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Magenta red Pierre Paulin tongue side chair by Pierre Paulin for Artifort 1967
Magenta red Pierre Paulin tongue side chair by Pierre Paulin for Artifort 1967

Magenta red Pierre Paulin tongue side chair by Pierre Paulin for Artifort 1967

By Artifort, Pierre Paulin

Located in Antwerpen, Antwerp

Playful Pierre Paulin tongue chair covered in a bright red fabric with a magenta touch. It was

Category

Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Metal

18th Century George III Yew and Elm Thames Valley Comb-Back Windsor Chair
18th Century George III Yew and Elm Thames Valley Comb-Back Windsor Chair

18th Century George III Yew and Elm Thames Valley Comb-Back Windsor Chair

Located in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom

Museum labelled Richard Hewett and a further by Pitt and Hewett in the Wycombe chair museum. Both of the

Category

Antique 18th Century English George III Windsor Chairs

Materials

Elm, Yew

Slat Chair by Ruud Jan Kokke
Slat Chair by Ruud Jan Kokke

Slat Chair by Ruud Jan Kokke

By Ruud-Jan Kokke

Located in Dronten, NL

construction techniques. The Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam has the chair in its collection. Two available

Category

Vintage 1980s Dutch Modern Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Ash

Mid Century Modern Wink Lounge Chair by Toshiyuki Kita for Cassina Italy 1980s
Mid Century Modern Wink Lounge Chair by Toshiyuki Kita for Cassina Italy 1980s

Mid Century Modern Wink Lounge Chair by Toshiyuki Kita for Cassina Italy 1980s

By Cassina, Toshiyuki Kita

Located in Keego Harbor, MI

Paris, and the Vitra Design Museum in Germany. This particular chair features a clean tan fabric

Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Lounge Chairs

Materials

Upholstery

Barcelona Lounge Chairs by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe in Original Cognac Leather
Barcelona Lounge Chairs by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe in Original Cognac Leather

Barcelona Lounge Chairs by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe in Original Cognac Leather

By Ludwig Mies van der Rohe

Located in Antwerp, BE

Knoll International produced Barcelona chairs designed by Mies van der Rohe, USA — 1960’s. The

Category

Vintage 1960s Central American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs

Materials

Chrome

1964, Joe Colombo, Super Comfort Chair in Red Leather and Black Base for B-Line
1964, Joe Colombo, Super Comfort Chair in Red Leather and Black Base for B-Line

1964, Joe Colombo, Super Comfort Chair in Red Leather and Black Base for B-Line

By Joe Colombo

Located in Amsterdam IJMuiden, NL

Superleggera armchair by Joe Colombo is exhibited at the Vitra Design Museum in Berlin. This chair is in red

Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Club Chairs

Materials

Metal

Pierre Mennen, Pastoe, Chair 4 Model FP 3007
Pierre Mennen, Pastoe, Chair 4 Model FP 3007

Pierre Mennen, Pastoe, Chair 4 Model FP 3007

By Pastoe

Located in Den Haag, NL

Dutch Central Museum Utrecht. Four chairs. All in the same condition. Technical 100% OK. Upholstery

Category

Vintage 1970s Dutch Space Age Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Plastic

Classic Bent Plywood Side Chairs Body Form by Peter Danko
Classic Bent Plywood Side Chairs Body Form by Peter Danko

Classic Bent Plywood Side Chairs Body Form by Peter Danko

By Peter Danko

Located in Buffalo, NY

permanent collections of many museums including the Museum of Modern Art. Chairs in great condition with

Category

Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Fabric, Plywood

'Milano' Dining Chair Set by Aldo Rossi for Molteni, Italy, 1987
'Milano' Dining Chair Set by Aldo Rossi for Molteni, Italy, 1987

'Milano' Dining Chair Set by Aldo Rossi for Molteni, Italy, 1987

By Aldo Rossi

Located in Oud-Turnhout, VAN

are also in the Molteni Museum. Black stained wood constructed chairs. Lightweight and very sturdy

Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Wood

Set of Eight "Poem" Dining Chairs by Erik Chambert, Sweden, 1950s
Set of Eight "Poem" Dining Chairs by Erik Chambert, Sweden, 1950s

Set of Eight "Poem" Dining Chairs by Erik Chambert, Sweden, 1950s

Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län

coined by the art critic and then director of Norrköping’s art museum Aron Borelius. The chair was

Category

Vintage 1950s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Rattan, Wood

Set Of 6 Omk T5 Stacking Chairs, Designed By Rodney Kinsman, 1969
Set Of 6 Omk T5 Stacking Chairs, Designed By Rodney Kinsman, 1969

Set Of 6 Omk T5 Stacking Chairs, Designed By Rodney Kinsman, 1969

By Rodney Kinsman, OMK

Located in London, GB

A design classic, featured in the V&A Museum's archives, these chairs are a rare find. T5 stacking

Category

Vintage 1960s British Modern Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Steel, Chrome

Set of 5 Gaudi Chairs by Vico Magistretti for Artemide, Italy 1970
Set of 5 Gaudi Chairs by Vico Magistretti for Artemide, Italy 1970

Set of 5 Gaudi Chairs by Vico Magistretti for Artemide, Italy 1970

By Vico Magistretti, Artemide

Located in Munster, NRW

major design museums. Set of 5 gauidi chairs, repainted with car paint in azure blue.

Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Space Age Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Resin, Fiberglass

20 early Seven Series chairs, model 3107,  Arne Jacobsen For Fritz Hansen
20 early Seven Series chairs, model 3107,  Arne Jacobsen For Fritz Hansen

20 early Seven Series chairs, model 3107, Arne Jacobsen For Fritz Hansen

By Fritz Hansen, Arne Jacobsen

Located in Dronten, NL

These chairs where used from 1967 until very recently in the Wedding Hall of a Dutch Town Hall

Category

Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Chrome, Steel

Italian modern beige fabric wood Chairs Monk by Afra Tobia Scarpa Molteni, 1970s
Italian modern beige fabric wood Chairs Monk by Afra Tobia Scarpa Molteni, 1970s

Italian modern beige fabric wood Chairs Monk by Afra Tobia Scarpa Molteni, 1970s

By Afra & Tobia Scarpa, Molteni & C

Located in MIlano, IT

preserved at the Italian chair museum. Good conditions. The fabric has age-related marks. Light marks on the

Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Modern Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Fabric, Wood

Set of 6 1952 Katavolos Kelley & Littell for Laverne "T" Chairs in Black Leather
Set of 6 1952 Katavolos Kelley & Littell for Laverne "T" Chairs in Black Leather

Set of 6 1952 Katavolos Kelley & Littell for Laverne "T" Chairs in Black Leather

By Laverne International, Douglas Kelly, Ross Littell and William Katavolos

Located in Hudson, NY

Museum of Modern Art and many other museums worldwide. These chairs are in very good pre-owned condition

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Chrome

Rare set of 8 'Regina' chairs by Paolo Deganello for Zanotta, Italy 1991
Rare set of 8 'Regina' chairs by Paolo Deganello for Zanotta, Italy 1991

Rare set of 8 'Regina' chairs by Paolo Deganello for Zanotta, Italy 1991

By Paolo Deganello, Zanotta

Located in Sittard, LI

cushion. Part of the collection of the 'Museo della Sedia' (Museum of chairs) located in Milan, Italy

Category

1990s Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Metal

Arts & Crafts Armchair No.1, France, Circa 1900
Arts & Crafts Armchair No.1, France, Circa 1900

Arts & Crafts Armchair No.1, France, Circa 1900

Located in Culver City, CA

Arts & Crafts armchair no.1 France Circa 1900 Museum quality carved wooden chair with rush

