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Neoclassical Side Chairs

NEOCLASSICAL STYLE

Neoclassical design emerged in Europe in the 1750s, as the Age of Enlightenment reached full flower. Neoclassical furniture took its cues from the styles of ancient Rome and Athens: symmetrical, ordered, dignified forms with such details as tapered and fluted chair and table legs, backrest finials and scrolled arms.

Over a period of some 20 years, first in France and later in Britain, neoclassical design — also known as Louis XVI, or Louis Seize — would supersede the lithe and curvaceous Rococo or Louis XV style.

The first half of the 18th century had seen a rebirth of interest in classical antiquity. The "Grand Tour" of Europe, codified as a part of the proper education of a patrician gentleman, included an extended visit to Rome. Some ventured further, to sketch the ruins of ancient Greece. These drawings and others — particularly those derived from the surprising and rich archaeological discoveries in the 1730s and ’40s at the sites of the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum — caused great excitement among intellectuals and aesthetes alike.

Neoclassical furniture is meant to reflect both grace and power. The overall appearance of neoclassical chairs, tables and cabinetry is strong and rectilinear. These pieces are, in effect, classical architecture in miniature: chair and table legs are shaped like columns; cabinets are constructed with elements that mirror friezes and pediments.

Yet neoclassicism is enlivened by gilt and silver leaf, marquetry, and carved and applied ornamental motifs based on Greek and Roman sculpture: acanthus leaves, garlands, laurel wreaths, sheaves of arrow, medallions and chair splats are carved in the shapes of lyres and urns. Ormolu — or elaborate bronze gilding — was essential to French design in the 18th and 19th centuries as a cornerstone of the neoclassical and Empire styles.

As you can see from the furniture on these pages, there is a bit of whimsy in such stately pieces — a touch of lightness that will always keep neoclassicism fresh.

Find antique neoclassical furniture today on 1stDibs.

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Style: Neoclassical
Pair of Swedish Neoclassical Style Klismos Painted and Carved Side Chairs
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of Swedish neoclassical style painted wood Klismos side chairs from the 20th century, with carved décor, rosettes, saber legs, low seats and simple black upholstery. Created i...
Category

20th Century Swedish Neoclassical Side Chairs

Materials

Upholstery, Wood

French Neoclassical Maison Jansen Iron and Bronze Folding Garden or Side Chair
Located in Stamford, CT
1950's French neoclassical Maison Jansen style lyre backed folding iron side chair with bronze swan finials and paw feet and upholstered seat. This Classic form is the height of eleg...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Neoclassical Side Chairs

Materials

Bronze, Iron

Pair of Bordeaux Velvet + Gilded Iron Sculptural Side Chairs, 20th Century
Located in Chicago, IL
A pair of vintage sculptural side chairs featuring intricate gilded iron frames with high backs and elegant scroll motifs. Rich, bordeaux hued velvet upholstery beautifully complemen...
Category

20th Century Neoclassical Side Chairs

Materials

Iron

Gilt Brass Chiavari Chair Neoclassical Style
Located in Hanover, MA
Neoclassical style gilt brass Chiavari chair with original claret red velvet upholstery, circa 1955. The brass has a gilt wash or gold plating giving it an extra rich and refinied ap...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Neoclassical Side Chairs

Materials

Brass

Set of Four Italian 1820s Neoclassical Dining Room Chairs with Carved Splats
Located in Atlanta, GA
A set of four Italian neoclassical walnut dining room side chairs from the early 19th century, with carved splat, fluted legs and new upholstery. Born in Italy during the first quart...
Category

Early 19th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs

Materials

Upholstery, Walnut

Pair of Italian Neo-Classic Black Painted & Gilt Upholstered Dining Side Chairs
Located in New York, NY
PAIR of Italian Neo-Classic (18th Century) black painted side chairs with curved backs and rectangular tops carved in a two-wreathed swag reserve, trimmed and highlighted in gold, t...
Category

18th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs

Materials

Giltwood

Early Brass Charivari Chair, Italy 1930's
Located in New York, NY
A very early Charivari chair, it is made of cast hollow brass elements silver welded together unlike the later solid brass ones, more unusual is its pierced brass seat, most likely m...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Neoclassical Side Chairs

Materials

Brass

Michael Taylor Teak Klismos Chair
Located in San Francisco, CA
Michael Taylor was a iconic interior designer, and also designed a number of pieces of furniture. The Klismos design dates back to Ancient Egyptian chairs as well as Ancient Greek. ...
Category

