Sculptural Barrel Chair
Vintage 1970s American Hollywood Regency Club Chairs
Wood, Lacquer
Vintage 1970s Italian Chairs
Leather, Mahogany
1990s American Post-Modern Swivel Chairs
Textile, Upholstery, Wood
Vintage 1960s Mid-Century Modern Club Chairs
Upholstery, Rattan
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Brass
Vintage 1980s American Post-Modern Lounge Chairs
Fabric, Wood
Vintage 1970s Mid-Century Modern Side Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Naugahyde
1990s English Regency Club Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Swivel Chairs
Wood
Vintage 1950s Mid-Century Modern Swivel Chairs
Wood
Late 20th Century Chinese Modern Dining Room Chairs
Wrought Iron
1990s North American Mid-Century Modern Swivel Chairs
Ultrasuede, Wood
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Brass
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Velvet, Wood
Vintage 1970s Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Chrome
Vintage 1980s American Post-Modern Lounge Chairs
Upholstery
Vintage 1970s American Post-Modern Lounge Chairs
Velvet, Wood
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Club Chairs
Upholstery, Walnut
Vintage 1970s American Modern Lounge Chairs
Fabric, Lucite
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Upholstery, Walnut
Mid-20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Fabric, Walnut
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Upholstery, Walnut
1990s American Post-Modern Lounge Chairs
Metal
Vintage 1980s American Post-Modern Swivel Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Upholstery, Walnut
Mid-20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Chrome
Vintage 1980s American Post-Modern Swivel Chairs
Textile, Wood
Vintage 1950s French Arts and Crafts Chairs
Steel
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Walnut
Vintage 1980s American Post-Modern Club Chairs
Leather, Wood
Vintage 1980s American Post-Modern Lounge Chairs
Bouclé, Wood
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Velvet, Wood
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Swivel Chairs
Velvet, Wood
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Leather, Walnut
1990s American Post-Modern Swivel Chairs
Bouclé, Upholstery
1990s American Post-Modern Swivel Chairs
Bouclé, Upholstery
1990s American Post-Modern Lounge Chairs
Bouclé, Upholstery
1990s American Post-Modern Swivel Chairs
Bouclé, Upholstery
Vintage 1980s American Post-Modern Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
Vintage 1980s American Modern Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Fabric
Mid-20th Century Belgian Art Deco Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Upholstery, Hardwood
1990s American Post-Modern Lounge Chairs
Bouclé, Upholstery
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Bouclé, Walnut
Mid-20th Century American Hollywood Regency Armchairs
Wrought Iron
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Walnut, Velvet
Antique Early 1900s Victorian Sofas
Wicker, Rattan, Bentwood
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Wood
Vintage 1980s American Post-Modern Sofas
Upholstery, Wood
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Cane, Bentwood
Vintage 1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Tables
Walnut
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Fabric, Cane, Rattan
20th Century American Armchairs
Wood, Upholstery
Vintage 1970s American Club Chairs
Wood, Upholstery
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Twill, Walnut
20th Century American Lounge Chairs
Wood, Upholstery
20th Century Swedish Chairs
Wood, Upholstery
Late 20th Century American Modern Lounge Chairs
Other
Early 20th Century American Federal Wingback Chairs
Upholstery
20th Century American Club Chairs
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Sculptural Barrel Chair For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Sculptural Barrel Chair?
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.
- What are barrel chairs?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertAugust 16, 2019
Barrel chairs have high, semicircular backs which form a single piece with the arms.
- What is a barrel chair?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Barrel chairs are accent chairs that feature a curved back shaped like half of a barrel. In some cases, the back slopes down at the sides to form arms. Other pieces are armless or have separate rolled arms at the sides. You'll find a variety of barrel chairs on 1stDibs.
- Who invented the barrel chair?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 3, 2023No one knows who invented the barrel chair originally, or even where the chairs appeared first. They became popular during the mid to late 19th century, but it was Frank Lloyd Wright who made them famous when he designed an iconic version for Wingspread, a home he designed in Wind Point, Wisconsin. Wright also used his Taliesin Barrel chair to furnish his own home in Wisconsin. Shop a selection of barrel chairs on 1stDibs.
- What era are barrel chairs from?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2023The earliest barrel chairs are from is the era of the early 19th century. However, Frank Lloyd Wright created one of the most famous barrel chairs in 1937 as a part of his design for Wingspread, a home in Wind Point, Wisconsin. On 1stDibs, find a collection of barrel chairs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Reupholster a barrel back chair by first removing the old upholstery from the chair. Use the old pieces of material as a guide to help you cut the new upholstery into properly sized pieces. Reupholster the chair by using a furniture stapler to re-secure the new upholstery in the same manner that the old upholstery was attached. Shop a range of vintage and contemporary barrel back chairs on 1stDibs.
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