Category

Early 20th Century English Arts and Crafts Chairs

Materials

Upholstery, Rush, Wood

Arts & Crafts Armchair No.2, France, Circa 1900
Arts & Crafts Armchair No.2, France, Circa 1900

Arts & Crafts Armchair No.2, France, Circa 1900

Located in Culver City, CA

Arts & Crafts armchair no.2 France Circa 1900 Museum quality carved wooden chair with rush

Category

Early 20th Century French Arts and Crafts Chairs

Materials

Upholstery, Rush, Wood

1800s Museum Quality Dental Chair
1800s Museum Quality Dental Chair

1800s Museum Quality Dental Chair

By S. S. White

Located in Peekskill, NY

dental inventor of the 19th century. Among his inventions was the first hydraulic dental chair. In

Category

Antique 19th Century American Industrial More Furniture and Collectibles

Materials

Iron

Set of Four 19th Century French Walnut Carved Neoclassical Dining Armchairs
Set of Four 19th Century French Walnut Carved Neoclassical Dining Armchairs

Set of Four 19th Century French Walnut Carved Neoclassical Dining Armchairs

Located in Hopewell, NJ

first quarter of the 19th century, each of this set of four museum quality chairs features an open back

Category

Antique Early 19th Century French Neoclassical Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Upholstery, Walnut

Lichtenstein's Blue Chair Museum, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas

Lichtenstein's Blue Chair Museum, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas

By Brian Nash

Located in Yardley, PA

This painting is acrylic on deep-profile canvas, wired and ready to hang. :: Painting :: Pop-Art :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist...

Category

2010s Pop Art Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vitra Museum Miniature George Nelson Coconut Chair
Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vitra Museum Miniature George Nelson Coconut Chair

Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vitra Museum Miniature George Nelson Coconut Chair

By Vitra

Located in Keego Harbor, MI

For your consideration is this cute and classy miniature of the Iconic George Nelson Coconut chair

Category

20th Century Mid-Century Modern Abstract Sculptures

Materials

Leather

Restored Paul Frankl Museum Quality Dining Room Table and Chairs Set
Restored Paul Frankl Museum Quality Dining Room Table and Chairs Set

Restored Paul Frankl Museum Quality Dining Room Table and Chairs Set

By Paul Frankl

Located in Van Nuys, CA

Rare museum quality Art Deco Paul Frankl dining room set featuring a large dining table with 4

Category

Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Dining Room Sets

Materials

Rattan

Rare Museum Quality Dining Room Table and Chairs Set By Paul Frankl
Rare Museum Quality Dining Room Table and Chairs Set By Paul Frankl

Rare Museum Quality Dining Room Table and Chairs Set By Paul Frankl

By Paul Frankl

Located in Van Nuys, CA

Rare museum quality Art Deco Paul Frankl dining room set featuring a large dining table with 4

Category

Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Dining Room Sets

Materials

Rattan, Hardwood

Set of 6 Adolf Loos Thonet Vienna Café Museum Art Nouveau Bentwood Chairs
Set of 6 Adolf Loos Thonet Vienna Café Museum Art Nouveau Bentwood Chairs

Set of 6 Adolf Loos Thonet Vienna Café Museum Art Nouveau Bentwood Chairs

By Thonet, Adolf Loos

Located in Vienna, AT

A very beautiful set of 6 bentwood Art Nouveau Thonet chairs. Originally designed by Adolf Loos for

Category

Early 20th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Living Room Sets

Materials

Bentwood

1930, W.H. Gispen for Gispen, Unique Barber or Optician Chair, Museum Piece
1930, W.H. Gispen for Gispen, Unique Barber or Optician Chair, Museum Piece

1930, W.H. Gispen for Gispen, Unique Barber or Optician Chair, Museum Piece

By Gispen Culemborg, Willem H. Gispen

Located in Amsterdam IJMuiden, NL

details on his family name plus eu, is for sale soon too. :-) Unique barber chair or optician chair

