Evoking rusticity and relaxation through simple and elegant designs, vintage Adirondack furniture originated in the Adirondack Mountains of northeastern New York. The most famous piece is the Adirondack chair, which dates to 1903.
With its ample armrests and sturdy but comfortable slanted seat, the reclined Adirondack chair was designed by Thomas Lee for his own country home. The postwar golden age of modern patio and garden furniture production — led by the likes of Brown Jordan, Knoll, Salterini and Woodard — was decades away at the time, and there were few pieces of furniture specifically created for outdoor use.
Lee, a Massachusetts-born Harvard graduate raised in a wealthy family, was no furniture designer. He merely needed a durable, rugged chair for afternoons in the sun while he was vacationing on Lake Champlain in Westport, New York, in the summer. The amateur woodworker used just one wooden plank cut into 11 segments that were jointed together for his now-legendary seat, which is said to have been made of hemlock, hickory or basswood.
The story of the Adirondack chair continues with Lee’s friend, carpenter Harry Bunnell, covertly patenting the chair and going on to produce it as the Westport Plank chair for a growing audience over the next two decades. Over a century later, the Adirondack chair has gone through several design evolutions while maintaining its popularity and basic form with slats of wood such as pine offering comfort both indoors and out.
The widespread demand for rustic Adirondack outdoor furniture was bolstered by the turn-of-the-century establishment of rural escapes to treat diseases such as tuberculosis. The low-slung Adirondack chair became common in these places of convalescence, allowing patients to recline and breathe in the country air. It also complemented the camp-style architecture that was prevalent in the Adirondacks for recreation as well as restoration, where rugged furniture with exposed wood and minimal carving filled interiors and wide porches.
Today, Adirondack chairs are made in a range of materials and can be found around the world, from ski resorts to lakeside piers, their durability and classic form making them an enduring favorite for spending time in nature.
Find vintage Adirondack chairs, benches, lounge chairs, decorative objects, folk art and other furniture on 1stDibs.
1870's Harvest Table From Pennsylvania
Located in Los Angeles, CA
1870s Pennsylvania wooden 2 bread board top all wooden tavern table. Original mustard over gray paint. Wonderful Peg and Square cut nail construction. Strong and sturdy table.
Wood
Evy Trestle Table Made from Reclaimed Pine (custom)
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This reclaimed pine farm table is seen here in 96" x 48", however it can be ordered in any size. Because each table is bench-made in our own Los Angeles workshop you can influence a...
Reclaimed Wood
$20,000 / item
H 30.5 in W 150 in D 42 in
Expandable Harvest Table in Reclaimed Pine, Built to Order by Petersen Antiques
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This expandable harvest table is seen here in 150" x 42", however it can be built in any size. Because each table is bench-made in our own Los Angeles workshop you can influence al...
Reclaimed Wood
Rustic Antique Farmhouse Harvest Table
Located in Forney, TX
A rustic antique farmhouse harvest table from the turn of the late 19th / early 20th century. Restored, retaining original character, d...
Wood, Paint
French farmhouse table from the 1950s
Located in LYON, FR
Maison Lecan presents this elegant farmhouse table from the 1950s. Its solid oak base, with slightly tapered legs, is paired with a beautiful cherrywood top featuring warm tones and...
Cherry, Oak
Solid french pine farmhouse table from the 1950s
Located in LYON, FR
Maison Lecan presents this solid pine farmhouse table from the 1950s, a piece of strong character distinguished by its four slender spindle legs in solid oak — a hallmark of mid-cent...
Pine
19th Century Oak Extending Table from France
Located in Brussels, Brussels
superb 19th century extending table in oak from France Very elegant extending table with straight legs which has beautiful proportions with a width of 86cm. It is rare to find ex...
Oak
$14,000 / item
H 30 in W 120 in D 42 in
Distressed Martha Harvest Table, Built to Order by Petersen Antiques
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This rustic farm or harvest table made from vintage, reclaimed wood is seen here 120" x 42" however it can be built in any size. Each table is hand made in our own workshop in Los ...
Pine
Mid-19th Century French Provincial Walnut Harvest Table
Located in Astoria, NY
Sourced from the Périgord region of southwestern France, this mid-19th century French Provincial harvest table is crafted in solid walnut and features a long rectangular plank top wi...
Walnut
Fine Tavern/ Farm Table from Antique Wood
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A very fine recreated Tavern table constructed from antique wood. With a two panel overhanging breadboard top. The table has a carved apron on all sides with shaped elements. Raised ...
Wood
Antique Country French Farmhouse Dining Table from Provence
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Classic 19th century country French provincial farmhouse dining table crafted from rich walnut. The ends are fitted with two storage drawers with gold knobs. The table is supported b...
Walnut
Evy Racetrack Trestle Table Made from Reclaimed Pine
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This trestle table is seen here in 132" x 45" with radius ends, however it can be built in any size the price shown here applies to tables up to 11 feet in length. This table is full...
Reclaimed Wood
Carina Dining Table Made from Reclaimed Pine (custom)
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This reclaimed pine dining table is seen here in 120" x "52 x "30, but it can be made in any size; we also offer an expandable version. Because each table is bench-made in our own ...
Reclaimed Wood
1870's Harvest Table From Pennsylvania
Located in Los Angeles, CA
1870s Pennsylvania wooden 2 bread board top all wooden tavern table. Original mustard over gray paint. Wonderful Peg and Square cut nail construction. Strong and sturdy table.
Wood
19thc Trestle Table In Original Surface
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Early 20Thc hand crafted trestle table from Lancaster County,Pennsylvania.This table has a dark old wash on the base and fine wood peg construction. You can sit four or six at this t...
Wood
Monumental 19th Century French Console
Located in New York, NY
An incredible 19th century French table with a simple construction including splayed legs and hundreds of cut marks on the top speaking to its original use as a work table. The perfe...
Wood
19thc Original Green Painted Large Farm Table
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19thc Original Green painted large farm table from Pennsylvania. This farm table has a nice scrub top with square nailed construction. This table has ...
Wood
Sold
H 31.25 in W 95.25 in D 43.5 in
Wizened Very Large Antique Maine Farmhouse Dining Table with Original Paint
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Amazing one of a kind antique Maine farm table, very large at almost 8 feet long, with gorgeous original paint and patina in warm tones of mustard, brown and red, having plank top an...
Pine