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.
Monumental Texas Longhorn Mounted Bull
By Bud Jones Taxidermy
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This was found on a Ranch in Texas and is signed Bud Jones Taxidermy from Texas and dated 1969. The condition is very good.
Cowhide
Zabihi Collection Scenic Pictorial Turkish Kilim
Located in New York, NY
A 20th-century Turkish Kilim with a scenery kilim Details rug no. j3692 size 3' 3" x 4' 5" (99 x 135 cm)
Wool
Zabihi Collection Pictorial Turkish Kilim
Located in New York, NY
a late 20th-century mini square Turkish kilim Details rug no. j3830 size 2' 5" x 2' 6" (74 x 76 cm)
Wool
$716Sale Price|20% Off
Mother and Colt Horse Painting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Mother and Colt Horse painting. Signed and dated 1971.
Canvas, Paint
$2,000Sale Price|39% Off
Large American Micromosaic Alaskan Landscape, Features Moose
Located in Vero Beach, FL
Large American Micromosaic Alaskan landscape, Features Moose This large scale micromosaic panel is executed with impressive precision. It features a moose in a typical Alaskan lands...
Marble
Saffron Yellow Mid 20th Century Turkish Rug
Located in New York, NY
A mid-20th century Turkish rug with an all-over repetitive floral motif in green and brown on saffron field Measures: 4'3'' x 7'5''.
Wool
William Alexander Drake (Am., 1891-1979) Oil On Masonite, Church Bells At Dawn
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Unsigned, from the estate of the artist. A luminous view of a church steeple with bells against a golden and rose tone sky as dawn breaks. The gray sky is gradually iightening with b...
Wood, Masonite
Antique Turkoman Asmalyk Camel Trapping Textile Wall Hanging
Located in Savannah, GA
Rare Turkoman hand-knotted decorative asmalyk which is a camel trapping used in weddings. Measures: 31 inches tall to end of tassels. See other measurem...
Wool
Mid-20th Century Moorish Style Moroccan Market Scene Oil Painting
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Moroccan Orientalist oil on canvas painting of a 19th century Moroccan market scene with an old men seating on a carpet selling old coins and a Moorish...
Canvas
handmade Silk Hereke Rug, Turkey, 20th Century
Located in London, GB
Exquisite design and quality workmanship silk Hereke rug - a true masterpiece that will elevate the decor of any space. This rug has been hand-knotted with great care and precision t...
Silk
$675Sale Price|25% Off
H 29 in W 59 in D 1 in
Mid-20th Century Man's Ceremonial (cofradía) Outfit, Chichicastenango, Guatemala
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Mid-20th century man's ceremonial (cofradía) outfit, Chichicastenango, Guatemala. 25" (63.5 cm) shoulder to hem by 59" (274 cm) across shoulders It is rare to find a complete ceremonial cofradía outfit in such good condition. The blue zigzag embroidery at shoulders and cuffs is said to signify that the wearer was an astrologist or day-keeper of the ceremonial Maya calendar...
Wool
$250
H 10 in W 10 in D 1 in
Tonala Folk Art Pottery Plate Hand Painted with Birds, Mexico, circa 1960's
By Ken Edwards
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Handcrafted Ken Edwards ceramic plate Tonala Mexico Folk Art Pottery. Vintage Ken Edwards Mexican ceramic birds and flowers from Tonala Pottery. ...
Ceramic
$1,200
H 8 in W 10.75 in D 1.25 in
Fine 19th-Century European Silk Pictorial Embroidery Panel in Gilded Frame.
Located in Vero Beach, FL
Fine 19th-Century European Silk Pictorial Embroidery Panel in Gilded Frame. An exceptional and meticulously executed mid-19th-century European silk needlework pictorial panel, captu...
Silk, Blown Glass, Giltwood
19th Century French Scenic Wallpaper Triptych
Located in Sunshine, LA
An extraordinary triptych of 19th-century French scenic wallpaper, preserved as three individual panels mounted on custom linen-wrapped frames. Together, the panels form an enchantin...
Linen, Wood, Paint, Paper
$3,000
H 23.2 in W 17.25 in D 1 in
Framed Finely Woven Pre-Columbian Pictorial Textile Chimu Musuem Quality
Located in Atlanta, GA
A well preserved and rare pictorial antique pre-Columbia textile panel from Chimu culture. Located in Northern Coast of nowadays Peru, Chimu culture thrived in the late Intermediate/...
