Pair of 19th Century French Empire Wing-Back Armchairs
Located in Troy, NY
Exceptional Pair of late Empire Period Chairs, of Comfortable Size and Flowing Movement of Form. The accentuated wings beautifully complementing the wavy movement of the back and bac...
Brass
Sold
H 36.5 in W 23.5 in D 26 in
Antique French Empire Giltwood Winged Griffin Needlepoint Inlay Parlor Arm Chair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique French Empire giltwood winged Griffin needlepoint and inlay parlor arm chair.
Fabric, Mahogany
Sold
H 38 in W 18 in D 21.5 in
Pair of French Empire Winged Lion Gilt Bronze Ormolu-Mounted Side Chairs
Located in Roslyn, NY
A wonderful pair of French Empire / neoclassical winged lion and paw feet gilt doré bronze, ormolu mounted side chairs with new red velvet upholstery.
Bronze, Ormolu
Regal Pair of French Giltwood Winged Bergeres
Located in Southampton, NJ
Luxurious and exceptional pair of 19th century French Empire hand-carved winged giltwood bergeres. Incredible detail and workmanship. Newly upholstered in a deep royal blue velvet. A...
Velvet, Giltwood
French Empire Gold Gilded Winged Shell Klismos Chairs
By Gianni Versace
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Phenomenal pair of elegant Klismos chairs from France, circa 1930s. Antique gold gilded finish with magnificent rose garden upholstery. Large size and very comfortable. These chai...
19th Century French Wing Back Chair
Located in San Marino, CA
A lovely 19th century French wingback chair. Neutral upholstery, removable cushion and great carved details on a dark-wood frame.
Set of Four Thomas Britt French Empire Style and Ormolu Winged Fauteuils
By Thomas Britt
Located in Westport, CT
Set of four Thomas Britt French empire style and ormolu winged fauteuils. Thomas Britt world renowned designer.
Amazing Napoleon III Clock Empire French 19th Century
By Empire Furniture
Located in Madrid, ES
Amazing Napoleon III Clock Empire French 19th Century 50cm x 26cm x 15cm good condition
Bronze
$10,625
H 42 in W 102 in D 60 in
Rare Antique Victorian Walnut Tufted Serpentine Parlor Corner Sofa Settee Couch
Located in Dayton, OH
Monumental Victorian corner parlor sofa featuring serpentine walnut frame with S scroll carved and padded arms. Features queen anne legs and tufted upholstery. Circa 1870s 102" W ...
Velvet, Walnut
Period English Regency Hardwood Recamier in Manner of Marsh and Tatham
By Marsh and Tatham
Located in Essex, MA
Period English Regency Recamier in Manner of Marsh and Tatham Neoclassical Form with wonderful modern length. Egyptian Revival Palmette at foot and Scrolled backrest Four fluted le...
Hardwood
$38,950Sale Price / set|48% Off
H 54.25 in W 37.25 in D 32 in
Pair of Palatial Venetian Walnut Carved Mid-19th Century Baroque Figural Thrones
By Valentino Besarel
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very fine pair of palatial Venetian walnut carved mid-19th century Baroque figural throne armchairs, attributed to Valentino Panciera Besarel (Venice, 1829-1902) in the manner of A...
Leather, Walnut
$2,877Sale Price|55% Off
H 40.95 in W 90.56 in D 27.56 in
Decorative and Architectural Biedermeier Sofa in Birch
Located in Kastrup, DK
Decorative and architectural Biedermeier sofa in birch, Copenhagen Denmark , 1820-1830. Upholstered with black fabric.
Birch, Fabric
French 18th Century Louis XV Painted & Gilt Queen Bed
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A quality Louis XV Period carved and gold gilt queen bed frame. The four piece frame has classic carvings of Rococo influenced Louis XV style with flamboyant carvings and gold gilt c...
Gold
$15,500
H 86 in W 85.5 in D 74 in
Antique American 4 Poster Acanthus Carved Southern Bed in Mahogany, c. 1820
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
Period Antique Federal American 4 poster bed in West Indies mahogany, c. 1820. A fine example of a Southern bed featuring carved tobacco and acanthus leaves in a fine tight grained C...
Mahogany
Empire Canopy Bed Napoleon III 19th Century
By Empire Furniture
Located in Madrid, ES
Empire Canopy bed France Napoleon III From the 19th Century, In mahogany wood with appliqués in gilded bronze and classical figures. Fluted columns with Corinthian capitals. Ceilin...
Wood
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Daybed
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Antique Early 19th century French Empire daybed.
Bronze
18th Century Venetian Sofa
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
Elegant 18th Century walnut Venetian sofa in the rococo manner. With outswept arms and raised on cabriole legs recently reupholstered in grey woollen cloth.
Walnut
$11,297Sale Price|25% Off
H 49.22 in W 77.56 in D 33.86 in
Restoration period mahogany-veneered sofa bed with canopy
Located in Paris, FR
Restoration-period mahogany-veneered boat-shaped sofa-bed with slightly inverted headboard. The front is soberly adorned with an ormolu plaque featuring scrolls and fleurons framing ...
Bronze
Empire period bed with its canopy
Located in Paris, FR
Empire period bed in solid mahogany and mahogany veneer, richly decorated with finely chased and gilded bronzes, with its canopy. The front of the bed features a lyre in the center, ...
Bronze
Pair of African Chairs, King's Seat
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
Chairs in wood year: 1940 The quality of the chairs and the exotic wood used they make them unique. It is an icon of distinction. Hehe Carving elegant legged stool, are considered e...
Wood
$10,500
H 47 in W 87 in D 31 in
18th Century French Louis XV Carved Giltwood Canapé with Aubusson Tapestry
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a living room, grand entryway, or salon with this exceptional antique Louis XV sofa from the annexes of the Château de Versailles. Crafted in France circa 1760, the hand-car...
Tapestry, Giltwood
$11,478
H 28.75 in W 38 in D 21.07 in
Fine 19th Century Gillows Parquetry and Gilt Bronze Kidney Shaped Table
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in Benington, Herts
An extremely fine gilt bronze mounted parquetry kidney shaped writing table attributed to Gillows of Lancaster. English Circa 1865 The rosewood lozenge trellis inlaid kidney shape...
Bronze
Antique Austrian Walnut Center Table with Star Veneer, Circa 1820
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An early 19th Century, antique Austrian center table made of hand crafted shellac polished, partly veneered Walnut, in good condition. The round Viennese salon table is composed with...
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.