Antique Japanese Meiji Pearl Shell Inlaid Carved Hongmu Dragon Chair
Located in Forney, TX
A stunning authentic antique Meiji Era (1867-1912) Japanese pearl and shell inlaid profusely hand
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Chairs
Rosewood
Antique Japanese Meiji Pearl Shell Inlaid Carved Hongmu Dragon Chair
Located in Forney, TX
A stunning authentic antique Meiji Era (1867-1912) Japanese pearl and shell inlaid profusely hand
Rosewood
Vintage Carved Teak Wood Japanese Imperial Meiji Style Side Chair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Carved Teak Wood Japanese Imperial Meiji Style Side Chair. Circa Mid 20th Century
Teak
$2,800 / set
H 40 in W 23 in D 18 in
Antique Japanese Meiji Export Hardwood Mt. Fuji Dragon Carved Desk and Chair Set
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Japanese Meiji Export Hardwood Mt. Fuji Dragon Carved Desk and Chair Set. Listing includes
Wood
$1,600
H 29.14 in W 16.15 in D 18.12 in
Primitive Wood Chair from Japan 1860s-1900s / Wabi Sabi Wooden Chair Mingei
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
This is an old primitive chair discovered in Japan. Details of this chair are unknown. It is also
Wood
Japanese Meiji Period Carved Dragon Chair
Located in Houston, TX
Highly carved sculptural Meiji dragon armchair.: dragon motif carried throughout arms and chair
Wood
$2,475Sale Price|20% Off
H 33.5 in W 26 in D 18 in
Antique Japanese Export Meiji High Relief Dragon Carved Throne Chair.
Located in Nantwich, GB
An impressive Imperial Meiji period Japanese throne chair which is finely and lavishly carved with
Wood
Japanese Edo-Meiji Period Lacquered Palanquin
Located in Stamford, CT
A Japanese Edo-Meiji period Palanquin chair for the childrens festival. The form with sliding and
Lacquer
$1,000
H 14.77 in W 15.36 in D 15.75 in
Antique Japanese wooden lattice chair / 1868-1920 / Simple and rustic stool
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
This is an old wooden chair believed to have been made between the Meiji and Taisho periods, or
Oak
Japanese Meiji Chairs C1900
Located in Hudson, NY
This is a pair of Meiji period chairs from Japan.
Wood
Sold
H 38.5 in W 18.5 in D 19.75 in
4 Japanese Imperial Meiji Style Elm Carved Chinoiserie Dining Chairs Ming Vtg
Located in Dayton, OH
4 beautiful Japanese solid elm dining or Mahjong chairs. Purchased during Japan in the last quarter
Elm
Sold
H 30 in W 27 in D 24 in
Antique Japanese Meiji Period Dragon Carved Hardwood Lounge Throne Arm Chair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Japanese Meiji Period Dragon Carved Hardwood Lounge Throne Arm Chair. Item features finely
Wood
Sold
H 18.12 in W 22.84 in D 21.66 in
Japanese Antique Primitive Chair 1860s-1900s / Seating Mingei Wabisabi
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
This is a very old primitive chair made in Japan. It is from the Meiji period (1860s-1900s). The
Wood
Japanese Antique Primitive Chair 1860s-1900s / Seating Wabisabi
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
This is a very old primitive style chair. It was made in the Meiji era. (1860s to 1900s AD). The
Wood
Sold
H 21.26 in Dm 22.45 in
Japanese Antique Primitive Black Chair 1860s-1900s / Seating Mingei Wabisabi
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
This is a very old black primitive chair made in Japan. The furniture is from the Meiji period
Cedar
Japanese Antique Primitive Chair 1860s-1900s / Seating Mingei Wabi Sabi
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
This is an old primitive chair made in Japan. The furniture is from the Meiji period (1860s-1900s
Wood
Sold
H 19.49 in Dm 20.08 in
Japanese Antique Primitive Black Chair 1860s-1900s / Seating Mingei Wabi Sabi
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
This is a very old primitive chair made in Japan. The chair is from the Meiji period (1860s-1900s
