Victorian Fainting Couch
Antique Late 19th Century Eastlake Chaise Longues
Upholstery, Mahogany
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Living Room Sets
Walnut, Upholstery
Antique Late 19th Century Late Victorian Chaise Longues
Upholstery
Antique 1850s American Rococo Revival Chaise Longues
Wood
People Also Browsed
Antique Mid-19th Century English High Victorian Taxidermy
Other
20th Century American Organic Modern Dining Room Chairs
Leather, Naugahyde, Bamboo, Rattan
20th Century Hollywood Regency Vanities
Mirror
Antique Early 1900s American Louis XVI Table Lamps
Bronze
Antique 1880s English Late Victorian Footstools
Upholstery
2010s British Scandinavian Modern Ottomans and Poufs
Sheepskin, Oak
2010s Austrian Jugendstil Chandeliers and Pendants
Silk
21st Century and Contemporary Australian Organic Modern Chandeliers and ...
Copper, Brass
Antique 19th Century French Victorian Chandeliers and Pendants
Crystal, Brass
Vintage 1970s Italian Post-Modern Dry Bars
Steel, Chrome
Early 2000s North American Daybeds
Fabric
Antique 17th Century French Panelling
Softwood
Early 20th Century Louis XVI Chaise Longues
Upholstery, Wood
Antique 19th Century Neoclassical Sofas
Mahogany
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Wall Lights and Sconces
Murano Glass
2010s Danish Scandinavian Modern Benches
Metal
Recent Sales
Antique Mid-19th Century Danish Early Victorian Sofas
Beech, Mahogany, Cotton
20th Century Danish Chaise Longues
Upholstery, Maple
Antique Late 19th Century Eastlake Chaise Longues
Leather, Oak
Antique Late 19th Century Eastlake Chaise Longues
Upholstery, Mahogany
Antique 19th Century American Victorian Toys and Dolls
Iron
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Armchairs
Upholstery, Walnut
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Armchairs
Walnut, Upholstery
Antique Late 19th Century American Victorian Chaise Longues
Velvet, Oak
Antique Late 19th Century American Eastlake Chaise Longues
Upholstery, Oak
Mid-20th Century French Provincial Chaise Longues
Cotton, Wood
Mid-20th Century American Late Victorian Chaise Longues
Fabric, Mahogany
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.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022A Victorian fainting couch is a piece of furniture that has one raised end and one low end. It accommodates one person who rests their back against the high end and stretches their legs out along the seat. Today, this piece of furniture is known as a chaise lounge. Find a selection of fainting couches on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022The fainting couch was a seating spot available to women who would faint from having their corsets on too tightly. The silhouette of the couch has a traditional backing like a regular couch with one end open. Browse a selection of fainting couches on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Another name for a fainting couch is chaise lounge. The type of furnishing came into popularity during the middle of the 19th century. People typically sat on them with their backs positioned against the high end and their legs spread out along the seat. Find a collection of fainting couches on 1stDibs.
Read More
The 21 Most Popular Mid-Century Modern Chairs
You know the designs, now get the stories about how they came to be.
Fred Rigby’s Modular Seating Can Be Configured in So Many Handy Ways
The plush Cove Slipper 2.5 Seater sofa is just one of many convenient combinations from the London-based maker.
This Chubby-Chic Quilted Stool Stands on Its Own Two Feet
Sam Klemick's cool stool is edgy, cozy and environmentally sustainable all at once.
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.