Pair of Antique Swiss Black Forest Chairs w. Matching Tilt-Top Table, Late 1800s
Located in Lisse, NL
Stunning hand carved Black Forest hall set with marquetry inlay. These very well crafted pieces of Black Forest furniture are an incredible sight to see.
Wood
Swiss Black Forest Musical Chair
Located in New Orleans, LA
This exceptional Swiss Black Forest chair offers a delightful surprise—a music box hidden inside will activate when the chair is sat upon.
Walnut
Antique Swiss Black Forest Hand-Carved Bear Chairs
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
Matching pair of hand-carved Swiss Black Forest chairs with bears facing each other.
Wood
Swiss Black Forest Musical Chair..music box plays when sat on..
Located in Buffalo, NY
This exceptional Swiss Black Forest chair offers a delightful surprise—a music box hidden inside will activate when the chair is sat upon.
Walnut
19th Century Black Forest Carved Bear Chair
By Black Forest
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
Black Forest Swiss carved chair having bear on fallen log.
Wood
19th Century Black Forest Carved Bear Chair
By Black Forest
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
Black Forest Swiss carved chair having bear on fallen log.
Wood
Swiss Black Forest Musical Chair with Twin Bears
By Black Forest
Located in Newark, England
FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING Swiss Black Forest musical child’s chair with carved twin bears, dating to circa 1880.
Wood
Antique Swiss Black Forest Hand-Carved Chairs
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
Pair of Swiss hand-carved Black Forest bear chairs. Both facing left with acorn and oak leaf motif, and carved seats.
Wood
Pair of Swiss Black Forest Hand-Carved Chairs
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
Matched pair of Swiss Black Forest hand-carved bear chairs with bears facing each other.
Wood
A Rare Beautifully Carved Swiss “Black Forest” Musical Bear Chair
Located in London, GB
A Rare Beautifully Carved Swiss “Black Forest” Musical Bear Chair Circa 1920 Retailed by Ed Jobin & Co Brienz.
Wood
Antique Swiss Carved Black Forest Hunter's Chair
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
Swiss Black Forest carved hunter's chair with back center having a hunter with horn and chamois on each side.
Wood
Pair of Black Forest Linden Wood Swiss Maharajah Chairs Circa 1890
By Peter Trauffer
Located in London, GB
Beautifully Carved by Peter Trauffer of Luzern For the same pair see Swiss Carvings the Art of the Black Forest by Jay Arenski and Simon Daniels p132 93cm by 50cm by 50cm approx
Wood
19th Century Pair of Swiss Black Forest Carved Lindenwood Chairs With Bear Motif
Located in London, GB
A Pair of Carved Black Forest Chairs Constructed in carved Lindenwood, the legs carved to mimic branches, supporting naturalistically carved seats, the back of each chair centred by...
Wood
Black Forest Music Box Chair
Located in New Orleans, LA
As impressive as it is delightful, this chair is a perfect example of Black Forest craftsmanship at its finest.
Walnut
Late 19th Century Black Forest Carved Oak Chair, Swiss circa 1880.
Located in Banner Elk, NC
Late 19th Century Black Forest Carved Oak Chair, Swiss circa 1880.
Oak
Pair of Antique Hand-Carved Black Forest Bear Chairs
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
Antique Swiss Black Forest carved bear chairs. Intricately hand-carved with chair backs featuring bear climbing branches of oak leaves with acorns.
Wood
Black Forest Childs Chair Late 19th Century
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
Exquisite Black Forest Carved Musical Side Chair, circa 1880–1900 A superb example of late 19th-century Swiss/German craftsmanship.
Walnut
Nutwood Edelweis Marquetry Chair Swiss Brienz 1900
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Blackman, Black Forest Woodcarvings, Atglen 2009 Jay Arenski, Simon and Michael Daniels, Swiss Carvings - The Art of the Black Forest 1820 - 1940, Woodbridge 2005
Nutwood
$1,940Sale Price|20% Off
Nutwood Edelweis Marquetry Chair Swiss Brienz 1900
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Blackman, Black Forest Woodcarvings, Atglen 2009 Jay Arenski, Simon and Michael Daniels, Swiss Carvings - The Art of the Black Forest 1820 - 1940, Woodbridge 2005
Nutwood
A Swiss Alpine Folk Art Escabelle Chair
Located in London, GB
A Delightful Swiss Alpine Folk Art Escabelle Chair. This charming antique features a beautifully carved backrest adorned with a pair of Alpine chamois above a central stylized heart...
