Hooved Chair
Antique Early 19th Century English Regency Side Chairs
Silk, Hardwood, Giltwood
Mid-20th Century French Dining Room Chairs
Fabric, Wood
1990s French Provincial Armchairs
Leather, Walnut
Antique Late 18th Century English Chippendale Armchairs
Tapestry, Walnut
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2010s British Scandinavian Modern Club Chairs
Sheepskin, Beech
2010s South African Minimalist Pedestals
Hardwood
Mid-20th Century Italian Pedestals
Marble
Antique 17th Century French Panelling
Softwood
Vintage 1980s Unknown Regency Revival Bergere Chairs
Walnut
Early 20th Century English Regency Daybeds
2010s Belgian Modern Club Chairs
Linen
Early 20th Century Spanish Spanish Colonial Dining Room Chairs
Upholstery, Walnut
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Ormolu
Antique 1780s English Bergere Chairs
Mahogany
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Upholstery, Velvet
20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Glass, Mirror
Antique 19th Century German Baroque Center Tables
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary French Wall Lights and Sconces
Bronze
Antique Early 1800s English Georgian Beds and Bed Frames
Upholstery, Mahogany
Antique 19th Century Belgian Rococo Architectural Models
Plaster
Recent Sales
Antique 19th Century French Chairs
Antique 19th Century French Bergere Chairs
Walnut, Fabric
Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Armchairs
Oak
20th Century American Console Tables
Brass
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Side Chairs
Brass, Steel
Vintage 1960s Italian Hollywood Regency Armchairs
Brass, Steel
Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Dining Room Chairs
Leather, Wood
Vintage 1970s Italian Chairs
Brass, Chrome
Antique Late 18th Century Italian Baroque Side Chairs
Wood
Antique 18th Century Italian Armchairs
20th Century French Patio and Garden Furniture
Metal
Early 20th Century English Armchairs
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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