Textile, Linen, Wood
$950Sale Price|20% Off
H 23.38 in W 27.25 in D 1.5 in
Mid-20th Century German Expressionist Winter Landscape Oil Painting
By Grandma (Anna Robertson) Moses 1
Located in Chattanooga, TN
This early 20th-century winterscape by German artist Ludwig August Heydendahl (1876–c.1960) is a quiet visual symphony of rural stillness and muted drama. In shades of silvery gray, ...
Wood, Paint
$2,495
H 15 in W 12 in D 0.75 in
Russian Icon Painting Theotokos Vladimir Madonna Mother Mary Child Jesus Christ
Located in Studio City, CA
A beautifully engaging, darkly nuanced Theotokos of Vladimir Russian icon (or possibly Our Lady of Kazan Icon/Mother of God of Kazan) tempera painting (and possibly gold leaf) on a wooden panel featuring the Madonna (Mother Mary) and infant child (a baby Jesus Christ) in her arms. Theotokos is the term for an Eastern icon...
Wood, Paint
Texas Made/Texas Modern
By Phaidon
Located in New York, NY
A compelling survey of Texas houses that draw both on the heritage of pioneer ranches and on the twentieth-century design principles of modernism. Helen Thompson and Casey Dunn, the writer/photographer team that produced the exceptionally successful Marfa Modern, join forces again to investigate Texas modernism. The juxtaposition of the sleek European forms with a gritty Texas spirit generated a unique brand of modernism that is very basic to the culture of the state today. Its roots are in the early Texas...
Paper
Mid-20th Century Tribal Tapa Cloth, Fiji
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Tapa cloth made from mulberry fiber with natural pigments, Fiji, mid-20th century.
Natural Fiber
Fantastic and Folky Mounted Hand-Hooked Rug from Pennsylvania
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This finely hand-hooked running horse rug was found in Centre County, Pennsylvania. It has wonderful somber colors and is sewn on linen and professionally mounted. Ready for hanging ...
Wool
9 Botanical Prints, Lowe's Ferns: British & Exotic, Priced per engraving.
Located in Buchanan, MI
This lot contains nine botanical prints, originally from various volumes of Edward Joseph Lowe's Ferns: British and Exotic. Paperwork/Provenance: N/A Condition: Four show signs of mi...
Birdseye Maple
Sold
H 32 in W 35.75 in D 2 in
William Alexander Drake (Am., 1891-1979) Oil Mt. Loki, Baffin Island In Snow
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Signed lower right. Painted from a photograph by the mountaineer- part of the Mt. Loki ridge with rough rust tone peaks, partially covered with snow. The sun illuminates them from the right, with the backs in the shade. Other ice capped peaks are in the distance. William Alexander Drake (Am., 1891-1979) Oil On Canvas On Masonite, Mt. Loki, Baffin Island...
Canvas, Masonite
Sold
H 41.75 in W 33.5 in D 2 in
William Alexander Drake (Am., 1891-1979) Oil On Masonite, Magnolia Tree In Bloom
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Unsigned, from the estate of the artist. A large painting of a magnolia tree blooming in the spring with its gorgeous pink and white cupped flow...
Wood, Masonite
Sold
H 45 in W 53.25 in D 0.75 in
“Bear Heaven” By Shawn-Lewis Halperin (American Contemporary, 21st Century)
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A large, whimsical and dynamic mixed media artwork by Lake Placid, New York Multidisciplinary Artist Shawn Lewis-Halpern depicting three dancing bears beneath two flanking birch tree...
Other
Pictorial Turkish Goat Kilim Runner
Located in New York, NY
A rare mid-20th century one-of-a-kind Turkish pictorial goat flatweave runner Measures: 3'5'' x 12'5''.
Wool
Vintage Original Painted California Gold Rush Sign
Located in Los Angeles, CA
20th Century Original painted Gold Rush Sign.
Wood, Paint
Fantastic Lamb Painting on Rustic Tin Signed Hamlin
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Fantastic lamb painting on rustic tin. Signed Hamlin.
Metal
19th C Signed Framed Horse Litho
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th C signed Framed Horse Litho By Olso.
Paper
19th C Pennsylvania. Eight Point Star Doll Quilt in Plexy Frame
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th C eight point star doll quilt from Berks County, Pennsylvania in fine condition.This super rare doll quilt is in a plexy frame and comes from a private...
Cotton
Pictorial Turkish Kilim
Located in New York, NY
A Late 20th century one of a kind Turkish pictorial flatweave. Maybe good for a wall hanging? Measures: 3'4'' x 6'6''.
Wool
American Quilt
Located in New York, NY
a 20th century colorful hand-crafted American Quilt Textile in good condition. There is a tag in back that reads Mary Hinchman Measures: 6'2'' x 6'3''.
Wool