English Barrel Back Chair
Vintage 1920s Chairs
Hardwood
Antique 19th Century English Wingback Chairs
Upholstery
Vintage 1920s English Art Deco Club Chairs
Leather, Wood
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Leather
21st Century and Contemporary American Chesterfield Office Chairs and De...
Leather
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Leather, Oak
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Oak
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Country Office Chairs and Desk ...
Walnut
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Fabric, Bamboo
Antique Early 19th Century English Georgian Wingback Chairs
Leather, Mahogany
20th Century English Chesterfield Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Leather
Antique 1880s English High Victorian Armchairs
Elm
Antique 1880s English High Victorian Armchairs
Elm
Antique Mid-17th Century English Jacobean Armchairs
Rope, Oak
Antique 1880s English High Victorian Armchairs
Ash, Elm
Antique 1860s English High Victorian Armchairs
Elm
Antique 1860s English High Victorian Armchairs
Yew
Antique 1860s English High Victorian Armchairs
Elm, Yew
Antique 1860s English High Victorian Armchairs
Elm, Yew
Vintage 1980s American Patio and Garden Furniture
Wrought Iron
Late 20th Century Dining Room Tables
Mahogany
Antique 1720s English George I Armchairs
Oak
Antique 17th Century English Charles II Armchairs
Oak
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Metal
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Rosewood
Mid-20th Century English Chesterfield Living Room Sets
Leather
20th Century English Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Elm
20th Century English Chesterfield Swivel Chairs
Leather, Hardwood
20th Century English Regency Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Walnut
Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Canapes
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Antique Late 19th Century French Empire Dining Room Chairs
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Vintage 1930s Italian Art Deco Credenzas
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20th Century English Chesterfield Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Leather, Hardwood
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Leather
Vintage 1940s Italian Modern Lounge Chairs
Fabric, Wood
20th Century English Chesterfield Armchairs
Leather
Antique Early 19th Century American Federal Sofas
Cotton, Velvet, Mahogany
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Antique 1820s Regency Armchairs
Mahogany
Antique 1870s English Victorian Armchairs
Leather, Mahogany
Antique 19th Century British Armchairs
Mahogany, Leather
Antique Late 19th Century American Aesthetic Movement Armchairs
Oak
Antique 19th Century English Wingback Chairs
Wood
Antique 19th Century English Wingback Chairs
Wood
Antique 19th Century English Chairs
Wood, Fabric
Antique 19th Century English Charles II Bergere Chairs
Oak, Upholstery
Antique 19th Century English Chairs
Leather, Wood
Antique 19th Century English Wingback Chairs
Leather
Early 20th Century English Wingback Chairs
Wood
Vintage 1910s English Chairs
Leather
Antique Mid-19th Century English Chairs
Wood
Antique 18th Century and Earlier British Chippendale Wingback Chairs
Antique 19th Century English Club Chairs
Wood, Fabric
Antique 19th Century English Wingback Chairs
Antique 19th Century English Chippendale Wingback Chairs
Brass
Antique Late 19th Century English Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Mahogany
Antique 19th Century English Bergere Chairs
20th Century American Chesterfield Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Leather, Mahogany
Early 20th Century English Arts and Crafts Chairs
20th Century British Wingback Chairs
Leather
Late 20th Century Asian Empire Dining Room Chairs
Wood
Early 20th Century American Federal Wingback Chairs
Upholstery
Late 20th Century British Wingback Chairs
Leather
Antique 19th Century English Wingback Chairs
Leather, Wood
20th Century English Art Deco Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Leather
Antique 18th Century and Earlier English Armchairs
Mahogany, Leather
Antique 19th Century English Georgian Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Mahogany
Vintage 1940s English Georgian Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Antique 19th Century English Bergere Chairs
21st Century and Contemporary Romanian Georgian Wingback Chairs
Brass
Early 20th Century English Art Deco Club Chairs
Leather, Wood
Early 20th Century English Arts and Crafts Armchairs
Oak
20th Century English Victorian Dining Room Chairs
Oak
Antique Early 19th Century English Regency Armchairs
Leather, Oak
Antique Late 19th Century English Chippendale Wingback Chairs
Leather
Antique Mid-19th Century English William IV Dining Room Chairs
Mahogany
Mid-20th Century Great Britain (UK) Armchairs
Mahogany, Leather
Early 20th Century English George III Armchairs
Leather
Early 20th Century British Victorian Armchairs
Walnut
Antique 19th Century English Armchairs
Brass
20th Century American Chesterfield Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Brass
Late 20th Century British Armchairs
Leather
Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Armchairs
Leather
Antique 19th Century British George III Armchairs
Brass
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Chairs
Oak
Antique 19th Century English Armchairs
Mahogany
Early 20th Century English Georgian Chaise Longues
Antique Early 19th Century British Georgian Armchairs
Wood
Antique 1860s English High Victorian Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Leather, Oak
Antique 19th Century English Armchairs
Linen
20th Century British Victorian Wingback Chairs
Leather
Mid-20th Century North American Regency Armchairs
Wood, Lacquer
Early 20th Century English Armchairs
Wood, Hemp
21st Century and Contemporary European Country Stools
Oak
Vintage 1950s French French Provincial Armchairs
Cane, Bamboo
Antique 1860s English High Victorian Armchairs
Elm, Yew
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Benches
Oak
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Benches
Oak
English Barrel Back Chair For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is an English Barrel Back Chair?
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, 2022Reupholster a barrel back chair by first removing the old upholstery from the chair. Use the old pieces of material as a guide to help you cut the new upholstery into properly sized pieces. Reupholster the chair by using a furniture stapler to re-secure the new upholstery in the same manner that the old upholstery was attached. Shop a range of vintage and contemporary barrel back chairs on 1stDibs.
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