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.
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
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
$5,044
H 30.71 in W 61.42 in D 37.8 in
Butterfly Sofa in Leather by Gerard van den Berg for Montis, Netherlands, 1980's
By Gerard Van Den Berg, Montis
Located in Pijnacker, Zuid-Holland
The Butterfly sofa, designed by Gerard van den Berg for Montis, is known for its distinctive and organic shape that resembles a butterfly’s wings. Launc...
Metal
Gerard van den Berg 'Corvette' Sofa in Natural Cognac Leather
By Gerard Van Den Berg, Montis
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
$3,611 / item
H 27.1 in W 40.6 in D 42.9 in
Customizable Montis Ringo Lounge Chair by GERARD VAN DEN BERG
By Montis, Gerard Van Den Berg
Located in New York, NY
Gerard van den Berg describes his design Ringo as ‘cosy and inviting.’ Taking a strikingly minimal shape as his starting point, he designed three basic models. Ringo is available as...
Leather, Fabric
$4,323
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
Customizable Montis Ringo Sofa by GERARD VAN DEN BERG
By Gerard Van Den Berg, Montis
Located in New York, NY
Price listed for starting fabric. Gerard van den Berg describes his design Ringo as ‘cosy and inviting.’ Taking a strikingly minimal shape as his starting point, he designed three ...
Leather, Fabric
$16,791
H 26.78 in W 90.95 in D 35.44 in
Montis Aztec Sectional Sofa & Ottoman by Gerard Van Den Berg in STOCK
By Montis, Gerard Van Den Berg
Located in New York, NY
Fabric: MONZA Aztec sofa sectional consist of the following: (1) 3-Z-AL (1) H-30 R (1) H-CLOSED-90 (1) 1-5-Z-ZA (1) P-60X90 The Aztec is back at last, wi...
Fabric
Wammes Lounge Chair by Gerard van den Berg for Montis, 1970s
By Gerard Van Den Berg, Montis
Located in Antwerp, Antwerp
The Wammes lounge chair, designed by Gerard van den Berg in the early 1970s and produced by Montis in the Netherlands. The design is defined by its generous cream padded leather upho...
Leather
$8,296
H 46.07 in W 59.85 in D 35.83 in
Montis “The Rock” Sofa In Brown Leather By Gerard Van Den Berg, 1970s
By Montis, Gerard Van Den Berg
Located in Oud Beijerland, NL
A stunning two seater or loveseat by Gerard Van Den Berg for Montis. This magnificent sofa is known as "The Rock" or "Florence". It is fabricated in the 70's. The sofa features a brown water-buffalo leather...
Leather
$8,543 / set
H 30.32 in W 49.22 in D 26.78 in
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
$3,450 / set
H 32 in W 29.75 in D 41.5 in
Postmodern Gerard van den Berg Loge Chairs for Montis, Cognac Leather, 1980
By Montis, Gerard Van Den Berg
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Gerard van den Berg designed the Loge chair for Dutch manufacturer Montis in 1980, employing a continuous shell construction that merges seat, back, and armrests into a unified sculp...
Chrome
Gerard van den Berg for Montis lounge chair, 1970’s
By Gerard Van Den Berg
Located in Delft, NL
Designer: Gerard van den Berg Producer: Montis Period: 1970’s Dimension: 68cm H, 89cm D , 89cm w, 39H seat
Leather, Wood
Montis Set of Four Blue Velvet Back Me Up Side Chairs
By Montis
Located in New York, NY
The back me up chair supports you in your day-to-day life. The chair's organic back gives you a warm welcome and gently springs along with your every movement. The high-quality foam in the seat and back provides a surprising amount of comfort, exactly where it's most needed – without sacrificing the upholstery's clean edges. Discover this contemporary chair that brings together modern comfort with unique design. 4) available Montis back me up...
Fabric
Montis Set of Three Spica Chairs in Leather
By Montis, Gijs Papavoine
Located in New York, NY
Montis Spica (set of 4) 19.75” x 23.25” x 34.5” Original Price: $1,280 From an imaginary point below floor level, the Spica’s thin legs appear to spiral out into two fans: the sea...
Leather
Set of Four Montis Back Me Up Chairs
By Montis
Located in New York, NY
The Back Me Up chair supports you in your day-to-day life. The chair's organic back gives you a warm welcome and gently springs along with your every movement. The high-quality foam in the seat and back provides a surprising amount of comfort, exactly where it's most needed – without sacrificing the upholstery's clean edges. Discover this contemporary chair that brings together modern comfort with unique design. 4) Available Montis Back Me Up...
Fabric, Leather
Montis Set of Four Spica Chairs in Leather
By Montis, Gijs Papavoine
Located in New York, NY
Montis Spica (set of 4) 19.75” x 23.25” x 34.5” Original Price: $1,280 From an imaginary point below floor level, the Spica’s thin legs appear to spiral out into two fans: the sea...
Leather