Seating
1910s Austrian Jugendstil Vintage Seating
Rattan
20th Century Italian Rococo Seating
Velvet, Giltwood
Early 1900s German Jugendstil Antique Seating
Leather, Wood
Early 20th Century Czech Art Nouveau Seating
Leather, Bentwood
2010s British Art Nouveau Seating
Metal
18th Century Swedish Baroque Antique Seating
Linen, Wood
Early 1900s Austrian Art Nouveau Antique Seating
Reed, Beech
19th Century American Folk Art Antique Seating
Rattan, Wood
Mid-19th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Seating
Wood, Paint
1940s Austrian Art Nouveau Vintage Seating
Beech
1980s Portuguese Rococo Vintage Seating
Brass
Early 20th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Seating
Bentwood
1960s Italian Baroque Vintage Seating
Velvet, Beech
19th Century Swedish Baroque Antique Seating
Wood
1730s European Baroque Antique Seating
Walnut
1920s American Baroque Vintage Seating
Bouclé
Mid-19th Century Portuguese Baroque Antique Seating
Giltwood
Late 19th Century Swedish Folk Art Antique Seating
Pine
Mid-18th Century Swedish Baroque Antique Seating
Pine
Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Antique Seating
Iron
Late 18th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Seating
Pine
20th Century French Art Nouveau Seating
Textile, Mahogany
Early 1900s Italian Art Nouveau Antique Seating
Wood
Mid-19th Century English Folk Art Antique Seating
Elm, Ash
19th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Antique Seating
Rattan, Bentwood, Cane
Mid-18th Century French Rococo Antique Seating
Leather, Walnut
2010s Spanish Jugendstil Seating
Oak
Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Seating
Upholstery, Walnut
Early 20th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Seating
Beech
Early 1900s Austrian Jugendstil Antique Seating
Beech
Early 20th Century Austrian Jugendstil Seating
Leather, Beech
Early 20th Century Italian Baroque Seating
Wood
19th Century Italian Baroque Antique Seating
Faux Leather, Walnut
18th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Seating
Upholstery, Wood
Early 20th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Seating
Brass
1920s German Folk Art Vintage Seating
Wood
19th Century Italian Baroque Antique Seating
Silver Leaf
Mid-20th Century Ghanaian Folk Art Seating
Wood
20th Century Unknown Art Nouveau Seating
Walnut
1880s Austrian Jugendstil Antique Seating
Fabric, Beech
Early 1900s Austrian Art Nouveau Antique Seating
Wood
20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Seating
Sheepskin, Wood
1930s Spanish Art Nouveau Vintage Seating
Iron
17th Century Italian Baroque Antique Seating
Velvet, Walnut
20th Century Italian Rococo Seating
Fabric, Wood
Late 19th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Antique Seating
Bentwood
1940s Art Nouveau Vintage Seating
Walnut
Mid-19th Century Italian Baroque Antique Seating
Walnut
1760s German Baroque Antique Seating
Walnut
1890s Austrian Art Nouveau Antique Seating
Beech, Bentwood
Early 20th Century Unknown Art Nouveau Seating
Wrought Iron
Late 19th Century Italian Baroque Antique Seating
Walnut
Late 18th Century Swedish Folk Art Antique Seating
Pine
19th Century Italian Baroque Antique Seating
Oak
Early 20th Century Austrian Jugendstil Seating
Fabric, Beech, Bentwood
20th Century French Baroque Seating
Walnut
Mid-18th Century Italian Rococo Antique Seating
Wood, Giltwood
Early 20th Century Swedish Jugendstil Seating
Mother-of-Pearl, Upholstery, Birch, Ebony, Mahogany
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.