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.
$6,000Sale Price|20% Off
19thc Monumental Cast Iron Garden Rooster
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This fantastic monumental cast iron rooster is very large and heavy. It was probably used in a store front as a trade sign or a garden element. The patina is amazing and in very good...
Iron
Jay Strongwater Limited Edition Enameled Peacock Figurine 250/250
Located in New York, NY
Jay Strongwater large limited edition enamel peacock figurine hand decorated and hand set Swarovski crystals. Limited edition no. 250/250. Overall excellent condition with normal wea...
Crystal, Enamel
$1,320Sale Price|20% Off
20thc Patinaed Bronze Mermaid Statue
Located in Los Angeles, CA
20thc patinaed bronze mermaid statue. Amazing conditioning with wear to the base. the resting mermaid has an amazing greenish patina that has great age to it. In very good shape.
Bronze
$716Sale Price|20% Off
Early 20Thc Original Hubley Bank Door Stop
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Early 20thc Hubley Boston Terrier dog door stop / bank.The paint is very good and fine condition.
Iron
$1,196Sale Price|20% Off
Large Signed Farnsworth bronze Sculpture Of Sitting Southern Gentleman
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Large Bronze southern Gentleman sculpture in original paint. This sculpture depicts that of a man smoking a cigar sitting on a high stool or bench with a cane in the other hand. Ther...
Bronze
1970's Brass Starfish Sculpture Life-Size
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Large life size brass starfish sculpture circa 1970's Korea. 10" wide/tall. Perfect as paperweight or display.
Brass
"Set of 5 Distressed Cypress Knee Sculptures, Organic Art, 1980"
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Set of 5 interesting sculptural cypress knees, organic art.
Cypress
$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
$1,036Sale Price|20% Off
Late 19th Century Bronze George Washington Plaque
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Late 19th century bronze beautiful patina George Washington hanging plaque of upper torso(Shoulders) and head.
Bronze
$1,036Sale Price|20% Off
20th Century Full Body Cow Door Stop
Located in Los Angeles, CA
20th century Full Body Cow Door Stop in original hand painted. Wonderful look. Very heavy.
Iron
$556Sale Price|20% Off
Miniature Cast Iron Boston Terrier
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This fun miniature cast iron Boston Terrier is in original paint and in fine condition.Very rare to find these miniatures.
Iron
$1,276Sale Price|20% Off
Hand Carved Eagle By
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Hand carved eagle in fine condition and rare to find by Thomas Rhodes carver from Arizona.The shape & form is the best.
Wood
$556Sale Price|20% Off
20th C Cast Iron Cat Boot Scrape
Located in Los Angeles, CA
20th C cast iron cat boot scrape.
Iron
$700Sale Price|20% Off
20Thc Original Painted Rooster Doorstop
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This amazing original painted double rooster doorstop is in fine as found condition.Minor paint loss consistent with age and use.
Iron
$476Sale Price|20% Off
19Thc Cast Iron Lion Door Stop
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This early 19thc cast iron door stop of a big brave lion is in fine as found condition.
Iron
$716Sale Price|20% Off
Collection of Five Alabaster Peaches W / a 19th Century Wire Compote
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Collection of five pieces of alabaster peaches in a 19th century wire compote. The condition is very good. There are five peaches in the group.
Marble, Wire
$556Sale Price|20% Off
19th Century Iron Rooster with Fragments of Paint
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th century original painted surface with wear and nice aged worn patina.
Iron
$1,036Sale Price|20% Off
Hand Carved Sculpture of Bears
Located in Los Angeles, CA
These hand carved bears are amazing and in great condition. These bears are carved out of one piece of wood or one log. The bottom is a plank of wood. The large bear...
Wood
$256Sale Price|20% Off
1980s Vintage Hand Carved Wooden Nut Cracker Bird Box
Located in Plainview, NY
A vintage wooden nut cracker bird box made of walnut from 1980s. Dimensions: 10.5" D x 5.75" W x 14" H.
Wood
$760Sale Price|20% Off
Original Painted Cow Door Stop
Located in Los Angeles, CA
20th century Original painted heavy cast iron door stop full body cow doorstop.This is a three dimensional cow door stop.
Iron
Mexican Bronze Bust, circa 1920s
Located in Stamford, CT
A Bust of a young Mexican Man. Unmarked on marble base.
Bronze
Artist Lawrence Argent (1957-2017) Life Size Bent Iron Rowing Oars Sculpture
Located in Las Vegas, NV
From artist Lawrence Argent, comes these solid iron castings of antique rowing oars with a bent twist. Created in 1994, untitled. These came directly fr...
Iron
$716Sale Price|20% Off
Hand Carved Wood Folk Art Squirrel Sculpture
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This folky hand carved squirrel has fragments of paint but has a wonderful worn & aged patina.This hand carved guy was carved out of one piece of wood.
Wood
$716Sale Price|20% Off
Early 20thc Brass Duck Ornament
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Great bronze design standing duck ornament. This ornament has great color and patina from age. The surface has great textures.
Bronze
$716Sale Price|20% Off
Hand Carved and Painted Shore Bird
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This finely paint decorated and hand carved shore bird is on a piece of drift wood. The condition is very good .This bird is very finely crafted.
Wood
$11,600Sale Price|20% Off
19th C Monumental Hand Carved & Painted Eagle Sculpture
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th C Monumental Hand Carved & Painted Eagle Sculpture. It is possibly from a Federal or government building. It's a Architectural Folk Art Element. The Eagle is carved of wood and...
Wood
Stately Taxidermy Reindeer Mount.
Located in Buchanan, MI
Stately Taxidermy Reindeer Mount.
Fur
Antique Bronze Elephant Kinetic Sculpture, Early 1900s, Decorative Art
Located in San Diego, CA
Antique Bronze Elephant Kinetic Sculpture from the early 1900s. The trunk moves when the tail is swung, Incredible patina.
Bronze
$716Sale Price|20% Off
Iron Bear Coin Bank Sculpture
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Early 20thc Painted iron Coin bank. Wonderful age and patina to the body. Old brown paint. Iron mold has wear to bod y from age and use.
Iron
$1,356Sale Price|20% Off
19th Century Original White Painted Large Iron Rooster
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th century original white painted iron rooster garden ornament or could work as a large oversized door stop. Fantastic form and surface.
Iron
Signed Farnsworth Bronze Sculpture of Sitting Southern Gentleman
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Large Bronze southern Gentleman sculpture in original paint. This sculpture depicts that of a man smoking a cigar sitting on a high stool or bench with a cane in the other hand. Ther...
Bronze
$956Sale Price|20% Off
20th Century Painted Rooster Garden Ornament
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This folky rooster is made of plaster or ceramic and great for a farm porch or yard. It is a heavy distress painted rooster.
Ceramic
$396Sale Price|20% Off
Bulbous Vintage Turned Wood Bud Vase Studio Craft Woodworker Midcentury Vibe
By Rude Osolnik
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Beautiful form. Signed R.Carnes 98 Lysiton, possibly not very legible.
Wood
An English Horn Chair and Ottoman 20th Century adorned with spurs. Height 43 x
Located in Buchanan, MI
An English Horn Chair and Ottoman Covered In Cowhide, Brass Head Trim. 20th Century adorned with spurs. Height 43 x width 29 x depth 35 inches. Can save shipping charges...
Horn
19th Century English Mahogany Schooner Ship Model, Great Attention To Detail
Located in Buchanan, MI
19th Century English Mahogany Schooner Ship Model, Great Attention To Detail. This came out of a very important collection.
Mahogany
Fine 19th Century English Mahogany Schooner Steam Boad Model in Custom Case
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