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.
American Rustic Adirondack Twig Loveseat
Located in Queens, NY
American rustic adirondack barked "cockpen" design loveseat of twig & root construction with split twig arms & seat (New York State, late 19th/20th Cent).
Twig
American Rustic Adirondack Bark Loveseat
Located in Queens, NY
American Rustic Adirondack loveseat of bent willow, twig & root construction with double arched barked splat back & seat (19th Cent)
Willow, Twig
Fuyu Armless Chair, Loveseat
By LAGU
Located in İSTANBUL, TR
With its unique design, FUYU armchair brings together the wide seating and naturalness that you cannot find in other single sofas… Measures: Length: 47.2'' / Depth: 53.2'' / Height: 35.4'' / Seat Height: 17.7'' Weight: 41.6 kg -Spring upholstery -32 DNS HR Foam -1st grade alder frame. UPHOLSTERED PRODUCT USE AND CARE Dry clean your product and refer to the sales form for special care instructions. Call us for re-upholstery of your product. When choosing your fabric, submit your flammability certificate request. Avoid using upholstery...
Fabric, Bouclé, Cotton, Upholstery, Foam, Hardwood
Garden Patio Park Loveseat Bench of Strap Steel and Wrought Iron
By Fiske Or Mott
Located in New York, NY
Charming garden, patio, or park loveseat size bench of wrought iron and strap steel. This example is in very good estate condition, sturdy, s and solid, showing only cosmetic wear t...
Wrought Iron
American Victorian Wicker Loveseat
By Larkin & Co.
Located in Southampton, NJ
Antique American Victorian natural wicker high back loveseat with spindles and bobbins on back and apron. New custom cushion upholstered in art N...
Brass
Pair of Westport Style Adirondack Chairs
By Harry Bunnell
Located in Atlanta, GA
Pair of Westport style Adirondack chairs, circa 2000s. We had these chairs custom made for a client based on the Westport chair, which was originally designed by Thomas Lee in 1903 f...
Wood, Oak
Vintage Italian "Cloud" Loveseat
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Fabulous vintage suede "Cloud" loveseat made in Italy, circa 1970s. This loveseat is wrapped by a padded edge that makes it look even more like a cloud, it h...
Suede, Wood
Dedon Orbit XXL Loveseat
By Richard Frinier, DEDON
Located in NYC, NY
Electrostatic powder-coated in a sand color. The canopy material is 100% polyacrylic, with Teflon impregnation; it is dirt-, grease-, and water-repellant, with excellent sun protecti...
Aluminum
Wrought Iron Garden Patio Poolside Settee Loveseat Bench by Salterini
By Salterini, Woodard Furniture Co.
Located in New York, NY
Chic wrought iron garden, patio, poolside loveseat, bench, sofa by Salterini. The sofa is in very good original condition, showing only light cosmetic wear, normal and consistent wit...
Wrought Iron
$3,850 / set
H 31.5 in W 41 in D 21 in
Outdoor Settee / Sofa and Pair of Chairs 'One Rocker' by John Salterini
Located in Kansas City, MO
John Salterini outdoor, patio, loveseat and pair of chairs, one being a rocking chair. Very comfortable and stylish. There are several layers of white paint on the pieces, but they s...
Steel, Wrought Iron
$11,200
H 41 in W 35 in D 47 in
Modern Contemporary Outdoor Minimalist White Bird Chair in Recycled Metal
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Bird Chair's abstracted bird profile carries connotations of flight; in side view, the biophilic outdoor loveseat resembles a bird in flight. It provides a sculptural focus point for the garden, encouraging indoor/outdoor living. This aluminum outdoor daybed comfortably holds two people on a single narrow spine or foot. The generously sized lounge chair supports the body for outdoor lounging and comfort. It is also perfect for working on the laptop or reading to your child under the shade of a tree. It is accompanied with a removable water proof round head pillow, covered with Sumbrella outdoor fabric. The bed cannot be damaged or stolen, as it is durable and embedded in its territory. The day lounger is made of 3/8" thick anodized metal or glossy powder-coated recycled metal...
Aluminum
Minimalist Outdoor Lounge Chair, Brazilian Design
By SIMONINI
Located in Vila Cordeiro, São Paulo
This outdoor lounge chair or armchair, the multi-finish structure is combined with outdoor fabrics such as the Batyline to create an interesting outdoor solution. Bellow the full Skyfolding collection concept: Skyfolding In-Outdoor collection, the collection concept is inspired by the asian building scaffoldings, where a structure is composed by bamboo sticks crossed to create this inspiring and fascinating structures. We combined elements of this structures and also references from the ballet stretching bars that often combine metal and wood, this combo is the concept very soul. All the figurative elements are abstracted in the design process to extract the precise best of each world, and by then resulting in a collection of delicate objects, cult and curated to the minimum details, in design and engeneering. The collection is composed by outdoor net, batyline or plastic, in a portion leaving room to a more soft design approach that is harmonious, this elements are combined to a structure made of wood and metal that transcends to tech and soft, a paradigm of past, present and future that invite all the viewers to contemplate and reflect in this philosophical matters in a tactile and visual way. Resulting is a essencial and timeless set of objects...
Metal
Biedermeier Loveseat
Located in Pompano Beach, FL
Biedermeier loveseat in walnut, rootwood and ebony with brass fittings. Navy blue upholstery with silver floral pattern.
Brass
Soy Una Roca, Sculptural Concrete Seat by OPIARY
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Opiary is a Brooklyn-based biophilic design and production studio. We integrate nature in each of our designs, incorporating live greenery and organic shapes into bespoke furniture, planters, and sculpture. Through the ethos of biophilia, our work reflects the shifting, yet timeless relationship between humans and nature. Soy Una Roca...
Concrete
Vermont Tubbs Caned Snowshoe Bench Settee
Located in Southampton, NJ
Classic Adirondack Vermont Tubes bent oak two seat bench settee with new custom cushions upholstered in vintage new stock blue & white striped linen. Seldom seen caned construction Signed.
Linen, Oak, Cane
Sold
H 27 in W 50 in D 35 in
Signed Ficks Reed Bamboo Campaign Loveseat John Wisner Far Horizons Collection
Located in West Hartford, CT
A coveted vintage Campaign style loveseat made by Ficks Reed and designed by John Wisner, circa 1954. Stout rattan and bamboo frame with a beautiful raffia seat back. Handsome solid metal accents mark the arms. Fabulous design, quality and craftsmanship-aged to absolute perfection. This unusual piece was part of the "Far Horizons Collection" produced by long time Ficks Reed designer John Wisner. The series was introduced in 1954. The piece is in very good condition and the fabric is original so could probably be reupholstered if you so desired. Please note we also have the matching set of Campaign chairs and the Pagoda coffee table...
Fabric, Rattan, Hardwood
2 Rustic Adirondack Root Loveseat
Located in Queens, NY
2 Similar Rustic Adirondack style (20th Cent) root loveseats with shaped filigree design back and arms with plank seat (PRICED EACH).
Wood