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 Woven Side Table
By Michael van Beuren
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Bauhaus trained, Mexico City based desiger, Michael Van Beuren created highly functional modern pieces inspired by Mexican vernacular styles and materials. This example, c.1950s, Mex...
Rattan, Pine
Frères Cloutier Side Table
By Cloutier Freres
Located in Santa Gertrudis, Baleares
Rare red enameled lava tile low table by Robert and Jean Cloutier dating from the 1950s. This mid-century Lava Tile Coffee Table by the Cloutier Brothers...
Lava, Metal
$2,913
H 16.93 in W 11.82 in D 11.82 in
“Portico Side Table” Riuvina Marble Minimalist Side Table by Aparentment
By Josep Vila Capdevila
Located in Terrassa, Catalonia
Portico is a robust, brutalist, minimalist and eternal stool/side table. The arches created by the doors on both sides, concentrate the light in a central point, and gives the viewer...
Marble
Original Domus Dinning Set by Michael Van Beuren
By Michael van Beuren
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
We offer this original Domus dinning set (Table and 4 chairs) in pine wood and with the characteristic green Van Beuren color, designed by the American Bau...
Pine
$1,850
H 23.5 in W 15.5 in D 24 in
Mexican Modernist Michael Van Beuren Woven Rope Cord Triangular Table
By Michael van Beuren, Domus
Located in Round Top, TX
Muebles Austin was founded in 1944 in Mexico City by Austin Sulzburger (Switzerland) and was a successful furniture production company throughout the Mi...
Cord, Rope, Wood
Vintage Danish Teak Side Table, 1960s
Located in Asaa, DK
Vintage Danish teak side table, 1960s Elegant Danish Mid-century modern side or coffee table with underlying shelf. Table top with wrapped gri...
Teak
Side Table by Paolo Buffa
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
Italian side table by Paolo Buffa for the Hotel Bristol. Etched rectangular glass with stars and circles motives hold by a mahogany pedestal base...
Brass
$2,850
H 11.88 in Dm 15.88 in
Dutch Postmodern Red Side Drinks Table w/Shelf by Erik van Buijtenen for Nebu
By Nebu, Erik van Buijtenen
Located in New York, NY
A Dutch Postmodern red lacquered side drinks table with shelf by designer Erik van Buijtenen for Nebu, circa 1970s, Holland. This Post-Modern / '70s Modern table is round, has a 'Coc...
Composition
$800Sale Price|50% Off
H 18.25 in W 36.5 in D 22 in
1950s Mexican Craftsman Rush Wrapped Coffee Table like Domus Michael Van Beuren
By Michael van Beuren
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Fair/Good vintage condition, very old construction. It was purchased at an auction with some Tackett pottery and a couple other Mexican craftsman mad...
Wood
$2,200 / item
H 15.75 in Dm 27.56 in
Porto Side Table, by RAIN, Contemporary Side Table, Laminated Ebanizated Oak
By RAIN
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
Porto low tables are composed of a circular top that seems to rest on a sturdy oblong base. Lightness and weight overlap creating a harmonic and unconventional monoblock. The unagreement between the geometry of the elements generates irregular pieces capable of evoking movement, as they elude the gaze, changing according to the viewing angle. The tables give continuity to the Porto collection, whose inspiration comes from the weight and scale...
Wood
$1,400 / item
H 17.72 in W 9.85 in D 17.72 in
Porto Side Table, High, by Rain, Contemporary Side Table, Ebonized Oak
By RAIN
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
The collection has rounded lines that look for inspiration in the anchor elements present in the ports. The weight and scale of this elements guide t...
Wood
$2,697
H 23.82 in W 16.15 in D 14.18 in
Industrial Drink Table / Side Table / End Table, Aluminium and Iron
Located in Barcelona, ES
Aluminium and iron spanish drinks table, 1960s Rectangular aluminium top with black painted iron tripod base. Originally used as hairdresser work stand tripod table by Henry Colomer ...
Metal, Aluminum, Iron
Modernist Chrome Side Table
Located in Austin, TX
Sinuous chrome tube and glass coffee table in the spirit of Paul Tuttle’s “anaconda” coffee table for Strässle International. Three conjoining lar...
Chrome
Rare Side Table by Michael van Beuren
By Michael van Beuren
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Made in mahogany wood, circa 1960. The side table is part of the Danish line of Van Beuren furniture In 1937 Michael van Beuren arrived for the first time in Mexico and he marvell...
Mahogany
Michael van Beuren for Domus Mexico Side Table
By Domus, Michael van Beuren
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Bauhaus-trained, Mexico City-based Michael van Beuren created highly functional modern design inspired by Mexican vernacular styles and materials. This example is a side table with a...
Rattan, Teak