Raffel Croissant
Mid-20th Century Sofas
Foam
Vintage 1970s French Sofas
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Vintage 1970s French Modern Sofas
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Vintage 1970s French Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Suede
Vintage 1970s French Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Leather
Vintage 1970s French Mid-Century Modern Sofas
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Vintage 1970s French Mid-Century Modern Sofas
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Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Credenzas
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Vintage 1970s French Organic Modern Sofas
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Mid-20th Century American Modern Sectional Sofas
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Vintage 1970s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
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1990s French Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Leather, Foam
21st Century and Contemporary French Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Fabric, Wood
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Chrome
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Alpaca
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Organic Modern Chandeliers and Pen...
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Organic Modern Side Tables
Travertine
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Vintage 1970s European Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Bouclé
Vintage 1970s French Modern Sofas
Wool
Vintage 1970s French Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Leather
Vintage 1970s Sofas
Leather
Vintage 1970s Sofas
Leather
Vintage 1970s Sofas
Suede
Vintage 1970s French Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Mohair, Fabric
Vintage 1970s French Modern Sofas
Wool
Vintage 1970s French Sofas
Leather
Vintage 1970s French Sofas
Leather
Vintage 1970s French Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Leather
Antique 15th Century and Earlier European Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Suede
Vintage 1970s French Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Mohair, Velvet
Vintage 1970s French Modern Sofas
Leather
Vintage 1970s French Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Leather
Raffel Croissant For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Raffel Croissant?
Raphael Raffel for sale on 1stDibs
Best known in the world of design as simply Raphaël, Raphaël Raffel was one of the most influential French mid-century modern designers and decorators. His style inspirations ranged from 18th-century Parisian design to 1960s American and Italian Space Age chic.
Born in 1912 in Paris, Raffel studied design at the École des Beaux-Arts. In 1934, he began an interior decorating business, counting legendary French-American dancer Josephine Baker among his first clients.
During the 1930s and throughout the 1940s, Raffel was regarded as one of France’s illustrious “ensembliers-décorateurs,” designers who not only created furniture but focused on every element of interior space, from wall decorations to lighting.
By the 1950s, Raffel’s decorating and design talents had gained the attention of the French public service. Several commissions were awarded to Raffel to decorate embassies, university residences, post offices, the National Assembly and the ground floor and a wing of the Hôtel de Ville de Paris. Additionally, in 1952, Raffel worked with French designer, sculptor and architect André Arbus to decorate a section of the luxury ocean liner Bretagne. That same year, Raffel’s work was shown with designs by French ceramist Georges Jouve at the Salon des Arts Ménagers. In 1958, Raffel exhibited at the Brussels World’s Fair.
During the 1960s and 1970s, Raffel was inspired by the era’s popular Space Age style, evident in his plush, croissant-shaped sofas and pod-shaped lounge chairs, club chairs and armchairs, which he designed for furniture makers such as Maison Honoré and Herman Miller. Raffel also combined lacquer, glasswork, distinct colors and gilt bronze in his elegant, French neoclassical coffee and cocktail tables, side tables and desks.
Towards the end of the 1970s, Raffel’s business began to wane, finally closing in 1983. Raffel continued to work on design and decorating commissions until he died in 2000.
On 1stDibs, find a range of vintage Raphaël Raffel seating and tables.
Finding the Right sofas for You
Black leather, silk velvet cushions, breathable bouclé fabric — when shopping for antique, new 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. 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.