Wingback Chairs
1880s English Late Victorian Antique Wingback Chairs
Leather
1950s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Wood
Mid-20th Century Czech Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Ash
1950s English Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Upholstery
1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Velvet, Oak
Early 20th Century American Wingback Chairs
Wicker, Reed
Mid-20th Century American Wingback Chairs
Mahogany
1950s English Chippendale Vintage Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Down
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Leather, Oak
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Wood
Late 19th Century English Antique Wingback Chairs
Leather, Oak
1990s Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Leather
Early 1800s American Federal Antique Wingback Chairs
Mahogany
19th Century English Georgian Antique Wingback Chairs
Ash
Mid-20th Century British Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Metal
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Leather, Beech
1930s American Queen Anne Vintage Wingback Chairs
Mahogany
Early 20th Century English Queen Anne Wingback Chairs
Cherry
1960s Dutch Vintage Wingback Chairs
Leather
20th Century British Wingback Chairs
Leather
1860s English High Victorian Antique Wingback Chairs
Oak
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Wood
18th Century American Chippendale Antique Wingback Chairs
Mahogany, Maple
1950s English Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Upholstery
2010s Modern Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Wood
Mid-20th Century American Queen Anne Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Hardwood
1950s English Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Upholstery
Mid-20th Century French Wingback Chairs
Silk, Upholstery, Wood
2010s British Modern Wingback Chairs
Leather, Walnut
20th Century Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Walnut
Early 1900s British Edwardian Antique Wingback Chairs
Brass
1960s Unknown Chippendale Vintage Wingback Chairs
Cotton, Wood, Down
Early 20th Century Scottish Rustic Wingback Chairs
Straw, Wood
Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Antique Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Walnut
1960s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Metal, Wire
20th Century Mexican Modern Wingback Chairs
Metal, Iron
1950s English Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Upholstery
2010s American Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Mohair
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Louis XVI Wingback Chairs
Linen, Cane, Wood
1980s American Bohemian Vintage Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Rattan, Wood
Early 20th Century Art Deco Wingback Chairs
Leather
Mid-20th Century French Louis XV Wingback Chairs
Linen, Hardwood
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Wingback Chairs
Brass
Late 20th Century Scandinavian Scandinavian Modern Wingback Chairs
Leather
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Leather, Velvet
2010s American Modern Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Oak
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Bouclé, Walnut
Mid-20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Mahogany
1960s American Chinese Chippendale Vintage Wingback Chairs
Wood
1980s Bohemian Vintage Wingback Chairs
Leather, Cotton
1960s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Oak
1950s Vintage Wingback Chairs
Leather
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Polyester, Wood, Ash
Early 20th Century French French Provincial Wingback Chairs
Tapestry, Oak
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Wingback Chairs
Steel
Late 19th Century Antique Wingback Chairs
Linen
Antique, New and Vintage Wingback Chairs
They may not offer structural support, but the wings on antique and vintage wingback chairs certainly do have a purpose or did, when the design was first conceived in England in the 1600s.
Back then, the armchair protrusions were meant to protect the sitter from drafts and from the strong heat radiating from the large fireplaces that were popular at the time. This explains why the wingback is so strongly associated with cozying up by the fireplace.
Although the functional aspect of a wingback may be obsolete in the 21st century, the chairs have maintained their popularity over the years and have seen waves of revivals, from mid-century modern spinoffs to playful contemporary adaptations (like the Bear chair by Pierre Yovanovitch, wherein the place of wings are furry ears — a cheeky send-up of Hans Wegner’s iconic mid-century Papa Bear chair).
Shop the most innovative versions of wingback chairs today on 1stDibs.
Read More
Arne Jacobsen’s Egg Chair Scrambled the Idea of What a Wingback Could Be
The curvaceous Egg was designed to cradle the body and offer privacy. Later, it became the seat of choice for bosses in movies, too.
23 Ways to Rethink the Classic Wingback Chair
We take a fresh look at a more than 300-year-old fixture in furniture design.