Gilt Grotto Chair
2010s English Chairs
Mahogany
Vintage 1980s Spanish Rococo Armchairs
Wood
Recent Sales
Vintage 1970s Unknown Rococo Chairs
Mid-20th Century Italian Chairs
Wood
Late 20th Century North American Regency Chairs
Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century Italian Rococo Armchairs
Wood, Beech
Antique 19th Century Italian Armchairs
Vermeil, Silver
Mid-20th Century Italian Baroque Armchairs
Wood
20th Century Italian Baroque Chairs
Giltwood
20th Century Italian Side Chairs
Velvet, Wood, Beech
20th Century Italian Side Chairs
Velvet, Wood, Beech
Vintage 1930s Italian Stools
Wood, Paint
Antique 19th Century Italian Armchairs
Wood
Early 20th Century Italian Arts and Crafts Armchairs
Wood
Antique 19th Century Armchairs
Vintage 1940s French Armchairs
Vermeil, Silver
Antique 19th Century Italian Chairs
Wood
Antique 19th Century Italian Chairs
Antique Late 19th Century Italian Chairs
Gold Leaf, Silver Leaf
Antique 19th Century Italian Rocking Chairs
Giltwood
Antique 19th Century Italian Armchairs
Antique 19th Century Italian Rococo Armchairs
Wood, Gesso, Pigment
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21st Century and Contemporary English Classical Roman Console Tables
Gesso, Wood, Paint
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Cabinets
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Organic Modern Console Tables
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary American Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Iron
Vintage 1950s Beds and Bed Frames
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Brass
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Iron
Antique Late 19th Century Portuguese Baroque Beds and Bed Frames
Walnut
20th Century French Louis XVI Settees
Fabric, Satin, Silk, Wood
2010s American Chinoiserie Secretaires
Wood, Giltwood, Lacquer
21st Century and Contemporary American Chinoiserie Secretaires
Wood, Lacquer
2010s French Modern Chairs
Oak, Fabric, Bouclé
Antique 18th Century English Chinoiserie Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
20th Century Italian Belle Époque Chandeliers and Pendants
Crystal
20th Century Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Sets
Aluminum
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.
- What is a gilt chair?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertOctober 5, 2021A gilt chair is a chair whose frame is made of gold or is covered with a small substance that looks like gold. On 1stDibs, you can find a variety of gilt chairs from different periods and in a range of design styles.
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