C.1860 Louis XVI Revival French Straight-Back Sofa/ Settee, Second Empire
Located in London, Park Royal
A finely hand carved French two-seater canapé à dossier droit (straight-back sofa) from the Second Empire period (c.1860), reflecting the Louis XVI revival style that reimagined the ...
Upholstery, Wood
$2,224Sale Price|20% Off
Second Empire Fine Mahogany & Gilt Bronze Canapé—Napoleon III, 1860
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A fine and well preserved mahogany & gilt bronze canapé from the Second Empire Period under the reign of Napoleon III. Absolutely wonderful condition, seat cushion has been redone in...
Bronze
French Napoleon III Style Curved Sofa in Floral Jacquard Velvet
Located in Astoria, NY
The base is finished with a full bullion-fringe skirt, a nod to Second Empire salon seating. The sofa is structurally sound and shows age-appropriate wear to the upholstery.
Jacquard, Velvet, Hardwood
Empire Sofa
Located in New Haven, CT
Second Empire period mahogany sofa with original ormolu mounts including the paw feet.
Mahogany
Second Empire Recamier, France, circa 1850
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
Second Empire fainting couch, circa 1850 de-acquisitioned from Svaneholms castles inventory in 1936.
Mahogany
Sold
H 39.38 in W 38.19 in D 25.99 in
C.1860 Louis XVI Revival French Marquise Chair (Wide Bergere), Second Empire
Located in London, Park Royal
A finely carved French marquise (wide bergère) from the Second Empire period (c.1860), reflecting the Louis XVI revival style that reimagined the neoclassical elegance of the late 18...
Upholstery, Wood
Sold
H 35.44 in W 40.75 in D 31.89 in
French 19th Century Original Paintwork Second Empire Marquise Loveseat Sofa
Located in Benington, Herts
A very elegant and wonderfully drawn French 19th century Second Empire marquise loveseat / small sofa retaining the original paintwork.
Paint
19th Century Second Empire Marble-Top Console Sofa Table
Located in Dallas, TX
Topped with black marble, this 19th century console-sofa is a great size and especially appealing with the gorgeous bronze-mounted flame mahogany wood. Three shelves provide exceptio...
Marble
French 2nd Empire Mahogany Sofa with gilt bronze mounts
Located in Asheville, NC
French Second Empire Sofa, mahogany frame with numerous gilt bronze mounts in the Napoleonic tradition, including acanthus leaves, Roman,and Egyptian forms; the cabriole legs are ful...
Ormolu
$4,900 / item
H 34 in W 86 in D 42 in
Custom Made Modern English Arm Sofa in Performance Linen Velvet - 86"
By Bloom Home Inc
Located in Old Town Orange, CA
This beautiful english arm sofa has a modern twist, with its single bench cushion, and beautiful curved apron sides. It’s upholstered in a Linen Velvet Performance fabric. Shown in...
Linen, Velvet
$2,860 / item
H 29.93 in W 23.63 in D 23.63 in
Ethnic Straw Armchair by +55design Brazilian Design with Indigenous Craft
By Neca Abrantes
Located in Jardim America, SP
This rotating armchair by Neca Abrantes is a striking fusion of contemporary Brazilian design and indigenous handcrafted traditions. Known for her deep passion for native craftsmansh...
Straw
Rosso Wall Mirror
By Specchi Veneziani
Located in Milan, IT
Crafted in the finest Murano tradition, this exquisite Venetian mirror is a true work of art. Assembled with crystal and gold elements, and adorned with red glass flowers, each piece...
Glass
Louis XVI Style Sofa
By La Maison London
Located in London, Park Royal
Louis XVI style canape made by La Maison London. Hand carved in solid wood, painted in an ecru white with gold highlights. Upholstered in a fabric of your choice Please note: 11m of...
Giltwood
Capiz Shell Table Lamp, Model Cornelia
By Dusty Deco
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Cornelia Table Lamp is a lamp that is made from capiz shells which gives the material an irregular structure. This makes each lamp unique, something that adds to its character and pe...
Brass
Crackle Textured Handmade Ceramic Mushroom Lamp, Blue
By Streicher Goods, Ethan Streicher
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Every mushroom lamp is hand-made and hand-painted by Ethan Streicher, the founder and designer behind the Streicher Goods brand in Brooklyn, NY. The lamp's silhouette is simple and c...
