Targa Swivel

Weiman left an indelible mark on the history of American furniture manufacturing as a leader in mid-century modern design. Its high-quality work included fabric upholstered and on-trend sofas, chaise longues and lounge chairs. Weiman also created many beautiful solid wood pieces, like side tables and end tables full of charm and character.

Weiman came onto the American furniture scene in 1935 in Rockford, Illinois, a city known for its furniture manufacturing industry. Weiman expanded in 1941 with the construction of a large factory. According to Rockford Streamlined, it was “one of the very finest factories in all the world of furniture.” While it industrialized its manufacturing processes, Weiman continued to focus on heirloom quality pieces with excellent craftsmanship.

Over the years, Weiman developed a more modern style. The company’s upholstered furniture was often inspired by innovative developments in design. It acquired a reputation for bold and colorful pieces that customers could personalize to their tastes.

In 1979, Weiman became a subsidiary of leading furniture manufacturer Bassett Furniture Industries, Inc. to continued success over the subsequent decades. In 2003, Bassett Furniture Industries, Inc. announced that the Weiman division would acquire assets of upholstery manufacturer Preview Furniture, Inc., creating Weiman Preview. The new company offered a stronger lineup of contemporary furniture and worked with designers like Vladimir Kagan, M.F. Harty and Stanley Jay Friedman.

Contemporary decor company Interlude Home Inc. purchased Weiman Preview in 2006 to expand its accent furniture collection. The purchase transformed Interlude Home Inc. into a custom furniture brand now known for upscale designs.

On 1stDibs, find classic Weiman seating, tables, case pieces and more.

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.