Schiaparelli Sofa
21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Upholstery
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Upholstery, Velvet, Wood
Recent Sales
20th Century American Sofas
Upholstery
1990s North American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Fabric
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Iron
20th Century American Sofas
Late 20th Century American Sofas
Upholstery
2010s American Sofas
1990s American Sofas
1990s American Loveseats
Upholstery
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21st Century and Contemporary American Wall Lights and Sconces
Brass
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Wall Lights and Sconces
Metal
2010s Italian Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Murano Glass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Deco Wall Lights and Sconces
Brass
2010s North American Modern Night Stands
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Glass
Mid-20th Century English Art Deco Vitrines
Glass, Walnut
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Upholstery, Mahogany
Vintage 1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Mirrors
Mirror, Murano Glass
Mid-20th Century Chandeliers and Pendants
Glass
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Metal
Vintage 1960s Italian Hollywood Regency Dining Room Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
2010s Indonesian Mid-Century Modern Side Tables
Teak
Vintage 1960s French Chandeliers and Pendants
Alabaster
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Leather, Fabric, Wood
Finding the Right Sofas for You
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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