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
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 Neo-Classic Black Painted & Gilt Upholstered Dining Side Chairs
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of Italian Neo-Classic (18th Century) black painted side chairs with curved backs ahaving rectangular tops carved with two-wreathed swags, with upholstered back and seat in blac...
Category
18th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs
Materials
Giltwood
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
$984 Sale Price
29% Off
19th Century Chiavarine Chairs Turned Walnut with Hand-Carved Seat
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Elegant Mid-19th century Chiavarine side chairs in turned walnut and with hand-carved seat, restored and finished to wax
Measure cm: H 101\47 x W 45 x D 45.
Category
Mid-19th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs
Materials
Walnut
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
$1,520 Sale Price / set
20% Off
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
$3,750 / set
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
$9,800 / set
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
$2,686 Sale Price / set
25% Off
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
$11,000 / set
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
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
Early 20th Century American Neoclassical Side Chairs
Materials
Brass, Iron
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
$18,000 / set
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
Continental Neoclassic Mahogany Side Chairs
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of Continental neoclassic style mahogany side chairs with squared back and pierced vertical splat above turned legs. (possibly Italian, 19th century).
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs
Materials
Mahogany
$3,700 / set
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
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
$2,850 / set
Pair Neoclassical Style Side Chairs
Located in New York, NY
Pair neoclassical style side chairs. The chairs have black lacquered wood frames, a decorative gold pattern with a round bronze insert to ...
Category
1960s Vintage Neoclassical Side Chairs
Materials
Bronze
$5,100 / set
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 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
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
Pair of Steel and Gilt Metal Hall Chairs
Located in Stamford, CT
An attractive pair of steel and gilt metal side chairs with black leather seats. Sold in pairs. Four available.
Category
1970s French Vintage Neoclassical Side Chairs
Materials
Steel
$2,500 / set
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
$2,100 Sale Price
40% Off
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.
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