Ma Belle Chair
Antique Late 19th Century Italian Louis Philippe Chairs
Velvet, Walnut
1990s Italian Modern Chairs
Metal
Vintage 1960s Italian Space Age Chairs
Plastic
Antique 1880s Spanish Rococo Paintings
Canvas, Giltwood
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Mid-20th Century Italian Space Age Vanities
Mirror, Fiberglass, Wood, Lacquer
Vintage 1960s German Bauhaus Side Chairs
Steel, Chrome
Vintage 1960s Italian Space Age Chairs
Plastic
Antique Early 1900s French Louis XV Center Tables
Giltwood
Antique Late 17th Century Italian Renaissance Revival Chairs
Wood
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Indian Scholar's Objects
Gold
Vintage 1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Rush, Oak
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Plastic
Antique Early 1900s Indonesian Organic Modern Chairs
Wood, Teak, Reclaimed Wood
Antique Late 19th Century Late Victorian Rocking Chairs
Oak
Vintage 1960s German Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Chrome
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Side Chairs
Wood, Linen, Upholstery
Early 20th Century French Empire Chairs
Cotton, Walnut
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Brazilian Collectibles and Curiosities
Crystal
Mid-20th Century American Bauhaus Dining Room Chairs
Steel, Chrome
Early 20th Century Malian Tribal Chairs
Wood
Recent Sales
Early 20th Century Italian Biedermeier Chairs
Wood
2010s Italian American Classical Chairs
Walnut
Finding the Right chairs for You
Chairs are an indispensable component of your home and office. Can you imagine your life without the vintage, new or antique chairs you love?
With the exception of rocking chairs, the majority of the seating in our homes today — Windsor chairs, chaise longues, wingback chairs — originated in either England or France. Art Nouveau chairs, the style of which also originated in those regions, embraced the inherent magnificence of the natural world with decorative flourishes and refined designs that blended both curved and geometric contour lines. While craftsmanship and styles have evolved in the past century, chairs have had a singular significance in our lives, no matter what your favorite chair looks like.
“The chair is the piece of furniture that is closest to human beings,” said Hans Wegner. The revered Danish cabinetmaker and furniture designer was prolific, having designed nearly 500 chairs over the course of his lifetime. His beloved designs include the Wishbone chair, the wingback Papa Bear chair and many more.
Other designers of Scandinavian modernist chairs introduced new dynamics to this staple with sculptural flowing lines, curvaceous shapes and efficient functionality. The Paimio armchair, Swan chair and Panton chair are vintage works of Finnish and Danish seating that left an indelible mark on the history of good furniture design.
“What works good is better than what looks good, because what works good lasts,” said Ray Eames.
Visionary polymaths Ray and Charles Eames experimented with bent plywood and fiberglass with the goal of producing affordable furniture for a mass market. Like other celebrated mid-century modern furniture designers of elegant low-profile furnishings — among them Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Finn Juhl — the Eameses considered ergonomic support, durability and cost, all of which should be top of mind when shopping for the perfect chair. The mid-century years yielded many popular chairs.
The Eameses introduced numerous icons for manufacturer Herman Miller, such as the Eames lounge chair and ottoman, molded plywood dining chairs the DCM and DCW (which can be artfully mismatched around your dining table) and a wealth of other treasured pieces for the home and office.
A good chair anchors us to a place and can become an object of timeless appeal. Take a seat and browse the rich variety of vintage, new and antique chairs on 1stDibs today.
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