Wood
Sold
H 22.05 in W 22.84 in L 22.05 in
Japanese Antique Primitive Chair 1860s-1920s/Mingei Wabisabi Stool Seating
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
This is an old primitive chair made in Japan. It is from the Meiji period (1860s-1920s). The
Wood
Sold
H 20.08 in Dm 23.63 in
Japanese Antique Primitive Chair 1860s-1920s/Mingei Wabisabi Stool Seating
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
This is an old primitive chair made in Japan. It is from the Meiji period (1860s-1920s). The
Wood
Sold
H 18.71 in W 18.12 in D 16.93 in
Japanese Antique Primitive Chair 1860s-1900s/Mingei Wabisabi Stool Seating
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
This is an old primitive chair from Japan. It is from the Meiji era (1860s to 1900s). The
Wood
Sold
H 20.48 in W 20.48 in L 20.48 in
Japanese Antique Primitive Chair 1860s-1920s / Mingei Wabisabi Stool Seating
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
This is an old primitive chair made in Japan. It is from the Meiji period (1860s-1920s). The
Wood
Sold
H 22.25 in W 17.33 in D 16.54 in
Japanese Antique Primitive Chair 1860s-1900s / Seating Wabi Sabi Mingei
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
This is a very old primitive style chair made in Japan. It was made in the Meiji era. (1860s to
Walnut
Sold
H 16.54 in W 18.51 in L 16.54 in
Japanese Antique Rustic Chair 1860s-1920s / Wabi Sabi Mingei Seating Stools
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
This is an old chair made in Japan. The chair is from the Meiji period (1860s-1920s). The material
Wood
Sold
H 26.38 in W 23.63 in D 21.66 in
Japanese Old Stand 1860s-1920s/Antique Chair Stool Wabisabi Stepping Stone
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
It is an old Japanese stand. Furniture from the Meiji era. (1860s-1920s) The material is cedar
Cedar
Sold
H 24.61 in W 20.08 in D 12.8 in
Japanese Old Wooden Stool 1860s-1900s/Antique Chair Stand Stepping Stone Table
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
It is an old Japanese stepping stone. It can also be used as a chair or stool. It is an item from
Cedar
Charred Primitive Wabi Sabi Japanese Dug-Out Chair
Located in London, GB
An early 20th C. Meiji period chair constructed from a single piece of timber. Charred and heavily
Cedar
Sold
H 36.62 in W 17.72 in D 21.66 in
Primitive Wood Chair with old leather from Philippines / Wabi Sabi Mingei
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
This is an antique chair from the Philippines. The design is made of leather held together with
Wood
Sold
H 33 in W 33.25 in D 33.5 in
Japanese Imperial Meiji Style Elm Carved Chinoiserie Mahjong Game Table & Chairs
Located in Dayton, OH
A beautiful Japanese solid elm Mahjong table and 4 chairs.. Purchased in Japan during the last
Elm
Sold
H 35.5 in W 28 in D 23 in
Antique Japanese Export Meiji High Relief Dragon Carved Figural Throne Arm Chair
Located in Dayton, OH
"An impressive Imperial Meiji period Japanese arm chair. Made from from Rosewood and elaborately
Rosewood
Meiji Period Carved Hardwood Desk and Chair
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A Meiji period carved hardwood desk and chair made for the Panama California Exposition of 1915
Hardwood
Sold
H 15.75 in W 22.45 in D 12.01 in
Japanese Antique Black Wooden Box / Coffee Table / Chair /Storage Case/Meiji Era
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
can imitate. A black wooden box made from the Meiji era to the Taisho era. I think this is a
Cedar
Sold
H 53.5 in W 26 in D 28 in
2 Antique Japanese Imperial Meiji Elm High Relief Carved Dragon Throne Armchair
Located in Dayton, OH
A breathtaking pair of 19th century imperial meiji throne chairs. Made from Elm with an elaborate
Elm
Antique Japanese Low Usu Chair
