Empire Metal Chairs
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Pair of Empire Style Ormolu-Mounted Lacquered Metal Curule Chairs
Located in London, GB
The curved seats mounted with ormolu eagle heads on each armrest, with ormolu feet modelled as an eagle foot on globe.
Category
20th Century French Empire Chairs
Materials
Ormolu, Metal
H 38.59 in. W 50.01 in. D 19.69 in.
Pair of French Empire Style Campaign Chairs
Located in New York, NY
A pair of French Empire style Campaign chairs. The pliant metal frame with brass lion's paw feet mounts and saber form legs designed to fold and accommodate fabric upholstery over th...
Category
Vintage 1920s French Empire Chairs
H 35 in. W 16 in. D 29 in.
19th Century Second Empire Mahogany Tub Arm Desk Chair
Located in London, GB
This is a beautiful antique French mahogany second empire "fauteuil du bureau", desk chair, circa 1850 in date.
It has a curved leather padded back and an upholstered leather seat...
Category
Antique 1850s French Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Materials
Mahogany, Leather
H 31.11 in. W 23.23 in. D 19.3 in.
Russian or Baltic Empire Desk or Corner Chairs With Stenciled Leather Seats
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Russian or Baltic Empire desk chairs or corner chairs with curved backs in partly ebonized wood with metal inlay elements, the upholstered seat raised on square legs tapering...
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Russian Empire Corner Chairs
Materials
Leather, Wood
H 30 in. W 25.5 in. D 24 in.
Set of Ten Ormolu Mounted Classical French Empire Style Dining Chairs
Located in Rochester, NY
A perfectly matched set of ten classical French Empire style dining room chairs - all with finely detailed brass metal ormolu mounts at backs, legs and feet - the wood frames with a...
Category
20th Century Unknown Empire Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Wood
H 36 in. W 19 in. D 19 in.
French Empire Fauteuil by Ébéniste Jacob-Desmalter, circa 1820
By François-Honoré-Georges Jacob-Desmalter
Located in Dallas, TX
From the workshop of Paris cabinetmaker / ébéniste Jacob-Desmalter (1770-1841), stamped "IACOB", a handsome Empire fauteuil / armchair with square back, ribbed arms and legs accented...
Category
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Chairs
Materials
Wood
H 35.5 in. W 25 in. D 19.5 in.
19th Century French Second Empire Style "Chaise Percée" Toilet / Commode Chair
Located in Madrid, ES
This late 19th century French Napoleon III (or Second Empire) style "throne" is a fine example of elegant furniture making meeting functional necessity. Known as a "Chaise Percée" or...
Category
Antique Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Lounge Chairs
Materials
Metal
H 37.01 in. W 23.63 in. D 21.26 in.
Pair of Empire Style Bergeres with Swans Heads
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Gilt painted swans heads. Pink damask upholstery. Metal mounts and claw feet.
Category
20th Century Bergere Chairs
H 39 in. W 25.25 in. D 28.25 in.
19th Century Garden Patio kitchen Chairs side hallway seats Los Angeles Antiques
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Set of six late 19th century Garden Patio chairs.
"Belle Époque" France. They can be sold as 3 separate pairs.
The chairs were handmade and carved beautifully and therefore variation...
Category
Antique Late 19th Century French Belle Époque Chairs
Materials
Metal
H 32 in. W 15.25 in. D 20 in.
Rider Peacock Velvet Side Chair
By Jonathan Adler
Located in New York, NY
Parisian Flair. Perfect for the head of the table or flanking a console for a stately presence. Made from a chic blackened metal frame with swanky details—sizable acrylic finials, br...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Empire Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Nickel
H 38.5 in. W 25 in. D 22 in.
21st Century Chiavarina Dining Chair, Beige Velvet Cushion and Brass Cast Foot
Located in Oporto, PT
1. Product description:
The “Chiavarina” dining chair is made of polished brass and high-end velvet tissue which enhances the comfort of this piece. After smelting, a process known ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Brass
H 38.19 in. W 17.33 in. D 22.64 in.
