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Exceptional American Federal Mahogany Side Chair, New York, circa 1790
Located in Shippensburg, PA
is no longer applied to this form. The pierced splat of the shield back features a three
Category

Antique 1790s American Federal Side Chairs

Materials

Ash, Fabric, Mahogany, Pine

Fine American Federal Period Side Chair on Splayed Legs, New York, circa 1790
Located in Shippensburg, PA
is no longer applied to this form. The pierced splat of the shield back features a three
Category

Antique Late 18th Century American Federal Side Chairs

Materials

Mahogany

Exceedingly Fine American Federal Antique Side Chair, New York, circa 1790
Located in Shippensburg, PA
, the attribution is no longer applied to this form. The pierced splat of the shield back features a
Category

Antique 1790s American Federal Side Chairs

Materials

Mahogany

Rare American Federal Mahogany Antique Side Chair, New York, 1790
Located in Shippensburg, PA
, the attribution is no longer applied to this form. The pierced splat of the shield back features a
Category

Antique 1790s American Federal Side Chairs

Materials

Mahogany

Four American Federal Mahogany Side Chairs, circa 1790
Located in Shippensburg, PA
. The pierced splat of the shield back features a three-dimensional carved patera beneath a halo of
Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier American Federal Side Chairs

Materials

Mahogany

Old Hickory Pagosa Side Chairs, Brown Leather, Navajo Upholstery.
By Old Hickory Furniture Company
Located in Vero Beach, FL
light finish. The seats and back splats are upholstered in rich brown leather framed with metal domed
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Rustic Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Leather, Textile, Hickory

Georgian Side Chair Antique Mahogany Period
Located in Potters Bar, GB
'' frame for extra strength. Period Georgian antique The chair features a pierced and pierced back splat
Category

Vintage 1920s Georgian Chairs

Materials

Mahogany

Late 19th Century Shanxi Lamp-hanger Chair
Located in Singapore, SG
reinforcement into a design element and "camouflaging" the repair. The back-splat measures 10.5cm in width
Category

Antique 1880s Chinese Qing Furniture

Materials

Walnut

Pair of Antique Suede Side Chairs
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Pair of fine antique side chairs with suede seats, back splat with pierced carved floral medallion
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Neoclassical Side Chairs

Pair of Chinese Chairs
Located in San Marino, CA
A pair of Chinese Elm straight back side chairs, decoratively carved on the back splat.
Category

Antique Early 19th Century Chinese Qing Furniture

Regency Mahogany Settee
Located in Long Island City, NY
Regency mahogany settee with brass inlay in back-splat.
Category

Antique 19th Century English Settees

Materials

Brass

Edwardian Georgian Style Mahogany Dining Chairs
Located in Woodbury, CT
Set of 12 Georgian Style Dining Chairs, 10 sides/ 2 arms. Shaped backs with central splats and
Category

Early 20th Century English Edwardian Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Mahogany

Walnut Desk Chair with Cabriole Leg and Pad Feet, Italy, Late 18th Century
Located in Atlanta, GA
Late 18th century Italian desk chair in walnut with curved back, shaped back splat, cabriole legs
Category

Antique Late 18th Century Italian Armchairs

Materials

Walnut

Pair of Regency Arm Chairs
Located in Dallas, TX
seats (see Image 9) now gone the main photo depicts the same chair twice (Image 1) the back splats
Category

Antique 19th Century English Regency Armchairs

19th Century Chinese Bamboo Horseshoe Armchair
Located in San Marino, CA
and back splat details.
Category

Antique 19th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Bamboo

Pair of Regency Mahogany and Brass Mounted Armchairs
Located in Essex, MA
Curved tablet back above a splat, scrolled arms, saber legs. Caned seats. Cushions.
Category

Antique Early 19th Century English Regency Armchairs

Materials

Mahogany

Set of Six Simulated Rosewood Side Chairs
Located in Long Island City, NY
Set of six simulated rosewood side chairs with brass inlay in back splat.
Category

Antique 19th Century English Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Brass

Continental Directoire Beechwood Settee
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Continental Directoire beechwood settee with lyre shaped back splats, early circa 19th century.
Category

Antique Early 19th Century European Directoire Settees

Materials

Fabric, Upholstery, Beech

Late 19th Century Dining Chairs - Set of 6
Located in Charlottesville, VA
A set of six mahogany dining chairs . Great inlay in the back splat.
Category

Antique Late 19th Century British Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Upholstery, Wood

Set of Six Vintage Side Chairs
Located in BENSENVILLE, IL
Oak side chairs with carved back splats and caned seats. Price includes shipping.
Category

