Wingback Chairs
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Velvet, Walnut
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Velvet, Wood
Early 20th Century Art Deco Wingback Chairs
Leather
1960s American Chippendale Vintage Wingback Chairs
Leather, Mahogany
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Velvet, Walnut
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Bouclé, Walnut
Mid-20th Century Czech Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Bentwood
18th Century American Chippendale Antique Wingback Chairs
Brass
2010s British High Victorian Wingback Chairs
Leather
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Georgian Wingback Chairs
Leather
Early 18th Century British William and Mary Antique Wingback Chairs
Walnut
19th Century British William and Mary Antique Wingback Chairs
Oak
Late 19th Century British Antique Wingback Chairs
Wood
1920s British Georgian Vintage Wingback Chairs
Leather, Walnut
19th Century English Victorian Antique Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Walnut
20th Century American Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Oak
1760s English George II Antique Wingback Chairs
Leather
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Wood, Bouclé
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Leather, Teak, Canvas
1940s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Leather, Fabric, Beech
19th Century European Baroque Antique Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Wood
Early 20th Century English Wingback Chairs
Brass
1970s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Leather, Wood
Mid-20th Century Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Upholstery, Wood, Hardwood
Mid-18th Century English George III Antique Wingback Chairs
Wood
1880s Antique Wingback Chairs
Leather, Mahogany
1730s English George II Antique Wingback Chairs
Walnut
1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Leather, Velvet
Mid-20th Century American Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Wood
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Wood
1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Wool, Walnut
1940s American Vintage Wingback Chairs
Linen, Mahogany, Upholstery
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Metal
2010s Renaissance Wingback Chairs
Mahogany
20th Century Classical Roman Wingback Chairs
Leather, Sheepskin
1760s German Baroque Antique Wingback Chairs
Walnut
20th Century Italian Louis XV Wingback Chairs
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary American Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
Late 20th Century Chinese Chippendale Wingback Chairs
Cotton, Wood
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Wingback Chairs
Cherry
1960s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Fabric
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Leather, Teak
1970s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Chrome
1780s English Chinese Chippendale Antique Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Mahogany
20th Century British Wingback Chairs
Leather
20th Century Dutch Wingback Chairs
Leather, Sheepskin
21st Century and Contemporary English Victorian Wingback Chairs
Leather
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Wood
1840s German Biedermeier Antique Wingback Chairs
Yew
1930s Italian Art Deco Vintage Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Wood
1940s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Leather, Mahogany
1970s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Wool, Oak
1970s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Chrome
Early 20th Century French Provincial Wingback Chairs
Cotton, Walnut
20th Century Italian Wingback Chairs
Bamboo
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Louis XVI Wingback Chairs
Linen, Cane, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary George III Wingback Chairs
Leather, Wood
Early 18th Century Chippendale Antique Wingback Chairs
Mahogany, Maple, Suede, Jute, Cotton, Upholstery
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Velvet, Wood
Late 19th Century English Georgian Antique Wingback Chairs
Leather, 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.