Märta Blomstedt Sofa, Finland, 1940s
By Märta Blomstedt
Located in The Hague, NL
This rare sofa was designed by Märta Blomstedt and produced in Finland in the 1940s. The sofa has
Bouclé, Birch
Sofa by Märta Blomstedt
By Märta Blomstedt
Located in Borås, SE
Sofa by Märta Blomstedt. ca. 1938 White wool fabric, stained birch feet. Designed by Märta
Upholstery, Birch
Märta Blomstedt, Sofa Designed for Hotel Aulanko, Sheepskin, Birch, 1939
By Märta Blomstedt
Located in High Point, NC
A large, organic sofa designed by Märta Blomstedt in 1939 for the lobby of Hotel Aulanko
Sheepskin, Birch
Marta Blomstedt Attributed Sheepskin Sofa
By Märta Blomstedt
Located in London, England
1940s Finnish Made sofa attributed to architect Marta Blomstedt. The sofa features oiled
Sheepskin, Oak
Sold
H 33.08 in W 68.51 in D 31.89 in
Midcentury Sculptrual Sheepskin/Shearling Sofa in Manors of Marta Blomstedt
By Märta Blomstedt
Located in Hillringsberg, SE
This sculptural sofa with its curvy frame was produced in the early 1940s. The sofa has been fully
Sheepskin, Birch
Sold
H 29.53 in W 74.81 in D 39.38 in
1940s Curved Danish Cabinetmaker Banana Sofa, Newly Upholstered in Alpaca
By Flemming Lassen, Märta Blomstedt, Viggo Boesen
Located in Lewes, East Sussex
A superb curved 1940s Danish sofa, newly upholstered in a premium 100% Alpaca wool fabric. Fast
Alpaca, Wood
Sold
H 29.53 in W 74.81 in D 39.38 in
1940s Curved Danish Cabinetmaker Banana Sofa, Newly Upholstered in Alpaca
By Flemming Lassen, Märta Blomstedt, Viggo Boesen
Located in Lewes, East Sussex
A superb curved 1940s Danish sofa, newly upholstered in a premium 100% Alpaca wool fabric. Fast
Alpaca, Wood
Finnish Cabinetmaker Sheepskin Sofa 1940s
Located in London, England
1940s Finnish Made sofa in the style of Marta Blomstedt. The sofa features oiled, patinated oak
Sheepskin, Oak
Sold
H 29.93 in W 74.02 in D 32.29 in
Midcentury Sofa, Denmark 1950s, Teddy Fur & Tufted Leather, Mogens Lassen Style
By Mogens Lassen
Located in Hamminkeln, DE
, manufactured in Denmark, rare Scandinavian sofa model, reminds also a little bit of the Marta Blomstedt sofa
Leather, Fabric, Beech
Sold
H 29.93 in W 81.11 in D 33.86 in
Danish Sofa, 1950s Extendable Daybed, Pine & Beechwood, Faux Fur Sheepskin Teak
By Mogens Lassen, Märta Blomstedt
Located in Hamminkeln, DE
Beautiful authentic midcentury sofa. from the early 1950s made in Denmark, reupholstered, covered
Leather, Fabric, Beech, Pine
Sold
H 29.14 in W 79.14 in D 33.08 in
1950s Danish Curved Striped Sofa, Mid Century Modern Design, Authentic Vintage
By Slagelse Mobelvaerk, Mogens Lassen, Märta Blomstedt
Located in Hamminkeln, DE
Beautiful authentic, curved midcentury sofa, rare piece with solid beech wood legs. Purchased in
Fabric, Beech
$3,104 / item
H 16.54 in W 55.12 in D 20.87 in
Klismos Walnut Wood Woven Leather Bench Customizable Upholstery and Wood
By Pescetta
Located in IT
Klismos walnut wood brown woven leather Bench, Customizable Upholstery and Wood. Other colors and upholstery are available. Italian artisanal production by Pescetta Home Decoration....
Leather, Walnut
$16,954 / item
H 53.15 in W 125.99 in D 59.06 in
Oval Brass and Parchment Chandelier by Diego Mardegan for Glustin Luminaires
By Diego Mardegan
Located in Saint-Ouen, IDF
Beautiful chandelier by Diego Mardegan for Glustin Luminaires, this other version of the spider chandelier has longer arms on the sides giving the oval shape. The metal arms paint...
Metal, Brass
$8,177 / item
H 26.78 in W 70.87 in D 36.23 in
Gervasoni Sofa Upholstered Saia 10 by David Lopez Quincoces
By David Lopez Quincoces, Gervasoni
Located in Brooklyn, NY
With balanced lines, the Saia upholstered collection is created from a classic ideal reinterpreted in a contemporary key. The name, meaning "skirt" in Portuguese, illustrates its dis...
