Settees
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Settees
Ormolu
Late 19th Century Italian Renaissance Revival Antique Settees
Leather, Walnut
19th Century French Directoire Antique Settees
Upholstery, Wood, Paint
19th Century English Victorian Antique Settees
Leather
19th Century English Victorian Antique Settees
Leather
19th Century French Antique Settees
Wood
19th Century Swedish Neoclassical Antique Settees
Wood, Upholstery
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Settees
Velvet, Wood
Late 19th Century English Antique Settees
Fabric, Satinwood
Early 1900s English Sheraton Antique Settees
Satinwood
1850s Brazilian Empire Antique Settees
Cane, Wood
Early 20th Century German Rococo Settees
Antler, Upholstery
Late 19th Century English Anglo-Japanese Antique Settees
Mahogany
19th Century Antique Settees
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Settees
Leather, Oak
Early 20th Century British Settees
Walnut
Late 19th Century French Antique Settees
Walnut
19th Century European Antique Settees
Wood
19th Century American Adirondack Antique Settees
Hickory
Early 1900s American Arts and Crafts Antique Settees
Oak
Late 19th Century Victorian Antique Settees
Walnut
19th Century English George II Antique Settees
Textile, Wood
1920s French Louis XVI Vintage Settees
Gold Leaf
1870s French Louis XVI Antique Settees
Cane, Wood
1890s English Art Nouveau Antique Settees
Velvet, Wood
19th Century Italian Antique Settees
Fabric, Wood, Paint
Early 20th Century American Federal Settees
Upholstery, Mahogany
Late 19th Century American Belle Époque Antique Settees
Upholstery, Mahogany
Late 19th Century English High Victorian Antique Settees
Leather, Hardwood, Walnut
19th Century American Federal Antique Settees
Mahogany
19th Century Antique Settees
Mahogany
19th Century Victorian Antique Settees
Other
Mid-19th Century Louis XVI Antique Settees
Walnut
Early 19th Century British Antique Settees
Upholstery, Wood, Paint
Late 19th Century British Antique Settees
Leather
Mid-19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Settees
Walnut
19th Century American Chippendale Antique Settees
Upholstery, Mahogany
Late 19th Century French Primitive Antique Settees
Metal
Early 20th Century British Settees
Walnut
Early 19th Century French Charles X Antique Settees
Maple
Early 19th Century English George III Antique Settees
Cane, Wood, Paint
19th Century Sheraton Antique Settees
Mahogany
Mid-19th Century French Gustavian Antique Settees
Walnut, Silk
Late 19th Century American Victorian Antique Settees
Oak
Early 20th Century European Rococo Settees
Fabric, Wood
1890s Scottish Arts and Crafts Antique Settees
Leather, Oak
Early 19th Century Italian Neoclassical Antique Settees
Cherry, Giltwood
Mid-19th Century French Antique Settees
Upholstery, Giltwood
Early 20th Century Italian Settees
Fabric, Beech
19th Century European Louis XV Antique Settees
Upholstery, Walnut
Early 1900s Antique Settees
Walnut
1910s Austrian Art Deco Vintage Settees
Synthetic
19th Century Italian Rococo Antique Settees
Upholstery, Wood
1870s English Anglo-Japanese Antique Settees
Walnut
Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Settees
Velvet, Wood
19th Century English Victorian Antique Settees
Upholstery, Hardwood
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Settees
Oak
1820s Antique Settees
Wood
19th Century French Rustic Antique Settees
Willow
Mid-19th Century Italian Baroque Antique Settees
Walnut
Vintage, New and Antique Settees
Vintage, new and antique settees are a smart and stylish choice for adding more seating to a room.
Settees first appeared in 17th-century Europe. A very famous settee, known as the Knole settee, was actually used by a monarch in South East England to receive visitors. This seating furniture was often part of a set that included matching chairs. While settees were popular in parlors, you could also find similar seating, such as daybeds and chaises longues (both of which derive from the settee, as does the chesterfield), where you might relax with guests in your home.
Today, a settee is still furniture that invites socializing. They’re common in living rooms and other shared areas because they allow you to cozy up to someone and have a conversation with them.
Settees are typically small seats that can fit two or more people, but they aren’t as wide as couches or sofas. A settee is more intimate and offers more sitting room than an armchair. Settees often have a backrest for optimal support and are frequently upholstered.
Are you looking to add more seating to an entertainment room but working with limited space? We promise that your vintage settee will look great next to your coffee table in your main seating area. You can also add a settee to your mudroom so that guests have a comfortable spot to sit down and take off their shoes. If you have a small space in your home that you’re still figuring out how to use, add a settee to turn it into a comfortable reading nook. They work in bedrooms too; a tufted settee designed by Danish modernist Finn Juhl makes perfect sense at the foot of your bed.
Most settees come with an upholstered seat, but you can find variations that aren’t upholstered. There are antique wood settees and benches that will look right at home in a rustic decor.
The backrest is an important consideration when choosing a settee. You can find pieces with low seat backs that look discreet and don’t provide a lot of support. If you want more support, we recommend choosing a settee with a high back.
A settee with a high back can become a statement piece, especially if you choose an item with a unique upholstery print or decorative frame.<a href=https://www.1stdibs.com/furniture/seating/settees/style/victorian/ target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> Victorian settees are ideal for introducing an air of sophistication to your living room. These pieces often feature frames of walnut or mahogany, a seat upholstered in chintz fabric (Victorians appreciated that the glazed finish made it easy to wipe clean) and sculptural hand-carved cabriole legs.
If you want something that feels more contemporary or will work better with your mid-century modern side tables and lounge chair, consider Space Age settees or mid-century modern versions. In your main seating area, tie the elements together with a large rug. (Find more tips on how to arrange furniture here.)
On 1stDibs, find a collection of vintage, new and antique settees from different eras to match any furniture style.