$20,500
H 35.01 in W 93.31 in D 34.01 in
Hans Hollein Marilyn Sofa, Birdseye Maple & Fabric, Mid-Century Modern
By Hans Hollein
Located in Byron Bay, NSW
A beautiful and rare sofa from this post-modern Austrian designer. Hollein was born in Vienna in
Fabric, Birdseye Maple
Hans Hollein "Marilyn" Sofa for Poltronova
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A beautiful and rare sofa from this post-modern Austrian designer. Hollein was born in Vienna in
Marilyn sofa by Hans Hollein
Located in Chicago, IL
Branded manufacturer's mark to side: [HH Poltronova].
Upholstery, Beech
Mario Marenco 'Marenco' 2 Seater Sofa 254 for Arflex
By Arflex, Mario Marenco
Located in Tilburg, NL
Mario Marenco 'Marenco' 2 Seater Sofa 254 for Arflex in fabric. New, current production. The unmistakable design and wide modularity still make the Marenco sofa a must-have in cont...
Fabric
$2,700
H 21.5 in W 17.5 in D 8.5 in
Japanese Marquetry Hanging or Table Cabinet, Meiji Period, c. 1900, Japan
Located in Austin, TX
A large and remarkable Japanese lacquer and marquetry decorated table or hanging cabinet, Meiji Period, circa 1900, Japan. The cabinet of square form surmounted by an arched top wit...
Metal, Brass, Copper
Guglielmo Ulrich Art Deco Italian Velvet Sofa, 1940s
By Guglielmo Ulrich
Located in Puglia, Puglia
A large Italian sculptural sofa designed by Guglielmo Ulrich, very comfortable. Recently upholstered in light blue velvet with a light gray velvet border, in a minimalist way, which ...
Velvet, Beech
On Hold|$14,221 / set
H 29.93 in W 23.23 in D 75.99 in
Vintage Dry Bar attr. to Willy Rizzo, Italy, 1970s
By Willy Rizzo
Located in Roma, IT
Beautiful vintage dry bar designed in the 1970s and attributed to Willy Rizzo. Orange suede, chromed metal bars. The set includes: illuminated shelves, a counter with a mirrored gla...
Steel
Vivai del Sud Lounge Chair in Pink Fabric Upholstery
By Vivai del Sud
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Vivai del Sud, lounge chair, pink fabric upholstery, Italy, 1970s This vibrant and cheerful lounge chair was created in the 1970s. This playful lounge chair is upholstered in a shi...
Fabric
$34,368 / set
H 26.4 in W 36.2 in D 36.2 in
Mario Bellini Azure Linen Velvet Camaleonda Sofa for B&B Italia, 1972, Set of 6
By B&B Italia, Mario Bellini
Located in Vicenza, IT
Camaleonda sofa, designed by Mario Bellini and manufactured by B&B Italia in 1972. The set features six modules with backrest. High quality Italian azure linen velvet upholstery. ...
Linen, Velvet, Foam
Ettore Sottsass Memphis Milano Diva Vintage Wall Mirror, Italy, 1984
By Memphis Milano, Ettore Sottsass, Memphis Group
Located in Vienna, AT
A post-modern wall-mounted mirror, Model „Diva" designed in 1984 by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano, Italy. This mirror is a vintage original from the 1980s, made from wood and mi...
Glass, Mirror, Laminate, Wood
$14,400Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 35.5 in W 40 in D 36 in
Suzanne Geismar Swan Leda Lounge Chairs in Mink Velvet and Ivory Parchment Swans
By Vermillion, Suzanne Geismar
Located in Saint Louis, MO
These glamorous, and so beautifully delicate, Leda Swan lounge chairs were inspired by Eileen Gray's "Dragon Armchair" for Yves Saint Laurent and are transformed from dragons into sw...
Velvet, Parchment Paper
Post Modern Chaise Lounge Newly Upholstered in Ivory White Bouclé
By Preview, Directional, Weiman Preview Furniture
Located in Saint Louis, MO
Float away from the worries of the day in this luxurious post modern chaise lounge newly professionally upholstered in super soft ivory white bouclé. Sculptural form exudes a sophist...
Bouclé, Upholstery
$7,640 / item
H 34.06 in W 24.02 in D 22.05 in
Modern Solid Brass, Handspun Wool Upholstered Luxury Dining Chair by Egg Designs
By Egg Designs
Located in Bothas Hill, KZN
The Strelitzia bespoke, dining chair is designed by Egg Designs and manufactured in South Africa. This luxury dining chair has a backrest of solid sand-cast brass, the method of sa...
Brass
$10,955
H 28.55 in Dm 25.79 in
Luigi Massoni Dilly Dally Vanity Table and Chair, Poltrona Frau, Italy, 1960s
By Luigi Massoni, Poltrona Frau
Located in Lewes, East Sussex
A rare Italian "Dilly Dally" vanity by Luigi Massoni and manufactured by Poltrona Frau Italy in the 1960s. Newly upholstered in off white leatherette. Modular vanity fully upholstere...
Faux Leather
$18,700
H 24.81 in W 89.18 in D 99.61 in
Vittorio Rossi and Luciano Bertoncini for Cjfra 'Zattera' Bed in Green Fabric
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Vittorio Rossi and Luciano Bertoncini for Cjfra, 'Zattera' bed, alcantara, lacquered wood, brass, chrome-plated steel, Italy, 1970s This extraordinary bed, created through the colla...
Brass, Steel, Chrome
Thomas Webb & Sons Two-Color Cameo Vase
By Thomas Webb & Sons
Located in New Orleans, LA
Of all the glassworks produced in the late 19th century, cameo glass was the most challenging to perfect. Only a handful of artisans succeeded in mastering this intricate craft, with...
Glass
$116,410
H 61.82 in W 38.59 in D 22.05 in
17th Century Japanese Lacquer Cabinet On French Giltwood Regence Stand
Located in Benington, Herts
An Extremely Fine and Very Important 17th Century Japanese Lacquer Cabinet on French Giltwood Stand of Regence Period circa 1680-1690 Provenance Likely acquired by Herman Willem ...
Giltwood, Lacquer
$17,065Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 59.06 in W 70.87 in D 83.86 in
Art Deco Double Bed & Nightstands by Atelier Varedo, Gino Maggioni attributed.
By Gino Maggioni, Atelier Borsani Varedo
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Art Deco Double Bed & Nightstands by Atelier Varedo, Gino Maggioni attributed. Measures cm: bed H 90\150, W 180, D 213 bedside H 72+35, W 44, D 33. Bedroom set of undisputed design ...
Walnut
Meissen Four Elements Porcelain Ewers
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in New Orleans, LA
This extremely rare and important set of four Meissen ewers represents the Four Elements: Earth, Air, Water and Fire. Impressive in both size and artistry, they are among the most fa...
Porcelain
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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