Early 2000s American Neoclassical Side Chairs

Materials

Teak

Set of Four Italian 1790s Neoclassical Period Music Chairs with Gilded Trellis
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Set of four Italian Neoclassical period painted wooden music chairs from the late 18th century with new upholstery. Each chair features a curved back, delicately accented by volute...
Category

Late 18th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs

Materials

Wood

1960s Italian Pair Of Lacquered Armchairs
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Spectacular, 1960s pair of Italian lacquered armchairs with velvet seats. The chairs have been professionally lacquered in an off-white color-way and the seats have been reupholste...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Neoclassical Side Chairs

Materials

Velvet, Wood, Lacquer

Single Neoclassical Side Chair
Located in New York, NY
A single Neoclassical side chair. Karelian Birch frame with curved legs and upholstered seat.
Category

19th Century Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs

Materials

Birch

Lovely Pair of Painted 18th century Neoclassical Side Chairs
Located in Hopewell, NJ
1790 French Neoclassical beautiful original grey painted side chairs with traces of old gilding, carved with acanthus leaves, wheat and urns. Reeded legs.
Category

18th Century French Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs

Materials

Wood

Wallace Nutting #393 Pilgrim Ladder Back Side Chairs - a Pair
Located in Parkesburg, PA
# 393 Pilgrim Ladder Back Side Chairs - a Pair Hardwood Construction, Rush Bottom ( Maple with Rush Bottom ) Good Original Condition, Signed Back Height 43"H, Seat Height 18"H, Se...
Category

Early 20th Century North American Neoclassical Side Chairs

Materials

Rush

Set of 4 Neoclassical Gustavian Style Chairs, Parcel Gilt & Painted, Sphinx Ca
Located in Stamford, CT
Set of 4 carved side chairs, desk chairs, office chairs. Finely detailed set of Neoclassical Gustavian Chairs each in a nice scalamandre fabric having winged sphinxes on the back res...
Category

1960s Swedish Vintage Neoclassical Side Chairs

Materials

Wood, Paint

1970's Neoclassical style Occasional/ Accent/ Side Chair By John Widdicomb
Located in Opa Locka, FL
Very High Quality Arm Chair by John Widdicomb. Front legs have brass wheels. Undulating Textile. Light peach striped fabric. Beautiful quality Chair.
Category

1970s North American Vintage Neoclassical Side Chairs

Materials

Wood

21st Century Green and White Deluxe Chair by Modenese Gastone
Located in PADOVA, Italy
Created by the skilled craftsmen of Modenese Gastone Interiors, this dining chair, part of the Deluxe collection, presents a curved wooden structure with white finish, silver leaf ap...
Category

2010s Italian Neoclassical Side Chairs

Materials

Silver Leaf, Gold Leaf

Pair of Boston late Classical slip seat mahogany side chairs, 1830-45
Located in Kenilworth, IL
Pair of American mahogany and figured mahogany veneered late Classical upholstered slip seat side chairs. The chairs feature a shaped & pierced crest rail and back rail. Chestnut sec...
Category

Mid-19th Century Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs

Materials

Upholstery, Chestnut, Mahogany

Antique Italian Neoclassical French Louis XVI Carved Walnut Low Boudoir Chair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Italian Neoclassical French Louis XVI Style Carved Walnut Low Boudoir Chair. Item features a distressed finish, solid wood frame, oversized seat cushion, urn and arrow carved...
Category

Mid-20th Century Neoclassical Side Chairs

Materials

Fabric, Walnut

1905 Liberty & Co Mahogany Spindle Chairs - Set of 2
Located in Waxahachie, TX
Ca 1905. Liberty & Co Made in Britain. Gorgeous arts and crafts mahogany chairs. Barrels shaped out of mahogany spindles with feet. Striking statement and conversation pieces
Category

Early 1900s American Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs

Materials

Wood

Set of three American upholstered seat mahogany side chairs, 1800-1810
By Duncan Phyfe
Located in Kenilworth, IL
Set of three American mahogany upholstered seat side chairs on reeded sabre legs with flared feet. The London cabinetmakers book of this period describes a scroll back chair with a bell-shaped seat and sweeping Grecian front legs with a hollow below the cross banister. The description fits these chairs and identifies them as a popular model in New York, circa 1800-10. In these examples, the reeded upper rear leg posts frame a solid crest rail over a horizontal back rail & lower banister rail. The seat frames and corner blocks are tulip poplar with white pine medial brace and oak rear seat rail. Fragmented nailers were spliced with new poplar and mahogany surfaces were cleaned and finished in shellac. Seats have been reupholstered in a Scalamandre damask fabric...
Category

