Fan Back Sofa

At 1stDibs, there are many versions of the ideal fan back sofa for your home. Frequently made of wood, fabric and metal, every fan back sofa was constructed with great care. There are 12 variations of the antique or vintage fan back sofa you’re looking for, while we also have 17 modern editions of this piece to choose from as well. You’ve searched high and low for the perfect fan back sofa — we have versions that date back to the 19th Century alongside those produced as recently as the 21st Century are available. When you’re browsing for the right fan back sofa, those designed in mid-century modern, Art Deco and Baroque styles are of considerable interest. Many designers have produced at least one well-made fan back sofa over the years, but those crafted by Pieter Compernol, Stephanie Grusenmeyer & Jerôme Barrier, Pieter Compernol & Stephanie Grusenmeyer and COR are often thought to be among the most beautiful.

A fan back sofa can differ in price owing to various characteristics — the average selling price 1stDibs is $5,800, while the lowest priced sells for $380 and the highest can go for as much as $28,000.

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.