$6,200
H 31 in W 70 in D 34 in
Mid-Century Danish Modern Sofa by Kurt Olsen Model 220 Papa Bear Style, 1960's
By Slagelse Mobelvaerk, Kurt Olsen
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Mid-Century Modern Scandinavian designed sofa by Kurt Olsen for Slagelse Mobelvaerk as Model 220
Wool
Kurt Olsen 'Papa Bear' Model 220 Sofa by Slagelse Møbevaerk
By Slagelse Mobelvaerk, Kurt Olsen
Located in Ottawa, ON
sofa has a gentle curve and the armrests have teak 'bear paw' teak arm caps. The piece has been
Teak
AP19 Papa Bear Chair by Hans J. Wegner
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Shibuya City, JP
AP-19 Papa Bear chair, 1953 This papa bear chair was reupholstered in October 2022 with
Upholstery, Beech, Pine
Danish Modern “Papa Bear” Sofa
By Kurt Olsen
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Danish modern teak “Papa Bear” sofa in the style of Kurt Olsen.
Fabric, Teak
Kurt Olsen Model-220 “Papa Bear” Sofa for Slagelse Mobelvaerk
By Kurt Olsen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Designer: Kurt Olsen Manufacturer: Slagelse Mobelvaerk Period/Style: Danish Modern Country: Denmark Date: 1950’s Dimensions: 30.5″H x 70″L x 34″W Seat Height 18.25″ Material...
Teak
Papa Bear Sofa by Erton
Located in Pasadena, CA
been redone in rust color mohair. A plus sofa which invites one to sit for hours. The casters in the
Wood, Upholstery
$3,373 / item
H 12.6 in W 28.35 in D 36.23 in
Flush Mount Brass and Glass Chandelier 8 Arms, Stilnovo Style, Low Ceiling Best
By Stilnovo, Silvio Piattelli
Located in Tavarnelle val di Pesa, Florence
This chandelier is specifically designed for low ceilings, with a height of only 13 inches (32 cm). The arms and shade holders are made of brass, while the central part is made of me...
Metal, Brass
$8,501 / set
H 23.63 in W 4.34 in D 2.37 in
Brass and Alabaster Curved and Long Wall Sconces by Glustin Luminaires
By Glustin Creation
Located in Saint-Ouen, IDF
New wall sconces by Glustin Luminaires, made of a single rounded and curved carved alabaster piece sat on a light bronze-finish brass backplate. Due to the nature of the alabaste...
Alabaster, Brass
$2,800 / set
H 14.75 in W 8.5 in D 4 in
Pair of Art Deco Style Murano Glass Demi Lune Wall Sconces, in Stock
Located in Miami, FL
Pair of Art Deco style Murano glass demi lune wall sconces, in stock One LED E26 base socket. Black glass sphere and brass fittings. Textured Murano glass, Wired to the American sta...
Brass
Pins Medium Side Table
By Marioni
Located in Milan, IT
Colorful and sophisticated, this side table will make an elegant statement in a contemporary living room, where it can be displayed alone or combined with others in the same Pins col...
Brass
Pair of Tulips Murano Glass and Brass Sconces
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Pair of wall lamps, entirely handmade in Murano, Italy, that bring the energy of Nature and Feng Shui into your interior. This pair of modern organic wall lamps is composed of a hand...
Brass
$9,900
H 27.96 in W 90.95 in D 37.01 in
Leif Hansen "Model 62" Sofa for Kronen Møbelfabrikken, Denmark, 1960s
By Kronen, Leif Hansen
Located in Utrecht, NL
Leif Hansen’s Model 62 sofa is commonly referred to as the “Geisha” and was designed in 1959. This model is a strikingly elegant example of Danish modernism’s streamlined, luxurious ...
Fabric, Wood
Italian Designer, Sofa, Velvet, Wood, Italy, 1950s
Located in High Point, NC
A yellow velvet and wood sofa designed and produced in Italy, c. 1950s. Overall Dimensions (inches): 28.0"H x 71.25"W x 36.5"D Seat Height (inches): 13.25" All upholstered furnitu...
Velvet, Wood
$6,400
H 30 in W 72 in D 42 in
Single Pedestal Base Oval racetrack Shape Two Leaves Cerused Oak Dining Table
By Pace Collection, Brueton, Dux of Sweden, Knoll
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Single Pedestal Base Oval racetrack Shape Two Leaves Cerused Oak Dining Table MINT! two leaves 20 inches each 112 inches extended table length
Oak
$8,895
H 32.5 in W 108 in D 33 in
Adrian Pearsall Sofa with Travertine Side Tables for Craft Associates
By Adrian Pearsall, Craft Associates
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Transforming a piece of Mid-Century Modern furniture is like bringing history back to life, and we take this journey with passion and precision. With over 17 years of artisanal exper...
Upholstery, Foam, Wood
Swedish Designer, Sofa, Wood, Velvet, Sweden, 1930s
Located in High Point, NC
A dark-stained wood and green velvet sofa designed and produced in Sweden, c. 1930s. Vintage fabric in distressed condition, ideally reupholstered. Dimensions: 32” H x 74” W x 36” ...
Velvet, Wood
Carl Malmsten "Samsas" Sofa for O.H. Sjögren, Sweden 1960s
By Carl Malmsten, O.H. Sjögren
Located in Utrecht, NL
“Samsas” is for many the most associated series with Carl Malmsten. The designer devoted his life to the renewal of traditional Swedish craftsmanship, inspired by Swedish country man...
Fabric, Wood
$16,225 / set
H 31.5 in W 34.26 in D 34.26 in
Pair of Sten Wicéns Armchairs in Pierre Frey Fabric and Elm, Sweden, 1950s
By Sten Wicén, La Maison Pierre Frey
Located in The Hague, NL
This rare pair of armchairs was produced by Sten Wicéns Möbelindustri in Sweden in the 1950s. The elegant design is characterized by its rounded, organic lines, creating a sumptuous...
Fabric, Upholstery, Elm
Ole Wanscher Sofa for A. J. Iverson
By A. J. Iversen, Ole Wanscher
Located in New York, NY
Ole Wanscher Sofa for A. J. Iversen newly upholstered in Kravet tight Boucle. A sofa with a raised, tight back and sloping arms, outward swept rear legs retaining the original horse...
Bouclé, Oak
$6,920
H 35.44 in W 74.81 in D 36.62 in
Attributed Gio Ponti Mid-Century Modern Velvet Sofa for ISA, 1950s
By Gio Ponti, ISA Bergamo
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Elegant and splendid three-seater sofa with high backrest attributed Gio Ponti, 1950s, for ISA Edizioni, Bergamo. Carved profile, refined lines, sensual and deep comfort. The ivory v...
Velvet, Beech, Fir
Swedish Modern Sofa with Cherry Wood Legs, Sweden 1950s
Located in Utrecht, NL
Designed in the early phase of what we know today as mid-century modern, this charming sofa is a unique evidence of how traditional Swedish craftsmanship was brought into modernism. ...
Wood, Fabric
Ib Kofod-Larsen Sette for Carlo Garhn, Denmark
By Ib Kofod-Larsen
Located in San Francisco, CA
Ib Kofod Larsen design small sofa or settee for Carlo Garhn, Denmark. Rare design in very limited production for manufacturer Carlo Garhn. High lighting the sculpted lines and float...
Wool, Teak
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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