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.
19thc Sponge Ware Mixing Bowl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This fine large 19thc sponge ware pottery mixing or serving bowl is in fine condition. Its a nice lighter or sky blue color. Great for serving salads or fruit salad at the dinner table.
Pottery
$1,875 / set
19Thc Sponge Ware Pottery C & S -Set of Six
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19thc Sponge ware Cup and saucer combined measure 6 inches in diameter x 4 high - Set of six matching cups & saucers set. Cup measures 3.75high x 4 deep ...
Pottery
19th Century Sponge Pitcher with Floral Design
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This 19th century sponge ware pitcher with floral design in good condition.
Pottery
Early 19thc Soft Paste Sponge Ware Pitcher
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This fine 19thc soft paste (similar to a lighter ironstone pottery ) in pristine condition. This fine sponge patterned water pitcher is in fine condition.
Pottery
Collection of Five 19th Century Sponge Ware Custard Cups
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This collection of five 19th century sponge ware pottery custard cups ate in good condition.
Pottery
$2,316Sale Price|20% Off
19thc Sponge Ware Milk Pitchers -5
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19Thc Original blue & white sponge ware pottery pitchers in a collection of five.The condition is very good and pristine.
Pottery
19Thc Smoke Ring Pattern Sponge Ware Pitcher
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19thc Smoke ring pattern stone ware sponge water pitcher.The condition is very good with a minor spider in the making.Take notice to the floral embossed are in the middle of the pit...
Pottery
Rare 1 gal Double Handle 19thc Butter Crock
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rare 1 gallon double handled 19thc decorated butter crock. Allentown PA NL Yeager and Co.
Pottery
Rare 19th Century Stick Spatter Rabbit Plate
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This fine folky hand painted stick spatter plate has rabbits running around the border of the plate. The condition is very good with minor crazing from age.
Porcelain
19th Century Sponge Ware Bake Dish
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This fine sponge ware pottery bake dish in fine condition. This is a sponge design pattern. This is in very good condition.
Pottery
Reed & Barton Silver Horse Head Letter Opener
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Reed and Barton letter opener in silver plate with a horse head.
Silver
19thc Mocha Ware Seaweed Bowl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19Thc yellow ware mocha blue seaweed pattern mixing bowl in pristine condition.
Pottery
19thc Cobalt Blue Painted Floral Pottery Jug
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Cobalt blue painted pottery decorated floral stoneware handled jug. Measures: 9.5” high, 7” diameter.
Pottery
$556Sale Price|20% Off
19th Century Handcrafted Walnut Cutlery Carrier
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This fine detailed handcrafted walnut wood with fine detail cutout is in great as found condition. This carrier has fine cut nails and in great condition.
Wood
19thc DL & AK ballard 3 galon Jug, New England
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19thc Large 3 gallon Jug From New England. maker is DL & AK Ballard. New England. Wonderful patina and wonderful age marks.
Pottery
$1,516Sale Price|20% Off
Group of Three 19th C Sponge Ware Pitchers
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th C Blue & white sponge ware pottery pitchers in good condition. These hard to find pottery pitchers are in different shades of blues. Sold as a group of three.
Pottery
French Sterling Silver Salt And Pepper Grinders. Great Size.
Located in Buchanan, MI
French Sterling Silver Salt And Pepper Grinders.
Sterling Silver
Antique Italian Marble Mortar, White Marble, Circa 1850, Kitchen Tool
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
An antique Italian marble mortar for Your kitchen in WHITE marble, smaller; the other one (darker) in stone, more antique, has been sold. The mortar is very useful in the kitchen: i...
Marble