Large Pair of Spanish Empire Style 7-Light Crystal-Cut Chandeliers
Located in Berlin, DE
Large Pair of Spanish Empire Style 7-Light Crystal-Cut Chandeliers, in the Style of the Spanish Royal Factory of Glass and Crystal of La Granja
A large pair of Empire style 7-light ...
Category
Antique Late 19th Century Spanish Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Crystal, Metal
H 49.61 in. Dm 36.23 in.
Antique French Empire Mahogany & Ormolu Mounted Armchair, Early 19th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a splendid early 19th century French Empire mahogany armchair with ormolu mounts and raised on square tapered legs that terminate in carved paw feet.
The mahogany is excepti...
Category
Antique 1810s French Empire Armchairs
Materials
Ormolu
H 36.23 in. W 24.02 in. D 24.41 in.
Antique French Second Empire Study Suite-Bookcase Desk Pair of Armchairs
Located in London, GB
This is an antique French Second Empire flame mahogany library suite consisting of a fine bookcase, a desk and a pair of armchairs with fabulous matching ormolu mounts, circa 1880 in...
Category
Antique 1880s French Empire Bookcases
Materials
Ormolu
H 74.41 in. W 74.02 in. D 17.72 in.
Important Empire Early 19th Century Fauteuil by Jean-Joseph Chapuis
By Jean Joseph Chapuis
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
Despite his long life, very little is known about the general production of menuisier (chairmaker) Jean-Joseph Chapuis and even less about his use of bent laminates, which must be vi...
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Belgian Empire Armchairs
Materials
Cane, Bentwood
H 35.04 in. W 21.66 in. D 21.66 in.
Large French Napoleon III Empire Style Dining Table Bronze Mounts Part Suite
Located in London, GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this very fine mahogany, gilt bronze dining table in the French Napoleon III Empire style
This table is part of a suite, I have the matching sui...
Category
20th Century French Napoleon III Dining Room Tables
Materials
Mahogany
H 29.14 in. W 104.73 in. D 51.19 in.
Rare French Empire Napoleon I Mahogany circa 1800 Swivel Armchair Lion Paw Feet
Located in London, GB
We are delighted to offer for sale very rare circa 1800 French Empire Napoleon I heavy solid mahogany swivel chair with Lion paw feet
A rare and good looking well made chair, its ...
Category
Antique Early 1800s French French Provincial Armchairs
Materials
Mahogany
H 38.98 in. W 25.99 in. D 28.35 in.
Oscar Bach, Arts & Crafts Gilt Bronze & Enamel-Painted Metal Wall Mirror, 1900s
By Oscar Bruno Bach
Located in New York, NY
Oscar bach
Wall mirror
Arts & Crafts
Gilt bronze and enamel-painted sheet metal
1900s
Dimensions:
Height 37 inches, width 20.5 inches, depth 1 inch
Oscar Bruno Bach (German/...
Category
Antique Early 1900s American Arts and Crafts Wall Mirrors
Materials
Bronze
H 37 in. W 20.5 in. D 1 in.
"Slot" Wall and Ceiling Lamp Designed by David Chipperfield for FontanaArte
By David Chipperfield, Fontana Arte
Located in New York, NY
"Slot" is an architectural wall and ceiling lighting system, designed by David Chipperfield and manufactured by FontanaArte, featuring a series of recessed wall or ceiling lamps for ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Flush Mount
Materials
Metal
H 59.45 in. W 3.74 in. D 3.74 in.
Pair of Austrian Secessionist Side Armchairs by Koloman Moser for J & J Kohn
By Koloman Moser, Jacob & Josef Kohn
Located in New York City, NY
A fine pair of Austrian Secessionist bentwood chairs for a salon / living room, office, bedroom, foyer... in walnut stained beechwood with upholstered seat and back.
Designed by Ko...
Category
Early 20th Century Austrian Vienna Secession Armchairs
Materials
Bentwood
H 34.5 in. W 20.5 in. D 19.5 in.
Hand Carved 4-Poster Indo-Portuguese Style Bed
By JB Freeman
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This Queen size 4-poster bed is hand carved with elaborate details, spiral turned post, 3D open spiral twist spindles, and Moorish details represented by the repetition of arches. It...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Moorish Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Hardwood
H 87.5 in. W 67.5 in. D 87 in.
