Modern Dutch design owes a great deal to Gerard van den Berg. While the Netherlands has a rich furniture-making tradition, it took a maverick like Van den Berg to bring it into a new era.
Van den Berg was born in 1947 to a family of designers. His father owned a furniture company in Hellevoetsluis where Van den Berg worked as an apprentice and then designer until he and his brother, Ton, founded their own workshop, in 1974. That company, named Montis, produced mostly upholstered seating for homes and businesses.
At Montis, Van den Berg challenged traditional Dutch furniture forms. Rather than starting with the piece's frame, which he felt was restrictive, he focused on the silhouette. This inspired Van den Berg to create slim and elegant furniture, often featuring angular metal legs and leather upholstery. In 1983, he pioneered the "jacket technique," consisting of a zipped leather cover around a metal frame. Several iconic Montis seats use this technique, including the Chaplin chair, the Butterfly lounge chair and the Rocky sofa.
In 1989, Van den Berg launched his own design studio and began designing for companies like Wittmann, Molteni and Perobell. He left Montis in 1990 to cofound a new company, called Label, with Ton the following year. Today, Van den Berg's son Jasper and Ton's daughter, Marieke, manage Label. Van den Berg's other son, Ivo, is also a designer at the company.
Van den Berg's irreplaceable contributions to furniture design have garnered multiple awards over the years. Some of the most notable include the Kho Liang Prize, the Mobilia Innovation Award and the Prize for Interior Architecture.
Find vintage Montis seating on 1stDibs.
Brown leather armchair by Gerard Van Den Berg for Montis, 1970s
By Montis, Gerard Van Den Berg
Located in Ternay, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Armchair from the 70s by designer Gérard Van der Berg for Montis. Round base in stained woven wicker (the edge has been redone). Armchair entirely in brown leather, swivelling from l...
Leather, Wicker
$483Sale Price|59% Off
Montis Back Me Up Armchair in Stock
By Montis
Located in New York, NY
Upholstered shell/ back: Miller 30 Upholstered Seat : S10 Kvadrat Maple 112 Legs: black Pull up a chair and let yourself be embraced by luxury. The comfort of the Back Me Up armc...
Fabric
$1,695Sale Price|47% Off
Montis Back Me Up Salon Club Chair Designed by Arian Brekveld IN STOCK
By Montis
Located in New York, NY
Back Me Up Salon Upholstery: HERO 466318 #791 Base: Oak Black carbon stained The compact club chair With the BACK ME UP Salon, Arian Brekveld pu...
Fabric
Pair of Post Modern Gerard van den Berg 'Loge' Chairs & Footstools for Montis
By Montis
Located in London, GB
This rare and complete suite features the iconic 'Loge' lounge chairs and matching footstools, a masterclass in Post-Modern ergonomics designed by Gerard van den Berg for Montis, cir...
Metal, Aluminum, Steel
Customizable Montis Swivel Luna Armchair by FORMSTELLE
By Montis
Located in New York, NY
The reversible detail of the armrest envelops the Luna like a perfectly fitted garment. Sophisticated stitching and pleating accentuate its inviting volume. Its material properties a...
Aluminum
$1,337 / item
Customizable Montis Vico Armchair by GEERT KOSTER
By Montis
Located in New York, NY
Price listed for starting fabric. Vico is the cousin of our easy chair Enzo. Geert Koster designed a compact dining chair that complements any interior. With its streamlined shape a...
Upholstery
$1,741 / item
Customizable Montis Luna Armchair by FORMSTELLE
By Montis
Located in New York, NY
The reversible detail of the armrest envelops the Luna like a perfectly fitted garment. Sophisticated stitching and pleating accentuate its inviting volume. Its material properties a...
Upholstery
$9,443 / set
H 28.75 in W 35.04 in D 39.38 in
Maralunga armchairs designed by Vico Magistretti for Cassina, 1973
By Vico Magistretti
Located in Arezzo, Italy
Set of 2 armchairs designed by Vico Magistretti for Cassina, 1973. Tubular steel frame structure, polyurethane, leather. Excellent condition, restored. The project won the Compasso ...
