Vanities
19th Century French Antique Vanities
Marble, Ormolu
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Vanities
Tulipwood
2010s Italian Vanities
Metal
2010s Turkish Arts and Crafts Vanities
Wood
Late 19th Century Dutch Antique Vanities
Wood
1860s French Napoleon III Antique Vanities
Kingwood
2010s Italian Modern Vanities
Metal
2010s Turkish Arts and Crafts Vanities
Wood
Late 19th Century French Antique Vanities
Bronze
2010s American Modern Vanities
Metal
2010s Italian Vanities
Metal
1870s French Antique Vanities
Wood
Mid-19th Century Swedish Louis Philippe Antique Vanities
Mahogany
2010s Turkish Arts and Crafts Vanities
Wood
19th Century French Empire Antique Vanities
Bronze
2010s Italian Vanities
Metal
2010s Italian Modern Vanities
Metal
2010s Italian Vanities
Brass
2010s Portuguese Vanities
Metal
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Vanities
Brass
Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Vanities
Bronze
19th Century French Louis Philippe Antique Vanities
Bronze
Early 19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Antique Vanities
Bronze
2010s American Modern Vanities
Brass
Early 19th Century Italian Regency Antique Vanities
Glass, Walnut
Late 19th Century French Louis Philippe Antique Vanities
Walnut
2010s Italian Vanities
Lapis Lazuli, Stone, Quartz, Stainless Steel, Iron
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Vanities
Bronze
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Vanities
Ormolu
2010s American Modern Vanities
Marble, Steel, Brass
2010s French Other Vanities
Copper, Iron
2010s British Modern Vanities
Metal
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Vanities
Wood
2010s American Vanities
Bronze
2010s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vanities
Other
Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Vanities
Wood
1810s Austrian Biedermeier Antique Vanities
Mahogany
1870s English Victorian Antique Vanities
Satin
19th Century English Antique Vanities
Bamboo
1820s American Sheraton Antique Vanities
Cherry, Maple, Poplar
Mid-19th Century French Charles X Antique Vanities
Carrara Marble
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Vanities
Wood
1850s Italian Louis Philippe Antique Vanities
Walnut
1890s French Louis XVI Antique Vanities
Walnut
19th Century Austrian Country Antique Vanities
Walnut, Mirror
2010s Italian Vanities
Brass, Metallic Thread
19th Century American American Empire Antique Vanities
Mirror, Mahogany
Mid-19th Century Swedish Louis XVI Antique Vanities
Brass
Late 19th Century Italian Art Nouveau Antique Vanities
Mirror, Walnut
Late 19th Century Italian Regency Antique Vanities
Metal
19th Century English Victorian Antique Vanities
Metal
Late 19th Century Italian Country Antique Vanities
Steel
Early 19th Century French Regency Antique Vanities
Mahogany
19th Century British Antique Vanities
19th Century British Regency Antique Vanities
Pine
19th Century Austrian Antique Vanities
Mirror, Bentwood
1860s French Napoleon III Antique Vanities
Wood
Late 19th Century British Victorian Antique Vanities
Faux Bamboo, Mirror
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.
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