Twist Iron Ice Cream Parlor Chair
Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Arts and Crafts Armchairs
Metal, Wrought Iron
Antique 19th Century Victorian Children s Furniture
Iron
Antique Late 19th Century American Victorian Chairs
Wrought Iron
Recent Sales
Early 20th Century American Victorian Chairs
Wrought Iron
Early 20th Century American Primitive Chairs
Wrought Iron
Early 20th Century North American Victorian Dining Room Chairs
Wrought Iron
20th Century French Art Nouveau Dining Room Chairs
Wrought Iron
Early 20th Century North American Victorian Armchairs
Iron
Early 20th Century American Armchairs
Iron
Early 20th Century North American Victorian Dining Room Sets
Iron
20th Century Chairs
Wrought Iron
Early 20th Century American Victorian Dining Room Chairs
Wrought Iron
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Side Chairs
Antique Late 19th Century Industrial Stools
Copper, Wrought Iron
Mid-20th Century American Victorian Chairs
Wrought Iron
Antique Early 1900s American Dining Room Chairs
Mid-20th Century American Victorian Patio and Garden Furniture
Iron
Early 20th Century American Chairs
Iron
Vintage 1950s American Side Chairs
Metal
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Antique 15th Century and Earlier Vietnamese Antiquities
Bronze
20th Century Brazilian Organic Modern Loveseats
Hardwood
Antique 1780s Italian Neoclassical Daybeds
Gold Leaf
21st Century and Contemporary English Modern Decorative Baskets
Copper
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Romantic Vanities
Velvet, Mirror, Plastic, Wood
Antique 19th Century English William and Mary Wingback Chairs
Linen, Oak
Antique 18th Century British Indian Ocean Territory Medieval Tapestries
Fabric
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Iron
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Benches
Upholstery, Wood, Paint
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures
Silver Plate
Antique Late 19th Century Brazilian Romantic Chaise Longues
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary American Tables
Ebony, Oak, Walnut
2010s American Modern Pillows and Throws
Down, Feathers
20th Century American Brutalist Console Tables
Steel
Antique 19th Century Chinese Beds and Bed Frames
Gold Leaf
Early 20th Century Turkish Quilts and Blankets
Cotton, Silk
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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