Dining chairs are far more than a stylish way to seat yourself for a meal. They are a chance to embrace core components of quality craftsmanship, individual style, and earth-friendly sustainability.
Hepplewhite chairs with decorative ribbon carvings or caning. Victorian carved His and Hers dining chairs that have been gilded or painted in unusual tapestry seats.
Georgian
During the Georgian period, chair design was at its height. From simple hall chairs for servants to beautifully carved dining chairs for the table, the Georgian era crafted chairs with elaborate designs that were both functional and decorative. Wide-seated and elegantly shaped, Georgian dining chairs favored intricate carvings such as sheaves of wheat or interlocking ribbons. Cabriole legs and lion's paw feet were common on many models.
Reviving this classic style can add timeless elegance to a dining room. Opt for a large wooden dining table and pair it with high-backed Georgian dining chairs upholstered in luxurious fabrics like velvet or damask. You can further elevate your space by adding a grand chandelier or artwork framed in gold-colored frames to the wall above your dining area. You can find a broad selection of vintage Georgian chairs for sale on 1stDibs from both antique and contemporary artisans.
Victorian
Victorian furniture has experienced a recent revival in popularity, with the elegance and history of these designs remaining a timeless option for today’s dining rooms. Whether you’re looking for a traditional dining chair or something more contemporary, there are plenty of options to choose from.
At Regent Antiques, we offer many different types of antique Victorian chairs. These include Hepplewhite chairs, with their oval and shield-shaped splats ornamented with urns, vases, festoons, rosettes, or husks. We also sell Chippendale-style chairs, designed by Thomas Chippendale in the 18th century.
Another popular type of Victorian dining chair is the balloon back. These have a shaped back with a nipped-in waist and a curved crosspiece. We even have a set of six antique balloon-back mahogany dining chairs, which would be perfect for a formal home.
Edwardian
Featuring multiple thin horizontal strips of wood, a ladder-back chair looks like the rungs on a traditional wooden ladder. This timeless design works well in casual dining areas and kitchen nooks.
Side chairs are a dining room mainstay, with one key difference from armchairs—they lack arms. But that doesn’t mean they’re a less stylish option for your home.
The sloped back and upholstered seat of a Parsons dining chair can be covered in nearly any fabric you choose, making them a versatile choice for a wide range of styles. The splat-back style is especially flexible, incorporating themes from different furniture periods. These chairs are also typically quite comfortable to sit in for extended periods of time. On 1stDibs, you’ll find a variety of unique, antique Parsons dining chairs for sale. Each piece is vetted by a specialist and comes with buyer protection.
Regency
The Regency era saw a rise in neoclassical-style furniture that borrowed and revived classic elements from ancient Greece and Rome, along with Egyptian and Gothic influences. Look for slender lines, less focus on heavy ornamentation, and thematic motifs like lions, sphinxes,sphinxes, and lyres on chair designs. Ornamental details such as saber legs (curved chair legs that resemble the line of a saber blade) and reeding (a decorative technique where “reeds” are carved or milled into a surface) were also common.
Our experienced specialists have partnered with only top-vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with our buyer protection guarantee. Our inventory is updated daily, so you can find the best piece for your home. Add a touch of grace and skill to your space with one of these iconic dining chairs.
Arts & Crafts
Using upcycled silk curtains, you can give any dining chair a stylish revival. Start by dismantling the chair—this requires screwdrivers and may require a little dexterity but is simple enough for even the novice to manage. Lightly sand the chairs and wipe clean. Next, paint the frames and let them dry overnight. While the frames are drying, lay out the silk curtain flat and trace the cushion seat onto the back side using a ballpoint pen. If the cushion is too curved to trace, lightly mark a rectangle to help you match up the fabric.
The Arts & Crafts movement arose in response to mass production and promoted traditional craftsmanship. Furniture makers such as Gustav Stickley and Charles Rohlfs elevated natural motifs and stripped away excessive ornamentation. They were influenced by ideas from The Craftsman magazine and international influences like French Art Nouveau.
Painted
Many dining chairs can be revived with a coat of paint. Even the most battered and worn ones can look brand new again, especially if you use a high-quality furniture paint with a built-in protective coating. Most high-end paints require 4-6 hours before they can be recoated, so you’ll need to give your chairs plenty of time to dry between sprayed layers. Before applying a fresh coat of paint, you should rough up the original surface by "scuff sanding" with 80-grit sandpaper. Wipe away all sanding dust with a clean microfiber cloth before you start painting. You may also wish to apply a clear protective topcoat, depending on your type of paint.
Penny Seat
Revive the charm of the past with this dining chair, a classic example of blending natural materials with timeless design. The walnut wood's rich tones are complemented by the woven wicker seat, combining durability and style with an artisanal touch. The Penny seat can be used as a dining chair, accent chair, or even a desk chair, making it an ideal addition to any well-curated interior. It also comes with a full 180-degree swivel function, making it easy to follow conversations or move between spaces. Complete with non-marking foot caps to protect your flooring, this dining chair is easy to assemble and does not require any tools.
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Infuse your dining room with timeless style with the help of these iconic chairs. Whether you’re drawn to the minimalist elegance of Gio Ponti’s Leggera or the architectural brilliance of Jean Prouvé’s Standard Chair, each piece offers unique design solutions for your space.
A. W. N. Pugin was one of the most influential architects and designers in 19th-century Britain, a champion of the Gothic Revival movement. He believed that Gothic was the only true Christian architectural style and designed churches, furniture, metalwork, and stained glass based on medieval craftsmanship and symbolism.
Pugin’s dining chairs are often made of wood and designed with extraordinary care. The curved klismos-type back and the decorative gilt metal mounts on this pair of chairs express his philosophy of truth to materials and construction.
Balloon Back
Balloon back dining chairs are a popular choice in today’s modern homes, as they are often paired with plush upholstered seats. While these types of Victorian furniture are incredibly elegant and sophisticated, they also offer a touch of historical charm to any space.
By 1835 the yoke-back was being replaced by a more stylized version on chairs intended for the parlor or drawing room. These were more decorative and might feature volutes to the yoke end or carved splats. They may also have cabriole front legs, which were a characteristic of late Regency design.
These chair styles can easily be revived by pairing them with contemporary fabrics. You can still find them in high-end restaurants or boutique hotels, where they add a sense of luxury to any space.
Barley Twist
Revive the charm of the past with this set of antique Victorian barley twist carved oak chairs. This unique design features intricate ornate carvings that showcase detailed artistry. Its traditional influences make it a great choice for classic or traditional decor styles, and it can also complement contemporary interior designs.
The Barley Twist design was popularized during the Jacobean and Stuart eras in England, as well as the Louis XVI and Louis XVII eras in France. The twisted look of the legs, which was named after sticks of barley sugar, can also be found in other furniture and architectural elements like stair balusters.
You can find a variety of furniture with barley twist legs for sale at Motivo Decor. These pieces are available in a range of woods, including mahogany, and they come with or without upholstery.