3-Piece Secessionist Salon Set by Koloman Moser for J & J Kohn
By Koloman Moser, Jacob & Josef Kohn
Located in New York City, NY
A fine three piece Austrian Secessionist bentwood salon set / living room suite in light walnut stained beechwood with upholstered seat and back.
Designed by Koloman Moser, (March 3...
Category
Early 20th Century Austrian Vienna Secession Living Room Sets
Materials
Beech
H 34.5 in. W 47 in. D 23 in.
19th Century Pair Second Empire Mahogany Tub Arm Desk Chair
Located in London, GB
This is a fabulous pair of antique French Second Empire mahogany and ormolu mounted armchairs, circa 1880 in date.
The mahogany is beautiful in colour and has been embellished with...
Category
Antique 1880s French Empire Armchairs
Materials
Ormolu
H 31.5 in. W 23.63 in. D 21.66 in.
Antique French Empire Revival Mahogany Three-Piece Salon Suite 19th C
Located in London, GB
This is a fabulous and highly decorative antique French Empire three-piece salon suite, comprising a sofa and a pair of armchairs, circa 1880 in date.
It has been crafted from fabul...
Category
Antique 1880s French Empire Sofas
Materials
Ormolu
H 40.16 in. W 49.61 in. D 22.45 in.
American Empire Style Side Chairs
Located in New York, NY
A set of four Jansen inspired American metal Empire style side chairs with upholstered seat and back, having saber formed legs joined by stretchers with brass rosettes.
Category
Vintage 1950s American Chairs
Materials
Metal
H 33 in. W 17 in. D 22 in.
A Pair of French Empire Style Campaign Chairs
Located in New York, NY
A pair of French Empire style campaign chairs. The pliant metal frame with brass lion's paw feet mounts and saber form legs designed to fold and accommodate fabric upholstery over th...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Chairs
H 35 in. W 16 in. D 29 in.
Vintage Swedish Empire Side Chairs
By Nordiska Kompaniet
Located in Brentwood, TN
A fine pair of Swedish Empire style occasional chairs, very decorative space fillers. Beautifully flamed mahogany backs centered with an oval chocolate brown Ralph Lauren velvet. A d...
Category
Early 20th Century Swedish Empire Side Chairs
H 33.5 in. W 17.5 in. D 18.5 in.
French Empire Style Iron and Velvet Chair
Located in Troy, MI
1920s French black iron frame armchair featuring brass accents, black brushed velvet upholstery, padded arms, and twisted metal stretchers. Seat is 19.5” high and 13.5” deep. Arms ar...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Chairs
Materials
Wrought Iron, Brass
H 35 in. W 19.5 in. D 17 in.
Fine French Empire Mahognay And Ormolu Tub Chair
Located in Buchanan, MI
Fine Empire Mahogany And Ormolu Tub Chair, concave backrest with simple scroll top having finely carved rams head armrests, over the ormolu mounts and carved scrolling gilt wood high...
Category
20th Century French Chairs
Materials
Metal
H 31 in. Dm 25 in.
Empire Style Side Chairs
Located in Great Barrington, MA
Pair of Empire Neoclassical chairs with lyre back motif. Wonderful metal decorations, caned seats.
Category
Antique 19th Century French Side Chairs
Materials
Brass
H 34 in. W 18 in. D 18 in.
Antique French Sleigh Back Second Empire circa 1852 Mahogany Chairs Period Pair
Located in London, GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely pair of period Second Empire Sleigh back circa 1852 French mahogany chairs with gold ormolu Lion legs and original upholstery
A really...
Category
Antique 1850s French Empire Chairs
Materials
Metal
H 32.68 in. W 20.08 in. D 19.89 in.
Antique French Empire Revolving Desk Chair, circa 1870
Located in London, GB
This is a beautiful antique and very comfortable French Empire mahogany revolving desk chair, circa 1870 in date.
The mahogany is beautiful in colour and has been embellished with...
Category
Antique 1870s French Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
H 37.01 in. W 24.41 in. D 27.17 in.
