Max Bill was born in Winterthur, Switzerland. After an apprenticeship as a silversmith during 1924–27, he took up studies at the Bauhaus in Dessau under many teachers including Wassily Kandinsky, Paul Klee and Oskar Schlemmer from 1927 to 1929, after which he moved to Zurich.
After working on graphic designs for the few modern buildings being constructed, Bill built his first work, his own house and studio (1932–3) in Zurich-Höngg. From 1937 onward he was a prime mover behind the Allianz group of Swiss artists.
Bill is widely considered the single most decisive influence on Swiss graphic design beginning in the 1950s with his theoretical writing and progressive work. His connection to the days of modernism gave him special authority. As an industrial designer, his work is characterized by a clarity of design and precise proportions. Examples are the elegant clocks and watches designed for Junghans, a long-term client. Among Bill's most notable product designs is the Ulmer Hocker of 1954, a stool that can also be used as a shelf element, a speaker's desk, a tablet or a side table. Although the stool was a creation of both Bill's and Ulm School designer Hans Gugelot's, it is often called "Bill Hocker" because the first sketch of it on a cocktail napkin was Bill's work.
As a designer and artist, Bill sought to create forms which visually represent the New Physics of the early 20th century. He sought to create objects so that the new science of form could be understood by the senses: that is as a concrete art. Thus Bill is not a rationalist – as is typically thought – but rather a phenomenologist. He made spare geometric paintings, prints and spherical sculptures, some based on the Möbius strip, in stone, wood, metal and plaster. His architectural work included an office building in Germany, a radio studio in Zurich, and a bridge in eastern Switzerland.
Bill continued to produce architectural designs, such as those for a museum of contemporary art (1981) in Florence and for the Bauhaus Archive (1987) in Berlin. In 1982 he also entered a competition for an addition to the Neue Nationalgalerie in Berlin, built to a design by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. Pavillon-Skulptur, a large granite sculpture, was installed adjacent to the Bahnhofstrasse, Zürich in 1983. As is often the case with modern art in public places, the installation generated some controversy. Endlose Treppe, a sculpture made of North American granite, was designed for the philosopher Ernst Bloch.
In 1982 he was awarded the Sir Misha Black award and was added to the College of Medallists.
Bill executed many public sculptures in Europe and exhibited extensively in galleries and museums, including a retrospective at the Kunsthaus Zürich in 1968–69. He was the subject of retrospectives at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery in Buffalo and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in 1974, and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City in 1988.
Find vintage Max Bill stools, lighting, and other furniture on 1stDibs.
Kneuzzargenstull Chair with yellow seat by Max Bill dining chair side chair
By Max Bill
Located in Tokyo, Tokyo
Born Winterthur, Switzerland; died 1994. Max Bill's name is often associated with concrete art and environmental design, but he was, so to speak, a Swiss 'un...
Wood, Plywood
$1,210Sale Price / item|36% Off
H 29.75 in W 24.25 in D 17 in
Modern Dining Chair in White Oak with Leather Seat by KLEIN
By Klein Agency
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Materials - Leather, Wood // Style - Sculptural Modern // Origin - USA // Condition - New, Made to Order Reminiscent of an old farmhouse chair, the dining chair GH2 is second in the collection of chairs designed for the restaurant Auburn in Los Angeles. The piece is handcrafted by our team of local craftsmen and upholstered in any of our standard Klein Home...
Leather, Oak
Bill Stephens for Knoll Dining Chair
By Knoll, Bill Stephens
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Bill Stephens for Knoll dining chair, bentwood and blue Naugahyde seats.
Naugahyde, Wood
Set of 8 Regency Dining Chairs, with Leather Seats
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Set of 8 Regency Dining Chairs, with Leather Seats A superb quality set of chairs, the chairs have a very attractive back and top rail...
Mahogany
$2,325 / item
H 35 in W 23.5 in D 21.5 in
Morro Dining Side Chair by Lawson-Fenning, Leather Sling Seat, Mohair & Oak
By Lawson-Fenning
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The Morro Dining Side Chair is made from a solid American walnut or white oak frame and features an upholstered back cushion and a leather sling seat. The Lawson-Fenning Collection ...
Brass
$2,325 / item
H 35 in W 23.5 in D 21.5 in
Morro Dining Side Chair by Lawson-Fenning, Leather Sling Seat, Mohair & Oak
By Lawson-Fenning
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The Morro Dining Side Chair is made from a solid American walnut or white oak frame and features an upholstered back cushion and a leather sling seat. The Lawson-Fenning Collection ...
Brass
$1,210Sale Price / item|16% Off
H 29.75 in W 24.25 in D 20.25 in
Modern Dining Chair in Black with Leather Seat by KLEIN
By Klein Agency
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Materials - Leather, Wood // Style - Sculptural Modern // Origin - USA // Condition - New, Made to Order We’ve been tasked to design an effortless, elegant, honest and most importantly comfortable dining chair for Chef Eric Bost, whose restaurant Auburn, we've been designing for the past few years. After a good year...
Leather, Oak
$2,450 / item
H 35 in W 23.5 in D 21.5 in
Morro Dining Side Chair by Lawson-Fenning, Upholstered Seat, Mohair & Walnut
By Lawson-Fenning
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The Morro Dining Side Chair - Upholstered Seat is made from a solid American walnut or white oak frame and features an upholstered back cushion and seat. Also available with a leathe...
Brass
$400
H 30.25 in W 17.63 in D 18 in
Anodized Aluminum with Cord Seat Vanity, Dining or Side Chair, Italy 1980s
Located in Miami, FL
Italian organic modern dining or side chair with anodized aluminum frame and cord seat, 1980s.
