Sofas
1850s Italian Baroque Antique Sofas
Leather, Walnut
18th Century Italian Rococo Antique Sofas
Upholstery, Wood
1810s English Regency Antique Sofas
Mahogany
Late 19th Century English Arts and Crafts Antique Sofas
Mahogany
Early 19th Century Baltic Neoclassical Antique Sofas
Silk, Yew
Mid-18th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Sofas
Linen, Wood, Paint
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Sofas
Cotton, Wood
19th Century Dutch Empire Antique Sofas
Cotton, Twill, Upholstery, Satinwood, Kingwood, Mahogany
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Sofas
Linen, Wood
Mid-18th Century Italian Baroque Antique Sofas
Walnut, Silk
1880s British Victorian Antique Sofas
Brass
18th Century Danish Baroque Antique Sofas
Cowhide, Oak
Late 19th Century Unknown Empire Antique Sofas
Leather, Mahogany
Early 19th Century English Regency Antique Sofas
Hardwood
19th Century European Regency Antique Sofas
Birch
1880s English High Victorian Antique Sofas
Fabric, Hardwood
Late 18th Century British Neoclassical Antique Sofas
Serpentine
Late 18th Century Italian Directoire Antique Sofas
Walnut
1790s French Directoire Antique Sofas
Fabric, Wood
1820s Spanish Spanish Colonial Antique Sofas
Silk, Birch, Oak, Giltwood
Late 18th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Sofas
Upholstery, Wood
18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Sofas
Upholstery, Giltwood
18th Century English Georgian Antique Sofas
Beech
18th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Sofas
Wood
18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Sofas
Upholstery, Wood
19th Century English Antique Sofas
Walnut
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Sofas
Wood, Birch
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Sofas
Upholstery, Wood
19th Century Spanish Baroque Antique Sofas
Wrought Iron
19th Century English Victorian Antique Sofas
Leather, Mahogany
18th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Sofas
Linen, Wood, Paint
Late 19th Century French Baroque Antique Sofas
Silk, Wood
1860s Swedish Biedermeier Antique Sofas
Walnut
1880s English Antique Sofas
Mahogany
19th Century French Empire Antique Sofas
Wood
1780s English Georgian Antique Sofas
Upholstery, Giltwood
19th Century British Regency Antique Sofas
Mahogany
18th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Sofas
Wood
18th Century European Rococo Antique Sofas
Linen, Wood
1830s French Restauration Antique Sofas
Fabric, Nutwood
Late 18th Century Danish Louis XVI Antique Sofas
Fabric, Fruitwood
Mid-18th Century French Rococo Antique Sofas
Beech
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Sofas
Wood
1820s Swedish Gustavian Antique Sofas
Berlin Iron
Late 19th Century Austrian Vienna Secession Antique Sofas
Cane, Bentwood
18th Century American Chippendale Antique Sofas
Fabric, Jute, Cotton, Mahogany, Maple, Down, Feathers
1810s French Empire Antique Sofas
Cherry
1890s English High Victorian Antique Sofas
Leather, Hardwood
19th Century French Empire Antique Sofas
Early 19th Century Italian Neoclassical Antique Sofas
Silk, Wood
Mid-18th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Sofas
Linen, Wood, Paint
Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Sofas
Wood
19th Century Antique Sofas
Brass
19th Century English Victorian Antique Sofas
Leather, Hardwood
Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Sofas
Wood
19th Century French Empire Antique Sofas
Mahogany
Late 19th Century English Baroque Antique Sofas
Linen
19th Century Italian Biedermeier Antique Sofas
Walnut
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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