Sofas
18th Century Italian Neoclassical Antique Sofas
Upholstery, Wood
18th Century Italian Antique Sofas
Linen, Wood
1750s Italian Baroque Antique Sofas
Poplar
Early 18th Century American Regency Antique Sofas
Linen, Upholstery, Wood
Early 18th Century French Louis XIV Antique Sofas
Upholstery, Walnut
Late 18th Century Italian Rococo Antique Sofas
Wood
1770s English Hepplewhite Antique Sofas
Mahogany, Upholstery
1750s Italian Baroque Antique Sofas
18th Century Italian Rococo Antique Sofas
Upholstery, Walnut
18th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Sofas
Paint, Upholstery, Wood
1660s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Antique Sofas
Leather, Mahogany
Mid-18th Century French Rococo Antique Sofas
Beech
18th Century British George III Antique Sofas
Oak
18th Century European Rococo Antique Sofas
Linen, Wood
Mid-18th Century French Louis XV Antique Sofas
Satin, Silk, Walnut
18th Century Spanish Queen Anne Antique Sofas
Silk, Walnut
Early 18th Century Spanish Rococo Antique Sofas
Walnut
18th Century Italian Rococo Antique Sofas
Wood, Walnut
Late 18th Century Danish Louis XVI Antique Sofas
Fabric, Fruitwood
17th Century Dutch Baroque Antique Sofas
Oak
18th Century and Earlier French Régence Antique Sofas
18th Century French Directoire Antique Sofas
Velvet, Mahogany
Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Sofas
Upholstery, Wood
18th Century Italian Antique Sofas
Upholstery, Wood
18th Century and Earlier Portuguese Louis XV Antique Sofas
Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Sofas
Wood, Giltwood
18th Century Antique Sofas
Mahogany
18th Century Antique Sofas
Wood
Late 18th Century Biedermeier Antique Sofas
Wood
18th Century Antique Sofas
Wood
18th Century Italian Antique Sofas
Linen, Wood, Fruitwood
Shop Unique Sofas on 1stDibs
Black leather, silk velvet cushions, breathable bouclé fabric — when shopping for antique, new 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. 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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