Soviet Armchair
1990s Italian Post-Modern Armchairs
Suede, Wood
1990s Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Metal
20th Century Italian Bauhaus Dining Room Chairs
Chrome
Vintage 1950s Indian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Teak, Upholstery
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Vintage 1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Steel, Chrome
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Sectional Sofas
Upholstery
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Wall Clocks
Ceramic
2010s South African Minimalist Night Stands
Burl, Poplar
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and...
Brass, Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and...
Aluminum
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Center Tables
Wood
2010s American Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Brass, Bronze, Enamel, Nickel
2010s Italian Wardrobes and Armoires
Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and...
Brass, Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Benches
Fabric, Velvet, Lacquer, Wood
Vintage 1950s Sofas
Maple
Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Metal, Chrome
Vintage 1950s Dutch Industrial Daybeds
Metal
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Polyester
2010s Belgian Modern Club Chairs
Linen
Recent Sales
21st Century and Contemporary European Modern Armchairs
Velvet, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary European Modern Armchairs
Upholstery, Wood
Vintage 1940s Norwegian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Velvet, Birch
Vintage 1930s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Bouclé, Birch
1910s Academic Nude Sculptures
Marble
2010s European Other Armchairs
Wood, Velvet
2010s European Other Armchairs
Steel
2010s Russian Other Armchairs
Steel
2010s Georgian Modern Armchairs
2010s Georgian Modern Armchairs
20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Steel
2010s Georgian Modern Armchairs
2010s Georgian Modern Armchairs
Vintage 1960s Russian Brutalist Side Chairs
Leather, Oak
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Oil, Board
Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Metal
Mid-20th Century Czech Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Fabric, Beech
Mid-20th Century Finnish Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Birch
Mid-20th Century Finnish Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Birch
Mid-20th Century Finnish Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Birch
Vintage 1940s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Birch
Vintage 1940s English Colonial Revival Lounge Chairs
Mahogany
Vintage 1940s English Colonial Revival Lounge Chairs
Mahogany
Vintage 1970s German Mid-Century Modern Side Chairs
Leather, Plywood
21st Century and Contemporary British Armchairs
Wool
Vintage 1940s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Bouclé, Birch
Finding the Right armchairs for You
Armchairs have run the gamut from prestige to ease and everything in between, and everyone has an antique or vintage armchair that they love.
Long before industrial mass production democratized seating, armchairs conveyed status and power.
In ancient Egypt, the commoners took stools, while in early Greece, ceremonial chairs of carved marble were designated for nobility. But the high-backed early thrones of yore, elevated and ornate, were merely grandiose iterations of today’s armchairs.
Modern-day armchairs, built with functionality and comfort in mind, are now central to tasks throughout your home. Formal dining armchairs support your guests at a table for a cheery feast, a good drafting chair with a deep seat is parked in front of an easel where you create art and, elsewhere, an ergonomic wonder of sorts positions you at the desk for your 9 to 5.
When placed under just the right lamp where you can lounge comfortably, both elbows resting on the padded supports on each side of you, an upholstered armchair — or a rattan armchair for your light-suffused sunroom — can be the sanctuary where you’ll read for hours.
If you’re in the mood for company, your velvet chesterfield armchair is a place to relax and be part of the conversation that swirls around you. Maybe the dialogue is about the beloved Papa Bear chair, a mid-century modern masterpiece from Danish carpenter and furniture maker Hans Wegner, and the wingback’s strong association with the concept of cozying up by the fireplace, which we can trace back to its origins in 1600s-era England, when the seat’s distinctive arm protrusions protected the sitter from the heat of the period’s large fireplaces.
If the fireside armchair chat involves spirited comparisons, your companions will likely probe the merits of antique and vintage armchairs such as Queen Anne armchairs, Victorian armchairs or even Louis XVI armchairs, as well as the pros and cons of restoration versus conservation.
Everyone seems to have a favorite armchair and most people will be all too willing to talk about their beloved design. Whether that’s the unique Favela chair by Brazilian sibling furniture designers Fernando and Humberto Campana, who repurposed everyday objects to provocative effect; or Marcel Breuer’s futuristic tubular metal Wassily lounge chair; the functionality-first LC series from Charlotte Perriand, Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret; or the Eames lounge chair of the mid-1950s created by Charles and Ray Eames, there is an iconic armchair for everyone and every purpose. Find yours on 1stDibs right now.
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