4 min readChairs uniquely sit at the intersection of design, utility, and pure art. And some vintage chairs possess all three in magnitude, making them highly collectible and worth a surprising amount of money. In other words, it’s worth taking a second look while thrifting to see if you’re in the presence of a rare, maybe even iconic, gem.
To fine-tune your eye—and for a quick dive into some furniture history—we reached out to experts about the vintage chairs worth a lot of money on the antique market. From a sculptural mid-century icon to retro gems to a piece dating all the way back to the 19th century, these chairs have established themselves as covetable treasures.
The Barcelona Chair
The year was 1929, and the place was Barcelona. There, German architect and designer Ludwig Mies van der Rohe debuted the most unusual chair, since dubbed The Barcelona Chair, at the International Exposition. After centuries of basic wood-constructed chairs, the Barcelona was a surprisingly sleek and sharp departure in both style and materials.
“The Barcelona chair features low-profile seating, polished chrome or steel scissor form legs, and leather back and seat consisting of 40 individual cut and tufted leather squares,” says Nora Curl, professional appraiser and antique expert. “The look is still so modern today that one would think it came from the 21st century as opposed to the early 20th century.”
Originals that feature a stamped signature sell for an average of $8,000. High-quality reproductions exist, and even those will set you back around $1,000. Curl says you’ll know it’s an original if it has 40 individually cut cowhide squares that are hand tufted and welted; those with stitching to delineate squares aren't authentic.
Thonet Bentwood Chairs
Thonet chairs trace back to the mid-19th century when Michael Thonet gained fame for manufacturing bentwood furniture using the first industrial-scale production process. True to its name, bentwood furniture involves bending wood into curves while it’s wet and pliable. These new methods replaced traditional craft skills in favor of machinery.
“Thonet’s process allowed timber to be machined to a finished surface as dowel stock, steam-bent into shape, and used almost immediately as a component, requiring only trimming at the ends,” explains Carrie Dessertine, founder of vintage furniture shop Meyette. “For the last two hundred years, the Thonet brand has stood for high-quality, innovative, and elegant furniture.”
She says vintage Thonet chairs can range from $150 to $1000 per chair, depending on condition, provenance, and whether it's been restored.
1970s Eames 670 Lounge Chair
With its retro-modern look and exceptional quality, Eames furniture is wildly collectible. The Eames 670 Lounge Chair, designed by Charles and Ray Eames and produced by Herman Miller, is perhaps one of the most iconic. Introduced in 1956 and still in production today, earlier versions—especially those from the mid-century era—are particularly prized by collectors.
“The Eames 670 reimagined the traditional club chair into something modern, sculptural, and incredibly human–meant to feel like a perfectly worn baseball glove,” explains Rachel Leonard Kennedy, vintage enthusiast and hosting expert. “What makes a 1970s version especially collectible is that it sits in a sweet spot. It’s refined and timeless, boasts exceptional craftsmanship, and uses materials like rich wood veneers and supple leather that simply aren’t used the same way today.”
They hold their value remarkably well, garnering anywhere from $5,100 to $13,000 or higher, depending on condition and provenance.
Louis Ghost Chair
One look at the Louis Ghost chair and you’ll quickly understand how this collectible piece of furniture got its name. It was designed in 2002 by Philippe Starck, a French designer with a playful eye who had a knack for combining whimsy with utility.
“Manufactured by Kartell, it originally debuted in ‘Crystal’, which is completely transparent, and color versions have been produced by the company since then,” Curl says. “The shape itself is inspired by 18th-century Louis XV era furniture, with the design feat being made of single mold injection polycarbonate—the same material used for police shields.”
Cural says that when the Louis Ghost was introduced, it quickly became one of the best-selling chairs in the world. You can find them today for the somewhat spooky price of $500 to $700 a piece.
Lockheed Lounge Chair
Perhaps more than any other collectible chair on this list, the Lockheed Lounge Chair—designed in the 1980s by Marc Newsom—doubles as a piece of art. With its Machine Age style, it’s constructed of riveted aluminum over a plastic body that’s reinforced by fiberglass, creating a sort of futuristic aircraft feel.
You’re not apt to find this one in a random thrift store or estate sale due to its exceptional rarity. Curl says only 10 Lockheed Chaises have been made, plus four artist’s proofs and one prototype. That means the privilege of owning a rare example will cost around—wait for it—at least a couple million (and a lifetime’s supply of luck).
Still, it’s worth mentioning here for its sheer display of artistic prowess and proof that a chair can transcend pure function. Replicas exist for around $1000 to $3000 each.
