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Chairs

The chairs of today developed from primitive benches and stools. Very popular at auction, they range from antique chair styles to modern chairs that wrap the sitter in an organic embrace.

Antique chairs that remain sought- after by collectors and interior designers are the Queen Anne, Georgian, and American Regency styles. One of the earliest chair designs was the Savonarola, or “scissors” chair, which became important to collectors from the 18th century onward. An Italian walnut Savonarola chair dating from the 15th or 16th century in the Cloisters Collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art is a simple yet lavish example. Another collector’s item is the prie dieu, or “prayer chair,” which has been used for centuries in churches and for personal devotion. The prayer chair features a seat for kneeling and a shelf for devotional texts and items. Catalan architect and sculptor Antoni Gaudi created an extreme decorative example of the chair. Carved from thuya wood, the chair stands at 9 feet and is crowned by a stained glass light fixture.

Antique dining chairs may be simple American vernacular pieces or influenced by the excesses of French Rococo and Baroque design. A modern dining room chair may be a replica of more traditional styles or as sleek and unorthodox as the valuable George Nakashima Conoid chairs. Antique barrel chairs can be used either as side chairs or dining chairs. The history of this shape is uncertain, but the barrel chairs designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright for the Darwin Martin and Herbert Johnson residences are the most famous. The George Nelson Pretzel Chair made of curved laminated wood became a rare collector’s piece when it was removed from the market for insufficient manufacturing techniques. The Pretzel Chair is a fine example of mid-century modern design.

Recommended Items at Auction

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A PAIR OF VICTORIAN CARVED WALNUT SIDE CHAIRS
Feb 27, 2:00 PM GMT
A PAIR OF VICTORIAN CARVED WALNUT SIDE CHAIRS
by Stout Auctions Toy and Train Specialists
Est: $300- $500
$1501 Bid
A PAIR OF VICTORIAN CARVED WALNUT SIDE CHAIRS
Feb 27, 2:00 PM GMT
A PAIR OF VICTORIAN CARVED WALNUT SIDE CHAIRS
by Stout Auctions Toy and Train Specialists
Est: $300- $500
$1501 Bid
A BOWBACK BRACEBACK WINDSOR SIDE CHAIR
Feb 27, 2:00 PM GMT
A BOWBACK BRACEBACK WINDSOR SIDE CHAIR
by Stout Auctions Toy and Train Specialists
Est: $75- $100
$351 Bid
A VICTORIAN MAHOGANY ROCKING CHAIR
Feb 27, 2:00 PM GMT
A VICTORIAN MAHOGANY ROCKING CHAIR
by Stout Auctions Toy and Train Specialists
Est: $100- $200
$501 Bid
A SET OF EIGHT FEDERAL-STYLE SHIELD BACK CARVED MAHOGANY DINING CHAIRS
Feb 27, 2:00 PM GMT
A SET OF EIGHT FEDERAL-STYLE SHIELD BACK CARVED MAHOGANY DINING CHAIRS
by Stout Auctions Toy and Train Specialists
Est: $1,500- $3,000
$7501 Bid
A SET OF THREE VICTORIAN BIRD-CARVED WALNUT SIDE CHAIRS
Feb 27, 2:00 PM GMT
A SET OF THREE VICTORIAN BIRD-CARVED WALNUT SIDE CHAIRS
by Stout Auctions Toy and Train Specialists
Est: $400- $600
$2001 Bid
Fornitura da salotto Art Nouveau, inizi XX secolo
Jan 30, 5:00 PM EST
Fornitura da salotto Art Nouveau, inizi XX secolo
by new house
Est: $3,000- $5,000
$3,0000 Bids
A SET OF EIGHT FEDERAL-STYLE SHIELD BACK CARVED MAHOGANY DINING CHAIRS
Jan 31, 6:30 PM EST
A SET OF EIGHT FEDERAL-STYLE SHIELD BACK CARVED MAHOGANY DINING CHAIRS
by Asté Maison de ventes
Est: $1,500- $3,000
$7500 Bids
A VICTORIAN MAHOGANY ROCKING CHAIR
Jan 31, 6:30 PM EST
A VICTORIAN MAHOGANY ROCKING CHAIR
by Asté Maison de ventes
Est: $100- $200
$500 Bids
A SET OF EIGHT FEDERAL-STYLE SHIELD BACK CARVED MAHOGANY DINING CHAIRS
Jan 28, 12:00 PM EST
A SET OF EIGHT FEDERAL-STYLE SHIELD BACK CARVED MAHOGANY DINING CHAIRS
by Asté Maison de ventes
Est: $1,500- $3,000
$7500 Bids
A SET OF EIGHT FEDERAL-STYLE SHIELD BACK CARVED MAHOGANY DINING CHAIRS
Jan 28, 11:00 AM EST
A SET OF EIGHT FEDERAL-STYLE SHIELD BACK CARVED MAHOGANY DINING CHAIRS
by Asté Maison de ventes
Est: $1,500- $3,000
$7500 Bids
Fornitura da salotto Art Nouveau, inizi XX secolo
Dec 23, 5:00 PM GMT
Fornitura da salotto Art Nouveau, inizi XX secolo
by GBP DP House
Est: £3,000- £5,000
£3,0000 Bids
A SET OF EIGHT FEDERAL-STYLE SHIELD BACK CARVED MAHOGANY DINING CHAIRS
Feb 27, 2:00 PM GMT
A SET OF EIGHT FEDERAL-STYLE SHIELD BACK CARVED MAHOGANY DINING CHAIRS
by Stout Auctions Toy and Train Specialists
Est: $1,500- $3,000
$7500 Bids
A SET OF THREE VICTORIAN BIRD-CARVED WALNUT SIDE CHAIRS
Feb 27, 2:00 PM GMT
A SET OF THREE VICTORIAN BIRD-CARVED WALNUT SIDE CHAIRS
by Stout Auctions Toy and Train Specialists
Est: $400- $600
$2000 Bids
A BOWBACK BRACEBACK WINDSOR SIDE CHAIR
Feb 27, 2:00 PM GMT
A BOWBACK BRACEBACK WINDSOR SIDE CHAIR
by Stout Auctions Toy and Train Specialists
Est: $75- $100
$350 Bids
A VICTORIAN MAHOGANY ROCKING CHAIR
Feb 27, 2:00 PM GMT
A VICTORIAN MAHOGANY ROCKING CHAIR
by Stout Auctions Toy and Train Specialists
Est: $100- $200
$500 Bids
Fornitura da salotto Art Nouveau, inizi XX secolo
Jan 31, 12:00 AM CET
Fornitura da salotto Art Nouveau, inizi XX secolo
by Figlio Designs Auctioneers and Appraisers
Est: $3,000- $5,000
$3,0000 Bids

Sellers Who Sell Chairs


Stout Auctions Toy and Train Specialists

Stout Auctions Toy and Train Specialists

Eldred's

Eldred's

Asté Maison de ventes

Asté Maison de ventes

Figlio Designs Auctioneers and Appraisers

Figlio Designs Auctioneers and Appraisers