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.
19th Century Decorated Salt Glaze Crock from Pittston, Pennsylvania
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This fine original decorated salt glaze one gallon and double handled crock is in mint condition. The floral decoration is a most unusual folky flower. Fine form. It was made in Pitt...
Pottery
19th C Decorated Salt Glazed Crock with Floral Motif
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th C decorated salt glazed crock with floral motif.
Pottery
Rare Yellow Rookwood Violets Vase #6432
Located in Louisville, KY
This rare yellow Rookwood “Violets” vase is a beautiful specimen and in remarkable condition. Marked with the Rookwood stamp and mold #6432, this piece was made in 1942 and was part ...
Porcelain
Japanese Contemporary Platinum Black Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 9
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Japanese contemporary decorative porcelain vase, dramatically hand painted in platinum, set against a beautifully shaped porcelain body in black, a signed piece belonging to the artist's signature fish collection by highly acclaimed master porcelain artist and recipient of numerous awards for his exceptional and extraordinary porcelain work and his unique signature gold and platinum work on porcelain. In 2016, the British Museum added a work by this award-winning artist to its collection of contemporary Japanese porcelain in the Imari-Arita polychrome enamel tradition. The artist's profile is available upon request. According to a Chinese legend...
Platinum
$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
19th Century Pennsylvania Decorated Stone Ware Crock
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This fine blue decorated salt glaze crock in fine condition. It has stripes and a blue 2 on the front face.
Pottery
19thc Soft Paste Lidded Jar
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19thc Soft Paste Sponge Lidded Jar. The jar has great patina to the paint showing sings of age and use. This jar has small stain marks from the original baking process when made.
Pottery
Natural organic turned Colorado Aspen wood weed pot
Located in Ferndale, MI
Natural chunk of Colorado Aspen partially turned neck to create a weed pot but remaining wholly organic .
Wood
Rookwood Pottery Arts & Crafts Glazed Ceramic Vases, 1930
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous pair of Arts & Crafts period glazed art pottery vases By Rookwood Pottery USA, 1930 Glazed ceramic in a beautiful light pink color with light green accents at rim. Mea...
Ceramic, Pottery
Rookwood pottery/ceramic vase signed/date , Charles S Todd .
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Great Rookwood pottery vase.This vase is signed C S T in bottom as shown. Charles S Todd, hand painted in this abstract vines from top to bottom.
Pottery
Beautiful Studio Pottery Bud Vase
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Beautiful blue glazed ceramic studio pottery bud vase. Measures 4.5 round and 6.5 tall. Signed by artist on underside "Limor" or limov"
Ceramic
Vintage Boho Wood Turned Vase
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Add a touch of warm, organic beauty to your home with this vintage vase, skillfully crafted from a solid piece of wood through the art of wood turning. This elegant piece features a ...
Wood
Mid-20th Century Hand-Thrown Studio Pottery Vessel, Citron Glaze, USA
Located in Wainscott, NY
Mid-20th Century Studio Pottery Vessel in Citron Hand-thrown studio pottery vessel, mid-20th century, finished in a luminous citron glaze with subtle tonal variation and fine speckl...
Clay
Rare French Pale Green Glazed Terracotta Pot with Antique Patina
Located in IT
This rare French pale green glazed terracotta pot is a beautiful vintage collectible with a unique, time-worn patina. The exterior features a delicate pale green glaze, while the int...
Pottery
19th Century Russian Icon of Saint Nicholas
Located in Nantucket, MA
19th century Russian Icon of Saint Nicholas, likely first half 19th century, with I believe egg tempera on gessoed wooden panel, depicting Christ in a h...
Pine
Exquisite Japanese Satsuma Vase by Seikozan
Located in Atlanta, GA
A miniature vase in elegant upright form reminiscent of the Chinese imperial Willow Leaf form made by Japanese studio Seikozan circa 1890-1910s (late Meiji Period). One of the many a...
Ceramic
Japanese Modern LAAB Patto Vase Raku Ceramic Black White Crakle
By LAAB Milano
Located in monza, Monza and Brianza
Patto vase Marked by sinuous curves outlining a flared profile, this one-of-a-kind vase was handcrafted of ceramic following the ancient Japanese Raku pottery...
Ceramic
19th Century Westerwald German Salt Glazed Stoneware Crock
Located in Pearland, TX
An antique 19th-Century German Westerwald salt glazed gray stoneware crock or jar with charming applied handles and cobalt blue scrolls and flowers. It would be lovely with a bouquet...
Stoneware
19th Century French Yellow Glazed Confit Pot from Provence
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
As found in Provence, this antique French planter dates from the late 19th Century. Handmade in France, this urn features a nicely weathered ap...
Ceramic, Stoneware
Late 19th Century Two Handled Antique Portuguese Stoneware Jug
Located in CA, CA
A double handled antique Portuguese stoneware jug. Late 19th century. The jug has one flattened side for it to be stored lying down. Jugs such as these were used throughout Iberia fo...
Stoneware
19th Century Chinese Glazed Garden Rain Pot
Located in Chicago, IL
This 19th-century Chinese rain pot was sculpted by hand with impressive scale and wabi-sabi texture. Ceramic vessels of this scale had various uses in Chinese culture, used as fish p...
Stoneware
French 19th Century Terracotta Pottery Pitchers with Floral Décor
Located in Atlanta, GA
Decorative 19th-century French terracotta pottery pitchers, each finished in a warm ochre-yellow glaze and individually embellished with hand-painted floral and foliate motifs. The s...
Terracotta
19th Century, Apothecary Trade Sign
Located in Nantucket, MA
Figural trade sign in the form of a mortar and pestle, both the mortar and pestle are hand turned and gilded, with strong ring turnings. The top is capped with zinc and still bears i...
Zinc
19thc Old Oval Crock /Vase
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19thc decorated floral design crock. Minor chips on the base as shown in images.
Pottery
19th Century Decorated Stone Ware Double Handled Crock
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This folky double handled decorated stone ware crock was found in New York state and is in fine condition. Looks like paint or something odd got on the base of the crock.
Pottery
Tin Umbrella Holder
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Heavy Tin Umbrella Holder. The holder could be great with a vase in it to hold flowers as well. Great Patina!
Metal
Hand Painted Floral Pottery Bauer Vase
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This hand painted pottery Bauer vase is a red clay pottery vase. This hand painted vase with flowers is in fine condition.
Pottery