Thonet Cafe Daum
Antique 19th Century Italian Vienna Secession Armchairs
Cane, Lacquer, Bentwood
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Side Chairs
Bentwood
20th Century European Neoclassical Dining Room Chairs
Upholstery, Cane, Beech
Early 20th Century Art Nouveau Dining Room Chairs
Cane, Wood
Mid-20th Century Austrian Vienna Secession Stools
Oak
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Benches
Oak
Antique Late 19th Century Italian Empire Club Chairs
Straw, Walnut
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Early 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Cane, Bentwood
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
Travertine
2010s Austrian Jugendstil Chandeliers and Pendants
Silk
Antique 1880s Austrian Art Nouveau Coat Racks and Stands
Bentwood, Beech
Antique Early 1900s Czech Vienna Secession Dining Room Chairs
Beech, Bentwood, Cane
21st Century and Contemporary American American Classical Beds and Bed F...
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Flush Mount
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Textile
Early 20th Century Czech Vienna Secession Side Chairs
Cane, Bentwood
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Modern Chairs
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Bergere Chairs
Linen
Antique 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Children's Furniture
Fabric, Bentwood
Vintage 1960s American Art Nouveau Dining Room Chairs
Upholstery, Lacquer, Wood, Polyester, Foam, Leather, Bentwood
Mid-20th Century Czech Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Beech, Bentwood
20th Century Neoclassical Armchairs
Linen, Wood, Paint
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Modern Console Tables
Wood
Recent Sales
Antique 1860s Austrian Chairs
Beech
Antique 19th Century Austrian Vienna Secession Armchairs
Cane, Bentwood, Lacquer
Antique 19th Century Italian Vienna Secession Armchairs
Beech, Bentwood, Cane
Antique Late 19th Century Austrian Vienna Secession Dining Room Chairs
Leather, Bentwood
Antique Mid-19th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Chairs
Bentwood
Antique 19th Century Austrian Armchairs
Bentwood
Antique 19th Century Austrian Dining Room Chairs
Bentwood
Antique Late 19th Century Austrian Post-Modern Side Chairs
Antique 19th Century Austrian Settees
Early 20th Century Austrian Vienna Secession Side Chairs
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.
Read More
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This Chubby-Chic Quilted Stool Stands on Its Own Two Feet
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Riotous Shapes and Colors Have Made Uchronia’s Designs the Toast of Paris
Julien Sebban’s energetic design collective is radically reshaping the look of 21st-century European furniture and interiors.
Is Lionel Jadot the Willy Wonka of Upcycled Belgian Design?
From his massive collaborative workshop in a former paper factory, the designer concocts funky furniture from disused materials, as well as luxe hotel interiors like the new Mix Brussels.
Rock Your Cares Away on This Sunny Hand-Crocheted Swing
The boho-chic Enchanted Forest Swing, handmade by marginalized women from Turkey and Syria, is uplifting in every way.
Learn Why Designer Maarten Baas Set This Charles Rennie Mackintosh Chair on Fire
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.