Henredon Schoonbeck
Mid-20th Century American French Provincial Lounge Chairs
Upholstery, Velvet, Hardwood, Giltwood, Paint
Mid-20th Century American Campaign Armchairs
Upholstery, Cane, Wood
Recent Sales
Late 20th Century Louis XV Sofas
Velvet, Mahogany
Late 20th Century American Other Sofas
Upholstery, Wood
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
Vintage 1970s American Modern Club Chairs
Upholstery, Walnut
20th Century American Slipper Chairs
Silk, Wood
Mid-20th Century American Hollywood Regency Swivel Chairs
Upholstery
20th Century American Canapes
Walnut, Velvet
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Vintage 1940s Italian Rococo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Ormolu
Vintage 1960s American Hollywood Regency Loveseats
Upholstery, Wood
Mid-20th Century Italian Neoclassical Dining Room Chairs
Metal
2010s Italian Modern Decorative Baskets
Leather
Vintage 1970s Lounge Chairs
Velvet
Vintage 1970s French Modern Game Tables
Brass
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Upholstery, Walnut
Late 20th Century German Post-Modern Armchairs
Leather
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Patio and Garden Furniture
Aluminum
Antique 19th Century English British Colonial Bergere Chairs
Wood
Mid-20th Century American Queen Anne Console Tables
Hardwood, Fruitwood
21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers an...
Brass
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
Ceramic
Vintage 1960s Scandinavian Modern Armchairs
Fabric, Teak
Antique Late 19th Century British Late Victorian Wingback Chairs
Leather, Hardwood
Early 20th Century Chippendale Dining Room Tables
Mahogany
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.