Located in Asheville, NC
This antique Japanese low chair is carved from an antique usu, a Japanese mortar. The texture is
Wood
Antique Japanese Low Usu Dark Black Solid Wood Chair
Located in Asheville, NC
This antique Japanese low chair is carved from an antique usu, a Japanese mortar. It is finished in
Wood
19th Century Highly Carved Japanese Desk and Chair
Located in Martlesham, GB
19th century highly carved Japanese writing desk and chair from the Meiji period, the desk
Hardwood
Sold
H 21.26 in W 90.95 in D 14.18 in
Japanese Antique Primitive Bench 1860s-1900s / Long Chairs Mingei Wabisabi
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
This is an old Japanese bench. It is from the Meiji period (1860s-1900s). The material seems to
Cedar
Sold
H 18.51 in W 14.57 in D 13.78 in
Japanese Antique Primitive Stool 1860s-1900s / Side Chair Wabisabi
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
This is a very old Japanese stump stool. It is from the Meiji period (1860s-1900s). It is carved
Walnut
Japanese Antique Bench, Chair, Wabi-Sabi, Early 20th Century
Located in Katori-Shi, 12
This is a Japanese antique bench produced in the Meiji priod(1860s-1900s). This furniture was
Wood, Chestnut
Sold
H 13.39 in W 74.02 in L 13.39 in
Japanese Antique Black Bench 1860s-1900s / Primitive Long Chairs Wabi Sabi
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
This is a very old Japanese bench. It is from the Meiji period (1860s-1900s). The material seems
Cedar
Sold
H 14.18 in W 15.75 in D 13.78 in
Japanese Antique Primitive Stool 1860s-1900s / Mingei Wabi Sabi Side Chair
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
This is a very old Japanese stool. The chair was made during the Meiji period (1860s-1900s). The
Cedar
Sold
H 16.15 in Dm 14.97 in
Japanese Antique Primitive Stool 1860s-1900s / Wood Chair Wabi Sabi Mingei
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
This is an old Japanese stump stool. This item is from the Meiji period (1860s-1900s). It is carved
Cedar
Sold
H 15.56 in W 38 in D 19.69 in
Japanese Antique Primitive Bench 1860s-1900s / Black Chairs Wabi Sabi Mingei
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
This is an old Japanese primitive style bench. It is from the Meiji period (1860s-1900s). The
Chestnut, Cedar
Sold
H 15.95 in W 24.02 in D 18.51 in
Japanese Antique Primitive Stool 1860s-1900s / Side Chair Mingei Wabi Sabi
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
This is a very old Japanese stool. This chair is from the Meiji period (1860s-1900s). The seat is
Wood, Cedar
Sold
H 18.51 in W 18.9 in D 20.08 in
Japanese Antique Tree Root Stool 1860s-1920s / Side Chair Wabisabi
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
Meiji period (1860s-1920s). The material is zelkova. It has the overwhelming power of natural wood that
Wood
Sold
H 33.86 in W 28.35 in D 24.02 in
Japanese Wooden block chair /wabi-sabi chair / private chair / 1900s〜
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
First of all, this chair is very valuable and there is no other chair like it. The back of the
Wood
Antique Japanese Folk Art Chair
Located in Prahran, Victoria
Japanese Mingei (Folk Art) chair. A very rare example made from a section of a cedar tree, 19th
Cypress, Lacquer
Japanese Antique Primitive Chair 1860s-1900s / Seating Mingei Wabisabi
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
, powerful, and unique carefully selected antiquities from Japan. This is a very old primitive style chair
Cedar
Sold
H 15.75 in W 15.36 in D 15.75 in
Japanese Antique Primitive Chair 1850s-1920s / Mingei Wabisabi Stool Seating
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
This is an old primitive chair made in Japan. It is from the Meiji period (1860s-1920s). The
Wood
Sold
H 18.12 in W 22.84 in D 21.66 in
Japanese Antique Primitive Black Chair 1860s-1900s / Seating Wabi Sabi
