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Howdah Chair

Chinoiserie Hand Carved Rosewood Howdah Elephant Saddle Chair Bangkok Thailand
Chinoiserie Hand Carved Rosewood Howdah Elephant Saddle Chair Bangkok Thailand

Chinoiserie Hand Carved Rosewood Howdah Elephant Saddle Chair Bangkok Thailand

Located in Topeka, KS

Phenomenal vintage Chinoiserie hand carved Rosewood Howdah or elephant saddle chair from Bangkok Thailand.

Category

Mid-20th Century Thai Chinoiserie Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Rosewood

Teak Howdah Elephant Saddle Chair
Teak Howdah Elephant Saddle Chair

Teak Howdah Elephant Saddle Chair

$2,950

H 25.5 in W 37.82 in D 25.5 in

Teak Howdah Elephant Saddle Chair

Located in Houston, TX

Teak Howdah Elephant Saddle Chair. Beautifully carved Asian teakwood Howdah elephant saddle chair or bench, Thailand, 1920.

Category

Vintage 1920s Thai Anglo-Indian Chairs

Materials

Bouclé, Teak

Vintage Chinoiserie Carved Teak Wood Howdah Elephant Saddle Accent Chair
Vintage Chinoiserie Carved Teak Wood Howdah Elephant Saddle Accent Chair

Vintage Chinoiserie Carved Teak Wood Howdah Elephant Saddle Accent Chair

Located in Philadelphia, PA

Vintage Chinoiserie Carved Teak Wood Howdah Elephant Saddle Accent Chair. Item features solid wood construction, nicely carved details, very nice vintage item, great style and form.

Category

Late 20th Century Chinoiserie Chairs

Materials

Teak

Vintage Thai Howdah-style Meditation Chair
Vintage Thai Howdah-style Meditation Chair

Vintage Thai Howdah-style Meditation Chair

$2,800

H 35.75 in W 33.75 in D 28.5 in

Vintage Thai Howdah-style Meditation Chair

Located in Point Richmond, CA

Vintage Thai Howdah-style Meditation Chair, teak, lacquer, gold leaf, Mid-20th century.

Category

Mid-20th Century Thai Other Furniture

Materials

Gold Leaf

Vintage Thai Howdah-style Meditation Chair
Vintage Thai Howdah-style Meditation Chair

Vintage Thai Howdah-style Meditation Chair

$2,800

H 38.75 in W 33.75 in D 28.5 in

Vintage Thai Howdah-style Meditation Chair

Located in Point Richmond, CA

Vintage Thai Howdah-style Meditation Chair, teak, lacquer, gold leaf, Mid-20th century.

Category

Mid-20th Century Thai Other Armchairs

Materials

Gold Leaf

Pair of Thai Rosewood Elephant Howdah Saddle Style Chairs
Pair of Thai Rosewood Elephant Howdah Saddle Style Chairs

Pair of Thai Rosewood Elephant Howdah Saddle Style Chairs

Located in Palm Beach, FL

Pair of elephant saddle style chairs crafted with rosewood in a distinctive Thai form, hand carved depicting elephants, which are a symbol of fortune, in an elaborate floral field, a...

Category

Mid-20th Century Thai British Colonial Armchairs

Materials

Rosewood

Recent Sales

Oriental Thai Howdah Gilt Elephant Saddle Chair
Oriental Thai Howdah Gilt Elephant Saddle Chair

Oriental Thai Howdah Gilt Elephant Saddle Chair

Sold

H 36.25 in W 34 in D 27.75 in

Oriental Thai Howdah Gilt Elephant Saddle Chair

Located in Debenham, Suffolk

Carved gilt howdah chair circa 1890 Profusely carved, with pierced carving.

Category

Antique Late 19th Century Thai Tibetan Chairs

Materials

Giltwood

Antique Thai Howdah Hand-Carved Rosewood Ornate Saddle Chairs - Set of 2
Antique Thai Howdah Hand-Carved Rosewood Ornate Saddle Chairs - Set of 2

Antique Thai Howdah Hand-Carved Rosewood Ornate Saddle Chairs - Set of 2

Located in Chicago, IL

Antique Thai Howdah Hand-Carved Rosewood Ornate Saddle Chairs - Set of 2 These types of chairs are known as ‘Howdah’ chairs or sometimes ‘Elephant chairs.’

Category

Early 20th Century Thai Rustic Armchairs

Materials

Chenille, Wood, Rosewood

Pair Rosewood Howdah Elephant Saddle Chairs, Antique Paisley
Pair Rosewood Howdah Elephant Saddle Chairs, Antique Paisley

Pair Rosewood Howdah Elephant Saddle Chairs, Antique Paisley

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

Just in, this wonderful pair of vintage hand carved Rosewood Howdah or Elephant saddle chair from Thailand. This pair is made of Carved Trek wood and Rosewood.

Category

Antique 1890s Armchairs

Materials

Fabric, Rosewood

Vintage Thai Howdah Chair
Vintage Thai Howdah Chair

Vintage Thai Howdah Chair

Sold

H 38 in W 32.5 in D 25.2 in

Vintage Thai Howdah Chair

Located in Dallas, TX

Made of teak and in near mint condition. These types of chairs are known as ‘Howdah’ chairs or sometimes ‘Elephant chairs’ ….

