Horn Foot Stool
Mid-20th Century Central American Wingback Chairs
Horn, Leather
Vintage 1960s American Rustic Lounge Chairs
Horn, Mohair
Antique Early 1900s Swiss Black Forest Tables
Antler, Wood
Antique Late 19th Century American Victorian Armchairs
Crystal, Metal
Antique 19th Century French Romantic Figurative Sculptures
Bronze
People Also Browsed
2010s American Chandeliers and Pendants
Antler
Antique Mid-19th Century English Victorian Taxidermy
Animal Skin, Glass, Plaster, Feathers
2010s American Animal Sculptures
Feathers
Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Armchairs
Leather
Antique Mid-19th Century American Neoclassical Side Chairs
Iron
Vintage 1970s French Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Metal
2010s Taxidermy
Antler
Antique Late 19th Century North American Windows
Glass, Art Glass
Antique 19th Century American Victorian Dining Room Tables
Gold
Antique 1880s English Victorian Armchairs
Leather, Mahogany
Antique 19th Century German Black Forest Sculptures
Metal
2010s American Taxidermy
Animal Skin
Vintage 1980s Philippine British Colonial Armchairs
Hide, Rattan
Late 20th Century American Taxidermy
Animal Skin
20th Century American Victorian Armchairs
Slate
Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Console Tables
Wood
Recent Sales
Vintage 1960s American Stools
Bone, Cotton
Antique Early 1900s American Folk Art Primitives
Cowhide, Wood
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Stools
Horn, Tapestry
Early 20th Century American Rustic Footstools
Brass
Early 20th Century Nigerian Tribal Tribal Art
Wood
Antique 19th Century Swedish Folk Art Stools
Antique 19th Century American Footstools
Wood, Horn
Antique 1880s American Country Armchairs
20th Century American Stools
Vintage 1950s English Stools
Vintage 1940s British Footstools
Leather, Wood
Antique Late 19th Century British Georgian Footstools
Textile, Walnut
20th Century British Animal Sculptures
Horn, Sheepskin
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Footstools
Horn, Sheepskin
Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures
Leather
20th Century Footstools
Horn, Upholstery
Vintage 1960s English Mid-Century Modern Footstools
Leather
Antique 19th Century American Stools
Wood, Horn
Antique 19th Century American Stools
Cowhide, Wood, Horn
Antique 19th Century American Victorian Ottomans and Poufs
Horn, Hide
Early 20th Century American Footstools
Cowhide, Horn
Early 20th Century American Footstools
Horn, Leather
Early 20th Century English Stools
Leather
20th Century American American Craftsman 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.
- What is a foot stool called?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertOctober 5, 2021A footstool is called an ottoman, hassock or pouf. The footstool is an umbrella term for furniture pieces used to elevate the foot. On 1stDibs, you can find a wide variety of antique and vintage footstools in different colors, styles and more.
- 1stDibs ExpertJune 15, 2023Yes, an ottoman can be used as a footstool. The ottoman, originally an upholstered seat or small bench without a back or arms, was a family’s main seating furniture, a way to merge floor seating with cushions and mats. It wasn’t until they were brought to Europe from Turkey, during the 18th century, that it became popular to join ottomans with other pieces of furniture, such as at the base of a chair. On 1stDibs, find a collection of ottomans.
Read More
The 21 Most Popular Mid-Century Modern Chairs
You know the designs, now get the stories about how they came to be.
Fred Rigby’s Modular Seating Can Be Configured in So Many Handy Ways
The plush Cove Slipper 2.5 Seater sofa is just one of many convenient combinations from the London-based maker.
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.