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.
Monumental Sponge Ware Pottery Bowl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This huge signed Roseville sponge ware pottery mixing bowl is in pristine condition. These large size bowls are super rare and in fine condition is even be...
Pottery
19thc Decorated Stoneware 3 Gallon Crock
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19Thc Original Decorated salt glaze crock from south Western Pennsylvania.This crock is in mint condition. Such a great form.
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19th Century Decorated Salt Glaze Crock Sipe & Sons Cake Crock
Located in Los Angeles, CA
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Pottery
19th Century Decorated Crock From Pennsylvania
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This highly decorated stoneware crock is in fine condition and has double handles. This is decorated all the way around. It was found in Penn...
Pottery
19th Century Sponge Ware Spittoon
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This most unusual sponge ware spittoon has such a unusual shape and form. Very early form.
Pottery
Smith Stoneware Jar Crock from NY
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Salt glazed stone ware jar with "W Smith Stoneware New York" as a front stamp. Great size and great form. Gorgeous 7.25 tall.
Pottery
19th Century Decorated Salt Glaze Jug -Cowden & Wilcox
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This 19th century hand decorated or painted Cowden & Wilcox jug from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in fine condition. These decorated stoneware jugs are hard to find in such fine condition.
Pottery
19th Century Decorated Bird Stoneware Jug
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th century decorated stoneware jug with a bird on the face. This is a New York State jug. The condition is very good.
Pottery
19th Century Sponge Ware Butter Crock
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th century sponge ware butter crock in very good condition.
Pottery
$956Sale Price|20% Off
19thc Decorated Stoneware Jug
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19thc blue decorated jug from New York State in amazing condition. Minor little chip off the lid and on the side of the jug.
Pottery
19Thc Decorated Cowden & Wilcox 3 Gal. Crock with Cherries
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This three gallon stone ware crock with decorated cherries is from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The maker is Cowden & Wilcox and is signed on the front abov...
Pottery
19th Century Cowden Wilcox Decorated Stoneware Jug
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This fine blue 19th century decorated stoneware two gallon Cowden & Wilcox jug is in fine condition. This heavy flower design is quite unusual. Condition is mint. This was made in Ha...
Stoneware
19thc Sponge Ware Butter Crock With Lid
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19thc Butter Crock in sponge ware with Lid. lid Sits inside of the bowl. Wonderful deeper blues contrast to the white background. Great age and great wear from use. butter crock 6....
Pottery
$1,516Sale Price / set|20% Off
Collection of Four 19th Century Sponge Ware Serving Platters
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This amazing collection of four 19th century sponge ware serving platters are in fantastic condition. These platters are so hard to find in pristine condition.
Porcelain
19thc Decorated Stoneware Cowden & Wilcox Lamp
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19Thc Decorated Stoneware crock lamp made by Cowden & Wilcox in Harrisburg,Pennsylvania. This double handled crock is made into a lamp and newly...
Stoneware, Linen
19th Century Decorated Stoneware Crock with Handles
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th century original decorated stoneware crock with double handles in fine condition. Fantastic folky floral design.
Pottery
19th Century Yellow Ware in Seaweed Pattern Mixing Bowls, Pair
Located in Los Angeles, CA
These two yellow ware seaweed pattern mixing bowls are in fine as found condition. There are no chips or cracks and have wonderful blue painted sea...
Pottery
$760Sale Price|20% Off
Rare and Unusual Signed Elsinore Pottery Spongeware Bowl
By Elsinore Pottery Co.
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This amazing crazed 19th century spongeware mixing bowl is signed on the base Elsinore Pottery, California. It is most unusual to find any type ...
Pottery
19th Century Decorated Salt Glaze 3 Gal Crock- Sipe & Sons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This fine blue decorated hand made pottery crock. It has the original double handles and in fine condition. Minor base chip (tiny). Fantastic glaze surface. This is a large three gallon...
Pottery
20th Century Sponge Ware Piggy Bank
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This fun fat pig piggy bank is in sponge ware and is in very good condition.Of course she is hand painted.
