Sofas
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Sofas
Velvet, Wood
1930s French Vintage Sofas
Wood
1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sofas
Beech
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sofas
Iron
Mid-18th Century Italian Antique Sofas
Upholstery, Walnut
1820s American Empire Antique Sofas
Upholstery, Mahogany
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Foam
1950s American Vintage Sofas
Chrome, Stainless Steel, Steel
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Fabric, Foam, Wood
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sofas
Velvet, Wood
1960s Italian Vintage Sofas
Fabric
1980s American Post-Modern Vintage Sofas
Textile
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sofas
Leather, Birch
2010s American Modern Sofas
Upholstery, Wood, Oak, Hardwood
1940s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Sofas
Velvet
1880s French Louis XVI Antique Sofas
Bronze
1980s Post-Modern Vintage Sofas
Velvet
1940s Danish Vintage Sofas
Mohair, Wood
1970s German Brutalist Vintage Sofas
Leather, Wood
1980s Italian Modern Vintage Sofas
Leather, Fabric, Silk
1980s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sofas
Upholstery, Foam
1940s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Sofas
Sheepskin, Wood
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Sofas
Chrome
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Sofas
Brass
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Metal
1980s Swiss Modern Vintage Sofas
Leather
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sofas
Velvet
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sofas
Fabric, Wood
1990s American Sofas
Chenille
Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Sofas
Upholstery, Walnut
1960s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sofas
Leather
Early 2000s Sofas
Fabric, Textile, Wood
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Sofas
Wool, Beech
1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sofas
Upholstery, Wood
Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Foam
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sofas
Steel
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sofas
Fabric
2010s British Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Fabric, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Sofas
Wool, Bouclé, Cotton, Oak
1930s Czech Art Deco Vintage Sofas
Fabric, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Sofas
Metal
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sofas
Wool
1960s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sofas
Fabric, Wood
1970s Indonesian Colonial Revival Vintage Sofas
Bamboo
2010s Italian Sofas
Wood
2010s American Modern Sofas
Steel
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Bouclé, Maple
Mid-20th Century American Sofas
Steel
20th Century Czech Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Velvet
1920s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Sofas
Velvet, Wood
Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Sofas
Gold Leaf
18th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Sofas
Upholstery, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Fabric, Wood
1980s Italian Modern Vintage Sofas
Metal
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Sofas
Leather
1970s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sofas
Chrome
20th Century English Art Deco Sofas
Velvet, Wood
Shop Unique Sofas on 1stDibs: Find Mario Bellini Sofas, Togo Sofas, Vladimir Kagan Sofas and Other Seating for Sale
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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Who Is Mario Bellini, and Why Is His 1970s Camaleonda Sofa Everywhere Right Now?
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