Neoclassical Chairs
NEOCLASSICAL STYLE
Neoclassical design emerged in Europe in the 1750s, as the Age of Enlightenment reached full flower. Neoclassical furniture took its cues from the styles of ancient Rome and Athens: symmetrical, ordered, dignified forms with such details as tapered and fluted chair and table legs, backrest finials and scrolled arms.
Over a period of some 20 years, first in France and later in Britain, neoclassical design — also known as Louis XVI, or Louis Seize — would supersede the lithe and curvaceous Rococo or Louis XV style.
The first half of the 18th century had seen a rebirth of interest in classical antiquity. The "Grand Tour" of Europe, codified as a part of the proper education of a patrician gentleman, included an extended visit to Rome. Some ventured further, to sketch the ruins of ancient Greece. These drawings and others — particularly those derived from the surprising and rich archaeological discoveries in the 1730s and ’40s at the sites of the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum — caused great excitement among intellectuals and aesthetes alike.
Neoclassical furniture is meant to reflect both grace and power. The overall appearance of neoclassical chairs, tables and cabinetry is strong and rectilinear. These pieces are, in effect, classical architecture in miniature: chair and table legs are shaped like columns; cabinets are constructed with elements that mirror friezes and pediments.
Yet neoclassicism is enlivened by gilt and silver leaf, marquetry, and carved and applied ornamental motifs based on Greek and Roman sculpture: acanthus leaves, garlands, laurel wreaths, sheaves of arrow, medallions and chair splats are carved in the shapes of lyres and urns. Ormolu — or elaborate bronze gilding — was essential to French design in the 18th and 19th centuries as a cornerstone of the neoclassical and Empire styles.
As you can see from the furniture on these pages, there is a bit of whimsy in such stately pieces — a touch of lightness that will always keep neoclassicism fresh.
Find antique neoclassical furniture today on 1stDibs.
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Style: Neoclassical
Pair of 18th Century Italian Walnut Chairs
Located in Houston, TX
Pair of 18th century Italian walnut chairs.
Outstanding large pair of antique Italian Louis XVI walnut chairs, armchairs or fauteuils ...
Category
18th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Chairs
Materials
Wood, Velvet
$12,850 / set
Shaped Curve Back Dining Side Chair with Self Button Detail and Nailhead Detail
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Menton chair is a beautifully styled side chair shown in off white fabric with and self covered buttons on the inside back - nailhead trim outlining t...
Category
2010s American Neoclassical Chairs
Materials
Linen, Mahogany
$1,120 Sale Price / item
20% Off
Set of Four Neoclassical Armchairs, Cream Painted Finish, 18th Century
Located in Hudson, NY
A very handsome, stately set of four, 18th century, neoclassical arm chairs. Great cream painted surface with maroon accenting. These chairs reek of the passing of time. All the Upho...
Category
18th Century European Antique Neoclassical Chairs
Materials
Wood, Velvet, Paint
Greenapple Chair, Set of 4 Ellipse Chairs, Beige, Handmade in Portugal
By GF Modern, Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
Ellipse Chair, Modern Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by GF Modern.
The Ellipse chair is a classic and comfortable piece for any occasion. ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Neoclassical Chairs
Materials
Brass
Set of seven Neoclassical Dining Room Chairs, early 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Set of six dining chairs and one armchair on high, elegant square tapered legs with thread inlays. The rear legs are slightly flared and, together with the rounded backrests, give th...
Category
Early 19th Century German Antique Neoclassical Chairs
Materials
Cherry
Mid-19th Century Pair French Provincial Wooden Chairs Yellow Linen
Located in Brescia, IT
These fine French Mid-19th Century wooden chairs have an eclectic style and with theirs yellow linen upholstery they can give a touch of brig...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Chairs
Materials
Fabric, Wood
$2,852 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Chiavarina Chairs in Cherry Wood and Straw Seat, Early 20th Century, Set of Four
Located in Parma, IT
Set of 4 classic "Chiavarina" chairs early 20th century.
Cherry wood frame with "crosse" backrest, turned front legs and "saber" back legs "seat with "willow laths" fine stuffing. E...
Category
1920s Italian Vintage Neoclassical Chairs
Materials
Straw, Cherry
Vintage Regency Red Striated Empire Arm Chair
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This elegant armchair is a superb example of the refined and formal design of the Regency and Empire periods. Its stately presence is defined by a tall, straight back and gracefully ...
