Neoclassical Side 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
Italian, Genovese, Neoclassic Small Walnut Side Chair, ca. 1820
Located in Atlanta, GA
having a slightly concave open backrest atop a frame with splayed legs and a drop-in seat upholstered in leather
Category
1810s Italian Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs
Materials
Walnut
Pair of 19th Century Side Chairs
Located in Dallas, TX
Pair of 19th century French oval back side chairs.
Category
19th Century Unknown Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs
Materials
Wood
$1,520 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Pair of French Neoclassical Side Chairs in Walnut two-tone Wax Polished
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Late 19th century pair of French Neoclassical side chairs in walnut two-tone ( ebonizedthe front and dark walnut the back ) with seat i...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs
Materials
Silk, Walnut
Pair Art Nouveau Neoclassical Chairs , Hand-Carved Walnut, Spring Leather Seat
Located in Vigonza, Padua
1990s, elegant chairs restored and polished to wax, finely hand-carved walnut, seat in original leather in good condition with straps and springs.
Suitable for writing table or for e...
Category
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs
Materials
Leather, Walnut
Neoclassical Marquetry Desk Chair in the Style of Giuseppe Maggiolini, Italy
Located in Dallas, TX
A spectacular Italian Neoclassical style desk chair, in the manner of Giuseppe Maggiolini, late 19th c. Exquisite marquetry veneer in rosewood, satinwood and other decorative woods. Front fully decorated with intricate inlaid marquetry foliate designs, back featuring a centered foliate cartouche and corner cartouches rising on four elegant squared tapering legs finished with the original brass castor cups.
The shape and the inlaid designs are similar to those on pieces of furniture produced by Giuseppe Maggiolini (1738-1814), the foremost cabinet-maker in late 18th-century Milan. Maggiolini and his workshop specialized in marquetry scenes inspired by antiquity, based on drawings by late 18th-century artists and designers such as Andrea Appiani...
Category
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs
Materials
Brass
19th Century Chiavarine Chairs Turned Walnut with Hand-Carved Seat
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Elegant Mid-19th century Chiavarine side chairs in turned walnut and with hand-carved seat, restored and finished to wax
Measure cm: H 101\47 x W 45 x D 45.
Category
Mid-19th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs
Materials
Walnut
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 Side Chairs
Materials
Wood, Linen, Upholstery
Pair of French Mid Century Hand Painted Neoclassical Cock Fighting Chairs
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous pair of neoclassical cock fighting chairs with lyre backs and swivel seats. Hand painted with bronze rods in the lyre. Seat height is 19inches.
Category
1950s French Vintage Neoclassical Side Chairs
Materials
Brass
Black Lacquer Rush Bottom seat Ladderback side chair
Located in Pasadena, TX
This ladderback chair is painted black and has a beautiful rush bottom seat.
The chair has 7 stretchers to insure its stability.
Category
1980s American Vintage Neoclassical Side Chairs
Materials
Rush, Wood
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 Side Chairs
Materials
Brass
Early Brass Charivari Chair, Italy 1930
s
Located in New York, NY
A very early Charivari chair, it is made of cast hollow brass elements silver welded together unlike the later solid brass ones, more unusual is its pierced brass seat, most likely m...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Neoclassical Side Chairs
Materials
Brass
Pair Of Fine Neoclassical Style Lyre Back Side Chairs
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Possibly Italian. Elegant side chairs with curved and scrolled crest rails with reeded bands. The lyre form splats with finely carved scrolled leafy sides and a center palmette and l...
Category
19th Century European Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs
Materials
Fabric, Wood
Hollywood Regency Faux Bois Cane Dining Armchair Bright Green Upholstery
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A beautiful wood faux bois armchair with cane back and bright green upholstered seat. A Hollywood Regency staple, faux bois furniture is a highly ...
Category
20th Century American Neoclassical Side Chairs
Materials
Fabric, Cane, Wood
Pair of Italian Piedmontese Rounded Back Carved and Upholstered Armchairs
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of Italian Piedmontese (c.1785) open arm chairs with a rounded back having a carved floral crest, the frame carved with wheat, and the legs having a twisted fluting with light g...
Category
Late 18th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs
Materials
Wood
Set of Four Italian 1820s Neoclassical Dining Room Chairs with Carved Splats
Located in Atlanta, GA
A set of four Italian neoclassical walnut dining room side chairs from the early 19th century, with carved splat, fluted legs and new upholstery. Born in Italy during the first quart...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs
Materials
Upholstery, Walnut
Neoclassical Antique Giltwood Upholstered Swan Armchair, Early 20th Century
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A Neoclassical carved swan armchair with upholstered seat back and seat. This antique piece is created from wood and features armrests that are carved to look like swans. The seat ba...
Category
Early 20th Century English Neoclassical Side Chairs
Materials
Wood, Paint
Set of 13 Fine French Neoclassical Dining Chairs
Located in Long Island City, NY
Set of 13 fine French Neoclassical cherry wood dining chairs in an Empire-Directoire style with carved and blackened wood details.
Category
1940s French Vintage Neoclassical Side Chairs
Materials
Cherry
$23,500 / set
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 Side Chairs
Materials
Fabric, Wood
$2,850 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Set of 4 Neoclassical Gustavian Style Chairs, Parcel Gilt
Painted, Sphinx Ca
Located in Manhasset, NY
Set of 4 carved side chairs, desk chairs, office chairs. Finely detailed set of Neoclassical Gustavian Chairs each in a nice scalamandre fabric having winged sphinxes on the back res...
