Rare Couch
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Fabric, Walnut
Late 20th Century American Hollywood Regency Sofas
Brass
20th Century English Chesterfield Sofas
Leather
Antique Late 18th Century English Georgian Sofa Tables
Mahogany
Vintage 1940s Danish Scandinavian Modern Sofas
Fabric, Velvet, Beech
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Upholstery, Wood
Antique Early 19th Century English Regency Sofa Tables
Hardwood
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Steel
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Metal
Early 20th Century English Art Deco Sofas
Hardwood
Vintage 1960s Italian Space Age Sofas
Other
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Upholstery, Rattan
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Fabric, Hardwood
Mid-20th Century Sofas
Bouclé, Upholstery, Wood, Walnut
Vintage 1950s Sofas
Mohair
Vintage 1980s Italian Sofas
Leather
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Leather, Teak
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Iron
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Upholstery, Mahogany
Early 2000s German Sofas
Fabric, Wood
Early 2000s German Sofas
Fabric, Wood
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Fabric, Wood
Vintage 1970s Philippine Bohemian Sofas
Upholstery, Rattan, Wood
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Fabric
Mid-20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Walnut
Vintage 1950s Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Wood
Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Sofas
Metal
Vintage 1950s Brazilian Sofas
Upholstery, Wood
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Metal
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Bouclé, Oak
Vintage 1950s Sofas
Walnut
Vintage 1970s German Modern Sofas
Fabric, Upholstery, Foam
Mid-20th Century American Post-Modern Sofas
Brass
Vintage 1930s Czech Bauhaus Sofas
Steel, Chrome
Vintage 1970s European Sofas
Silk
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Metal
20th Century European Scandinavian Modern Sofas
Wool, Wood
Vintage 1980s European Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Leather, Chenille
Vintage 1930s Czech Bauhaus Sofas
Chrome
Vintage 1970s Swiss Modern Sofas
Leather
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Leather
20th Century American Organic Modern Sofas
Leather, Fabric, Rattan, Oak
Vintage 1950s French Sofas
Metal
Vintage 1970s Danish Other Sofas
Fabric, Oak
Vintage 1940s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Sofas
Fabric, Wood
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Leather
Vintage 1950s Sofas
Fabric
Vintage 1980s European Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Leather, Wood
Vintage 1950s Sofas
Mahogany
20th Century Finnish Scandinavian Modern Sofas
Bentwood
Vintage 1940s Swedish Sofas
Fabric, Birch
Vintage 1940s Danish Scandinavian Modern Sofas
Sheepskin, Beech
Early 20th Century European Art Deco Sofas
Fabric, Oak
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Fabric, Wood
Vintage 1930s Swiss Bauhaus Sofas
Metal
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Fabric, Wood
Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Leather
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Rare Couch For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Rare Couch?
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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