Magnificent Sofa
Vintage 1950s Italian Sofas
Brass
Vintage 1950s American Sofas
Textile, Leather
Vintage 1950s American Sofas
Wood, Leather
Vintage 1950s American Sofas
Upholstery, Wood
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Mahogany
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Stainless Steel
Antique 19th Century German Biedermeier Sofas
Giltwood, Upholstery
Antique 19th Century Sofas
Vintage 1970s American Sofas
Chrome
Antique 19th Century Brazilian Sofas
Rosewood
Antique 19th Century Austrian Empire Sofas
Birdseye Maple, Giltwood
Vintage 1940s American Sofas
2010s British Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Velvet
Antique 19th Century Sofas
Maple
Antique 18th Century Italian Sofas
Vintage 1930s American Sofas
Aluminum
Antique 1860s Swedish Biedermeier Sofas
Early 20th Century Great Britain (UK) Edwardian Sofas
Leather, Oak
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Antique 1790s Italian Louis XVI Sofas
Wood
Mid-20th Century French Sofas
Leather, Wood
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Elm
Antique 19th Century Victorian Sofas
Leather
Mid-20th Century Danish Sofas
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Sofas
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Vintage 1970s Swiss Sectional Sofas
Leather, Wool
Antique 1880s English Victorian Settees
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century French Loveseats
Mahogany, Cherry
Mid-20th Century French Louis XVI Armchairs
Beech
Vintage 1930s British Late Victorian Settees
Mahogany
Vintage 1950s English Mid-Century Modern Settees
Velvet
Antique Mid-19th Century Indian British Colonial Furniture
Cane, Rosewood
Vintage 1960s Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
Teak
Vintage 1960s Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
Teak
Vintage 1970s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Leather
Mid-20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Living Room Sets
Teak
Antique 19th Century Italian Chaise Longues
Wood, Velvet
Antique Mid-19th Century French Renaissance Revival Sofas
Fabric, Walnut
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
20th Century Sofas
Leather
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Brass
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Magnificent Sofa For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Magnificent Sofa?
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.
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