Pink Velvet French Settee
Antique Early 1900s French Belle Époque Settees
Mahogany, Velvet
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Settees
Upholstery, Velvet, Wood, Paint
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Loveseats
Velvet, Wood
Mid-20th Century European French Provincial Pillows and Throws
Cotton
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21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Textile
2010s American Flush Mount
Brass
20th Century Italian Doors and Gates
Poplar
21st Century and Contemporary French Louis XVI Benches
Upholstery, Wood
Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Sofas
Copper
Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Settees
Silk, Giltwood
1990s Chinese French Provincial Pillows and Throws
Wool
1990s Chinese French Provincial Pillows and Throws
Wool
Vintage 1920s English Mid-Century Modern Wardrobes and Armoires
Wood, Oak
Antique 1890s French Art Nouveau Daybeds
Iron
20th Century French Louis XV Settees
Fabric
Antique 1890s German Dinner Plates
Porcelain
Antique 19th Century French Doors and Gates
Walnut
Antique 1890s French Louis XVI Canapes
Walnut
Vintage 1940s American Hollywood Regency Side Tables
Leather, Mahogany
Antique Late 19th Century French Aubusson Pillows and Throws
Wool, Silk
Recent Sales
Vintage 1970s French Mid-Century Modern Settees
Velvet, Foam
Vintage 1970s French Mid-Century Modern Settees
Velvet, Foam
Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Settees
Brass
Antique 19th Century French Empire Settees
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century French Sofas
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Living Room Sets
Gold
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Loveseats
Metal
Mid-20th Century French Louis XVI Settees
Wood
Antique 19th Century Victorian Sofas
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century French Armchairs
Upholstery
Mid-20th Century French Louis XVI Side Chairs
Vintage 1970s French Mid-Century Modern Settees
Velvet, Foam
Vintage 1970s French Mid-Century Modern Settees
Velvet, Foam
Vintage 1970s French Mid-Century Modern Settees
Velvet, Foam
Vintage 1970s French Mid-Century Modern Settees
Velvet, Foam
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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This Chubby-Chic Quilted Stool Stands on Its Own Two Feet
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Riotous Shapes and Colors Have Made Uchronia’s Designs the Toast of Paris
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Is Lionel Jadot the Willy Wonka of Upcycled Belgian Design?
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Rock Your Cares Away on This Sunny Hand-Crocheted Swing
The boho-chic Enchanted Forest Swing, handmade by marginalized women from Turkey and Syria, is uplifting in every way.
Learn Why Designer Maarten Baas Set This Charles Rennie Mackintosh Chair on Fire
What happens when you do something to a piece of furniture that you shouldn’t? It becomes an entirely new object.
Eileen Gray’s Famed Cliffside Villa in the South of France Is Returned to Its Modernist Glory
After years of diligent restoration, E-1027, the designer-cum-architect’s marriage of romance and modernism, is finally complete.