Comma Sofa
Late 20th Century American Post-Modern Sofas
Upholstery
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Brass
Vintage 1980s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Upholstery, Foam
Mid-20th Century Italian Sofas
Brass
Recent Sales
Vintage 1960s Italian Sofas
Vintage 1950s Italian Sofas
Cotton, Walnut
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Metal
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Fabric, Wood
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Fabric, Wood
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Fabric, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Settees
Brass
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Brass
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Sheepskin, Wood
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Brass
People Also Browsed
Early 20th Century Austrian Vienna Secession Beds and Bed Frames
Bentwood
Mid-20th Century French Louis XVI Dining Room Chairs
Wood
2010s American Modern Music Stands
Brass
20th Century American Industrial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal, Brass, Steel
Vintage 1930s Swedish Art Deco Vanities
Mirror, Teak
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Bookcases
Metal
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Sets
Metal
Antique Late 19th Century European Moorish Architectural Elements
Wrought Iron
Early 20th Century Belgian Art Deco Wardrobes and Armoires
Wood, Walnut, Glass, Oak
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases
Murano Glass
21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers an...
Brass
Antique Late 19th Century Italian Louis XV Sofas
Gold, Gold Leaf
Vintage 1920s French Louis XV Sofas
Fabric
Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Dining Room Chairs
Velvet, Wood, Paint
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Nouveau Doors and Gates
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.
Mies van der Rohe’s Barcelona Chair Shook Modernism and Charmed Hollywood
The enduring appeal of the Barcelona chair is in the details.
Herman Miller Got Its Start in the Office, but Its Legacy Is in the Home
The brand that turned Charles and Ray Eames, Isamu Noguchi and George Nelson into mid-century household names is just as relevant today as it was six decades ago.
May’s Most Popular Interiors on Instagram
Our feed is filled with the world's most beautiful spaces. See the rooms our followers have deemed the best of the best this month.
April’s Most-Liked Interiors on Instagram
Our feed is filled with the world's most beautiful spaces. See the 10 our followers have deemed the best of the best this month.
See How New York City Designers Experiment on Their Own Homes
There are many lessons to be learned from the lofts, apartments and townhouses of architects and decorators in Manhattan and beyond.
Jeff Andrews Captures Old Hollywood Glamour in His Cinematic Spaces
Having created extravagant homes for reality TV’s biggest stars, the designer is stepping into the spotlight with his first book.
New Orleans’ Lee Ledbetter Makes Design Magic by Mixing Past and Present
The Louisiana-born and -bred architect talks to 1stdibs about the art of making timeless places that matter.