Settee: Historic Seating Furniture for Two or More
A settee is an upholstered or wooden seat designed to accommodate two or more people, typically featuring a back and arms. Distinguished from the larger sofa by its more compact proportions, the settee has been produced in every major furniture style from the late 17th century through the present. Antique settees serve as both functional seating and important examples of period cabinetmaking, upholstery, and design.
Historical Development
- Late 1600s: Earliest settees — essentially widened chairs with continuous backs; William and Mary period
- 1700-1760: Queen Anne and Chippendale settees with cabriole legs, splat backs, or upholstered seats
- 1760-1800: Hepplewhite and Sheraton designs with shield backs, tapered legs, and lighter proportions
- 1800-1840: Federal and Empire settees with classical motifs, scroll arms, and heavier silhouettes
- 1840-1900: Victorian era — carved rosewood, walnut, and mahogany; Rococo Revival, Renaissance Revival, and Eastlake styles
- 1900s onward: Arts & Crafts, Art Nouveau, Art Deco, and mid-century modern interpretations
Types
- Double chair-back settee: Two or three chair backs joined as a single seat; Chippendale and Hepplewhite examples
- Window seat: Backless settee designed to fit beneath a window
- Hall settee: Wooden or minimally upholstered; designed for entrance halls
- Love seat: Compact upholstered two-seat form; term often used interchangeably with settee
- Recamier: Classical daybed/settee with scrolled ends, no back
- Deacon's bench: Plank-seat settee, often Windsor-style
Auction Price Ranges
| Type | Description | Typical Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| Victorian carved settee | Rosewood or walnut, Rococo Revival | $400 - $2,000 |
| Chippendale double chair-back | Mahogany, period or reproduction | $1,000 - $8,000 |
| Federal/Sheraton settee | Inlaid mahogany, upholstered | $800 - $5,000 |
| Empire settee | Classical form, scroll arms | $500 - $2,500 |
| Windsor settee | Spindle back, painted | $1,000 - $6,000 |
| Arts & Crafts settee | Oak, Mission style | $400 - $2,000 |
| Mid-century modern settee | Designer attributed | $500 - $5,000+ |
| Georgian/English period | 18th century, mahogany | $2,000 - $15,000+ |
| Hall settee | Oak or mahogany, carved | $300 - $1,500 |
Condition Factors
- Upholstery: Period upholstery is extremely rare; quality re-upholstery is expected and acceptable
- Frame integrity: Check joints, particularly where arms meet the seat rail — structural repairs significantly affect value
- Finish: Original surface with natural patina is most desirable; refinished pieces bring 30-50% less
- Legs and feet: Replaced feet or cut-down legs are common alterations that reduce value
- Carving: Intact original carving is essential; later-added carving to "upgrade" a piece reduces authenticity
- Springs and foundation: Victorian and later settees should have intact spring systems for function
Collecting Tips
- Chippendale double chair-back settees are among the most desirable forms in American furniture and can reach five figures for period examples
- Windsor settees combine folk charm with decorative appeal and work in both traditional and modern interiors
- Victorian settees are abundant and affordable, offering excellent value for the quality of craftsmanship
- Always check whether a settee has been cut down from a larger sofa — shortened seat rails and asymmetric construction are warning signs
- Mid-century modern settees by known designers (Wegner, Finn Juhl, George Nakashima) have a strong separate market
- Re-upholstery is expected and does not significantly affect value if done sympathetically to the period of the frame
- Provenance and maker attribution (labeled or stamped pieces) add substantial value to American examples