How can you tell the quality of upholstery fabric?

To tell the quality of upholstery fabric, first consider what it's made of. Natural fibers like cotton, wool, linen and silk are often used to produce high-quality fabrics. Some synthetics are also well-made, but quality varies, so conduct some online research to learn about the pros and cons of the specific material. Next, ask the retailer or maker if the fabric has undergone any performance tests and gained any certifications. Scientific tests can be performed to assess how resistant furniture is to staining, fading, pilling and other types of wear and tear. If the fabric has earned certification based on these types of tests, it is generally a good indication that it is quality upholstery. How the fabric is constructed also matters. Those with patterns woven in rather than printed onto them are generally better quality. Reading online reviews can also help you learn more about the quality of upholstery. On 1stDibs, shop a wide variety of upholstered furniture.

Antique Upholstery Fabrics

Swedish Art Deco Armchairs

Biedermeier Fabric

Early 1900s Austrian Art Nouveau Antique Upholstery Fabrics

Materials

Brass

Biedermeier Sofa, Cherry Veneer, Horsehair, South Germany circa 1830

$5,124

Biedermeier Sofa, Cherry Veneer, Horsehair, South Germany circa 1830

Located in Regensburg, DE

Ebonized round bars on the armrests. Black horsehair upholstery fabric. Good seating comfort. Restored and hand polished with shellac.

Category

1830s German Biedermeier Antique Upholstery Fabrics

Materials

Cherry, Softwood

Art Nouveau Wing Chair Thonet Nr.6541, since 1904

$7,174

$9,224 / set

Pair of Restored H-269 Armchairs, by Jindrich Halabala, UP Zavody, Czech, 1930s

By Jindřich Halabala, Up Závody

Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj

The chairs feature brand new traditional spring-based upholstery built according to period-accurate techniques, finished in a high-quality upholstery fabric with a sophisticated geom...

Category

Early 20th Century Czech Art Deco Antique Upholstery Fabrics

Materials

Fabric, Upholstery, Beech, Lacquer

Vintage Linen Upholstery Textile Fabric

$706

Vintage Linen Upholstery Textile Fabric

Located in Alessandria, Piemonte

Mt. 12,40 x cm. 52 of a vintage tissue, suitable for armchairs upholstery in a country or seaside home: difficult to find this quantity.! This tissue was used for French mail bags, t...

Category

Early 20th Century French Country Antique Upholstery Fabrics

Materials

Canvas

Model D51 Bauhaus Chair Upholstered in Hermès Fabric by Walter Gropius for Tecta

$2,038

$8,997 / set

$5,893

stool model Fledermaus Josef Hoffmann and Gustav Siegel J. & J. Kohn ca. 1908

By Gustav Siegel, Josef Hoffmann, Jacob & Josef Kohn

Located in Klosterneuburg, AT

Kohn, ca. 1908 material and technique: beech, bent and stained; new upholstery (fabric: "Abimelech" Koloman Moser 1899) Original adhesive label "Jakob & Josef Kohn Wien" Bib.: Gio...

Category

Early 1900s Austrian Jugendstil Antique Upholstery Fabrics

Materials

Fabric, Beech, Bentwood

Pair of Original Bauhaus Armchairs, by Mücke-Melder, Chromed Steel, Czech, 1930s

$4,213 / set

$5,068

$31,888

$2,904

Empire Mahogany Sofa, Restored, Original Upholstery, France, 1860s

Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj

Empire Mahogany Sofa Origin: France 1860s This item features classic Empire elements. This style, originating in 19th century France, was made to impress, with imposing character, i...

Category

1860s French Empire Antique Upholstery Fabrics

Materials

Josef Hoffmann J. & J. Kohn Vienna Secession Stool c.1907

Unavailable

Unavailable

Unavailable

Unavailable

Unavailable

H 37 in W 77 in D 29 in

Gustavian Settee with Fortuny Upholstery

Located in New Orleans, LA

Gustavian settee with original finish - all new upholstery with down seat cushion / fabric new Fortuny fabric.

Materials

Fabric, Wood

H237 Armchairs by Jindrich Halabala in Original Upholstery, Czechoslovakia 1930s

Unavailable

$1,795

$2,250

H 13 in W 23 in D 14 in

19th Century French Louis XVI Style Giltwood Footstool

Located in Houston, TX

19th century French Louis XVI style giltwood footstool. Unusual antique French Napoleon III gilt wood footstool, stool or tabouret with beautiful patina. This great French Louis XVI...

