African Two-Piece Small Carved Paddle Chair with Elephant Carving
Located in Austin, TX
African two part small chair with carved elephant at the upper back, the seat fits into a pierced slot at center of the back board.
Wood
African Chair
Located in Los Angeles, CA
African chair in wood finish.
Wood
Pair of African Lobi Tribe Wooden Chairs, 20th Century Folk Art
Located in Valby, 84
This unique pair of Lobi chairs from West Africa showcases the exceptional craftsmanship of the Lobi people, renowned for their functional yet sculptural designs. Hand-carved from so...
Wood
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H 24 in W 21 in D 17 in
2 Antique Primitive African Baule Tribal Yoke Back Chairs Ivory Coast Baoulé
Located in Dayton, OH
Two primitive carved African Baule chairs. Made from indigenous local woods featuring yoke back, short legs and flat seat.
Hardwood
Rare Antique African Palaver Chair
Located in New York, NY
Rare antique African hand carved chair. Beautiful patina on the single wood back rest, with multiple motifs. This folding chair is made from a single piece of ébéniste wood from west...
Wood, Reclaimed Wood
Rare Antique African Palaver Chair
Located in New York, NY
Rare antique African hand carved chair. Beautiful patina on the single wood back rest, with multiple motifs. This folding chair is made from a single piece of ébéniste wood from west...
Wood, Reclaimed Wood
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H 20.87 in W 9.85 in D 21.66 in
Primitive African Tribal Hand Carved Folding Palaver Chair, Wabi Sabi, 1970s
Located in Odense, DK
A fine unique African hand carved folding children chair in solid wood. Also named the palaver chair as a traditional African furniture type. Beautifully handcrafted and decorated wi...
Wood
African Stargazing Chairs, 1950s
Located in Rotterdam, ZH
Pair of African Stargazing chairs, 1950s. Very nice primitive Folk Art design carved out of solid wood.
Wood
Vintage African Studded Wood Reclining Chair
Located in Pasadena, CA
This is a fantastic example of a primitive vintage African studded wood reclining chair.
Metal
Andrianna Shamaris Iroko Wood African Hand Carved Chair
By Andrianna Shamaris
Located in New York, NY
African hand carved tribal birthing chair. Beautiful patina on the single wood back rest, with a carved lizard motif on the back. This folding chair is made from a single piece of ir...
Wood, Reclaimed Wood
African Baoulé Chair, Ivory Coast, Mid-20th Century
Located in London, GB
This small chair from the ivory coast has a truly lovely presence. It is hand carved and showcases the typical design elements of a ‘Baoulé’ chair, low seat with a vertical back. Ind...
Wood
Andrianna Shamaris African Wooden Chair or Side Table, Ivory Coast
By Andrianna Shamaris
Located in New York, NY
Primitive 19th century hand carved wooden chair from the Ivory Coast of Africa.
Wood, Reclaimed Wood
19th Century African Wooden Chair by Andrianna Shamaris, Cote d'Ivoire
Located in New York, NY
Beautiful patina on this 19th century hand carved wooden chair from the Ivory Coast of Africa. This can also be used as a low side table. A piece of art. We only source the best. Ful...
Wood, Reclaimed Wood
African Senufo Stargazer Chair from the 1950s
Located in London, GB
A beautifully sculptural Senufo stargazer chair from West Africa, traditionally made by the Senufo people of Côte d’Ivoire. Crafted using time-honoured techniques, the chair features...
Wood
African Baoulé Chair, Ivory Coast, Early 20th Century
Located in Rotterdam, ZH
African Baoulé chair, early 20th century. Unique chair used by the Baoulé people (Akan tribe) from Ivory Coast in Western Africa. These chairs where traditionally used as a meditatio...
Wood
Andrianna Shamaris Antique Hand Carved Lobi Chair from West Africa
By Andrianna Shamaris
Located in New York, NY
Hand carved from a single piece of wood with lovely patina. A beautiful piece of art or a functional chaise to sit or recline on, circa 1950 This African chair was sourced in the ...
Wood, Reclaimed Wood
Primitive African Chair
Located in East Hampton, NY
Hand carved Ethiopian chair.
Wood
Primitive African Chair Wood and Leather, circa 1900
Located in Saarbruecken, DE
A simple, rustic wooden chair with a beautifully worn hair-on leather seat and back. Comes from Ethiopia. Very stable.
