Evoking rusticity and relaxation through simple and elegant designs, vintage Adirondack furniture originated in the Adirondack Mountains of northeastern New York. The most famous piece is the Adirondack chair, which dates to 1903.
With its ample armrests and sturdy but comfortable slanted seat, the reclined Adirondack chair was designed by Thomas Lee for his own country home. The postwar golden age of modern patio and garden furniture production — led by the likes of Brown Jordan, Knoll, Salterini and Woodard — was decades away at the time, and there were few pieces of furniture specifically created for outdoor use.
Lee, a Massachusetts-born Harvard graduate raised in a wealthy family, was no furniture designer. He merely needed a durable, rugged chair for afternoons in the sun while he was vacationing on Lake Champlain in Westport, New York, in the summer. The amateur woodworker used just one wooden plank cut into 11 segments that were jointed together for his now-legendary seat, which is said to have been made of hemlock, hickory or basswood.
The story of the Adirondack chair continues with Lee’s friend, carpenter Harry Bunnell, covertly patenting the chair and going on to produce it as the Westport Plank chair for a growing audience over the next two decades. Over a century later, the Adirondack chair has gone through several design evolutions while maintaining its popularity and basic form with slats of wood such as pine offering comfort both indoors and out.
The widespread demand for rustic Adirondack outdoor furniture was bolstered by the turn-of-the-century establishment of rural escapes to treat diseases such as tuberculosis. The low-slung Adirondack chair became common in these places of convalescence, allowing patients to recline and breathe in the country air. It also complemented the camp-style architecture that was prevalent in the Adirondacks for recreation as well as restoration, where rugged furniture with exposed wood and minimal carving filled interiors and wide porches.
Today, Adirondack chairs are made in a range of materials and can be found around the world, from ski resorts to lakeside piers, their durability and classic form making them an enduring favorite for spending time in nature.
Find vintage Adirondack chairs, benches, lounge chairs, decorative objects, folk art and other furniture on 1stDibs.
$540Sale Price|20% Off
Early 20thc Cast Mermaid Boot Scraper/Remover
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Cast Mermaid Boot Scraper/ Remover. Easy to handle the arms remove boots or can be used as a boot scraper. Great as a decorative piece or may be used as intended. Beautiful patina an...
Iron
Fine 19th Century English Mahogany Schooner Steam Boad Model in Custom Case Rare
Located in Buchanan, MI
Fine 19th century English mahogany schooner steam boad model in custom case. Great attention to detail. This came from a very prominent North Shore Estate. Would look great displayed...
Glass, Mahogany
Art Deco Coiled Serpent Sculpture, Cast Brass, Early 20th Century
Located in Elkhart, IN
A wonderful Art Deco style cast brass coiled serpent snake circa Early 20th century Measures: 12"W × 2.13"D × 2"H Excellent original vintage co...
Brass
English 19th Century Cast Iron Unicorn
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A large, cast iron unicorn with a custom attached base stand. Great detail can be seen in the creature’s mane, head and musculature.
Iron
$12,995 / set
H 38 in W 15 in D 19 in
Pair of Early 20thC Hand Carved Carrara Marble Guardian Angels Praying
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Amazing pair of hand chisiled marble statues of kneeling guardian angels praying. Hand crafted in Italy from Carrara Marble in about the 1920s. These were kept in storage for a numbe...
Carrara Marble
English 19th Century Cast Iron Unicorn
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A large, cast iron unicorn, from 19th century England. Unicorns are a common motif used in British and Scottish works. A free unicorn, according to legend, is considered to be a wild and dangerous creature. This unicorn is tame, harmless and eager to guard your door, as it would make an impressive door...
Iron
$198
H 2.75 in W 5.5 in D 10.5 in
Vintage Brass Insect Boot Jack – Canadian Made Bug-Shaped Shoe Remover, 1970s
Located in Toronto, CA
Charming, quirky, and incredibly practical, this vintage solid brass boot jack is shaped like a whimsical insect, with long curling antennae that cleverly function as boot-removing l...
Brass
$5,500
H 5.75 in W 15.5 in D 7 in
English Cast Iron Springer Spaniel Boot Scraper with Wood Brushes, Circa 1880
Located in Charleston, SC
English cast iron boot scraper with flanking Springer spaniels, centered wood brushes with scraper, and resting on a molded edge rectangular base, Late 19th century.
Iron
Mid 20thc Cast Iron Smiling Dachshund Boot Scraper #2
By Hubley Manufacturing Company 2
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous cast iron dachshund dog boot scraper in black paint. Two available, this one has a straight tail as opposed to the other with a circle tai...
Iron
Vintage Cast-Iron Eagle Sculpture, Early 20th Century
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
This is a cast-iron figural eagle doorstop, circa early 20th century. The eagle is depicted with wings spread wide, perched and mounted to a square marble base. The eagle retains traces of its original gilt surface and is embossed with “F.O.E.” at its midsection, possibly referring to the Fraternal Order of Eagles. The eagle is both the national bird and the national animal of the United States. The eagle motif has been widely used throughout American history, most notably as part of our Great Seal. The founders of the United States were fond of comparing their new republic with the Roman Republic, in which eagle imagery, usually the golden eagle, was prominent. On June 20, 1782, the Continental Congress adopted the design for the Great Seal of the United States...
Marble, Iron
$1,530
H 13 in W 3.94 in D 7.49 in
Bronze Mermaid Figural Bracket, Cast Sculpture, 19th Century, France
Located in ARMADALE, VIC
A Bronze Mermaid Figural Bracket, 19th Century Provenance: Private Australian Collection. Dimension: Height: 33cm Depth: 19cm Width: 10cm.
Bronze
19th Century English Iron Doorstop
Located in High Point, NC
19th century English doorstop cast from iron. The handle on the top makes it easily moveable. the doorstop is in the form of a lion with his paw resting on top of a scroll. the mo...
Iron
English Porcelain Dog, Circa 19th Century
Located in New York, NY
An English porcelain Staffordshire dog decorative object sculpture, Victorian design period, circa late-19th century, England. What a chic dog w...
Porcelain
Fine Late 19th Century Black Forest Stag
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A fine late 19th century Black Forest stag. The carving of this fine piece is particularly good.
Wood
Early 20thc Cement Bird Bath/Feeder
Located in Los Angeles, CA
1930s cement bird bath. This may be used as a bowl. This is very heavy and has a great presence being out doors. Can be used in the center of a garden,
Cement
Early 20thc Bronze Indian Sculpture on Marble Base
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This amazing bronze Indian rider on horseback sculpture is mounted on a marble base in very good condition. It has a wonderful undisturbed patina and great looking. The sculpture is ...
Marble, Brass
1930s Pond Boat with Original Sails on Wood Mount
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This monumental pond boat is in amazing as found condition and retains the original fabric sails. The wood sail boat base is painted white and a natural old finish. This is a handmad...
Wood
Footballs and Soccer Balls by Timothy Oulton, Selling Individually Seven Avail
Located in Stamford, CT
A group of seven footballs and soccer balls by Timothy Oulton. Each ball comes with a 'oxford university' canvas bag, and a pin to inflate. All are worn as is the intended and desire...
Leather