Category

Vintage 1930s Dutch Industrial Armchairs

Materials

Metal, Chrome

Walnut Molded Plywood Armchair / "Cherner Chair" by Norman Cherner
Walnut Molded Plywood Armchair / "Cherner Chair" by Norman Cherner

Walnut Molded Plywood Armchair / "Cherner Chair" by Norman Cherner

By The Cherner Chair Company, Norman Cherner

Located in San Diego, CA

. This chair is found in design collections throughout the world, including the Vitra Design Museum

Category

Early 2000s American Mid-Century Modern Armchairs

Materials

Beech, Walnut

Rattan & Steam Bent Chair & Ottoman
Rattan & Steam Bent Chair & Ottoman

Rattan & Steam Bent Chair & Ottoman

By David Colwell

Located in Otley, GB

chair & ottoman are no longer in production & this chair now sits in the Victoria & Albert Museum in

Category

Vintage 1960s British Mid-Century Modern Chaise Longues

Materials

Rattan

Original I. S. Henry Tall Back Chair London, 1895
Original I. S. Henry Tall Back Chair London, 1895

Original I. S. Henry Tall Back Chair London, 1895

Located in Rome, IT

transfered to the Osterreichischen Museum. Now, the chair is in the collection of MAK. The Austrian Museum

Category

Antique Early 1900s English Jugendstil Armchairs

Materials

Wood

Important Pair of Louis XVI Giltwood Chairs by Jacob
Important Pair of Louis XVI Giltwood Chairs by Jacob

Important Pair of Louis XVI Giltwood Chairs by Jacob

By Henri Jacob

Located in Greenwich, CT

many museums and private collections. These chairs retain original two tone gilding. Provenance

Category

Antique 1780s French Louis XVI Armchairs

Materials

Giltwood

Italian Modern Chairs Spaghetti by Giandomenico Belotti for Alias Design, 1980s
Italian Modern Chairs Spaghetti by Giandomenico Belotti for Alias Design, 1980s

Italian Modern Chairs Spaghetti by Giandomenico Belotti for Alias Design, 1980s

By Giandomenico Belotti, Alias

Located in MIlano, IT

Alias ??chairs to enter the MoMA collection in New York. This chair is documented in the Chair Museum in

Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Modern Living Room Sets

Materials

Metal

Danish Cabinetmaker Oak Easy Chairs with Carved Legs, Denmark ca 1950s
Danish Cabinetmaker Oak Easy Chairs with Carved Legs, Denmark ca 1950s

Danish Cabinetmaker Oak Easy Chairs with Carved Legs, Denmark ca 1950s

Located in Utrecht, NL

world pieces - like these easy chairs - that are museum-quality rarities today. The carved oak front

Category

Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Armchairs

Materials

Fabric, Wood

ANTiQUE CHINESE REPUBLIC PERIOD HARDWOOD WITH MARBLE INSET PANEL CAPTAINS CHAIR
ANTiQUE CHINESE REPUBLIC PERIOD HARDWOOD WITH MARBLE INSET PANEL CAPTAINS CHAIR

ANTiQUE CHINESE REPUBLIC PERIOD HARDWOOD WITH MARBLE INSET PANEL CAPTAINS CHAIR

Located in West Sussex, Pulborough

have only ever seen one other which I bought and sold very quickly to a Chinese Museum. The chair is

Category

Antique Early 1900s Chinese Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Marble

Postmodern Gray and Black Seconda Chair by Mario Botta for Alias '1985'
Postmodern Gray and Black Seconda Chair by Mario Botta for Alias '1985'

Postmodern Gray and Black Seconda Chair by Mario Botta for Alias '1985'

By Mario Botta

Located in Brooklyn, NY

his design for San Francisco’s Museum of Modern Art. The chair was designed in 1985 and is produced in

Category

Late 20th Century Post-Modern Armchairs

Materials

Metal

Rare Hopmi Tubular Chair by Architect H.F. Mertens for UMS Pastoe, 1932
Rare Hopmi Tubular Chair by Architect H.F. Mertens for UMS Pastoe, 1932

Rare Hopmi Tubular Chair by Architect H.F. Mertens for UMS Pastoe, 1932

By Hermann Friedrich Mertens, Hopmi & UMS Pastoe

Located in bergen op zoom, NL

connection, one of which is in the Centraal Museum in Utrecht A museum collection worthy chair.

