Shield Back Side Chair
Antique 19th Century Great Britain (UK) Sheraton Side Chairs
Cane, Satinwood
Antique 18th Century Side Chairs
Mahogany
Antique 1790s American Side Chairs
Upholstery, Chestnut, Ebony, Mahogany, Pine
Antique Late 19th Century British Side Chairs
Mahogany
Early 20th Century George III Dining Room Chairs
Faux Leather, Wood
Antique 19th Century British Hepplewhite Side Chairs
Upholstery, Mahogany
Early 20th Century North American Hepplewhite Side Chairs
Mahogany
Vintage 1940s Chairs
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Hepplewhite Dining Room Chairs
Wood
Antique 18th Century Italian Neoclassical Side Chairs
Fabric, Wood, Upholstery
Antique Late 18th Century Italian Neoclassical Side Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
Antique 1790s Scottish Hepplewhite Side Chairs
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century Italian Neoclassical Side Chairs
Gold Leaf
Antique Late 19th Century George III Side Chairs
Mahogany
Antique Late 18th Century British George III Side Chairs
Mahogany
Antique 18th Century French Gustavian Side Chairs
Wood, Paint
Antique Late 19th Century Scottish Victorian Side Chairs
Oak
Vintage 1920s Italian Regency Side Chairs
Tapestry, Mahogany
Early 20th Century British Side Chairs
Satinwood
Antique 19th Century English Jacobean Side Chairs
Leather, Wood
Antique 19th Century Dutch Colonial Side Chairs
Ebony
Vintage 1960s French Art Deco Side Chairs
Upholstery
Antique Early 1800s English Regency Side Chairs
Mahogany
Early 20th Century British Chippendale Side Chairs
Mahogany
21st Century and Contemporary American American Craftsman Side Chairs
Walnut
Antique Early 1900s English Side Chairs
Mahogany
Antique 1840s British Early Victorian Side Chairs
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century English Side Chairs
Oak
Antique 19th Century English Side Chairs
Mahogany
Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Side Chairs
Fabric, Fruitwood
Antique 19th Century American Victorian Side Chairs
Fabric, Walnut, Mother-of-Pearl
Antique Late 19th Century Scottish Side Chairs
Oak
2010s Chippendale Dining Room Chairs
Mahogany
Antique Late 19th Century American Hepplewhite Dining Room Chairs
Textile, Wood
2010s Chippendale Dining Room Chairs
Fabric, Mahogany
2010s Adirondack Dining Room Chairs
Fabric, Mahogany
2010s Chippendale Dining Room Chairs
Fabric, Mahogany
Vintage 1930s British Sheraton Dining Room Chairs
Fabric, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Hepplewhite Dining Room Chairs
Wood
Vintage 1930s British Sheraton Dining Room Chairs
Fabric, Wood
Vintage 1930s American Georgian Dining Room Chairs
Velvet, Wood
20th Century Georgian Dining Room Chairs
Mahogany
20th Century Sheraton Dining Room Chairs
Fabric, Mahogany
Antique 1790s English George III Dining Room Chairs
Wood
Vintage 1960s English Revival Dining Room Chairs
Mahogany
Late 20th Century Dining Room Chairs
Mahogany
Vintage 1930s North American Hepplewhite Dining Room Chairs
Leather, Mahogany
Antique Late 18th Century English Hepplewhite Dining Room Chairs
Mahogany, Upholstery
Vintage 1960s American Louis XVI Dining Room Chairs
Upholstery, Mahogany
Early 20th Century Art Nouveau Dining Room Chairs
Fabric, Wood
Mid-20th Century French Dining Room Chairs
Fabric, Wood
Antique Late 18th Century Chairs
Upholstery, Giltwood
Early 20th Century Italian Renaissance Revival Chairs
Oak
Antique Late 18th Century Italian Louis XVI Chairs
Trimming, Velvet, Wood
Mid-20th Century Scottish Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Straw, Wood
Antique 1870s English High Victorian Chairs
Cane, Hardwood
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Beech, Naugahyde
Late 20th Century American Louis XVI Dining Room Chairs
Fabric, Cane, Walnut
Late 20th Century American Louis XVI Dining Room Chairs
Fabric, Cane, Walnut
Mid-20th Century American Louis XVI Dining Room Chairs
Fabric, Cane, Walnut
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Shield Back Side Chair For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Shield Back Side 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.
- 1stDibs ExpertJune 30, 2023Vladimir Kagan designed the Shield Back chair, which debuted in 1955. It features an upholstered back and seat. Cabinetmaker George Hepplewhite is also known for creating an all-wood shield back chair sometime during the mid-18th century. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of shield back chairs.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 17, 2023Shield back chairs were first made during the 18th century. However, the timeless design of these dining chairs continues to appeal to many people, so many furniture makers continue to produce chairs with distinctive shield backs. Shop a variety of shield back chairs on 1stDibs.
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