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Borne Settee

Antique French Aubusson Boudeuse / Divan de Milieu 'Conversation Chair', Ca 1890
Antique French Aubusson Boudeuse / Divan de Milieu 'Conversation Chair', Ca 1890

Antique French Aubusson Boudeuse / Divan de Milieu 'Conversation Chair', Ca 1890

Located in New Orleans, LA

spaces. Also known as a "borne settee," this particular piece has 4 chairs that form a circle when placed

Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Settees

Materials

Giltwood

19th century demi-borne / Half seat in rosewood
19th century demi-borne / Half seat in rosewood

19th century demi-borne / Half seat in rosewood

$17,072

H 31.11 in W 29.93 in D 78.75 in

19th century demi-borne / Half seat in rosewood

Located in Paris, FR

Very unusual 19th-century demi-borne in rosewood and damask fabric with an attached planter in the

Category

Antique 1860s French Napoleon III Settees

Materials

Damask, Rosewood

Recent Sales

20th Century Caned Borne Settee
20th Century Caned Borne Settee

20th Century Caned Borne Settee

Located in Palm Beach, FL

A rare and exciting, vintage round or borne settee with a distinctive tropical feel, constructed of

Category

Mid-20th Century French Settees

1980s Italian Wood Gold Leaf Red Velvet Conversation Borne Settee Round Sofa
1980s Italian Wood Gold Leaf Red Velvet Conversation Borne Settee Round Sofa

1980s Italian Wood Gold Leaf Red Velvet Conversation Borne Settee Round Sofa

Located in Carimate, Como

. Round circular sofa, borne settee, tete a tete, confidante or conversation seat, over the centuries it’s

Category

Late 20th Century Italian Settees

Materials

Gold Leaf

​​Conversation Settee or Borne Settee from the Napoleon III Period
​​Conversation Settee or Borne Settee from the Napoleon III Period

​​Conversation Settee or Borne Settee from the Napoleon III Period

Located in Paris, FR

A central seat, also called “borne” from the Napoleon III period, circa 1860. Painted white wood

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Settees

Materials

Fabric, Wood

Upholstered Borne Or Circular Sofa
Upholstered Borne Or Circular Sofa

Upholstered Borne Or Circular Sofa

Located in Stamford, CT

Round Sofa - Borne Settee. Known as conversation seat. Arose during Napoleon III period in France

Category

20th Century American Sofas

Borne Settee, 19th Century, France
Borne Settee, 19th Century, France

Borne Settee, 19th Century, France

Sold

H 39.38 in W 90.56 in D 59.06 in

Borne Settee, 19th Century, France

Located in Brussels, BE

Borne settee, 19th century, France.

Category

Antique 19th Century French Settees

Materials

Velvet

Borne Settee / Conversational Sofa
Borne Settee / Conversational Sofa

Borne Settee / Conversational Sofa

Located in Tarrytown, NY

From a celebrities Southampton, NY oceanfront estate. Custom made borne settee covered in worsted

Category

1990s Settees

Materials

Fabric

19th Century Upholstered Four-Part "Borne Settee" or Round Sofa
19th Century Upholstered Four-Part "Borne Settee" or Round Sofa

19th Century Upholstered Four-Part "Borne Settee" or Round Sofa

Located in Essex, MA

Wonderful four-part "Borne Settee" 19th century. Comprised of two settees and two chairs which

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century American Victorian Ottomans and Poufs

Materials

Fabric, Walnut

Conversation Settee or Borne Settee from the Napoleon III Period
Conversation Settee or Borne Settee from the Napoleon III Period

Conversation Settee or Borne Settee from the Napoleon III Period

Located in Paris, FR

A central seat, also called “borne” from the Napoleon III period, circa 1860. Gilt wood frame

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Settees

Materials

Fabric, Giltwood

Tufted Two Piece Leather Borne Sette with Casters , Modern
Tufted Two Piece Leather Borne Sette with Casters , Modern

Tufted Two Piece Leather Borne Sette with Casters , Modern

Located in San Francisco, CA

Strike up a conversation with this Two Piece Vintage Tufted Leather Borne Settee with turned wooden

Category

Late 20th Century American Late Victorian Settees

Materials

Leather, Wood

Stylish 1930's Borne Settee
Stylish 1930's Borne Settee

Stylish 1930's Borne Settee

Sold

H 31 in W 48 in D 48 in

Stylish 1930's Borne Settee

Located in San Francisco, CA

This style of seating originated in France, in the 1850's, this one is from circa 1930's. It's been restored, refinished and reupholstered, with the frame in a Yellowy cream and the ...