Pine
Set of Eight 1920s Black Forest Dining Room Chairs with Hand-Carved Floral Décor
Located in Atlanta, GA
A set of eight Black Forest dining room chairs from the early 20th century, with carved foliage décor and upholstery. Created during the first quarter of the 20th century, this set o...
Upholstery, Wood
Antique Black Forest Lounge Chair from Switzerland Part of a Major Collection
Located in Highwood, IL
Antique Black Forest Lounge Chair, that was part of a major collection of Black Forest items sold by a Chateau outside of Marseille, France.
Wood
Antique Black Forest Carved Bear Chair, Brienz, circa 1880s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Black Forest Carved Bear Chair, Brienz, circa 1880s An exceptional hand-carved Black Forest bear chair dating to around 1880.
Wood
Large Black Forest 19th Century Antler Arm Chair and Ottoman
Located in San Francisco, CA
a large and rare set of German Black Forest furniture with chair and ottoman; with oval back above a tight seat all surrounded by a robust frame symmetrically constructed of entwined...
Antler
Black Forest Chair
By Black Forest
Located in Janvry, Essonne
A Black Forest chair in carved lime; branches and roses sculpted on the back, a trompe l'oeil checked cloth on the seat and the back.
Wood
19th Century Black Forest Carved Bear Hall Chair
Located in Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire
A superb 19th century Black Forest carved bear hall chair; the standing bear with attitude and his head raised with his mouth open showing his polychrome teeth and tongue, his arms a...
Wood
19th Century Black Forest Carved Wood Armchair, European
Located in Alexandria, VA
Impressive large-scale Black Forest carved armchair in walnut with all-over carved decoration of bark, branches, leaves and berries, Swiss, circa 1870-1880. Provenance: Anniee McC...
Walnut
Unavailable
H 39 in W 26 in D 33 in
Antique Black Forest Carved Bear Hall Chair Armchair, 19th Century, circa 1875
Located in Longdon, Tewkesbury
Antique Black Forest carved bear hall chair armchair, 19th century, circa 1875 Magnificent Swiss 19th century Black Forest carved bear hall chair circa 1875, the bear standing on ...
Wood
A very rare Black Forest bear chair.
Located in Miami, FL
A very rare Black Forest bear chair, in the form of the playful bear.
Wood
Swiss Black Forest Musical Chair
Located in Banner Elk, NC
Rare 1890's Swiss walnut black forest musical chair with hand carved edelweiss.
Walnut
19th Century Swiss Black Forest Table and Chair Set
Located in Wiscasset, ME
In overall good condition and nice bit of craftsmanship Chairs measure 38" H 18 W 15 D Table measures 35" x 26" x 31" H
19th Century Swiss-German Black Forest Antler Horn Throne Chair
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
A very unusual throne chair or armchair made in the Black Forest region of south-west Germany bordering Switzerland.
Fabric, Antler
Sold
H 29.53 in W 27.56 in D 21.66 in
19th Century Pair Of Black Forest Antler Horn Hall Chairs, Swiss/German, c.1890
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
A very unusual pair of hall chairs or side chairs made in the Black Forest region of south-west Germany bordering Switzerland.
Fabric, Pine, Antler
Black Forest Chair of Carved Oak from the 19th Century
Located in Austin, TX
A fine Black Forest chair of carved oak from Switzerland, circa 1860, featuring a rustic trellis and grapevine back, the solid carved basket seat on rustic legs.
Oak, Wood
Pair 19th Century Swiss Black Forest Carved Oak Side Chairs
Located in Stamford, CT
Handsome pair of Swiss oak side or hall chairs with circular open work backs holding a shield with beautifully carved eagles in the centers. In the alpine style with bobbin turned sp...