Early 19th Century American Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs

Materials

Upholstery, Mahogany, Oak

Connecticut Valley rush seat painted Hitchcock side chair, 1830
Located in Kenilworth, IL
American Hitchcock rush seat side chair with a tie-on seat cushion. The chair features the original gilt and bronze powder stencil decoration on the double cornucopia back splat as w...
Category

Early 19th Century American Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs

Materials

Upholstery, Wood, Paint

Italian Modern Neoclassical Style Brass Chiavari Chair
Located in Houston, TX
Vintage Italian Modern Neoclassical style brass Chiavari chair. This stunning Italian Chiavari chair is newly upholstered in a lovely white mohair fabric. Our Italian brass chair is ...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Neoclassical Side Chairs

Materials

Brass

Pair of 19th Century Maple Side Chairs with Rush Seats
Located in Huntington, NY
A pair of 19th century maple side chairs with rush seats. Seats with remnants of paint. Frames tightened. Chairs touched up & polished.
Category

Early 19th Century American Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs

Materials

Rush, Maple

Neoclassical Antique Giltwood Upholstered Swan Armchair, Early 20th Century
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A Neoclassical carved swan armchair with upholstered seat back and seat. This antique piece is created from wood and features armrests that are carved to look like swans. The seat ba...
Category

Early 20th Century English Neoclassical Side Chairs

Materials

Wood, Paint

Pair of 19th Century Italian Carved and Painted Side Chairs
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Newly upholstered in turquoise color high-end fabric. Strong. Sturdy. Comfortable.
Category

Late 19th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs

Materials

Wood, Paint

(2) Vintage "Campanino" Chiavari chair by Fratelli Levaggi
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Pair light and elegant c. 1940s Chiavari dining chairs. The original design dates to the early 19th c., by Giuseppe Gaetano Descalzi. Painted wood with original rush seats. This vers...
Category

Late 19th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs

Materials

Wood, Rush

Pair of Neoclassical Black Painted Side Chairs with Woven Seats, Italy ca. 1790
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of Neoclassical Black Painted Side Chairs with Woven Seats, Italy circa 1790. These period chairs feature rounded tapered legs and a un...
Category

1790s Italian Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs

Materials

Wood

Set of Four American Classical Painted Faux Grain Rosewood & Caned Dining Chairs
Located in Southampton, NY
Set of four American Classical painted faux grain rosewood & caned dining chairs - A really lovely set of four chairs with faux painted rosewood design on the back and legs with deli...
Category

Late 19th Century American Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs

Materials

Rosewood

Rod-Back Windsor Side Chair
Located in Houston, TX
Rod-back windsor side chair with a square-shape back. Carved and turned faux-bamboo stiles, splayed legs and stretchers in ash. Shaped seat in elm....
Category

Mid-19th Century American Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs

Materials

Iron

19th Century Chinoiserie Queen Anne Style Chair
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Nicely detailed Queen Anne chair. Seat was originally can but now hard upholstered in new mohair. Strong and sturdy.
Category

Late 19th Century English Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs

Materials

Mohair, Wood, Paint

Italian Neoclassic Shield Back Dining/Side Chair W/ Floral Beige Upholstery
Located in New York, NY
Italian Neo-Classic side chair with an openwork shield form back, carved decorative splat, padded seat upholstered in floral patterned beige fabric with embroidered trim...
Category

18th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs

Materials

Upholstery, Fabric, Wood

Pair of American Mahogany Upholstered Slip Seat Gondola Chairs, '1830-1935'
Located in Kenilworth, IL
Pair of American neoclassic mahogany and figured mahogany veneered slip seat gondola chairs in the French Restoration taste. The boxed slip seat is fitted to a bowed mahogany front s...
Category

Mid-19th Century American Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs

Materials

Upholstery, Mahogany

Pair of Italian Neo-Classic Black Painted and Gilt Upholstered Dining Side Chair
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Italian Neo-Classic (18th Century) black painted side chairs with curved backs and rectangular tops carved in a two-wreathed swag rese...
Category