Category

Vintage 1930s Unknown Sofas

Materials

Fabric, Wood

People Also Browsed

FINE ANTIQUE GEORGIAN CIRCA 1780 GiLTWOOD CHESTERFIELD WINDOW SETTEE SALON SOFA
FINE ANTIQUE GEORGIAN CIRCA 1780 GiLTWOOD CHESTERFIELD WINDOW SETTEE SALON SOFA

FINE ANTIQUE GEORGIAN CIRCA 1780 GiLTWOOD CHESTERFIELD WINDOW SETTEE SALON SOFA

By Chesterfield

Located in West Sussex, Pulborough

Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale very rare, highly collectable Georgian circa 1780 Salon settee or window seat with the original gold giltwoo...

Category

Antique 1780s English Georgian Sofas

Materials

Upholstery, Giltwood

'Plissé White Edition' Pleated Textile Table Lamp by Folkform for Örsjö
'Plissé White Edition' Pleated Textile Table Lamp by Folkform for Örsjö

'Plissé White Edition' Pleated Textile Table Lamp by Folkform for Örsjö

$1,155Sale Price / item|30% Off

H 16.1 in Dm 11.5 in

'Plissé White Edition' Pleated Textile Table Lamp by Folkform for Örsjö

By Örsjö Industri AB

Located in Glendale, CA

'Plissé White Edition' pleated textile table lamp by Folkform for Örsjö. This unique table lamp was awarded “Lighting of the Year 2022” by Residence Magazine Sweden, who called it “...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Textile

Large Louis XVI Sofa / Daybed in Rechampi and Gilded Lacquered Wood
Large Louis XVI Sofa / Daybed in Rechampi and Gilded Lacquered Wood

Large Louis XVI Sofa / Daybed in Rechampi and Gilded Lacquered Wood

Located in BARSAC, FR

Magnificent Louis XVI sofa in the style of the ottomans in gray lacquered wood and green, blue and gold rechampi with rich carved decoration of scrolls, wrapped foliage, resting on f...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Daybeds

Materials

Wood

Tapestry   Royal Manufacture of Aubusson, Louis XVI period 1738 at the Gobelins
Tapestry   Royal Manufacture of Aubusson, Louis XVI period 1738 at the Gobelins

Tapestry Royal Manufacture of Aubusson, Louis XVI period 1738 at the Gobelins

By Aubusson Manufacture

Located in Madrid, ES

Tapestry from the Royal Manufacture of Aubusson, Louis XVI period , made in 1738 at the Gobelins One panel from a series of Gobelins tapestries depicting the Hi...

Category

Antique Early 18th Century French Baroque Western European Rugs

Materials

Wool, Silk

19th Century Pair of Italian Baroque Style Giltwood Bed Coronas
19th Century Pair of Italian Baroque Style Giltwood Bed Coronas

19th Century Pair of Italian Baroque Style Giltwood Bed Coronas

Located in Rio Vista, CA

Dramatic pair of large 19th century Italian bed coronas or crowns made in the Baroque taste. The coronas feature demi-lune shaped frames embellished with gold leaf and decorated with...

Category

Antique 19th Century Italian Baroque Bed Coronas

Materials

Gold Leaf

Early 19th Century Parcel Gilt Gothic Revival Harp By Sebastian Erard
Early 19th Century Parcel Gilt Gothic Revival Harp By Sebastian Erard

Early 19th Century Parcel Gilt Gothic Revival Harp By Sebastian Erard

By Sébastien Érard

Located in Dublin, IE

A very fine and elegant Regency Satinwood and parcel-gilt double action Harp from the workshop of the famous harp and piano maker Sebastian Erard (1752-1831), decorated in the Grecia...

Category

Antique Early 19th Century English Gothic Revival Musical Instruments

Materials

Brass

French 18th Century Louis XV Painted & Gilt Queen Bed
French 18th Century Louis XV Painted & Gilt Queen Bed

French 18th Century Louis XV Painted & Gilt Queen Bed

Located in Baton Rouge, LA

A quality Louis XV Period carved and gold gilt queen bed frame. The four piece frame has classic carvings of Rococo influenced Louis XV style with flamboyant carvings and gold gilt c...

Category

Antique 18th Century French Louis XV Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Gold

Monumental Egyptian Revival Plaster on Fiberglass Sculptures
Monumental Egyptian Revival Plaster on Fiberglass Sculptures

Monumental Egyptian Revival Plaster on Fiberglass Sculptures

$6,800Sale Price / set|20% Off

H 79.5 in W 25.5 in D 13 in

Monumental Egyptian Revival Plaster on Fiberglass Sculptures

Located in Miami, FL

Monumental Egyptian revival plaster on fiberglass sculptures Offered for sale is an impressive pair of monumentally sized sculptures created in France in the Egyptian Revival style....