Oak
Sold
H 34.5 in W 30 in D 32 in
Black Forest Bergère Chairs c1800's Huge Collection of Black Forest Pieces Avail
Located in Highwood, IL
There is also a matching settee-sofa that matches this pair of bergère Black Forest chairs. **The chairs vary slightly in size.
Upholstery, Wood
Pair of Walnut Edelweiss Chairs, Swiss, 1900
Located in Berghuelen, DE
a wonderful pair of carved walnut chairs with finely inlaid seat and back. superb carved edelweiss and floral ornaments. executed ca. 1900, swiss brienz. (the center paintings at the...
Wood
Linden Wood ’Black Forest’ Bear Armchair from Peter Trauffer
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A linden wood ’Black Forest’ Bear armchair from Peter Trauffer, modelled as a seated bear with a radiating grooved seat in his lap, his paws outstretched in an embrace and his head t...
Wood
Sold
H 26.97 in W 12.6 in D 10.63 in
Carved and Inlaid Walnut Children Chair with Musical Work, Swiss, 1900
Located in Berghuelen, DE
A finely carved walnut children chair with inlaid seat and back. Superb carved edelweiss, gentian and floral ornaments. Tilt-seat, inside a musical clock. Executed circa 1900, Swiss ...
Nutwood
Sold
H 38.63 in W 17.38 in D 17.38 in
Original Black Forest Set '6' Hand-Carved Dining Chairs Available Matching Table
Located in Highwood, IL
Their history of Black Forest carvings dates back to the 1800’s in the town of Brienz, Switzerland.
Wood
Sold
H 29 in Dm 23.5 in
Pair of Antique Black Forest Hall Chairs and Matching Table, Late 19th Century
Located in Lisse, NL
Wonderfully shaped and vey well carved set of Black Forest furniture. This late 19th century set of furniture is an absolute joy to own and to look at. The shape, the color and th...
Wood
Finely Carved and Inlaid Chair from Brienz, circa 1900
Located in Berghuelen, DE
A beautifully carved and inlaid chair from Brienz, Switzerland.
Wood
Sold
H 31 in W 36.5 in D 36.5 in
Black Forest Furniture Beautiful Small Dining Table, Game Table Matching Chairs
Located in Highwood, IL
Another selection from our vast collection of Black Forest Furniture, is a beautiful small Dining Table or game table with a set of matching Black Forest Chairs.
Wood
Pair of ‘Black Forest’ Linden Wood Arm Chairs
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
Swiss, circa 1880. Footnote: For many years carved wooden pieces such as these chairs were wrongly thought to have come from the Black Forest in Germany.
Upholstery, Wood
Sold
H 28.63 in W 26.63 in D 26.63 in
Complete Set of Antique Inlaid Edelweiss Brienz Tilt–Top Table and Four Chairs
Located in Dallas, TX
This is an absolutely stunning set featuring an Inlaid Edelweiss Brienz hand-carved tilt-top table with four chairs. The extremely fine details of the Edelweiss flowers as well as th...
Wood
Black Forest Carved and Inlaid Walnut Chair, Swiss, 1900
Located in Berghuelen, DE
A finely carved walnut chair with inlaid back. Superb carved edelweiss, gentian and floral ornaments. Executed circa 1900, Swiss Brienz. Measures: Width 18.11" (46cm) Heigh...
Nutwood
Black Forest Carved and Inlaid Walnut Chair, Swiss, 1900
Located in Berghuelen, DE
A finely carved walnut chair with inlaid back and seat. Superb carved edelweiss, gentian and floral ornaments. Executed circa 1900, Swiss Brienz. Measures: Width 18.11" (46cm) He...
Nutwood
19th Century Black Forest Musical Chair
Located in Martlesham, GB
19th century Black Forest musical chair in walnut, the profusely carved back with an inlaid central panel and also an inlaid panel on the seat, depicting typical Swiss scenes, standi...
Sold
H 29.53 in W 27.56 in D 21.66 in
19th Century Pair Of Black Forest Antler Horn Hall Chairs, Swiss/German, c.1890
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
A very unusual pair of hall chairs or side chairs made in the Black Forest region of south-west Germany bordering Switzerland.
