Wingback Chairs
2010s South African Modern Wingback Chairs
Steel
Late 20th Century European Louis XV Wingback Chairs
Fruitwood
1820s English Chinese Chippendale Antique Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Hardwood
21st Century and Contemporary Hungarian Wingback Chairs
Chenille, Walnut
1960s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Oak
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Cherry
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Velvet, Oak
1920s British Georgian Vintage Wingback Chairs
Leather, Walnut
1880s English High Victorian Antique Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Walnut
1840s English Early Victorian Antique Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Hardwood
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Leather, Teak
1940s Great Britain (UK) Vintage Wingback Chairs
20th Century Wingback Chairs
Sheepskin
20th Century Wingback Chairs
Leather, Sheepskin
20th Century Wingback Chairs
Sheepskin, Fabric
20th Century Classical Roman Wingback Chairs
Leather, Sheepskin
Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Wingback Chairs
Linen, Wood
18th Century French Antique Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Fruitwood
Late 19th Century English Chippendale Antique Wingback Chairs
Walnut
Early 18th Century English Antique Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Walnut
20th Century British Wingback Chairs
Leather
1870s English Victorian Antique Wingback Chairs
Leather, Oak
20th Century Wingback Chairs
Cowhide
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Walnut
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Bouclé, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Wingback Chairs
Nickel
19th Century English High Victorian Antique Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Walnut
20th Century Wingback Chairs
Leather, Sheepskin
Early 20th Century Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Bouclé, Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary Asian American Classical Wingback Chairs
Leather
1880s Italian High Victorian Antique Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Hardwood
1880s English Georgian Antique Wingback Chairs
Mahogany
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Walnut
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Wood
1940s European Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Wood
Mid-18th Century Irish George II Antique Wingback Chairs
Mahogany
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Bamboo, Wicker
20th Century American Wingback Chairs
Upholstery
Late 20th Century Unknown Chinoiserie Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
20th Century American Classical Wingback Chairs
Mohair
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Georgian Wingback Chairs
Wood
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Velvet, Wood
20th Century French Louis XV Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Walnut
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Chrome
20th Century American Regency Revival Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Walnut
1980s Chippendale Vintage Wingback Chairs
Cotton, Mahogany
19th Century French Antique Wingback Chairs
Walnut
1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Teak
1920s Swedish Vintage Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Walnut
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Wood, Nutwood
20th Century Classical Roman Wingback Chairs
Leather, Sheepskin
1950s Unknown Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Leather, Wood
Early 19th Century Irish George III Antique Wingback Chairs
Mahogany
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Wood
1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Wool, Teak
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Velvet, Elm
20th Century Wingback Chairs
Leather, Sheepskin
1820s Austrian Biedermeier Antique Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Walnut
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Rattan
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Hardwood
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.