Wingback Chairs
Early 20th Century Austrian Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Wood, Bentwood
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Wingback Chairs
Cherry
Late 18th Century Irish George III Antique Wingback Chairs
Mahogany
Mid-18th Century European Rococo Antique Wingback Chairs
Wood
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Leather, Teak
1940s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Leather, Fabric, Elm
Mid-20th Century French Louis XVI Wingback Chairs
Velvet, Wood
19th Century English Victorian Antique Wingback Chairs
Upholstery
19th Century English Georgian Antique Wingback Chairs
Leather, Walnut
Early 20th Century French Wingback Chairs
Wicker
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Wrought Iron
1940s European Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Wood
Early 1800s British Georgian Antique Wingback Chairs
Mahogany
Early 19th Century Irish George III Antique Wingback Chairs
Mahogany
2010s Danish Scandinavian Modern Wingback Chairs
Beech, Oak
Late 19th Century English Antique Wingback Chairs
Leather, Mahogany
20th Century Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Walnut
1770s Irish Antique Wingback Chairs
Mahogany
1840s English Early Victorian Antique Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Hardwood
20th Century Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Wood
Mid-20th Century American Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Wood
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Walnut
19th Century French William IV Antique Wingback Chairs
Linen
1970s Scandinavian Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Leather, Beech
Mid-20th Century Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Textile, Mahogany
Mid-20th Century Louis XV Wingback Chairs
Velvet, Wood
1840s English Early Victorian Antique Wingback Chairs
Upholstery
2010s American Wingback Chairs
Brass
Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Wingback Chairs
Linen, Wood
19th Century French Antique Wingback Chairs
Walnut
2010s Italian Modern Wingback Chairs
Fabric
1840s English William IV Antique Wingback Chairs
Brass
1960s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Fabric
Early 18th Century English William IV Antique Wingback Chairs
Leather, Mahogany
20th Century French French Provincial Wingback Chairs
Brass
Mid-20th Century Norwegian Scandinavian Modern Wingback Chairs
Brass
18th Century French Louis XIII Antique Wingback Chairs
Wood
1960s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Fabric
17th Century Swedish Baroque Antique Wingback Chairs
Leather, Oak
1980s Bohemian Vintage Wingback Chairs
Leather, Cotton
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Fabric
Late 19th Century British Chippendale Antique Wingback Chairs
Leather, Walnut
20th Century Wingback Chairs
Wood
Early 18th Century English George I Antique Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary Wingback Chairs
Leather
Early 20th Century English British Colonial Wingback Chairs
Walnut
1920s English Georgian Vintage Wingback Chairs
Leather
Mid-19th Century French Louis XV Antique Wingback Chairs
Wood
Mid-20th Century Wingback Chairs
Fabric
1970s English Georgian Vintage Wingback Chairs
Mohair, Wood
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Wingback Chairs
Walnut
1960s Dutch Vintage Wingback Chairs
Leather
20th Century Wingback Chairs
Sheepskin
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Walnut
1840s English Early Victorian Antique Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Hardwood
1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Metal
20th Century Wingback Chairs
Sheepskin
1790s British Antique Wingback Chairs
Oak
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.