Padded Dragon Chair
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Dining Room Chairs
Silk, Wood
2010s Italian Chairs
Textile, Wood
Antique Early 1900s Chippendale Living Room Sets
Leather, Wood
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21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Armchairs
Plastic
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
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Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Papercord, Teak
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Daybeds
Plastic
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Sofas
Plastic
Mid-20th Century North American Hollywood Regency Dining Room Chairs
Burl
Vintage 1950s European Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Straw, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Plastic
Antique Early 1900s American Arts and Crafts Chairs
Mahogany
2010s French Chandeliers and Pendants
Brass
Antique 19th Century Syrian Islamic Chairs
Mother-of-Pearl, Wood
Antique 19th Century Italian Rococo Animal Sculptures
Wood
Antique 19th Century Italian Neoclassical Revival Side Chairs
Wood
Antique 19th Century Japanese Meiji Figurative Sculptures
Bronze
Antique 1870s Italian Renaissance Chairs
Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs
Steel
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Antique 1890s British Victorian Bergere Chairs
Beech
Antique Mid-19th Century Chinese Chairs
Wood
Mid-20th Century Regency Side Chairs
Mahogany
Antique Early 1900s English Edwardian Side Chairs
Damask, Mahogany
20th Century Chinese Qing Furniture
Marble
Antique 1890s Italian Baroque Dining Room Chairs
Leather, Silk, Oak
Antique 19th Century French Chinoiserie Living Room Sets
Upholstery, Walnut
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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After years of diligent restoration, E-1027, the designer-cum-architect’s marriage of romance and modernism, is finally complete.