Wing Dining Arm Chairs
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Organic Modern Dining Room Chairs
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Organic Modern Dining Room Chairs
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary North American Hollywood Regency Dining Ro...
Glass
Mid-20th Century Chinese Ming Dining Room Chairs
Wood
2010s American Modern Armchairs
Steel, Chrome
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Vintage 1970s Belgian Ming Dining Room Chairs
Wood
2010s American Flush Mount
Brass
2010s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Console Tables
Marble
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Sofas
Velvet, Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and...
Brass, Metal, Aluminum
2010s American Modern Table Lamps
Steel, Brass, Silver Leaf
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Organic Modern Center Tables
Marble
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights an...
Metal
2010s Austrian Jugendstil Chandeliers and Pendants
Silk
2010s American Streamlined Moderne Wall Lights and Sconces
Brass
Late 20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
Aluminum
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
Travertine
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Wall Lights and Sconces
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Chairs
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Daybeds
Fabric, Bouclé, Wood
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Velvet, Mahogany
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Mid-20th Century American Georgian Wingback Chairs
Silk, Wood
Antique 18th Century and Earlier British Windsor Chairs
Vintage 1950s European Dining Room Chairs
Bentwood
20th Century American Dining Room Chairs
Antique 1820s English Regency Dining Room Sets
Mahogany
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Walnut
Mid-20th Century American Classical Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Wood
Vintage 1950s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Metal
Antique 19th Century Spanish Armchairs
Brass
Antique 1880s French Louis XIV Armchairs
Textile, Wood, Walnut
Vintage 1970s Hollywood Regency Dining Room Chairs
Antique 19th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Steel
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Leather
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Metal
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Aluminum
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Mid-20th Century Federal End Tables
Mahogany
Vintage 1980s American Post-Modern Chairs
Velvet, Lucite
Vintage 1950s American Bergere Chairs
Vintage 1970s American Dining Room Chairs
Fabric, Wood
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Windsor Chairs
Antique 18th Century and Earlier English George III Armchairs
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 ExpertSeptember 25, 2019
Dining room chairs with arms require more space than armless ones.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022A dining chair with arms is called a carver chair or elbow chair. It is a traditional dining chair with arms added to it for a more structured look and is a popular option for dining seats for a spot to comfortably rest your arms. Shop a selection of dining chairs on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Dining chairs without arms are called side chairs. Their counterpart, the armchair, is often found at the head of the table, with the side chairs filling in the seats along the side of the table. Shop a collection of side chairs from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Dining room chairs with arms are simply called armchairs. They are not to be confused with armchairs used in seating areas. A dining chair without arms is a side chair. You'll find a collection of antique and vintage dining chairs on 1stDibs.
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