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
This is a very old primitive chair made in Japan. The furniture is from the Meiji period (1860s
Wood
Sold
H 8.08 in W 17.13 in D 7.49 in
Japanese Antique Stool 1860s-1900s/Primitive Chair Stand Wabisabi mingei
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
It is an old Japanese stool. It is believed that it was used by farmers during the Meiji era
Cedar
Sold
H 20.08 in Dm 24.81 in
Japanese Antique Primitive Black Chair 1860s-1900s / Seating Mingei Wabi Sabi
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
collection of beautiful, powerful, and unique antiques from Japan. This is a very old primitive style chair
Cedar
Sold
H 25.4 in W 25.2 in D 17.92 in
Japanese Old Stand 1860s-1920s/Antique Chair Stool Wabisabi Stepping Stone
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
It is an old Japanese stand. Furniture from the Meiji era. (1860s-1920s) The material is cedar
Cedar
Sold
H 11.62 in W 23.63 in D 12.21 in
Japanese Antique Primitive Stool 1860s-1900s / Side Table Side Chair Wabisabi
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
Very old Japanese primitive stool. Made in the Meiji period (1860s-1900s). Material is cedar wood
Cedar
Sold
H 11.42 in W 17.72 in D 11.03 in
Japanese Antique Side Chair 1860s-1920s / Wood Stool Side Table Wabisabi
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
Very old Japanese side chair. Made in the Meiji period (1860s-1900s). Material is cedar wood. The
Cedar
Sold
H 11.03 in W 13.19 in D 10.83 in
Japanese Antique Side Chair 1860s-1920s / Stool Side Table Wabisabi
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
Very old Japanese side chair. Made in the Meiji period (1860s-1920s). Material is cedar wood
Cedar
Sold
H 14.18 in W 14.18 in D 9.45 in
Japanese Antique Wabi-Sabi Side Chair 1860s-1920s / Stool Side Table
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
Very old Japanese side chair. Made in the Meiji period (1860s-1920s). Material is cedar wood. The
Cedar
Herman Miller 1946 Eames DCM Dining Side Chair Metal Classic
By Herman Miller
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration: Eames for Herman Miller DCM metal side chair 1946 Mid-Century Modern design
Metal, Iron
Sold
H 12.6 in W 13.39 in D 10.63 in
Japanese Antique Side Chair 1860s-1920s / Wood Stool Side Table Wabi Sabi
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
Very old Japanese side chair. Made in the Meiji period (1860s-1920s). Material is cedar wood. It
Cedar
Sold
H 20.48 in W 23.63 in D 11.03 in
Japanese Antique Side Chair or Side Table 1860s-1900s / Stool Wabisabi Mingei
Located in Chōsei District Nagara, JP
This is an old side chair made in Japan. It was made during the Meiji period (1860s-1900s) and is
Cedar
Jens Risom Office Chair with Swivel
By Jens Risom
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
Wonderful Jens Risom office chair with swivel on rare four point base. Reupholstered in a vintage
Wood
Sold
H 14.18 in W 15.24 in D 12.52 in
Old Japanese Tansu Chest / Meiji Era Antique Drawer / Small Black Chair/Folk Art
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
can imitate. A simple drawer made around the Meiji era in Japan. Probably a drawer made in the
Cedar
Sold
H 14.77 in W 18.9 in D 10.44 in
Japanese old wooden stool/1868-1920/Wabi-sabi chair/Mingei/Meiji-Showa
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
I would like to introduce a very nice stool. This is a wooden stool made in Japan from the Meiji to
Cedar
Sold
H 12.21 in W 11.82 in D 10.63 in
Japanese old wooden stool/19th to 20th century/Meiji-Showa period/WabiSabi chair
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
This is a wooden stool made from the Meiji period to the early Showa period in Japan. It is thought
Cedar
Sold
