Easels
Late 19th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Antique Easels
Beech, Bentwood
1960s Vintage Easels
Iron
Late 20th Century Italian Hollywood Regency Easels
Metal
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Easels
Beech
20th Century American Adirondack Easels
Iron
Mid-20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Easels
Brass
20th Century French Easels
Wood
1890s Japanese Meiji Antique Easels
Zitan
Early 1900s Chinese Chinese Chippendale Antique Easels
Marble
Mid-19th Century English Early Victorian Antique Easels
Brass
Late 19th Century European Antique Easels
Iron
Early 20th Century American Industrial Easels
Iron
19th Century English Antique Easels
Metal, Brass
Mid-19th Century Italian Renaissance Revival Antique Easels
Metal
1970s American American Craftsman Vintage Easels
Brass
19th Century European Rococo Revival Antique Easels
Wood
Late 19th Century French Antique Easels
Metal
1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Easels
Spruce
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Easels
Steel
Late 19th Century French Victorian Antique Easels
Faux Bamboo
19th Century American Eastlake Antique Easels
Porcelain
19th Century American Antique Easels
Iron
19th Century English Victorian Antique Easels
Brass
20th Century French Easels
Leather, Oak
19th Century French Louis Philippe Antique Easels
Brass
Late 20th Century Spanish Easels
Iron
Early 20th Century French Easels
Iron
1960s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Easels
Metal
1920s French Industrial Vintage Easels
Metal
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.