Seating
Mid-19th Century French Louis XV Antique Seating
Silk, Wood
19th Century British Rustic Antique Seating
Wood
1810s German Biedermeier Antique Seating
Fruitwood
Late 19th Century French Louis XIV Antique Seating
Upholstery, Velvet, Walnut
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Seating
Pine
Early 19th Century Swedish Empire Antique Seating
Birch
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Seating
Silk, Upholstery, Wood
19th Century Swedish Antique Seating
Hemp, Wood
Late 19th Century French Empire Antique Seating
Walnut
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Seating
Nutwood
Mid-19th Century French Louis XV Antique Seating
Giltwood
19th Century Belgian Antique Seating
Wood
Late 19th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Seating
Linen, Wood, Paint
Late 19th Century American Victorian Antique Seating
Wicker
1880s English Aesthetic Movement Antique Seating
Beech
1780s English Georgian Antique Seating
Upholstery, Giltwood
19th Century English Rustic Antique Seating
Wood
Mid-19th Century French Louis XV Antique Seating
Fabric, Giltwood
1780s French Antique Seating
Beech
Early 19th Century Russian Neoclassical Antique Seating
Giltwood
Late 19th Century English Late Victorian Antique Seating
Hardwood
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Seating
Damask, Giltwood
19th Century English Victorian Antique Seating
Other
1870s English Aesthetic Movement Antique Seating
Satinwood
Late 19th Century American Antique Seating
Wicker
1880s Victorian Antique Seating
Wood
Late 19th Century Hungarian Country Antique Seating
Pine
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Seating
Giltwood
19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Antique Seating
Upholstery, Burl
Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Seating
Pine
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Seating
Cane, Wood, Paint
Late 19th Century Chinese Qing Antique Seating
Hardwood
Mid-19th Century American American Colonial Antique Seating
Wood, Paint
1870s French Napoleon III Antique Seating
Fabric, Velvet, Wood
1880s English Late Victorian Antique Seating
Upholstery, Mahogany
19th Century Brazilian Antique Seating
Wood
19th Century Central American Antique Seating
Velvet, Wood, Mahogany
1830s English William IV Antique Seating
Upholstery, Rosewood
Late 19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Antique Seating
Birch
Early 1800s Georgian Antique Seating
Cowhide, Leather
Mid-19th Century Chinese Qing Antique Seating
Hardwood
Early 19th Century English Folk Art Antique Seating
Elm, Yew
Mid-19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Antique Seating
Birch
1880s Arts and Crafts Antique Seating
Oak
1760s Antique Seating
Mahogany
Early 19th Century English Early Victorian Antique Seating
Ash, Birch
Late 19th Century French Gothic Revival Antique Seating
Oak
Mid-19th Century Swedish Empire Antique Seating
Tapestry, Birch
19th Century English Other Antique Seating
Textile, Oak
Mid-19th Century English Victorian Antique Seating
Wool, Beech
19th Century Antique Seating
Paint
Late 19th Century French French Provincial Antique Seating
Tapestry, Walnut
Mid-19th Century Swedish Folk Art Antique Seating
Pine, Paint
1810s British Regency Antique Seating
Bronze
Late 18th Century Chinese Qing Antique Seating
Bamboo, Elm
Late 19th Century Georgian Antique Seating
Brass
17th Century Spanish Antique Seating
Wood
17th Century British Charles II Antique Seating
Oak
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.
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This Chubby-Chic Quilted Stool Stands on Its Own Two Feet
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Is Lionel Jadot the Willy Wonka of Upcycled Belgian Design?
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Rock Your Cares Away on This Sunny Hand-Crocheted Swing
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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.
Light and Dwell Brings Elegance and Ease to an Oregon Wine Country Estate
Molly Kidd lets her affection for France shine through in a new-build home that has the character of a centuries-old villa but still feels light and fresh.