French Empire Mahogany Armchair in Yellow Snakeprint Edelman Leather
Located in New York, NY
This French Empire period armchair is finely hewn mahogany. The sensuous design includes cabriole legs and carved floral back rail. Retractable metal supports beneath the arms sugges...
Category
Antique 19th Century French Empire Chairs
Materials
Leather, Mahogany
H 34.5 in. W 28 in. D 20 in.
Antique Empire Style Eight Mahogany Ormolu Chairs, circa 1920
Located in London, GB
This is an elegant antique set of eight mahogany dining chairs in the fabulous Empire style, circa 1920 in date.
The mahogany is beautiful in colour and has been embellished with...
Category
Early 20th Century French Dining Room Chairs
H 37.01 in. W 19.69 in. D 21.26 in.
Napoleon III Style Petite Black Lacquer Tapestry Chair, France ON SALE
Located in CH
Louis Napoleon Bonaparte (1808-1873) was Emperor of France from 1852-1870 under the name of Napoleon III. In a way, the artistic codes of the Napoleon III style — also called Second ...
Category
Antique 1890s French Napoleon III Chairs
Materials
Wood
H 32.29 in. W 15.75 in. D 14.97 in.
Russian Neoclassical Revival Style Dining Chairs
Located in New York, NY
Russian neoclassical or Empire Revival style set of carved wood and metal dining chairs, set of 8, with animal pattern print upholstery. In great vintage condition with age-appropria...
Category
Late 20th Century Russian Neoclassical Revival Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Upholstery, Wood
H 37 in. W 19 in. L 37 in.
19th Century Set of Four Napoleon III Mahogany & Ormolu Armchairs
Located in London, GB
This is a beautiful antique set of four Napoleon III mahogany fauteiul or open-armchairs in the fabulous Empire Style, circa 1850 in date.
The mahogany is beautiful in color and ...
Category
Antique 1850s Napoleon III Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Materials
Ormolu
H 38.59 in. W 25.6 in. D 22.05 in.
19th Century Pair of Napoleon III Mahogany and Ormolu Armchairs
Located in London, GB
This is a beautiful antique pair of Napoleon III mahogany fauteiul or open-arm chairs in the fabulous Empire Style, circa 1850 in date.
The mahogany is beautiful in colour and ha...
Category
Antique 1850s Napoleon III Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Materials
Ormolu
H 38.59 in. W 25.6 in. D 22.05 in.
19th Century Napoleon III Mahogany and Ormolu Armchair
Located in London, GB
This is a beautiful antique Napoleon III mahogany fauteiul or open armchair in the fabulous Empire Style, circa 1850 in date.
The mahogany is beautiful in colour and has been emb...
Category
Antique 1850s Napoleon III Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Materials
Ormolu
H 38.59 in. W 25.6 in. D 22.05 in.
Set of 6 Empire Style Arm Chairs
Located in Great Barrington, MA
The six armchairs feature brass feet, handholds and finials with iron for legs and other supporting structure. Cushion seat and fabric back. These chairs were made to go with the e...
Category
20th Century American Armchairs
Materials
Brass, Iron
H 37.25 in. W 22.5 in. D 18.5 in.
Antique S. Karpen & Brothers American Empire Mahogany Parlor Settee & Chair Set
By Karpen & Bros.
Located in Dayton, OH
"S. Karpen & Bros (1880-1951)
The 9 Karpen brother immigrated to America from Prussia in 1872. By 1880 the eldest son Solomon had enough money to open a furniture workshop. From t...
Category
Early 20th Century American Empire Living Room Sets
Materials
Mahogany, Upholstery
H 41.5 in. W 26 in. D 58.5 in.
Pair French Empire Style Iron and Velvet Chairs
Located in Troy, MI
Pair of circa 1920 French black finish iron frame armchairs have brass accents, black velvet brushed velvet upholstery, padded arms, and twisted metal stretchers.
Arm Height: 27”
...
Category
Early 20th Century French Armchairs
Materials
Iron, Brass
H 35 in. W 19.5 in. D 17 in.
