Wingback Chairs
Early 18th Century British William and Mary Antique Wingback Chairs
Walnut
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Walnut
Mid-20th Century Adam Style Wingback Chairs
Leather
2010s Indonesian Renaissance Wingback Chairs
Leather, Mahogany
2010s British High Victorian Wingback Chairs
Beech
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary George III Wingback Chairs
Leather, Wood
Early 19th Century English Antique Wingback Chairs
Hardwood
21st Century and Contemporary Classical Roman Wingback Chairs
Cowhide, Leather
1980s American Bohemian Vintage Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Rattan, Wood
1960s American Chippendale Vintage Wingback Chairs
Leather, Mahogany
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Georgian Wingback Chairs
Leather
2010s South African Modern Wingback Chairs
Steel
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Velvet, Walnut
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Velvet, Wood
2010s Italian Modern Wingback Chairs
Fabric
Mid-20th Century Czech Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Bentwood
1950s Italian Vintage Wingback Chairs
Early 1800s American Federal Antique Wingback Chairs
Mahogany
2010s American Modern Wingback Chairs
Linen, Maple
1920s French Louis XVI Vintage Wingback Chairs
Walnut
2010s American Modern Wingback Chairs
Mohair, Wood, Walnut
19th Century English William and Mary Antique Wingback Chairs
Silk, Mahogany
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Leather, Upholstery
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Leather, Beech
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Wood
20th Century Classical Roman Wingback Chairs
Leather, Sheepskin
21st Century and Contemporary Dutch Modern Wingback Chairs
Upholstery
1940s English Hollywood Regency Vintage Wingback Chairs
Velvet, Wood
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Brass
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Velvet, Beech, Walnut
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Mahogany
Mid-19th Century French Louis XV Antique Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
1730s English George II Antique Wingback Chairs
Walnut
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Hardwood
20th Century Italian Louis XV Wingback Chairs
Wood
20th Century Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Wood
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Linen, Wood
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Wood
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Walnut, Bouclé
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Leather, Wood, Plywood
1940s American Hollywood Regency Vintage Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
1820s English Georgian Antique Wingback Chairs
Hardwood, Oak
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Walnut
Early 18th Century Chippendale Antique Wingback Chairs
Mahogany, Maple, Suede, Jute, Cotton, Upholstery
Early 18th Century English Georgian Antique Wingback Chairs
Walnut
2010s American Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Brass
1960s British Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Bouclé, Birch
2010s American Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Mohair
Early 20th Century Austrian Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Wood, Bentwood
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
1940s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Leather, Fabric, Elm
1880s Antique Wingback Chairs
Leather, Mahogany
1940s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Seagrass, Beech
Early 18th Century British William and Mary Antique Wingback Chairs
Elm
21st Century and Contemporary Dutch Modern Wingback Chairs
Upholstery
Late 20th Century European Louis XV Wingback Chairs
Fruitwood
Early 20th Century Wingback Chairs
Leather, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary American Hollywood Regency Wingback Chairs
Upholstery
1920s French Louis XV Vintage Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Walnut
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.