Easels
1940s French Neoclassical Vintage Easels
Bronze
Early 1900s French Antique Easels
Wood
Mid-20th Century Arts and Crafts Easels
Beech
2010s American Modern Easels
Brass, Stainless Steel
21st Century and Contemporary French Post-Modern Easels
Brass, Steel
1950s Mexican Industrial Vintage Easels
Pine
Early 20th Century French Neoclassical Revival Easels
Bronze
Early 1900s English Victorian Antique Easels
Elm, Oak
20th Century French Easels
Wood
Mid-19th Century French Antique Easels
Oak
2010s American Modern Easels
Lucite
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Easels
Metal
1970s French Vintage Easels
Brass
1940s American Industrial Vintage Easels
Metal
1940s Mexican Industrial Vintage Easels
Pine
1940s Belgian Other Vintage Easels
Hardwood
1940s British Industrial Vintage Easels
Metal, Iron
1940s European Vintage Easels
1940s French Industrial Vintage Easels
Wood
1940s French Industrial Vintage Easels
Wood
1940s Vintage Easels
1940s Italian Hollywood Regency Vintage Easels
Brass
1940s Italian Hollywood Regency Vintage Easels
Brass
Antique and Vintage Easels
While antique and vintage easels are traditionally seen as an artist’s tool, they also have decorative uses beyond their basic function.
Easels are tall supports that painters use to prop their canvas on while they work. While many wooden easels have been made over the years, versions made with alternative materials such as aluminum, steel and other metals can be found too.
There are various types of easels. Studio easels differ from table easels in that the latter is meant for tabletop use. An H-frame easel is said to be the sturdiest variety and has the largest footprint. You will likely need a dedicated space in your home for this studio easel as it isn’t meant to be portable and can’t be broken down easily. Another studio easel, an A-frame easel, has a triangular “A” structure versus the “H” form we see in H-easels. The A-frame easel is lightweight and may be a bit more affordable than an H-frame easel.
Beyond an artist using an easel to create the next masterpiece, an easel can help you incorporate art into a living room that doesn’t have sufficient wall space for a painting. There are lots of ways to arrange wall art, and hanging isn’t the only way to display your artworks. You can stand framed pieces and stretched canvases on an easel, a mantelpiece, floating shelves or on the floor leaning against a wall. This creates a casual look and also allows you to change your arrangement more easily without damaging the wall. An understated easel can fade into the background, serving as an unassuming platform that allows a work to speak for itself. Conversely, many ornate and sculptural examples of easels have been made over the years. What better way to draw an eye toward a work of art in your home?
Find a collection of antique and vintage easels on 1stDibs that includes mid-century modern easels, industrial-style easels and more.