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
Early 20th Century Neoclassical Ebonized and Partial Gilt Decorated Side Chair
Located in Germantown, MD
A Neoclassical Ebonized and Partial Gilt Decorated Side Chair. A great piece of artwork. Firm springed seat with vinyl cover in great condition.
Measures 19" in width, 21" in width...
Category
Early 20th Century American Neoclassical Side Chairs
Materials
Plastic, Hardwood, Paint
Pair of 1940s Italian Neoclassical Sidechairs
Located in New York, NY
Beautiful pair of carved and inlaid fruitwood Italian neoclassical side chairs with carved wood details throughout and tapered legs. Newly upholstered in caramel silk velvet.
Category
1940s Italian Vintage Neoclassical Side Chairs
Materials
Fruitwood
19th Century Scandinavian Oak Side Chair with Leather Seat
Located in London, GB
Scandinavian Oak Side Chair with Leather Seat, c. 19th Century
A 19th-century Scandinavian side chair with a solid oak frame and a leather seat. The chair features a simple, functio...
Category
19th Century Scandinavian Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs
Materials
Leather, Oak
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
Vintage Conant Ball Low Back Bow Back Maple Windsor Spindle Chair
By Conant Ball
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
20th C Wingback Love Seat in Blue and White Check Homespun Linen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This fantastic wingback love seat is in amazing condition and great form. The repro. blue & cream homespun linen upholstered love seat is amazing...
Category
1940s American Vintage Neoclassical Side Chairs
Materials
Pine
Pair of French Mid Century Hand Painted Neoclassical Cock Fighting Chairs
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous pair of neoclassical cock fighting chairs with lyre backs and swivel seats. Hand painted with bronze rods in the lyre. Seat height is 19inches.
Category
1950s French 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
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
Early 20th Century Maison Jansen Style Swan Head Side Chair
Located in Augusta, GA
Maison Jansen style iron and brass side chair
Made in 1926 in New York
Swan heads on arms
Original condition
Fabulous style!
Category
Mid-20th Century American Neoclassical Side Chairs
Materials
Brass, Iron
Vintage Splendid Solid Bubinga Wood Chairs, a Pair
Located in Germantown, MD
Vintage pair of splendid Bubinga Wood in excellent condition. These chairs are all solid Bubinga throughout. Bubinga is also called African Rosewood. Admire the beauty of plain Bubin...
Category
1970s American Vintage Neoclassical Side Chairs
Materials
Bubinga
Set of 4 Neoclassical Gustavian Style Chairs, Parcel Gilt & Painted, Sphinx Ca
Located in Manhasset, NY
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
Pair Art Nouveau Neoclassical Chairs , Hand-Carved Walnut, Spring Leather Seat
Located in Vigonza, Padua
1990s, elegant chairs restored and polished to wax, finely hand-carved walnut, seat in original leather in good condition with straps and springs.
Suitable for writing table or for e...
Category
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs
Materials
Leather, Walnut
Pair of French Neoclassical Side Chairs in Walnut two-tone Wax Polished
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Late 19th century pair of French Neoclassical side chairs in walnut two-tone ( ebonizedthe front and dark walnut the back ) with seat i...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs
Materials
Silk, Walnut
Pair of Neoclassical Side Chairs, early 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
A pair of neoclassical cherrywood chairs, crafted around 1800. The chairs feature elegantly pierced backrests with a delicate lattice structure in the central splat. They rest on tap...
Category
Early 19th Century Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs
Materials
Cherry
Pair of 19th Century Side Chairs
Located in Dallas, TX
Pair of 19th century French oval back side chairs.
Category
19th Century Unknown Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs
Materials
Wood
Italian Neoclassic Shield Back Dining/Side Chair W/ Floral Beige Upholstery
Located in Queens, 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
Fabric, Wood, Upholstery
Pair of Italian Neoclassical Painted and Carved Side Chairs with Shield Backs
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of Italian 1790s neoclassical painted and carved side chairs with shield backs and traces of gilt. This pair of Italian neoclassical side chairs from the late 18th century is ...
Category
Late 18th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs
Materials
Upholstery, Wood
Set of Four Neoclassical Side Chairs
Located in New York, NY
A set of four neoclassical side chairs.
Mahogany with patinated brass inlay, details and sabots.
Category
Mid-19th Century Russian Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs
Materials
Brass
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 Italian Neo-Classic Ebonized and Parcel-Gilt Red Upholstered Armchairs
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of Italian Neo-Classic ebonized and parcel-gilt armchairs with square form backrests, two tone red-striped upholstered backs and seats with scalloped rope trim, the arms topped ...
