Wingback Chairs
1960s American Vintage Wingback Chairs
1960s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Fabric
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Brass
20th Century American Wingback Chairs
Velvet, Wood
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Metal
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Brass
1950s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Wood
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Wool, Oak
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Wood
Late 18th Century American Antique Wingback Chairs
1940s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Wool, Beech
2010s Argentine Modern Wingback Chairs
Fabric, Wood
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Bouclé, Wood, Beech
2010s British Wingback Chairs
Wool, Beech, Oak, Fabric
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Hardwood
1940s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Teak
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Wingback Chairs
Leather, Walnut
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Leather, Mahogany
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Aluminum
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Mohair, Walnut
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Wingback Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
1950s American Vintage Wingback Chairs
1960s American Vintage Wingback Chairs
Lacquer
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.