Chairs
Early 1900s William IV Antique Chairs
Mahogany
Early 2000s Indonesian Organic Modern Chairs
Stone
Early 2000s European Modern Chairs
Birch
Early 1900s Irish Gothic Revival Antique Chairs
Leather, Oak
Early 2000s Indonesian Organic Modern Chairs
Palmwood
Early 2000s Italian Chairs
Metal
Early 1900s Antique Chairs
Straw, Wood
Early 1900s English Arts and Crafts Antique Chairs
Rush, Ash
Early 2000s Italian Modern Chairs
Leather
Early 2000s Italian Chairs
Epoxy Resin
Early 1900s Austrian Art Nouveau Antique Chairs
Cane, Beech, Bentwood
Early 1900s French Arts and Crafts Antique Chairs
Fabric, Wood
Early 2000s Dutch Chairs
Metal
Early 1900s Italian Art Nouveau Antique Chairs
Velvet, Wood
Early 1900s Austrian Jugendstil Antique Chairs
Fabric, Beech
Early 2000s American Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Bouclé
Early 1900s French Louis XVI Antique Chairs
Leather, Walnut
Early 1900s Austrian Art Nouveau Antique Chairs
Plywood
Early 2000s Italian Chairs
Velvet
Early 2000s British Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Steel
Early 2000s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Chrome
Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Antique Chairs
Wood
Early 1900s American Late Victorian Antique Chairs
Wicker
Early 2000s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Chrome
Early 2000s American Modern Chairs
Steel
Early 2000s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Birch
Early 1900s English Late Victorian Antique Chairs
Fabric, Oak
Early 2000s Italian Modern Chairs
Aluminum
Early 2000s Italian Chairs
Epoxy Resin
Early 1900s Hungarian Biedermeier Antique Chairs
Fabric, Wood
Early 1900s Austrian Vienna Secession Antique Chairs
Wood
Early 2000s German Chairs
Resin
Early 2000s Danish Scandinavian Modern Chairs
Steel, Chrome
Early 2000s Italian Modern Chairs
Plexiglass
Early 1900s Antique Chairs
Wood
Early 1900s Norwegian Louis Philippe Antique Chairs
Beech
Early 1900s Austrian Belle Époque Antique Chairs
Wood, Fabric
Early 2000s Chairs
Resin
Early 2000s French Post-Modern Chairs
Leather, Resin
Early 2000s Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Stainless Steel
Early 2000s Danish Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Steel
Early 1900s Austrian Art Nouveau Antique Chairs
Bentwood
Early 1900s Hepplewhite Antique Chairs
Mahogany
Early 2000s American Chairs
Paper
Early 2000s Danish Chairs
Fabric, Wood
Early 2000s Danish Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Metal
Early 1900s Norwegian Biedermeier Antique Chairs
Walnut
Early 1900s Italian Romantic Antique Chairs
Straw, Wood
Early 2000s Dutch Chairs
Plastic
Early 1900s French Louis XV Antique Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
Early 2000s Danish Modern Chairs
Leather, Oak
Early 2000s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Plastic
Early 2000s French Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Metal
Early 1900s American American Craftsman Antique Chairs
Upholstery, Wood, Oak
Early 2000s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Wood, Lacquer
Early 1900s Polish Romantic Antique Chairs
Straw, Wood, Beech
Early 1900s Norwegian Antique Chairs
Walnut
Early 1900s Italian Antique Chairs
Rattan
Shop Antique and Vintage Chairs on 1stDibs: Lounge Chairs, Dining Chairs and Other Seating for Sale
Chairs are an indispensable component of your home and office. Can you imagine your life without the vintage, new or antique chairs you love?
With the exception of rocking chairs, the majority of the seating in our homes today — Windsor chairs, chaise longues, wingback chairs — originated in either England or France. Art Nouveau chairs, the style of which also originated in those regions, embraced the inherent magnificence of the natural world with decorative flourishes and refined designs that blended both curved and geometric contour lines. While craftsmanship and styles have evolved in the past century, chairs have had a singular significance in our lives, no matter what your favorite chair looks like.
“The chair is the piece of furniture that is closest to human beings,” said Hans Wegner. The revered Danish cabinetmaker and furniture designer was prolific, having designed nearly 500 chairs over the course of his lifetime. His beloved designs include the Wishbone chair, the wingback Papa Bear chair and many more.
Other designers of Scandinavian modernist chairs introduced new dynamics to this staple with sculptural flowing lines, curvaceous shapes and efficient functionality. The Paimio armchair, Swan chair and Panton chair are vintage works of Finnish and Danish seating that left an indelible mark on the history of good furniture design.
“What works good is better than what looks good, because what works good lasts,” said Ray Eames.
Visionary polymaths Ray and Charles Eames experimented with bent plywood and fiberglass with the goal of producing affordable furniture for a mass market. Like other celebrated mid-century modern furniture designers of elegant low-profile furnishings — among them Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Finn Juhl — the Eameses considered ergonomic support, durability and cost, all of which should be top of mind when shopping for the perfect chair. The mid-century years yielded many popular chairs.
The Eameses introduced numerous icons for manufacturer Herman Miller, such as the Eames lounge chair and ottoman, molded plywood dining chairs the DCM and DCW (which can be artfully mismatched around your dining table) and a wealth of other treasured pieces for the home and office.
A good chair anchors us to a place and can become an object of timeless appeal. Take a seat and browse the rich variety of vintage, new and antique chairs on 1stDibs today.
Read More
The 21 Most Popular Mid-Century Modern Chairs
You know the designs, now get the stories about how they came to be.
Is Lionel Jadot the Willy Wonka of Upcycled Belgian Design?
From his massive collaborative workshop in a former paper factory, the designer concocts funky furniture from disused materials, as well as luxe hotel interiors like the new Mix Brussels.
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.
Kaleidoscopic Upholstery Makes This Edward Wormley Chair a Showstopper
What at first glance seems an unusual choice jibes perfectly with the designer's aesthetic.
Design Icon Ilse Crawford on Her Colorful New Hans Wegner Chairs
If anyone is brave, humble and adept enough to recolor these mid-century masterpieces, it’s Ilse Crawford. Here, she gives us the details on her five earthy paint choices and tells us how she feels about design collaborations.
How to Reupholster a Chair
Want to update an old chair that still has good bones? We spoke to experts to find out how they approach reupholstering antique furniture.
How to Spot Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI Chairs
A field guide for anyone who wants to brush up on their knowledge of French antiques
The Ball Chair, Eero Aarnio’s Space Age Masterpiece, Was Almost Never Made
Now considered emblematic of 1960s mod aesthetics, the Finnish designer's famous creation was far from an overnight success.