Category

Late 20th Century French Egyptian Revival Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Fiberglass, Plaster, Wood

Rare Antique Monumental Japanese Imperial Carved Elm Altar Sideboard Console
Rare Antique Monumental Japanese Imperial Carved Elm Altar Sideboard Console

Rare Antique Monumental Japanese Imperial Carved Elm Altar Sideboard Console

Located in Dayton, OH

Important 19th C. Japanese Meiji Period ornately carved extreme high relief, credenza or bar back. Meticulously designed with one of a kind tooling. A breakfront form with three draw...

Category

Antique 19th Century Japanese Meiji Sideboards

Materials

Elm

Extensive English Porcelain Dessert Service, circa 1825
Extensive English Porcelain Dessert Service, circa 1825

Extensive English Porcelain Dessert Service, circa 1825

Located in New York, NY

Pair of covered fruit coolers, pair of covered sauce tureens, pair of open work baskets, 1 compote, 4 kidney-shaped dishes, pair of square dishes, pair of oval dishes, 16 plates.

Category

Antique 1820s English Dinner Plates

Materials

Porcelain

Antique American Empire Figural Carved Mahogany Recamier Gold Chaise Lounge Sofa
Antique American Empire Figural Carved Mahogany Recamier Gold Chaise Lounge Sofa

Antique American Empire Figural Carved Mahogany Recamier Gold Chaise Lounge Sofa

Located in Philadelphia, PA

Antique American Empire Figural Carved Mahogany Recamier Gold Chaise Lounge Sofa. Item features a carved face to lower crest ands further carved wooden frame throughout raised on paw...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Biedermeier Sofas

Materials

Fabric, Mahogany

19th C. Neo Classic Large Bed With Gilt Work & Painted "Boucher" Style Cherubs
19th C. Neo Classic Large Bed With Gilt Work & Painted "Boucher" Style Cherubs

19th C. Neo Classic Large Bed With Gilt Work & Painted "Boucher" Style Cherubs

Located in London, Park Royal

This bed isn’t just fit for a king—it was actually made for royalty! Handcrafted in solid oak in France circa 1880, this remarkable Neo-Classical bed was commissioned a member of Eu...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Wood

Rare Antique Victorian Walnut Tufted Serpentine Parlor Corner Sofa Settee Couch
Rare Antique Victorian Walnut Tufted Serpentine Parlor Corner Sofa Settee Couch

Rare Antique Victorian Walnut Tufted Serpentine Parlor Corner Sofa Settee Couch

Located in Dayton, OH

Monumental Victorian corner parlor sofa featuring serpentine walnut frame with S scroll carved and padded arms. Features queen anne legs and tufted upholstery. Circa 1870s 102" W ...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Sofas

Materials

Velvet, Walnut

Period English Regency Hardwood Recamier in Manner of Marsh and Tatham
Period English Regency Hardwood Recamier in Manner of Marsh and Tatham

Period English Regency Hardwood Recamier in Manner of Marsh and Tatham

By Marsh and Tatham

Located in Essex, MA

Period English Regency Recamier in Manner of Marsh and Tatham Neoclassical Form with wonderful modern length. Egyptian Revival Palmette at foot and Scrolled backrest Four fluted le...

Category

Antique Early 19th Century English Regency Sofas

Materials

Hardwood

19th Century Italian Empire Giltwood Queen Bed, Frame Only
19th Century Italian Empire Giltwood Queen Bed, Frame Only

19th Century Italian Empire Giltwood Queen Bed, Frame Only

Located in Houston, TX

This listing is for bed frame only. Mattressm bedding and pillows not included and shown only for decorative purposes. A period Italian Empire queen bed beautifully carved with Neoc...

Category

Antique Early 19th Century Italian Empire Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Mahogany

Louis XVI Style Bunk Beds/Matching Pair of Single Beds Made by La Maison London
Louis XVI Style Bunk Beds/Matching Pair of Single Beds Made by La Maison London

Louis XVI Style Bunk Beds/Matching Pair of Single Beds Made by La Maison London

By La Maison London

Located in London, Park Royal

Louis XVI style bunk beds, hand carved and hand finished in an off-white, antique finish. Takes a mattress size: 90cm x 200cm (3ft x 6ft6'). The beds come with an extra set of legs, ...

Category

2010s British Louis XVI Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Wood

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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 Borne Settee
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    The first person who called a settee a settee is unknown. Historians have traced the name back to the Middle Ages when the furniture first came into production. Settee comes from the Old English word “setl,” which described a long wooden bench. On 1st 1stDibs, find a selection of antique settees.
  • 1stDibs ExpertOctober 19, 2021
    A borne settee is a circular, upholstered Victorian ottoman-style sofa with three or four seat divisions. It provides a backrest in its central cone element and has also been referred to as a “conversation seat.” Borne settees are frequently situated in hotel lobbies and galleries. On 1stDibs, find a range of antique and vintage settees.