Rare Pair of French Empire circa 1880 Napoleon III Armchairs Gilt Metal Fittings
Located in London, GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning pair of original French Empire circa 1880 Napoleon III armchairs with original upholstery and gilt metal fittings
A very good look...
Category
Antique 1880s French Napoleon III Armchairs
Materials
Upholstery, Mahogany
H 36.82 in. W 23.04 in. D 23.04 in.
Cast Metal Arm Chairs In Copper Lacquer With Centurion Relief
Located in Chicago, IL
Expertly cast and clad in a copper lacquer, these turn of the century English garden seats are so elegant they could work indoors as well as out. The crisp detailed casting of the Ro...
Category
Early 20th Century English Armchairs
Materials
Metal
H 32.50 in. W 24 in. D 23 in.
Empire Style Suite of Furniture with Swan Carved Supports
Located in Hudson, NY
Empire style late 19th-early 20th century furniture suite consisting of a pair of chairs and a settee. The chairs and settee of mahogany with gilt-metal mounts.
The chairs and sette...
Category
Antique 1880s French Empire Living Room Sets
H 36 in. W 44 in. D 26 in.
Antique Empire Revival Mahogany and Ormolu Mounted Armchair 19th Century
Located in London, GB
A beautiful late 19th century French Empire Revival mahogany armchair with ormolu mounts, and raised on square block legs.
The mahogany is beautiful in colour and has been embelli...
Category
Antique 1890s French Empire Revival Armchairs
Materials
Ormolu
H 38.19 in. W 25.2 in. D 21.66 in.
Antique French Empire Revival Ormolu-Mounted 5-Piece Salon Suite, 19th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a fantastic and highly decorative antique French gilt bronze mounted Empire Revival five-piece salon suite, comprising a sofa, a pair of fauteuil armchairs and a pair of side...
Category
Antique 1880s French Empire Revival Sofas
Materials
Ormolu
H 38.19 in. W 48.82 in. D 23.23 in.
Vintage Pair of Empire Revival Mahogany and Ormolu Armchairs by Charles Barr
Located in London, GB
This is a beautiful pair of Empire Revival mahogany armchairs by the renowned cabinet maker, Charles Barr and dating from the late 20th century.
The mahogany is a beautiful rich ...
Category
Vintage 1980s Empire Revival Armchairs
Materials
Ormolu
H 40.16 in. W 24.02 in. D 24.81 in.
Set of 8 Curule Iron Indoor/Outdoor Dining Chairs
Located in Great Barrington, MA
Set of 8 very handsome cast iron indoor or outdoor curule empire style dining chairs. Wonderful proportions and very comfortable.<br />
<br />
Keywords: garden chair, metal chair...
Category
20th Century American Armchairs
Materials
Iron
H 36 in. W 22 in. D 22 in.
Ormolu-Mounted Dining Table, Chairs and Commode
Located in London, GB
This is a very impressive and rare French extending dining table in neoclassical Louis XVI style with the original set of eight ormolu-mounted dining chairs and ormolu-mounted commod...
Category
Late 20th Century French Dining Room Sets
H 30.71 in. W 116.15 in. D 46.46 in.
Italian Savonarola Iron Armchair
Located in Great Barrington, MA
Neo-Gothic style Italian metal armchair with leather seat and back.
Keywords: neoclassical chair, Gothic, Empire style dining chair, garden chair.
Category
Antique 19th Century Italian Gothic Armchairs
Materials
Metal, Brass
H 31.5 in. W 24 in. D 19 in.
Danish Midcentury Dining Set in Cuban Mahogany by Master, Georg Kofoed
By Georg Kofoed
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Beautiful very elegant empire style dining set consisting of an extension table and six dining chairs - two armchairs and four side chairs all made in Denmark around 1950 by Danish M...
Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Sets
Materials
Mahogany
H 29 in. W 95 in. D 37 in.
Austrian Biedermeier Three-Drawer Chest: Circa 1830
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This handsome Biedermeier three-drawer chest was made in Austria around 1830. It has an inlaid marquetry octagram star on the top and diamonds around the key holes. The wood has me...
Category
Antique 1830s Austrian Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Wood
H 32 in. W 32.25 in. D 17.25 in.
