Carved Swan Empire Chairs
20th Century French Chairs
Bronze
20th Century French Chairs
Bronze
Antique 1880s English Late Victorian Side Chairs
Rattan, Wood
Vintage 1940s English Empire Club Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
Antique Late 19th Century English Empire Revival Armchairs
Upholstery, Wood
Antique Late 19th Century English Empire Revival Armchairs
Upholstery, Wood
Recent Sales
20th Century French Empire Armchairs
Beech
Late 20th Century Empire Club Chairs
Silk, Mahogany, Giltwood
Antique 19th Century French Empire Dining Room Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
20th Century French Empire Revival Bergere Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
Mid-20th Century American Empire Armchairs
Leather, Fruitwood
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Antique Mid-18th Century Baroque Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Mirror, Giltwood
Antique 1820s German Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique 16th Century Belgian Renaissance Paintings
Copper
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis XVI Armchairs
Gold Leaf
Early 20th Century French Louis XV End Tables
Walnut
Vintage 1980s Unknown Hollywood Regency Table Lamps
Brass
20th Century Empire Armchairs
Fabric, Wood, Beech
20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Console Tables
Brass
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Egyptian Mounted Objects
Limestone
Antique 19th Century Spanish Spanish Colonial Screens and Room Dividers
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary American Spanish Colonial Dining Room Tables
Mahogany, Oak, Walnut
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Benches
Muslin, Upholstery, Giltwood
Antique Late 19th Century English Tea Caddies
Tortoise Shell
Vintage 1920s English Art Nouveau Dinner Plates
24k Gold
Mid-20th Century Cameroonian Tribal Tribal Art
Wood
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Table Lamps
Brass
Carved Swan Empire Chairs For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much are Carved Swan Empire Chairs?
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.
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The boho-chic Enchanted Forest Swing, handmade by marginalized women from Turkey and Syria, is uplifting in every way.