Seating
1920s Austrian Art Nouveau Vintage Seating
Velvet, Beech
Early 1900s Austrian Art Nouveau Antique Seating
Brass
1920s Austrian Art Nouveau Vintage Seating
Bentwood
Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Seating
Upholstery, Walnut
Early 1900s Austrian Jugendstil Antique Seating
Wood
1880s Austrian Jugendstil Antique Seating
Fabric, Beech
Early 1900s Swedish Art Nouveau Antique Seating
Mahogany
Early 20th Century Unknown Art Nouveau Seating
Wrought Iron
1760s Swedish Rococo Antique Seating
Birch
19th Century Scandinavian Rococo Antique Seating
Upholstery, Wood
Early 19th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Antique Seating
Brass
1890s British Art Nouveau Antique Seating
Textile, Wood
Early 1900s Italian Art Nouveau Antique Seating
Wood
Late 20th Century Italian Rococo Seating
Velvet, Fruitwood
Late 19th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Antique Seating
Bentwood
Mid-20th Century German Art Nouveau Seating
Leather, Beech
Early 20th Century Czech Art Nouveau Seating
Leather, Bentwood
20th Century Unknown Art Nouveau Seating
Walnut
Late 18th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Seating
Pine, Paint
2010s Spanish Jugendstil Seating
Oak
1930s American Art Nouveau Vintage Seating
Iron
Mid-20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Seating
Cane, Bentwood
Early 20th Century European Rococo Seating
Fabric, Linen, Upholstery, Wood
Early 20th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Seating
Beech
1940s Swedish Art Nouveau Vintage Seating
Fabric, Beech
2010s Asian Art Nouveau Seating
Bentwood, Paint
Early 1900s German Art Nouveau Antique Seating
Oak
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Art Nouveau Seating
Oak
1910s Austrian Art Nouveau Vintage Seating
Bentwood
1930s Italian Art Nouveau Vintage Seating
Bamboo
1750s Italian Rococo Antique Seating
Leather, Walnut
Late 19th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Antique Seating
Bentwood
Mid-18th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Seating
Early 20th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Seating
Bentwood
Mid-20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Seating
Upholstery
18th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Seating
Wood
Early 20th Century Polish Art Nouveau Seating
Wood, Beech
Early 20th Century German Rococo Seating
Antler, Upholstery
Mid-18th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Seating
Pine
20th Century French Art Nouveau Seating
Iron
Early 1900s Italian Art Nouveau Antique Seating
Fir
Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Antique Seating
Mahogany, Upholstery
Early 20th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Seating
Beech
Early 20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Seating
Wicker, Wood
20th Century French Art Nouveau Seating
Fabric, Upholstery, Wood, Mahogany
Early 20th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Seating
Bentwood
Mid-18th Century French Rococo Antique Seating
Leather, Wood
18th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Seating
Wood
Early 20th Century Spanish Art Nouveau Seating
Velvet, Wood
Early 1900s Austrian Art Nouveau Antique Seating
Wood
Early 20th Century Italian Rococo Seating
Fabric, Wood
18th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Seating
Wood, Paint
Early 1900s German Jugendstil Antique Seating
Leather, Wood
Early 1900s Czech Art Nouveau Antique Seating
1950s Italian Art Nouveau Vintage Seating
Leather, Poplar
Early 20th Century Austrian Jugendstil Seating
Fabric, Beech, Bentwood
1930s Spanish Art Nouveau Vintage Seating
Iron
1910s French Art Nouveau Vintage Seating
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.