Evoking rusticity and relaxation through simple and elegant designs, vintage Adirondack furniture originated in the Adirondack Mountains of northeastern New York. The most famous piece is the Adirondack chair, which dates to 1903.
With its ample armrests and sturdy but comfortable slanted seat, the reclined Adirondack chair was designed by Thomas Lee for his own country home. The postwar golden age of modern patio and garden furniture production — led by the likes of Brown Jordan, Knoll, Salterini and Woodard — was decades away at the time, and there were few pieces of furniture specifically created for outdoor use.
Lee, a Massachusetts-born Harvard graduate raised in a wealthy family, was no furniture designer. He merely needed a durable, rugged chair for afternoons in the sun while he was vacationing on Lake Champlain in Westport, New York, in the summer. The amateur woodworker used just one wooden plank cut into 11 segments that were jointed together for his now-legendary seat, which is said to have been made of hemlock, hickory or basswood.
The story of the Adirondack chair continues with Lee’s friend, carpenter Harry Bunnell, covertly patenting the chair and going on to produce it as the Westport Plank chair for a growing audience over the next two decades. Over a century later, the Adirondack chair has gone through several design evolutions while maintaining its popularity and basic form with slats of wood such as pine offering comfort both indoors and out.
The widespread demand for rustic Adirondack outdoor furniture was bolstered by the turn-of-the-century establishment of rural escapes to treat diseases such as tuberculosis. The low-slung Adirondack chair became common in these places of convalescence, allowing patients to recline and breathe in the country air. It also complemented the camp-style architecture that was prevalent in the Adirondacks for recreation as well as restoration, where rugged furniture with exposed wood and minimal carving filled interiors and wide porches.
Today, Adirondack chairs are made in a range of materials and can be found around the world, from ski resorts to lakeside piers, their durability and classic form making them an enduring favorite for spending time in nature.
Find vintage Adirondack chairs, benches, lounge chairs, decorative objects, folk art and other furniture on 1stDibs.
Grand Windsor Chair by Herman de Vries for The Sikes Company of Buffalo
Located in Philadelphia, PA
The Grand Windsor Chair by The Sikes Company of Buffalo designed by Herman de Vries is a timeless piece of furniture that combines elegance and durability. Crafted with expert preci...
Birch
Antique Twig Adirondacks Chair
Located in New York, NY
Antique Twig Adirondacks Chair. Very well made example of a rustic Twig Adirondack style chair. Comfortable to sit in ergonomically, the design...
Twig
Old Hickory Arm Chairs with Patchwork Leather - Set of Four
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This set of Old Hickory Arm chairs are in fine, and in sturdy condition. These chairs were made by the Old Hickory Furniture Company from Martinsville, Indiana. They have been uphols...
Leather, Hickory
18thc New England Ladder Back Armchair
Located in Los Angeles, CA
18th century New England Ladder back armchair with original rush seat. Fantastic undisturbed surface with worn arms. Super comfortable and in nice...
Wood, Cane
$2,895 / set
Old Hickory Chairs in Brown Suede Leather - Pair
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of Old Hickory Chairs newly upholstered in brown suede seats & backing.These amazing barrel back Old Hickory chairs are super comfortable and ...
Suede, Hickory
19Thc English Children's Windsor Arm Chair Carved " Bertram"
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19Thc Hand crafted & carved Children's Windsor captains chair with the name "BERTRAM " carved on the inside back of the crest of the chair. The conditi...
Pine
Rustic Adirondack Ted Fox Fur Bamboo Armchair with Antlers and Teddy Besr
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Vintage real red Fox fur in an bamboo wicker armchair with antlers and cow horns.
Fur, Bamboo
$1,695 / set
Unique Wrought Iron Cane Chairs
Located in Hollywood, FL
What can I tell you?? I don`t know what they are, Who made them or what there called but OMG are they Incredible!
Iron
$6,500 / set
Pair of Faux Antler Armchairs of Carved Wood
Located in Buchanan, MI
Very sculptural handsome pair of Faux Antler armchairs of carved wood.
Iron
$2,300 / set
H 31.5 in W 24 in D 27 in
Modernist Fabric & Chrome Tubular Chairs by Peter Protzman for Herman Miller
By Herman Miller, Peter Protzmann
Located in Buffalo, NY
Peter Protzman’s design career began in Michigan where he spent over 10 years with Herman Miller working alongside such design luminaries as Charles and Ray Eames and George Nelson. While there, he designed the award-winning Tubular Collection of furniture which remained in production for 20 years and is still sought-after by fans of Mid-Century Modern design. These vintage chrome tubular chairs...
Steel, Chrome
$6,400Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 33 in W 25 in D 24 in
Set of Four Eames for Herman Miller Swivel Shell Chairs
By Charles and Ray Eames, Herman Miller
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Dazzling mid-century set of four padded swivel chairs by Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller. The fiberglass shells are upholstered in a rare g...
Steel
Safari Chair in Black Leather Wood Brass
Located in Waalwijk, NL
M. Hayat & Brothers Pakistani, 'Safari' lounge chair, leather, stained wood, brass, Pakistan, 1970s This Safari-inspired armchair exemplifies refined elegance through its meticulou...
Brass
$6,800 / set
H 32 in W 25 in D 24 in
Set of Molded Swiveling Chairs by Charles & Ray Eames for Herman Miller
By Herman Miller, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A vibrant group of swiveling armchairs having organically shaped seats with their expressive original red upholstery floating on lacquered stems rising from early four-pronged bases.
Steel, Aluminum
Set of Six Iron Windsor Chairs by Munder Skiles
By Munder Skiles Co.
