Wingback Chairs
1960s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Fabric
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Velvet, Oak
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Beech, Velvet
Early 20th Century Wingback Chairs
Leather, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Asian American Classical Wingback Chairs
Leather
1960s American Vintage Wingback Chairs
Mid-19th Century French Louis XV Antique Wingback Chairs
Wood
Early 18th Century French Baroque Antique Wingback Chairs
Leather, Walnut
1950s Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Bouclé, Wood
Mid-20th Century Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Upholstery, Wood, Hardwood
1970s American Chinese Chippendale Vintage Wingback Chairs
Linen, Cotton
Mid-18th Century Irish George II Antique Wingback Chairs
Mahogany
1820s English Georgian Antique Wingback Chairs
Hardwood, Oak
2010s Renaissance Wingback Chairs
Mahogany
20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Beech, Oak, Upholstery
Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Wingback Chairs
Linen, Wood
20th Century Baroque Wingback Chairs
Bronze
Mid-20th Century French Louis XV Wingback Chairs
Wood
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Hide, Upholstery, Bentwood
18th Century English Antique Wingback Chairs
Mahogany
1990s American George III Wingback Chairs
Leather
Early 20th Century French Provincial Wingback Chairs
Cotton, Walnut
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Wool, Wood
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Faux Leather, Beech
1910s Austrian Vienna Secession Vintage Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Wood
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Wood
1820s English Chinese Chippendale Antique Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Hardwood
Early 18th Century English Antique Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Walnut
19th Century English Victorian Antique Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Walnut
1920s Swedish Vintage Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Walnut
1880s Antique Wingback Chairs
Leather, Mahogany
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
Early 20th Century Swedish Gustavian Wingback Chairs
Linen, Wood, Paint
Early 20th Century European Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Mahogany
1970s North American Vintage Wingback Chairs
Velvet
1930s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Lambskin, Beech
20th Century American Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Oak
Mid-20th Century French Regency Wingback Chairs
Oak, Velvet
Early 20th Century Art Deco Wingback Chairs
Leather
1970s English Georgian Vintage Wingback Chairs
Mohair, Wood
1920s British Georgian Vintage Wingback Chairs
Leather, Walnut
19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Wingback Chairs
Mahogany, Upholstery
1870s English Victorian Antique Wingback Chairs
Leather, Oak
Mid-20th Century Czech Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Steel
19th Century English Victorian Antique Wingback Chairs
Upholstery
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Hardwood
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Bouclé, Wood
1950s Unknown Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Wood, Leather
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Mahogany
Early 19th Century Irish George III Antique Wingback Chairs
Mahogany
20th Century British Wingback Chairs
Leather
Mid-20th Century French Louis XVI Wingback Chairs
Textile, Wood
20th Century Queen Anne Wingback Chairs
Mahogany, Upholstery
1940s Unknown Art Nouveau Vintage Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Wool, Teak
1960s Queen Anne Vintage Wingback Chairs
Leather, Wood
18th Century American Chippendale Antique Wingback Chairs
Brass
Early 20th Century Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Bouclé, 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.