"Diplomat" Sofa by John Home for HK Furniture, 1970s
By Howard Keith
Located in Stockholm, SE
Designed by John Home and produced by Howard Keith Furniture, United Kingdom, late 1970s. Model
Metal
Howard Keith by John Home Orange Fabric Diplomat Sofa
By Howard Keith
Located in Basildon, London
A fantastic example of classic British design, the Diplomat sofa was designed by John Home in 1970
Chrome
Howard Keith 'Diplomat' Sofa in Original Striped Upholstery
By Howard Keith
Located in Stafford, TX
1970s "Diplomat" Sofa Designed By John Home for Howard Keith Furniture, UK Beautiful sofa with
Velvet
Mah Jong by Hans Hopfer for Roche Bobois 1st Edition Sofa
By Hans Hopfer, Roche Bobois
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Rare and iconic 1st edition circa 1971 Mah Jong modular sectional sofa consisting of ten element pillows. The sofa was designed by Hans Hopfer for Roche Bobois in this avant-garde de...
Fabric, Foam
$1,550 / item
H 18 in W 12 in D 12 in
Stacked Bone and Brass Powder-Coated Table Lamp with Peekaboo Silver Leaf Shade
By Seth Premo, Arvo Ray
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Junius lamp makes a bold statement with its geometric stacked elements that appear almost to float above one another. The lamp is constructed with a powder-coated steel shade and...
Brass, Silver Leaf, Steel
Trio No 3 Travertine Side Table
By Kiwano Concept
Located in Eindhoven, NB
Elevate your interiors with the TRIO № III beige travertine side table, featuring a smooth square oval top supported by three sculptural cylinder bases. Crafted from solid natural tr...
Travertine
Round Rosso Levanto Marble Coffee Table - Red Marble Center Table
Located in İnegöl, TR
ROSSO LEVANTO MARBLE COFFEE TABLE Type of Marble: Rosso Levanto Dimensions: 40" Diameter Leg Model: Rosso Levanto Customizable: Available! Production Time: 3-4 Weeks Shipping Cost: ...
Stone, Marble
$941 / item
H 32.29 in W 16.54 in D 15.75 in
Mid Century Butterfly Chair, Linen Schwarzwald Dedar, Dark Wood, Europe, 1960s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Dining chair called "Butterfly" with dark brown walnut stained beech legs and fully upholstered seat and back in beautiful italian fabric. This chair can be customized to your speci...
Fabric, Bouclé, Beech
$5,500 / item
H 16 in W 72 in D 24 in
Bertu Benches, Suelo Big Modern Sheepskin Fur Bench, Sheepskin with Maple
By Bertu Furniture
Located in Oak Harbor, OH
This Big Fur Suelo® Bench is beautifully constructed from solid maple in Ohio, USA. This silhouette is simple, modern, and sleek, topped with a very thick sheepskin cushion. The Suel...
Sheepskin, Maple
Italian Architectural Wall Unit in Walnut
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Wall unit or wardrobe, walnut, Italy, 1970s This striking wall unit from the 1970s reflects a bold modernist approach with an architectural appearance. Crafted from rich walnut, the...
Walnut
$13,500 / set
H 36 in W 43 in D 30 in
Eero Saarinen Womb Chair and Ottoman in New Zealand Taupe Sheepskin
By Eero Saarinen
Located in Saint Louis, US
Relax and unwind in this beautifully comfortable original Eero Saarinen Womb Chair and ottoman set. The chair is accompanied by an ottoman of which both are fully reupholstered in hi...
Steel
JMF Chair by Forsyth
Located in SAINT LOUIS, MO
The JMF Chair is inspired by and in homage to the lean, modern lines and silhouettes created by design icon Jean-Michel Frank. 1 and a quarter inch solid oak, richly stained, is hand...
Oak
$28,700
H 28.75 in W 139.77 in D 36.03 in
De Sede DS-600 'Snake' Sectional Sofa in Warm Sage Colored Suede
By De Sede, Ubald Klug
Located in Waalwijk, NL
De Sede, ‘Snake’ DS-600, suede, felt, Switzerland, 1970s A design by Ueli Berger, Elenora Peduzzi-Riva, Heinz Ulrich and Klaus Vogt for De Sede, Switzerland. This De Sede modular Sn...
Suede, Felt
$5,500 / item
H 29.14 in W 38.19 in D 34.26 in
Contemporary Lounge Chair in Mongolian Faux Fur, Natural Oak Legs, New
By Mondo Design Studio
Located in NEW YORK, NY
An explosion of organic, enveloping forms, conceived as both furniture and sculpture. Its silhouette is defined by soft, generous curves and a commanding backrest that cocoons the bo...
Upholstery, Faux Fur, Wood
Roche Bobois Agami Sofa
By Roche Bobois
Located in Basildon, London
Introducing the Agami Sofa by Roche Bobois, a stunning addition to any modern living space. Crafted with the highest quality materials, this sofa boasts a sleek and contemporary desi...
Leather
$22,942
H 27.56 in Dm 118.12 in
Rare and Exceptional 'Gilda' Circle Sofa in Velvet by Michel Ducaroy, 1972
By Michel Ducaroy, Ligne Roset
Located in Echt, NL
Very rare extra large 'Gilda' circle sofa in excellent condition. Designed by Michel Ducaroy in 1972. The sofa is manufactured by 'Roset' the company name of Ligne Roset prior to 1...
Metal
$28,000
H 31 in W 128 in D 78 in
Adrian Pearsall Grand Boomerang Sofa, Craft Associates, New Shearling Upholstery
By Craft Associates, Adrian Pearsall
Located in Raleigh, NC
This distinctive sofa showcases Pearsall's signature sculptural approach with its sweeping boomerang silhouette. The angular geometry creates both visual drama and comfortable seatin...
Sheepskin, Walnut
$28,236 / set
H 23.63 in W 82.68 in D 35.44 in
Saratoga Sofa Set by Massimo and Lella Vignelli for Poltronova, Italy, 1968
By Massimo and Lella Vignelli, Poltronova
Located in Melbourne, VIC
The Saratoga sofa, designed by Massimo and Lella Vignelli for Poltronova, is a modernist masterpiece. The sofa features a bold, cubic form that is both elegant and functional, adding...
Fabric, Wood, Lacquer
Ennio Chiggio “Environ” Modular Sofa for Nikol International, 1969
By Ennio Chiggio
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Ennio Chiggio “Environ” modular sofa for Nikol International, 1969 The Ennio Chiggio "Environ" sofa for Nikol International, designed in the 1960s, is a rare and exquisite piece of ...
Fabric, Foam, Chenille
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.