Wingback Chairs
20th Century English Art Deco Wingback Chairs
Velvet, Beech
1990s Canadian Art Deco Wingback Chairs
Leather, Wood
1940s American Art Deco Vintage Wingback Chairs
Wool, Wood
1920s English Art Deco Vintage Wingback Chairs
Leather
20th Century French Art Deco Wingback Chairs
Brass
1920s German Art Deco Vintage Wingback Chairs
Bouclé, Hardwood
Early 20th Century Art Deco Wingback Chairs
Leather
1810s English Regency Antique Wingback Chairs
Hardwood, Leather
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Wingback Chairs
Brass
Mid-20th Century Swedish Art Deco Wingback Chairs
Sheepskin, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Deco Wingback Chairs
Mohair, Wood, Giltwood
1930s Italian Art Deco Vintage Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Wood
1920s German Art Deco Vintage Wingback Chairs
Leather, Beech
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Wingback Chairs
Leather, Wood, Down
1940s Czech Art Deco Vintage Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
1970s Vintage Wingback Chairs
Leather
1780s English Georgian Antique Wingback Chairs
Leather
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Bouclé, Teak
1950s English Vintage Wingback Chairs
Leather
1940s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Wool, Beech
20th Century British Wingback Chairs
Leather
Mid-20th Century British Wingback Chairs
Leather
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Wool, Oak
1940s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Wool, Beech
Early 20th Century British Wingback Chairs
Wood
20th Century British Art Deco Wingback Chairs
Leather
1950s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Wood
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Wingback Chairs
Leather, Wood
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Foam, Wood
1930s Slovak Art Deco Vintage Wingback Chairs
Beech
Mid-20th Century American Regency Wingback Chairs
Rattan
Late 20th Century American Regency Wingback Chairs
Leather, Upholstery
Mid-20th Century North American Regency Wingback Chairs
Velvet
20th Century American Regency Wingback Chairs
Brass
1930s American Art Deco Vintage Wingback Chairs
Alpaca, Upholstery, Wood
Late 20th Century North American Regency Wingback Chairs
Leather
20th Century English Regency Wingback Chairs
Leather
1920s American Art Deco Vintage Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Wood
1810s English Regency Antique Wingback Chairs
Mahogany
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.