Fabric, Pine, Antler
Sold
H 41.5 in W 24.5 in D 25.5 in
Unique & Sturdy Antique Black Forest Armchair / Lounge Chair W. Bear Sculptures
Located in Lisse, NL
Mind you, our price for this great value for money Swiss Black Forest chair even includes perfect packing and also worldwide delivery from our store to your door in just 4 to 6 days....
Glass, Wood
Sold
H 35.8 in W 18.1 in D 17.7 in
Late 1800s Hand-Carved Black Forest Hall Chair / Sgabello with Marquetry Inlay
Located in Lisse, NL
Decorative Black Forest hall chair. This well crafted hall chair from the late 1800s has the whole back of the chair carved out of one piece.
Wood
Carved and Inlaid Walnut Chair with Musical Work, Swiss, 1900
Located in Berghuelen, DE
A finely carved walnut chair with inlaid seat and back. superb carved edelweiss, gentian and floral ornaments. Tilt-seat, inside a musical clock. Executed circa 1900, Swiss Brienz. ...
Nutwood
Sold
H 37.8 in W 18.12 in D 15.36 in
Set of Swiss Brienz Carved and Marquetry Walnut Sgabello Chairs, 1900
Located in Haarlem, NL
Lovely set of richly carved walnut wooden chairs. Seats and back medaillons are decorated with chamois and capricorn inlaid marquetry wood work. Surrounding the medaillons you see su...
Walnut
Sold
H 42.52 in W 26.38 in D 27.56 in
Finely Carved and Inlaid Walnut Chair with Musical Work, Swiss 1900
Located in Berghuelen, DE
A wonderful carved walnut armchair or throne with finely inlaid seat and back. Superb carved edelweiss and floral ornaments. Lion heads and paws at the base of the arms. Tilt-seat, i...
Nutwood
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Bear Seat
Located in Aspen, CO
A Swiss "Black Forest" carved linden wood bear chair, modeled as a bear sitting with legs crossed, holding a lily pad seat.
"Black Forest" Bear Chair
Located in Stamford, CT
Offered here is a most unusual 19th century black forest carved Linden Wood Bear Armchair modeled as a seated bear with outstretched paws, circa 1890.
Tyrolean Swiss Peasant Chair
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Tyrolean Swiss peasant chair in the style of Brettstuhl Bauernstuhl.
Sold
H 39 in W 26 in D 33 in
Antique Black Forest Carved Bear Hall Chair Armchair, 19th Century, circa 1875
Located in Longdon, Tewkesbury
Antique Black Forest carved bear hall chair armchair, 19th century, circa 1875 Magnificent Swiss 19th century Black Forest carved bear hall chair circa 1875, the bear standing on ...
Wood
Sold
H 39 in W 26 in D 33 in
Antique Black Forest Carved Bear Hall Chair Armchair, 19th Century, circa 1875
Located in Longdon, Tewkesbury
Antique Black Forest carved bear hall chair armchair, 19th century, circa 1875 Magnificent Swiss 19th century Black Forest carved bear hall chair circa 1875, the bear standing on ...
Wood
Sold
H 39 in W 26 in D 33 in
Antique Black Forest Carved Bear Hall Chair Armchair, 19th Century, circa 1875
Located in Longdon, Tewkesbury
Antique Black Forest carved bear hall chair armchair, 19th century, circa 1875 Magnificent Swiss 19th century Black Forest carved bear hall chair circa 1875, the bear standing on ...
Wood
Sold
H 39 in W 26 in D 33 in
Antique Black Forest Carved Bear Hall Chair Armchair, 19th Century, circa 1875
Located in Longdon, Tewkesbury
Magnificent Swiss 19th century Black Forest carved bear hall chair circa 1875, the bear standing on his hind legs looking to his left with his mouth open showing teeth and tongue wit...
Wood
Brienz Walnut Chair with Inlaid Seat and Back, circa 1900
Located in Evergreen, CO
A carved Swiss walnut chair featuring inlaid ibex and stag with delicate edelweiss and floral carvings.
