Marcel Breuer Daybeds

American, Hungarian, 1902-1981

The architect and designer Marcel Breuer was one the 20th century’s most influential and innovative adherents of modernism. A member of the Bauhaus faculty, Breuer — like such colleagues as the architects Walter Gropius and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, and the artists and art theoreticians László Moholy-Nagy and Josef Albers — left Europe in the 1930s to champion the new design philosophy and its practice in the United States.

Born in Hungary, Breuer became a Bauhaus student in 1920 and quickly impressed Gropius, the German school’s founder, with his aptitude for furniture design. His early work was influenced by the minimalist Dutch design movement De Stijl — in particular the work of architect Gerrit Rietveld.

In 1925, while he was head of the Bauhaus furniture workshop, Breuer realized his signature innovation: the use of lightweight tubular-steel frames for chairs, tables and sofas — a technique soon adopted by Mies and others. Breuer’s attention gradually shifted from design to architecture, and, at the urging of Gropius, he joined his mentor in 1937 on the faculty of Harvard and in an architectural practice.

In the 1940s, Breuer opened his own architectural office, and there his style evolved from geometric, glass-walled structures toward a kind of hybrid architecture — seen in numerous Breuer houses in New England — that pairs bases of local fieldstone with sleek, wood-framed modernist upper floors. In his later, larger commissions, Breuer worked chiefly with reinforced concrete and stone, as seen in his best-known design, the brutalist inverted ziggurat built in New York in 1966 as the home of the Whitney Museum of American Art.

Breuer’s most famous furniture pieces are those made of tubular steel, which include the Wassily chair — named after Wassily Kandinsky and recognizable for its leather-strap seating supports — and the caned Cesca chair.

Breuer also made several notable designs in molded plywood, including a chaise and nesting table for the British firm Isokon and a student furniture suite commissioned in 1938 for a dormitory at Bryn Mawr College. Whether in metal or wood, Breuer’s design objects are elegant and adaptable examples of classic modernist design — useful and appropriate in any environment.

Find vintage Marcel Breuer seating, storage cabinets and lighting on 1stDibs.

Creator: Marcel Breuer

Marcel Breuer, Daybed, Steel, Fabric, Hungary, c. 1940

$13,900

Marcel Breuer, Daybed, Steel, Fabric, Hungary, c. 1940

By Marcel Breuer

Located in High Point, NC

A steel and fabric daybed, by Marcel Breuer, Hungary, c. 1940. Provenance Gift of Miani Johnson to the Brooklyn Museum honoring the friendship between Marcel Breuer and Marian an...

Category

1940s Hungarian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Marcel Breuer Daybeds

Materials

Steel

Art Deco Daybed, Reupholstered in Vintage Fabric, Danish Cabinetmaker, 1940s

$2,800

H 18.12 in W 74.02 in D 33.08 in

Art Deco Daybed, Reupholstered in Vintage Fabric, Danish Cabinetmaker, 1940s

By Josef Frank

Located in Odense, DK

Rare Art Deco daybed / sofa, reupholstered in colorful vintage gobelin fabric from the 80s. Made by a Danish Cabinetmaker in 1940s. This beautiful vi...

Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Art Deco Marcel Breuer Daybeds

Materials

Fabric, Oak

Marcel Breuer Style Daybed

$3,600Sale Price|53% Off

H 23 in W 80 in D 39 in

Marcel Breuer Style Daybed

By Marcel Breuer

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Amazing Marcel Breuer style daybed. Tubular chrome at both ends. Bed has hinges which allow it to be lifted, allowing for storage underneath. Great piece ...

Category

1940s Austrian Vintage Marcel Breuer Daybeds

Materials

Chrome

A.R. Cordemeyer Cleopatra Daybed for Auping w/ House of Hackney Fabric, 1950s

$3,695

H 14.25 in W 78 in D 33 in

A.R. Cordemeyer Cleopatra Daybed for Auping w/ House of Hackney Fabric, 1950s

By André R. Cordemeyer, Auping

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Designed by A.R. Cordemeyer for Royal Auping in the 1950s, this Cleopatra daybed exemplifies Dutch Mid-Century minimalism through its elegant proportions and material harmony. The sl...

Category

1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Vintage Marcel Breuer Daybeds

Materials

Metal

Pierre Villain Oak & Steel Daybed, France 1950’s

$12,000

H 32 in W 75 in D 35 in

Pierre Villain Oak & Steel Daybed, France 1950’s

Located in New York, NY

Daybed in oak, metal and brass daybed by Pierre Villain. Intricate design involving wrought iron frames joining headboards reminiscent of the work of Je...

