Knoll Flow Chair
Vintage 1970s Mid-Century Modern Side Chairs
Chrome
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Upholstery, Maple
Vintage 1980s Canadian Post-Modern Lounge Chairs
Fabric, Faux Leather
Vintage 1980s Canadian Mid-Century Modern Sectional Sofas
Fabric, Faux Leather
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2010s American Console Tables
Oak
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Bookcases
Metal, Brass, Stainless Steel
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Aluminum
Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Chairs
Metal
Vintage 1970s European Post-Modern Lounge Chairs
Velvet
Vintage 1970s German Mid-Century Modern Sectional Sofas
Wool, Bouclé, Cotton
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Leather, Wood, Walnut
Vintage 1970s Italian Post-Modern Armchairs
Fabric, Wood, Velvet
Late 20th Century Italian Space Age Lounge Chairs
Fabric
2010s Canadian Post-Modern Chairs
Rattan, Maple
Vintage 1970s German Mid-Century Modern Sectional Sofas
Fabric, Upholstery, Plastic, Fiberglass
Mid-20th Century Scottish Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Metal
Mid-20th Century Finnish Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Sets
Birch
Mid-20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Ceramic, Walnut
20th Century Polish Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Velvet
21st Century and Contemporary Mid-Century Modern Swivel Chairs
Metal
Recent Sales
Early 2000s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Leather
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Fabric, Walnut
Vintage 1960s Unknown Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Maple
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Armchairs
Upholstery, Walnut
Vintage 1980s American Organic Modern Lounge Chairs
Wool, Cotton
Vintage 1980s Canadian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Fabric, Faux Leather
Late 20th Century Constructivist Abstract Sculptures
Canvas, Thread, Yarn, Textile, Wool
Vintage 1940s American Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Fabric, Birch
Vintage 1940s American Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Fabric, Birch
1990s American Modern Dining Room Chairs
Maple
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 Parker Knoll chair?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertNovember 2, 2021A Parker Knoll chair is designed by the British furniture manufacturing company Parker Knoll. These chairs are considered to be luxurious — they are handmade in the company’s Nottinghamshire factory from high-quality wood and feature plush upholstery in leather as well as in a variety of fabrics. Find Parker Knoll chairs on 1stDibs.
- Where are Knoll chairs made?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Knoll maintains manufacturing plants in the United States, Canada, and Italy. Countless designers have worked for Knoll over the years to create exquisite furniture that’s beloved by collectors worldwide. Shop a collection of antique and contemporary Knoll chairs from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2024What Florence Knoll called the Womb chair after it was created is unknown. However, its creator Eero Saarinen stated that Knoll inspired him to make the piece by asking him to design the most comfortable chair ever, saying specifically that she wanted something that felt like "a basket full of pillows." Presented with the challenge, Saarinen went primal. What, the designer figured, better signifies the very essence of comfort than the womb? "It was designed on the theory that a great number of people have never really felt comfortable and secure since they left the womb,” the designer said of his chair. Find a selection of vintage Womb chairs on 1stDibs.
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