Walnut
Sold
H 28.5 in W 31.25 in D 31.25 in
Swiss Black Forest Carved Marquetry Tilt-Top Table and Six Chairs
Located in Salt Lake City, UT
An ornately carved inlaid Swiss black forest table and chair set. The round tilt-table is inlaid with a centre medallion depicting a hunting scene and is surrounded by eight smaller ...
Wood
Brienz Walnut Chair with Inlay, circa 1900
Located in Evergreen, CO
A beautifully executed and inlaid example of late 19th, early 20th century, Brienz Swiss carving and craftsmanship. Featuring Ibex and chamois inlay in the seat and back, with edelwe...
Walnut
Completely Fantastic Black Forest Rocking Chair
Located in San Francisco, CA
A black forest carved rocking chair in walnut featuring prancing lions supporting upholstered seat and back. The rocking stretcher has busts of singing women and scrolling base. Sur...
Upholstery, Wood
Swiss' Black Forest Side Chair, Early 20th Century
Located in New York, NY
Spotlighted in the 1876 Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia as well as the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, Black Forest became a world-renowned collector's category that still holds pro...
Wood
$5,800 / set
H 1 in Dm 10 in
12 Heavily Gilt Encrusted Antique Green & Gold Minton England Dinner Plates
By Minton
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A gorgeous set ! Please click on the pictures to see the detail and enlarge. Heavy raised paste gilding on a vibrant green collar and custom ordered through the fine Gilded Age Retai...
Gold, Enamel
Set of 12 Minton Gold Rimmed Porcelain Ball Dinner Plates
By Minton
Located in Great Barrington, MA
One of Minton's most popular patterns is named "Porcelain Ball” which features a large diameter plate bordered by a gold and white floral decoration and trimmed with an acid etc...
Porcelain
Antique Ceramic Oyster Platter with Pink and Purple Lavendar Floral Motif
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A beautiful purple and pink floral oyster plate. This piece will be a great addition to a hanging oyster plate gallery wall. It has 7 wells, with 6 around the perimeter, and one smal...
Ceramic, Porcelain, Paint
Exceptional Mahogany and Ormolu-Mounted Bibliotheque
Located in London, GB
The overhanging foliate cornice above a frieze with reliefs of female and male figures surmounted by ribbon ties and flanked by foliage and laurel leaves, above two pairs of glazed d...
Ormolu
Large Precious Stone and Silver-Gilt Flower Model by Asprey
By Asprey & Garrard Limited
Located in London, GB
A large precious stone and silver-gilt flower model by Asprey. English, 20th century. Measures: 47cm high x 14cm wide x 12 cm depth. Crafted in fine Faberge style, this piece is...
Rock Crystal, Gold Plate, Silver
Meissen Porcelain Dinnerware Service for 12 People
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Beautiful German Meissen dinnerware service for twelve people with serving pieces. The dinnerware service is in great condition. Just exquisite & very rare to find a complete service...
Gold
$262,568
H 57 in W 30 in D 31.5 in
One-of-a-kind 1851 Great Exhibition Carved Armchair by Arthur Jones of Dublin
Located in London, GB
*Winner of the 2022 Masterpiece Fair Furniture Highlight* The 1851 Great Exhibition Carved Bog Yew Armchair by Arthur Jones of Dublin Carved entirely from Irish bog yew wood, ...
Upholstery, Yew
$68,500 / set
H 0.75 in Dm 10.75 in
Minton Mazarine Extensive Pristine Dinner Service Cobalt Blue & Gold 232 Pcs
By Minton
Located in Great Barrington, MA
It's always time to entertain! This is one of the most elegant and versatile patterns imaginable in a Classic and rare Minton cobalt blue pattern with raised paste gold on a white gr...
Porcelain
$13,708
H 18.2 in W 23.6 in D 11.3 in
Large Masterly Carved Swiss Black Forest Nutwood Chalet with Clock and Music Box
Located in Lisse, NL
Top quality, hand carved and truly impressive antique clock with 8 music melodies. Over the years we have had the pleasure of owning and selling a number of beautiful Black Forest a...
