Wavy Ladder Back Chairs
21st Century and Contemporary British Georgian Chairs
Oak, Rush
Antique 1830s Georgian Windsor Chairs
Oak
Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Dining Room Chairs
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century British George III Corner Chairs
Mahogany
Antique Mid-19th Century Side Chairs
Mahogany
Antique Mid-18th Century George III Side Chairs
Mahogany
Antique Mid-18th Century George III Side Chairs
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century French Country Dining Room Chairs
Upholstery, Oak
Antique Early 1900s English Arts and Crafts Chairs
Rush, Oak
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Antique 1880s British Aesthetic Movement Dining Room Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
2010s Belgian Modern Sofas
Linen
Mid-20th Century French Dining Room Chairs
Rush, Oak
Antique 19th Century English Regency Chairs
Other
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Brass
Antique Late 19th Century American Aesthetic Movement Beds and Bed Frames
Birdseye Maple, Maple
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Chippendale Beds and Bed Frames
Mahogany
Mid-20th Century American French Provincial Armchairs
Fabric, Maple
Antique 19th Century British Georgian Wardrobes and Armoires
Mahogany
Antique 18th Century French Armchairs
Rush, Walnut
Antique 19th Century French French Provincial Dining Room Tables
Iron
Antique 19th Century English Regency Chairs
Mahogany
20th Century English Country Farm Tables
Metal
Antique 19th Century British Georgian Dressers
Oak
20th Century French Dining Room Chairs
Oak
Antique 1890s French French Provincial Dining Room Chairs
Fabric, Oak
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Vintage 1940s English Dining Room Chairs
Rush, Oak
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Chairs
Rush, Oak
Late 20th Century British Dining Room Chairs
Oak
Vintage 1920s Scottish Dining Room Chairs
Rush, Oak
Vintage 1930s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Wicker, Walnut
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Wood
Early 20th Century British Dining Room Chairs
Oak
20th Century English Country Dining Room Chairs
Muslin, Wood
Vintage 1930s Scottish Dining Room Chairs
Ash, Elm
Mid-20th Century Country Dining Room Chairs
Beech
Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Dining Room Chairs
Ash, Elm
Antique Late 19th Century English Dining Room Chairs
Rush, Oak
Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Dining Room Chairs
Ash, Elm, Oak
Antique Late 19th Century English Dining Room Chairs
Rush, Oak
Antique Late 19th Century English Dining Room Chairs
Rush, Oak
English Chairs
Oak
Antique 1820s Chairs
20th Century English Side Chairs
Rush, Oak
Antique 19th Century French Armchairs
Beech
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.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Ladder back chairs have a timeless design that was popular in several eras. Early examples date back to the Middle Ages. The wooden chairs became very popular in colonial America and England during the 17th century. Shop a range of antique and vintage ladder back chairs on 1stDibs.
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