Wingback Chairs
Late 18th Century American Antique Wingback Chairs
Late 20th Century American Wingback Chairs
Leather
1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Wingback Chairs
Nickel
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Brass
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Brass
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Brass
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Plastic, Foam, Wood
20th Century English Modern Wingback Chairs
Leather
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Wingback Chairs
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
1930s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Chenille, Upholstery, Walnut, Fabric
1950s Unknown Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Wood, Leather
Late 18th Century Irish George III Antique Wingback Chairs
Mahogany
Early 20th Century Scottish Wingback Chairs
Straw, Wood, Rush
1960s European Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Velvet, Hardwood
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Linen, Mahogany
1950s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Steel
19th Century English William and Mary Antique Wingback Chairs
Silk, Mahogany
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Metal
1970s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Leather
2010s Argentine Modern Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Wood
20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Wingback Chairs
Walnut
20th Century English Wingback Chairs
Mahogany
1970s Unknown Hollywood Regency Vintage Wingback Chairs
Brass
1970s North American Vintage Wingback Chairs
Velvet
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Bamboo, Upholstery
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Leather
Early 18th Century British William and Mary Antique Wingback Chairs
Elm
1970s Hollywood Regency Vintage Wingback Chairs
Rattan
Mid-20th Century French Hollywood Regency Wingback Chairs
Wood
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Leather, Teak
20th Century Italian Neoclassical Wingback Chairs
Leather
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Cotton
21st Century and Contemporary American Chippendale Wingback Chairs
Zebra Hide, Wood, Suede
Mid-20th Century American Edwardian Wingback Chairs
Oak
Early 19th Century Irish George III Antique Wingback Chairs
Mahogany
Late 18th Century British George III Antique Wingback Chairs
Oak
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Walnut, Velvet, Beech
1880s French Rococo Antique Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Walnut
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
Mid-20th Century French Louis XV Wingback Chairs
Wood
Late 19th Century British Queen Anne Antique Wingback Chairs
Walnut
Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Antique Wingback Chairs
Walnut, Upholstery
1940s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Elm, Upholstery
1940s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Mahogany, Fabric
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Velvet, Teak
20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
1720s Great Britain (UK) George I Antique Wingback Chairs
Silk, Walnut
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Hardwood
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Rattan
1920s German Art Deco Vintage Wingback Chairs
Leather, Beech
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Mohair, Wood
19th Century Antique Wingback Chairs
Wood
Early 20th Century American Victorian Wingback Chairs
Wicker
1950s Italian Scandinavian Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Hardwood
Mid-19th Century English Antique Wingback Chairs
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.