Tall Bobbin Chairs
Early 20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Wood
Early 20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Oak
Early 20th Century European Modern Dining Room Chairs
Wood
Early 20th Century American American Classical Tables
Wood
People Also Browsed
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Cane, Ash
21st Century and Contemporary British Organic Modern Wall Lights and Sco...
Plaster
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Fabric, Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights an...
Enamel, Brass
2010s American Flush Mount
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary American Bohemian Chandeliers and Pendants
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary British Organic Modern Wall Lights and Sco...
Plaster
Vintage 1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Wool
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary British Organic Modern Wall Lights and Sco...
Plaster
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Rustic End Tables
Wood
Mid-20th Century Belgian Dining Room Chairs
Wood
2010s Austrian Jugendstil Chandeliers and Pendants
Silk
2010s Danish Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Oak
21st Century and Contemporary British Organic Modern Wall Lights and Sco...
Plaster
21st Century and Contemporary British Organic Modern Wall Lights and Sco...
Plaster
Recent Sales
Vintage 1920s Belgian Jacobean Corner Chairs
Rush, Wood
20th Century English Armchairs
Antique Late 19th Century English Armchairs
Wood, Upholstery
Antique 1890s French Louis XIII Dining Room Chairs
Leather, Walnut
Antique 19th Century French Armchairs
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 ExpertFebruary 22, 2021Dining chairs should be around 18 inches tall. Since most dining tables are 30 inches high, 18 inch tall dining chairs allow for a comfortable amount of legroom. As a general rule of thumb, there should be around 12 inches between a dining table and a seat.
- What is a tall chair called?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertSeptember 28, 2021A type of tall chair is a bar stool. A bar stool is a chair that often features a footrest to support the feet and is used at bars and high tables in pubs and bars. You can find a variety of vintage and antique bar stools on 1stDibs to meet any decor scheme.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 25, 2024Chairs for a 30-inch table should typically be between 18 and 20 inches tall when measured from the seat to the floor. Generally, the seat height of a chair should be 10 to 12 inches lower than the height of a tabletop. Tables measuring 30 inches in height are generally standard height and should work well with most standard dining chairs. Find a wide range of dining chairs on 1stDibs.
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.