Cow Hide Pouf
21st Century and Contemporary American Classical Ottomans and Poufs
Leather, Textile
Vintage 1970s Mid-Century Modern Ottomans and Poufs
Early 20th Century Unknown Rustic Ottomans and Poufs
Cowhide
Vintage 1960s Ecuadorean Spanish Colonial Ottomans and Poufs
Leather, Jacaranda
2010s Italian Modern Armchairs
Cowhide
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Late 20th Century Empire Beds and Bed Frames
Brass
Late 20th Century American Victorian Ottomans and Poufs
Leather
20th Century American Chesterfield Wingback Chairs
Brass
Late 20th Century American Other Platters and Serveware
Silver Plate
Early 20th Century American Rustic North and South American Rugs
Felt, Hide
Mid-20th Century Egyptian Egyptian Revival Stools
Brass
20th Century American Lounge Chairs
Leather
Late 20th Century American Art Deco Armchairs
Chrome
20th Century American Armchairs
Chrome
Vintage 1970s Philippine Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Rattan
Late 20th Century Floor Lamps
Brass
Antique 1890s English Chippendale Footstools
Mahogany
Late 20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Dinner Plates
Porcelain
20th Century American Country Dining Room Chairs
Pewter
Mid-20th Century Indian Anglo-Indian Footstools
Brass
Late 20th Century Dutch Footstools
Pine, Leather, Sheepskin
Recent Sales
Vintage 1960s American Organic Modern Ottomans and Poufs
Leather
20th Century American Art Deco Ottomans and Poufs
Cowhide, Wood
Late 20th Century Unknown American Classical Ottomans and Poufs
Cowhide
20th Century Indian Moorish Ottomans and Poufs
Cowhide, Teak
21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Ottomans and P...
Cowhide
Antique 1890s Ottomans and Poufs
Leather, Mahogany
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Ottomans and Poufs
Cowhide
21st Century and Contemporary American Ottomans and Poufs
Cowhide, Hide
Late 20th Century American Ottomans and Poufs
Vintage 1960s French Ottomans and Poufs
Upholstery, Cowhide, Leather
Finding the Right ottomans-poufs for You
Antique and vintage ottomans and poufs add comfort and style to any living room, game room, home office or minimalist lounge space. An ottoman is a short seat or footstool that is also often used to store items. A pouf is similar, but it’s typically more petite than an ottoman, usually without the storage space inside.
When one thinks of the Ottoman Empire, it’s easy to overlook the iconic seat named for the region. The ottoman — originally an upholstered seat or small bench without a back or arms — was a family’s main seating furniture, a way to merge floor seating with cushions and mats. It wasn’t until they were brought to Europe from Turkey, during the 18th century, that it became popular to join ottomans with other pieces of furniture, such as at the base of a chair. Eventually, these footrests were transformed into storage furnishings to organize quilts and blankets or other textiles. Furniture makers crafted their ottomans with lids that revealed a hidden cupboard, which rendered them both comfortable and practical.
Poufs, which appeared in France during the 1840s, are also of the low-platform seating variety. These versatile furnishings have been made available in all manner of shapes and sizes over time, and depending upon their firmness can be used as a side table should an occasion call for an extra one. However, your average ottoman is almost always firmer than a pouf, and even if the plush pouf in your living room feels sturdy, it’s probably not the best surface for your early-evening cocktail.
Both ottomans and poufs can help create an inviting and warm atmosphere in your living space. For the smaller rooms that are characterized by a casual feel, a shaggy or woven wool pouf might be a better choice, as it’s likely to be more compact and floor-cushion-like than an ottoman. The latter are often larger and more table-like and are comparatively a good fit for a more formal room such as a library or a study. Today, you might find that an ottoman works well in your bedroom, where there isn’t room for a sofa, or perhaps it can serve as a reliable perch in front of your vintage vanity table.
Whatever your seating needs are, find a collection of antique, new and vintage ottomans and poufs in varying styles on 1stDibs that include neoclassical, Industrial and mid-century modern. From the bright colors and bold patterns deployed by Milan-born designer Lorenza Bozzoli to the classy leather furnishings created at family-run Brooklyn, New York, atelier Moses Nadel, there is an endless range of these lovable low stools that merge seamlessly with most decor.
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