Antique Side Chairs

Antique Side Chairs

19 products
19 products

Timeless Forms of Function & Beauty

The chair holds an important role in the history of design, offering both function and artistry. Side chairs, in particular, have an enduring appeal within the interior landscape—providing seating for dining, conversation, or quiet reflection. As functional objects, they sustain human interaction; as crafted works of art, they embody the taste and skill of their makers.

At Nicholas Wells Antiques, our collection of antique side chairs reflects the elegance and ingenuity of centuries past. From Georgian and Regency dining chairs to Continental models in giltwood, painted finishes, or finely carved mahogany, these pieces are both decorative and practical. Each chair has been carefully selected for its design, historical value, and craftsmanship, making them not only furniture but also witnesses to bygone eras.

Whether used in formal dining settings, as occasional seating, or displayed as sculptural accents, antique side chairs add refinement, character, and a sense of continuity to interiors.


Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What defines a side chair?
A: A side chair is an armless chair, usually lighter and more versatile than an armchair, often used for dining or occasional seating.

Q: From what periods do your side chairs come?
A: Our collection includes Georgian, Regency, and Victorian examples, along with Continental designs from the 18th and 19th centuries.

Q: What woods and materials are most common?
A: Mahogany, walnut, and beech are frequent, often with elegant carved details, painted decoration, or upholstered seats.

Q: Are antique side chairs practical for modern dining rooms?
A: Yes. Many were originally designed for dining and remain perfectly suited for use today, provided they are handled with care.

Q: Do you sell sets of chairs?
A: Yes. We frequently offer sets of six, eight, or more, which are highly desirable for dining rooms, as well as rare individual chairs for collectors.

Q: Can side chairs be reupholstered?
A: Absolutely. Reupholstering allows you to preserve the historic frame while adapting the seat to complement your interior style.

Q: How are antique side chairs shipped?
A: We use professional art shippers to ensure secure, insured, and worldwide delivery, whether for single chairs or complete sets.


Explore our Antique Side Chairs to discover exquisite designs that balance practicality with elegance—pieces that carry the legacy of centuries into the present day.

Set of ten French Charles X period satinwood and mahogany side chairs by Collection CK20 with lyre splat backs
French antique satinwood side chair with lyre splat and green velvet seat by Collection CK20
Ten French Antique Satinwood Side Chairs – Charles X Period
Collection CK20
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Pair of George III mahogany side chairs upholstered in white fabric from Collection CK20 with leather casters
Pair of George III upholstered mahogany side chairs with white fabric seats from Collection CK20 on parquet floor.
Pair of George III Upholstered Mahogany Side Chairs
Collection CK20
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Set of six Anglo Indian ebony side chairs with caned seats and carved details by Collection EE30
Set of six Anglo Indian ebony side chairs with carved foliate details and caned seats by Collection EE30
Set of Six Anglo Indian Ebony Side Chairs
Collection EE30
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Set of six 19th century Anglo Indian ebony side chairs with caned seats from Collection EE30, circa 1830.
Set of six 19th century Anglo Indian ebony side chairs with caned seats from Collection EE30 displayed outdoors.
Six 19th century Anglo Indian ebony side chairs
Collection EE30
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Set of 12 Anglo Indian side chairs with giltwood frames and red damask upholstery by Collection EE30
Set of 12 Anglo Indian side chairs with giltwood frames and red damask upholstery by Collection EE30
Set of 12 Anglo Indian Side Chairs
Collection EE30
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Pair of antique solid ebony Indian hall chairs with caned seats and barley twist legs by Collection EE30
Pair of antique solid ebony Indian hall chairs with cane seats and barley twist legs from Collection EE30
Pair of Antique Solid Ebony Indian Hall Chairs
Collection EE30
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Set of four Regency side chairs with cream painted finish and needlework upholstery by Collection TH20
Regency side chair in cream and green with classical motifs and needlework upholstery from Collection TH20
Set of Four Regency Side Chairs
Collection TH20
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Set of four Anglo Indian ebony side chairs with intricate carvings and caned seats by Collection EE30
Anglo Indian ebony side chair with intricate foliate carvings and caned seat by Collection EE30
Set of Four Anglo Indian Ebony Side Chairs
Collection EE30
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Pair of mid-18th century Philadelphia side chairs with carved details by Nicholas Wells Antiques, circa 1765.
Pair of mid 18th century Philadelphia side chairs with green upholstery by Nicholas Wells Antiques
Pair of Mid 18th Century Philadelphia Side Chairs
Nicholas Wells Antiques
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Elegant mahogany side chair with blue damask upholstery, carved cabriole legs, George II style by Collection CK20
Close-up of intricately carved mahogany leg and upholstery on George II style side chair by Collection CK20
Mahogany Side Chair Design by Paul Saunders
Collection CK20
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Set of six 19th century Goan side chairs with pierced oval backs and caned seats by Nicholas Wells Antiques
Set of six 19th century Goan side chairs with oval pierced backs and caned seats by Nicholas Wells Antiques
Set of Six Goan Side Chairs
Nicholas Wells Antiques
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Spanish Barcelona Chair with hand-caned seat and Gothic-Japanese design, vintage hardwood by Collection EE30
Late 19th-century Spanish Barcelona Chair with hand-caned seat and Gothic-Japanese design by Collection EE30
Spanish Barcelona Chair
Collection EE30
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Pair of black japanned side chairs with cane seats and carved legs, eighteenth-century British style by Collection EE30
Pair of black japanned side chairs by Collection EE30 with elegant eighteenth-century British design and patina.
Pair of Black Japanned Side Chairs
Collection EE30
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Pair of 19th century South Indian hardwood side chairs with cane seats by Collection EE30, elegant colonial design
Close-up of carved hardwood leg and woven cane seat of South Indian 19th century side chair Collection EE30
Pair of South Indian 19th Century Side Chairs
Collection EE30
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Pair of green painted and gold Italian side chairs with caned seats by Nicholas Wells Antiques circa 1900
Pair of Italian green painted and gold side chairs with caned seats by Nicholas Wells Antiques circa 1900
Pair Of Green Painted And Gold Italian Side Chairs
Nicholas Wells Antiques
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Pair of Regency side chairs with carved mahogany frames and red upholstered seats by Collection EE30
Pair of Regency side chairs with carved mahogany frames and red upholstered seats by Collection EE30.
Pair of Regency Side Chairs
Collection EE30
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Antique Indian Ebony Side Chair with carved details and woven cane seat from Collection EE40, circa 1840.
Indian Ebony Side Chair by Collection EE40 with hand-carved details and woven seat, circa 1840, elegant Anglo-Indian design.
Indian Ebony Side Chair
Collection EE40
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Set of four George III elm side chairs with needlework seats by Nicholas Wells Antiques circa 1780 England
Set of four George III elm side chairs with pierced gothic splats and floral needlework seats by Nicholas Wells Antiques
Set of Four George III Elm Side Chairs
Nicholas Wells Antiques
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Set of three Louis XVI side chairs by Nicholas Wells Antiques with distressed original horsehair upholstery
Set of three white Louis XVI side chairs with tapered fluted legs, original upholstery, by Nicholas Wells Antiques
Three Louis XVI Side Chairs
Nicholas Wells Antiques
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