Settees
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Settees
Upholstery, Giltwood, Down
19th Century English Antique Settees
Brass
1860s French Louis XV Antique Settees
Velvet, Wood
Late 19th Century British Antique Settees
Oak
Late 19th Century English Anglo-Japanese Antique Settees
Mahogany
Late 19th Century Austrian Black Forest Antique Settees
Wood, Antler
19th Century British Georgian Antique Settees
Leather, Hardwood
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Settees
Velvet, Cane, Wood
19th Century English Victorian Antique Settees
Leather
Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Antique Settees
Upholstery, Wood
Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Settees
Hardwood, Pine
19th Century English Chippendale Antique Settees
Satinwood
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Settees
Mohair, Silk, Giltwood, Wood
Early 19th Century Spanish Spanish Colonial Antique Settees
Bronze
1910s Austrian Art Deco Vintage Settees
Fabric, Bentwood
1890s French Louis XVI Antique Settees
Velvet, Walnut
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Settees
Fabric, Wood
Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Antique Settees
Textile, Walnut
1870s Renaissance Antique Settees
Upholstery, Walnut
1840s French Biedermeier Antique Settees
Hardwood, Beech
1840s Italian Louis Philippe Antique Settees
Walnut
Late 19th Century British Antique Settees
Wood
Mid-19th Century Italian Renaissance Revival Antique Settees
Walnut
19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Settees
Upholstery, Walnut
Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Settees
Upholstery, Wood, Paint
Late 19th Century European Rococo Revival Antique Settees
Walnut
1890s English Anglo-Japanese Antique Settees
Brass
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Settees
Velvet
1860s British Chesterfield Antique Settees
Leather
1880s English Victorian Antique Settees
Mahogany, Satinwood
Late 19th Century French French Provincial Antique Settees
Wood, Rush
19th Century French French Provincial Antique Settees
Wool, Linen, Wood
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Settees
Upholstery
1890s British Chesterfield Antique Settees
Leather
19th Century British Antique Settees
Wood
1870s British Chesterfield Antique Settees
Leather
1870s British Chesterfield Antique Settees
Leather
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Settees
Pine
19th Century French Directoire Antique Settees
Wood
Late 19th Century Italian Neoclassical Antique Settees
Wood
19th Century Italian Rococo Antique Settees
Upholstery, Wood
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Settees
Muslin, Wood
Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Settees
Hardwood, Pine
Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Settees
Pine
19th Century English George II Antique Settees
Textile, Wood
Late 19th Century British Antique Settees
Leather
19th Century English George II Antique Settees
Wood, Textile
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Settees
Upholstery
19th Century French Empire Antique Settees
Bronze
1860s Napoleon III Antique Settees
Rosewood
1860s French Napoleon III Antique Settees
Damask, Rosewood
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Settees
Silk, Giltwood
19th Century French Restauration Antique Settees
Brass
Late 19th Century Renaissance Revival Antique Settees
Velvet, Walnut
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Settees
Ormolu
Early 19th Century English George III Antique Settees
Fabric, Walnut
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Settees
Down, Silk, Beech
Mid-19th Century British Early Victorian Antique Settees
Upholstery, Wood
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.