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Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Marcel Breuer Daybeds

Materials

Brass, Wrought Iron

Wooden daybed with dark blue fabric, France, circa 1955

$1,462

H 21.66 in W 74.02 in D 39.38 in

Wooden daybed with dark blue fabric, France, circa 1955

Located in VILLEURBANNE, FR

Solid wood daybed with a rectilinear frame and tapered legs, characteristic of French modernist furniture from the 1950s. The seat and cylindrical cushion are upholstered in dark bl...

Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Marcel Breuer Daybeds

Materials

Pine

Jean Prouvé “SCAL” Daybed for Atelier Jean Prouvé, 1940

$43,500

H 15.75 in W 31.89 in D 73.63 in

Jean Prouvé “SCAL” Daybed for Atelier Jean Prouvé, 1940

By Jean Prouvé

Located in Lonigo, Veneto

Jean Prouvé “SCAL” Daybed for Atelier Jean Prouvé, France, 1940 Designed in 1940 by Jean Prouvé for Atelier Jean Prouvé, the “SCAL” daybed is a rare example of the designer’s early ...

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1940s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Marcel Breuer Daybeds

Materials

Metal

Nicos Zographos Daybed, Leather and Steel

$6,800

H 15 in W 106 in D 32 in

Nicos Zographos Daybed, Leather and Steel

By Nicos Zographos

Located in Chicago, IL

Nicos Zographos Monumental Gallery Bench, Leather and Steel. Original black leather rests on polished stainless steel base. Bench is signed on the underside

Category

1980s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Marcel Breuer Daybeds

Materials

Stainless Steel

Mid-Century Industrial Daybed by Vertifix, Black Steel, 1950s

$3,235

H 19.69 in W 31.5 in D 77.17 in

Mid-Century Industrial Daybed by Vertifix, Black Steel, 1950s

Located in Berlin, DE

Mid-century industrial daybed by Vertifix, Kuperus Almelo, Netherlands, circa 1950s. Constructed with a black lacquered tubular steel frame and mesh metal sleeping surface, this piec...

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1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Vintage Marcel Breuer Daybeds

Materials

Metal

3-seater sofa, Daybed, Danish teak and fabric 1960.

$2,340

H 28.35 in W 76.38 in D 29.53 in

3-seater sofa, Daybed, Danish teak and fabric 1960.

Located in JOINVILLE-LE-PONT, FR

Scandinavian sofa with a large, movable bench that can be used as a sofa or a guest bed. Understated minimalist design, beautifully crafted. Designer: Unknown Manufacturer: Unknown ...

Category

1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Marcel Breuer Daybeds

Materials

Fabric, Teak

Dick Cordemeijer Cleopatra daybed white fabric Auping Netherlands 1954

$2,294

H 14.18 in W 77.96 in D 33.08 in

Dick Cordemeijer Cleopatra daybed white fabric Auping Netherlands 1954

By Auping, Dick Cordemeijer

Located in Etten-Leur, NL

This iconic Cleopatra daybed was designed by Dick Cordemeijer for Auping, The Netherlands, 1954. A celebrated example of Dutch modernist design, it combines functional clarity with a...

Category

1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Vintage Marcel Breuer Daybeds

Materials

Metal

Outdoor Round Daybed Upholstered in Fabric with Cushions

$8,228 / item

H 25.2 in W 55.52 in D 55.91 in

Outdoor Round Daybed Upholstered in Fabric with Cushions

Located in NEW YORK, NY

Contemporary outdoor daybed upholstered in fabric. Frame and legs are made of powder coated metal, low back covered with wicker-effect cords in natural color. High density polyuretha...

Category

2010s European Modern Marcel Breuer Daybeds

Materials

Aluminum

Biedermeier Style, Fruitwood, Black Fabric, Daybed, USA, 19th c.

$4,950

H 34 in W 70 in D 28.5 in

Biedermeier Style, Fruitwood, Black Fabric, Daybed, USA, 19th c.

Located in Manhasset, NY

Biedermeier Style, Neoclassical, Fruitwood, Black Fabric, Daybed, USA, 19th c. A fabric and fruitwood daybed in the Biedermeier style having been designed and produced in the United...