Steel
Club Chair by Brian Holcombe in Mahogany with Upholstery
By Brian Holcombe
Located in Princeton, NJ
Upholstered club chair in mahogany wood with carving details on the sides. The carvings are of a motif found in 18th century Ming furniture. The carvings are done by hand. This ch...
Mahogany
George III Mahogany Lattice Back Armchair
Located in Huntington, NY
George III Mahogany Lattice back armchair. Seat with new top fabric. The rectangular lattice back above an upholstered tight seat with mahogany arms on sq...
Mahogany, Oak
$10,152 / set
H 39.38 in W 23.63 in D 23.63 in
6 vintage Chaplin dining chair in cognac leather by Gerard van den Berg - Montis
By Montis
Located in Buggenhout, Oost-Vlaanderen
Exceptional set of 6 Chaplin dining armchairs. Stunning patinated, thick leather. Hard to find in this color. Designed by Gerard van den Berg for Montis, the Netherlands (1983) Th...
Leather
$944 / item
H 29.53 in W 21.66 in D 19.69 in
Shell Beige Boucle Club Chair, by Vintola Studio, Europe, Poland
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Springy, very comfortable and stabile club seats. They are contemporary chairs inspired of 1960s style. They can be used as armchairs and dining chairs. Chair was designed by Vint...
Bouclé, Velvet, Beech
Gerard van den Berg "The Rock" Florence Leather Loveseat, Montis
By Gerard Van Den Berg, Montis
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Dutch Mid-Century frameless two-seat sofa designed by Gerard van den Berg for Montis, known as the "Florence" model and widely referred to as "The Rock." Brown leather upholstery is ...
Leather
Postmodern Gerard van den Berg Florence Sofa for Montis, Buck Leather
By Gerard Van Den Berg, Montis
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Gerard van den Berg designed the Florence sofa for Dutch manufacturer Montis during the height of Postmodern experimentation with organic furniture forms. Known alternately as "The R...
Leather, Foam
Gerard van den Berg "Oslo" Leather Loveseat for Montis
By Gerard Van Den Berg, Montis
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Dark brown leather 'Oslo' loveseat designed by Gerard van den Berg for the Dutch label Montis in the 1970s. The wraparound cushion unit forms a single continuous piece, channel-stitc...
Leather, Wood
$4,348
H 35.83 in W 31.5 in D 40.16 in
MCM Swivel Lounge Chair Caramel Leather 1970 Delantra Gerard Van Den Berg Montis
By Gerard Van Den Berg, Montis
Located in London, GB
A very rare, distinctive, and strikingly attractive Mid-Century designer caramel-tan leather swivel lounge chair. Designed by Dutch design supremo Gerard Van Den Berg and produced by...
Steel
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
$6,716 / item
H 29.53 in W 20.87 in D 20.87 in
Arflex Botolo High Back Armchair in Natural Fur & Black Metal Legs by Cini Boeri
By Cini Boeri, Arflex
Located in Brooklyn, NY
An innovative upholstered rolling chair with three large tubular legs. Botolo is an ideal place to sit, relax and be creative.Cini Boeri designed Botolo in 1973, giving life to a new design style, where you could choose the height of the legs to have a dining chair in the high version or a style, at that time modern, "the living at a low level", a way of living...
Fur
English Ladder Back Armchair, Early 19th Century
Located in London, GB
English Ladder back armchair, Early 19th Century A country-made early 19th century ladder back armchair. Made in Ash with great patina and origi...
Ash
Sold
H 31.89 in W 29.53 in D 36.62 in
Post-modern Set of two Loge Chairs designed by Gerard van den Berg for Montis
By Gerard Van Den Berg, Montis
Located in Doornspijk, NL
The Loge armchair was designed by Gerard van den Berg for Montis. It has a nice streamlined shape, making it almost look like it comes out of a comic strip book. These easy chairs ...