Fur, Leather, Wood
Vintage African Carved Wood Tanzanian Ceremonial Chief's Throne Chair
Located in Hopewell, NJ
A striking African ceremonial or chief’s throne chair carved in one piece from a single tree trunk having artful head at the top, female breasts, beautiful decorative carvings and so...
Wood
Antique African Wooden Chair or Side Table
Located in New York, NY
Hand carved wooden chair from the Ivory Coast of Africa. This can also be used as a low side table. A piece of art. This chair was sourced in the spirit of wabi-sabi, a Japanese ...
Wood, Reclaimed Wood
Andrianna Shamaris Iroko Wood African Hand Carved Chair
By Andrianna Shamaris
Located in New York, NY
African hand carved tribal birthing chair. Beautiful patina on the single wood back rest, with a carved lizard motif on the back. This folding chair is made from a single piece of ir...
Wood, Reclaimed Wood
Andrianna Shamaris African Hand Carved Iroko Wood Birthing Chair
By Andrianna Shamaris
Located in New York, NY
African hand carved tribal birthing chair. Beautiful patina on the single wood back rest, with a carved lizard motif on the back. This folding chair is made from a single piece of ir...
Wood, Reclaimed Wood
African Baoulé Chair, Ivory Coast, Mid-20th Century
Located in London, GB
This small chair from the ivory coast has a truly lovely presence. It is hand carved and showcases the typical design elements of a ‘Baoulé’ chair, low seat with a vertical back. Ind...
Wood
Hand Carved African Low Chairs 19th Century Ivory Coast
Located in Oakland, CA
Fantastic pair of antique African low chairs from the Baule Tribe in the Ivory Coast of West Africa. They are well-known for their artistic tribal art, sculptures, and furniture. Wit...
Wood
Ceremonial Fertility Chair of the Senufo People, West Africa
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
This ceremonial chair of the Senufo people is being supported by male and female fertility figures that are typical of Senufo carvings & iconography. The hornbill bird carvings on th...
Wood
Primitive African Stools, Tripod Chairs
Located in Bochum, NRW
A pair of three-legged hand-carved African stool, tripod chairs, tribal stools, each carved of one piece of wood showing a hand carved texture, with three curved legs supporting a co...
Wood
Antique African Hand-Carved Gurange Bench Chair
Located in Hopewell, NJ
A rare Gurange small sized chair or bench with a rustic African feel and wonderful sculptural silouette. 3 x 4 inch iron base/stand From the illustrious collection of Tim Hunt & Tam...
Teak
Primitive African Child's Chair
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
An extremely charming piece, this is a trip leg primitive carved African child's chair. Carved from a single piece of wood, it does have a small and old wood split in the seat, early...
Wood
African Collapsable Cut Out Back Chair
Located in Southampton, NY
FANTASTIC AFRICAN HARDWOOD PRIMITIVE CHAIR WITH CUTOUT FIGURES OF CROCODILES, MONKEYS,NATIVES --- EAGLE CARVED IN TOP OF SEAT-- SEAT SECTION SLOTS INTO LOWER BACK
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H 34.5 in W 27 in D 33 in
Stunning Beaded Chair, Nigeria, result of 1 year, working with 7 shades of colors
Located in Miami, Miami Design District, FL
This chair is much larger than expected the work of one artist who worked on it for one year.
Beads, Canvas
Antique French African Rustic Primitive Escabelle Chairs/Stools, a Pair
Located in Phoenix, AZ
Antique French African Rustic Escabelle chairs/stools, a pair. Escabelle is an old French word, meaning "footstool", its purpose also as a side or corner chair. The traditional es...
Wood
Vintage Primitive African “Birthing” Chair
Located in Oakland Park, FL
Vintage Primitive African birthing chair with round cut-out details on each side and back: Undulating wood carving details on the front and the sides (diamond shapes.)
Wood
Vintage Primitive African “Birthing” Chair
Located in Oakland Park, FL
Vintage Primitive African birthing chair with antique green velvet cushion with tassels.
Velvet, Wood
Vintage Hand Carved African Baule Primitive Tribal Chair
By Baule Tribe
Located in Bonita Springs, FL
Vintage hand carved African Baule Tribal yoke back low chair. Vintage hand carved African Baule Triball chair. Low chairs such as this were carried on the shoulders of village men a...
Wood
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.