Windsor Settee Black
Late 20th Century American Country Settees
Wood
Antique Early 1900s Arts and Crafts Settees
Oak
2010s American Scandinavian Modern Benches
Wool, Hardwood, Ash
2010s American Scandinavian Modern Benches
Wool, Hardwood, Ash
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20th Century English Arts and Crafts Benches
Oak
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Country Benches
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary American Bohemian Chandeliers and Pendants
Brass
2010s British Scandinavian Modern Tables
Mohair, Oak
21st Century and Contemporary American Industrial Wall Lights and Sconces
Glass
2010s Italian Renaissance Wall Mirrors
Glass
2010s Mexican Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Oak
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Benches
Fabric, Velvet, Lacquer, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Textile
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Modern Benches
Metal
2010s American Scandinavian Modern Benches
Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary Mexican Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
Textile, Wood
Vintage 1940s American Mid-Century Modern Benches
Oak
Early 20th Century English Charles II Settees
Tapestry, Velvet
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Armchairs
Bouclé
20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Benches
Wood
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Antique 1820s American Folk Art Painted Furniture
Wood, Paint
Late 20th Century American Settees
20th Century American Benches
Wood
Antique Early 1800s American Federal Settees
Vintage 1950s American Settees
Antique 19th Century American Benches
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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The boho-chic Enchanted Forest Swing, handmade by marginalized women from Turkey and Syria, is uplifting in every way.
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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.