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.
Carlo Scarpa & Marcel Breuer Naxos Marble “Delfi” Table for Studio Simon, 1969
By Studio Simon, Marcel Breuer, Carlo Scarpa
Located in Vicenza, IT
“Delfi” dining table, designed by Carlo Scarpa and Marcel Breuer and produced by the Italian manufacturer Studio Simon in 1969. Made of white Nax...
Marble
Sleek Bauhaus "B10" Table Set by Marcel Breuer
By Chromcraft, Marcel Breuer, Thonet
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Bring a rare fusion of historic design and modernist elegance into your space with this stunning vintage set. At its heart is the iconic "B10" Table, designed by Marcel Breuer—a pion...
Metal
Bauhaus Side Table by Marcel Breuer, Czechoslovakia, 1930s
By Marcel Breuer
Located in Praha, CZ
This Bauhaus side table, attributed to Marcel Breuer and produced in Czechoslovakia during the 1930s, represents an iconic example of early modernist furniture design. The piece comb...
Steel, Chrome
$1,995
H 17.5 in W 28.5 in D 17 in
After Marcel Breuer, a Bauhaus Style Side Table and Magazine Holder
By Marcel Breuer
Located in North Miami, FL
A design after Marcel Breuer with mesh hanging hammock for magazines and chrome trim.
Chrome
$8,174 / set
H 33.08 in W 22.84 in D 26.78 in
1930s M. Breuer Set of B10 Bauhaus Tubular Table + B34 Armachairs by M. Melder
By Mücke & Melder, Marcel Breuer
Located in Praha, CZ
- Chrome plated parts in good condition with some signs of use - Top desk and wooden armrests has been relacquered some times ago and they are in good condition - Newly upholst...
Chrome
$3,847Sale Price|20% Off
H 29.14 in W 76.38 in D 34.26 in
Dining Room Marble Table Attributed to Carlo Scarpa, Italy 1970.
By Carlo Scarpa
Located in Brussels, BE
Spectacular pink beige marble dining table in three parts. The top is resting on a stepped base. Attributed to Scarpa, Italy 1970.
Marble
Marcel Breuer Tubular-Steel B10 Table
By Marcel Breuer
Located in New York, NY
Marcel Breuer tubular-steel B10 table chrome-plated tubular frame table with a black smoked glass top.
Chrome
Bauhaus Tubular Steel Side Table B 12 by Marcel Breuer, 1930s
By Marcel Breuer, Mücke & Melder
Located in PRAHA 5, CZ
Originally designed by Marcel Breuer and catalogued as model B 12, this elegant Bauhaus side table stands as a hallmark of rational design. Manufactured in the 1930s by Mücke & Melde...
Steel, Chrome
$7,453
H 28.35 in W 94.49 in D 30.71 in
"Orseolo" Black Table by Carlo Scarpa for Simon Gavina, Italy 70s
By Carlo Scarpa, Simon Gavina Editions
Located in Sacile, PN
Carlo Scarpa "Orseolo" black table for Simon, 1972. Table, polyester varnished with mirror polished finish, made for the assembly of thick, elementary geometric panels with satin-fi...
Wood
$14,600
H 29.14 in W 70.08 in D 49.61 in
Carlo Scarpa "Samo" Oval Table for Simon Gavina, White Carrara Marble, 1971
By Carlo Scarpa, Simon Gavina Editions
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Carlo Scarpa "Samo" oval table for Simon Gavina, white Carrara marble, Italy, 1971. The Scarpa's way of thinking the architecture is particularly visible in this piece. The “Samo” d...
Carrara Marble
$13,800
H 29.14 in W 70.08 in D 49.61 in
Carlo Scarpa "Samo" Oval Table for Simon Gavina, Granite, 1971
By Simon Gavina Editions, Carlo Scarpa
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Carlo Scarpa "Samo" oval table for Simon Gavina, granite, Italy, 1971. The Scarpa's way of thinking the architecture is particularly visible in this piece. The “Samo” dining table designed in 1971 for 'Ultrarazionale' collection by Simon Gavina consists of two grooved solid granite pillars...
