Sedia Savonarola
Antique Early 1900s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Leather, Wood
Antique 16th Century Italian Renaissance Chairs
Walnut
Antique 16th Century Italian Renaissance Chairs
Wood, Walnut
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Antique 18th Century and Earlier Italian Renaissance Armchairs
Antique Early 1800s Italian Medieval Chairs
Leather, Walnut
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Antique 16th Century French Renaissance Figurative Sculptures
Sandstone
Vintage 1960s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Rosewood, Fabric
2010s American Modern Cabinets
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2010s North American Modern Side Chairs
Hardwood
Mid-20th Century German Space Age Chairs
Velvet, Fiberglass
Antique 15th Century and Earlier German Decorative Art
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20th Century French Art Deco Carriage Clocks and Travel Clocks
Jade, Quartz, Gold
Antique Late 19th Century Tableware
Sterling Silver
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Namibian Natural Specimens
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2010s Wardrobes and Armoires
Leather, Ash
Vintage 1940s Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Leather, Wood
20th Century Post-Impressionist Abstract Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Antique 16th Century French Renaissance Armchairs
Walnut
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures
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Antique 15th Century and Earlier Russian Natural Specimens
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Antique 15th Century and Earlier Mexican Natural Specimens
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Finding the Right Chairs for You
Chairs are an indispensable component of your home and office. Can you imagine your life without the vintage, new or antique chairs you love?
With the exception of rocking chairs, the majority of the seating in our homes today — Windsor chairs, chaise longues, wingback chairs — originated in either England or France. Art Nouveau chairs, the style of which also originated in those regions, embraced the inherent magnificence of the natural world with decorative flourishes and refined designs that blended both curved and geometric contour lines. While craftsmanship and styles have evolved in the past century, chairs have had a singular significance in our lives, no matter what your favorite chair looks like.
“The chair is the piece of furniture that is closest to human beings,” said Hans Wegner. The revered Danish cabinetmaker and furniture designer was prolific, having designed nearly 500 chairs over the course of his lifetime. His beloved designs include the Wishbone chair, the wingback Papa Bear chair and many more.
Other designers of Scandinavian modernist chairs introduced new dynamics to this staple with sculptural flowing lines, curvaceous shapes and efficient functionality. The Paimio armchair, Swan chair and Panton chair are vintage works of Finnish and Danish seating that left an indelible mark on the history of good furniture design.
“What works good is better than what looks good, because what works good lasts,” said Ray Eames.
Visionary polymaths Ray and Charles Eames experimented with bent plywood and fiberglass with the goal of producing affordable furniture for a mass market. Like other celebrated mid-century modern furniture designers of elegant low-profile furnishings — among them Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Finn Juhl — the Eameses considered ergonomic support, durability and cost, all of which should be top of mind when shopping for the perfect chair. The mid-century years yielded many popular chairs.
The Eameses introduced numerous icons for manufacturer Herman Miller, such as the Eames lounge chair and ottoman, molded plywood dining chairs the DCM and DCW (which can be artfully mismatched around your dining table) and a wealth of other treasured pieces for the home and office.
A good chair anchors us to a place and can become an object of timeless appeal. Take a seat and browse the rich variety of vintage, new and antique chairs on 1stDibs today.
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