwardian engagement rings on 1stDibs.