Nursing Rocker
Antique 19th Century American Adirondack Chairs
Wood
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Rocking Chairs
Leather, Oak
21st Century and Contemporary American Post-Modern Settees
Steel, Chrome
Recent Sales
Vintage 1930s American Rocking Chairs
Wood
Early 20th Century American Rocking Chairs
Iron
Antique 19th Century American Rocking Chairs
Pine
Mid-20th Century British Mid-Century Modern Rocking Chairs
Beech
Antique 19th Century American American Colonial Windsor Chairs
Hickory
Antique 19th Century English Rocking Chairs
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2010s South African Minimalist Pedestals
Burl, Poplar, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Marble, Carrara Marble
Vintage 1920s French French Provincial Wall Lights and Sconces
Crystal, Metal
Antique Late 19th Century European Moorish Architectural Elements
Wrought Iron
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Upholstery
20th Century Antiquities
Ceramic
Early 20th Century European Arts and Crafts Bookcases
Glass, Oak
2010s Vietnamese Dressers
Oak
Antique Early 1900s American Arts and Crafts Table Lamps
Wrought Iron
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Grandfather Clocks and Long...
Pine
Vintage 1920s Italian Louis XV Beds and Bed Frames
Wood
19th Century Landscape Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Antique Early 1900s English Arts and Crafts Planters, Cachepots and Jard...
Ceramic
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Bookcases
Brass
Antique 1860s Danish Neoclassical Chairs
Wool, Beech
2010s Asian Minimalist Beds and Bed Frames
Bamboo
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.
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The boho-chic Enchanted Forest Swing, handmade by marginalized women from Turkey and Syria, is uplifting in every way.