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.
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
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
1970s Montis Chrome Black Leather Wegner Style Loveseat Sofa
By Montis
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
On offer on this occasion is one of the most stunning, leather and chrome loveseat you could hope to find. In the style of Hans Wegner. Outstanding design is exhibited throughout. T...
Chrome
$10,120 / 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
Fred Lowen T4 Sofa by Tessa Furniture, Black Leather & Teak, 1970s
By Fred Lowen, TESSA Furniture Co, Percival Lafer, Florence Knoll
Located in Chattanooga, TN
Low profile meets high comfort without compromise with this T4 Sofa. This particular piece is an early 70s release, and is designed by Fred Lowen for Tessa Fu...
Leather, Teak
$1,650Sale Price|25% Off
H 30 in W 63 in D 31 in
Mid Century Scandinavian Danish Modern Black Leather sofa Loveseat
By Skipper Mobler
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mid Century Scandinavian Danish Modern Black Leather sofa Loveseat by Skipper Mobler. Stunning design and shape 2 seat sofa with 2 additional arm cushions that sits on 4 large round ...
Leather
$2,880Sale Price|20% Off
H 30 in W 75 in D 35 in
Dutch Modern Cognac Leather loveseat sofa by Gerard Van Den Berg
By Gerard Van Den Berg
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Dutch Modern Cognac leather loveseat sofa. Chrome flat bar legs. Made by label van den berg and designed by Gerard Van Den Berg. Made circa 2000s. Pre owned with signs of use and pat...
Chrome
Luciano Frigerio Swashbuckler Brutalist Leather Loveseat, 1970s
By Luciano Frigerio
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Brutalist 'Swashbuckler' loveseat by Luciano Frigerio, produced in Italy during the 1970s. The carved wood frame features thick rectangular splayed legs and a continuous wraparound b...
Leather, Wood
$9,500Sale Price|24% Off
H 26.5 in W 51 in D 27.5 in
'LC2' Black Leather Settee Sofa Loveseat by Le Corbusier for Cassina, Signed
By Cassina, Charlotte Perriand, Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This incredibly comfortable Le Corbusier for Cassina 'LC2' two-seat loveseat sofa, signed (see pics, in gorgeous thick Italian black leather on chrome steel frame is in beautiful vin...
Steel
$6,119
H 37.41 in W 31.89 in D 35.44 in
Cognac Leather Delantra Swivel Lounge Chair by Gerard van den Berg for Montis
By Gerard Van Den Berg
Located in Buggenhout, Oost-Vlaanderen
Cognac Leather Delantra Swivel Lounge Chair by Gerard van den Berg for Montis, 1960s Natural Leather Bodied Lounge Chair on a Woven Rattan Swivel Base This iconic Delantra lounge ch...
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
De Sede DS44 Loveseat in Nutmeg Leather, Swiss Design, 1970s
By De Sede
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Produced by Swiss manufacturer De Sede in the 1970s, the DS44 two-seat sofa is upholstered in thick nutmeg leather with vertical channel stitching running across the seat, backrest, ...
Leather
Gerard Van Den Berg Butterfly Chairs
By Gerard Van Den Berg
Located in Denton, TX
Gerard Van Den Berg butterfly chairs with plum crazy leather that rest upon a black mesh and chrome-plated steel legs.
Steel
$3,040Sale Price|20% Off
H 24 in W 59.5 in D 32 in
Leather Box Style Loveseat Sofa by Charles Pfister for Knoll
By Charles Pfister, Knoll
Located in New York, NY
Chic, sophisticated, and voguish loveseat sofa, designed by Charles Pfister for Knoll. This example was executed in grayish blue leather, it is in good, original condition, showing l...
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
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
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
Gerard van den Berg Oslo Leather Loveseat for Montis, 1970s
By Montis, Gerard Van Den Berg
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Gerard van den Berg designed the Oslo loveseat for Dutch manufacturer Montis in the 1970s, pairing an organic, envelope-style leather cushion with a sculptural laminated plywood fram...
Leather, Laminate, Wood
Gerard Van Den Berg High Back Leather Loveseat
By Montis, Gerard Van Den Berg
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A distinctive Dutch design by Gerard van den Berg for Montis, this high-back leather loveseat combines rugged elegance with comfort. Upholstered in beautifully aged natural leather, ...
Leather
Gerard van den Berg Natural Leather High Back Loveseat with Tufting
By Montis, Gerard Van Den Berg
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Very unusual Gerard van den Berg natural leather high back loveseat with light tufting details throughout the piece creating a subtle pattern. The expression of this piece is in it's...
Leather
Sold
H 34.625 in W 56 in D 37.5 in
Percival Lafer Style Leather Loveseat Sofa by Gerard van den Berg for Montis
By Gerard Van Den Berg, Montis, Percival Lafer
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Mid-Century leather sofa designed by Gerard van den Berg for Montis. Dark stained oak frame with tripod legs supports the leather bucket seat cushion and headrest. In original condit...
Leather, Wood
Gerard van den Berg "The Rock" Loveseat Sofa for Montis
By Montis, Gerard Van Den Berg
Located in Los Angeles, CA
"The Rock" two seater leather sofa by Gerard van den Berg for Montis. Gerard van den Berg apprenticed with a painter at a young age, where he honed and expanded his creative abilitie...
Leather
Montis Axel Light Blue Leather Sofa by Gijs Papavoine in Stock
By Montis, Gijs Papavoine
Located in New York, NY
Upholstered: Sorensen Leather Flux light blue. Firecode: California 117 Frame: Sled stainless steel Model: 200 Number/type: Axel XL 200-B Execution: 2 Arms, wide Arm, deep seating T...
Leather
Sold
H 36.5 in W 80.5 in D 32 in
Gerard van den Berg Sofa High Back Sofa for Montis in Cognac & Chocolate Leather
By Gerard Van Den Berg, Montis
Located in Los Angeles, CA
High back cognac leather sofa by Gerard van Den Berg for Montis. Cognac leather with 3 dark chocolate leather buttoned on back pillows and matching chocola...
Leather
Gerard van den Berg for Montis Cognac Leather Loveseat
By Gerard Van Den Berg, Montis
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Cognac leather loveseat designed by Gerard van den Berg for Montis. In original condition with visible wear, including heavy patina on leather ...
Leather
Gerard van den Berg "Rock" Two Seater Sofa for Montis
By Montis, Gerard Van Den Berg
Located in Los Angeles, CA
"The Rock" two seater leather sofa by Gerard van den Berg for Montis. Burnt orange leather with a heavy patina and visible wear, consistent with its age and use. A few other 'Rock' s...
Leather
"The Rock" Two Seater Sofa by Gerard van den Berg for Montis
By Montis, Gerard Van Den Berg
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Caramel leather two-seater "Rock" sofa designed by Gerard van den Berg for Montis 1970. In original condition with some visible wear to leather on seat and seat back. Tear in seat (r...
Leather