Category
Late 20th Century American Neoclassical Chairs
Materials
Leather, Fabric, Upholstery, Wood
Late 19th Century Collection of twelve Chairs
Located in Stahnsdorf, DE
Late 19th Century Collection of twelve Chairs
1890-1900,
Beech wood,
Introducing an exceptional collection of twelve chairs from the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. Two of the...
Category
1890s French Antique Neoclassical Chairs
Materials
Beech
$8,321 / set
19th century desk chair
Located in Banská Štiavnica, SK
19th century desk chair in original vintage condition.
Category
19th Century Slovak Antique Neoclassical Chairs
Materials
Fabric, Wood
$1,783
Plitman Banquet Chair
Located in Sturminster Marshall, Dorset
The Plitman banquet chair is a mahogany dining chair hand carved in the Chippendale style and upholstered with client’s own fabric.
Bespoke sizing, d...
Category
16th Century British Antique Neoclassical Chairs
Materials
Mahogany
$6,084 / item
Set of Four Neoclassical Chairs, Style of Jacob Henri, France 19th Century
Located in Belmont, MA
Set of four Neoclassical Chairs, France 19th century
The slightly bent backrests are decorated with a rosette and lambrequin decor. The design and motif was developed by the French...
Category
1820s French Antique Neoclassical Chairs
Materials
Cherry
Four Italian
Chiavari
Brass and Velvet Chairs
Located in London, GB
Four Italian 'Chiavari' brass and velvet chairs
Italian, early 20th century
Measures: Height 91cm, width 42cm, depth 40cm
The chairs in this set of four are crafted from brass, ...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Neoclassical Chairs
Materials
Brass
$10,278 / set
Neoclassical Single Armchair
Located in New York, NY
A fine neoclassical armchair.
Mahogany with patinated brass inlay, details and sabots.
Category
Mid-19th Century Russian Antique Neoclassical Chairs
Materials
Brass
$14,000
Pair of English 1900s Neoclassical Style Painted and Gilt Chairs with Feathers
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of English Neoclassical style painted wood side chairs from the early 20th century with parcel gilt décor and carved feather motifs. Created in England at the Turn of the Century which saw the transition between the 19th to the 20th, this pair of Neoclassical style side chairs draws our attention with their shield-style backs adorned with mesmerizing giltwood feathers...
Category
Early 20th Century English Neoclassical Chairs
Materials
Wood, Linen, Upholstery
Vintage Regency Cast Iron Lyre Back Chairs - A Pair
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Evoke the timeless elegance of a 19th-century formal garden with this exquisite pair of vintage cast iron armchairs. Each chair is a work of art, featuring an ornate, open-work back ...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Neoclassical Chairs
Materials
Iron
Suite of Four Jacob Frères Chairs
Located in Paris, FR
Suite of Four Jacob Frères Chairs, circa 1796.
In the neoclassical style.
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Neoclassical Chairs
Materials
Wood
$26,152 / set
Set of Four Neoclassical Side Chairs
Located in New York, NY
A set of four neoclassical side chairs.
Mahogany with patinated brass inlay, details and sabots.
Category
Mid-19th Century Russian Antique Neoclassical Chairs
Materials
Brass
Set of 4 Antique French Louis XIV Walnut Salon Chairs ~ Side Chairs
Located in Dallas, TX
Set of 4 Antique French Louis XIV Walnut Salon Chairs ~ Side Chairs feature a tailored neoclassically-inspired architecture evident in the squared seatbacks and slightly trapezoidal ...
Category
Early 20th Century French Neoclassical Chairs
Materials
Fabric, Walnut
Neoclassical Period Pair of Ashwood Armchairs with Carved Lyre Splat, circa 1790
Located in Atlanta, GA
Italian neoclassical pair of ashwood armchairs with carved lyre splat, circa 1790.
Category
1790s Italian Antique Neoclassical Chairs
Materials
Ash
Fine Pair of Neoclassical Side Chairs, 1st Half 19th Century
Located in New York, NY
An elegant pair of Italian Neoclassical mahogany chairs adorned with patinated brass mounts from Italy. These chairs feature bold saber shaped legs and vertical lyre shaped back supp...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Chairs
Materials
Brass
Pair of Early 19th Century chairs, with richly carved backs, Berlin
Located in Dresden, DE
Pair of chairs with richly carved decoration
openwork backrest with richly carved decoration on the back and legs Mahogany veneer and solid wood
Berlin, circa 1820
Height 87 cm...
