What is a mid-century sofa?

A mid-century sofa is any sofa created during the mid-20th century. Mid-century modern sofas are pieces of seating furniture that embody the venturesome attributes that we associate with mid-century modern furniture — while not all sofas designed in the mid-century modern style are the same, they frequently have a low profile and are characterized by gentle curves, clean lines and an organic shape. Mid-century furniture is a timeless classic due to its elegant simplicity. Shop a collection of antique, vintage, and contemporary mid-century sofas from some of the world’s top dealers on 1stDibs.

What's the difference between a Chesterfield and a Mid-Century Modern sofa?

A Chesterfield has deep button-tufting, rolled arms and a back the same height as the arms. A Mid-Century Modern sofa favors a lower profile, tapered legs and a cleaner frame.

What coffee table height works best with a low mid-century modern sofa?

Look for a table 15 to 18 inches tall to match the lower seat height common to mid-century sofas; a taller table can feel out of proportion next to a low-slung frame.

Finnish Mid Century Sofas

Casa Finland Attribution, Sofa, Wood, Fabric, Brazil, 1970s

$7,600

Aake Anttila Three-Seater "Susanna" Sofa for Lahden Lepokalusto, Finland 1950s

Located in Utrecht, NL

This wonderful commemoration of Finnish mid-century design is the Susanna sofa created by Lahti Lepokaulusto and designed in the 1950s by Aake Anttila.

Category

Vintage 1950s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Sofas

Materials

Fabric, Wood

1960s Aarnio Pulkka Ilmari Lappalainen Brown Leather Chrome Armchair Sofa Suite

By Eero Aarnio

Located in West Sussex, Pulborough

We are delighted to offer for sale this very rare fully restored 1960s Pulkka Ilmari Lappalainen armchair and sofa suite A seriously cool suite, the frames are super light weight ch...

Category

Mid-20th Century Finnish Mid-Century Modern Living Room Sets

Materials

Sold

H 29.93 in W 58.27 in D 35.44 in

Curved sofa in sheepskin Finland circa 1940

Located in PARIS, FR

Very elegant curved sofa Finland circa 1940 newly upholstered in sheepskin 2 seats

Category

Vintage 1940s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Sofas

Materials

Sheepskin

Sold

H 29.53 in W 82.29 in D 37.8 in

Sofa designed by Birger Hahl for A. Salmi Huonekalutehdas, Finland, 1931

Located in Stockholm, SE

Sofa designed by Birger Hahl for A. Salmi Huonekalutehdas, Finland. 1931. Oak, wool upholstery. Commissioned for the Parliament House, Helsinki, 1931. Stamped “A. SALMI HUONEKALUT...

Category

Vintage 1930s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Sofas

Materials

Fabric, Ash

Sold

H 26 in W 83.5 in D 31 in

Leather Sofa From Finland Designed by Tobia Scarpa, circa 1960

Located in Nashville, TN

Three Seat Leather Sofa Designed by Tobia Scarpa and manufactured by Haimi, Finland. Oak frame with original black leather cushions.

$8,016

$6,800

H 31 in W 54 in D 28 in

Göperts möbler, Sofa, Pine, Fabric, Sweden, 1940s

By Göperts Möbler

Located in High Point, NC

A pine "Åre" sofa or settee designed and produced by Göperts Möbler, Sweden, c. 1940s. Vintage fabric ideally replaced. Seat Height (inches): 15” Arm Height (inches): 23.5" All i...

Category

Vintage 1940s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Sofas

Materials

Fabric, Pine

Danish Designer, Sofa, Fabric, Wood, Denmark, 1950s

$5,600

H 29 in W 62 in D 36 in

Danish Designer, Sofa, Fabric, Wood, Denmark, 1950s

Located in High Point, NC

An off-white fabric and wood sofa or loveseat designed and produced in Denmark, c. 1950s. Vintage fabric ideally replaced, several minor stains. Wear consistent with age and use. ...

