Wingback Chairs
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Wood, Zebra Hide
Mid-19th Century French Antique Wingback Chairs
Velvet
21st Century and Contemporary Dutch Modern Wingback Chairs
Upholstery
1940s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Textile, Oak
1980s Vintage Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Faux Bamboo, Rattan, Wood
Late 18th Century American Hepplewhite Antique Wingback Chairs
Brass
1970s American Bohemian Vintage Wingback Chairs
Leather, Rattan
Mid-20th Century American Wingback Chairs
Mahogany
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Hardwood
2010s Renaissance Wingback Chairs
Leather, Mahogany
1960s American Queen Anne Vintage Wingback Chairs
Damask, Maple
Mid-20th Century American American Classical Wingback Chairs
Wood
Late 20th Century American Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Upholstery, Wood
Late 20th Century North American Georgian Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
Late 19th Century English Antique Wingback Chairs
Oak
1840s American Chippendale Antique Wingback Chairs
Muslin, Mahogany, Poplar, Cypress
Mid-20th Century French Regency Wingback Chairs
Oak, Velvet
Early 20th Century British William and Mary Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Oak
Late 20th Century Unknown Queen Anne Wingback Chairs
Mahogany
20th Century Spanish Victorian Wingback Chairs
Rattan
Early 20th Century British Wingback Chairs
Wood
Early 20th Century Scottish Wingback Chairs
Straw, Wood, Rush
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Walnut
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Velvet, Ash
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Wingback Chairs
Metal
1880s French Rococo Antique Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Walnut
20th Century English Chesterfield Wingback Chairs
Leather, Upholstery
20th Century American Chesterfield Wingback Chairs
Brass
Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Pine
1960s Danish Country Vintage Wingback Chairs
Wood, Oak
1950s Danish Vintage Wingback Chairs
Wool, Ash
Early 18th Century Antique Wingback Chairs
Mahogany
2010s American Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Mohair
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Wool, Oak
Mid-20th Century Art Nouveau Wingback Chairs
Fruitwood, Cotton, Damask
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Leather, Walnut
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Bouclé, Walnut
1940s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Sheepskin, Oak
Late 20th Century Renaissance Wingback Chairs
Wood
1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Wool, Teak
1940s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Wool, Beech
Mid-19th Century French Louis XV Antique Wingback Chairs
Wood
Mid-20th Century American Chippendale Wingback Chairs
Damask, Walnut
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Wingback Chairs
Leather
Mid-20th Century English Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Georgian Wingback Chairs
Leather
20th Century Classical Roman Wingback Chairs
Leather, Sheepskin
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Wool, Oak
1810s English Regency Antique Wingback Chairs
Brass
1990s Canadian Art Deco Wingback Chairs
Leather, Wood
19th Century Italian Baroque Antique Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Walnut
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Beech
1760s English Antique Wingback Chairs
Linen, Mahogany
Mid-20th Century Art Nouveau Wingback Chairs
Walnut, Cotton
1940s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Wool, Beech
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Walnut, Upholstery
Early 20th Century French Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Walnut
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Ash
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Upholstery, Wood, Walnut, Mohair, Silk, Velvet
Early 20th Century English Chesterfield Wingback Chairs
Leather
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.