Hoof Foot Chair
Antique 18th Century American Side Chairs
Walnut
Antique 19th Century English Georgian Armchairs
Brass
Antique 19th Century Louis XIII Armchairs
Fabric, Giltwood
Late 20th Century Bauhaus Dining Room Sets
Iron, Metal
Recent Sales
Early 20th Century American Regency Dining Room Chairs
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Dining Room Chairs
Leather, Wood
Mid-20th Century Italian Hollywood Regency Side Chairs
Fabric, Wood
Early 20th Century American Rococo Dining Room Chairs
Walnut
Late 20th Century French Regency Dining Room Chairs
Fabric, Wood
Antique 19th Century French Dining Room Chairs
Walnut, Tapestry
Antique 19th Century French Chairs
Antique 19th Century Italian Dining Room Chairs
20th Century French Chairs
Wood
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Armchairs
Antique Mid-19th Century European Louis XV Armchairs
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21st Century and Contemporary Chandeliers and Pendants
Rattan
Vintage 1960s American Hollywood Regency Secretaires
Metal, Brass
2010s Dutch Modern Side Tables
Marble
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Flush Mount
Metal
Vintage 1970s Italian Space Age Wardrobes and Armoires
Chrome
2010s American Modern Cabinets
Brass
Antique 1890s American Edwardian Sofas
Mohair
Antique Late 19th Century British Late Victorian Rocking Chairs
Textile, Walnut
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Textile
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Deco Wall Lights and Sconces
Blown Glass
Mid-20th Century Italian Hollywood Regency Armchairs
Velvet, Giltwood, Upholstery, Wood
Antique Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Porcelain
Porcelain
Mid-20th Century Italian Neoclassical Vases
Alabaster
Vintage 1970s Coat Racks and Stands
Brass
Mid-20th Century European French Provincial Armchairs
Wood
Antique Mid-18th Century German Rococo Console Tables
Marble
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.
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