18th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs

Materials

Wood, Fabric, Upholstery, Giltwood

Pair of Italian Neoclassic Patinated Bronze Athenienne Form Urns
Located in New York, NY
PAIR of Italian neoclassic (19th century) bronze Athenian form urns with natural patina, featuring lions\' head embellishments with ring handles, resting on three lions feet joined b...
Category

19th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs

Materials

Bronze, Metal

Italian Neoclassic Giltwood & Stripe Upholstered Dining / Side Chair
Located in New York, NY
Italian Neo-Classic (18th Century) giltwood dining / side chair featuring a compound shaped oval back, carved foliate crest, ornate painted frame with decorative embellishments, padd...
Category

18th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs

Materials

Upholstery, Fabric, Giltwood, Wood

Pair of Italian Neo-Classic Ebonized and Parcel-Gilt Red Upholstered Armchairs
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Italian Neo-Classic ebonized and parcel-gilt armchairs with square form backrests, two tone red-striped upholstered backs and seas with scalloped rope trim, the arms topped w...
Category

18th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs

Materials

Wood, Giltwood, Fabric, Upholstery

Painted Neoclassical Side or Desk Chair
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Painted Neoclassical side or desk chair with laurel wreath & studs.
Category

20th Century Neoclassical Side Chairs

Materials

Wood

Pair of French Neoclassic Upholstered Seat Side Chairs, c. 1795-1810
Located in Kenilworth, IL
Pair of French neoclassic upholstered seat side chairs. The chairs are defined by sabre front and raked rear legs which support an upholstered boxed seat. The splayed upper leg posts...
Category

19th Century English Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs

Materials

Upholstery, Cherry

Pair of Italian Neoclassical Style Brass Chiavari Side Chairs
Located in Houston, TX
Pair of Italian Neoclassical style brass Chiavari side chairs. This stunning pair of vintage Italian Chiavari chairs are newly upholstered in a lovely shade of blue mohair. Perfect f...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Neoclassical Side Chairs

Materials

Brass

Set of 13 Fine French Neoclassical Dining Chairs
Located in Long Island City, NY
Set of 13 fine French Neoclassical cherry wood dining chairs in an Empire-Directoire style with carved and blackened wood details.
Category

1940s French Vintage Neoclassical Side Chairs

Materials

Cherry

CASA BIQUE White Tessellated Marble Neoclassical Side Chairs - Pair
Located in Charlotte, NC
A pair of neoclassical style side chairs by Casa Bique, of Thomasville, North Carolina, USA. Solid wood frame with tessellated white marble veneers, high backs, pink velvet like fabr...
Category

Late 20th Century American Neoclassical Side Chairs

Materials

Marble

Neo-Classical Style Satinwood William Switzer Game Table Side Chairs, S/4
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a handsome set of neo-classical style satinwood side chairs by William Switzer out of Canada. The frames are in great shape but the vintage upholstery is not. They are except...
Category

Late 20th Century Canadian Neoclassical Side Chairs

Materials

Upholstery, Satinwood

Pair of Italian Neoclassical Style Backless Hall Chairs
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Opulent pair of Italian hall chairs made in the neoclassical style. The chairs feature a backless design having decorative molded raised arms ending with large greek keys topped...
Category

20th Century Italian Neoclassical Side Chairs

Materials

Faux Leather, Wood

Pair of Klismos Early 19th Century Ebonized Side Chairs
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Klismos Early 19th Century ebonized side chairs. Ebonized wood.
Category

Early 19th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs

Materials

Wood

Pair of Neoclassical Style White and Polychrome Hall Chairs
Located in New York, NY
Each with an oval back in the form of a pierced fan paterae centered by a gilt floral roundel and edged in gilt; the dished seat with gilt banding raised on front square tapering leg...
Category

20th Century European Neoclassical Side Chairs

Materials

Wood

Wonderful Set of Five French Gold Gilt Carved Harp Lyre Back Regency Side Chairs
Located in Roslyn, NY
Wonderful set of FIVE (5) French gold gilt carved harp lyre back regency neoclassical dining or living room ladies side chairs Sold per chair Measu...
Category

1920s French Vintage Neoclassical Side Chairs

Materials

Giltwood

Swedish Gustavian Period Chair Pair
Located in Savannah, GA
Set of two Swedish chairs with classical lotus pattern back splats, a design often attributed to the chair makers of the Stockholm Guild. The chair splats have the carved crest also ...
Category

