Jacobsen Giraffe Chair
Vintage 1950s Danish Chairs
Fabric, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Oak
21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Oak
21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Oak
21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Oak
21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Oak
21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Oak
21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Oak
Vintage 1930s Italian Art Deco Animal Sculptures
Murano Glass
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2010s Canadian Art Deco Lounge Chairs
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Wood
2010s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Hardwood
Mid-20th Century Mexican Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Brass, Copper
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Chrome
Antique Late 19th Century Austrian Figurative Sculptures
Terracotta
Early 2000s Italian Modern Figurative Sculptures
Ceramic
2010s American Folk Art Figurative Sculptures
Steel
2010s South African Modern Chairs
Steel
Vintage 1960s German Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures
Leather
2010s South African Modern Chairs
Steel
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Iron
1990s Brazilian Modern Chairs
Hardwood
Early 2000s Italian Modern Figurative Sculptures
Ceramic
Early 2000s Italian Modern Figurative Sculptures
Ceramic
Vintage 1980s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Wood
Recent Sales
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Armchairs
Fabric, Ash
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Fabric, Ash
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Zebra Hide, Beech
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Leather
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Leather
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Ash, Fabric
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Armchairs
Fabric, Wool, Oak
Vintage 1950s Danish Dining Room Chairs
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.
Read More
The 21 Most Popular Mid-Century Modern Chairs
You know the designs, now get the stories about how they came to be.
Arne Jacobsen’s Egg Chair Scrambled the Idea of What a Wingback Could Be
The curvaceous Egg was designed to cradle the body and offer privacy. Later, it became the seat of choice for bosses in movies, too.
113 Chairs That Prove Danish Design Isn’t Limited to Denmark
In an innovative display, the Designmuseum Danmark is permanently exhibiting the 20th century's most iconic seats.