Hoof Foot Chair
Antique 18th Century American Side Chairs
Walnut
Antique 19th Century English Georgian Armchairs
Brass
Antique 19th Century Louis XIII Armchairs
Fabric, Giltwood
Late 20th Century Bauhaus Dining Room Sets
Metal, Iron
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Early 20th Century American Regency Dining Room Chairs
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Dining Room Chairs
Leather, Wood
Mid-20th Century Italian Hollywood Regency Side Chairs
Fabric, Wood
Early 20th Century American Rococo Dining Room Chairs
Walnut
Late 20th Century French Regency Dining Room Chairs
Fabric, Wood
Antique 19th Century French Dining Room Chairs
Walnut, Tapestry
Antique 19th Century French Chairs
Antique 19th Century Italian Dining Room Chairs
20th Century French Chairs
Wood
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Armchairs
Antique Mid-19th Century European Louis XV Armchairs
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20th Century American Georgian Armchairs
Fabric, Wood
Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Settees
Velvet, Beech
20th Century American Hollywood Regency Sofas
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary American Sofas
Linen, Velvet
21st Century and Contemporary Mexican Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
Textile, Wood, Linen, Fiberglass
Antique Late 19th Century European Moorish Architectural Elements
Wrought Iron
Vintage 1940s American Greek Revival Patio and Garden Furniture
Wrought Iron
Antique 1840s English Porcelain
Porcelain
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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The boho-chic Enchanted Forest Swing, handmade by marginalized women from Turkey and Syria, is uplifting in every way.
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