Wingback Chairs
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Wood, Mahogany
Early 20th Century English Chippendale Wingback Chairs
Brass
1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Wool, Beech
Early 2000s American Chippendale Wingback Chairs
Mahogany
Late 20th Century Philippine British Colonial Wingback Chairs
Cane, Reed
1960s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Sheepskin, Birch
21st Century and Contemporary Organic Modern Wingback Chairs
Linen, Wood, Birch
20th Century French French Provincial Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Walnut
Late 20th Century Hepplewhite Wingback Chairs
Brass
20th Century English Other Wingback Chairs
Brass
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Wingback Chairs
Walnut
1940s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Wool, Beech
Early 20th Century French French Provincial Wingback Chairs
Tapestry, Oak
1930s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Wool, Oak
Mid-20th Century American Chippendale Wingback Chairs
Leather, Wood
1960s Danish Country Vintage Wingback Chairs
Wood, Oak
Early 20th Century American Chippendale Wingback Chairs
Leather, Wood
Late 20th Century American Queen Anne Wingback Chairs
Silk, Mahogany
Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Pine
Late 19th Century Louis XVI Antique Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
1770s French Louis XV Antique Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Wood, Down
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Metal
Early 20th Century British William and Mary Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Oak
19th Century French Louis Philippe Antique Wingback Chairs
Brass
1920s English Regency Vintage Wingback Chairs
Leather
1940s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Beech
Late 19th Century French Renaissance Revival Antique Wingback Chairs
Walnut
Late 20th Century American Chesterfield Wingback Chairs
Leather
1950s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Velvet, Mahogany
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
20th Century American George III Wingback Chairs
Brass
1930s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Wool, Oak
Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Pine
1990s Queen Anne Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Mahogany
1940s American Queen Anne Vintage Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Mahogany
1960s English Chesterfield Vintage Wingback Chairs
Leather
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Wingback Chairs
Leather, Mahogany
1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Wool, Beech
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Leather, Mahogany
Mid-20th Century American Chippendale Wingback Chairs
Damask, Walnut
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Giltwood
21st Century and Contemporary English Victorian Wingback Chairs
Leather
Early 18th Century Antique Wingback Chairs
Mahogany
1960s American Chippendale Vintage Wingback Chairs
Leather, Walnut
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Beech
Early 20th Century English Chesterfield Wingback Chairs
Leather
18th Century Antique Wingback Chairs
Elm
1720s Great Britain (UK) George I Antique Wingback Chairs
Silk, Walnut
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Wood, Zebra Hide
20th Century American Chesterfield Wingback Chairs
Brass
Late 20th Century American Chippendale Wingback Chairs
Leather, Wood
1940s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Textile, Oak
1890s French Louis XV Antique Wingback Chairs
Walnut
Late 18th Century American Hepplewhite Antique Wingback Chairs
Brass
Early 2000s American Chesterfield Wingback Chairs
Faux Leather
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Wingback Chairs
Brass
Mid-20th Century American Wingback Chairs
Mahogany
Antique, New and Vintage Wingback Chairs
They may not offer structural support, but the wings on antique and vintage wingback chairs certainly do have a purpose or did, when the design was first conceived in England in the 1600s.
Back then, the armchair protrusions were meant to protect the sitter from drafts and from the strong heat radiating from the large fireplaces that were popular at the time. This explains why the wingback is so strongly associated with cozying up by the fireplace.
Although the functional aspect of a wingback may be obsolete in the 21st century, the chairs have maintained their popularity over the years and have seen waves of revivals, from mid-century modern spinoffs to playful contemporary adaptations (like the Bear chair by Pierre Yovanovitch, wherein the place of wings are furry ears — a cheeky send-up of Hans Wegner’s iconic mid-century Papa Bear chair).
Shop the most innovative versions of wingback chairs today on 1stDibs.
Read More
Arne Jacobsen’s Egg Chair Scrambled the Idea of What a Wingback Could Be
The curvaceous Egg was designed to cradle the body and offer privacy. Later, it became the seat of choice for bosses in movies, too.
23 Ways to Rethink the Classic Wingback Chair
We take a fresh look at a more than 300-year-old fixture in furniture design.