Wingback Chairs
Early 18th Century French Baroque Antique Wingback Chairs
Leather, Walnut
Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Beech
1960s Unknown Chippendale Vintage Wingback Chairs
Cotton, Wood, Down
1950s European Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Walnut
Early 20th Century Chesterfield Wingback Chairs
Leather
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Beech, Bouclé, Wood
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Maple
Late 18th Century English George III Antique Wingback Chairs
Velvet, Wood
20th Century English Chesterfield Wingback Chairs
Leather
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Louis XVI Wingback Chairs
Linen, Cane, Wood
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Bouclé, Wood, Beech
1950s Sheraton Vintage Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Elm
Mid-20th Century Swedish Art Deco Wingback Chairs
Sheepskin, Wood
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Brass, Wrought Iron
1880s Antique Wingback Chairs
Leather, Mahogany
1950s European Vintage Wingback Chairs
Wood
Early 20th Century Unknown Baroque Revival Wingback Chairs
Silver Leaf
1710s Italian Louis XIV Antique Wingback Chairs
Walnut
20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Wool, Beech
2010s British Wingback Chairs
Leather, Hardwood
1950s Scandinavian Scandinavian Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Wood
18th Century French Antique Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Fruitwood
Late 19th Century English Georgian Antique Wingback Chairs
Metal
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Wool, Oak
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Metal, Brass
1970s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Leather
Early 20th Century Wingback Chairs
Faux Leather
1940s Chippendale Vintage Wingback Chairs
Leather, Walnut
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Velvet, Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Deco Wingback Chairs
Mohair, Wood, Giltwood
1990s Chippendale Wingback Chairs
Brass
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Beech, Upholstery
19th Century English Georgian Antique Wingback Chairs
Leather, Wood
Early 19th Century English Georgian Antique Wingback Chairs
Metal
1950s Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Bouclé, Wood
2010s American Wingback Chairs
Brass
1960s Norwegian Scandinavian Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Leather, Hardwood
2010s South African Modern Wingback Chairs
Brass
2010s American Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Brass
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
2010s Modern Wingback Chairs
Walnut
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
1960s George II Vintage Wingback Chairs
Faux Leather, Wood
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Wingback Chairs
Wool, Beech
1940s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Leather, Mahogany
1940s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Wool, Mahogany
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Walnut
1880s English Antique Wingback Chairs
Mahogany
2010s Italian Neoclassical Revival Wingback Chairs
Copper, Steel
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Walnut
1760s Welsh Antique Wingback Chairs
Elm, Oak
1940s Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Wood
Early 20th Century French French Provincial Wingback Chairs
Brass
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Metal
20th Century American Wingback Chairs
Linen, Mahogany
Late 19th Century English Queen Anne Antique Wingback Chairs
Brass
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.