Vanities
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Vanities
Brass
2010s Italian Modern Vanities
Leather, Wood
19th Century French Other Antique Vanities
Wood
2010s British Futurist Vanities
Aluminum, Metal
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Vanities
Chrome
2010s Portuguese Scandinavian Modern Vanities
Marble
1930s American Art Deco Vintage Vanities
Metal
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vanities
Mirror, Mahogany
2010s European Modern Vanities
Upholstery, Wood
2010s Portuguese Vanities
Lacquer
1940s British Art Deco Vintage Vanities
Mahogany
1920s French Art Deco Vintage Vanities
Steel, Nickel
Late 19th Century Unknown Regency Antique Vanities
Metal
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Vanities
Nickel
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Vanities
Chrome
Late 19th Century English Late Victorian Antique Vanities
Brass
Mid-20th Century Italian Vanities
Brass
2010s French Modern Vanities
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Vanities
Brass
1930s American American Classical Vintage Vanities
Brass
Mid-20th Century American Hollywood Regency Vanities
Giltwood
20th Century Danish Vanities
Mirror, Oak
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Vanities
Mirror, Maple
2010s Italian Modern Vanities
Metal
1850s Austrian Biedermeier Antique Vanities
Mirror, Ash, Maple
2010s Italian Vanities
Wood
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Vanities
Bronze
1910s French French Provincial Vintage Vanities
Walnut
Late 18th Century English Georgian Antique Vanities
Brass
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Vanities
Glass, Hardwood
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Vanities
Wood, Plastic
1950s Scandinavian Scandinavian Modern Vintage Vanities
Mirror, Teak
Early 19th Century French Antique Vanities
Wood
Mid-19th Century Swedish Louis Philippe Antique Vanities
Mahogany
21st Century and Contemporary English Modern Vanities
Leather, Oak
1820s German Biedermeier Antique Vanities
Mahogany, Pine
1950s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vanities
Wood
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vanities
Fabric, Mirror, Laminate, Rosewood
Early 19th Century English George III Antique Vanities
Mahogany, Bone
1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vanities
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary English Modern Vanities
Walnut
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vanities
Formica, Fruitwood
2010s Portuguese Scandinavian Modern Vanities
Marble
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Vanities
Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Vanities
Brass
Early 20th Century English Art Deco Vanities
Metal, Other
Early 20th Century French Vanities
Nutwood
Mid-18th Century French Louis XV Antique Vanities
Bronze
1970s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vanities
Birch, Mahogany
1930s American Art Deco Vintage Vanities
Faux Leather, Mahogany, Lacquer
1950s Italian Modern Vintage Vanities
Wood
1930s Art Deco Vintage Vanities
Bronze, Silver Plate
Early 1900s Italian Art Nouveau Antique Vanities
Walnut, Burl, Mirror
1940s Italian Vintage Vanities
Walnut
19th Century French Antique Vanities
Tortoise Shell
1940s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Vanities
Leather, Glass, Wood
2010s Portuguese Scandinavian Modern Vanities
Marble
1940s French Art Deco Vintage Vanities
Metal, Nickel
Vintage, New and Antique Vanities
Vintage, new and antique vanity tables have forever felt like personal, intimate sanctuaries of sorts, designed to introduce a level of serenity that feels rare and welcome in our otherwise frenetic days. They’ve been variously known as dressing tables or makeup tables over the years, but no matter what we call them — and whether it's a sophisticated contemporary piece or an iconic vintage Luigi Massoni vanity — vanities have offered a special place for us to get ready for work, an early-morning appointment or lunch date or whatever lies ahead.
“Beauty routines, taking the time to protect what you have, a moment to accessorize, a moment to pause and slow down — these are all so important now as an antidote to our fast and hectic lives,” says Oona Bannon, creative director of Pinch Design in Clapham, South London. “Just thinking about a dressing table makes me feel calm.”
When decorative boxes would no longer suffice as repositories for cosmetics, fragrant oils and perfumes, dressing tables originated in France and England during the 17th century. Men who called the latter home used “shaving tables” — a proto-dressing table — for their grooming routines while women found in dressing tables an oasis for applying makeup, particularly as improvements upon vanity tables equipped them with mirrors and lighting. In the United States, as vanity tables became a seamless component of bedroom furniture, furniture makers working in Chippendale, Rococo and other styles were regularly commissioned to produce these popular items.
Vanity tables have evolved over the years, and while there is lots to love about the ornate carving and pronounced curvilinear forms of Victorian vanities, the clean lines that characterize mid-century modern vanities and the decorative flourishes associated with Art Deco vanities, the main elements of this furnishing are the same. All vanities are about as tall as a standard table with room for seating furniture, which tends to be a small bench, a stool or an armless chair. Many also have special organization features for makeup. Without a chair and a mirror, a vanity would resemble a dresser.
Nowadays, vanities are more than a place to do hair and makeup. They’re a platform to display beauty products and store makeup collections. Vanities are standard in bedrooms, particularly if you’re not lucky enough to have a spacious dressing room or walk-in closet for your dressing table. The better the lighting is in your bedroom or wherever you’ve positioned your vanity table — even if you’ve opted for a moody setting versus a bright one — the more you will benefit from having this personal place of respite to prepare for the day ahead.
Find your antique, new or vintage vanity table today on 1stDibs.
Read More
19 Dreamy Feminine Bathrooms
To make a bathroom feel warm, serene and composed, adding feminine elements is the way to go. Featuring furry furniture, pops of pink and curated antiques, these sumptuous spaces are idyllic retreats in which to while away a few hours.
How the Vanity Table Became This Year’s Must-Have Item
Once seen as fussy furniture relics from the past, vanities have made a big comeback. Here's why.