Irish Ladder Back
Mid-20th Century British Armchairs
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Dining Room Chairs
Mahogany
Mid-20th Century British Chairs
Wood
Antique Late 18th Century Irish George III Dining Room Chairs
Mahogany
Antique Late 19th Century Northern Irish Georgian Dining Room Chairs
Leather, Suede, Mahogany
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Mid-20th Century French Dining Room Chairs
Rush, Oak
Antique 1880s British Aesthetic Movement Dining Room Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
Antique 1760s English Chippendale Dining Room Chairs
Upholstery, Mahogany
Antique 1770s English Chippendale Side Chairs
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century English Regency Chairs
Other
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Brass
Antique Mid-18th Century George III Side Chairs
Mahogany
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Steel, Chrome
Mid-20th Century Dutch Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Rush, Wood
Antique 1790s English Chippendale Armchairs
Fabric, Upholstery, Mahogany
20th Century English Arts and Crafts Armchairs
Walnut
2010s Argentine Modern Settees
Fabric, Wood
Antique 19th Century English Regency Chairs
Mahogany
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Welsh Corner Chairs
Wood
20th Century Georgian Dining Room Chairs
Fabric, Mahogany
21st Century and Contemporary Belgian French Provincial Dining Room Chairs
Oak
Recent Sales
Antique 1780s Irish Georgian Chairs
Abalone
Antique 19th Century Dining Room Chairs
Mahogany
Antique 1780s Northern Irish Chairs
Wood
Antique 1780s Northern Irish Chairs
Wood
20th Century American Georgian Dining Room Chairs
Linen, Mahogany
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.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Ladder back chairs have a timeless design that was popular in several eras. Early examples date back to the Middle Ages. The wooden chairs became very popular in colonial America and England during the 17th century. Shop a range of antique and vintage ladder back chairs on 1stDibs.
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