Early 20th Century French Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Oak, Cane

A Danish Modern Sidechair with Inlays
Located in NYC, NY
A graceful desk chair with an interesting back splat with diamond shaped inlays.
Category

Vintage 1960s Danish Chairs

Materials

Teak, Fabric

Set of Eight Regency Mahogany Brass Inlaid Leather Upholstered Dining Chairs
Located in San Francisco, CA
chairs, each with brass inlaid back splats with carved ears, over carved splats, the newly upholstered
Category

Antique Early 19th Century English Regency Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Brass

19th Century English Chippendale Side Chair in Ash
Located in Atlanta, GA
19th Century English Chippendale Side Chair in Ash with Pierced Back Splat & Box Stretcher
Category

Antique 19th Century English Chippendale Chairs

Materials

Ash

Near Pair of George III Walnut Corner Chairs, Late 18th Century
Located in Atlanta, GA
Having open backs and shaped splats, with drop in upholstered seats, on square legs.
Category

Antique Late 18th Century English George III Armchairs

Large 19th Century English Armchair in Mahogany
Located in Atlanta, GA
Large 19th century English armchair in Mahogany with pierced back splat and corner brackets.
Category

Antique 19th Century Great Britain (UK) Armchairs

Pair of Chinese Child s Chairs
Located in San Francisco, CA
A pair of Chinese hardwood horseshoe back children's chairs, each with a carved back splat
Category

20th Century Chinese Children s Furniture

Materials

Hardwood

English Georgian Mahogany Dining Chairs, Set of Eight
Located in San Francisco, CA
Set of eight Classic Georgian style chairs with reeded back splats, England, late 19th century.
Category

Antique 19th Century English Georgian Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Mahogany

Pair of Grosfeld House armchairs
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Grosfeld House mahogany armchairs with glass inserts flanking back-splat and below each arm.
Category

Vintage 1940s American Armchairs

Materials

Mahogany, Glass

18th c. English Country Chippendale Armchair
Located in Greenwich, CT
Period country Chippendale armchair with pierced back splat, slight crook arms and having a rich
Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier English Chairs

Materials

Oak

Arts Crafts Oak Armchairs, Netherlands, circa 1920
Located in Culver City, CA
Arts & Crafts oak armchairs, Netherlands, circa 1920. Arched back with horizontal splats above a
Category

Vintage 1920s Dutch Arts and Crafts Armchairs

Materials

Rush, Oak

Pair of Georgian Carved Mahogany Side Chairs
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
block foot. Exceptional pierced back splats!
Category

Antique 18th Century English Georgian Side Chairs

Materials

Mahogany

Set of 4 George I style Walnut and Burl Elm Side Chairs
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
central carved scroll, a burl elm vase shaped back splat with carved scrolls on right and left sides, back
Category

Vintage 1920s English George I Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Upholstery, Elm, Walnut, Burl

Venetian Late Baroque or Early Rococo Carved Walnut Divano
Located in Atlanta, GA
with an upholstered seat and three auricular carved back splats raised on 8 molded and carved legs
Category

Antique Early 18th Century Italian Rococo Benches

Italian Neoclassical Fruitwood Armchair
Located in Stamford, CT
Italian neoclassical fruit wood armchair.Back splat an unusual inked lyre shaped design with swan
Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier Armchairs

Italian Neoclassical Armchair
Located in Dallas, TX
an early 18th century Kingwood Italian Neoclassical armchair with gilded plumed back splat, new
Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier Italian Neoclassical Armchairs

Materials

Giltwood, Leather

Directoire Style Fruitwood Chairs, 2
Located in Astoria, NY
Directoire style fruitwood chairs, one armchair and one side chair, with X-form back splats
Category

20th Century Chairs

Materials

Fruitwood

Set of Four Italian Neoclassic Walnut Side Chairs
Located in Essex, MA
Each with a rectangular back with open splat, drop in seats, raised on circular fluted tapered legs.
Category

Antique Late 18th Century Italian Neoclassical Chairs

Materials

Other

Pair of Late Gustavian Armchairs
Located in New York, NY
A pair of late Gustavian armchairs in gilt wood. Back splat with "zero"-carvings and semi
Category

Antique 19th Century Swedish Armchairs

Materials

Giltwood

Set of Six French Carved Oak Dining Chairs
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
with carved centre-back splat, circa 1920.  
Category

Early 20th Century French Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Oak

Pair of Chinese Antique Chairs with Longevity Motif
Located in Somis, CA
traditional Southern Chinese style with slightly bent back splats and tiered top stretchers. A single symbol
Category

