Elevator Bench
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Benches
Wood, Paint
Early 20th Century Romanian Benches
Paint, Wood
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Benches
Paint, Wood
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Settees
Paint, Wood
20th Century English Country Dining Room Chairs
Oak
Antique 1890s European Napoleon III Bergere Chairs
Upholstery, Oak
20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Footstools
Leather
People Also Browsed
2010s Austrian Jugendstil Chandeliers and Pendants
Silk
2010s American Minimalist Chandeliers and Pendants
Acrylic, Wood, Bentwood, Organic Material
21st Century and Contemporary American Industrial Wall Lights and Sconces
Glass
Antique Early 19th Century English Victorian Cupboards
Pine
Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Rococo Cupboards
Brass
2010s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Stools
Hardwood
21st Century and Contemporary American Bohemian Chandeliers and Pendants
Brass
2010s British Ottomans and Poufs
Fabric, Bouclé, Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary American American Classical Beds and Bed F...
Wood
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Metal
Antique 18th Century Swedish Cabinets
Wood
Vintage 1970s French Space Age Architectural Elements
Metal, Aluminum
2010s South African Modern Chairs
Steel
2010s American Ottomans and Poufs
Zebra Hide
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Sofas
Upholstery
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Beds and Bed Frames
Upholstery
Recent Sales
2010s American Modern Benches
Steel
Late 20th Century American Modern Benches
Leather
Antique Late 19th Century Danish Benches
Wood
Early 20th Century Hungarian Benches
Wood
Antique Mid-19th Century Swedish Benches
Wood
Early 20th Century Hungarian Benches
Wood
Early 20th Century Hungarian Benches
Wood
Antique Mid-19th Century Swedish Benches
Wood, Pine
Antique Mid-19th Century Swedish Benches
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century Swedish Benches
Wood
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Benches
Wood
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Benches
Brass, Steel
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Benches
Paint, Wood
Antique Late 19th Century Hungarian Benches
Wood
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Benches
Iron
Antique 19th Century French Renaissance Revival Benches
Leather, Hardwood
Antique Late 19th Century Danish Benches
Wood, Pine
21st Century and Contemporary French French Provincial Benches
Velvet, Hardwood
Early 20th Century French Industrial and Work Tables
Wood
Antique 1890s Chinese Chinese Export Chairs
Teak
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Steel
Early 20th Century Danish Paintings
Canvas
Vintage 1970s Great Britain (UK) Early Victorian Sofas
Leather, Hardwood
Antique Late 19th Century Hungarian Benches
Wood
Early 20th Century Hungarian Benches
Paint, Wood
Antique Early 1800s French George III Benches
Fruitwood
20th Century English Regency Benches
Oak
Antique 1830s English William IV Benches
Hardwood, Leather
Early 20th Century Danish Paintings
Canvas
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Interior Paintings
Acrylic, Panel
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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Fred Rigby’s Modular Seating Can Be Configured in So Many Handy Ways
The plush Cove Slipper 2.5 Seater sofa is just one of many convenient combinations from the London-based maker.
This Chubby-Chic Quilted Stool Stands on Its Own Two Feet
Sam Klemick's cool stool is edgy, cozy and environmentally sustainable all at once.
Riotous Shapes and Colors Have Made Uchronia’s Designs the Toast of Paris
Julien Sebban’s energetic design collective is radically reshaping the look of 21st-century European furniture and interiors.
Is Lionel Jadot the Willy Wonka of Upcycled Belgian Design?
From his massive collaborative workshop in a former paper factory, the designer concocts funky furniture from disused materials, as well as luxe hotel interiors like the new Mix Brussels.
Rock Your Cares Away on This Sunny Hand-Crocheted Swing
The boho-chic Enchanted Forest Swing, handmade by marginalized women from Turkey and Syria, is uplifting in every way.
Learn Why Designer Maarten Baas Set This Charles Rennie Mackintosh Chair on Fire
What happens when you do something to a piece of furniture that you shouldn’t? It becomes an entirely new object.
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.