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.
$716Sale Price|20% Off
Early 20th C Ottoman Upholstered in a Distressed Leather
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Very Nice Early 20th C ottoman upholstered in a distressed leather.
Leather, Wood
$1,996Sale Price|20% Off
Vintage Blanket Covered Ottoman
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Pendleton Plaid blanket covered beautiful ottoman with wooden George Smith legs and original Brass casters. Great comfort, when you sit on this ottoman you sink in a bit just...
Wool
$1,420Sale Price|20% Off
19thc Suede Top Drum Ottoman
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This fantastic Glendale High School Drum was made into a ottoman with a suede top cushion and feet added to the base. The condition is very good and super sturdy.
Pine
$1,036Sale Price|20% Off
Vintage Velvet Log Cabin Ottoman
Located in Los Angeles, CA
1960' - 1970's velvet log cabin pattern velvet ottoman.
Velvet
$949Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 18.12 in W 18.12 in D 18.12 in
Pair of Oriental Tables From the Early 20th Century
Located in Opole, PL
Pair of oriental tables from the early 20th century Pair of black tables with tops decorated with genre scenes. Both pieces are circa the 1st of the 20th century. The arch-like le...
Wood
Pair of Ted Boerner Burgundy Suede Covered Ottomans
By Ted Boerner
Located in Astoria, NY
Pair of Ted Boerner Intermezzo Ottomans in Burgundy Suede, each with four legs supported by an undertier. 13" H x 28" W x 17" D. Provenance: From a New York City Collection.
Suede, Wood
Mushroom Ottoman in Mustard Boucle
Located in Fairfield, CA
A handmade mushroom shaped ottoman, upholstered in a mustard yellow colored curly boucle fabric. Perfect for using as a footstool or extra occasional seating. A comfortable cushioned...
Fabric
Mushroom Ottoman in Orchid Boucle
Located in Fairfield, CA
A handmade mushroom shaped ottoman, upholstered in an orchid colored curly boucle fabric. Orchid is a muted purple color. Perfect for using as a footstool or extra occasional seating...
Fabric
Antique 19th Century American Empire Ottoman
Located in Sheffield, MA
Antique 19th century American Victorian Empire box seat ottoman or stool featuring large crotch flame mahogany wood veneer with rolling casters. The ottoman has a large size seat mak...
Mahogany
Mushroom Ottoman in Denim Boucle
Located in Fairfield, CA
A handmade mushroom shaped ottoman, upholstered in a denim blue colored curly boucle fabric. Perfect for using as a footstool or extra occasional seating. A comfortable cushioned sea...
Fabric
$2,100 / item
H 17 in Dm 20.5 in
Hollywood Regency Round Tiger Print Velvet Upholstered Ottoman or Foot Stool
By Scalamandre
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A stunning Hollywood Regency style hand crafted ottoman, covered in rich le Tigre velvet. Round in form, each stool is created by hand by our in house craftsman, and covered in a thi...
Fabric, Foam, Wood
Mushroom Ottoman in Persimmon Boucle
Located in Fairfield, CA
A handmade mushroom shaped ottoman, upholstered in a red-orange colored curly boucle fabric. Perfect for using as a footstool or extra occasional seating. A comfortable cushioned sea...
Fabric
Mushroom Ottoman in Taupe Boucle
Located in Fairfield, CA
A handmade mushroom shaped ottoman, upholstered in a taupe colored curly boucle fabric. Perfect for using as a footstool or extra occasional seating...
Fabric
Large Late 19th Early / 20th Century Italian Ottoman
Located in Hudson, NY
This tall substantial ottoman was made in Italy in the late 19th to early 20th century. Carved from walnut entirely and showing design elements of the late baroque the stool is painted and the finish is distressed consistent with age and use but is strong and sturdy with a new simple decorative upholstery completed with decorative tape to the top and brass tacks to round out the architectural styling. The carved fruit basket...
Walnut
Vintage 1960s Danish Rosewood & Mohair Velvet Ottomans
Located in London, England
Spottrup Mobler - Upholstered Stools, c1960 A pair of classic stools produced by Spottrup Mobler in The frames are made from exquisite rosewood that has been refinished by our team ...
Rosewood
Traditional Rust Cut-Velvet Tufted Ottoman
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Traditional Rust Cut-Velvet Tufted Upholstered Ottoman Rectangular, the lower part with a fringe skirt. Height 17 in. (43.18 cm.), Width 4...
Velvet
Leather & Hand Woven Rush Seat Ottoman
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This fine hand made ottoman has a hand woven rush seat with a custom made vintage leather cushion seat. This ottoman is so comfortable as a seat or sid...
Pine
Early 20th Century Ottoman with New Leather Upholstered Top
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This amazing handmade early 20th century pine frame ottoman has a amazing newly upholstered seat in Fine thick tan leather. The quality of the leather is faantastic !!!
Wood, Leather
Horn Ottoman with Deer Skin Hide
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This folky handmade ottoman is more of a midcentury piece in fantastic condition Very strong and sturdy condition.
Hide
Mouth Watering Ralph Lauren Leather and Kilim Club Chair and Ottoman
By Ralph Lauren
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Destined to be everybody's favorite chair and ottoman set, having gorgeous distressed supple leather with rich kilim rug upholstered elements. Measures: Ottoman 33 inches W, 25 D, 2...
Leather, Textile