Type De Rolex
Antique 1850s Italian Early Victorian Rocking Chairs
Leather, Fruitwood
People Also Browsed
Antique Late 18th Century Italian Neoclassical Bed Coronas
Wood, Giltwood
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Belgian Aubusson Tapestries
Wool, Silk
Antique Late 19th Century English Late Victorian Armchairs
Leather
Antique 1860s Italian Beaux Arts Figurative Sculptures
Carrara Marble
Antique Early 1800s Italian Other Beds and Bed Frames
Wrought Iron
Antique 1840s Gothic Revival Wardrobes and Armoires
Oak
Early 20th Century English Charles II Settees
Tapestry, Velvet
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Jewelry Boxes
Velvet, Glass, Wood
Antique Mid-19th Century English Victorian Chaise Longues
Leather, Walnut
Antique 1880s English Victorian Lounge Chairs
Hardwood
Antique Mid-19th Century French Renaissance Revival Desks and Writing Ta...
Oak
Antique 19th Century English Early Victorian Sofas
Leather
Antique Late 19th Century French Gothic Revival Dining Room Sets
Walnut
Antique Mid-19th Century French Renaissance Fireplaces and Mantels
Walnut
Antique 1860s English Victorian Chandeliers and Pendants
Silver Plate
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Armchairs
Leather, Walnut
Finding the Right chairs for You
Chairs are an indispensable component of your home and office. Can you imagine your life without the vintage, new or antique chairs you love?
With the exception of rocking chairs, the majority of the seating in our homes today — Windsor chairs, chaise longues, wingback chairs — originated in either England or France. Art Nouveau chairs, the style of which also originated in those regions, embraced the inherent magnificence of the natural world with decorative flourishes and refined designs that blended both curved and geometric contour lines. While craftsmanship and styles have evolved in the past century, chairs have had a singular significance in our lives, no matter what your favorite chair looks like.
“The chair is the piece of furniture that is closest to human beings,” said Hans Wegner. The revered Danish cabinetmaker and furniture designer was prolific, having designed nearly 500 chairs over the course of his lifetime. His beloved designs include the Wishbone chair, the wingback Papa Bear chair and many more.
Other designers of Scandinavian modernist chairs introduced new dynamics to this staple with sculptural flowing lines, curvaceous shapes and efficient functionality. The Paimio armchair, Swan chair and Panton chair are vintage works of Finnish and Danish seating that left an indelible mark on the history of good furniture design.
“What works good is better than what looks good, because what works good lasts,” said Ray Eames.
Visionary polymaths Ray and Charles Eames experimented with bent plywood and fiberglass with the goal of producing affordable furniture for a mass market. Like other celebrated mid-century modern furniture designers of elegant low-profile furnishings — among them Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Finn Juhl — the Eameses considered ergonomic support, durability and cost, all of which should be top of mind when shopping for the perfect chair. The mid-century years yielded many popular chairs.
The Eameses introduced numerous icons for manufacturer Herman Miller, such as the Eames lounge chair and ottoman, molded plywood dining chairs the DCM and DCW (which can be artfully mismatched around your dining table) and a wealth of other treasured pieces for the home and office.
A good chair anchors us to a place and can become an object of timeless appeal. Take a seat and browse the rich variety of vintage, new and antique chairs on 1stDibs today.