Tall Ladderback Chair
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Oak
Vintage 1970s American Post-Modern Chairs
Mahogany
Early 20th Century Shaker Dining Room Chairs
Rush, Oak
Mid-20th Century William and Mary Dining Room Chairs
Fabric, Fruitwood
Antique Early 1800s English Georgian Armchairs
Metal
Antique Late 19th Century French French Provincial Armchairs
Straw, Walnut
People Also Browsed
Antique 1690s Irish William and Mary Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Holly, Oak, Ebony, Bone
Antique Early 19th Century English William and Mary Side Tables
Brass
Mid-20th Century Dutch Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Rush, Wood
Antique 17th Century British William and Mary Armchairs
Walnut
Early 20th Century French Side Chairs
Pine, Faux Bamboo, Maple
2010s Mexican American Empire Chairs
Hardwood, Oak
Antique 17th Century Italian Empire Chairs
Hardwood, Cane
Vintage 1960s Belgian Mid-Century Modern Dry Bars
Marble
Mid-20th Century French Brutalist Chairs
Oak
Early 20th Century American Shaker Dining Room Chairs
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Chairs
Steel
1990s French Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Plastic
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Steel
Vintage 1950s American Chairs
Mahogany
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Side Chairs
Metal
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Maple
Recent Sales
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Teak
Antique 19th Century American Side Chairs
Pine
Vintage 1960s American American Craftsman Dining Room Chairs
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Side Chairs
Seagrass, Wood
Vintage 1950s Italian Side Chairs
Vintage 1940s American Chairs
Late 20th Century North American Rustic Dining Room Chairs
Rope, Oak
Antique 18th Century and Earlier English Armchairs
Wood
Antique 18th Century and Earlier American Side Chairs
Early 20th Century Arts and Crafts Dining Room Chairs
Rush, Wood
Antique 18th Century and Earlier American Chairs
Mid-20th Century Shaker Dining Room Chairs
Rush, Oak
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Papercord, Rosewood
Late 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Chairs
Beech
Antique Late 19th Century English Arts and Crafts Chairs
Rush, Beech
Early 20th Century English Dining Room Chairs
21st Century and Contemporary English Dining Room Chairs
Wood
20th Century Danish Dining Room Chairs
Rosewood, Leather
Early 20th Century Shaker Dining Room Chairs
Rush, Walnut
Antique Mid-19th Century American Shaker Chairs
Elm, Pine
Antique Late 19th Century Chairs
Cane, Mahogany
Early 20th Century Shaker Dining Room Chairs
Rush, Pine
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Faux Leather, Teak
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Rush, Ash
Vintage 1970s Danish Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Sets
Glass, Teak
Early 20th Century English Dining Room Chairs
Rush, Oak
20th Century American Chairs
Iron
Vintage 1970s Italian Dining Room Chairs
Wood, Rush
Vintage 1960s Danish Dining Room Chairs
Vintage 1950s Chairs
Giltwood, PVC
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.