Category

Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Sofas

Materials

Fabric, Wood

Tor Wolfenstein, Sofa, Velvet, Wood, Sweden, 1940s

$16,800

H 34.5 in W 80.25 in D 33.5 in

Tor Wolfenstein, Sofa, Velvet, Wood, Sweden, 1940s

By Tor Wolfenstein, Ditzingers

Located in High Point, NC

An organic wood and green velvet sofa, designed by Tor Wolfenstein and produced by Ditzingers, Sweden, c. 1940s. Seat height: 17.5” Original velvet ideally replaced. All items shi...

Category

Vintage 1940s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Sofas

Materials

Velvet, Wood

Swedish Designer, Sofa, Birch, Zebrawood, Fabric, Sweden, 1930s

$10,400

H 33 in W 88.75 in D 31.25 in

Swedish Designer, Sofa, Birch, Zebrawood, Fabric, Sweden, 1930s

Located in High Point, NC

A birch, zebrawood and white fabric sofa designed and produced in Sweden, c. 1930s. Reupholstered in brand new fabric. Seat height: 16" All items ship from High Point, North Carol...

Category

Vintage 1930s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Sofas

Materials

Fabric, Birch, Zebra Wood

Uno Kristiansson, Sofa, Pine, Fabric, Sweden, 1970s

Unavailable|~~$10,400~~

$2,900 / item

H 31.5 in W 23.63 in D 1.97 in

Rosso Glass Wall Mirror

By Specchi Veneziani

Located in Milan, IT

Crafted in the finest Murano tradition, this exquisite Venetian mirror is a true work of art. Assembled with crystal and gold elements, and adorned with red glass flowers, each piece...

Category

2010s Italian Renaissance Wall Mirrors

Materials

Glass

H 13.5 in Dm 14 in

1950s Scandinavian Modern Brass & Metal Table Lamp

Located in Los Angeles, CA

1950s Scandinavian Modern Brass & Metal Table Lamp Executed in perforated black painted metal and patinated brass. Shade interior is white and casts a soft glow when lit. A highly r...

Category

Vintage 1950s Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Metal, Brass

Fritz Hansen 1669 Sheepskin Sofa c1940s

$12,959

H 31.5 in W 74.81 in D 31.5 in

Fritz Hansen 1669 Sheepskin Sofa c1940s

By Fritz Hansen

Located in London, England

Fritz Hansen - Model 1669A Sofa, c1940s This iconic sofa from the 1669 series was produced by Danish master cabinetmakers Fritz Hansen in Denmark and has become one of the most soug...

Category

Vintage 1940s Danish Scandinavian Modern Sofas

Materials

Sheepskin, Beech

19th Century Chinese Canopy Wedding Bed

$16,032Sale Price|50% Off

H 102.37 in W 99.61 in D 72.84 in

19th Century Chinese Canopy Wedding Bed

Located in Marbella, ES

This is a wonderful example of a canopy bed from Shanghai Province, China. Made of Chinese Northern Elm, this bed features hoofed feet and multiple floral carvings. The exterior ...

Category

Antique 19th Century Chinese Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Gold Leaf

Pier Luigi Colli, Coffee Table, Wood, Burl, Italy, 1940s

$6,800

H 19.75 in W 47.25 in D 20.25 in

Pier Luigi Colli, Coffee Table, Wood, Burl, Italy, 1940s

By Pier Luigi Colli

Located in High Point, NC

A carved wood and burl coffee table designed and produced by Pier Luigi Colli, Italy, c. 1940s. Wear consistent with age and use. Overall Dimensions (inches): 19.8"H x 47.3"W x 20....

