Arne Jacobsen Airport Sofa
Early 2000s Danish Scandinavian Modern Sofas
Chrome
1990s Danish Modern Sofas
Metal
Vintage 1980s Danish Mid-Century Modern Loveseats
Chrome
Recent Sales
1990s Danish Scandinavian Modern Sofas
Steel
Vintage 1950s Danish Sofas
Leather
Vintage 1950s Sofas
Steel
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Living Room Sets
Chrome
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Settees
Metal
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Settees
Aluminum, Steel
20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Sofas
Steel
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Loveseats
Metal
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Stainless Steel
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Loveseats
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Steel, Chrome
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Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Fabric
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
Late 20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Loveseats
Leather, Foam
2010s American Organic Modern Side Tables
Travertine
Vintage 1970s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Loveseats
Leather, Oak
1950s Prints and Multiples
Lithograph
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Side Tables
Marble
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Velvet, Beech
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Marble, Chrome
20th Century Mid-Century Modern Loveseats
Fabric
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Velvet, Wood
Early 2000s Danish Scandinavian Modern Posters
Paper
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Fabric, Wood
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Metal
Vintage 1960s German Space Age Lounge Chairs
Ultrasuede, Plastic
Vintage 1930s Swedish Art Deco Cabinets
Nickel, Silver
Finding the Right Seating for You
With entire areas of our homes reserved for “sitting rooms,” the value of quality antique and vintage seating cannot be overstated.
Fortunately, the design of side chairs, armchairs and other lounge furniture — since what were, quite literally, the early perches of our ancestors — has evolved considerably.
Among the earliest standard seating furniture were stools. Egyptian stools, for example, designed for one person with no seat back, were x-shaped and typically folded to be tucked away. These rudimentary chairs informed the design of Greek and Roman stools, all of which were a long way from Sori Yanagi's Butterfly stool or Alvar Aalto's Stool 60. In the 18th century and earlier, seats with backs and armrests were largely reserved for high nobility.
The seating of today is more inclusive but the style and placement of chairs can still make a statement. Antique desk chairs and armchairs designed in the style of Louis XV, which eventually included painted furniture and were often made of rare woods, feature prominently curved legs as well as Chinese themes and varied ornaments. Much like the thrones of fairy tales and the regency, elegant lounges crafted in the Louis XV style convey wealth and prestige. In the kitchen, the dining chair placed at the head of the table is typically reserved for the head of the household or a revered guest.
Of course, with luxurious vintage or antique furnishings, every chair can seem like the best seat in the house. Whether your preference is stretching out on a plush sofa, such as the Serpentine, designed by Vladimir Kagan, or cozying up in a vintage wingback chair, there is likely to be a comfy classic or contemporary gem for you on 1stDibs.
With respect to the latest obsessions in design, cane seating has been cropping up everywhere, from sleek armchairs to lounge chairs, while bouclé fabric, a staple of modern furniture design, can be seen in mid-century modern, Scandinavian modern and Hollywood Regency furniture styles.
Admirers of the sophisticated craftsmanship and dark woods frequently associated with mid-century modern seating can find timeless furnishings in our expansive collection of lounge chairs, dining chairs and other items — whether they’re vintage editions or alluring official reproductions of iconic designs from the likes of Hans Wegner or from Charles and Ray Eames. Shop our inventory of Egg chairs, designed in 1958 by Arne Jacobsen, the Florence Knoll lounge chair and more.
No matter your style, the collection of unique chairs, sofas and other seating on 1stDibs is surely worthy of a standing ovation.
Read More
The 21 Most Popular Mid-Century Modern Chairs
You know the designs, now get the stories about how they came to be.
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.
113 Chairs That Prove Danish Design Isn’t Limited to Denmark
In an innovative display, the Designmuseum Danmark is permanently exhibiting the 20th century's most iconic seats.