Ethan Allen Bench
Recent Sales
21st Century and Contemporary American Benches
Leather
Antique Late 19th Century North American American Colonial Benches
Upholstery, Wood
Mid-20th Century American American Colonial Benches
Birch, Maple
Mid-20th Century American Chinoiserie Sofas
Brass
Late 20th Century American Queen Anne Footstools
Maple, Fabric
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 ExpertApril 5, 2022Yes, Ethan Allen owns and operates eight different manufacturing facilities where it produces its own furniture. Six of those facilities are located in the United States and one is in Mexico with another one residing in the Honduras. Shop a collection of Ethan Allen furniture from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertNovember 4, 2024To identify Ethan Allen furniture, search for maker's marks on hidden areas like the insides of drawers, the backs of casegoods, the bases of sofas and the undersides of chair seats and tabletops. Nearly all pieces crafted by the American maker display the Ethan Allen name. Some furnishings may also feature production dates and location markings. These details and the appearance of the maker's marks can be useful in identifying the style name and other characteristics of your furniture. Consult trusted online resources for images of Ethan Allen's logo designs from over the years. A certified appraiser or experienced antique dealer can also aid you in the identification process. Explore a variety of furniture on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 15, 2024Ethan Allen furniture is more than 90 years old. Brothers-in-law Nat Ancell and Ted Baumritter founded the company in Beecher Falls, Vermont, in 1932. Initially, the company manufactured housewares and then branched out into furniture making after buying out a bankrupt furniture maker in 1936. Ancell and Baumritter named their first furniture line, Ethan Allen, after a Revolutionary War leader from Vermont. Shop a range of Ethan Allen furniture on 1stDibs.
- Is Ethan Allen a luxury brand?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 13, 2024Yes, Ethan Allen is a luxury brand. The American furniture maker provides customers with the ability to create custom-designed pieces built to suit their needs and preferences, fitting the definition of luxury. Ethan Allen produces its furniture out of fine materials under strict craftsmanship standards to ensure quality. Shop a collection of Ethan Allen furniture on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Yes, Ethan Allen furniture is still made as of December 2021. The company operates manufacturing facilities in the U.S., Mexico and Honduras and has more than 300 retail showrooms. On 1stDibs, you can find a range of Ethan Allen furniture.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 7, 2024Yes, some Ethan Allen furniture is solid wood. The American furniture company uses both solid wood and solid wood veneers to produce its pieces. In recent years, the furniture maker has also begun to use reclaimed solid wood to make some of its occasional tables and casegoods. Find a variety of Ethan Allen furniture on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Yes, most Ethan Allen tables are made at least partially out of real wood. Early pieces tend to feature solid wood, but more modern tables may combine wood veneers with engineered wood. Shop a variety of Ethan Allen tables on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 15, 2024Yes, Ethan Allen sofas are generally of good quality. The most durable sofas produced by the American furniture maker are typically those that feature solid hardwood frames and eight-way hand-tied spring systems. Most vintage pieces and some contemporary ones include these features. Shop a collection of Ethan Allen furniture on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2024Yes, Ethan Allen is high-end furniture. The term “high-end” describes furniture that features fine materials and expert craftsmanship. Ethan Allen furniture fits this definition, especially when you consider the brand's vintage pieces, which were hand-built out of carefully selected American hardwoods. On 1stDibs, find a range of Ethan Allen furniture.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022No, not all Ethan Allen furniture is made in the USA as of January 2022. The furniture company produces pieces at five factories in the U.S., as well as at factories based in Honduras, Mexico and East Asia. Find a collection of Ethan Allen furniture on 1stDibs.
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