H 14.57 in W 96.46 in D 10.63 in
Japanese Antique Primitive Bench 1860s-1900s / Long Chairs Mingei Wabisabi
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
This is a very old Japanese bench. It is from the Meiji period (1860s-1900s). The material is
Cedar
Sold
H 14.57 in Dm 16.93 in
Japanese Antique Primitive Coffee Table 1860s-1900s / Chair Stool Wabisabi
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
It is an old Japanese coffee table. Items from the Meiji era (1860s-1900s). The material is
Wood
Sold
H 15.75 in W 11.23 in D 13.19 in
Japanese Folding Wooden Antique Chair / 1868-1920 / like Propeller Stool
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
was a rare item. In the Meiji era, Western culture was adopted, and table chair culture was also
Wood
$239 / item
H 9.45 in W 6.3 in D 9.45 in
White Porcelain Vintage Industrial Clear Glass Brass Wall Lamp Sconces
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Porcelain Industrial wall lamp. White porcelain, brass and cast iron Clear glass. 2 conductors, no ground. Diameter wall mount 10.5 cm / 4” for use inside only Measures: Weight: 2...
Brass, Iron
Crema Tirreno Roll Ball Sink by Marmi Serafini
Located in Geneve, CH
Crema Tirreno roll ball sink by Marmi Serafini Special Edition Materials: Crema Tirreno marble. Dimensions: D 54.5 x H 14 cm Tap not included. Marmi Serafini is located in ...
Marble
$2,710
H 32.68 in W 57.68 in D 21.46 in
1870s-1900s Japanese antique Mizuya tansu chest sideboard wabi sabi primitive
Located in 常陸大宮市, JP
New finds from Tohoku area, Japan. This single tier Mizuya tansu is made from premium quality, reddish Sugi Cedar, the product of circa 1870s to 1900s (Meiji to early Taisho period)...
Wood, Cedar
$34,873
H 6.3 in W 15.75 in D 5.91 in
Fossilised Skull of Prehistoric Marine Reptile the Mosasaur, 70Million Years Ago
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Upper Cretaceous, about 70-65 million years ago (Maastrichtian) Morocco The skull is reconstructed in good proportions with fossil pieces found in a phosphate mine in Morocco. I att...
Bone
$420Sale Price|30% Off
H 1 in Dm 10 in
21 Pc Japanese Satsuma Moriage Dragonware Lithopane Geisha Coffee Tea Set
Located in Dayton, OH
Circa early to mid-20th century Japanese porcelain tea set - a mixed lot of various makes in the same style. Three-dimensional blue and white moriage dragons on storm cloud gray back...
Porcelain
Hand-carved Senufo Stool Side Table
By Senufo
Located in Carmel, NY
Crafted from a single block of wood, this exquisite antique side table or bench boasts stunning hand-carved details that have gracefully aged over time, creating a captivating patin...
Wood
Daum Nancy Cameo and Enamel Glass Vase
By Daum
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Daum Nancy cameo and enamel glass vase, France, circa 1910 Decorated with trees and a far off landscape on a light opalescent ground Signed Daum Nancy with Lorraine cross Dimensions...
Glass
Japanese Antique Drawer 1860s-1920s / Sideboard Wabi Sabi
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
This is a very old drawer storage chest made in Japan. It dates back to the Meiji era (1860s–1920s) and is crafted from Japanese cedar wood. The metal fittings are made of iron. In ...
Iron
Italian Art Deco White Parchment Vanity
Located in Queens, NY
Italian Art Deco white parchment diminutive triangular form lady's vanity /dressing table with a drawer centered by 2 side drawers and 2 doors. Parchment is separating from the piece
Wood, Parchment Paper
$3,400
H 15.75 in W 14.25 in D 7 in
Japanese Marquetry and Lacquer Jewelry Chest, Meiji Period, circa 1900, Japan
Located in Austin, TX
A very attractive Japanese wood table top jewelry or collector's chest with marquetry and lacquer decoration, Meiji period, circa 1900, Japan. Previously in the collection of Asbjorn...
