Antique Deskchair
Early 20th Century American Industrial Antique Deskchair
Metal
1880s Belgian Mid-Century Modern Antique Deskchair
Steel
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21st Century and Contemporary French Brutalist Antique Deskchair
Oak
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Mid-Century Modern Antique Deskchair
Metal
2010s American Antique Deskchair
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Mexican Mid-Century Modern Antique Deskchair
Textile, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Antique Deskchair
Velvet, Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Mid-Century Modern Antique Deskchair
Textile
21st Century and Contemporary British Organic Modern Antique Deskchair
Plaster
2010s British Scandinavian Modern Antique Deskchair
Mohair, Velvet, Oak
2010s Turkish International Style Antique Deskchair
Leather
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Organic Modern Antique Deskchair
Travertine
1980s Czech Mid-Century Modern Antique Deskchair
Wood, Bouclé
1980s Italian Post-Modern Antique Deskchair
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Antique Deskchair
Oak, Walnut
2010s North American Modern Antique Deskchair
Brass, Bronze, Enamel, Nickel
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Antique Deskchair
Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Antique Deskchair
Steel
Recent Sales
19th Century English Antique Deskchair
Wood
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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What happens when you do something to a piece of furniture that you shouldn’t? It becomes an entirely new object.
Eileen Gray’s Famed Cliffside Villa in the South of France Is Returned to Its Modernist Glory
After years of diligent restoration, E-1027, the designer-cum-architect’s marriage of romance and modernism, is finally complete.
Light and Dwell Brings Elegance and Ease to an Oregon Wine Country Estate
Molly Kidd lets her affection for France shine through in a new-build home that has the character of a centuries-old villa but still feels light and fresh.