Brass
The 'Matisse' Etagere
Located in London, GB
The 'Matisse' wrought iron side table. A hand made and patinated wrought iron etagere with whimsical Matisse style cut-out decoration. Made to order based on a 1960s original. Avail...
Wrought Iron
Pair of French Wrought Iron Martini Tables
Located in London, GB
Wrought iron martini tables, hand made in England inspired by an original 1940s French design. Finished with a natural bronze patina as standard. Can also be supplied in black or gi...
Iron
French Inspired Upholstered Linen Bergère Chairs
Located in Old Town Orange, CA
French inspired upholstered linen bergère chairs These French inspired chair are based on an original Napoleon III style pair of chairs. Napoleon III was the nephew of the Napoleon t...
Linen
$42,500 / set
H 34.25 in W 24 in D 23 in
Four Louis XV Style Gilt-Wood Chinoiserie Bergères, Jansen Attr., 1890
By Maison Jansen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A Fine and Rare Assembled Set of Four French Louis XV Style Gilt-Wood Carved and Japanned-Chinoiserie Lacquer Decorated Bergers Armchairs, attributed to Maison Jansen (House of Janse...
Velvet, Giltwood, Lacquer
$3,990 / item
H 33 in W 89 in D 39 in
Rudin Belgian Linen Sofa with Down Wrapped Seat Cushion in Cafe Noir Linen
By Bloom Home Inc
Located in Old Town Orange, CA
Bloom Home Inc Rudin Sofa in Cafe Noir Stone Washed Linen A heavy 18 oz weighted linen, in a rich warm brown tone. Our linen is stone washed to give a soft hand and relaxed look. Th...
Linen, Wood, Down
$1,746 / item
H 32.29 in W 18.12 in D 9.06 in
Murano Art Glass and Brass Pink Color Wall Light and Sconces, 2020
Located in Roma, Lazio
This charming wall lamp is entirely handmade in Murano. Each single leaf is handcrafted in high quality Murano blown glass; that's why each leaf is slightly different from the other....
Brass
Regency Style Antiqued Console Table
Located in Westwood, NJ
An English Regency style mahogany and reclaimed oak veneered console table restored with pollard oak, the rectangular three quarter gallery top with six turned finials atop each turn...
Wood
$4,759Sale Price / item|20% Off
H 23.63 in Dm 27.56 in
Rezzonico chandelier 5 arms clear Murano glass, multicolor details by Multiforme
By Multiforme
Located in Trebaseleghe, IT
Kia Ora chandelier 5 lights clear Murano glass with blue and ruby trims, multicolour vitreous paste details. Kia Ora is the combination of the traditional Venetian structure with g...
Blown Glass, Art Glass, Murano Glass
19th Century Italian Gold Gilt Headboard
Located in San Angelo, TX
Stunning Italian gold gilt headboard featuring blue and white upholstery. Keep as is or reupholster to your liking. This is such a unique and gorgeous piece and is ready to hang on t...
Upholstery, Hardwood, Giltwood
$4,160Sale Price|20% Off
H 71.25 in W 80.25 in D 3 in
Antique Polychrome Baroque Gilt Venetian-Style Carved Wood King Headboard
Located in North Fort Myers, FL
This exquisite antique Venetian-style king bed is a true showstopper, featuring an intricately hand-carved and gilded frame with a soft, distressed celadon green finish. The elaborat...
Wood
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.
Modern icons are showing up in gracefully layered dining nooks, living rooms and lounges — proof that great design only gets better with context.
Andrianna Shamaris has filled her epic new home with pieces of her own design.
Top interior designers show — and tell — us how to create delectable spaces for hosting dinner parties.
With its plush cushions, cane details and dazzlingly colorful back, it’s inviting from every angle.
You know the designs, now get the stories about how they came to be.
The plush Cove Slipper 2.5 Seater sofa is just one of many convenient combinations from the London-based maker.
Sam Klemick's cool stool is edgy, cozy and environmentally sustainable all at once.
From his massive collaborative workshop in a former paper factory, the designer concocts funky furniture from disused materials, as well as luxe hotel interiors like the new Mix Brussels.