Questions & Answers
Our trusted network of 1stDibs sellers answer common questions
What is the difference between antique and vintage?
1 Answer

Antique is usually defined as being over 100 years old. Vintage is a bit more subjective, with some saying anything over 20 years old is vintage, while others state something must be over 50 years old to be considered vintage.

Lotus GallerySeptember 23, 2020
Shop for Cassina Furniture on 1stDibs
Vico Magistretti "Carimate" Bench for Cassina, Black, Rush
By Cassina, Vico Magistretti
Located in Miami, FL
Vico Magistretti "Carimate" Bench for Cassina, black lacquered wood, rush seat.
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Benches
Materials
Rush, Wood
Vico Magistretti Nuvola Rossa bookcase for Cassina 1980s.
By Cassina, Vico Magistretti
Located in bari, IT
The bookcase has a structure that is reduced to a minimum by transforming the diagonals into load-bearing elements that allow the sides to be eliminated and emphasise the role of the...
Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Materials
Beech
A Gerrit Rietveld desk, manufactured by Cassina, 1970s
By Gerrit Rietveld, Cassina
Located in EVERDINGEN, NL
A vintage Rietveld crate desk by Cassina, 1970s. While an original 1930s desk by Gerrit Rietveld is extremely hard to come by, a Cassina one is also a rare find. There weren't that many made and they haven't been available as a re-edition for a long time.
The desk is in very good condition regarding its age, with small signs of the time and a lovely patina on the wood. It has a drawer on both sides, fully functional.
The pictures show how well the desk combines with a Rietveld L40 tube lamp and a v.d. Groenekan Zig Zag, as well as enhancing the impression of size and scale. The Groenekan is one of the provenanced set we've also listed on 1st Dibs. It is possible to purchase one instead of set of two.
The iconic crate desk, designed in 1934 by Dutch architect and furniture designer Gerrit T. Rietveld as part of the crate furniture series – initially made of inexpensive planks of pine, which were joined by screws. Rietveld had drawn inspiration from the crates used to move furniture for transportation, a construction of which he described as ‘good carpentry […] that gets straight to the point’. Aesthetics and an egalitarian spirit were of equal importance to Rietveld in this design. He recognized that industrializing the production process and allowing buyers to assemble their own furniture were ways of making good design affordable. Accordingly, the Crate furniture could be ordered preassembled or in do-it-yourself kits.
Initially, items for the Crate series...
Category
Mid-20th Century Dutch De Stijl Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Cherry
Piero Lissoni for Cassina Mex Cube 271 3-Seater Sofa in Elmosoft Saddle Brown
By Cassina, Piero Lissoni
Located in Seattle, WA
A rare and illusive Mex Cube 271 extra wide three-seater sofa, down-filled cushions, completely reupholstered in Elmo-soft Saddle Brown leather. Designed and went into production by ...
Category
Early 2000s Italian Modern Sofas
Materials
Metal
Piero Lissoni for Cassina Mex Cube 271 Sectional Sofa in Elmosoft Saddle Brown
By Cassina, Piero Lissoni
Located in Seattle, WA
A rare and illusive Mex Cube 271 extra wide sectional, down-filled cushions, completely reupholstered in Elmo-soft Saddle Brown leather. Designed and went into production by Cassina ...
Category
Early 2000s Italian Modern Sofas
Materials
Metal
Vico Magistretti For Cassina Italian Red Dining Chairs Serie Carimate, 1960s
By Cassina, Vico Magistretti
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Italian midcentury modern design set of four dining chairs model Carimate designed by Vico Magistretti and produced by Cassina from 1960s with an analine-stained beech wood frame and...
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Straw, Beech
Shop More furniture from Lotus Gallery on 1stDibs
Chinese Eastern Han Dynasty Green Glazed 'Bear' Lamp Stand, 25 - 220 AD, China
Located in Austin, TX
A powerful and enigmatic Chinese green glazed pottery 'bear' lamp stand, Eastern Han Dynasty (25 - 220 AD), China.
The tall lamp stand modeled as a column with a wide hemispherical ...
Category
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Chinese Han Antiquities
Materials
Ceramic, Earthenware, Pottery
Japanese Bronze Incense Burner, Koro, Meiji Period, circa 1900, Japan
Located in Austin, TX
A darling and charming small Japanese cast bronze incense burner, koro, Meiji Period, circa 1900, Japan.
The small incense burner, koro, set on three tall and splayed legs with pawe...
Category
Antique Early 1900s Japanese Meiji Scholar's Objects
Materials
Bronze
Japanese Bronze Flower Vase, Edo to Meiji Period, circa 1860, Japan
Located in Austin, TX
A striking Japanese cast and carved patinated bronze trumpet mouth vase for flower displays, Edo to Meiji Period, mid 19th century, circa 1860, Japan.
The tall and elegant bronze fl...
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Japanese Edo Metalwork
Materials
Bronze
Japanese Silver Wire Cloisonne Vase Lamp, Meiji Period, c 1900, Japan
Located in Austin, TX
A vibrant Japanese turquoise ground and silver wire cloisonne vase, now mounted as a lamp, Meiji Period, circa 1900, Japan.
The tall vase of elegant rouleau shape, with a straight n...
Category
Antique Early 1900s Japanese Meiji Table Lamps
Materials
Rock Crystal, Silver, Brass, Copper
Japanese Satsuma Incense Burner, Koro, with Silver Lid, Meiji Period, Japan
Located in Austin, TX
A fantastic Japanese Satsuma incense burner, koro, with phoenix and brocade designs and a silver lid, Meiji Period, late 19th century, Japan.
The cens...
Category
Antique 1890s Japanese Meiji Ceramics
Materials
Silver
Japanese Satsuma Dragon Vase, Meiji Period, c 1900, Japan
By Satsuma
Located in Austin, TX
A fantastic small Japanese Satsuma vase with image of writhing dragons, Meiji Period, circa 1900, Japan.
The vase of elegant baluster form, with a slightly flared foot, slender body...
Category
Antique Early 1900s Japanese Meiji Ceramics
Materials
Ceramic, Porcelain, Pottery, Stoneware, Hardwood
Worcester Porcelain "Dragons in Compartments" Heart Shaped Dish, early 19th c
By Chamberlains Worcester
Located in Austin, TX
A fun and colorful English Chamberlains Worcester "Dragons in Compartments" heart or ruyi shaped enameled soft paste porcelain dish, early 19th century, circa 1810, Worcester, Englan...
Category
Antique Early 19th Century English George III Porcelain
Materials
Porcelain