Wingback Chairs
1780s English Georgian Antique Wingback Chairs
Leather
1960s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Fabric
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Rattan
19th Century English Early Victorian Antique Wingback Chairs
Mahogany, Leather
1940s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Brass
19th Century British Antique Wingback Chairs
Wood
20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
1920s English Queen Anne Vintage Wingback Chairs
Leather, Walnut
1990s Italian Wingback Chairs
Steel
20th Century French Louis XVI Wingback Chairs
Wood, Upholstery
1780s English Chinese Chippendale Antique Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Mahogany
21st Century and Contemporary North American Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Wood
19th Century English High Victorian Antique Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Hardwood
Early 18th Century English William IV Antique Wingback Chairs
Leather, Mahogany
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary American Hollywood Regency Wingback Chairs
Upholstery
20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Wool, Teak
18th Century English George III Antique Wingback Chairs
Pine
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Wingback Chairs
Oak
1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Leather, Velvet
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Georgian Wingback Chairs
Leather
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Leather, Teak
1830s British Georgian Antique Wingback Chairs
Velvet, Mahogany
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Leather, Upholstery
Mid-19th Century American Antique Wingback Chairs
Brass
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Plastic, Foam, Wood
19th Century Italian Baroque Antique Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Walnut
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Leather
1930s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Sheepskin, Elm
1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Metal
1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Wool, Walnut
1780s English Chippendale Antique Wingback Chairs
Suede, Cotton, Upholstery, Mahogany
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
Mid-19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Wingback Chairs
Beech
1820s Austrian Biedermeier Antique Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Walnut
2010s American Modern Wingback Chairs
Leather, Fabric, Wood
20th Century French Louis XV Wingback Chairs
Linen, Wood
Late 20th Century American Wingback Chairs
Leather
Late 19th Century French Antique Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Wood
Early 20th Century Scottish Wingback Chairs
Straw, Wood, Rush
Late 18th Century American Antique Wingback Chairs
Early 19th Century French Louis XIV Antique Wingback Chairs
Walnut, Upholstery
1690s English Baroque Antique Wingback Chairs
Walnut
1940s European Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Wood
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Velvet, Walnut
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Velvet, Walnut
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Velvet, Walnut
1940s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Birch, Upholstery
Early 20th Century French Wingback Chairs
Wicker
1960s European Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Velvet, Hardwood
Early 18th Century English Georgian Antique Wingback Chairs
Walnut
1940s American Organic Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Mahogany
Mid-18th Century European Rococo Antique Wingback Chairs
Wood
20th Century American Victorian Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Walnut
1970s North American Vintage Wingback Chairs
Velvet
1880s French Rococo Antique Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Walnut
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Leather, Walnut
1940s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Leather, Mahogany
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.