Aluminum
$4,995 / set
H 31.5 in W 23.25 in D 23 in
5 Knoll MCM Bentwood 1300 Series Dining Chairs Maroon & Black by Bill Stephens
By Bill Stephens, Knoll
Located in Topeka, KS
Wonderful vintage MCM or Mid-Century Modern bentwood 1300 Series dining armchairs with original maroon hopsacking upholstery and newly ebonized frames by Bill Stephens for Knoll set of 5. Beautiful condition, keeping in mind that these are vintage and not new so will have signs of use and wear. Two chairs have been reglued and two chairs have a different weave in the fabric. Fabric has been shampooed and the wood frames have been restored with a black finish; but they still retain a few age-appropriate nicks and dings. Please see photos and zoom in for details. We attempt to portray any imperfections. Circa, 1961-1969. Move over Marvel… We have the real FANTASTIC FIVE!!! This is a GORGEOUS set of five 1300 Series bentwood chairs by famed designer Bill Stephens for Knoll!! The 1300 Series chairs were designed by Bill Stephens in 1967 and featured a bentwood frame supporting a molded plastic seat. This particular set of 5 frames is comprised of a fabulous bent plywood with a new black dyed finish. Three of the molded plastic seats are upholstered in a maroon hopsacking upholstery (we believe these to have been reupholstered) and two with a maroon fabric but with a different weave. They’re FABULOUS! They are circa 1961-1969 labeled with Knoll Associates, Inc., 320 Park Avenue tags. Use them at your dining table and enjoy a comfortable, long leisurely dinner with family and friends! Or, they would be wonderful at a game table, breakfast nook, around a conference table at the office, or as convenient and stylish extra seating in any room. Wherever you choose to use them, be ready for one of the most ergonomically comfortable chairs you have ever experienced. Bill Stephens born 1932 in Pennsylvania and graduated from the Philadelphia Museum School of Art. He began his career with Knoll as an assistant prototype builder in 1960 for their Design and Development Group. After working up the ranks he became its director in 1971. He spear-headed and worked on the creation and development of many projects and products during his time as director including several where he was the principal designer. His greatest were his part in the Petitt chair which was not only beautiful but an achievement in technology and construction; his own 1300 Series or Stephens Chair which was originally designed for the student center at the Yale School of Architecture and remained in production at Knoll until 1988; and his contribution in the first wood landscape systems created along with Skidmore, Owings & Merrill to be used in their Weyerhaeuser headquarters project. Stephens passed in 2007. Ergonomic comfort, superb style, and an iconic designer and manufacturer! This set of five Knoll Bill Stephens’ 1300 Series...
Fabric, Bentwood
$1,602 / item
H 35.04 in W 16.15 in D 18.12 in
DAINA Dining Chair with Upholstered Seat Covered with Leather by Nigel Coates
By Fratelli Boffi
Located in Lentate sul Seveso, Monza e Brianza
Introducing the Daina Chair—a masterpiece of Italian craftsmanship designed by Nigel Coates, where inspiration from the fallow deer's flexibility and the g...
Leather, Wood, Walnut
$4,500 / item
H 35.5 in W 19.5 in D 19.5 in
Constantine Dining Chair with Upholstered Back and Seat, by Mark Zeff
By Mark Zeff
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Constantine Dining Chair from BLACKBARN Bronze Age Collection by Mark Zeff, cerused oak frame with antique brass details and upholstered back ...
Brass
$1,602Sale Price / item|10% Off
H 31.75 in W 26 in D 21 in
Modern Dining Chair with Upholstered Leather Seat by KLEIN
By Klein Agency
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Materials - Leather, Wood // Style - Sculptural Modern // Origin - USA // Condition - New, Made to Order Designed to be placed in a private dining room, dining chair GH3 works with ...
Leather, Oak
Stool by Max Bill, Ulm, design 1954
By Max Bill
Located in VILLEURBANNE, FR
Early signed edition of the Ulm Stool, designed in 1954 by Max Bill with Hans Gugelot and Paul Hildinger for the Hochschule für Gestaltung Ulm. Made of pine with a turned wood cross...
Wood
$2,495 / item
H 32.75 in W 20.5 in D 22.75 in
Black Ash, Contemporary Dining Chair with Floating Seat & Back
By Luteca Furniture
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A striking, contemporary dining chair with elegant scissor legs and floating back, inspired by the midcentury chairs of Spanish designer Eugenio Escudero from the the 1950s. The tape...
Ash
Palle Suenson Dining Chair with Teak Seat
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Palle Suenson for Fritz Hansen, dining chair, teak, beech, Denmark, 1940s. Palle Suenson conceived this modern Windsor-style chair. The chairs are produced by Fritz Hansen in the 19...
Beech, Teak
Sold
H 30.71 in W 18.9 in D 20.08 in
Set of 6 vintage dining chairs by Max Bill, Horgen Glarus, Switzerland ca. 1950s
By Max Bill
Located in Geneva, CH
Rare set of chairs designed in 1951 by Max Bill for the Swiss manufacturer Horgen Glarus. Emblematic of Swiss design in the '50s. Seat and backrest in birch plywood, frame in solid ...
Beech
Cross Frame Chair by Max Bill
By Max Bill
Located in Jersey City, NJ
Max Bill Cross frame chair Lacquered beech available in all black, all beech or beech with black legs each: 31 H x 19 W x 20.5 D inches. 18" seat height. The cross frame chair by Ba...
Beech