$5,742
H 38.98 in W 50.4 in D 23.63 in
C.1860 Louis XVI Revival French Straight-Back Sofa/ Settee, Second Empire
Located in London, Park Royal
A finely hand carved French two-seater canapé à dossier droit (straight-back sofa) from the Second
Upholstery, Wood
$2,224Sale Price|20% Off
H 35 in W 67 in D 24 in
Second Empire Fine Mahogany & Gilt Bronze Canapé—Napoleon III, 1860
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A fine and well preserved mahogany & gilt bronze canapé from the Second Empire Period under the
Bronze
French Napoleon III Style Curved Sofa in Floral Jacquard Velvet
Located in Astoria, NY
, and sage. The base is finished with a full bullion-fringe skirt, a nod to Second Empire salon seating
Jacquard, Velvet, Hardwood
Empire Sofa
Located in New Haven, CT
Second Empire period mahogany sofa with original ormolu mounts including the paw feet. Note: The
Mahogany
Second Empire Recamier, France, circa 1850
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
Second Empire fainting couch, circa 1850 de-acquisitioned from Svaneholms castles inventory in 1936
Mahogany
Sold
H 39.38 in W 38.19 in D 25.99 in
C.1860 Louis XVI Revival French Marquise Chair (Wide Bergere), Second Empire
Located in London, Park Royal
A finely carved French marquise (wide bergère) from the Second Empire period (c.1860), reflecting
Upholstery, Wood
Sold
H 35.44 in W 40.75 in D 31.89 in
French 19th Century Original Paintwork Second Empire Marquise Loveseat Sofa
Located in Benington, Herts
A very elegant and wonderfully drawn French 19th century Second Empire marquise loveseat / small
Paint
19th Century Second Empire Marble-Top Console Sofa Table
Located in Dallas, TX
Topped with black marble, this 19th century console-sofa is a great size and especially appealing
Marble
French 2nd Empire Mahogany Sofa with gilt bronze mounts
Located in Asheville, NC
French Second Empire Sofa, mahogany frame with numerous gilt bronze mounts in the Napoleonic
Ormolu
Louis XVI Style Sofa
By La Maison London
Located in London, Park Royal
Louis XVI style canape made by La Maison London. Hand carved in solid wood, painted in an ecru white with gold highlights. Upholstered in a fabric of your choice Please note: 11m of...
Giltwood
$26,000
H 102 in W 61.5 in D 79 in
English Georgian Mahogany Gadrooned and Upholstered Tester Bed, Circa 1800
Located in Charleston, SC
English Georgian mahogany four-poster bed with a carved molded inset headboard, tapered head post, serpentine gadrooned and upholstered tester with a centered carved urn & swags, dec...
Upholstery, Mahogany
$232,474Sale Price|33% Off
H 51.19 in W 55.12 in D 201.58 in
Rare Victorian Firescreen with Taxidermy Hummingbirds by Henry Ward
By Henry Ward
Located in Amsterdam, NL
England, third quarter of the 19th century On two scrolling foliate feet with casters, above which a rectangular two-side glazed frame, with on top a two-sided shield with initial...
Other
$15,439 / item
H 32.68 in W 110.24 in D 40.56 in
Art Deco Sofa by Munna Design Studio with Velvet Upholstery
By Munna Design Studio
Located in NEW YORK, NY
This sofa features a wonderfully elegant fan-shaped motif, with its accentuated curvy lines with decadent and lavish finish. The feminine curves are ravishingly enhanced by the diffe...
Velvet
$4,900 / item
H 34 in W 86 in D 42 in
Custom Made Modern English Arm Sofa in Performance Linen Velvet - 86"
By Bloom Home Inc
Located in Old Town Orange, CA
This beautiful english arm sofa has a modern twist, with its single bench cushion, and beautiful curved apron sides. It’s upholstered in a Linen Velvet Performance fabric. Shown in...
Linen, Velvet
Danish Designer, Curved Sofa, Wood, Fabric, Denmark, 1940s
Located in High Point, NC
A curved yellow fabric and wood sofa designed and produced in Denmark, c. 1940s.' Seat height: 15.75” All upholstered furniture can be reupholstered upon request for an additional ...
