Thonet 5
Antique Early 1900s Austrian Vienna Secession Chairs
Cane, Beech
Vintage 1970s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Wood, Cane
Vintage 1980s German Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Bentwood
Antique Mid-19th Century Chairs
Nutwood, Plywood
Mid-20th Century American Bohemian Dining Room Chairs
Textile, Cane, Bentwood
Vintage 1950s American Dining Room Sets
Bentwood
Vintage 1970s German Art Nouveau Dining Room Chairs
Fabric, Beech
Antique 1850s Austrian Art Nouveau Loveseats
Wicker, Bentwood
Vintage 1960s Czech Mid-Century Modern Benches
Wood
Antique 19th Century Austrian Jugendstil Beds and Bed Frames
Beech, Bentwood
Mid-20th Century Czech Vienna Secession Dining Room Chairs
Beech, Bentwood
Early 20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Sets
Fabric, Wood
Mid-20th Century German Dining Room Sets
Cane, Wood, Bentwood
Vintage 1930s Czech Art Deco Armchairs
Beech, Bentwood
Vintage 1950s Czech Mid-Century Modern Rocking Chairs
Beech, Bentwood
Early 20th Century Austrian Jugendstil Card Tables and Tea Tables
Metal
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Patio and Garden Furniture
Metal
Vintage 1930s Austrian Bauhaus Dining Room Chairs
Metal
Vintage 1930s German Bauhaus Armchairs
Steel, Chrome
Antique Early 1900s Austrian Vienna Secession Children's Furniture
Bentwood
Vintage 1960s German Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Bentwood
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Birch, Bentwood
Early 20th Century Polish Vienna Secession Dining Room Chairs
Bentwood
Vintage 1930s Swiss Jugendstil Dining Room Chairs
Velvet, Beech
Antique 1880s Austrian Art Nouveau Chairs
Beech, Mahogany
Vintage 1950s Slovenian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Cane, Hardwood, Bentwood
Vintage 1930s Hungarian Art Deco Card Tables and Tea Tables
Felt, Bentwood
Vintage 1950s American Industrial Dining Room Chairs
Beech
Antique 19th Century Austrian Vienna Secession Benches
Cane, Beech, Bentwood
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Stools
Chrome
Vintage 1940s Romanian Bauhaus Dining Room Chairs
Cane, Bentwood
Antique Late 19th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Dining Room Tables
Beech, Bentwood
20th Century Unknown Stools
Chrome
20th Century Czech Bauhaus Rocking Chairs
Cane, Bentwood
Early 20th Century Austrian Belle Époque Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Beech, Bentwood
Antique 19th Century Austrian Loveseats
Antique Early 1900s Austrian Bauhaus Chairs
Beech
Antique 1890s Austrian Other Armchairs
Beech
Thonet 5 For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Thonet 5?
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.
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