Category

19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Upholstery Fabrics

Materials

Giltwood

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Antique Queen-Size Carved Four-Poster American Empire Bed, Philadelphia, c 1825

Located in INTERLAKEN, NY

An extraordinary American empire four-poster bed in cherry wood from the Philadelphia area that appears in the book, Philadelphia Empire Furniture by Boor. Features an elaborate seri...

Category

1820s American Empire Antique Upholstery Fabrics

Materials

Cherry, Poplar

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Antique Upholstery Fabrics For Sale on 1stDibs

At 1stDibs, there are several options of antique upholstery fabrics available for sale. Frequently made of fabric, wood and upholstery, all antique upholstery fabrics available were constructed with great care. Antique upholstery fabrics have been produced for many years, with earlier versions available from the 18th Century and newer variations made as recently as the 20th Century. Antique upholstery fabrics bearing Art Deco or Louis XVI hallmarks are very popular at 1stDibs. Jindrich Halabala, UP Závody and Josef Hoffmann each produced beautiful antique upholstery fabrics that are worth considering.

How Much are Antique Upholstery Fabrics?

The average selling price for at 1stDibs is $3,164, while they’re typically $278 on the low end and $90,672 highest priced.

Finding the Right Seating for You

With entire areas of our homes reserved for “sitting rooms,” the value of quality antique and vintage seating cannot be overstated.

Fortunately, the design of side chairs, armchairs and other lounge furniture — since what were, quite literally, the early perches of our ancestors — has evolved considerably.

Among the earliest standard seating furniture were stools. Egyptian stools, for example, designed for one person with no seat back, were x-shaped and typically folded to be tucked away. These rudimentary chairs informed the design of Greek and Roman stools, all of which were a long way from Sori Yanagi's Butterfly stool or Alvar Aalto's Stool 60. In the 18th century and earlier, seats with backs and armrests were largely reserved for high nobility.

The seating of today is more inclusive but the style and placement of chairs can still make a statement. Antique desk chairs and armchairs designed in the style of Louis XV, which eventually included painted furniture and were often made of rare woods, feature prominently curved legs as well as Chinese themes and varied ornaments. Much like the thrones of fairy tales and the regency, elegant lounges crafted in the Louis XV style convey wealth and prestige. In the kitchen, the dining chair placed at the head of the table is typically reserved for the head of the household or a revered guest.

Of course, with luxurious vintage or antique furnishings, every chair can seem like the best seat in the house. Whether your preference is stretching out on a plush sofa, such as the Serpentine, designed by Vladimir Kagan, or cozying up in a vintage wingback chair, there is likely to be a comfy classic or contemporary gem for you on 1stDibs.

With respect to the latest obsessions in design, cane seating has been cropping up everywhere, from sleek armchairs to lounge chairs, while bouclé fabric, a staple of modern furniture design, can be seen in mid-century modern, Scandinavian modern and Hollywood Regency furniture styles.

Admirers of the sophisticated craftsmanship and dark woods frequently associated with mid-century modern seating can find timeless furnishings in our expansive collection of lounge chairs, dining chairs and other items — whether they’re vintage editions or alluring official reproductions of iconic designs from the likes of Hans Wegner or from Charles and Ray Eames. Shop our inventory of Egg chairs, designed in 1958 by Arne Jacobsen, the Florence Knoll lounge chair and more.

No matter your style, the collection of unique chairs, sofas and other seating on 1stDibs is surely worthy of a standing ovation.

Questions About Antique Upholstery Fabrics

How can you tell the quality of upholstery fabric?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertOctober 24, 2024
To tell the quality of upholstery fabric, first consider what it's made of. Natural fibers like cotton, wool, linen and silk are often used to produce high-quality fabrics. Some synthetics are also well-made, but quality varies, so conduct some online research to learn about the pros and cons of the specific material. Next, ask the retailer or maker if the fabric has undergone any performance tests and gained any certifications. Scientific tests can be performed to assess how resistant furniture is to staining, fading, pilling and other types of wear and tear. If the fabric has earned certification based on these types of tests, it is generally a good indication that it is quality upholstery. How the fabric is constructed also matters. Those with patterns woven in rather than printed onto them are generally better quality. Reading online reviews can also help you learn more about the quality of upholstery. On 1stDibs, shop a wide variety of upholstered furniture.

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