Vanities
2010s Italian Modern Vanities
Brass
Early 19th Century French Regency Antique Vanities
Mahogany
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Vanities
Brass
Early 20th Century French Vanities
Nutwood
1950s Vintage Vanities
Metal
1940s Polish Art Deco Vintage Vanities
Walnut
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vanities
Brass
Early 20th Century French Louis Philippe Vanities
Marble, Brass
2010s Portuguese Scandinavian Modern Vanities
Marble
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Vanities
Metal, Aluminum
1940s French Art Deco Vintage Vanities
Metal, Nickel
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Vanities
Mirror, Beech
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Vanities
Silver, Silver Leaf
19th Century English Sheraton Antique Vanities
Mahogany, Satinwood
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Vanities
Ormolu
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Vanities
Nickel
2010s American Modern Vanities
Metal
Late 20th Century Art Deco Vanities
Maple, Purpleheart, Lacquer
2010s Italian Modern Vanities
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Vanities
Brass
20th Century English Art Deco Vanities
Silver, Enamel, Ormolu
19th Century English Victorian Antique Vanities
Mahogany
Late 19th Century Dutch Antique Vanities
Wood
1920s French Art Deco Vintage Vanities
Nickel
1930s Art Deco Vintage Vanities
Bronze, Silver Plate
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Vanities
Silver Plate
1930s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Vanities
Birch
21st Century and Contemporary English Modern Vanities
Walnut
2010s American Modern Vanities
Metal
Early 20th Century Spanish Biedermeier Vanities
Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Vanities
Stone
Early 20th Century French Regency Vanities
Marble
19th Century American Antique Vanities
Oak
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vanities
Mirror, Oak
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Vanities
Ormolu
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vanities
Teak
Late 19th Century Spanish Biedermeier Antique Vanities
Marble
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Mid-Century Modern Vanities
Mirror, Oak
2010s Italian Vanities
Metal
1940s French Empire Vintage Vanities
Ormolu
Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Antique Vanities
Marble
1930s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Vanities
Hardwood
21st Century and Contemporary English Modern Vanities
Oak
1930s American Hollywood Regency Vintage Vanities
Wood
1940s British Art Deco Vintage Vanities
Mahogany
Early 19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Antique Vanities
Bronze
1930s American Art Deco Vintage Vanities
Nickel
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Vanities
Wood
Early 20th Century French Vanities
Mahogany
Early 19th Century French Antique Vanities
Wood
Early 20th Century British Vanities
Wood
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vanities
Brass
2010s Italian Modern Vanities
Leather
Mid-19th Century Swedish Louis XVI Antique Vanities
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary American Arts and Crafts Vanities
Brass
Early 20th Century Vanities
Stone
1970s American Modern Vintage Vanities
Mirror, Lucite
20th Century English Vanities
Satinwood
19th Century French Antique Vanities
Satinwood
1910s British Indian Ocean Territory Anglo Raj Vintage Vanities
Teak
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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