Category
1960s Swedish Vintage Neoclassical Side Chairs
Materials
Wood, Paint
Pair of Italian Neo-Classic Black Painted
Gilt Upholstered Dining Side Chairs
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of Italian Neo-Classic (18th Century) black painted side chairs with curved backs ahaving rectangular tops carved with two-wreathed swags, with upholstered back and seat in blac...
Category
18th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs
Materials
Giltwood
Pair of Italian Neoclassic Patinated Bronze Athenienne Form Urns
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of Italian Neo-classic (19th Century) bronze Athenian form urns with natural patina, featuring lions' head embellishments with ring handles, resting on three lions feet joined b...
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs
Materials
Metal, Bronze
Pair of Neoclassical Black Painted Side Chairs with Woven Seats, Italy ca. 1790
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of Neoclassical Black Painted Side Chairs with Woven Seats, Italy circa 1790. These period chairs feature rounded tapered legs and a un...
Category
1790s Italian Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs
Materials
Wood
Set of Four Baltic Empire Chairs
Located in Lambertville, NJ
An extraordinary set of four Baltic neoclassical parcel-gilt and silver gilt side chairs each with scrolled and circular backrest and applied with anthemion and palmette decoration. Upholstered in an elegant gold and white jacquard fabric.
Category
Mid-19th Century Baltic Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs
Materials
Birch
$18,000 / set
Italian Neoclassic Shield Back Dining/Side Chair W/ Floral Beige Upholstery
Located in Queens, NY
Italian Neo-Classic side chair with an openwork shield form back, carved decorative splat, padded seat upholstered in floral patterned beige fabric with embroidered trim...
Category
18th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs
Materials
Fabric, Wood, Upholstery
Antique Italian Neoclassical French Louis XVI Carved Walnut Low Boudoir Chair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Italian Neoclassical French Louis XVI Style Carved Walnut Low Boudoir Chair. Item features a distressed finish, solid wood frame, oversized seat cushion, urn and arrow carved...
Category
Mid-20th Century Neoclassical Side Chairs
Materials
Fabric, Walnut
Pair of English Victorian Painted Side Chairs
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of English Victorian (Aesthetic Movement) painted side chairs with lion head finials on back with and upholstered seat and back and front stretcher
Category
19th Century English Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs
Materials
Upholstery, Wood
$11,000 / set
Set of 4 Klismos-Style Chairs
Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse
Two chairs and two armchairs. Original cognac-coloured leather seats with fine gold embossed frieze.
Dimensions provided below are for the armchairs. The chairs measure (in centim...
Category
19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs
Materials
Leather, Wood
Set of 4 Italian Neoclassic Silk Upholstery Chairs
Located in Queens, NY
Set of 4 Italian Neoclassic style parcel gilt & cream painted side chairs with green damask silk upholstery above spiral fluted turned legs (19th Cent)
Antique condition, upholstery...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs
Materials
Damask, Giltwood
Set of Six Russian Neoclassic
First Half of the 19th Century
Side Chairs
Located in Queens, NY
Set of six Russian neoclassic 'first half of the 19th century' mahogany side chairs with upholstered seat and carved foliate and rosettes on corner of back with sabre form front legs...
Category
Early 19th Century Russian Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs
Materials
Mahogany, Upholstery
Italian Neo-Classic Shield Side Chair
Located in Queens, NY
Italian Neo-classic style (19th Cent) brown painted and gilt trimmed side chair with oval open carved shield form back and striped upholstered seat.
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs
Materials
Gold Leaf
Continental Neoclassic Mahogany Side Chairs
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of Continental neoclassic style mahogany side chairs with squared back and pierced vertical splat above turned legs. (possibly Italian, 19th century).
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs
Materials
Mahogany
$3,700 / set
Early 20th Century Maison Jansen Style Swan Head Side Chair
Located in Augusta, GA
Maison Jansen style iron and brass side chair
Made in 1926 in New York
Swan heads on arms
Original condition
Fabulous style!
Category
Early 20th Century American Neoclassical Side Chairs
Materials
Brass, Iron
Pair of Italian Neoclassical Painted and Carved Side Chairs with Shield Backs
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of Italian 1790s neoclassical painted and carved side chairs with shield backs and traces of gilt. This pair of Italian neoclassical side chairs from the late 18th century is ...
Category
Late 18th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs
Materials
Upholstery, Wood
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 Side Chairs
Materials
Brass
Italian Neoclassic Giltwood
Stripe Upholstered Dining / Side Chair
Located in Queens, NY
Italian Neo-Classic (18th Century) giltwood side chair featuring a shaped oval back upper section having a carved foliate crest and upholstered in a floral stripe pink and beige patt...
Category
18th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs
Materials
Fabric, Wood, Giltwood, Upholstery
Pair of Italian Neo-Classic Ebonized and Parcel-Gilt Red Upholstered Armchairs
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of Italian Neo-Classic ebonized and parcel-gilt armchairs with square form backrests, two tone red-striped upholstered backs and seats with scalloped rope trim, the arms topped ...
Category
18th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs
Materials
Wood, Giltwood, Fabric, Upholstery
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 Side Chairs
Materials
Mohair, Wood, Paint
Pair of Royal Late 18th Century Neoclassical Berlin Side Chairs
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
The finely carved unusual splat with two horse heads in the centre holding draperies in their mouth above a classcial pierced splat decorated with further draperies and supported by ...
Category
Late 18th Century German Antique Neoclassical Side Chairs
Materials
Wood
Neoclassical side chairs for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Neoclassical side 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 side chairs created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include seating, building and garden elements, tables and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, fabric and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Neoclassical side 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 side chairs, popular names associated with this style include Chiavari, Casa Bique, Conant Ball, and Dos Gallos Studio. 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 side 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 $225,000 while the average work can sell for $2,950.
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