Michael van Beuren was born in New York and studied architecture at the Bauhaus under Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Josef Albers until its closure in 1933. He moved to Acapulco at the end of 1936, where he oversaw the design of the interiors of the bungalows at the renowned Flamingo Hotel in 1937, and quickly became a formative member of the Mexican Modernism movement.
By 1938, van Beuren began focusing on furniture design, working with a fellow Bauhaus colleague, Klaus Grabe, to create modern and affordable pieces. Inspired by the local culture and craftsmanship, the duo applied Bauhaus design principles to popular Mexican mainstays, such as woven reclining chaises and wooden dining chairs.
The approach was a success — Grabe, Morley Webb and van Beuren were named among the winners of a 1941 competition organized by the Museum of Modern Art that focused on designer teams from the United States and Latin America called “Organic Design in Home Furnishings.” This award catapulted them to wide renown.
In the following years, van Beuren founded his furniture label Domus, which became synonymous with well-crafted, modernist design that garnered fans both in Mexico and America. Along with his own designs, Domus also produced work by Clara Porset, a friend and contemporary of van Beuren’s. However, by 1951, the company’s move toward more mass manufacturing meant that van Beuren’s earlier designs were no longer being produced.
Find vintage Michael van Beuren furniture on 1stDibs.
(Biography provided by 7710 Gallery)
Michael Van Beuren Bauhaus Teak and Raffia Loveseat, Circa 1940
By Michael van Beuren
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Mexican Modern Michael van Beuren teak and woven raffia lounge settee. Featuring a sturdy, functional, comfortable two piece Teak framework, two pegs holding the seat in place, Raffi...
Rattan, Teak
$18,000 / set
Michael Van Beuren Three Seater Woven Sofa
By Michael van Beuren
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Bauhaus trained, Mexico City based designer, Michael Van Beuren created highly functional modern pieces inspired by Mexican vernacular styles and materials. This example, c.1950s Mex...
Rattan, Pine
Scandinavian Modern Teak Loveseat by Arne Vodder
By Arne Vodder
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This Danish vintage two-seat offers a stylish teak finish with a uniquely sized two-seat settee. By Arne Vodder, this seating option is perfect for home or office setting. Please con...
Upholstery, Teak
$1,727 / item
H 19.88 in W 74.65 in D 29.5 in
Kartell Bubble Club 2-Seat Sofa in Zinc White by Philippe Starck
By Philippe Starck, Kartell
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A veritable icon made by Kartell, the mass-tinted polypropylene Bubble Club sofa was a Pioneer of a new concept in furniture accessories: the Industrial sofa made entirely of plastic...
Plastic
$4,000 / set
H 33.08 in W 22.84 in D 24.81 in
Mexican Miguelito Living Room Set in the style of Michael Van Beuren
By Michael van Beuren
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Circa 1970, We offer this Mexican Miguelito Living Room Set in the style of Michael Van Beuren. Made in pine wood and recently professionally restored.
Pine
Danish 1940's Loveseat with Open Wooden Armrest and Green Striped Wool
By Alfred Christensen
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Very charming loveseat from the 1940's in the style of Alfred Christensen. Maker and Designer is unknown but the style is very similar to designs by Fritz Hansen and Alfred Christens...
Wool, Beech
Two-Seat Sofa, Denmark, 1950, New Upholstery Bouclé Fabric
Located in Paris, FR
Beautiful two-seat curved sofa manufactured in the 1950s. Lovely shape and curves. Very comfortable seat with two feather cushions covered of blue Kvadrat velvet. Perfect condition,...
Fabric, Wool, Bouclé, Upholstery, Velvet, Beech
$10,577 / item
H 35.83 in W 64.97 in D 39.38 in
Hand Tailored Fringes 2-Seat Sofa in Antique Pink Velvet
By Munna Design Studio
Located in New York, NY
The handmade sofa draws on the signature Franjas fashion theme, ruffling the scene and inviting guests with its fun and flirtatious feel. Featuring three layers of fringes that run a...
Velvet, Wood, Silk, Trimming
Brown Jordan Outdoor Loveseat, Circa 1960
By Brown Jordan
Located in Wheat Ridge, CO
A striking example of Jordan Brown’s sculptural approach to modern furniture design, this elegant loveseat features a gracefully curved tubular frame finished in crisp white lacquer....
Metal
Michael Taylor for Baker 'Far East' Loveseat
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mid-century modern loveseat with black frame in an Asian motif. Soft cushions sit over a covered back. Michael Taylor designed sofa for the Baker Far East collection. Ebonized lattic...
Wood
$3,400Sale Price|20% Off
H 30 in W 85 in D 28 in
Magnificent Space-Age Tubular Chrome 2-Seat Sofa with Table Ingmar Relling Style
By Ingmar Relling
Located in Pemberton, NJ
Magnificent Space Age chrome tubular 2-seat sofa with attached table in the style of Ingmar Relling. This piece is a bit of a mystery as to designer but by the shear quality and craftsmanship they shout that the designer is someone important. This sofa settee was purchased from a super high end car dealership from the 1970s. The interior of this car dealership was very futuristic in design with many pieces like this and pieces from the fiberglass steelcase floating furniture...
Chrome
$4,105 / item
H 32.5 in W 30 in D 34.25 in
Modernist Mexican San Miguel Lounge Chair by Michael van Beuren from Luteca
By Michael van Beuren, Luteca Furniture
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The San Miguel lounge chair is a timeless mid-century Mexican piece inspired by the classic Latin American Butaque chair famed by the likes of 20th Century Mexican architect Luis Barragan and Industrial Designer Clara Porset. Michael van Beuren, an American born designer trained at Germany's famous Bauhuas school, produced this award winning piece in 1941 for the MoMA's Organic Design Exhibition in New York along with it's sister-design, the Alacran Chaise...
Teak
1970s Gerard van den Berg “Ringo” Cognac Leather Loveseat
By Gerard Van Den Berg
Located in Miami, FL
A beautiful leather “Ringo” loveseat designed by Gerard van den Berg, Netherlands, 1970s. Upholstered in its original cognac leather, the loveseat has aged gracefully with natural pa...
Leather
Gerard van den Berg 'Corvette' Sofa in Natural Cognac Leather
By Montis, Gerard Van Den Berg
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The 'Corvette' sofa by Gerard van den Berg features a fully upholstered form in original cognac natural leather. Rounded, voluminous cushioning defines the silhouette — the seat, bac...
Leather