Category

Late 19th Century American Biedermeier Antique Marcel Breuer Daybeds

Materials

Fabric, Fruitwood

Previously Available Items

Marcel Breuer for Tecta Iconic F41E Chaise Lounge on Wheels

Sold

H 24.81 in W 75.6 in D 27.17 in

Marcel Breuer for Tecta Iconic F41E Chaise Lounge on Wheels

By Marcel Breuer

Located in Waalwijk, NL

Marcel Breuer for Tecta, chaise loungeF41E, steel, wicker, Germany, 1980s The design of the iconic F41 chaise lounge on wheels dates back to the year 1928 when Marcel Breuer drew ...

Category

1980s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Marcel Breuer Daybeds

Materials

Steel

Bauhaus Wassily Daybed by Marcel Breuer

Sold

H 20.08 in W 90.56 in D 33.47 in

Bauhaus Wassily Daybed by Marcel Breuer

By Marcel Breuer

Located in Brussels, BE

Bauhaus Wassily daybed by Marcel Breuer.

Category

1940s American Vintage Marcel Breuer Daybeds

Materials

Metal

Bauhaus Wassily Daybed by Marcel Breuer

Sold

H 20.08 in W 33.47 in L 20.08 in

Bauhaus Wassily Daybed by Marcel Breuer

By Marcel Breuer

Located in Brussels, BE

Bauhaus Wassily daybed by Marcel Breuer.

Category

1940s American Vintage Marcel Breuer Daybeds

Marcel Breuer daybeds for sale on 1stDibs.

Marcel Breuer daybeds are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of steel and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Marcel Breuer daybeds, although gray editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original daybeds by Marcel Breuer were created in the mid-century modern style in hungary during the 1940s. Prices for Marcel Breuer daybeds can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $13,900 and can go as high as $13,900, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $13,900.

