Wingback Chairs
20th Century Queen Anne Wingback Chairs
Mahogany, Upholstery
20th Century Wingback Chairs
Sheepskin
Early 2000s American Modern Wingback Chairs
Silk, Lacquer
Early 20th Century Austrian Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Wood, Bentwood
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Bamboo, Upholstery
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Wingback Chairs
Wood, Velvet
2010s British Modern Wingback Chairs
Leather, Walnut
19th Century English Victorian Antique Wingback Chairs
Upholstery
1950s Italian Vintage Wingback Chairs
Velvet, Beech
1770s Irish Antique Wingback Chairs
Mahogany
Mid-20th Century Czech Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Ash
21st Century and Contemporary Dutch Wingback Chairs
Leather, Sheepskin, Wood
Early 1800s British Georgian Antique Wingback Chairs
Mahogany
20th Century American Wingback Chairs
Upholstery
20th Century French French Provincial Wingback Chairs
Fruitwood
20th Century American Wingback Chairs
Wood
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Wingback Chairs
Giltwood
1940s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Leather, Fabric, Elm
Early 20th Century French Louis XIII Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Velvet, Beech
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Wingback Chairs
Cherry
Mid-18th Century European Rococo Antique Wingback Chairs
Wood
1970s Scandinavian Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Leather, Beech
Late 19th Century English Antique Wingback Chairs
Leather, Mahogany
Mid-20th Century Unknown Biedermeier Wingback Chairs
Mohair
20th Century British Wingback Chairs
Leather
Mid-20th Century French Louis XVI Wingback Chairs
Velvet, Wood
2010s South African Modern Wingback Chairs
Brass
Early 1900s English Kilim Antique Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Hardwood
1940s European Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Wood
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Wrought Iron
19th Century English Georgian Antique Wingback Chairs
Leather, Walnut
Mid-20th Century American Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Wood
1840s English Early Victorian Antique Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Hardwood
Late 19th Century Antique Wingback Chairs
Linen
20th Century Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Walnut
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Walnut
2010s Danish Scandinavian Modern Wingback Chairs
Beech, Oak
19th Century French William IV Antique Wingback Chairs
Linen
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Wingback Chairs
Leather, Wood, Down
Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Wingback Chairs
Linen, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary William IV Wingback Chairs
Upholstery
1960s British Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Chrome
Late 19th Century British Chippendale Antique Wingback Chairs
Leather, Walnut
Mid-20th Century Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Textile, Mahogany
1840s English Victorian Antique Wingback Chairs
Upholstery
1970s English Georgian Vintage Wingback Chairs
Mohair, Wood
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Wood
Early 19th Century Irish George III Antique Wingback Chairs
Mahogany
18th Century British George III Antique Wingback Chairs
Linen
19th Century French Antique Wingback Chairs
Walnut
18th Century French Louis XIII Antique Wingback Chairs
Wood
Early 18th Century English William IV Antique Wingback Chairs
Leather, Mahogany
2010s Italian Modern Wingback Chairs
Fabric
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Chrome
1960s Danish Vintage Wingback Chairs
Leather
Mid-20th Century Norwegian Scandinavian Modern Wingback Chairs
Brass
Mid-20th Century English Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
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.