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
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
$6,750
H 43 in W 60.5 in D 33 in
Gerard van den Berg Tall Back Light Brown Leather and Rattan Loveseat for Montis
By Montis, Gerard Van Den Berg
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful loveseat with buck leather seating and hanging headrest pillows on a rattan frame designed by Gerard van den Berg for Montis. The leather has beautiful patina. In original ...
Leather, Rattan
$7,250
H 25.5 in W 40 in D 25.5 in
Gerard van den Berg 'Oslo' Three-Seat Sofa for Montis in Mahogany Velvet
By Montis, Gerard Van Den Berg
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Gerard van den Berg's 'Oslo' three-seat sofa, produced by Dutch manufacturer Montis in the 1970s, pairs an organically shaped upholstered body with a spare, rectilinear oak frame. Th...
Velvet, Oak
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 '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
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
$3,815
H 36.62 in W 32.29 in D 32.29 in
Brown leather armchair by Gerard Van Den Berg for Montis, 1970s
By Gerard Van Den Berg, Montis
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
$4,289
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
$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
$5,357
H 36.23 in W 55.12 in D 33.47 in
A Rare Gerard van den Berg for Montis in Apple Green Leather 1970's
By Gerard Van Den Berg, Montis
Located in London, GB
The choice of leather colour makes this vintage leather sofa designed by Gerard van den Berg for Montis in the Netherlands during the 1970s particularly striking. This sofa embodi...
Leather, Beech
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
Gerard Van Den Berg Cognac Leather Lounge Chair, circa 1970s.
By Gerard Van Den Berg
Located in San Angelo, TX
Gerard van den Berg lounge chair in a stunning cognac leather for label. This is a soft form lounge chair in its original condition with visible patina and scratches to leather that ...
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
Gerard van den Berg "Andes" Ebony Brown Leather Loveseat for Montis
By Montis, Gerard Van Den Berg
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The Andes loveseat by Gerard van den Berg for Montis features a fully upholstered organic silhouette in ebony brown leather. The arms flare outward and upward at the front corners in...
Leather
Leather Sitting Set Rock Series Gerard Van Den Berg Montis
By Gerard Van Den Berg
Located in Atlanta, GA
A wonderful two-piece set of sitting consisting of a loveseat and a single lounge chair by Gerard Van Den Berg (b. 1947). The beautiful chairs are of the rock series designed by Gerard Van Den Berg for Montis designed in 1981. With their low profile and slightly upturned corners, these two whimsical chairs can be arranged in different positions to create a very chic space, like between two rocks in the forest. The loveseat measures 56.5" W x 45" H x 36" D. The slip chair...
Leather
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 Gijs Papavoine, Montis
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