Velvet Ladies Chair
Antique Early 19th Century French Louis XVI Side Chairs
Gold
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Velvet, Wood
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Lounge Chairs
Brass
Vintage 1920s European Art Deco Wrist Watches
Diamond, Platinum
Early 20th Century English Arts and Crafts Armchairs
Beech, Fruitwood
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Lanterns
Iron
Early 20th Century Art Deco Portrait Paintings
Canvas, Oil
People Also Browsed
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Sofas
Velvet, Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
Travertine
21st Century and Contemporary American Industrial Wall Lights and Sconces
Glass
21st Century and Contemporary Drop Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and...
Brass
2010s Austrian Jugendstil Chandeliers and Pendants
Silk
21st Century and Contemporary Mexican Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Textile, Wood
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Wood, Ash, Walnut
Early 20th Century Swiss Art Deco Wrist Watches
Diamond, White Gold, Platinum
Vintage 1940s American Retro Wrist Watches
White Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
Travertine
2010s Italian Chairs
Leather, Fabric
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Fabric, Upholstery, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary French Tote Bags
20th Century English Victorian Armchairs
Leather
20th Century Artisan Tennis Bracelets
Diamond, Platinum
Recent Sales
Antique 19th Century American Slipper Chairs
Wire
Vintage 1950s Dutch Art Deco Lounge Chairs
Velvet, Walnut
Early 20th Century French Egyptian Revival Chairs
Mahogany
Antique 1890s English Victorian Armchairs
Oak
Antique Late 18th Century American American Classical Armchairs
Antique Mid-19th Century American High Victorian Armchairs
Rosewood
Antique 19th Century European Chaise Longues
Walnut
Late 20th Century European Art Deco Chairs
Leather, Velvet, Wood
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Slipper Chairs
Upholstery
Antique 19th Century Italian Baroque Chairs
Upholstery, Giltwood
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Brass
Mid-20th Century American Hollywood Regency Slipper Chairs
Velvet, Wood
Vintage 1960s European Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Fabric, Teak
Antique 1630s English Charles II Rocking Chairs
Oak
1940s Evening Gowns
Antique 1890s French Art Nouveau Sofas
Walnut
Vintage 1960s American Hollywood Regency Lounge Chairs
Upholstery, Velvet
Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Club Chairs
Velvet
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Velvet, Wood
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
17th Century Old Masters Portrait Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Vintage 1940s Italian Chairs
Vintage 1940s French Slipper Chairs
Palisander, Silk, Upholstery, Velvet
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.
Read More
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This Chubby-Chic Quilted Stool Stands on Its Own Two Feet
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Riotous Shapes and Colors Have Made Uchronia’s Designs the Toast of Paris
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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.