Category

Vintage 1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Wood, Burl

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Finnish Mid Century Sofas For Sale on 1stDibs

At 1stDibs, there are several options of Finnish mid century sofas available for sale. The range of distinct Finnish mid century sofas — often made from wood, animal skin and leather — can elevate any home. There are all kinds of Finnish mid century sofas available, from those produced as long ago as the 20th Century to those made as recently as the 20th Century. There are many kinds of Finnish mid century sofas to choose from, but at 1stDibs, Mid-Century Modern, Scandinavian Modern and Art Deco Finnish mid century sofas are of considerable interest. Finnish mid century sofas have been a part of the life’s work for many furniture makers, but those produced by Asko, Alvar Aalto and Esko Pajamies are consistently popular.

How Much are Finnish Mid Century Sofas?

Prices for Finnish mid century sofas start at $1,494 and top out at $55,077 with the average selling for $8,400.

A Close Look at Mid-century-modern Furniture

Organically shaped, clean-lined and elegantly simple are three terms that well describe vintage mid-century modern furniture. The style, which emerged primarily in the years following World War II, is characterized by pieces that were conceived and made in an energetic, optimistic spirit by creators who believed that good design was an essential part of good living.

ORIGINS OF MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN

Emerged during the mid-20th century
Informed by European modernism, Bauhaus, International style, Scandinavian modernism and Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture
A heyday of innovation in postwar America
Experimentation with new ideas, new materials and new forms flourished in Scandinavia, Italy, the former Czechoslovakia and elsewhere in Europe

CHARACTERISTICS OF MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN

Simplicity, organic forms, clean lines
A blend of neutral and bold Pop art colors
Use of natural and man-made materials — alluring woods such as teak, rosewood and oak; steel, fiberglass and molded plywood
Light-filled spaces with colorful upholstery
Glass walls and an emphasis on the outdoors
Promotion of functionality

MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNERS TO KNOW

Charles and Ray Eames
Eero Saarinen
Milo Baughman
Florence Knoll
Harry Bertoia
Isamu Noguchi
George Nelson
Danish modernists Hans Wegner and Arne Jacobsen, whose emphasis on natural materials and craftsmanship influenced American designers and vice versa

ICONIC MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNS

VINTAGE MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE ON 1STDIBS

The mid-century modern era saw leagues of postwar American architects and designers animated by new ideas and new technology. The lean, functionalist International-style architecture of Le Corbusier and Bauhaus eminences Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Walter Gropius had been promoted in the United States during the 1930s by Philip Johnson and others. New building techniques, such as “post-and-beam” construction, allowed the International-style schemes to be realized on a small scale in open-plan houses with long walls of glass.

Materials developed for wartime use became available for domestic goods and were incorporated into mid-century modern furniture designs. Charles and Ray Eames and Eero Saarinen, who had experimented extensively with molded plywood, eagerly embraced fiberglass for pieces such as the La Chaise and the Womb chair, respectively.

Architect, writer and designer George Nelson created with his team shades for the Bubble lamp using a new translucent polymer skin and, as design director at Herman Miller, recruited the Eameses, Alexander Girard and others for projects at the legendary Michigan furniture manufacturer.

Harry Bertoia and Isamu Noguchi devised chairs and tables built of wire mesh and wire struts. Materials were repurposed too: The Danish-born designer Jens Risom created a line of chairs using surplus parachute straps for webbed seats and backrests.

The Risom lounge chair was among the first pieces of furniture commissioned and produced by celebrated manufacturer Knoll, a chief influencer in the rise of modern design in the United States, thanks to the work of Florence Knoll, the pioneering architect and designer who made the firm a leader in its field. The seating that Knoll created for office spaces — as well as pieces designed by Florence initially for commercial clients — soon became desirable for the home.

As the demand for casual, uncluttered furnishings grew, more mid-century furniture designers caught the spirit.

Classically oriented creators such as Edward Wormley, house designer for Dunbar Inc., offered such pieces as the sinuous Listen to Me chaise; the British expatriate T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings switched gears, creating items such as the tiered, biomorphic Mesa table. There were Young Turks such as Paul McCobb, who designed holistic groups of sleek, blond wood furniture, and Milo Baughman, who espoused a West Coast aesthetic in minimalist teak dining tables and lushly upholstered chairs and sofas with angular steel frames.