Category

20th Century Thai Country Chairs

Materials

Velvet, Teak

19th Century Burmese Elephant Howdah Seat
19th Century Burmese Elephant Howdah Seat

19th Century Burmese Elephant Howdah Seat

Located in Lambertville, NJ

Unusual Howdah elephants seat with hand carvings. This is all original and was used to transport aristocrats and royalty. Light crazing on the finish with a few touch-ups, nothing br...

Category

Antique 1880s Indian Chairs

Materials

Hardwood

Moorish Style Burmese Elephant Howdah Seat, 19th Century Rosewood
Moorish Style Burmese Elephant Howdah Seat, 19th Century Rosewood

Moorish Style Burmese Elephant Howdah Seat, 19th Century Rosewood

By Maitland Smith

Located in Waxahachie, TX

19th Century Burmese Elephant Howdah Seat. The upholstered seat cushion is newer than the wood seat.

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Burmese Moorish Side Chairs

Materials

Rosewood

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'Plissé White Edition' Pleated Textile Table Lamp by Folkform for Örsjö
'Plissé White Edition' Pleated Textile Table Lamp by Folkform for Örsjö

'Plissé White Edition' Pleated Textile Table Lamp by Folkform for Örsjö

By Örsjö Industri AB

Located in Glendale, CA

'Plissé White Edition' pleated textile table lamp by Folkform for Örsjö. This unique table lamp was awarded “Lighting of the Year 2022” by Residence Magazine Sweden, who called it “...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Textile

Antique Hand Carved Moorish Style Octagon Side Table Tabouret.
Antique Hand Carved Moorish Style Octagon Side Table Tabouret.

Antique Hand Carved Moorish Style Octagon Side Table Tabouret.

Located in Vero Beach, FL

Antique Hand Carved Moorish Style Octagon Side Table Tabouret. This octagonal hardwood Tabouret is hand carved with leaf and pierced designs created with brilliant intricacy. The to...

Category

Early 20th Century Moroccan Moorish Side Tables

Materials

Hardwood

Renaissance Style Oak Tester 4 Poster Bed Armorial Tapestry Bedspread King Size
Renaissance Style Oak Tester 4 Poster Bed Armorial Tapestry Bedspread King Size

Renaissance Style Oak Tester 4 Poster Bed Armorial Tapestry Bedspread King Size

Located in BUNGAY, SUFFOLK

A vintage king size oak tester or four poster bed in the Renaissance style. Hand carved with Adam & Eve carvings in the headboard, figurative sculptures in the bedposts, three carve...

Category

Mid-20th Century English Renaissance Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Oak

Rare Moses Michelangelo Guggenheim & Pauly Cie Et Venice Antique Carved Armoire
Rare Moses Michelangelo Guggenheim & Pauly Cie Et Venice Antique Carved Armoire

Rare Moses Michelangelo Guggenheim & Pauly Cie Et Venice Antique Carved Armoire

By Guggenheim Museum, Pauly et Cie

Located in West Sussex, Pulborough

We are delighted to offer for sale this very rare one of a kind Pauly CIE Et stamped hand carved walnut armoire made by the genius that was Moses Michelangelo Guggenheim 1837-1910 W...

Category

Antique 19th Century Italian Victorian Wardrobes and Armoires

Materials

Walnut

Chinese Qing Chinoiserie Lacquer Cabinet
Chinese Qing Chinoiserie Lacquer Cabinet

Chinese Qing Chinoiserie Lacquer Cabinet

$3,600

H 70 in W 50 in D 20 in

Chinese Qing Chinoiserie Lacquer Cabinet

Located in Bradenton, FL

Chinese Qing hand-painted lacquered wedding cabinets were popular in the1800s as wedding gifts and used to store linens, among other items The cabinet features front doors with a cen...

Category

Antique Early 19th Century Chinese Chinese Chippendale Cabinets

Materials

Wood

Rare and Beautiful Architectural Pagode Display Cabinet, China
Rare and Beautiful Architectural Pagode Display Cabinet, China

Rare and Beautiful Architectural Pagode Display Cabinet, China

Located in Antwerp, BE

Made of carved wood with transparent fences and scrollwork panels, two dragons at the front and pagoda roofs on top. A beautiful realization by the Chinese woodcarver and furniture m...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Sapele Wood, Ivory

Exceptional 19th Century English Chinoiserie Pagoda Display Cabinet
Exceptional 19th Century English Chinoiserie Pagoda Display Cabinet

Exceptional 19th Century English Chinoiserie Pagoda Display Cabinet

Located in Houston, TX

Large-scale 19th century English display cabinet executed in the Chinoiserie tradition. Constructed in carved mahogany and conceived as a tripartite architectural façade, each glazed...