1790s Swedish Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs

Materials

Silk, Walnut

Set of Six Fine and Rare Walnut Klismos Style Chairs with Cane Seat
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Notable Italian made set of chairs with classic Klismos form in walnut with gilt inlay carved inset back panels and hand-caned seats. The attention to detail in the construction is v...
Category

Early 20th Century European Neoclassical Side Chairs

Materials

Cane, Walnut

Mid-19th Century Pair French Provincial Wooden Chairs Yellow Linen
Located in Brescia, IT
These fine French Mid-19th Century wooden chairs have an eclectic style and with theirs yellow linen upholstery they can give a touch of brig...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs

Materials

Fabric, Wood

Pair of 18th Century Silver Leaf and Painted Venetian Side Chairs
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of 18th Century silver leafed and hand painted Venetian side chairs. Seat inserts are covered in leather. Excellent condition for their age. S...
Category

18th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs

Materials

Silver Leaf

Vintage Conant Ball Low Back Bow Back Maple Windsor Spindle Chair
Located in Germantown, MD
1970s Conant Ball low back windsor chairs. Solid maple wood construction. Excellent condition. Low back and bow back with spindles. Measuremen...
Category

1970s American Vintage Neoclassical Side Chairs

Materials

Maple

Jacques Adnet Neoclassic High Back Side Chair
Located in Hudson, NY
This tall back, neoclassic side chair is attributed to French designer Jacques Adnet circa 1945. The tight back and seat is enhanced with an appliqued decorative banding front and ba...
Category

Mid-20th Century European Neoclassical Side Chairs

Materials

Upholstery, Wood

Italian Neoclassical Lyre Back Chairs, Circa 1800
Located in Rochester, NY
Pair of antique Italian Neoclassical hand carved lyre back side chairs with rosette carving at center of curved top back rails. Both chairs with early period construction and nicely ...
Category

Early 19th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs

Materials

Upholstery, Wood

18th Century Dutch Inlaid Walnut Side Chairs
Located in Los Angeles, CA
18th Century Dutch inlaid side chairs. Strong and sturdy, but delicate with different exotic inlaid woods. Ball and claw foot motif. Back...
Category

18th Century Danish Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs

Materials

Wood

19th Century Italian Side Chairs
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Early 19th Century painted Italian low side chairs. Newly upholstered in aqua velvet. Flower garland and urn motif.
Category

19th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs

Materials

Velvet, Wood, Paint

Pair of English 1900s Neoclassical Style Painted and Gilt Chairs with Feathers
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of English Neoclassical style painted wood side chairs from the early 20th century with parcel gilt décor and carved feather motifs. Created in England at the Turn of the Century which saw the transition between the 19th to the 20th, this pair of Neoclassical style side chairs draws our attention with their shield-style backs adorned with mesmerizing giltwood feathers...
Category

Early 20th Century English Neoclassical Side Chairs

Materials

Wood, Linen, Upholstery

Neoclassical Marquetry Desk Chair in the Style of Giuseppe Maggiolini, Italy
Located in Dallas, TX
A spectacular Italian Neoclassical style desk chair, in the manner of Giuseppe Maggiolini, late 19th c. Exquisite marquetry veneer in rosewood, satinwood and other decorative woods. Front fully decorated with intricate inlaid marquetry foliate designs, back featuring a centered foliate cartouche and corner cartouches rising on four elegant squared tapering legs finished with the original brass castor cups. The shape and the inlaid designs are similar to those on pieces of furniture produced by Giuseppe Maggiolini (1738-1814), the foremost cabinet-maker in late 18th-century Milan. Maggiolini and his workshop specialized in marquetry scenes inspired by antiquity, based on drawings by late 18th-century artists and designers such as Andrea Appiani...
Category

Late 19th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs

Materials

Brass

Pair of Italian Genoese Carved Parcel Gilt Side Chairs, circa 1820-30
Located in Spencertown, NY
The pair of side chairs come from the Palazzo Tursi, Genoa. Residence of King Vittorio Emanuele and Queen Maria Teresa. Probably designed by Carlo Randoni (1755-1831). They are uphol...
Category

1820s Italian Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs

Materials

Wood

Neoclassical side chairs for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Neoclassical side chairs for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage side chairs created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include seating, building and garden elements, tables and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, fabric and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Neoclassical side chairs made in a specific country, there are Europe, Italy, and North America pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original side chairs, popular names associated with this style include Chiavari, Casa Bique, Conant Ball, and Dos Gallos Studio. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for side chairs differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $300 and tops out at $225,000 while the average work can sell for $2,950.

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