Leather
Sold
H 31.89 in W 31.89 in D 35.04 in
1980s Percival Lafer Style Lounge Chair by Gerard Van Den Berg for Montis
By Gerard Van Den Berg, Montis
Located in Zevenaar, NL
Much sought after Tripod Lounge Chair Gerard van den Berg by Montis, 1970s, the Netherlands pine frame and slung/hung brown canvas support. shaped cushion of soft camel or caramel c...
Leather, Pine
Sold
H 39.38 in W 23.63 in D 23.63 in
Set of Four Montis Leather Chaplin Armchairs by GERARD VAN DEN BERG in STOCK
By Montis
Located in New York, NY
with CASTORS The upholstery covers the frame like an article of clothing. The cover hangs nonchalantly on the chair like a padded ‘jacket’ and is secured all around with four zips. ...
Leather
Gerard Van Den Berg "The Rock" Lounge Chair
By Montis, Gerard Van Den Berg
Located in San Angelo, TX
The classic and reputable stylish "THE ROCK" chair! This design classic is from Dutch soil. Designed by Gerard van den Berg in the 60s & 70s. Produced by Montis. Definitely a special design due to the unusual shape and high quality leather. Over the years, the leather has acquired a beautiful patina. In this special armchair you can dream away with a good book. A real eye catcher for the interior. These are perfect for lounging and are EXTREMELY comfortable. You do not want to get out of them. *We have 2 more identical camel leather Rock chairs available plus 1 black leather Rock chair...
Leather
Pair of Gerard Van Den Berg High Back Lounge Chairs
By Montis, Gerard Van Den Berg
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of gerard van den Berg high back cognac leather lounge chairs with dark chocolate leather piping and buttoned on back pillows. Lovely patina to both l...
Leather
1990's Marie-Christine Dorner 'Fantome' desk chair for Montis
By Montis, Marie-Christine Dorner
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Striking 'Fantome' desk chair was designed by Marie-Christine Dorner for esteemed Dutch manufacturer Montis in the early 1990's. This Memphis style chair has black, organic bulbous a...
Chrome
Montis Back Me Up Salon Club Chair Designed by Arian Brekveld IN STOCK
By Montis
Located in New York, NY
Back Me Up Salon The compact club chair With the BACK ME UP Salon, Arian Brekveld puts a contemporary spin on the voluminous club chair. Its whisper...
Fabric
Sold
H 38.5 in W 22.5 in D 23 in
Postmodern Armchair Designed by Gerard Van den Berg for Montis, Holland
By Gerard Van Den Berg, Montis
Located in San Diego, CA
Cool and comfy burgundy leather arm lounge chair, designed by Gerard Van den Berg for Montis Holland circa 1980's solid steel piping frame with foam on ...
Steel
Sold
H 31.5 in W 35.44 in D 38.59 in
Brazilian Lounge Chair by Gerard Van Den Berg for Montis, Netherlands, 1970s
By Gerard Van Den Berg, Montis
Located in Uithoorn, NL
Brazilian lounge chair by the Gerard Van Den Berg. Iconic because of its tropical, organic shapes, mainly formed by the dark wooden tripod. The cognac colored leather has a very nice...
Leather, Wood
Van Den Berg for Montis, Pair of Armchairs in Brown Leather, `after 1974
By Gerard Van Den Berg, Montis
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Gerard Van Den Berg for Montis, sticker. Pair of armchairs in brown leather with a full Stand covered by leather. They were framed by two full arms rising in a head support on bot...
Leather
Montis Enzo Lounge Armchair with Wood Legs
By Montis
Located in New York, NY
Enzo is a comfortable and inviting armchair that is distinguished by its compact dimensions. The streamlined shape and reduced thickness of the external shell create a visual lightne...
Fabric, Wood
Sold
H 31.5 in W 59.06 in D 39.38 in
Midcentury Leather Seating Group 'The Rock' by Gerard van den Berg for Montis
By Montis, Gerard Van Den Berg
Located in München, BY
Amazing set of Mid-Century Modern leather seating group consisting a two and one-seat 'The Rock'. Designed by Gerard Van Den Berg for Montis, 1970s, Netherlands. Original cognac bro...
Leather