The great thing about a high back sofa is it’s sort of like an upright bed, promotes good posture, and the shape is ideal for clandestine conversation.
The Arne Jacobsen AJ5 Mayor Sofa was designed in 1939 for the Søllerød Town Hall in Copenhagen. The sofa is still manufactured by &Tradition and is $8,600 CAD at Mjölk in Toronto.
Designed by Claesson Koivisto Rune for Tacchini, the Highlife Sofa comes in sizes ranging from armchair (seen at left) to an 8-foot-long sofa. The sofa comes in a wide range of upholstery and has hand-stitched buttons at the front armrest; $4,037 at Design Public.
Børge Mogensen designed the 2292 Coupé Sofa in 1971 with a high enveloping back and wings. It’s available for $18,054 at Danish Design Store, but if you’re lucky, you might be able to find a vintage one from sources like 1st Dibs and Pamono.
The Vitra Alcove Plume Three-Seater Sofa is a Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec creation with high, flexible sides and back panel and thick seat cushions that, according to Vitra, “provide adequate support so that sitters do not sink in too deeply.” Made in Switzerland in a range of fabrics for $9,000 at YLiving.
Another one from the Bouroullec brothers for Vitra, the Cyl Highback Sofa has a solid oak frame and upholstered panels and cushion in a host of colorful textiles; $11,150 at Design Public.
The HAY Silhouette High Backed Sofa is made with a fiberglass shell and oak frame and is covered in Kvadrat fabric with leather piping. In the EU, you can find the sofa at Mon Colonel in Paris.,
Spanish company Sancal makes the REW Highback Sofa as a single two-seater (shown), and three-seater bench.
Luca Nichetto’s Cloud High Back 3-Seater LN7 Sofa designed for &Tradition has a high back for a hygge sensation (the Italian designer lives in Scandinavia). Upholstered cushions and frame are supported by black, chrome, or bronzed steel legs.
The EJ 400 Apoluna Box Sofa with an extra high back is designed by Studio Hannes Wettstein for Erik Jørgensen as a sheltered space for the living room.
The Ro Sofa is designed by Jaime Hayon for Fritz Hansen. It’s manufactured in Denmark with a steel (shown) or oak base and five different color combinations; $7,369 at Lekker.
Børge Mogensen designed the Spoke Back Sofa in 1945 as an English daybed and French chaise combo, thanks to the hinged side.
The LaCividina Pinch Divano Sofa by Skrivo Design is made with an upholstered and lacquered metal frame and comes in different configurations (shown as a high back two-seater with an additional table).