Wood, Softwood, Lacquer
$187,500
H 102 in W 84.5 in D 22.5 in
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...
Glass, Mahogany
$2,525
H 2.37 in Dm 5.52 in
Rare Find Art Nouveau Daum Cameo Glass Vitrified Monnaies du Pape Round Coupe
By Daum
Located in Bochum, NRW
Daum Cameo Glass Bowl, France, circa 1910. A rare Art Nouveau Daum cameo glass vitrified Monnaies du Pape round coupe (Honesty). Very finely acid etched, wheel carved decor of Hones...
Glass
Vintage Boho Hand Painted Chair
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Capture a moment of artistic romance with this exquisite vintage hand-painted accent chair. Its elegant silhouette, defined by graceful cabriole legs and a striking oval backrest, se...
Wood, Lacquer
Exquisite 19th Century French Daybed
Located in Stockbridge, GA
Exquisite 19th century French daybed, Louis XV style. As the stairways of houses and apartments in France are narrow, they build furniture with the option of disassembling if needed...
Fabric, Walnut
$2,324
H 19.69 in W 25.6 in D 1.97 in
Claude Monet Les Coquelicots 1873 Reproduction Oil Painting With Gilt Frame
By Claude Monet
Located in Reading, Berkshire
Claude Monet Les Coquelicots 1873 A Quality Reproduction Oil Painting In Gilt Frame Wild Poppies, near Argenteuil painting was created in 1873 by a French painter Claude Monet, in I...
Canvas
Fabric Collage Floor Screen by Rose Lautman
Located in Hanover, MA
Rose Lautman, worked exclusively in fabric collage with a meticulous hand and a fine needle. Rose's artwork was exhibited in galleries primarily in Sarasota, Florida during the 1960'...
Fabric
From 1868 to 1912, Emperor Mutsuhito oversaw an era of transformation in Japan. Formerly a country of feudalism and isolation, Japan entered an age of modernization influenced by newly established trade and exchange with the West. The Meiji period, or period of “enlightened rule,” also saw the global impact of the East Asian country’s culture. Japanese Meiji furniture was exhibited at expositions from Paris to San Francisco and created for export.
Prior to the Meiji era, furniture was mostly made by commission for the ruling class; now there were new domestic and international markets. European styles like Japonisme appropriated Japanese design while craftsmen in places like Wales and England employed japanning, a varnishing technique that approximated the appearance of lacquer for the surfaces of furnishings.
Meiji furniture made for Japanese homes and buildings constructed in Western styles resulted in taller tables, chairs, cabinets with large drawers and other features. The government invested in areas such as transportation and communication, and because people could freely choose occupations after the restrictions of feudalism, industries of various types were energized by expressive new ideas during those years. Art schools were formed and, for the first time, design was an area of study in the country, leading to the evolution of professional design as a career by the 1890s.
The work of Japanese designers was transmitted widely through lavishly illustrated pattern books that included designs for screens and lacquerware for the home. While screens today may be of use as decorative accents or partitions to ensure privacy in one’s space, Japanese screens were adorned with paintings and were featured in performing arts such as concerts, tea ceremonies and more. The color illustrations that characterize Meiji woodblock prints, a genre of Japanese art that grew out of 17th-century developments in printing and book publishing, depicted the sweeping changes that the era brought to East Asia.
Although it was a time of societal and cultural shifts, a bolstered interest in art and design elevated Japanese craft traditions. From colorful porcelain table lamps with silk shades and hardwood tables decorated with dark lacquer to cabinets featuring iron hardware and inlaid with mother-of-pearl, Meiji furniture showcased Japan’s artistic heritage to the world.
Find a collection of antique Japanese Meiji period case pieces and storage cabinets, decorative objects, wall decorations and more furniture on 1stDibs.
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.