$32,957 / item
Salvadore Sofa in Army (300cm) by Laura Gonzalez
By laura gonzalez
Located in Paris, FR
Made in France with an oak structure, high-density foam, and a feather topper for optimum comfort, the Salvador sofa features a triple armrest, upholstered with a luxurious velvet (L...
Fabric
$2,240Sale Price / set|30% Off
H 21 in W 21 in D 5 in
Pair of Fortuny Fabric Cushions in the Glicine Pattern
Located in New York, NY
A pair of Fortuny Fabric cushions with bias edging. The pattern is a 17th century Italian design with wisteria motif. Newly made using vintage Fortuny fabric, circa 1940. 50 down/50 ...
Fabric
Dutch Delft Blue Ceramic Tulip Vase Set in Matte Pink
Located in Delft, NL
Dutch Delft Blue Ceramic Tulip Vase Set in Matte Pink This stunning three-tiered tulip vases by van Heinen features a matte pink color. The pink color forms a beautiful backdrop for...
Ceramic
$5,400 / set
H 0.75 in Dm 10.25 in
12 Antique Minton England Elaborate Cobalt Jewel & Gilt Encrusted Dinner Plates
By Minton
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant set of twelve dinner or presentation plates by the fine porcelain firm of Minton's of England. Custom ordered through the prestigious retailer of William Plummer, New York...
Enamel, Gold
$13,524Sale Price|27% Off
H 21.66 in Dm 11.03 in
Müller Frères, Lunéville, "Anémones" Art Nouveau Glass Lamp circa 1910
By Muller Fres Luneville
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Muller Frères, Lunéville, “Anémones” Lamp Mushroom lamp in multi-layered glass with acid-etched and wheel-carved decoration of red and mauve magnolias in bloom on an opalescent backg...
Wrought Iron
$125,000
H 42.52 in W 27.56 in D 22.84 in
Purple Museum Quality Amethyst Centerpiece Mineral Masterpiece Decorative Object
Located in London, GB
A very large, one of a kind epimorph amethyst. This piece is a visual spectacle with the natural sculptural formations of amethyst in a different variety of purple tones. Also disp...
Agate, Amethyst, Quartz
$12,250Sale Price|30% Off
H 32.5 in W 34.5 in D 41 in
Jangada Chair by Jean Gillon, 1960's, Brazilian Modern
By Jean Gillon
Located in Culver City, CA
The Jangada Chair: A Brazilian Masterpiece With Stories to Tell Let’s talk about the Jangada Chair; a stunning piece of functional art that’s as much a conversation starter as it is ...
Leather, Rosewood
Pair 19th Century Italian Empire Consoles
Located in Houston, TX
A stately pair of 19th Century Italian Empire white marble top mahogany consoles supported by ebonized caryatid columns.
Marble, Ormolu
$4,900 / set
H 8.25 in W 6 in D 1.25 in
The Complete Works Of Charles Dickens - 36 vols. - IN A FINE LEATHER BINDING !
Located in Hillsborough, NJ
AUTHOR: DICKENS, Charles. TITLE: The Complete Works Of Charles Dickens. PUBLISHER: NY: Chas. Scribner's Sons, 1902. DESCRIPTION: 36 vols., 8-1/4" x 6", all illustrations after th...
Leather
Pair of French gilt bronze table candelabra
Located in London, GB
Pair of French gilt bronze table candelabra French, 19th Century Height 75cm, diameter 35cm The fine gilt bronze candelabra in this pair are crafted in the eclectic style that preva...
Ormolu
Polpo Hand-blown glass Sculpture by Simone Crestani
By Simone Crestani
Located in Milan, IT
Polpo is a hand-blown glass sculpture that captures the fluidity and grace of an octopus. "Light and silent, the sinuous movements of the octopus seem domesticated and united with th...
Glass
Set of Early 19th Century English Derby Porcelain Dessert Service
Located in Atlanta, GA
Set of Early 19th Century English Derby Porcelain Dessert Service. 18 plates, 7 shaped dishes, 1 sauce tureen with lid and underplate.
Porcelain
Italian Early 18th Century Baroque Period Inlaid Specimen Cabinet
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An exceptional and most unique Italian early 18th century Baroque period ebonized fruit wood and Pietra Dura marble and semi precious stone inlaid specimen cabinet. The small scale c...
Marble
$50,000 / set
H 22 in Dm 10.5 in
Pair of Late 19th Century French Gilt Bronze Mounted Chinese Porcelain Lamps
Located in Long Island City, NY
A Nice Quality Pair of Late 19th Century French Gilt Bronze Mounted Chinese Porcelain Lamps Fine bronze mounts separate the six painted panels decorated with chinoiserie figures in ...
Bronze, Ormolu
$7,056Sale Price|20% Off
H 242 in W 128 in D 65 in
Art Nouveau Wood Inlaid Wardrobe, France, circa 1900
By Émile Gallé, Louis Majorelle
Located in VÉZELAY, FR
Magnificent mahogany wardrobe with double doors inlaid with flowers. From the Art Nouveau period but some elements such as the pediment recall the Napoleon III style. Key present,...
Wood
Set of twenty four blue and white floral porcelain dinner plates
Located in London, GB
Set of twenty four blue and white floral porcelain dinner plates Continental, 19th Century Height 2.5cm, diameter 23.5cm These blue and white porcelain dinner plates will make an ex...
Porcelain
$28,847Sale Price / set|30% Off
H 36.03 in W 50.2 in D 30.71 in
Restored Antique Lion Hand Carved Brown Leather Chesterfield Sofa Armchair Suite
By Chesterfield
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this absolutely stunning, exceptionally rare, fully restored, Victorian circa 1880 Jacobean Revival, Chesterfield tufted, Whisky brown leather suit...
Leather, Hardwood, Mahogany
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.