Category
Early 19th Century German Antique Neoclassical Chairs
Materials
Mahogany
Pair of Mahogany Dining Room Chairs, Paris, circa 1810
Located in Greding, DE
Pair of mahogany chairs circa 1810 on balustered front legs and slightly flared back legs. The backs each display a laurel wreath. Stamped Jaco...
Category
1810s French Antique Neoclassical Chairs
Materials
Mahogany
Antique Ladder Back Writing Chair with Rush Seat
Located in Freehold, NJ
This antique writing chair features hardwood construction, original dark oak finish, ladder back seat with vintage rush caned seat, and a solid o...
Category
Early 20th Century American Neoclassical Chairs
Materials
Rush, Oak
Antique Pair of Neoclassic Style Armchairs, Italy
Located in Atlanta, GA
An Italian pair of Neoclassical style armchairs from the early 20th century. This antique pair of accent chairs from Italy are each carved with n...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Neoclassical Chairs
Materials
Upholstery, Wood
19th Century Chinoiserie Queen Anne Style Chair
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Nicely detailed Queen Anne chair. Seat was originally can but now hard upholstered in new mohair. Strong and sturdy.
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique Neoclassical Chairs
Materials
Mohair, Wood, Paint
6 Neoclassic Chairs in Blackened and Ceruse Oak, circa 1940-1950
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
6 neoclassic chairs in blackened and ceruse oak, circa 1940-1950.
Category
1940s French Vintage Neoclassical Chairs
Materials
Velvet, Oak
Set of Six Neoclassical Chairs in Cherrywood, circa 1940
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Set of six neoclassical chairs in cherrywood, circa 1940.
Three different design on the wood.
Very good condition.
Category
1950s European Vintage Neoclassical Chairs
Materials
Cherry
Six Neoclassical chairs circa 1970
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Six Neoclassical chairs circa 1970
2 armchairs same model also available.
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Neoclassical Chairs
Materials
Wood
$4,279 / set
Original 2er Set Neobarock Stühle Antik Holz Schnitzerei floral
Located in Berlin, DE
Wir bieten ein wunderschönes 2er Set antike Esszimmerstühle aus dem 19. Jahrhundert zum Verkauf an. Die Stühle stammen aus der Epoche des Neobarocks und bestechen durch ihre aufwendi...
Category
1850s German Antique Neoclassical Chairs
Materials
Fabric, Wood
Pair of Neoclassical Side Chairs, South German 1810-20
Located in Leimen, DE
Pair of Neoclassical Chairs, Germany 1810-20: Exquisite Design with Palmette Motif
Discover the elegance of the past with this stunning pair of Neoclassical chairs, hailing from Ger...
Category
1810s German Antique Neoclassical Chairs
Materials
Cherry
Pair of Gold Trimmed Neoclassical Opera Chairs
Located in Asheville, NC
Classical in form, with gorgeous detail, these upholstered seats are well-made and in great condition!!
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Neoclassical Chairs
Materials
Fruitwood
$3,200 / set
Elegant Neoclassical Chair by Jean-Maurice Rothschild, France, 1948
Located in Brussels, BE
Fine low chair from the end of the forties with new yellow fabric covering.
Two-tones wood frame.
By J.M. Rothschild, France, 1948.
Category
1940s French Vintage Neoclassical Chairs
Materials
Fabric, Mahogany, Sycamore
Elegant Chair in Stained Beech and Brass, France or Italy, circa 1940
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Elegant chair in stained beech and brass, France or Italy, circa 1940.
Category
1940s European Vintage Neoclassical Chairs
Materials
Brass
Neoclassical chairs for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Neoclassical chairs for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage chairs created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include seating, building and garden elements, folk art and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, fabric and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Neoclassical chairs made in a specific country, there are Europe, Italy, and North America pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original chairs, popular names associated with this style include Greenapple, GF Modern, Modenese Gastone, and Chiavari. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for chairs differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $300 and tops out at $28,500 while the average work can sell for $3,245.
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