Seating
1920s Austrian Art Nouveau Vintage Seating
Bentwood
Late 19th Century American Art Nouveau Antique Seating
Steel
Early 20th Century Austrian Jugendstil Seating
Straw, Wood
1960s Italian Art Nouveau Vintage Seating
Cane, Bentwood
Early 20th Century Austrian Jugendstil Seating
Beech
1930s Italian Art Nouveau Vintage Seating
Bamboo
Early 20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Seating
Cane, Bentwood
Early 20th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Seating
Wood, Bentwood
Early 1900s Swedish Art Nouveau Antique Seating
Fabric, Birch
1890s Austrian Art Nouveau Antique Seating
Wood
1960s Croatian Art Nouveau Vintage Seating
Cane, Beech
2010s Spanish Jugendstil Seating
Oak
Early 20th Century Polish Art Nouveau Seating
Wood, Beech
1910s Austrian Jugendstil Vintage Seating
Beech, Bentwood
Early 20th Century Unknown Art Nouveau Seating
Wrought Iron
Early 20th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Seating
Bentwood
1940s Swedish Art Nouveau Vintage Seating
Fabric, Beech
Mid-19th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Antique Seating
Beech, Bentwood
Early 1900s Italian Art Nouveau Antique Seating
Fir
1910s French Art Nouveau Vintage Seating
Early 20th Century Austrian Jugendstil Seating
Bentwood
1890s Art Nouveau Antique Seating
Bentwood
1890s French Art Nouveau Antique Seating
Oak, Sycamore
20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Seating
Sheepskin, Wood
1940s Unknown Art Nouveau Vintage Seating
Upholstery, Wood
1930s American Art Nouveau Vintage Seating
Iron
Late 19th Century French Art Nouveau Antique Seating
Upholstery, Walnut
19th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Antique Seating
Rattan, Bentwood, Cane
1940s Art Nouveau Vintage Seating
Walnut
1940s Austrian Art Nouveau Vintage Seating
Beech
2010s Spanish Jugendstil Seating
Oak
1910s Austrian Jugendstil Vintage Seating
Beech
Early 20th Century Czech Art Nouveau Seating
Leather, Bentwood
Early 1900s Austrian Art Nouveau Antique Seating
Reed, Beech
1920s Italian Art Nouveau Vintage Seating
Wicker, Rattan
Early 20th Century Art Nouveau Seating
Cane, Bentwood
Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Antique Seating
Bamboo, Cane
Early 1900s Austrian Art Nouveau Antique Seating
Wood
Early 20th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Seating
Bentwood
Early 1900s Brazilian Art Nouveau Antique Seating
Jacaranda
Mid-20th Century American Rococo Revival Seating
Wrought Iron
Early 20th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Seating
Fabric, Bentwood
Early 20th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Seating
Brass
1860s Italian Rococo Revival Antique Seating
Gold Leaf
1930s Spanish Art Nouveau Vintage Seating
Iron
Late 19th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Antique Seating
Bentwood
1890s Austrian Art Nouveau Antique Seating
Beech, Bentwood
2010s Spanish Jugendstil Seating
Oak
20th Century Art Nouveau Seating
Wood
Late 19th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Antique Seating
Bentwood
Mid-19th Century French Rococo Revival Antique Seating
Fabric, Wood
Early 20th Century Swedish Jugendstil Seating
Mother-of-Pearl, Upholstery, Birch, Ebony, Mahogany
Mid-20th Century Unknown Art Nouveau Seating
Wrought Iron
2010s Spanish Jugendstil Seating
Oak
Early 1900s German Jugendstil Antique Seating
Leather, Wood
20th Century French Art Nouveau Seating
Textile, Mahogany
1890s Danish Rococo Revival Antique Seating
Wood
20th Century French Art Nouveau Seating
Wood, Fabric, Upholstery, Walnut
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.