Seating
Mid-19th Century European Folk Art Antique Seating
Rush, Birch
Late 19th Century Italian Rococo Antique Seating
Velvet, Poplar, Giltwood
Late 19th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Antique Seating
Leather, Bentwood
Early 20th Century Czech Art Nouveau Seating
Bentwood
1910s Swedish Jugendstil Vintage Seating
Fabric, Oak
1890s Austrian Jugendstil Antique Seating
Birch
1980s Italian Art Nouveau Vintage Seating
Velvet, Wood
Late 19th Century American Folk Art Antique Seating
Horn, Wool, Wood
18th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Seating
Upholstery, Wood
19th Century Swedish Art Nouveau Antique Seating
Giltwood
Early 20th Century Spanish Art Nouveau Seating
Wood
Late 18th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Seating
Pine
Early 20th Century European Art Nouveau Seating
Cane, Beech, Bentwood
19th Century Italian Rococo Antique Seating
Upholstery, Walnut
Early 20th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Seating
Fabric, Bentwood
21st Century and Contemporary Czech Art Nouveau Seating
Beech
1930s Danish Baroque Vintage Seating
Oak
1930s Italian Baroque Vintage Seating
Wood, Lacquer
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Art Nouveau Seating
Oak
1950s American Folk Art Vintage Seating
Leather
Mid-19th Century Swedish Folk Art Antique Seating
Linen, Pine, Paint
17th Century Italian Baroque Antique Seating
Bronze, Wrought Iron
Mid-20th Century Egyptian Folk Art Seating
Brass
Early 1900s Austrian Jugendstil Antique Seating
Beech, Leather, Bentwood
2010s American Folk Art Seating
Walnut, Oak
Early 20th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Seating
Bentwood
19th Century Art Nouveau Antique Seating
Fabric, Mahogany
Early 1900s Austrian Jugendstil Antique Seating
Fabric, Beech
1930s Italian Art Nouveau Vintage Seating
Bentwood
20th Century Polish Art Nouveau Seating
Cane, Bentwood
Early 18th Century Swiss Folk Art Antique Seating
Pine, Wood
20th Century Unknown Folk Art Seating
Wood
Early 20th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Seating
Rattan, Elm
1890s French Art Nouveau Antique Seating
Oak, Sycamore
Late 19th Century European Folk Art Antique Seating
Oak
19th Century European Baroque Antique Seating
Leather, Walnut
1890s Austrian Art Nouveau Antique Seating
Bentwood
1690s Swedish Folk Art Antique Seating
Pine
Late 19th Century Italian Rococo Antique Seating
Metal
Late 19th Century Finnish Folk Art Antique Seating
Pine
1920s Czech Art Nouveau Vintage Seating
Metal
Mid-18th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Seating
Textile, Upholstery, Walnut
1680s Italian Baroque Antique Seating
Velvet, Walnut
Early 20th Century Swedish Art Nouveau Seating
Mahogany
Early 19th Century Italian Rococo Antique Seating
Wood
Early 20th Century Art Nouveau Seating
Cane, Bentwood
Mid-20th Century French Art Nouveau Seating
Metal
Early 1900s German Art Nouveau Antique Seating
Wood
Mid-20th Century Art Nouveau Seating
Walnut, Cotton
1880s Swedish Folk Art Antique Seating
Pine
18th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Seating
Paint, Wood
18th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Seating
Upholstery, Walnut
Early 20th Century Hungarian Folk Art Seating
Pine, Paint
1980s Spanish Rococo Vintage Seating
Wood
Late 19th Century Italian Art Nouveau Antique Seating
Walnut
1910s Danish Art Nouveau Vintage Seating
Leather, Pine
20th Century French Art Nouveau Seating
Upholstery, Wood, Velvet
1920s Austrian Art Nouveau Vintage Seating
Wood
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.