Antique Horsehair Sofa
19th Century English Georgian Antique Horsehair Sofa
Satinwood
18th Century English Georgian Antique Horsehair Sofa
Beech
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Horsehair Sofa
Hemp
1880s English Victorian Antique Horsehair Sofa
Leather, Hardwood
19th Century English Victorian Antique Horsehair Sofa
Leather, Hardwood
19th Century English Victorian Antique Horsehair Sofa
Leather
1920s British Chesterfield Antique Horsehair Sofa
Leather, Wood
Late 19th Century English High Victorian Antique Horsehair Sofa
Leather, Hardwood, Walnut
19th Century English Early Victorian Antique Horsehair Sofa
Leather
1860s French Napoleon III Antique Horsehair Sofa
Bronze
1880s British Victorian Antique Horsehair Sofa
Brass
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Horsehair Sofa
Wood
1830s German Biedermeier Antique Horsehair Sofa
Cherry, Softwood
1890s English High Victorian Antique Horsehair Sofa
Leather, Hardwood
1860s English Victorian Antique Horsehair Sofa
Leather
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Horsehair Sofa
Velvet, Cane, Wood
1880s English High Victorian Antique Horsehair Sofa
Hardwood, Leather
19th Century English Victorian Antique Horsehair Sofa
Leather
1880s English Victorian Antique Horsehair Sofa
Leather
People Also Browsed
2010s British Louis XVI Antique Horsehair Sofa
Giltwood
2010s Belgian Modern Antique Horsehair Sofa
Linen
21st Century and Contemporary Antique Horsehair Sofa
Linen
20th Century English Country Antique Horsehair Sofa
Upholstery, Beech, Oak
2010s English Modern Antique Horsehair Sofa
Upholstery
Late 19th Century English Empire Revival Antique Horsehair Sofa
Mahogany
20th Century American Organic Modern Antique Horsehair Sofa
Metal
1880s English Kilim Antique Horsehair Sofa
Upholstery, Hardwood
20th Century English Victorian Antique Horsehair Sofa
Leather
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Horsehair Sofa
Giltwood
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Horsehair Sofa
Cane, Wood
1890s French Art Nouveau Antique Horsehair Sofa
Iron
1890s American Late Victorian Antique Horsehair Sofa
Mohair
1780s French Louis XVI Antique Horsehair Sofa
Paint, Silk, Upholstery, Wood
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Horsehair Sofa
Marble, Bronze
2010s Antique Horsehair Sofa
Wool
Recent Sales
19th Century British Antique Horsehair Sofa
19th Century Italian Antique Horsehair Sofa
Wood, Burlap
1820s English Antique Horsehair Sofa
Mahogany
1890s British Antique Horsehair Sofa
Fabric, Birch, Walnut
19th Century British Victorian Antique Horsehair Sofa
Fabric, Beech
Early 20th Century Antique Horsehair Sofa
Wood
1820s German Art Deco Antique Horsehair Sofa
Mahogany, Walnut
19th Century American Antique Horsehair Sofa
Mahogany
1920s English Antique Horsehair Sofa
Early 19th Century English Regency Antique Horsehair Sofa
Brass
18th Century and Earlier Italian Classical Roman Antique Horsehair Sofa
Walnut
19th Century French Régence Antique Horsehair Sofa
Upholstery, Wood
Early 20th Century British Antique Horsehair Sofa
Leather
18th Century and Earlier French Louis XV Antique Horsehair Sofa
Down
19th Century British Early Victorian Antique Horsehair Sofa
Upholstery
19th Century English Victorian Antique Horsehair Sofa
Linen, Mahogany
Early 20th Century Swedish Antique Horsehair Sofa
Late 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Horsehair Sofa
Linen, Pine
Early 1900s English Chesterfield Antique Horsehair Sofa
Leather, Wood
19th Century English Antique Horsehair Sofa
Fabric, Wood
1910s English Arts and Crafts Antique Horsehair Sofa
Leather
Early 19th Century French Antique Horsehair Sofa
Early 20th Century Italian Chesterfield Antique Horsehair Sofa
Leather, Wood
1810s German Biedermeier Antique Horsehair Sofa
Gold Plate
19th Century English Victorian Antique Horsehair Sofa
Leather, Hardwood
1820s Scandinavian Biedermeier Antique Horsehair Sofa
Fabric, Upholstery, Mahogany
1880s English Victorian Antique Horsehair Sofa
Leather, Walnut
Early 1900s English Edwardian Antique Horsehair Sofa
Leather, Hardwood
Late 18th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Horsehair Sofa
Pine
19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Antique Horsehair Sofa
Fruitwood
19th Century French Antique Horsehair Sofa
Wood
1910s English Chesterfield Antique Horsehair Sofa
Leather
19th Century American Victorian Antique Horsehair Sofa
Canvas, Oak
Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Horsehair Sofa
Fabric, Wood
Early 20th Century Danish Antique Horsehair Sofa
Mohair, Beech
Late 19th Century English Chippendale Antique Horsehair Sofa
