1940s Italian Curvaceous Sofa or Settee

Sofa or settee, fabric, beech, Italy, 1940s

This 1940s sofa is a deeply expressive piece of domestic sculpture. What defines it most immediately is its exaggerated, almost surreal curvaceousness. The generously padded back rises dramatically in a double-winged form, where the tall back curves outward and subsequently inward in a fluid gesture, enveloping the sitter in a space that feels both intimate and theatrical. The seat itself is a thick, rounded oval, without edges or hard lines. The absence of right angles, combined with the rich green upholstery with stylized leaf motifs, lends the piece an organic, almost biomorphic presence. Italian in origin, this graceful sofa bridges the gap between the decorative flair of Art Deco and the sleek sensibilities of modernism.