1950s Animal Skin Bergere Chairs

Vintage, new and antique bergère chairs add a touch of history to any leisure space. This beautifully upholstered seating furniture spans centuries of style, design and fashion.

A bergère armchair exudes comfort. The best-known versions have cushioned armrests and an upholstered back (or, at the very least, a cushion for the backrest). The seat is usually home to a sumptuous loose cushion, and the exposed wooden frame, molded or decoratively carved, is quite wide and sits low to the ground. In your living room, alongside your mahogany side tables and plush sofa, this chair will embody class, exceptional design and precise craftsmanship.

Bergère armchairs are among the chairs you should know. They originated in France and date back to the late 17th and early 18th centuries. There are at least three types of bergère chairs: bergère à la reine, which features high armrests, a straight back and sides that slope down to the arms; a shorter bergère cabriolet; and the bergère marquise, which is usually smaller with a low and curved back.

Louis XV bergère chairs were deeper and broader than other chairs of the period, while versions that were made during the Louis XVI period — which is characterized by furniture designed in reaction to the florid stylings of the previous era — see the particular style of chair developed further, with the area between the elbow rests and the seat being upholstered with fabric. Over time, the bergère chair took on dramatically different forms, while maintaining the same basic features. Mid-century modern bergère chairs have a sleeker design with simple yet elegant features. Whatever your overall chosen furniture style, a bergère chair introduces a comfortable yet commanding presence to any space.

Explore the extensive collection of antique, new and vintage bergère chairs on 1stDibs.