Pair of Italian Wrought Iron Stools With Leather Seats
Located in Asheville, NC
This noble pair of X-frame stools were crafted in the Italian Savonarola style. The frames are brass and wrought iron; they feature thick brown leather slings with with woven leathe...
Category
20th Century Italian Stools
Materials
Brass, Wrought Iron
H 34.5 in. W 24 in. D 26 in.
Set of Elegant Wrought-Iron Dining Furniture
By Leinfelder
Located in Katonah, NY
A suite of wrought-iron furniture manufactured by Leinfelder & Sons of Lacrosse, WI, comprised of one curved settee, one round dining table, and two armchairs, circa 1930. Table is 2...
Category
Vintage 1930s American Regency Patio and Garden Furniture
Materials
Wrought Iron
H 29 in. Dm 48 in.
Antique French Empire Brass Inlaid Desk Music Chair, circa 1880
Located in London, GB
This is a beautiful antique French Empire flame mahogany desk chair with Russian influences, circa 1880 in date.
The flame mahogany is beautiful in color and has been embellished ...
Category
Antique 1880s French Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
H 30.32 in. W 22.05 in. D 18.12 in.
Pair of Ottoman Empire Mother-of-Pearl Inlaid Side Chairs
Located in Stamford, CT
Impressive pair of mother-of-pearl and metal inlaid chairs with intricate hardwood turnings. The skill and time that went into creating these chairs is remarkable. Each with a crest ...
Category
Early 20th Century Turkish Moorish Side Chairs
Materials
Mother-of-Pearl
H 49 in. W 18 in. D 22 in.
Set of 8 French Napoleon III Empire Style Dining Chairs Bronze Mounts Part Suite
Located in London, GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this very fine suite of eight mahogany, gilt bronze and silk upholstered dining chairs in the French Napoleon III Empire style
The chairs are ex...
Category
Antique Early 1900s French Napoleon III Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Silk, Mahogany
H 36.03 in. W 17.72 in. D 18.12 in.
Important Carved Chair with Tiger and Mithun Head Decoration
Located in Chicago, IL
Rough textured and rustic as Naga tribe pieces tend to be these bucket seats are unique given the extra embellishments. The detailed carving of the tiger-form armrests and mithun bul...
Category
20th Century Indian Tribal Furniture
Materials
Wood
H 39 in. W 24.5 in. D 19 in.
Oscar Bach, Arts & Crafts Gilt Wrought Iron and Marble Pedestal, 1900s
By Oscar Bruno Bach
Located in New York, NY
Dimensions:
Height 41.5”
Marble top diameter 6” (with frame: 9.5”)
Base diameter 13”.
Oscar Bruno Bach (German/American 1884 - 1957), a German-born artisan, who was one of ...
Category
Antique Early 1900s American Arts and Crafts More Dining and Entertaining
Materials
Wrought Iron
H 41.5 in. Dm 13 in.
Empire Metal Chairs For Sale on 1stDibs
There is a range of empire metal chairs for sale on 1stDibs. Frequently made of wood, metal and mahogany, all empire metal chairs available were constructed with great care. There are 17 antique and vintage empire metal chairs for sale at 1stDibs, while we also have 3 modern editions to choose from as well. There are all kinds of empire metal chairs available, from those produced as long ago as the 19th Century to those made as recently as the 21st Century. Empire metal chairs made by Empire designers — as well as those associated with Modern — are very popular at 1stDibs. Jean Joseph Chapuis, David Chipperfield and Fontana Arte each produced beautiful empire metal chairs that are worth considering.
How Much are Empire Metal Chairs?
Prices for empire metal chairs can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, empire metal chairs begin at $1,211 and can go as high as $35,367, while the average can fetch as much as $5,468.
Finding the Right Seating for You
With entire areas of our homes reserved for “sitting rooms,” the value of quality lounge furniture cannot be overstated. Fortunately, the design of side chairs, armchairs and other seating — 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 styles in our expansive collection of lounge chairs, dining chairs and other furnishings — whether they’re vintage editions or alluring 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 antique, new and vintage seating on 1stDibs is surely worthy of a standing ovation.
