Wingback Chairs
Mid-19th Century French Louis XV Antique Wingback Chairs
Wood
Mid-20th Century Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Upholstery, Wood, Hardwood
1960s American Vintage Wingback Chairs
1920s Swedish Vintage Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Walnut
18th Century English Antique Wingback Chairs
Mahogany
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Faux Leather, Beech
2010s Renaissance Wingback Chairs
Mahogany
1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Teak
Early 20th Century French Provincial Wingback Chairs
Cotton, Walnut
1870s English Victorian Antique Wingback Chairs
Leather, Oak
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Hide, Upholstery, Bentwood
Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Wingback Chairs
Linen, Wood
19th Century English Country Antique Wingback Chairs
Mahogany
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Bouclé, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Georgian Wingback Chairs
Leather
Mid-20th Century American Georgian Wingback Chairs
Leather
Early 20th Century Art Deco Wingback Chairs
Leather
21st Century and Contemporary American Queen Anne Wingback Chairs
Leather, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Wool, Wood
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Bouclé, Wood, Fabric
1760s English George II Antique Wingback Chairs
Leather
21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Steel
1960s Queen Anne Vintage Wingback Chairs
Leather, Wood
1990s American George III Wingback Chairs
Leather
1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Velvet, Oak
1820s English George III Antique Wingback Chairs
Leather, Hardwood
1940s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Elm, Upholstery
20th Century Baroque Wingback Chairs
Bronze
Mid-20th Century French Louis XVI Wingback Chairs
Textile, Wood
1970s Philippine Anglo-Indian Vintage Wingback Chairs
Wicker, Rattan, Reed, Bamboo
1880s Antique Wingback Chairs
Leather, Mahogany
20th Century English Victorian Wingback Chairs
Leather
1970s North American Vintage Wingback Chairs
Velvet
Early 20th Century Swedish Gustavian Wingback Chairs
Linen, Wood, Paint
20th Century Wingback Chairs
Leather, Sheepskin
20th Century American Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Oak
18th Century American Chippendale Antique Wingback Chairs
Brass
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Wool, Teak
1840s German Biedermeier Antique Wingback Chairs
Yew
21st Century and Contemporary American Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Wingback Chairs
Mahogany, Upholstery
21st Century and Contemporary Dutch Modern Wingback Chairs
Upholstery
1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Velvet, Elm
Early 20th Century Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Bouclé, Walnut
20th Century Wingback Chairs
Sheepskin
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Wood, Nutwood
2010s Italian Modern Wingback Chairs
Velvet, Wood
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Mahogany
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Metal
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Leather, Wood, Plywood
1930s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Lambskin, Beech
1940s Unknown Art Nouveau Vintage Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
Early 2000s American Modern Wingback Chairs
Aluminum
1930s Italian Art Deco Vintage Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Wood
20th Century Wingback Chairs
Cowhide
20th Century Chesterfield Wingback Chairs
Cowhide, Leather
20th Century Classical Roman Wingback Chairs
Leather, Sheepskin
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.