Grey Flannel Sofa
20th Century Italian Sofas
Upholstery, Wood
Vintage 1970s Great Britain (UK) Sofas
People Also Browsed
Vintage 1970s American Modern Sofas
Fabric, Plastic, Foam
1990s English Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Leather
20th Century American Classical Sofas
Fabric, Wood
Vintage 1950s American Hollywood Regency Sofas
Oak, Upholstery
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Leather, Walnut
Late 20th Century French Provincial Sofas
Upholstery, Hardwood, Down
20th Century Adam Style Sofas
Fabric, Wood
Mid-20th Century American American Classical Sofas
Leather
Late 20th Century Settees
Fabric, Walnut
Vintage 1970s British Chesterfield Sofas
Leather
Vintage 1970s Swedish Brutalist Sofas
Leather
Mid-20th Century British Regency Sofas
Leather
20th Century Victorian Loveseats
Metal, Brass
Late 20th Century Modern Sofas
Fabric, Wood
Antique Late 19th Century Swedish Empire Revival Sofas
Birch
20th Century English Chippendale Sofas
Brass
Recent Sales
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Metal
Vintage 1950s American Sofas
Wool, Wood
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Fabric
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Fabric, Wood
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Wool, Rosewood
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Living Room Sets
Metal
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Fabric, Foam, Wood
Vintage 1960s Italian Sofas
Vintage 1960s Scandinavian Sofas
Late 20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Upholstery, Beech
20th Century Italian Sofas
Finding the Right sofas for You
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.
Read More
The 21 Most Popular Mid-Century Modern Chairs
You know the designs, now get the stories about how they came to be.
Fred Rigby’s Modular Seating Can Be Configured in So Many Handy Ways
The plush Cove Slipper 2.5 Seater sofa is just one of many convenient combinations from the London-based maker.
This Chubby-Chic Quilted Stool Stands on Its Own Two Feet
Sam Klemick's cool stool is edgy, cozy and environmentally sustainable all at once.
Is Lionel Jadot the Willy Wonka of Upcycled Belgian Design?
From his massive collaborative workshop in a former paper factory, the designer concocts funky furniture from disused materials, as well as luxe hotel interiors like the new Mix Brussels.
Rock Your Cares Away on This Sunny Hand-Crocheted Swing
The boho-chic Enchanted Forest Swing, handmade by marginalized women from Turkey and Syria, is uplifting in every way.
Learn Why Designer Maarten Baas Set This Charles Rennie Mackintosh Chair on Fire
What happens when you do something to a piece of furniture that you shouldn’t? It becomes an entirely new object.
Eileen Gray’s Famed Cliffside Villa in the South of France Is Returned to Its Modernist Glory
After years of diligent restoration, E-1027, the designer-cum-architect’s marriage of romance and modernism, is finally complete.
Light and Dwell Brings Elegance and Ease to an Oregon Wine Country Estate
Molly Kidd lets her affection for France shine through in a new-build home that has the character of a centuries-old villa but still feels light and fresh.