Seating
1990s American Bauhaus Seating
Chrome
Late 20th Century Czech Scandinavian Modern Seating
Fabric, Wood, Beech
1880s Austrian Art Nouveau Antique Seating
Bentwood
1930s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Seating
Fabric, Cherry
1930s Czech Bauhaus Vintage Seating
Steel, Chrome
1970s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Seating
Fabric, Beech
1930s Czech Art Deco Vintage Seating
Fabric, Wood
Early 1900s Austrian Vienna Secession Antique Seating
Leather, Beech, Bentwood
Early 1900s European Vienna Secession Antique Seating
Cane, Bentwood
1930s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Seating
Fabric, Wood
1930s Austrian Art Nouveau Vintage Seating
Bentwood
1940s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Seating
Fabric, Wood
1960s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Seating
Fabric, Beech
1970s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Seating
Fabric, Wood
1950s Czech Vintage Seating
Bentwood
Early 1900s Austrian Art Nouveau Antique Seating
Wood
19th Century Antique Seating
Upholstery, Bentwood
Late 20th Century Czech Scandinavian Modern Seating
Fabric, Wood, Beech
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Seating
Steel, Chrome
Late 19th Century Austrian Belle Époque Antique Seating
Beech, Bentwood
Early 1900s French Vienna Secession Antique Seating
Cane, Bentwood
Early 20th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Seating
Leather, Beech
1920s German Bauhaus Vintage Seating
Chrome
Early 20th Century Austrian Vienna Secession Seating
Beech, Plywood
Early 20th Century Czech Arts and Crafts Seating
Bentwood
Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Seating
Chrome
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Seating
Bentwood, Naugahyde
Early 1900s Austrian Vienna Secession Antique Seating
Bentwood
Early 20th Century Belgian Art Nouveau Seating
Wood
Mid-20th Century Czech Mid-Century Modern Seating
Wood, Beech, Plywood
Early 20th Century Austrian Seating
Wood
Mid-20th Century German Bauhaus Seating
Steel
1940s American Bauhaus Vintage Seating
Fabric, Plywood
Mid-20th Century Czech Scandinavian Modern Seating
Fabric, Bentwood
1980s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Seating
Wood, Leather
1890s Austrian Late Victorian Antique Seating
Cane, Wood
1990s German Bauhaus Seating
Leather, Beech, Plywood
1890s Austrian Art Nouveau Antique Seating
Wood
Mid-20th Century Czech Mid-Century Modern Seating
Wood, Beech, Plywood
Early 1900s Austrian Jugendstil Antique Seating
Beech, Leather, Bentwood
1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Seating
Metal
Early 1900s Austrian Jugendstil Antique Seating
Beech
Mid-20th Century Czech Scandinavian Modern Seating
Wood, Beech, Plywood
20th Century German Seating
Bentwood
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Seating
Chrome
Early 20th Century German Art Deco Seating
Chrome
1930s German Bauhaus Vintage Seating
Chrome, Steel
Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Seating
Bentwood
1950s French Modern Vintage Seating
Steel
1910s Czech Art Nouveau Vintage Seating
Wood, Cotton
Early 1900s Austrian Vienna Secession Antique Seating
Beech, Bentwood
Early 2000s Croatian Futurist Seating
Bentwood
Early 20th Century German Bauhaus Seating
Chrome
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Seating
Wood
1960s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Seating
Wicker, Wood
1930s German Bauhaus Vintage Seating
Metal, Chrome
Late 20th Century French Bauhaus Seating
Steel
1930s German Bauhaus Vintage Seating
Chrome
Unique Chairs, Sofas and Other Seating for Sale on 1stDibs
With entire areas of our homes reserved for “sitting rooms,” the value of quality antique and vintage seating cannot be overstated.
Fortunately, the design of side chairs, armchairs and other lounge furniture — since what were, quite literally, the early perches of our ancestors — has evolved considerably.
Among the earliest standard seating furniture were stools. Egyptian stools, for example, designed for one person with no seat back, were x-shaped and typically folded to be tucked away. These rudimentary chairs informed the design of Greek and Roman stools, all of which were a long way from Sori Yanagi's Butterfly stool or Alvar Aalto's Stool 60. In the 18th century and earlier, seats with backs and armrests were largely reserved for high nobility.
The seating of today is more inclusive but the style and placement of chairs can still make a statement. Antique desk chairs and armchairs designed in the style of Louis XV, which eventually included painted furniture and were often made of rare woods, feature prominently curved legs as well as Chinese themes and varied ornaments. Much like the thrones of fairy tales and the regency, elegant lounges crafted in the Louis XV style convey wealth and prestige. In the kitchen, the dining chair placed at the head of the table is typically reserved for the head of the household or a revered guest.
Of course, with luxurious vintage or antique furnishings, every chair can seem like the best seat in the house. Whether your preference is stretching out on a plush sofa, such as the Serpentine, designed by Vladimir Kagan, or cozying up in a vintage wingback chair, there is likely to be a comfy classic or contemporary gem for you on 1stDibs.
With respect to the latest obsessions in design, cane seating has been cropping up everywhere, from sleek armchairs to lounge chairs, while bouclé fabric, a staple of modern furniture design, can be seen in mid-century modern, Scandinavian modern and Hollywood Regency furniture styles.
Admirers of the sophisticated craftsmanship and dark woods frequently associated with mid-century modern seating can find timeless furnishings in our expansive collection of lounge chairs, dining chairs and other items — whether they’re vintage editions or alluring official reproductions of iconic designs from the likes of Hans Wegner or from Charles and Ray Eames. Shop our inventory of Egg chairs, designed in 1958 by Arne Jacobsen, the Florence Knoll lounge chair and more.
No matter your style, the collection of unique chairs, sofas and other seating on 1stDibs is surely worthy of a standing ovation.