Upholstery
Pair of 70s Style Italian Bamboo and Brass Table Lamps
Located in New York, NY
Monumental size Bamboo lamps. Crafted in Italy and made to order, these lamps are modern and chic. Production lead time 2-4 weeks. Base diameter 8 inches, hat diameter 20 inches, he...
Brass
$6,500 / item
H 14 in W 36 in D 20 in
Modern Oval Coffee Table in Oak Wood Cylinder Base and Glass by Ercole Home
By Ercole Home
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Palazzo oval coffee table with green and ivory glass sits on 2 Rift White Oak Wood pedestals by Ercole Home. This new bespoke coffee table design by Ercole Home is available today fo...
Art Glass, Cut Glass, Walnut
$950 / item
H 25.6 in W 32.67 in D 13.78 in
New Black Wrought Iron Curule Bench with Cushion, Savonarola, Throne
Located in Miami, FL
New black wrought iron curule bench with cushion, Savonarola, Throne. Cushion included.
Iron
The Albert, Custom Made Belgian Linen Armchair
Located in Jesteburg, DE
Introducing the home collection. A small selection of timeless Flemish designs made by hand for us in a small third generation workshop in Belgium. Has been used by many influent...
Linen
$1,751 / item
H 15.75 in Dm 43.31 in
Contemporary Art Deco Mint green and Red powder coated Carousel 5 arms pendant
By Mambo Unlimited Ideas
Located in Lisbon, PT
Carousel suspension lamp has a delicate balance of form and function that produces a quiet, modern light ambiance for all to savour, with its Contemporary Art Deco lines. The struct...
Metal
$7,044 / set
H 24.01 in W 18.12 in D 14.18 in
Pair of Park Night Stands in Poplar Burl by Yaniv Chen for Lemon
By Lemon
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Structure: Made from Poplar Burl veneer with solid oak edging, the Park Nightstand is finished with matching veneer on both the exterior and interior. The inside includes an adjustab...
Wood, Poplar, Burl
$6,328 / set
H 24.01 in Dm 13.78 in
Pair of Constant Night Stands in Iroko Wood by Master Studio for Lemon
By Lemon
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Neatly proportioned with exceptional detailing, the constant nightstand is your perfect bedside partner. In our furniture making, the IDEA is to create special pieces that you can bu...
Hardwood
$14,750 / item
H 13 in W 36 in D 52 in
Circular Coffee/Side Table Organic Black Modern Contemporary Blackened Steel
By J.M. Szymanski
Located in Bronx, NY
TABLE NO. 15 - COFFEE TABLE J.M. Szymanski d. 2019 This Noguchi-inspired coffee table is handcrafted in 3/8” thick steel, with a natural black patina and wax finish, to create an u...
Steel, Iron
Sofa Three-Seat by Jules Leleu, France 1940's - New Upholstery
By Jules Leleu
Located in Brussels, BE
Sofa three-seat by Jules Leleu, France 1940s, new upholstery.
Upholstery, Wood
The Howard, Custom Made Belgian Linen Armchair
Located in Jesteburg, DE
Introducing the home collection. A small selection of timeless Flemish designs made by hand for us in a small third generation workshop in Belgium. Has been used by many influent...
Linen
$13,731 / item
H 49.22 in Dm 70.87 in
Brass and Parchment Paper Chandelier by Diego Mardegan for Glustin Luminaires
By Diego Mardegan
Located in Saint-Ouen, IDF
Impressive chandelier made of white enameled brass arms holding six beautiful parchment paper shades, which can be adjusted thanks to the handle of each socket. Signed by the arti...
Brass
'Daffodil' Table Lamp by Tiffany Studios
By Tiffany Studios
Located in London, GB
‘Daffodil’ table lamp by Tiffany Studios American, c. 1910 Height 56cm, diameter 40cm Designed and hand-made by the artisans from the renowned Tiffany Studios (1902-1932), this ‘Daf...
Bronze, Lead
Fritz Hansen Pair of Easy Chairs, Model 1669
By Fritz Hansen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Pair of Fritz Hansen easy chairs, model 1669, circa 1930s. Sculptural chairs re-upholstered in wool, legs of stained beech. All reupholstery work carried out with filling in organic ...
Sheepskin, Beech
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.
You know the designs, now get the stories about how they came to be.
If anyone is brave, humble and adept enough to recolor these mid-century masterpieces, it’s Ilse Crawford. Here, she gives us the details on her five earthy paint choices and tells us how she feels about design collaborations.
In an innovative display, the Designmuseum Danmark is permanently exhibiting the 20th century's most iconic seats.
Our feed is filled with the world's most beautiful spaces. See the 10 our followers have deemed the best of the best this month.