Vervoordt Chair
Vintage 1940s Japanese Primitive Side Chairs
Cedar
Antique Early 19th Century Primitive Benches
Wood
Recent Sales
Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Elm
Early 20th Century Unknown Primitive Chairs
Wood
Vintage 1960s Dutch Rustic Armchairs
Cord, Oak
Mid-20th Century Japanese Primitive Side Tables
Wood
Vintage 1930s French Rustic Chairs
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Belgian Side Chairs
Hardwood
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Early 20th Century Japanese Primitive Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Wood
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
20th Century Unknown Organic Modern Natural Specimens
Coral
Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Toys and Dolls
Tin
2010s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Brass
2010s European Minimalist Vases
Clay, Stoneware
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Bookcases
Metal
Vintage 1980s East Asian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Plastic
2010s Philippine Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Shell
2010s Bosnian Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
Fabric, Beech, Velvet
20th Century American Art Nouveau Table Lamps
Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Wall Mirrors
Brass
Early 20th Century Japanese Showa Antiquities
Bamboo, Cedar
Vintage 1930s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Sheepskin
2010s Italian Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Glass
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Sofas
Upholstery, Wood, Foam
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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