Eero Aarnio Egg Chair
Vintage 1960s Space Age Lounge Chairs
Plastic
Vintage 1960s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Leather, Fiberglass
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Vintage 1960s European Mid-Century Modern Loveseats
Aluminum, Iron
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Textile
Vintage 1970s French Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Chrome
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Leather, Rosewood
Early 2000s European Space Age Lounge Chairs
Plastic
Vintage 1970s Italian Modern Beds and Bed Frames
Leather
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Chairs
Plastic
2010s British Scandinavian Modern Ottomans and Poufs
Sheepskin, Oak
20th Century American Space Age Lounge Chairs
Fabric, Carbon Fiber
Vintage 1960s Italian Space Age Chairs
Plastic
Vintage 1960s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Fabric
Vintage 1970s Lounge Chairs
Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Sectional Sofas
Aluminum
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs
Plastic
1990s American Post-Modern Sofas
Fabric
Recent Sales
Vintage 1970s Finnish Lounge Chairs
Plastic
Vintage 1960s European Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
20th Century Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Fiberglass
Vintage 1960s Armchairs
Mid-20th Century Danish Dining Room Chairs
Fiberglass
Vintage 1960s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Swivel Chairs
Aluminum
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Leather, Plastic, Fiberglass
20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Metal
Vintage 1960s American Club Chairs
Fiberglass, Fabric
Vintage 1970s German Dining Room Chairs
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.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 1, 2024Whether or not Eero Aarnio Ball chairs are comfortable or not is largely a matter of personal opinion. When the chair debuted in 1966, the New York Times reporter who saw it at the International Furniture Fair in Cologne suggested that the seating on display was "designed more for laughs than for comfort." However, the distinctive chair brought Aarnio instant commercial success. Today, many people still find the inviting foam-filled fabric seat inside its molded-fiberglass orb to be as comfortable to sit on as it is pleasing to the eye. Shop an assortment of vintage Eero Aarnio Ball chairs on 1stDibs.
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