Wooden Armed Chairs
Mid-20th Century Hollywood Regency Club Chairs
Brass
2010s Turkish Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Leather, Fabric
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Living Room Sets
Oak
People Also Browsed
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Minimalist Side Tables
Marble, Travertine
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Armchairs
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Textile
2010s Mexican Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Oak
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Wood
Vintage 1960s German Mid-Century Modern Living Room Sets
Rattan, Teak
2010s American Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Composition
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Chairs
Wool, Plastic
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Stools
Velvet, Ebony, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Art Deco Chandeliers and Pendants
Metal
2010s Saudi Arabian Modern Sofas
Wool, Velvet
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Benches
Oak, Walnut
2010s American Modern Stools
Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Dining Room Chairs
Walnut
Late 20th Century Norwegian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Chrome
Late 20th Century Norwegian Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Chrome
Recent Sales
Vintage 1930s Hungarian Art Deco Armchairs
Steel
Antique Late 19th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Elm
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Naugahyde, Walnut
20th Century European Rustic Dining Room Chairs
Upholstery, Beech
20th Century European Country Dining Room Chairs
Upholstery, Beech
Late 20th Century Photography
Antique 19th Century American Armchairs
Wood
Early 20th Century Chairs
Iron
Antique Mid-19th Century English Dining Room Chairs
Ash, Beech, Elm, Fruitwood
Antique Mid-19th Century English Windsor Chairs
Elm
Antique Mid-19th Century English Dining Room Chairs
Beech, Elm
Antique Mid-19th Century English Dining Room Chairs
Ash, Beech, Elm
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 ExpertFebruary 13, 2023Chairs with arms are called armchairs, and there are many styles of them. Examples include club, wingback and roll arm chairs. Find a collection of armchairs on 1stDibs today.
- 1stDibs ExpertSeptember 25, 2019
A chair with arms is an armchair.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 31, 2023There is no difference between a club chair and an armchair; a club chair is a type of armchair. An armchair is any chair with arms, while a club chair is a wide, comfortable type of armchair that is typically clad in leather and features thick upholstery. All club chairs are armchairs, but not all armchairs are club chairs. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of club chairs.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2023An accent chair with no arms is typically called a slipper chair. These upholstered chairs originated in Europe during the 18th century and often served as seating in bedrooms. Today, people place slipper chairs in seating areas as well as bedrooms. Find a variety of slipper chairs on 1stDibs.
- 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 ExpertSeptember 25, 2019
Dining room chairs with arms require more space than armless ones.
- 1stDibs ExpertAugust 16, 2019
A wooden rocking chair can be cleaned using a sponge, soap, and water. After, you should proceed to pat the rocking chair down with a cloth.
- Are wooden high chairs safe?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021While antique wooden high chairs look nice and are a fun idea, they are not often the safest choice of seating for babies. Old fashioned wooden high chairs that feature removable wooden trays or arms don't typically meet modern safety standards. Parents must be cautious if they wish to use these chairs.
- 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.
- 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 ExpertOctober 12, 2021The cost of a wooden rocking chair varies depending on the type of wood used, its finish and craftsmanship. Also, the period that the rocking chair belongs to will define the price of the chair. An antique rocking chair might cost between $500 and $1,500 while a contemporary rocking chair may cost somewhere between $150 and $400. Find a variety of antique, vintage, and contemporary wooden rocking chairs on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Sgabello is the name of the Renaissance stool or simple chair with a wooden back and an octagon-shaped seat. Normally, these wood furnishings showed off ornate carvings. They remained popular throughout Europe through the end of the 17th century. On 1stDibs, find a variety of sgabello chairs.
Read More
The 21 Most Popular Mid-Century Modern Chairs
You know the designs, now get the stories about how they came to be.
Fred Rigby’s Modular Seating Can Be Configured in So Many Handy Ways
The plush Cove Slipper 2.5 Seater sofa is just one of many convenient combinations from the London-based maker.
This Chubby-Chic Quilted Stool Stands on Its Own Two Feet
Sam Klemick's cool stool is edgy, cozy and environmentally sustainable all at once.
Riotous Shapes and Colors Have Made Uchronia’s Designs the Toast of Paris
Julien Sebban’s energetic design collective is radically reshaping the look of 21st-century European furniture and interiors.
Is Lionel Jadot the Willy Wonka of Upcycled Belgian Design?
From his massive collaborative workshop in a former paper factory, the designer concocts funky furniture from disused materials, as well as luxe hotel interiors like the new Mix Brussels.
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.