Fabric, Wood
Mid-Century Modern Italian Velvet Curved Sofa, 1950s
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Curved four-seat sofa of Italian design, structure and legs in solid wood, velvet upholstery, 1950s production, Condition as shown in the photos, it is advisable to redo the upholstery.
Velvet, Beech, Fir
19th Century French Napoleon III Walnut Daybed or Bench
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Distinctive 19th century walnut daybed or bench seat made in the grand French Napoleon III period. The walnut frame features large round padded bolsters on each end decorated with st...
Fabric, Walnut
Small Scale French Napoleon III Settee in Red Velvet
Located in Buchanan, NY
A magnificent small scale 19th century French Napoleon III “chapeau de gendarme” style settee in red velvet with contrasting bullion fringe. This lovely small scale French Napoleon ...
Upholstery
$6,093Sale Price / item|20% Off
H 19.69 in W 70.87 in D 27.56 in
Custom Oak & Cream Bouclé Daybed by Fosfeen Handcrafted, Made to Order
Located in Plymouth, GB
A handcrafted oak and cream bouclé daybed from Fosfeen’s Sunday Collection. Made to order with full customisation available, including COM, finishes, and dimensions. The Sunday Dayb...
Hardwood, Wood, Upholstery, Textile, Fabric, Bouclé, Oak
Large 18th Century George III Giltwood Sofa
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
Large late 18th Century George III giltwood sofa in the manner of James Wyatt. This sofa has a detailed frame that includes bellflowers and carved rosettes. The whole is raised on b...
Beech
$2,503 / item
H 35.44 in W 21.26 in D 27.96 in
Klismos Walnut Wood Leather Seats Saber Legs Dining Chairs, Customizable
By T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings
Located in IT
Klismos customizable chairs with saber legs, natural wood shiny finishing and leather seats with buttons. Available in other colors and upholstery. Walnut wood chairs with deep an...
Leather, Cotton, Nutwood, Walnut
Large Conversation Settee - Canapé à confident - Sofa
Located in Paris, FR
Very unusual and large conversation settee - canapé à confident. Carved gilt-wood and velvet fabric, circa 1880.
Velvet, Wood
George Smith Mohair Velvet Ottoman Sofa Banquette
By George Smith
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Monumental bespoke mohair velvet tufted sectional banquette sofa custom designed by George Smith, London UK. The grand "ottoman sofa" was commissioned by Samantha Todhunter Design fo...
Mohair, Hardwood
$12,000
H 35 in W 20.5 in D 21 in
T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings for Saridis Klismos Chairs in Walnut with Leather Thongs
By Saridis, T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings
Located in St. Louis, MO
Single T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings Klismos chair for Saridis of Athens, Greece in Greek walnut and leather woven seats. This chair was part of the collection he designed for Saridis o...
Leather, Walnut
$9,540 / set
H 29.5 in W 139 in D 31.5 in
Vintage French Sectional Sofa, Floral Tapestry, Provence, 1940
Located in Astoria, NY
A monumental pair of vintage French sofas, sourced in Provence. Upholstered in the original floral tapestry fabric woven in shades of ochre, russet, muted blue, sage, and soft gold, ...
Tapestry, Hardwood
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.
Modern icons are showing up in gracefully layered dining nooks, living rooms and lounges — proof that great design only gets better with context.
Andrianna Shamaris has filled her epic new home with pieces of her own design.
Top interior designers show — and tell — us how to create delectable spaces for hosting dinner parties.
With its plush cushions, cane details and dazzlingly colorful back, it’s inviting from every angle.
You know the designs, now get the stories about how they came to be.
The plush Cove Slipper 2.5 Seater sofa is just one of many convenient combinations from the London-based maker.
Sam Klemick's cool stool is edgy, cozy and environmentally sustainable all at once.
From his massive collaborative workshop in a former paper factory, the designer concocts funky furniture from disused materials, as well as luxe hotel interiors like the new Mix Brussels.