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.
Mid 19thc 3 Gallon Crock Jar From Pennsylvania
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Mid 19thc 3 gallon crock jar made in Pennsylvania. Wonderful Plant pattern with great deep blue color. Great patina and wonderful size.
Pottery
19th Century Polychrome Painted Hand Carved Wood Canister
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th century polychrome painted and hand carved wood canister. This was found in New England.
Wood
$646Sale Price|88% Off
H 14.8 in Dm 8.75 in
Tall Chinese Porcelain Bottle Vase Sapphire Blue 6 Char Mark, Late 19thC Qing
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a very beautiful, highly decorative Tall Chinese bottle vase with a monochrome or single glaze colour of a fine sapphire-blue, which we date to the late 19th century, Qing period . This Chinese Export vase is well potted on a fairly tall foot, having a globular body, with a long cylindrical stick neck. On close inspection the glaze has a beautiful finely speckled texture, the depth of colour draining from the top rim where it is slightly lighter to a darker shade at the foot where the glaze thickens. The foot rim is well hand cut with an orange coloured iron oxide ring just above the foot rim and below the glaze, where the air hit the porcelain in the kiln. This is a heavy vase weighing about 2.75 Kg unpacked. The blue is a superb shade of dark sapphire / steel /dark sky blue colour. The inner neck area and centre of the base are also glazed. The base carries a hand painted six figure apocryphal Qing Kangxi ( 1662 to 1722) mark but this piece dates to the late 19th Century, in the later part of the Qing Dynasty. These single colour monochrome vases are often small with heights of about 7 or 8 inches but this is a much larger piece measuring well over 14 inches in height. Its elegant form, reminiscent of the traditional Guanyin vases...
Porcelain
Pair of Medici Vases, Hand Painted Porcelain, French, 19th Century
Located in Lantau, HK
A pair of elegant vases finely painted with flowers and butterflies in brilliant colors, richly gilded on handles and base. Shipping included Free and fast delivery door to door ...
Porcelain
Very Large 19th Century Italian Maiolica Hand Painted Vase
By Cantagalli
Located in London, GB
A very large 19th century twin handled maiolica vase in the form of a wine krater. The exquisite hand painted decoration includes two central cartouches, one depicting Bacchus and Ar...
Pottery
$325Sale Price|62% Off
H 1.9 in W 0.82 in D 0.75 in
Rare Shape Chinese Cloisonne Snuff Bottle Hand Enameled, 19thC Qing
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a very good example of a small rare shaped triangular Chinese snuff bottle, made from cloisonne´ with hand enamelled decoration depicting various floral designs and complete ...
Bronze
European Mid-19th Century Olive Jar
Located in Atlanta, GA
A European olive jar from the mid-19th century. This terracotta olive jar features a beautiful coloration and shape. The jar is raised on a custom-made metal tripod base. The dimensi...
Terracotta
$870
H 7.87 in W 5.11 in D 5.11 in
19th Century French Glazed Terracotta Pitcher Handmade & Hand-painted
Located in Miami, FL
19th century French glazed terracotta pitcher with beautifuls fleurs.
$2,740
H 5.87 in Dm 3.43 in
Antique 19thC Japanese Meiji Period Mitsunorian Inlaid Bronze Ovoid Vase c.1890
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Antique 19th Century Japanese Meiji period Mitsunorian inlaid bronze ovoid vase. Decorated in high relief with shibuichi, gilt, copper, and shakudō inlays depicting a continuous scen...
Bronze
Pair 19th Century Delft Hand-Painted Blue & White Vases
By Delft
Located in Dallas, TX
Pair 19th century Delft hand-painted blue & white vases are a splendid collectible that was created for the lucrative European market during the latter 1800s, where the clay was trea...
Ceramic
$1,250 / set
H 4.34 in W 1.97 in D 1.97 in
19th Century Hand-Painted Sèvres Style Porcelain Perfume Set
By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
These are four hand-painted porcelain bottles with vibrant blue accents and floral decorations, likely from the 19th century. The set includes two larger bottles and two smaller ones...
Porcelain, Paint
19th Century English Hand Painted Coalport Porcelain Oval Vase
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Elegant hand painted porcelain oval shape footed vase with floral decoration. The beaded gilt edge with all over floral hand painting with raised beading on the body. A few hand pain...
Porcelain
19th Century Water Jars from Greek Island
Located in Dallas, TX
This water jar originates from Greece, circa 1890. Additional measurement of the jar attached along with images.
Terracotta
$1,184Sale Price|20% Off
H 3.94 in W 10.24 in D 6.7 in
19th Century Exquisite Hand-Painted Petite Cachepot
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
This exquisite antique cachepot dates back to the 19th century, showcasing the timeless elegance and meticulous craftsmanship of that era. Its oval-shaped body features delicately sc...
Metal
Karen Karnes Stoneware Art Pottery Covered Jar
Located in Astoria, NY
Karen Karnes (American,1925-2016) stoneware art pottery covered jar with grey-green and blue glaze, signed with impressed artist's monogram "KK" underside. Dealer: S138XX.
Stoneware
19th Century Decorated Salt Glaze Jug Signed Nichols Co.Williamsport, Pa.
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th century Decorated salt glaze jug signed Nichols & Co., Williamsport, Pa. circa 1870-1880. Minor chips on base with no cracks.
Pottery
Oriental Porcelain Covered Jar with French Bronze Mounted Dragon Handles
Located in New York, NY
An Oriental Porcelain Covered Jar with French Bronze Mounted Dragon Handles Stock Number: DA89