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Fantastic set of six spindle back Windsor chairs crafted from iron designed by Munder Skiles. The chair frames are crafted from thick iron that is heavy and solid with excellent join...
Iron
$3,478 / set
H 27.56 in W 43.31 in D 35.44 in
Pair of Vintage Distressed Brown Leather Chesterfield Club Tub Armchairs
Located in Pulborough, GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely pair of Vintage distressed brown leather chesterfield club tub armchairs. A gorgeous pair with buttoned buttons, typical chesterfiel...
Leather
Old Hickory Armchair
Located in New York, NY
Vintage hickory wood armchair from the Old Hickory Company of Martinsville, Indiana. The seat and back are hand woven with the traditional open canework style. This Adirondack chair ...
Cane, Wood
$7,259
H 24.02 in W 21.66 in D 16.93 in
Tobia Scarpa, Set of four Pigreco wooden Chairs for Gavina, Italy (1959)
By Tobia Scarpa, Gavina
Located in Argelato, BO
The Pigreco chair was designed by the famous Italian architect Tobia Scarpa in 1959 for the Gavina company. This is an extremely important work in Scarpa's artistic career, in fact i...
Leather, Wood
Faux Bamboo Directors Chair by Telescope Chair Company
Located in New York, NY
Stylish folding directors chair, by Telescope Furniture. This example has a turned wood faux bamboo frame, and stenciled bamboo motif canvass backrest sling...
Upholstery, Wood
Pair of American Hoopback Windsor Chairs
Located in Chicago, IL
A pair of 20th century American Windsor chairs with continuous hoop backs, saddles seats, turned legs tapering to narrow feet, and their original black painted finishes. Perfect at a...
Wood
$10,768 / set
H 35.83 in W 24.81 in D 21.66 in
Pair of Art Deco Armchairs with Ladder Back Italy 1920s
Located in Berlin, DE
Pair of Art Deco armchairs with solid wood frames with sculptural, wavy openwork backrests. Crafted in solid wood with a warm, aged patina, the chairs combine geometric structure wit...
Leather, Walnut
$7,582
H 43.31 in W 22.05 in D 27.56 in
19thC English Mahogany Wingback Armchair Re-Upholstered in Liberty
Located in Staffordshire, GB
Circa 1870 19thC English Mahogany Wingback Armchair Re-upholstered in Liberty Farina Flowers sku 540 W56 x D70 x H110 cm Seat Height 40 cm
Oak
American Adirondack Style Moose Antler Armchair
Located in Chicago, IL
An audacious homage to classic American wilderness craftsmanship, this 20th century Adirondack-inspired armchair feels plucked from a dream of the North Woods. Its frame—crafted from...
Antler, Wood
Old Hickory Barrel Back Leather Arm Chair
By Old Hickory Furniture Company
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This amazing signed Old Hickory Barrel back chair has a wonderful aged patina and is in very good .sturdy condition.The seat & back are c...
Hickory
Pair of Carved Wood and Rawhide High Back Adirondack Chairs
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Grand, rustic pair of hand-hewn adirondack chairs featuring high backs with leather rawhide seat and back supports. The chairs are crafted from logs and thick branch wood with a natu...
Leather, Fabric, Wood
L & J G Stickley Morris Chair
Located in Dallas, TX
L. & J.G. Stickley Morris Arm Chair. Original antique circa 1905 Morris chair, #470 Fayetteville, New York Oak, upholstery Unsigned Dimensions: 32 In...
Oak
1950s French Cane Back Chairs, Pair
Located in SAINT LOUIS, MO
A gorgeous pair of French chairs, reminiscent of an Adirondack style. We love the caning with the beautiful mahogany.
Cane, Mahogany
Old Hickory Set of Four Armchairs
Located in Los Angeles, CA
These amazing Old Hickory arm chairs from Martinsville, Indiana are made @ The Old Hickory Furniture Company.They are all hand made and hand woven seats and backs.These chairs are in...
Hickory
Set of Four Beautiful Old Hickory Arm Chairs with Leather Seats
By Old Hickory Furniture Company
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Set of six beautiful Old Hickory arm chairs with dark leather seats. The backs are upholstered in a vintage faded print velvet.
Leather, Velvet, Wood, Hickory
Original Painted Twig Chairs with Serape Cushions
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of original orange painted twig folk art chairs. The pair of chairs have vintage serape cushions that are down & feather fill.The condition are ve...
Wool, Wood
Sold
H 33.5 in W 31 in D 23 in
Antique Old Hickory Furniture Rocking Arm Chair No. 21 Rocker Adirondack Lodge
By Old Hickory Furniture Company
Located in Dayton, OH
"Antique circa 1930s #21 rocking chair by Old Hickory Furniture Company of Martinsville, Indiana. Features a primitive Adirondack style with flar...
Rattan, Hardwood
Sold
H 34.5 in W 29.5 in D 28.75 in
Antique Adirondack Old Hickory Oversized Stick Form & Rush Rocker & Chair, C1920
By Old Hickory Furniture Company
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique Adirondack Old Hickory armchair and rocking chair offer stick form construction with woven rush seats and backs, c1920 Measures- chair 34.5''H x 29.5''W x 28.75''D; rocke...
Hickory
Old Hickory Hoop Arm Chair
By Old Hickory Furniture Company
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Old Hickory Hoop arm chair by Old Hickory Furniture Company, Martinsville, Indiana. Circa 1945.
Cane, Hickory
Old Hickory Arm Chairs with Patchwork Leather - Set of Four
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This set of Old Hickory Arm chairs are in fine, and in sturdy condition.These chairs were made by the Old Hickory Furniture Company from Martinsville, Indiana. They have been upholstered in a vintage leather patchwork rug...
Leather, Hickory