Pottery
19Thc Decorated Cowden & Wilcox Pottery Jug
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This 19thc decorated stoneware jug is in fine condition. It has a little simple flower design in indigo blue decoration. This jug is stamped Cowden & Wilcox ,Harrisburg,Pennsylvania....
Pottery
19th Century Monumental Mocha Yellow Ware Mixing Bowl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This fine very large Mocha Yellow ware bowl with the blue seaweed pattern throughout.
Pottery
19thc Shenfelter Tulip Cobalt Blue 1 Galon Crock
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Antique Shenfelter In Redding PA, cobalt blue decorated crock Tulip design 1 Gallon. There is some burning during the making of this crock opposite of the Tulip. Measures 8 x 8.5 ...
Pottery
$1,420Sale Price|20% Off
19th Century Sponge Ware Pottery Pitchers Collection of Four
Located in Los Angeles, CA
These 19th century handmade and painted floral faced sponge ware pottery pitchers are in fine condition. Each pitcher measures 7 x 5 x 9. Sold as a group of four.
Pottery
Collection of 19thc Sponge Ware Pitchers, 6 Pieces
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19thc sponge ware collection of six pieces of sponge ware cream or milk pitchers. All in good condition. Orate pitchers - 4.5 x 4.5 x4.5 Slender pitcher 4 deep x 4.5 tall x 2.5 wide Large ornate 5.5 tall x deep x 3 wide large creamer...
Pottery
$396Sale Price|20% Off
19th Century Oval Sponge Ware Serving Platter
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th century oval sponge ware pottery platter. Great for serving food or fruit.
Pottery
Monumental 19th Century Mocha Yellow Ware Mixing Bowl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This gigantic yellow ware seaweed mocha mixing bowl is in fine condition. It has amazing light blue sea weed decoration. Fantastic large bowl!!
Ceramic
$556Sale Price|20% Off
19th Century Mocha Seaweed Mug
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This 19th century mocha yellow ware mug with the blue sea weed pattern is in good condition. This mug has a tiny rim chip looks like its in the glaze. These mugs are super rare and h...
Pottery
19thc Mocha Yellow Ware Seaweed Bowl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This rare green yellow ware mocha seaweed bowl is in pristine condition. The sage green color is very good.
Pottery
19th C Sponge Pottery Butter Crocks -3
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Each crock measure approximately 6 inches in diameter x 3.5 inches in height.
Pottery
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
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
19th Century Unusual Sponge Ware Pottery Bucket
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This most unusual shape sponge ware pottery bucket is in very good condition. It has the original bail handle and 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
19th C Decorated Stone Ware Pitcher
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This fine hand made & hand painted pottery pitcher is in fine condition. This is such a rare piece and most unusual.
Pottery
19thc Mocha Ware Seaweed Bowl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19Thc yellow ware mocha blue seaweed pattern mixing bowl in pristine condition.
Pottery
$1,836Sale Price / set|20% Off
19th C Sponge Mush Cups and Saucers, Set of Four
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This matching set of four 19thc sponge ware mush cups and saucers are in pristine condition.Many different shades of blues.Found in Pennsylvania private collection. Sold as a set of Four cups...
Pottery
19thc Rare Sponge Ware Miniature Teapot
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This very early and rare 19thc sponge ware one cup tea pot is in pristine condition.This wonderful little charming piece is a great addition to any collection.
Pottery
$2,000Sale Price|39% Off
Large American Micromosaic Alaskan Landscape, Features Moose
Located in Vero Beach, FL
Large American Micromosaic Alaskan landscape, Features Moose This large scale micromosaic panel is executed with impressive precision. It features a moose in a typical Alaskan lands...
Marble
19thc Sponge Ware Barrel Pottery Pitcher
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19thc blue & white sponge ware barrel pottery pitcher. This is a very hard to find pitcher.
Pottery
$950 / set
Pair of Sponge Ware Mixing Bowls
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This pair of two different size pottery mixing bowls are in good condition. Minor wear on base consistent with age and use. One is like a shorter bake dis...
Pottery