Wingback Chairs
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Wool, Oak
2010s Nigerian Wingback Chairs
Beads
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
20th Century American Chesterfield Wingback Chairs
Brass
1730s English George II Antique Wingback Chairs
Walnut
Early 20th Century Scottish Rustic Wingback Chairs
Straw, Wood
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Upholstery
1990s Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Leather
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Bentwood
20th Century American Regency Revival Wingback Chairs
Mahogany
1970s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Leather, Foam, Feathers, Walnut
Early 20th Century French Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary George III Wingback Chairs
Leather, Wood
1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Velvet, Oak
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Upholstery
Early 20th Century Chesterfield Wingback Chairs
Leather, Mahogany
2010s Nigerian Wingback Chairs
Beads
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Wood
1940s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Velvet, Oak
Mid-20th Century American American Classical Wingback Chairs
Wood
Mid-20th Century American Georgian Wingback Chairs
Leather
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Walnut
Mid-20th Century Czech Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Ash
2010s American Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Brass
Early 20th Century Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Hardwood
Late 20th Century Wingback Chairs
Leather
Late 19th Century English Antique Wingback Chairs
Leather, Oak
Late 20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Oak
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Velvet, Oak
1920s German Art Deco Vintage Wingback Chairs
Bouclé, Hardwood
20th Century Italian Wingback Chairs
Silk, Rosewood
Early 20th Century French French Provincial Wingback Chairs
Oak
1880s English Georgian Antique Wingback Chairs
Mahogany
19th Century English Georgian Antique Wingback Chairs
Ash
Early 20th Century English British Colonial Wingback Chairs
Walnut
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Leather, Oak
Mid-20th Century British Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Metal
1920s British Georgian Vintage Wingback Chairs
Leather, Walnut
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Leather, Teak
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Wingback Chairs
Wood
19th Century Irish Victorian Antique Wingback Chairs
Mahogany
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Wingback Chairs
Brass
19th Century English Georgian Antique Wingback Chairs
Brass
Early 1800s American Federal Antique Wingback Chairs
Mahogany
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Leather, Beech
18th Century American Queen Anne Antique Wingback Chairs
Maple, Walnut
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Wood
1950s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Wood
1950s English Chippendale Vintage Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Down
20th Century Mexican Modern Wingback Chairs
Metal, Iron
1980s Bohemian Vintage Wingback Chairs
Leather, Cotton
2010s British Wingback Chairs
Wool, Beech, Oak, Fabric
20th Century French French Provincial Wingback Chairs
Brass
Late 19th Century French Antique Wingback Chairs
Walnut
1950s English Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Upholstery
Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Antique Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Walnut
18th Century American Chippendale Antique Wingback Chairs
Mahogany, Maple
1960s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Sheepskin, Birch
Antique, New and Vintage Wingback Chairs
They may not offer structural support, but the wings on antique and vintage wingback chairs certainly do have a purpose or did, when the design was first conceived in England in the 1600s.
Back then, the armchair protrusions were meant to protect the sitter from drafts and from the strong heat radiating from the large fireplaces that were popular at the time. This explains why the wingback is so strongly associated with cozying up by the fireplace.
Although the functional aspect of a wingback may be obsolete in the 21st century, the chairs have maintained their popularity over the years and have seen waves of revivals, from mid-century modern spinoffs to playful contemporary adaptations (like the Bear chair by Pierre Yovanovitch, wherein the place of wings are furry ears — a cheeky send-up of Hans Wegner’s iconic mid-century Papa Bear chair).
Shop the most innovative versions of wingback chairs today on 1stDibs.
Read More
Arne Jacobsen’s Egg Chair Scrambled the Idea of What a Wingback Could Be
The curvaceous Egg was designed to cradle the body and offer privacy. Later, it became the seat of choice for bosses in movies, too.
23 Ways to Rethink the Classic Wingback Chair
We take a fresh look at a more than 300-year-old fixture in furniture design.