Category

Antique 19th Century English Chinese Chippendale Vitrines

Materials

Glass, Mahogany

Antique Anglo-Indian Mother-of-pearl Inlaid Cabinet for Wall or Table
Antique Anglo-Indian Mother-of-pearl Inlaid Cabinet for Wall or Table

Antique Anglo-Indian Mother-of-pearl Inlaid Cabinet for Wall or Table

Located in Kennesaw, GA

This is an early Anglo-Indian with elaborate mother-of-pearl inlay and carved and pierced details. The wood is most likely teak. I think it could work well from wall to table.

Category

Early 20th Century Unknown Anglo-Indian Cabinets

Materials

Mother-of-Pearl, Teak

19th Century Carved Screen
19th Century Carved Screen

19th Century Carved Screen

$2,700Sale Price|28% Off

H 83 in W 88 in D 1.5 in

19th Century Carved Screen

Located in Pasadena, CA

This is a finely carved late 19th century Indian Anglo-Raj Hardwood Screen that was fabricated for the export market. The four-panel screen features four distinctly carved floral pan...

Category

Antique 1890s Indian Anglo-Indian Furniture

Materials

Hardwood

Early Meiji Period Japanese Elm Shadona Cabinet
Early Meiji Period Japanese Elm Shadona Cabinet

Early Meiji Period Japanese Elm Shadona Cabinet

Located in Dekalb, IL

c. 1870s/1880s; Japan Late 19th century decorative keyaki (Japanese elm) cabinet. This ornate, pagoda-inspired piece dates to the early/middle Meiji period in Japan and is construc...

Category

Antique 1870s Japanese Meiji Cabinets

Materials

Elm

Bed Tester Spanish Baroque Carved Dark Green & Gilded Leather Superking 6ft180cm
Bed Tester Spanish Baroque Carved Dark Green & Gilded Leather Superking 6ft180cm

Bed Tester Spanish Baroque Carved Dark Green & Gilded Leather Superking 6ft180cm

Located in BUNGAY, SUFFOLK

Rare, Spanish Demi-Tester, Baroque Bed With Carved, Green Painted & Gilded Posts 181cm, 6ft High, Floral Painted Leather Headboard, sold with custom made box spring mattress base, ac...

Category

Antique 1720s Spanish Baroque Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Giltwood, Paint

Antique Asian Chinoiserie  Pagoda Shaped Tea / Apothecary Cabinet
Antique Asian Chinoiserie  Pagoda Shaped Tea / Apothecary Cabinet

Antique Asian Chinoiserie Pagoda Shaped Tea / Apothecary Cabinet

$479Sale Price|46% Off

H 24 in W 27 in D 13 in

Antique Asian Chinoiserie Pagoda Shaped Tea / Apothecary Cabinet

By Beaufort

Located in East Freetown, MA

Antique Asian tea/apothecary cabinet.. Pagoda shaped cabinet has two doors and four drawers. Wood with detailed brass fittings. Painted Chinoiserie black with gold and colored detai...

Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Apothecary Cabinets

Materials

Wood

Antique Pharmacy Cabinet, Walnut Bookcases and Glass Doors with Sign, '800 Italy
Antique Pharmacy Cabinet, Walnut Bookcases and Glass Doors with Sign, '800 Italy

Antique Pharmacy Cabinet, Walnut Bookcases and Glass Doors with Sign, '800 Italy

$61,361Sale Price|20% Off

H 104.34 in W 153.55 in D 19.69 in

Antique Pharmacy Cabinet, Walnut Bookcases and Glass Doors with Sign, '800 Italy

Located in Cuneo, Italy (CN)

Complete antique pharmacy cabinet, with 3 open bookcases on the sides, 1 bookcase with drawers and 2 original doors with glass and enameled mirror sign. Built in the mid-19th century...

Category

Antique 19th Century Italian Apothecary Cabinets

Materials

Glass, Walnut

20th Jade Sculpture with Nine Dragon Boat **** 16 Foots Large***
20th Jade Sculpture with Nine Dragon Boat **** 16 Foots Large***

20th Jade Sculpture with Nine Dragon Boat **** 16 Foots Large***

Located in Miami, FL

Chinese Scrib, but handcrafted in Thailand. Sixteen feet long. Rosewood base. The sculptors of this enormous boat made of jade. You will admire the details of this vessel. The dragon...

Category

Early 20th Century Thai Chinoiserie Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Jade

Oak and Walnut Tester Bed
Oak and Walnut Tester Bed

Oak and Walnut Tester Bed

$44,500

H 117 in W 79 in D 93.5 in

Oak and Walnut Tester Bed

Located in New Orleans, LA

This lavish American oak and walnut tester bed exhibits superior craftsmanship and detail. The design is embellished by elaborate carving throughout in a neoclassical motif the inclu...

Category

Antique 19th Century American Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Silk, Mahogany, Oak, Walnut

Large Antique Thai Buddhist Manuscript Storage Cabinet.
Large Antique Thai Buddhist Manuscript Storage Cabinet.

Large Antique Thai Buddhist Manuscript Storage Cabinet.

Located in Point Richmond, CA

Large Antique Thai Buddhist Manuscript Storage Cabinet. A tapering upright cabinet made of teak with black lacquered exterior and red interior. The decoration of gold on a black grou...

Category

Antique 19th Century Thai Other Furniture

Materials

Gold Leaf

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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.