Brass, Iron, Enamel
$15,683
H 9 in W 9.5 in D 3 in
A pair of branches of Mediterranean red coral (Corallium Rubrum), Sicily 1790
Located in Milan, IT
Pair of large branches of Mediterranean red coral (Corallium Rubrum). Gilt bronze bases with phytomorphic calyx stem. Connection with an oval element in Lapis Lazuli and two spirals ...
Lapis Lazuli, Bronze
Antique Meissen 68-Piece Floral Dinner Service
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in London, GB
Antique Meissen 68-piece floral dinner service German, c. 1900 Largest serving dish: Height 6cm, width 52.5cm, depth 37.5cm Square salad bowl: Height 9.5cm, width 22cm, depth 22cm...
Porcelain
$403,950
H 86.03 in Dm 51.97 in
Extremely Rare Victorian Chandelier of Exceptional Quality and Size by F&C Osler
By F. & C. Osler
Located in Steyning, West sussex
An extremely rare early Victorian 20-light cut-glass silvered mounted chandelier of exceptional quality the baluster thumb and radial cut shaft with lower shaft canopy and draping pa...
Silver Plate
$3,950 / set
H 1 in Dm 8.75 in
16 Gilt Encrusted Salad or Dessert Plates, Antique Custom Ordered English C 1910
By Coalport Porcelain
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A fantastic set of dessert or first course plates with a nice wide collar of 24 karat acid etched gold banding. The perfect size you always need more of. These versatile gold and whi...
Gold
$60,409Sale Price|20% Off
H 104.34 in W 153.55 in D 19.69 in
Antique Pharmacy Cabinet, Walnut Bookcases and Glass Doors with Sign, '800 Italy
Located in Cuneo, Italy (CN)
Complete antique pharmacy cabinet, with 3 open bookcases on the sides, 1 bookcase with drawers and 2 original doors with glass and enameled mirror sign. Built in the mid-19th century...
Glass, Walnut
Fabergé Style Bejewelled and Enamelled Gold Egg by Asprey
By Asprey International Limited, Garrard & Co. Ltd.
Located in London, GB
This exceptional, 18 carat gold Easter egg was crafted by the famous London-based royal jewellers, Asprey & Co. The piece was then retailed by Garrard & Co, who once worked i...
Gold
Russian Imperial Silver Punch Set From Czar Alexander III
Located in New Orleans, LA
A monumental piece of history, this exquisite silver punch set was made for Czar Alexander III as a gift to British Captain Joseph Wiggins. Heavily decorated with rich engravings and...
Silver
Although its name evokes a mountainous region in Germany, antique Black Forest–style furniture originated in Switzerland. In Brienz, during the early 19th century, wood-carver Christian Fischer recognized the market for tourist souvenirs and helped make the village into a wood-carving destination. The Brienz Woodcarving School was founded in 1884 and had its own small zoo for studying the anatomy of animals, depictions of which are a defining aspect of the style, also known as Brienzerware.
Whimsical sculptures, often depicting bears and other Alpine animals like stags, owls, deer and boars, characterize the work produced in the area. Along with folk art and decorative objects, Black Forest furniture included benches held aloft by bears, umbrella stands carved with acorns and clock cases adorned with scrolling oak leaves. While most wood-carvers adhered to a similar realism in their designs and woods like linden, maple and walnut, their aesthetics varied.
The F. Peter Trauffer family was known for their hand-carved bear sculptures that saw the furry mammals playing instruments, smoking pipes and engaging in all sorts of human activities. They were sometimes detailed with glass eyes and integrated into functional pieces of furniture, including chair backs and bench legs, which generations of cabinetmakers created from the 1880s to the 1950s. Walter Mader and his son Heinrich frequently carved Saint Bernard sculptures that they incorporated into furniture.
As the Black Forest furniture style spread around the world through exhibitions at world’s fairs in the 19th and early 20th centuries, the rusticity of these pieces resonated at a time of increasing urbanization, inspiring other artisans.
Find a collection of antique Black Forest cabinets, bedroom furniture, seating and other items on 1stDibs.
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.