60 Inch Bathroom Vanity
Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vanities
Brass
Vintage 1960s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Vanities
Brass
Early 20th Century British Vanities
Mirror
Early 20th Century North American Chinoiserie Buffets
Brass
People Also Browsed
2010s Modern Tables
Hardwood, Oak
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and...
Brass, Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and...
Aluminum, Metal, Brass
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Vanities
Glass, Mirror, Teak
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Flush Mount
Metal
Antique 17th Century Japanese Edo Lacquer
Copper, Gold
Vintage 1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Vanities
Birch, Teak, Wenge, Plywood
Vintage 1950s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vanities
Oak, Teak
Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Vanities
Marble, Brass
Vintage 1960s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vanities
Oak
20th Century American Queen Anne Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Vanities
Teak
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vanities
Teak
Vintage 1920s Art Deco Vanities
Mirror
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Dressers
Mirror, Teak
Recent Sales
Vintage 1930s Italian Belle Époque Vanities
Early 20th Century Great Britain (UK) Edwardian Vanities
Antique Early 19th Century French Vanities
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Vanities
Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Vanities
Wood
Vintage 1970s English Mid-Century Modern Vanities
Chrome
Mid-20th Century British Mid-Century Modern Vanities
Mirror, Walnut
Mid-20th Century American Hollywood Regency Wall Mirrors
Metal, Brass
Finding the Right vanities for You
Vintage, new and antique vanity tables have forever felt like personal, intimate sanctuaries of sorts, designed to introduce a level of serenity that feels rare and welcome in our otherwise frenetic days. They’ve been variously known as dressing tables or makeup tables over the years, but no matter what we call them — and whether it's a sophisticated contemporary piece or an iconic vintage Luigi Massoni vanity — vanities have offered a special place for us to get ready for work, an early-morning appointment or lunch date or whatever lies ahead.
“Beauty routines, taking the time to protect what you have, a moment to accessorize, a moment to pause and slow down — these are all so important now as an antidote to our fast and hectic lives,” says Oona Bannon, creative director of Pinch Design in Clapham, South London. “Just thinking about a dressing table makes me feel calm.”
When decorative boxes would no longer suffice as repositories for cosmetics, fragrant oils and perfumes, dressing tables originated in France and England during the 17th century. Men who called the latter home used “shaving tables” — a proto-dressing table — for their grooming routines while women found in dressing tables an oasis for applying makeup, particularly as improvements upon vanity tables equipped them with mirrors and lighting. In the United States, as vanity tables became a seamless component of bedroom furniture, furniture makers working in Chippendale, Rococo and other styles were regularly commissioned to produce these popular items.
Vanity tables have evolved over the years, and while there is lots to love about the ornate carving and pronounced curvilinear forms of Victorian vanities, the clean lines that characterize mid-century modern vanities and the decorative flourishes associated with Art Deco vanities, the main elements of this furnishing are the same. All vanities are about as tall as a standard table with room for seating furniture, which tends to be a small bench, a stool or an armless chair. Many also have special organization features for makeup. Without a chair and a mirror, a vanity would resemble a dresser.
Nowadays, vanities are more than a place to do hair and makeup. They’re a platform to display beauty products and store makeup collections. Vanities are standard in bedrooms, particularly if you’re not lucky enough to have a spacious dressing room or walk-in closet for your dressing table. The better the lighting is in your bedroom or wherever you’ve positioned your vanity table — even if you’ve opted for a moody setting versus a bright one — the more you will benefit from having this personal place of respite to prepare for the day ahead.
Find your antique, new or vintage vanity table today on 1stDibs.
Read More
The Ultimate Guide to Types of Tables for the Home
Whether you’re just moving in or ready to give your home a makeover, our guide will give you pointers on tables that are fitting for every room, nook and hallway.
Riotous Shapes and Colors Have Made Uchronia’s Designs the Toast of Paris
Julien Sebban’s energetic design collective is radically reshaping the look of 21st-century European furniture and interiors.
Is Lionel Jadot the Willy Wonka of Upcycled Belgian Design?
From his massive collaborative workshop in a former paper factory, the designer concocts funky furniture from disused materials, as well as luxe hotel interiors like the new Mix Brussels.
Inspired by the Cosmos, Sandra Nunnerley’s Nova Table Has a Futuristic Feel
The designer’s innovative use of an unexpected material gives this console a lift.
This 19th-Century Gilded Desk Displays a Fanciful Kingdom in Marquetry
The stately piece brings both gravitas and whimsy to any work space.
In Guadalajara, These Luscious Side Tables Are Chiseled from Volcanic Rock
Use them as tables or stools, indoors or out.
How to Arrange Furniture + Layout Ideas
Here, we give design advice and show layout examples to help you create the perfect living room setup.
Why Hollywood A-Listers Can’t Get Enough of James De Wulf’s Concrete Furniture
Starting with a 900-pound Ping-Pong table, the Los Angeles designer has built a sturdy furniture-making career out of concrete.