Questions About Marcel Breuer Daybeds

Who is Marcel Breuer?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
Marcel Breuer was an architect and furniture designer who made a major impact on modern design by introducing new materials and emphasizing the importance of form matching function. He was born in Pécs, Hungary, in 1902, and was a part of the Bauhaus school. You’ll find a collection of Marcel Breuer furniture on 1stDibs.
What inspired Marcel Breuer?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
The Dutch art movement De Stijl inspired Marcel Breuer's early work. Artists in the movement like Piet Mondrian created art that adhered to the principles of geometry. This idea resonated with Breuer and informed his designs. Shop a selection of Marcel Breuer furniture on 1stDibs.
Where was Marcel Breuer born?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
Marcel Breuer was born in Pécs, Hungary, on May 21, 1902. He attended the Bauhaus design school in Weimar, Germany, and eventually became a part of the faculty. After the Nazis shut the school down, Breuer moved to the U.S. He died in New York City on July 1, 1981. On 1stDibs, find a variety of Marcel Breuer furniture.
How do I pronounce Marcel Breuer?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
To pronounce Marcel Breuer, say "mar-SELL BROO-ur." The artist's first and last name both originate from the Hungarian language. Breuer was born in Pécs, Hungary, on May 21, 1902. You can shop a variety of Marcel Breuer furniture on 1stDibs.
What is Marcel Breuer known for?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
Marcel Breuer is known for his work as an architect and furniture designer during the 20th century. During his life, he created many famous chairs that remain popular today, including the Wassily lounge chair, the Cesca chair and the D40 cantilever chair. You’ll find a range of Marcel Breuer furniture on 1stDibs.
What is marcel breuer famous for?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertApril 12, 2024
Marcel Breuer is famous for being one of 20th-century modernism’s most influential innovators. His most well-known furniture pieces were crafted of tubular steel, including the Wassily chair and the caned Cesca chair. Breuer also made several notable designs in molded plywood, including a chaise longue and nesting table for the British firm Isokon and a student furniture suite commissioned in 1938 for a dormitory at Bryn Mawr College. Breuer’s designs are elegant and adaptable examples of modernism, useful and appropriate in any environment. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of Marcel Breuer furniture.
What did Marcel Breuer design?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
Over the course of his life, Marcel Breuer designed many things. Furniture was one of his main focuses, and he created many influential pieces, including the Wassily lounge chair, the Cesca chair and the Laccio side table. Shop a collection of Marcel Breuer furniture on 1stDibs.
Did Marcel Breuer teach at Bauhaus?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
Yes, Marcel Breuer taught at the Bauhaus design school in Weimar, Germany. He arrived at the institution in 1920 as a student. By 1925, his duties expanded to include teaching classes of his own and running the school's furniture shop. On 1stDibs, find a selection of Marcel Breuer furniture.
What chairs did Marcel Breuer design?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertApril 22, 2024
Marcel Breuer designed several chairs. One of his best-known pieces is the Wassily lounge chair made of tubular steel and leather straps. Breuer named the chair after the artist Wassily Kandinsky. Among the designer's other notable chairs are the Cesca chair, the B35 lounge chair and the S 35. On 1stDibs, find a diverse assortment of Marcel Breuer chairs.
Where are Marcel Breuer chairs made?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
Today, Marcel Breuer chairs are made in the factory locations of the furniture manufacturer Knoll, Inc. It operates production facilities in Italy and Canada, as well as in Pennsylvania and Michigan in the U.S. Find a collection of Marcel Breuer furniture on 1stDibs.
Where did Marcel Breuer create the Cesca chair?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
Marcel Breuer created the Cesca chair while splitting his time between Paris and Germany. He made the chair in 1928, shortly after he left the Bauhaus school, but you can clearly see the influence of the institution's design principles in the clean, simple lines of the piece. Find a range of Marcel Breuer Cesca chairs on 1stDibs.
What are Marcel Breuer chair legs made out of?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
Most Marcel Breuer chair legs are made out of bent tubular steel. The designer introduced this radical new material to modern furniture design with his Wassily Model B3 lounge chair. On 1stDibs, you can shop a collection of Marcel Breuer chairs.
When did Marcel Breuer become an apprentice at the Bauhaus?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
Marcel Breuer became an apprentice and student at the Bauhaus school in 1920. He made a big impression on the school's founder, Walter Gropius, and later became the head of the institution's furniture workshop. Find a selection of Marcel Breuer furniture on 1stDibs.
What design school was Marcel Breuer associated with?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
Marcel Breuer was associated with the Bauhaus school in Weimar, Germany. After attending classes as a student, Breuer became the head of the school's furniture shop. While working there, he created the Wassily lounge chair, introducing the use of tubular steel frames to modern furniture design. Find a variety of Marcel Breuer chairs on 1stDibs.
Why did Marcel Breuer choose a bicycle tube?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
Marcel Breuer chose a bicycle tube frame to create his Wassily lounge chair because he was impressed by the strength and weight properties of the steel. The chair was a landmark in furniture design and opened the doors to the use of tubular steel frames in many chairs, tables and sofas produced during the modern period. You’ll find a selection of Marcel Breuer furniture on 1stDibs.
How can you tell an original Marcel Breuer chair?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
There are a number of ways that you can tell an original Marcel Breuer chair. One trick is to examine the frame. If you see end caps, you're likely looking at a replica. Authentic Breuer chairs featured polished, welded ends. Some chairs also feature stickers that identify the model name located under their seats. On 1stDibs, find a collection of expertly vetted Marcel Breuer chairs.
How do I identify Marcel Breuer bar stools?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
To identify Marcel Breuer bar stools, start by examining the frame. Genuine models will usually feature smooth, welded ends. Most reproductions have end caps instead. You can also look for a sticker that bears the model name on the underside of the seat. On 1stDibs, find a range of expertly vetted Marcel Breuer bar stools.
How do I reupholster a Marcel Breuer Cesca chair?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
To reupholster a Marcel Breuer Cesca chair, first pry out the staples, remove the original upholstery and disassemble the chair. Place the new fabric on a flat surface and position the seat upside down. Fold the fabric over the edge and secure it with a staple gun. On 1stDibs, shop a selection of expertly vetted Marcel Breuer Cesca chairs.
What was most innovative about Marcel Breuer’s model B3 chair?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
What was most innovative about Marcel Breuer's Model B3 chair was its frame. Also known as the Wassily lounge chair, the piece featured a lightweight, sturdy tubular steel frame inspired by the artist's Adler bicycle. His use of the metal started a radical shift in furniture design. You’ll find a variety of Marcel Breuer Model B3 chairs 1stDibs.
What material did Marcel Breuer introduce to modern furniture design?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
Marcel Breuer introduced the material of tubular steel to modern furniture design. He employed it in many of his chairs, tables and sofas, prizing the material because it minimized the weight of pieces without sacrificing their strength. Shop a range of Marcel Breuer furniture on 1stDibs.

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