Easels
Late 18th Century Antique Easels
Wood
16th Century European Renaissance Antique Easels
Metal, Bronze
Late 17th Century Italian Antique Easels
Brass
17th Century Spanish Baroque Antique Easels
Wrought Iron
19th Century French Antique Easels
Oak
Late 19th Century British Antique Easels
Walnut
16th Century French Renaissance Antique Easels
Oak
1950s Mexican Industrial Vintage Easels
Pine
1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Easels
Brass
Early 20th Century English Victorian Easels
Wood
1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Vintage Easels
Wood
20th Century Italian Neoclassical Easels
Giltwood
1870s Rustic Antique Easels
Oak
1950s Mexican Industrial Vintage Easels
Pine
Mid-20th Century Italian Easels
Wood
Early 1900s English Victorian Antique Easels
Elm, Oak
Early 18th Century English Queen Anne Antique Easels
Walnut
Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Easels
Walnut
18th Century Art Nouveau Antique Easels
Mahogany
Early 18th Century Renaissance Revival Antique Easels
Pine
Early 17th Century Italian Baroque Antique Easels
Antique and Vintage Easels
While antique and vintage easels are traditionally seen as an artist’s tool, they also have decorative uses beyond their basic function.
Easels are tall supports that painters use to prop their canvas on while they work. While many wooden easels have been made over the years, versions made with alternative materials such as aluminum, steel and other metals can be found too.
There are various types of easels. Studio easels differ from table easels in that the latter is meant for tabletop use. An H-frame easel is said to be the sturdiest variety and has the largest footprint. You will likely need a dedicated space in your home for this studio easel as it isn’t meant to be portable and can’t be broken down easily. Another studio easel, an A-frame easel, has a triangular “A” structure versus the “H” form we see in H-easels. The A-frame easel is lightweight and may be a bit more affordable than an H-frame easel.
Beyond an artist using an easel to create the next masterpiece, an easel can help you incorporate art into a living room that doesn’t have sufficient wall space for a painting. There are lots of ways to arrange wall art, and hanging isn’t the only way to display your artworks. You can stand framed pieces and stretched canvases on an easel, a mantelpiece, floating shelves or on the floor leaning against a wall. This creates a casual look and also allows you to change your arrangement more easily without damaging the wall. An understated easel can fade into the background, serving as an unassuming platform that allows a work to speak for itself. Conversely, many ornate and sculptural examples of easels have been made over the years. What better way to draw an eye toward a work of art in your home?
Find a collection of antique and vintage easels on 1stDibs that includes mid-century modern easels, industrial-style easels and more.