Antique 19th Century Chinese Furniture

Materials

Wood

Pair of Mid-20th Century Anamorphic Carved Pine Wood Armchairs
Located in London, GB
A pair of mid-20th century pine armchairs of anamorphic design, with bowed seats and wishbone back
Category

Mid-20th Century French Armchairs

Materials

Pine

19th Century Biedermeier Walnut and Rush Seat Bench
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
ebonized back splat.
Category

Antique 19th Century Belgian Biedermeier Benches

Materials

Rush, Walnut

Set of four side chairs
Located in New York, NY
Set of four Italian brass side chairs featuring elaborate back-splats composed of swans, hearts
Category

Vintage 1930s Italian Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Brass

Painted Neoclassical Italian Bench
Located in Doylestown, PA
An Italian neoclassical bench in salmon painted finish, with carved back splats and seat rail, on
Category

Antique 19th Century Italian Benches

Materials

Wood

19th century American Esthetic Movement slipper chair
Located in Stamford, CT
19th c Esthetic Movement mahogany slipper chair with interesting carved detail on the back splats
Category

Antique 19th Century American Chairs

Set of Four Early 19th Century Mahogany Side Chairs
Located in Long Island City, NY
Set of Four Early 19th Century Mahogany Side Chairs, back splat inlaid with ebony in greek key
Category

Antique 19th Century Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Mahogany

Antique Set Of Six Windsor Armchairs
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
Pierced Splats To Backs Standing On Elegant Turned Legs And Stretchers
Category

Antique 19th Century British Armchairs

Materials

Ash, Elm

Pair of George III Painted Armchairs
Located in Essex, MA
Each with rectangular backs with crestrail with floral painted panel, stick back splat, downswept
Category

Antique Late 18th Century English George III Armchairs

Materials

Wood

Set of Eight Mahogany Dining Chairs
Located in Manhasset, NY
wreath carved details center by round carved medallion back splat.
Category

Vintage 1930s English Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Wood, Fabric

Early 19th Century Anglo Indian Corner Chair in Colonial Hardwood
Located in London, GB
An early 19th century Anglo Indian corner chair in colonial hardwood, with curved back and back
Category

Antique Early 19th Century Indian Corner Chairs

Materials

Hardwood

Pair of Chinoiserie Armchairs in Red Lacquer
Located in Dallas, TX
Beautiful pair of lacquered armchairs with Chinoiserie details on the back splats and chair seats
Category

Antique 19th Century Chinese Armchairs

Pair of Mid 18th Century Irish Chippendale Chairs
Located in London, GB
A fine pair of mid 18th century Irish Chippendale chairs with Gothic back rail , ladder back splats
Category

Antique 1780s Northern Irish Chairs

Materials

Wood

Set of Four Early 19th Century Mahogany Side Chairs
Located in Long Island City, NY
Back Splat
Category

Antique 19th Century Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Mahogany, Ebony

Antique Farmhouse Fruit Basket Stenciled Caned Side Dining Chair Hitchcock
By Hitchcock
Located in Dayton, OH
Mid-19th century stenciled Hitchcock dining chair featuring a fruit basket shaped back splat and
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Rustic Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Cane, Hardwood, Paint

Chinese Ming “Style” Chairs, 18th Century
Located in San Marino, CA
mushrooms in the back splat.
Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier Armchairs

Empire style sette
Located in New York, NY
Mahogahy finish open-arm stette with lyre form back splats and brass medallion accents. 21 inches
Category

Vintage 1940s Italian Sofas

Materials

Brass

Italian Fruitwood Neoclassical Settee, circa 1800
Located in Atlanta, GA
The Italian fruitwood neoclassical settee featuring carved wood and gilt bronze back-splat
Category

Antique Early 1800s Italian Neoclassical Settees

Materials

Ormolu

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Splat Back For Sale on 1stDibs

Find many varieties of an authentic splat back available at 1stDibs. A splat back — often made from wood, fabric and upholstery — can elevate any home. Your living room may not be complete without a splat back — find older editions for sale from the 18th Century and newer versions made as recently as the 20th Century. Each splat back bearing Art Deco, Arts and Crafts or Baroque hallmarks is very popular. Thonet each produced at least one beautiful splat back that is worth considering.

How Much is a Splat Back?

A splat back can differ in price owing to various characteristics — the average selling price 1stDibs is $3,700, while the lowest priced sells for $403 and the highest can go for as much as $25,000.

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.

Questions About Splat Back
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021
    A splat back chair is a chair with a vertical central element on its back. Splat back chairs have more of a formal feel to them compared to other types of chairs and seating. Splat back Windsor chairs are popular on 1stDibs.