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Conversation Borne

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19th Century Carved Conversation Borne Settee Tête-à-tête
19th Century Carved Conversation Borne Settee Tête-à-tête

19th Century Carved Conversation Borne Settee Tête-à-tête

Located in Culver City, CA

This borne settee or conversation sofa would look incredible in a large entryway of a home, hotel, or perhaps other retail commercial space.

Category

Antique 1860s European Napoleon III Settees

Materials

Hardwood, Walnut

1980s Italian Wood Gold Leaf Red Velvet Conversation Borne Settee Round Sofa
1980s Italian Wood Gold Leaf Red Velvet Conversation Borne Settee Round Sofa

1980s Italian Wood Gold Leaf Red Velvet Conversation Borne Settee Round Sofa

Located in Carimate, Como

Beautiful wooden and carved gold leaf decorated, red velvet upholstered sofa, produced in late 1980s-1990s, in perfect conditions, only been exposed but never used, as can be seen fr...

Category

Late 20th Century Italian Settees

Materials

Gold Leaf

​​Conversation Settee or Borne Settee from the Napoleon III Period
​​Conversation Settee or Borne Settee from the Napoleon III Period

​​Conversation Settee or Borne Settee from the Napoleon III Period

Located in Paris, FR

A central seat, also called “borne” from the Napoleon III period, circa 1860. Painted white wood frame, upholstered with "moiré" blue fabric.

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Settees

Materials

Fabric, Wood

American Victorian Oak and Pink and Green Patterned Fabric Upholstered Circular
American Victorian Oak and Pink and Green Patterned Fabric Upholstered Circular

American Victorian Oak and Pink and Green Patterned Fabric Upholstered Circular

Located in Queens, NY

American Victorian circular borne / conversation seat with an oak frame, upholstered in a pink and green bow patterned damask fabric with a channeled center post and pleated seat ski...

Category

Antique 19th Century Victorian Ottomans and Poufs

Materials

Oak

Conversation Settee or Borne Settee from the Napoleon III Period
Conversation Settee or Borne Settee from the Napoleon III Period

Conversation Settee or Borne Settee from the Napoleon III Period

Located in Paris, FR

A central seat, also called “borne” from the Napoleon III period, circa 1860. Gilt wood frame, upholstered with beige rose satin silk fabric.

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Settees

Materials

Fabric, Giltwood

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Conversation Borne For Sale on 1stDibs

At 1stDibs, there are many versions of the ideal conversation borne for your home. A conversation borne — often made from animal skin, leather and aluminum — can elevate any home. If you’re shopping for a conversation borne, we have 2 options in-stock, while there are 12 modern editions to choose from as well. There are many kinds of the conversation borne you’re looking for, from those produced as long ago as the 19th Century to those made as recently as the 21st Century. A conversation borne made by mid-century modern designers — as well as those associated with Victorian — is very popular. A well-made conversation borne has long been a part of the offerings for many furniture designers and manufacturers, but those produced by Cassina and Philippe Starck are consistently popular.

How Much is a Conversation Borne?

Prices for a conversation borne start at $6,250 and top out at $39,381 with the average selling for $19,960.

Finding the Right Settees for You

Vintage, new and antique settees are a smart and stylish choice for adding more seating to a room.

Settees first appeared in 17th-century Europe. A very famous settee, known as the Knole settee, was actually used by a monarch in South East England to receive visitors. This seating furniture was often part of a set that included matching chairs. While settees were popular in parlors, you could also find similar seating, such as daybeds and chaises longues (both of which derive from the settee, as does the chesterfield), where you might relax with guests in your home.

Today, a settee is still furniture that invites socializing. They’re common in living rooms and other shared areas because they allow you to cozy up to someone and have a conversation with them.

Settees are typically small seats that can fit two or more people, but they aren’t as wide as couches or sofas. A settee is more intimate and offers more sitting room than an armchair. Settees often have a backrest for optimal support and are frequently upholstered.

Are you looking to add more seating to an entertainment room but working with limited space? We promise that your vintage settee will look great next to your coffee table in your main seating area. You can also add a settee to your mudroom so that guests have a comfortable spot to sit down and take off their shoes. If you have a small space in your home that you’re still figuring out how to use, add a settee to turn it into a comfortable reading nook. They work in bedrooms too; a tufted settee designed by Danish modernist Finn Juhl makes perfect sense at the foot of your bed.

Most settees come with an upholstered seat, but you can find variations that aren’t upholstered. There are antique wood settees and benches that will look right at home in a rustic decor.

The backrest is an important consideration when choosing a settee. You can find pieces with low seat backs that look discreet and don’t provide a lot of support. If you want more support, we recommend choosing a settee with a high back.

A settee with a high back can become a statement piece, especially if you choose an item with a unique upholstery print or decorative frame.<a href=https://www.1stdibs.com/furniture/seating/settees/style/victorian/ target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> Victorian settees are ideal for introducing an air of sophistication to your living room. These pieces often feature frames of walnut or mahogany, a seat upholstered in chintz fabric (Victorians appreciated that the glazed finish made it easy to wipe clean) and sculptural hand-carved cabriole legs.

If you want something that feels more contemporary or will work better with your mid-century modern side tables and lounge chair, consider Space Age settees or mid-century modern versions. In your main seating area, tie the elements together with a large rug. (Find more tips on how to arrange furniture here.)

On 1stDibs, find a collection of vintage, new and antique settees from different eras to match any furniture style.