Frame Only High Back Wing Chair
Early 20th Century Chesterfield Wingback Chairs
Leather
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Bouclé, Wood, Fabric
Antique Early 1900s Austrian Art Nouveau Pitchers
Metal
Antique Early 1900s Austrian Art Nouveau Table Mirrors
Metal
Vintage 1920s Austrian Art Deco Mobiles and Kinetic Sculptures
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs
Ash, Leather, Fabric, Velvet, Birch
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21st Century and Contemporary French Brutalist Night Stands
Oak
2010s Austrian Jugendstil Chandeliers and Pendants
Silk
2010s American Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Brass, Bronze, Enamel, Nickel
2010s American Flush Mount
Brass
2010s French Modern Chairs
Oak
Vintage 1940s French Mid-Century Modern Club Chairs
Wood
Antique Early 1900s American Art Nouveau Architectural Elements
Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Benches
Fabric, Velvet, Lacquer, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary English Modern Armchairs
Leather
Antique Mid-19th Century English Victorian Taxidermy
Animal Skin, Glass, Plaster, Feathers
Antique Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Shelves and Wall Cabinets
Fruitwood, Walnut
Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Table Lamps
Glass
Antique 1880s English Kilim Armchairs
Upholstery, Hardwood
Vintage 1940s Danish Scandinavian Modern Wingback Chairs
Sheepskin, Beech
20th Century English Victorian Armchairs
Leather
Vintage 1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wardrobes and Armoires
Chestnut
Recent Sales
Early 20th Century British Baroque Wingback Chairs
Leather, Wood
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Metal
1760s Old Masters Portrait Paintings
Oil
Antique Late 18th Century British George III Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Wood, Oak
Early 20th Century American Armchairs
Leather, Mahogany
Mid-20th Century English Chippendale Armchairs
Leather, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary British Victorian Wingback Chairs
Leather
Antique Early 18th Century English George I Wingback Chairs
Leather
Antique 19th Century William IV Stools
Mahogany
Mid-20th Century British Georgian Wingback Chairs
Wood, Leather
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Side Chairs
Leather, Walnut
Antique Late 19th Century Chinese Chinese Chippendale Armchairs
Hardwood
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Wingback Chairs
Leather, Oak
Antique 18th Century and Earlier English Chairs
Vintage 1930s British Victorian Chairs
Velvet, Oak
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Teak
Antique 18th Century George III Armchairs
Oak
Antique 1830s English William IV Armchairs
Mahogany
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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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.