Swan Carved Dining Chairs
Antique Late 19th Century French Empire Revival Dining Room Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
20th Century American Georgian Dining Room Chairs
Wood
Antique Early 1800s French Directoire Dining Room Chairs
Brass
Antique 19th Century European Empire Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Wood
People Also Browsed
2010s Philippine Regency Dining Room Chairs
Mahogany
2010s South African Minimalist Pedestals
Hardwood
2010s Chandeliers and Pendants
Metal
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Fabric, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Benches
Velvet, Wood, Ebony
Antique 19th Century French French Provincial Dining Room Chairs
Rush, Wood
Antique 19th Century French Empire Chairs
Velvet, Walnut
Antique Mid-19th Century English Regency Dining Room Chairs
Mahogany
Antique Early 19th Century English Regency Dining Room Chairs
Rosewood, Giltwood
Antique 19th Century English Regency Dining Room Chairs
Brass, Bronze
Antique Late 19th Century Italian Modern Chairs
Copper, Pewter
Vintage 1950s French Louis XVI Dining Room Chairs
Upholstery, Paint, Beech
Late 20th Century French Louis XVI Dining Room Chairs
Cherry
20th Century French Louis XV Chairs
Cane, Giltwood, Wood
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Chairs
Wood, Damask
Antique Mid-19th Century Dutch Empire Dining Room Tables
Mahogany, Oak
Recent Sales
Antique 1820s Great Britain (UK) Dining Room Chairs
Mahogany
Early 20th Century French Dining Room Chairs
20th Century Italian Dining Room Chairs
Wood, Upholstery
Antique 1870s American Aesthetic Movement Dining Room Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
Mid-20th Century Neoclassical Dining Room Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
Early 20th Century British Victorian Dining Room Chairs
Mahogany
Vintage 1940s Italian Neoclassical Chairs
Velvet, Wood
Antique 19th Century French Empire Dining Room Chairs
Mahogany, Velvet
20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Beech
Antique 1770s English Chippendale Dining Room Chairs
Mahogany
Antique Late 19th Century French Empire Revival Dining Room Chairs
Linen, Mahogany
Antique 19th Century Dining Room Chairs
Antique 1810s Italian Biedermeier Dining Room Chairs
Vintage 1940s French Dining Room Chairs
Antique 18th Century and Earlier British Chippendale Dining Room Chairs
Antique 19th Century Italian Biedermeier Chairs
Antique 19th Century Irish Dining Room Chairs
Ebony
Antique 19th Century French Bergere Chairs
Walnut
Antique 19th Century American Serving Tables
Marble
Antique Mid-18th Century English Bookcases
Antique Early 1900s English Georgian Desks
Walnut, Burl
Early 20th Century English Chippendale Dining Room Chairs
Mahogany
Vintage 1950s American Dining Room Sets
Wood
Antique 19th Century Italian Neoclassical Settees
Cane, Fruitwood
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.
Read More
The 21 Most Popular Mid-Century Modern Chairs
You know the designs, now get the stories about how they came to be.
Fred Rigby’s Modular Seating Can Be Configured in So Many Handy Ways
The plush Cove Slipper 2.5 Seater sofa is just one of many convenient combinations from the London-based maker.
This Chubby-Chic Quilted Stool Stands on Its Own Two Feet
Sam Klemick's cool stool is edgy, cozy and environmentally sustainable all at once.
Riotous Shapes and Colors Have Made Uchronia’s Designs the Toast of Paris
Julien Sebban’s energetic design collective is radically reshaping the look of 21st-century European furniture and interiors.
Is Lionel Jadot the Willy Wonka of Upcycled Belgian Design?
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.
Rock Your Cares Away on This Sunny Hand-Crocheted Swing
The boho-chic Enchanted Forest Swing, handmade by marginalized women from Turkey and Syria, is uplifting in every way.
Learn Why Designer Maarten Baas Set This Charles Rennie Mackintosh Chair on Fire
What happens when you do something to a piece of furniture that you shouldn’t? It becomes an entirely new object.
Eileen Gray’s Famed Cliffside Villa in the South of France Is Returned to Its Modernist Glory
After years of diligent restoration, E-1027, the designer-cum-architect’s marriage of romance and modernism, is finally complete.