Generations turn over, and mid-century modern remains arguably the most popular style going. As the collection of vintage mid-century modern chairs, dressers, coffee tables and other furniture for the living room, dining room, bedroom and elsewhere on 1stDibs demonstrates, this period saw one of the most delightful and dramatic flowerings of creativity in design history.

Finding the Right Seating for You

With entire areas of our homes reserved for “sitting rooms,” the value of quality antique and vintage seating cannot be overstated.

Fortunately, the design of side chairs, armchairs and other lounge furniture — since what were, quite literally, the early perches of our ancestors — has evolved considerably.

Among the earliest standard seating furniture were stools. Egyptian stools, for example, designed for one person with no seat back, were x-shaped and typically folded to be tucked away. These rudimentary chairs informed the design of Greek and Roman stools, all of which were a long way from Sori Yanagi's Butterfly stool or Alvar Aalto's Stool 60. In the 18th century and earlier, seats with backs and armrests were largely reserved for high nobility.

The seating of today is more inclusive but the style and placement of chairs can still make a statement. Antique desk chairs and armchairs designed in the style of Louis XV, which eventually included painted furniture and were often made of rare woods, feature prominently curved legs as well as Chinese themes and varied ornaments. Much like the thrones of fairy tales and the regency, elegant lounges crafted in the Louis XV style convey wealth and prestige. In the kitchen, the dining chair placed at the head of the table is typically reserved for the head of the household or a revered guest.

Of course, with luxurious vintage or antique furnishings, every chair can seem like the best seat in the house. Whether your preference is stretching out on a plush sofa, such as the Serpentine, designed by Vladimir Kagan, or cozying up in a vintage wingback chair, there is likely to be a comfy classic or contemporary gem for you on 1stDibs.

With respect to the latest obsessions in design, cane seating has been cropping up everywhere, from sleek armchairs to lounge chairs, while bouclé fabric, a staple of modern furniture design, can be seen in mid-century modern, Scandinavian modern and Hollywood Regency furniture styles.

Admirers of the sophisticated craftsmanship and dark woods frequently associated with mid-century modern seating can find timeless furnishings in our expansive collection of lounge chairs, dining chairs and other items — whether they’re vintage editions or alluring official reproductions of iconic designs from the likes of Hans Wegner or from Charles and Ray Eames. Shop our inventory of Egg chairs, designed in 1958 by Arne Jacobsen, the Florence Knoll lounge chair and more.

No matter your style, the collection of unique chairs, sofas and other seating on 1stDibs is surely worthy of a standing ovation.

Questions About Finnish Mid Century Sofas

What is a mid-century sofa?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertOctober 26, 2021
A mid-century sofa is any sofa created during the mid-20th century. Mid-century modern sofas are pieces of seating furniture that embody the venturesome attributes that we associate with mid-century modern furniture — while not all sofas designed in the mid-century modern style are the same, they frequently have a low profile and are characterized by gentle curves, clean lines and an organic shape. Mid-century furniture is a timeless classic due to its elegant simplicity. Shop a collection of antique, vintage, and contemporary mid-century sofas from some of the world’s top dealers on 1stDibs.
What's the difference between a Chesterfield and a Mid-Century Modern sofa?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertSeptember 16, 2026
A Chesterfield has deep button-tufting, rolled arms and a back the same height as the arms. A Mid-Century Modern sofa favors a lower profile, tapered legs and a cleaner frame.
What coffee table height works best with a low mid-century modern sofa?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertSeptember 16, 2026
Look for a table 15 to 18 inches tall to match the lower seat height common to mid-century sofas; a taller table can feel out of proportion next to a low-slung frame.

How Top Designers Are Using Mid-Century Chairs in Today’s Interiors

Modern icons are showing up in gracefully layered dining nooks, living rooms and lounges — proof that great design only gets better with context.

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.