Leather
Early 20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Antique Horsehair Sofa
Mohair, Beech
Mid-19th Century British Early Victorian Antique Horsehair Sofa
Leather, Mahogany
19th Century British Victorian Antique Horsehair Sofa
Leather, Walnut
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Horsehair Sofa
Wood
Early 20th Century British Antique Horsehair Sofa
Leather
Mid-19th Century French Antique Horsehair Sofa
Oak
19th Century American American Classical Antique Horsehair Sofa
Mahogany, Upholstery, Wood
1920s French Chesterfield Antique Horsehair Sofa
Leather
1920s French Chesterfield Antique Horsehair Sofa
Leather
1820s German Biedermeier Antique Horsehair Sofa
Mahogany, Walnut
1890s Swedish Aesthetic Movement Antique Horsehair Sofa
Maple
18th Century Italian Antique Horsehair Sofa
Wood
1840s Victorian Antique Horsehair Sofa
Leather
Early 1900s British Antique Horsehair Sofa
Early 20th Century Antique Horsehair Sofa
Mohair, Beech
1920s Italian Mid-Century Modern Antique Horsehair Sofa
Chrome
1830s Biedermeier Antique Horsehair Sofa
Upholstery, Cherry
1890s British Chesterfield Antique Horsehair Sofa
Leather
Late 19th Century Irish Country Antique Horsehair Sofa
Upholstery, Pine
1810s Austrian Biedermeier Antique Horsehair Sofa
Gold Leaf
19th Century Austrian Antique Horsehair Sofa
Fruitwood
18th Century and Earlier British Antique Horsehair Sofa
19th Century American Antique Horsehair Sofa
Leather, Wood
19th Century English Antique Horsehair Sofa
Wood, Fabric
Antique Horsehair Sofa For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Antique Horsehair Sofa?
Finding the Right sofas for You
Black leather, silk velvet cushions, breathable bouclé fabric — when shopping for antique or vintage sofas, today’s couch connoisseurs have much to choose from in terms of style and shape. But it wasn’t always thus.
The sofa is typically defined as a long upholstered seat that features a back and arms and is intended for two or more people. While the term “couch” comes from the Old French couche, meaning to lie down, and sofa has Eastern origins, both are forms of divan, a Turkish word that means an elongated cushioned seat. Bench-like seating in Ancient Greece, which was padded with soft blankets, was called klinai. No matter how you spell it, sofa just means comfort, at least it does today.
In the early days of sofa design, upholstery consisted of horsehair or dried moss. Sofas that originated in countries such as France during the 17th century were more integral to decor than they were to comfort. Like most Baroque furnishings from the region, they frequently comprised heavy, gilded mahogany frames and were upholstered in floral Beauvais tapestry. Today, options abound when it comes to style and material, with authentic leather offerings and classy steel settees. Plush, velvet chesterfields represent the platonic ideal of coziness.
Vladimir Kagan’s iconic sofa designs, such as the Crescent and the Serpentine — which, like the sectional sofas of the 1960s created by furniture makers such as Harvey Probber, are quite popular among mid-century modern furniture enthusiasts — showcase the spectrum of style available to modern consumers. Those looking to make a statement can turn to Studio 65’s lip-shaped Bocca sofa, which was inspired by the work of Salvador Dalí. Elsewhere, the furniture of the 1970s evokes an era when experimentation ruled, or at least provided a reason to break the rules. Just about every area of society felt a sudden urge to be wayward, to push boundaries — and buttons. Vintage leather sofas of that decade are characterized by a rare blending of the showy and organic.
With so many options, it’s important to explore and find the perfect furniture for your space. Paying attention to the lines of the cushions as well as the flow from the backrest into the arms is crucial to identifying a cohesive new piece for your home or office.
Fortunately, with styles from every era — and even round sofas — there’s a luxurious piece for every space. Deck out your living room with an Art Deco lounge or go retro with a nostalgic '80s design. No matter your sitting vision, the right piece is waiting for you in the expansive collection of unique sofas on 1stDibs.
- What is a horsehair sofa?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022A horsehair sofa is a piece of furniture large enough to sit two or three people side by side. The term horsehair refers to the fact that its upholstery is fabric made from wefts of hair from a horse's tail. On 1stDibs, shop a range of horsehair sofas.
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