Wingback Chairs
Early 1800s English George III Antique Wingback Chairs
Mahogany
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Walnut
1890s English Victorian Antique Wingback Chairs
Alpaca
1960s Australian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Plywood
1960s Australian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Polystyrene
1960s Australian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Polystyrene
1960s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Velvet, Oak
1960s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Cowhide, Leather, Teak
Mid-19th Century English Antique Wingback Chairs
Linen, Wood
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Velvet, Oak
1960s American Queen Anne Vintage Wingback Chairs
Damask, Maple
1830s English Antique Wingback Chairs
Linen, Wood
1830s English Antique Wingback Chairs
Linen, Wood
Late 19th Century English George I Antique Wingback Chairs
Mahogany
19th Century English Antique Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
Early 1800s English Antique Wingback Chairs
Wool, Wood
19th Century French Antique Wingback Chairs
Velvet, Wood
19th Century English Antique Wingback Chairs
Upholstery
19th Century Louis XV Antique Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
Late 19th Century Antique Wingback Chairs
Leather, Walnut
19th Century English Georgian Antique Wingback Chairs
Leather
Late 19th Century British Antique Wingback Chairs
Wood
Mid-19th Century English Victorian Antique Wingback Chairs
Wood, Oak
Early 19th Century English Georgian Antique Wingback Chairs
Leather, Mahogany
19th Century English Antique Wingback Chairs
Linen, Wood
1960s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Sheepskin, Fabric, Beech
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Leather, Teak
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Hardwood, Teak
19th Century English Antique Wingback Chairs
Linen, Wood
1960s Vintage Wingback Chairs
Leather, Sheepskin
1960s Vintage Wingback Chairs
Leather, Sheepskin
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Leather, Wood
Early 19th Century Biedermeier Antique Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Mahogany
19th Century French Antique Wingback Chairs
Mid-19th Century French Louis XV Antique Wingback Chairs
Wood
1840s English Early Victorian Antique Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Walnut
1960s American Vintage Wingback Chairs
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Wood
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Wood
19th Century English Antique Wingback Chairs
Leather, Mahogany
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Wool, Oak
1890s American Queen Anne Antique Wingback Chairs
Burlap, Muslin, Wood
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Wingback Chairs
Giltwood
Late 19th Century Federal Antique Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Wood
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Chrome
19th Century English Queen Anne Antique Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
Late 19th Century American Queen Anne Antique Wingback Chairs
Textile, Wood
1960s American American Colonial Vintage Wingback Chairs
Mahogany, Upholstery
1870s English High Victorian Antique Wingback Chairs
Hardwood, Upholstery
1820s English Queen Anne Antique Wingback Chairs
Damask, Walnut, Down
Early 1800s British Georgian Antique Wingback Chairs
Mahogany
19th Century British Aesthetic Movement Antique Wingback Chairs
Wood, Upholstery
1880s Italian High Victorian Antique Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Hardwood
1860s English Antique Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Plywood, Leather, Wood
1870s English Victorian Antique Wingback Chairs
Leather, Oak
1960s Danish Vintage Wingback Chairs
Leather
19th Century European Victorian Antique Wingback Chairs
Steel
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.