Yeti Armchair
2010s Spanish Armchairs
Fur
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Fabric, Wood
Recent Sales
Vintage 1960s European Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Faux Fur, Wood
2010s Armchairs
Fabric, Wood
Mid-20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Wood
Mid-20th Century Dutch Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Steel
21st Century and Contemporary British Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Bentwood, Fur, Lacquer, Leather, Sheepskin, Wood
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Iron
People Also Browsed
2010s American Modern Stools
Wood, Oak
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Vases
Resin
2010s Brazilian Swivel Chairs
Straw
Antique 19th Century English Bottles
Art Glass
Antique 1830s Japanese Edo Lacquer
Lacquer
2010s Italian Modern Chaise Longues
Wood
Vintage 1940s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Rocking Chairs
Sheepskin
2010s American Industrial Wardrobes and Armoires
Steel, Iron
Antique 19th Century German Rustic Cabinets
Oak, Horn, Glass
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Benches
Upholstery, Fir
Vintage 1960s Chandeliers and Pendants
Ceramic
Antique Late 18th Century Italian Country Screens and Room Dividers
Canvas
2010s North American Minimalist Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Zinc
21st Century and Contemporary American Armchairs
Stainless Steel
Vintage 1960s French Tapestries
Wool
2010s Spanish Modern Chairs
Glass
Finding the Right Armchairs for You
Armchairs have run the gamut from prestige to ease and everything in between, and everyone has an antique or vintage armchair that they love.
Long before industrial mass production democratized seating, armchairs conveyed status and power.
In ancient Egypt, the commoners took stools, while in early Greece, ceremonial chairs of carved marble were designated for nobility. But the high-backed early thrones of yore, elevated and ornate, were merely grandiose iterations of today’s armchairs.
Modern-day armchairs, built with functionality and comfort in mind, are now central to tasks throughout your home. Formal dining armchairs support your guests at a table for a cheery feast, a good drafting chair with a deep seat is parked in front of an easel where you create art and, elsewhere, an ergonomic wonder of sorts positions you at the desk for your 9 to 5.
When placed under just the right lamp where you can lounge comfortably, both elbows resting on the padded supports on each side of you, an upholstered armchair — or a rattan armchair for your light-suffused sunroom — can be the sanctuary where you’ll read for hours.
If you’re in the mood for company, your velvet chesterfield armchair is a place to relax and be part of the conversation that swirls around you. Maybe the dialogue is about the beloved Papa Bear chair, a mid-century modern masterpiece from Danish carpenter and furniture maker Hans Wegner, and the wingback’s strong association with the concept of cozying up by the fireplace, which we can trace back to its origins in 1600s-era England, when the seat’s distinctive arm protrusions protected the sitter from the heat of the period’s large fireplaces.
If the fireside armchair chat involves spirited comparisons, your companions will likely probe the merits of antique and vintage armchairs such as Queen Anne armchairs, Victorian armchairs or even Louis XVI armchairs, as well as the pros and cons of restoration versus conservation.
Everyone seems to have a favorite armchair and most people will be all too willing to talk about their beloved design. Whether that’s the unique Favela chair by Brazilian sibling furniture designers Fernando and Humberto Campana, who repurposed everyday objects to provocative effect; or Marcel Breuer’s futuristic tubular metal Wassily lounge chair; the functionality-first LC series from Charlotte Perriand, Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret; or the Eames lounge chair of the mid-1950s created by Charles and Ray Eames, there is an iconic armchair for everyone and every purpose. Find yours on 1stDibs right now.
Read More
The 21 Most Popular Mid-Century Modern Chairs
You know the designs, now get the stories about how they came to be.
Mies van der Rohe’s Barcelona Chair Shook Modernism and Charmed Hollywood
The enduring appeal of the Barcelona chair is in the details.
Herman Miller Got Its Start in the Office, but Its Legacy Is in the Home
The brand that turned Charles and Ray Eames, Isamu Noguchi and George Nelson into mid-century household names is just as relevant today as it was six decades ago.
May’s Most Popular Interiors on Instagram
Our feed is filled with the world's most beautiful spaces. See the rooms our followers have deemed the best of the best this month.
April’s Most-Liked Interiors on Instagram
Our feed is filled with the world's most beautiful spaces. See the 10 our followers have deemed the best of the best this month.
See How New York City Designers Experiment on Their Own Homes
There are many lessons to be learned from the lofts, apartments and townhouses of architects and decorators in Manhattan and beyond.
Jeff Andrews Captures Old Hollywood Glamour in His Cinematic Spaces
Having created extravagant homes for reality TV’s biggest stars, the designer is stepping into the spotlight with his first book.
New Orleans’ Lee Ledbetter Makes Design Magic by Mixing Past and Present
The Louisiana-born and -bred architect talks to 1stdibs about the art of making timeless places that matter.