Seating
Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Seating
Wool, Wood
19th Century French Empire Revival Antique Seating
Mahogany
1970s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Seating
Metal, Chrome
19th Century Italian Louis XV Antique Seating
Wood
Mid-20th Century Belgian Mid-Century Modern Seating
Faux Leather, Walnut
Late 20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Seating
Chrome
1950s Italian Vintage Seating
Iron
Mid-20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Seating
Fabric
1930s Dutch Industrial Vintage Seating
Metal
20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Seating
Velvet, Beech
1970s American Post-Modern Vintage Seating
Velvet
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Seating
Wood
Early 20th Century Swiss Louis XV Seating
Silver Leaf
Early 18th Century German Baroque Antique Seating
Walnut
Mid-20th Century Polish Mid-Century Modern Seating
Bouclé, Beech
Mid-20th Century Polish Mid-Century Modern Seating
Fabric
1950s Indian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Seating
Teak, Upholstery
1950s Italian Vintage Seating
Brass
1930s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Seating
Wool
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Seating
Metal
Mid-19th Century British Antique Seating
Mahogany
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Seating
Velvet, Giltwood
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Seating
Leather
Mid-20th Century French Folk Art Seating
Iron
Mid-20th Century Polish Mid-Century Modern Seating
Fabric
19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Seating
Ormolu
1950s French Vintage Seating
Late 19th Century Spanish Spanish Colonial Antique Seating
Velvet, Walnut
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Seating
Bronze
Mid-20th Century Polish Mid-Century Modern Seating
Velvet, Beech
1930s Dutch Industrial Vintage Seating
Metal, Chrome
1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Vintage Seating
Metal
1950s Indian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Seating
Cane, Teak
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Seating
Fiberglass
Mid-20th Century Seating
Oak
20th Century American Art Deco Seating
Fabric
20th Century Moroccan Bohemian Seating
Silk
20th Century Polish Mid-Century Modern Seating
Metal
18th Century Italian Louis XV Antique Seating
Giltwood
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Seating
Wood
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Seating
Giltwood
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Seating
Metal
1940s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Seating
Suede, Leather
19th Century Antique Seating
Wood
19th Century French Charles X Antique Seating
Maple
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Seating
Metal
1930s Dutch Art Deco Vintage Seating
Leather
Mid-20th Century Polish Mid-Century Modern Seating
Velvet
1890s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Antique Seating
Pine
1940s Italian Neoclassical Vintage Seating
Mirror, Wood
19th Century Antique Seating
19th Century French Louis Philippe Antique Seating
Walnut
20th Century American Bohemian Seating
Upholstery, Fabric
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Seating
Leather, Faux Leather, Teak
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Seating
Wood
Late 20th Century American Rococo Seating
Suede, Wood
Early 1900s Austrian Vienna Secession Antique Seating
Beech, Bentwood
1940s Czech Streamlined Moderne Vintage Seating
Upholstery, Bentwood
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.
Read More
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Fred Rigby’s Modular Seating Can Be Configured in So Many Handy Ways
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This Chubby-Chic Quilted Stool Stands on Its Own Two Feet
Sam Klemick's cool stool is edgy, cozy and environmentally sustainable all at once.
Riotous Shapes and Colors Have Made Uchronia’s Designs the Toast of Paris
Julien Sebban’s energetic design collective is radically reshaping the look of 21st-century European furniture and interiors.
Is Lionel Jadot the Willy Wonka of Upcycled Belgian Design?
From his massive collaborative workshop in a former paper factory, the designer concocts funky furniture from disused materials, as well as luxe hotel interiors like the new Mix Brussels.
Rock Your Cares Away on This Sunny Hand-Crocheted Swing
The boho-chic Enchanted Forest Swing, handmade by marginalized women from Turkey and Syria, is uplifting in every way.
Learn Why Designer Maarten Baas Set This Charles Rennie Mackintosh Chair on Fire
What happens when you do something to a piece of furniture that you shouldn’t? It becomes an entirely new object.
Eileen Gray’s Famed Cliffside Villa in the South of France Is Returned to Its Modernist Glory
After years of diligent restoration, E-1027, the designer-cum-architect’s marriage of romance and modernism, is finally complete.