Granite
$16,770
H 29.34 in W 86.62 in D 35.44 in
Mid-Century Mod Delfi White Marble Dining Table by Carlo Scarpa & Marcel Breuer
By Carlo Scarpa, Marcel Breuer
Located in Madrid, ES
Dining table mod. Delfi designed by Carlo Scarpa and Marcel Breuer for Gavina. Composed of two sculptural bases and a rectangular top 4 cm thick. Made in Carrara marble. Italy 1968. ...
Carrara Marble
$3,950 / item
H 28.75 in W 94.89 in D 30.32 in
Carlo Scarpa Orseolo Dining Table for Cassina, Lacquered Aluminum
By Carlo Scarpa, Cassina
Located in Berlin, DE
Price is dependent on the chosen material and size. Available sizes: 241x77 240x92 280x92 FASTENERS: Cast satin finish aluminum. FRAME TOP: MDF boards covered with a coat of mirr...
Aluminum
$16,850
H 29.14 in W 70.08 in D 49.61 in
Samo Dining Table by Carlo Scarpa for Simon Gavina, Italy, 1971
By Carlo Scarpa, Simon Gavina Editions
Located in Antwerp, BE
The Samo dining table is a sculptural and architectural masterpiece designed by Carlo Scarpa for Simon Gavina’s Ultrarazionale collection. It features an oval gray granite top that a...
Granite
1970s Set of 4 Retro Marcel Breuer Cesca Dining Chairs with Dining Table
By Marcel Breuer
Located in London, GB
A stylish and iconic set of ‘Cesca’ dining chairs, originally designed by Marcel Breuer in the 1920s. These were made in Italy, they date from around the ...
Chrome
1970s Vintage Italian Cesca Dining Chairs & Table
By Marcel Breuer
Located in London, GB
A very stylish and rare vintage dining table and chairs, made in Italy and dating from the 1970’s. The chairs were originally design...
Brass
Mid Century Dining Game Table Set, Chrome & Glass and Four Cesca Chairs
By Marcel Breuer
Located in West Hartford, CT
Mid century small dining set includes a chrome and glass square table with four Marcel Breuer Cesca cane and chrome tubular chairs, made in Italy. Can also ...
Chrome
Sold
H 31.5 in W 18.31 in D 20.28 in
Rare Vintage Made in Italy Marcel Breuer Cesca Five Dining Chairs & Table Glass
By Marcel Breuer
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for this stunning vintage made in Italy stamped Marcel Brueur suite of five Cesca chairs with matching chrome and glass table A very good looking and wel...
Chrome
1970s Set of Italian Bamboo and Crystal Table with Four Cesca Chairs
By Marcel Breuer
Located in Marbella, ES
1970s set of Italian bamboo and crystal table with four Cesca chairs. Armchairs measurements: 81 x 61 x 56cm Table measurements: 74 x 130cm.
Steel
Sold
H 31.5 in W 18.12 in L 31.5 in
Mid-Century Modern Italian Set of 4 Cesca Chairs by Marcel Breuer, 1970s
By Marcel Breuer
Located in Prato, IT
Mid-Century Modern Italian set of 4 gilt metal wooden "Cesca" chairs with Vienna straw by Marcel Breuer from 1970s. The chairs could be sold as a dining room set with a table with o...
Metal
Sold
H 32.5 in W 22.75 in D 23.5 in
Dining Set of 4 Cesca Chairs and Table by Marcel Breuer for Thonet
By Marcel Breuer
Located in San Pedro Garza Garcia, Nuevo Leon
Dining Set of 4 Marcel Breuer chairs and table, tubular chrome frame, original cane seats and black lacquered wood. I bought this complete set from the...
Chrome
Sold
H 29 in W 67 in D 37 in
Ligne Roset Dining Room Expandable Table & Marcel Breuer Leather Corset Chairs
By Marcel Breuer, Ligne Roset
Located in West Hartford, CT
Ligne Roset table is constructed of a solid maple frame and braced with brushed stainless rods, with two frosted glass etched with clear glass square patterns. The two sides pull out and slide to expand to a rectangle shape. Few minor scratches visible. The four matching chairs are brown leather and chrome Marcel Breuer corset chairs...
Chrome
Marcel Breuer Plywood Dining Set for Isokon Furniture Company
By Marcel Breuer
Located in Los Angeles, CA
BT3 Dining Table (Isokon Dining Table) designed 1936 by Marcel Breuer, for Isokon Furniture Company, bent birch plywood construction with original finish in good condition. Table: 58...