French Barley Twist Chairs
Antique 1870s French Renaissance Revival Chairs
Fabric, Oak
Early 20th Century French Renaissance Revival Dining Room Chairs
Fabric, Oak
Vintage 1920s French Country Dining Room Chairs
Wood
Vintage 1920s Renaissance Revival Dining Room Chairs
Upholstery, Oak
Antique Late 19th Century Renaissance Dining Room Chairs
Cane, Oak
Late 20th Century Louis XIII Dining Room Chairs
Cane, Mahogany
Antique 19th Century British Empire Chairs
Leather, Cane, Beech
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XIII Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Oak
Early 20th Century French Renaissance Revival Armchairs
Fabric, Oak
Antique Mid-19th Century French Renaissance Revival Chairs
Oak
Antique Late 19th Century Armchairs
Brass
Antique Late 19th Century French Adam Style Chairs
Leather, Oak
Antique Late 19th Century French Black Forest Chairs
Leather, Oak
Antique 1870s French Renaissance Armchairs
Fruitwood
Late 20th Century Louis XIII Armchairs
Leather, Walnut
Antique Late 19th Century French Edwardian Armchairs
Sheepskin, Oak
Antique 1880s French Renaissance Revival Center Tables
Oak
Antique 1880s French Renaissance Revival Center Tables
Oak
Antique 1880s French Renaissance Revival Dining Room Chairs
Leather, Hardwood
Antique Early 1900s French Renaissance Tables
Oak
Antique 1870s French Napoleon III Chairs
Fabric, Oak
Antique 19th Century French Louis XIII Sofa Tables
Oak
Antique Late 19th Century French Renaissance Side Chairs
Oak
Antique 1890s French Renaissance Revival End Tables
Oak
Antique 19th Century French Louis XIII Club Chairs
Upholstery, Walnut
Antique 17th Century French Louis XIII Stools
Bouclé, Walnut
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Armchairs
Upholstery, Walnut
Antique Late 19th Century Swedish Aesthetic Movement Desks and Writing T...
Brass
Antique 1870s French Napoleon III Sofas
Fabric, Oak
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2010s French Modern Chairs
Oak
2010s Italian Renaissance Wall Mirrors
Glass
2010s Austrian Jugendstil Chandeliers and Pendants
Silk
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs
Velvet, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Sofas
Velvet, Walnut
Mid-20th Century Belgian Dining Room Chairs
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Chairs
Brass
Vintage 1950s French Brutalist Dining Room Chairs
Rush, Oak
Antique 1720s Spanish Spanish Colonial Beds and Bed Frames
Oak
Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Dining Room Chairs
Cherry
Antique 1880s French Victorian Dining Room Chairs
Crocodile, Oak
Antique 19th Century English Renaissance Revival Dining Room Chairs
Metal
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Dining Room Chairs
Leather, Oak
Antique Late 19th Century Italian Renaissance Revival Dining Room Sets
Leather, Oak
2010s Belgian Modern Sofas
Linen
Antique 1880s French Napoleon III Sofas
Silk, Giltwood
Recent Sales
Antique Early 19th Century French Chairs
Leather, Wood, Walnut
Antique 19th Century French Chairs
Walnut
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Slipper Chairs
Upholstery, Oak
Early 20th Century French Dining Room Chairs
Early 20th Century French Chairs
Brass
Antique 19th Century French Chairs
Antique 17th Century French Louis XIII Side Chairs
Upholstery, Walnut
Antique 19th Century French Chairs
Leather
Antique Late 19th Century French Renaissance Revival Chairs
Tapestry, Walnut
Early 20th Century French French Provincial Chairs
Rush, Oak
Antique Late 19th Century French French Provincial Chairs
Upholstery, Oak
Vintage 1910s French Chairs
Oak
Antique 19th Century Louis XVI Bergere Chairs
Wood
Early 20th Century French Dining Room Chairs
Antique 19th Century French Dining Room Chairs
Oak
Early 20th Century French Louis XIII Dining Room Chairs
Upholstery, Walnut
Antique 19th Century French French Provincial Side Chairs
Oak
Antique 1890s French Louis XIII Side Chairs
Walnut
Antique 19th Century French Black Forest Side Chairs
Oak
Antique Late 19th Century French Renaissance Chairs
Tapestry, Oak
Early 20th Century French Dining Room Chairs
Walnut
Antique 1890s French Louis XIII Dining Room Chairs
Walnut
Vintage 1940s French French Provincial Dining Room Chairs
Cane, Oak
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XIV Chairs
Fabric, Oak
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XIV Chairs
Oak, Fabric
Early 20th Century French Renaissance Revival Dining Room Chairs
Mohair, Oak
Vintage 1930s French Country Dining Room Chairs
Antique Late 19th Century Renaissance Revival Club Chairs
Oak
Antique 1860s French Renaissance Revival Dining Room Chairs
Oak
Antique Early 1900s French French Provincial Chairs
Upholstery, Hardwood
Antique 19th Century French Chairs
Oak, Velvet
Antique 19th Century French Renaissance Chairs
Antique 19th Century French Chairs
Leather
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Chairs
Upholstery, Linen
Antique Late 19th Century French French Provincial Children's Furniture
Fabric, Wood
20th Century French Dining Room Chairs
Oak
Antique 19th Century French Louis XIII Side Chairs
Oak, Linen
Antique 19th Century French Renaissance Chairs
Walnut, Cane
Antique 19th Century French Louis XIII Armchairs
Brass
Antique 19th Century French Louis XIII Armchairs
Oak, Upholstery
Mid-20th Century French Provincial Stools
Wood, Leather
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis XIII Armchairs
Upholstery, Wood
Antique 1880s French Louis XIII Armchairs
Mohair, Oak
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Chairs
Oak
Antique Early 1900s French Renaissance Revival Center Tables
Oak
Antique Late 19th Century French Renaissance Dining Room Chairs
Wood
Antique 19th Century English Chairs
Antique Late 19th Century French French Provincial Armchairs
Leather, Oak
Antique Late 19th Century French Renaissance Dining Room Chairs
Leather, Wood
Antique 19th Century French Renaissance Center Tables
Oak
Antique Late 19th Century French Black Forest Armchairs
Oak, Leather
Antique 19th Century French Renaissance Center Tables
Oak
Antique 19th Century French Louis XIII Sofa Tables
Oak
Early 20th Century French Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Oak
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis XIII Dining Room Chairs
Oak
Antique Early 1900s French Louis XIII Tables
Oak
Antique Late 19th Century French Renaissance Revival Center Tables
Oak
Antique 19th Century French Louis XIII Center Tables
Oak
Antique 1890s French Renaissance Revival Center Tables
Oak
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis XIII Dining Room Chairs
Oak, Leather
French Barley Twist Chairs For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much are French Barley Twist 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.
Read More
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Fred Rigby’s Modular Seating Can Be Configured in So Many Handy Ways
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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.