Category

Vintage 1930s Dutch Bauhaus Armchairs

Materials

Steel

Soriana lounge chair designed by Afra and Tobia Scarpa for Cassina 1969
Soriana lounge chair designed by Afra and Tobia Scarpa for Cassina 1969

Soriana lounge chair designed by Afra and Tobia Scarpa for Cassina 1969

By Afra & Tobia Scarpa

Located in Arezzo, Italy

Soriana lounge chair designed by Afra and Tobia Scarpa for Cassina 1969, Original leather

Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs

Materials

Metal

1978 Molded Plywood Armchair Set of 2 in Oak by Peter Danko for Thonet
1978 Molded Plywood Armchair Set of 2 in Oak by Peter Danko for Thonet

1978 Molded Plywood Armchair Set of 2 in Oak by Peter Danko for Thonet

By Peter Danko, Thonet

Located in Chattanooga, TN

expectations. The chair was gifted to the museum by Lloyd E. Herman, founding director and director

Category

Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Armchairs

Materials

Fabric, Oak

Dancing Horse

Dancing Horse

By Cabot Lyford

Located in Wiscasset, ME

well as at Bowdoin and Colby Colleges, Farnsworth Art Museum and Currier Art Museum in New Hampshire

Category

20th Century Modern Abstract Sculptures

Materials

Walnut

Set of 4 Dialogo armchairs designed by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for B&B Italia.
Set of 4 Dialogo armchairs designed by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for B&B Italia.

Set of 4 Dialogo armchairs designed by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for B&B Italia.

By Afra & Tobia Scarpa

Located in Dronten, NL

vintage condition. Floating seat design, very light and comfortable chairs. We offer museum quality

Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Armchairs

Materials

Chrome, Steel

1990s Post-Modern Philippe Starck for Vitra Black Louis 20 Armchair, 3 Available
1990s Post-Modern Philippe Starck for Vitra Black Louis 20 Armchair, 3 Available

1990s Post-Modern Philippe Starck for Vitra Black Louis 20 Armchair, 3 Available

By Vitra, Philippe Starck

Located in Secaucus, NJ

museum collections. The chair is no longer in production. Looks absolutely wonderful in private or public

Category

1990s European Post-Modern Armchairs

Materials

Aluminum

Richard Hutten TUT babychair Gispen, the Netherlands, 1990
Richard Hutten TUT babychair Gispen, the Netherlands, 1990

Richard Hutten TUT babychair Gispen, the Netherlands, 1990

By Gispen, Richard Hutten

Located in Etten-Leur, NL

Museum Utrecht”. The chair has a solid oak frame and oak plywood seat. We also have a second one in

Category

1990s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Children's Furniture

Materials

Oak, Plywood

Jindrich Halabala Art Deco Czech Armchairs
Jindrich Halabala Art Deco Czech Armchairs

Jindrich Halabala Art Deco Czech Armchairs

Located in Houston, TX

important museums. The chair is upholstered in a light velvety fabric. The arm handles are made from

Category

Vintage 1930s Czech Art Deco Armchairs

Materials

Rosewood, Velvet

18th Century English Comb Back Windsor Armchair
18th Century English Comb Back Windsor Armchair

18th Century English Comb Back Windsor Armchair

Located in Greenwich, CT

put together this famous museum, this chair came from his personal collection.

Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier English Armchairs

Materials

Ash, Beech

Pair of  Vintage German Minimalist Chrome Black Armchairs from Thonet, 1970s
Pair of  Vintage German Minimalist Chrome Black Armchairs from Thonet, 1970s

Pair of Vintage German Minimalist Chrome Black Armchairs from Thonet, 1970s

By Thonet

Located in Warszawa, Mazowieckie

chair No. 1 (1860), cafe chair No. 14 (c. 1859), chair of the Adolf Loos cafe museum (1899), chair No

Category

Vintage 1970s German Minimalist Armchairs

Materials

Chrome

Tobia Scarpa by Morellato Rare Edition signed 1970's Italy
Tobia Scarpa by Morellato Rare Edition signed 1970's Italy

Tobia Scarpa by Morellato Rare Edition signed 1970's Italy

By Morellato, Tobia Scarpa

Located in Vancouver, BC

of the world's leading museums, including the Libertà chair on display at the Louvre. As an

Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Post-Modern Vases

Materials

Metal, Chrome

Tobia Scarpa Midcentury "Andre" Glass and Steel Dining Table for Gavina, Italy
Tobia Scarpa Midcentury "Andre" Glass and Steel Dining Table for Gavina, Italy

Tobia Scarpa Midcentury "Andre" Glass and Steel Dining Table for Gavina, Italy

By Afra & Tobia Scarpa, Gavina

Located in Roma, IT

design prizes and many of his designs can also be found on show in some of the world’s key museums

Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Tables

Materials

Steel, Chrome

Pierre Paulin ABCD Sofa Set, Artifort, 1968
Pierre Paulin ABCD Sofa Set, Artifort, 1968

Pierre Paulin ABCD Sofa Set, Artifort, 1968

By Artifort, Pierre Paulin

Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant

so the sofa's wont slide too much, never saw these before. Collectible chairs in museum quality and

Category

Vintage 1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Sofas

Materials

Metal

Rare Greta Von Nessen Double Cone Adjustable Table Lamp
Rare Greta Von Nessen Double Cone Adjustable Table Lamp

Rare Greta Von Nessen Double Cone Adjustable Table Lamp

By Greta Von Nessen, Nessen Lighting

Located in Oakland, CA

at the Metropolitan and Newark Museums, his chair was shown alongside one by Mies van der Rohe. At

Category

Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Metal, Aluminum, Chrome

Limited Edition Soriana Denim Armchair by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Cassina
Limited Edition Soriana Denim Armchair by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Cassina

Limited Edition Soriana Denim Armchair by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Cassina

By Cassina, Tobia Scarpa

Located in Barcelona, Barcelona

comfort level of this upholstered chair in the most freeing sense of the word. Materials: Metal Fabric

Category

2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

Limited Edition Soriana Denim Armchair by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Cassina
Limited Edition Soriana Denim Armchair by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Cassina

Limited Edition Soriana Denim Armchair by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Cassina

By Cassina, Tobia Scarpa

Located in Barcelona, Barcelona

be found on show in some of the world’s key museums, including his ‘Libertà’ chair on show at the

Category

2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas

Materials

Metal

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Museum Chair For Sale on 1stDibs

Choose from an assortment of styles, material and more with respect to the museum chair you’re looking for at 1stDibs. Frequently made of wood, metal and animal skin, every museum chair was constructed with great care. If you’re shopping for a museum chair, we have 35 options in-stock, while there are 2 modern editions to choose from as well. Your living room may not be complete without a museum chair — find older editions for sale from the 18th Century and newer versions made as recently as the 21st Century. A museum chair made by Mid-Century Modern designers — as well as those associated with Modern — is very popular. A well-made museum chair has long been a part of the offerings for many furniture designers and manufacturers, but those produced by Adolf Loos, Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe are consistently popular.

How Much is a Museum Chair?

Prices for a museum chair can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, they begin at $441 and can go as high as $65,000, while the average can fetch as much as $3,858.

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.