Arts & Crafts Metamorphic Library Steps Folding Ladder Chair, Vienna, 1900s
Located in Vienna, AT
Commonly referred to in Viennese dialect as an „Ottakringer", the chair easily transforms into a compact library ladder or step chair with a simple folding mechanism.
Brass
20th Century French Hand Carved Oak Folding Chair Convertible to a Ladder
Located in Sofia, BG
Made in the beginning of 20th century in France this antique ladder chair hand painted in beige is functional as seating or as a library and kitchen ladder. The chair easily converts...
Oak
$175Sale Price / item|30% Off
Vintage Romanian Wood Slats Ladder Back Folding Chairs
Located in Germantown, MD
Vintage wood slat seat mid century modern folding dining game chairs. Item features wood slat seats, folding chairs, solid wood construction, beautiful wood grain, very nice vintage ...
Hardwood
Set of Four Antique Wooden Folding Chairs
By Peter M. Kenny
Located in East Freetown, MA
Set of four vintage wooden folding chairs. Two chairs have ladder backs, two have vertical slatted backs.
Wood
Early 20th Century French Carved Walnut Folding Ladder Chair from Provence
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a library with this artisan-made fruitwood folding step ladder chair; crafted in Southern France circa 1900, the metamorphic chair with three carved ladders in the back, is ...
Walnut
Sold
H 36.5 in W 15 in D 16 in
French Artisan-Made Walnut Folding Ladder Chair Library Ladder, circa 1900
Located in Fayetteville, AR
From the region of Provence in Southern France, this artisan-made walnut folding chair is hinged so that it can convert into a step ladder.
Walnut
Vintage Metamorphic Indian Wooden Step Ladder Folding Side Chair
Located in Yonkers, NY
A vintage Indian metamorphic wooden ladder chair from the mid-20th century. Created in India during the midcentury period, this convenient chair features a slanted slatted back flowi...
Wood
19th Century French Carved Beech Wood Chair Folding Step Ladder
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a library or study with this artisan-made folding step ladder chair. Crafted in Southern France circa 1880, the metamorphic chair features two carved ladders in the back wit...
Beech
19th Century French Carved Beech Wood Chair Folding Step Ladder
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a library or study with this artisan-made folding step ladder chair. Crafted in Southern France circa 1880, the metamorphic chair features two carved ladders in the back wit...
Beech
Early 20th Century French Carved Chestnut Chair Folding Step Ladder
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a library or study with this artisan-made folding step ladder chair. Crafted in Southern France circa 1920, the metamorphic chair features two carved ladders in the back; th...
Chestnut
Sold
H 34 in W 17.75 in D 17 in
19th Century French Country Carved Oak Metamorphic Folding Chair Step Ladder
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a library or study with this artisan-made folding step ladder chair. Crafted in Southern France circa 1890, the antique metamorphic chair features four carved ladders in the...
Oak
Sold
H 34 in W 17.5 in L 34 in
Metamorphic Vintage Dutch Colonial Teak Wood Step Ladder Folding Side Chair
Located in Yonkers, NY
A vintage Indonesian teak wood Dutch Colonial metamorphic ladder chair from the midcentury period. This exquisite and convenient teak wood step ladder features a linear silhouette, a...
Teak
Vintage French Foldable Step Stool Chair
Located in High Point, NC
Pragmatic yet whimsical, this delightful set of chair steps is a unique piece of metamorphic furniture. Made in France at the turn of the century, the seemingly simple country chair ...
Wood
Sold
H 43 in W 16 in D 14 in
Early 20th Century French Carved Beech Folding Ladder Chair from Provence
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a library or study with this artisan-made folding step ladder chair. Crafted in Southern France circa 1900, the metamorphic chair has two carved ladders in the back and is h...
Beech
Black Metamorphic Library Steps Folding Ladder Chair, Germany, 1970s
Located in Vienna, AT
This versatile piece of furniture is both highly practical and full of character. With a simple folding mechanism, the chair easily transforms into a compact library ladder or step c...
Wood
Sold
H 35.25 in W 15.25 in D 15 in
French Artisan-Made Oak Folding Ladder Chair or Library Ladder, circa 1900
Located in Fayetteville, AR
From the region of Provence in southern France, this artisan-made oak folding chair is hinged so that it can convert into a step ladder.
Oak
20th Century French Carved Cherry Chair Folding Step Ladder
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a library or study with this artisan-made folding step ladder chair. Crafted in Southern France circa 1960, the metamorphic chair features two carved ladders in the back; th...
Cherry
19th Century French Carved Walnut Chair Folding Step Ladder
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a library or study with this artisan-made folding step ladder chair. Crafted in Southern France circa 1880, the metamorphic chair features two carved ladders in the back; th...
Walnut
19th Century French Carved Walnut Step Ladder Folding Chair
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a library or study with this artisan-made folding step ladder chair. Crafted in Southern France circa 1880, the metamorphic chair features two carved ladders in the back wit...
Walnut
Sold
H 34.5 in W 18 in D 19 in
Vintage French Country Carved Oak Metamorphic Folding Chair Step Ladder
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a library or study with this artisan-made folding step ladder chair. Crafted in Southern France circa 1980, the metamorphic chair features three carved ladders in the back; ...
Cherry
19th Century French Carved Beech Wood Chair Folding Step Ladder
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a library or study with this artisan-made folding step ladder chair. Crafted in Southern France circa 1880, the metamorphic chair features two carved ladders in the back wit...
Beech
Sold
H 36.75 in W 17.75 in D 22 in
Mid-Century French Beech and Leather Metamorphic Folding Library Step Ladder
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a library or study with this elegant vintage chair/folding step ladder. Crafted in France circa 1970, the metamorphic folding library steps stands on curved legs secured wit...
Beech, Leather
Danish Folding Library-Steps Chair
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Scandinavian library chair that folds into library steps.
Wood
Sold
H 33.47 in W 17.13 in D 16.54 in
Vintage French Country Carved Oak Metamorphic Folding Chair Step Ladder
Located in Miami, FL
Decorate a library or study with this artisan-made folding step ladder chair. Crafted in Southern France circa 1950, the metamorphic chair features three carved ladders in the back; ...
Walnut
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.
Modern icons are showing up in gracefully layered dining nooks, living rooms and lounges — proof that great design only gets better with context.
Andrianna Shamaris has filled her epic new home with pieces of her own design.
Top interior designers show — and tell — us how to create delectable spaces for hosting dinner parties.
With its plush cushions, cane details and dazzlingly colorful back, it’s inviting from every angle.
You know the designs, now get the stories about how they came to be.
The plush Cove Slipper 2.5 Seater sofa is just one of many convenient combinations from the London-based maker.
Sam Klemick's cool stool is edgy, cozy and environmentally sustainable all at once.
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.