$6,160
H 33 in W 81 in D 22.5 in
Antique Caribbean Regency Carved Wood and Hand Caned Sofa w/ Shell & Wave Crest
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Caribbean Regency carved-wood and cane sofa from the early 20th century. This antique sofa from
Cane, Wood
$26,000
H 36.5 in W 81 in D 25.25 in
Caribbean Regency Mahogany Carved Foliage Leather Sofa on Brass Casters, C. 1810
Located in Charleston, SC
Caribbean Regency mahogany leather sofa with a central serpentine and scrolled fluted back, central
Brass
19th Century Jamaican Regency Mahogany Hand-Caned Sofa
Located in Charleston, SC
1820. The Caribbean sofa features a carved crest with wave motif, traditional Regency style curved arms
Cane, Mahogany
$338
H 6.7 in Dm 5.52 in
Apple ice bucket designed by Hans Turnwald for Freddo Therm, Switzerland, 1970s
By Hans Turnwald, Freddo Therm
Located in Hamburg, DE
This stunning golden apple ice bucket, designed by Hans Turnwald for Freddo Therm in the 1970s, is a true statement piece. During this era, fruit- and vegetable-shaped home accessori...
Metal
$3,019
H 24.02 in Dm 21.26 in
Mid-Century Modern German Hollywood Regency Style Brass Table Lamp from Goldkant
By Goldkant Leuchten
Located in Hamburg, DE
Impressive table lamp from the renowned manufacturer Goldkant. The lamp impresses with its ornamental design and high-quality materials. The segmented base and the shape of the umbr...
Metal
$2,800 / item
H 39.38 in W 39.38 in D 13.39 in
Sling Hanging Swing Chair Genuine Black Leather 21st Century Modern
By Joanina and David Pastoll
Located in Johannesburg, ZA
Stripped away from all excess, this hanging chair has a circular frame with the sheets of soft leather hanging loose within it, to create a sleek, sexy, and oh so comfortable experie...
Steel
$2,898
H 10.75 in W 5.25 in D 4.4 in
Striking Art Nouveau Ceramic and Bronze-Mounted Vase in Victor Horta Style
By Victor Horta
Located in Lisse, NL
Top condition and pure elegance Art Nouveau vase. For the collectors of museum quality and condition Art Nouveau ceramics. This stunning Art Nouveau vase is decorated with the mos...
Bronze
$3,465Sale Price|30% Off
H 27.5 in W 17.25 in D 17.25 in
French Baroque Style Wrought-Iron Stained Glass Hall Lantern, 19th-20th Century
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A French 19th-20th century Baroque Revival style wrought iron and four-color vitreaux stained glass single-light hall lantern, the rounded four stained glass panels with red, green, ...
Wrought Iron
$6,980
H 34.85 in W 76.38 in D 22.45 in
Exquisite 19th Century Brazilian Colonial Settee — Rare Inlaid Hardwood Bench
Located in Rio De Janeiro, BR
Exquisite 19th Century Brazilian Colonial Settee — Rare Inlaid Hardwood Bench with Cane Seat An exceptional example of Brazilian Colonial furniture from the early to mid-19th century...
Wood
Chesterfield Sofa in White Vinyl Upholstery
Located in New York, NY
Chic and stylish tufted white vinyl Chesterfield loveseat sofa on wood bun feet. Overall excellent condition, showing only light wear to fronts of armrests, as pictured. Clean, origi...
Faux Leather
Pair of French Louis XVI Period Gilt Bronze and Agate Vases
By Martin Baffert
Located in London, GB
These truly exceptional and rare antique Louis XVI period vases have been sculpted from agate, a precious and highly sought-after stone. The vases are set on square agate bases with ...
Agate, Bronze, Ormolu
Chinese Antique General's Armoire
Located in Somis, CA
A huge General's armoire from Shan Xi province, China's ancient frontier and trade post. Commanding at over 5' wide with solid structure and bold features, this exceptional piece dem...
Wood
Russian Kovsch in Silver Gilt, Cloisonné Enamel and Silver Pearl
Located in London, GB
Russian kovsch in silver gilt, cloisonne enamel and silver pearl Russian, 20th Century Height 7cm, width 12cm, depth 7cm This kovsch is a meticulously crafted piece, made by marryin...
Silver, Enamel
Biedermeier Burl Wood Secretary Cabinet
By Biedermeier
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A shaped cabinet with a scrolled bonnet, a centre compartment with door opening to two shaped shelves, flanked by curved side compartments (one shelf inside at the left). Below is a ...
Burl
Restored Witco Frog Ottoman by William Westenhaver, 1960s
By William Westenhaver / Witco, Witco
Located in Chattanooga, TN
Jump at the opportunity to own this adorable Witco frog ottoman. This frog foot stool is one of the most rare Witco pieces. Call it what you will, a footstool, or a toad stool. He’s ...
Cedar, Paint, Faux Fur
Bauer International Inc. British Colonial style Hand Cane Ottoman
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This is a well thought after Bauer International British Colonial style Hand Cane Ottoman with a curule form. The cane seat is in perfect vintage condition, no loss of cane. Very goo...
Cane, Wood
$2,800
H 78 in W 77 in D 1 in
Four-Panel Red Lacquer Folding Screen with Hand-Painted Floral Scrollwork
Located in Yonkers, NY
This vintage four-panel screen features a striking crimson red ground embellished with intricate hand-painted scrollwork in a classical floral motif. Each panel is framed by vertical...
Gesso, Wood
Meissen Snake-Handled "Schlangenvase" Urn Vase Lamp
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
A Meissen Snake-Handled "Schlangenvase" urn vase lamp, circa 1900, Gilt and painted in colors, the baluster body decorated with "Deutsche Blumen" on both sides. The vase was designed...
Porcelain
19th Century Colonial Mahogany Plantation Lounge Cane Chair
Located in Astoria, NY
An exquisite mid-19th-century traditional Anglo-Indian Colonial plantation chair, sourced from Provence, France. Beautifully hand-crafted from solid mahogany wood with a carved crown...
Cane, Mahogany
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.
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