Category
18th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs
Materials
Wood, Giltwood, Fabric, Upholstery
Set of Six Russian Neoclassic 'First Half of the 19th Century' Side Chairs
Located in Queens, NY
Set of six Russian neoclassic 'first half of the 19th century' mahogany side chairs with upholstered seat and carved foliate and rosettes on corner of back with sabre form front legs...
Category
Early 19th Century Russian Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs
Materials
Mahogany, Upholstery
Pair Neoclassical Style Tiger Velvet Giltwood Chairs
Located in Houston, TX
Pair of Neoclassical style giltwood chairs. These chairs feature carved wood drapery and new Scalamandré tiger velvet upholstery.
Category
Late 20th Century European Neoclassical Side Chairs
Materials
Upholstery, Velvet, Giltwood
Italian Neoclassic Giltwood & Stripe Upholstered Dining / Side Chair
Located in Queens, NY
Italian Neo-Classic (18th Century) giltwood side chair featuring a shaped oval back upper section having a carved foliate crest and upholstered in a floral stripe pink and beige patt...
Category
18th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs
Materials
Fabric, Wood, Giltwood, Upholstery
Set of Four Baltic Empire Chairs
Located in Lambertville, NJ
An extraordinary set of four Baltic neoclassical parcel-gilt and silver gilt side chairs each with scrolled and circular backrest and applied with anthemion and palmette decoration. Upholstered in an elegant gold and white jacquard fabric.
Category
Mid-19th Century Baltic Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs
Materials
Birch
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
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
Eight Italian Neoclassical Design Chairs
Located in New York, NY
Set of 1940's stylized white painted Italian carved dining chairs with newly upholstered seats.
Seat depth - 16"
Category
1940s Italian Vintage Neoclassical Side Chairs
Materials
Wood
Pair of Italian Neoclassic Patinated Bronze Athenienne Form Urns
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of Italian Neo-classic (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
Metal, Bronze
Set of 4 Italian Neoclassic Silk Upholstery Chairs
Located in Queens, NY
Set of 4 Italian Neoclassic style parcel gilt & cream painted side chairs with green damask silk upholstery above spiral fluted turned legs (19th Cent)
Antique condition, upholstery...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs
Materials
Damask, Giltwood
Pair of English Victorian Painted Side Chairs
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of English Victorian (Aesthetic Movement) painted side chairs with lion head finials on back with and upholstered seat and back and front stretcher
Category
19th Century English Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs
Materials
Upholstery, Wood
Set of 4 Italian Neo-Classic Floral Side Chairs
Located in Queens, NY
Set of 4 Italian Neoclassic white painted and floral decorated side chairs (19th Century)
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs
Materials
Paint
Pair of Neoclassical Side Chairs
Located in New York, NY
Pair of neoclassical side chairs.
Mahogany with carved details.
Category
1820s Russian Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs
Materials
Mahogany
Four Edward Wormley Precedent by Drexel Dining Chairs 239-4 8 Available
Located in Pasadena, TX
Edward Wormley designed for Precedent Side Chairs series 239-4 in 1947, neoclassical area.
Set of 4 dining chairs, solid wood construction, natural finish.
8 available
Category
1940s American Vintage Neoclassical Side Chairs
Materials
Wood
Italian Neo-Classic Shield Side Chair
Located in Queens, NY
Italian Neo-classic style (19th Cent) brown painted and gilt trimmed side chair with oval open carved shield form back and striped upholstered seat.
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs
Materials
Gold Leaf
Vintage Italian Classic Mahogany Scroll Back Tufted Leather Side Chairs, Pair
Located in Chicago, IL
Vintage Italian set of 2 Classic Mahogany Scroll Back Tufted Leather Side Chairs w/Antique Gold Nailhead Trim - Pair
Category
Late 20th Century Unknown Neoclassical Side Chairs
Materials
Leather, Wood
Set of Four German Neoclassical Late 18th Century Side Chairs, David Roentgen
By David Roentgen
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
This attractive set of chairs is made in the style of late German classicism and they were probably made in the workshop or the immediate circle of the famous cabinetmaker David Roen...
Category
Late 18th Century German Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs
Materials
Cherry
Set of 4 Klismos-Style Chairs
Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse
Two chairs and two armchairs. Original cognac-coloured leather seats with fine gold embossed frieze.
Dimensions provided below are for the armchairs. The chairs measure (in centim...
Category
19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs
Materials
Leather, Wood
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
Pair of Patinated Wood and Gold Leaf Armchairs by Maison Forest, France
Located in Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires
Pair of patinated wood and gold leaf armchairs by Maison Forest, France, late 19th century.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs
Materials
Gold Leaf
Pair of Royal Late 18th Century Neoclassical Berlin Side Chairs
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
The finely carved unusual splat with two horse heads in the centre holding draperies in their mouth above a classcial pierced splat decorated with further draperies and supported by ...
Category
Late 18th Century German 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.