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.
$8,800Sale Price|65% Off
Montis Axel XL Sectional Sofa by Gijs Papavoine in STOCK
By Montis, Gijs Papavoine
Located in New York, NY
Monza, Color 00
Leather, Fabric
Montis Domino.18 Modular Sofa by Dick Spierenburg in STOCK
By Dick Spierenburg, Montis
Located in New York, NY
Upholstery: Zaffera 01 & Sahco / Kvadrat Fiorella #0222 Table Colour: oak carbon Execution: 50x75x36 Export carton: Export Feet: 60mm synthetic material plug: USA USB: USB-C We confirm this table * with USB-C * with US-style power socket Domino.18 Experiment with the various elements to create your ideal combination and seating arrangement. Arrange (and rearrange) them in whatever way you like. Play with three different heights and create your own skyline. We’ve expanded our collection with the new round corner modules and connecting elements to reflect on the current organic trend. Dick Spierenburg...
Fabric
XL Sofa Set in Linen Color Fabric Upholstery
By Cotidiano
Located in Mexico City, MX
It's an original design for a getaway home the Arena Sofa XL is ultra-comfortable as it is practical for everyday family life. A geometric, still soft body ...
Fabric, Upholstery
1990s Gijs Papavoine Windy Ottoman in Black Leather by Montis
By Montis, Gijs Papovoine
Located in Knebel, DK
1990s Gijs Papavoine Windy ottoman in black leather by Montis The Winy series was designed by Gijs Papavoine in 1992 with shapes that reflects a design that looks like the pieces of...
Leather
$3,450 / set
H 39 in W 32 in D 28.5 in
Lounge Chair Model Castor with footstool by Gijs Papavoine for Montis
By Montis, Gijs Papavoine
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Supercool lounge chair with ottoman designed by Gijs Papavoine for Montis, around 1990 and produced shortly thereafter. The model was produced for a duration of about 10 years and pr...
Steel
9 Piece Modular Scoop Swan Sofa by Henning Korch
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Great 9 piece Italian Post Modern modular sectional Swan sofa by Henning Korch. Comprised of 9 identical chair pieces that can be used individually or together. The arrangements ar...
Velvet
Outdoor XL Sofa Set in Light Gray Upholstery
By Cotidiano
Located in Mexico City, MX
It's an original design for a getaway home the Arena Sofa XL is ultra-comfortable as it is practical for everyday family life. A geometric, still soft body ...
Fabric, Upholstery
Sloane Sectional Sofa by Vladimir Kagan
By Vladimir Kagan
Located in Atlanta, GA
Established in 2008, the Vladimir Kagan Couture collection features a selection of the Classic Kagan designs from 1950s to his new designs from 21st century. One of the new designs on offer here is the New Moon sofa...
Fabric, Foam, Wood
$5,796 / set
H 27.56 in W 30.32 in D 31.5 in
COR Orbis Modular Sofa In Corduroy By Luigi Colani, 1970s
By COR, Luigi Colani
Located in ABCOUDE, UT
Beautiful modular sofa model Orbis, in original salmon/light pink corduroy, white lacquered wooden frame and chrome wheels, which was created in 1973 by Luigi Colani for COR. The so...
Metal
$1,723Sale Price|50% Off
H 85 in W 90 in D 90 in
Gijs Papavoine Olivier Chair by Montis with 360-Degree Swivel
By Gijs Papavoine
Located in Rochester, England
The Olivier swivel easy chair, designed by Gijs Papavoine for Dutch manufacturer, Montis, is meant to evoke "a cut open fruit". It's sweeping curves contribute to this notion. Uph...
Metal
$13,242 / item
H 27.56 in W 151.97 in D 48.04 in
Pixel Sectional Sofa in Patchwork Upholstery by Sergio Bicego
By Sergio Bicego
Located in Brooklyn, NY
From the creativity of Sergio Bicego comes Pixel sofa, featuring a series of elements that can be freely combined, thanks to an exclusive connector created ...
Upholstery
$2,698
H 29.93 in W 88.19 in D 38.19 in
Vintage Dutch buffalo leather Rivera sofa by Gijs Papavoine Montis c 1980s / 90s
By Montis, Gijs Papavoine
Located in Hastings, GB
Vintage buffalo leather 'Rivera' sofa by Gijs Papavoine for Montis, Netherlands 1980s/90s. (Papavoine started designing for Montis in 1976) In great condition with nicely patinated t...
Leather, Wood
Dottie Modular Corner Sofa
By LAGU
Located in İSTANBUL, TR
With its sporty form, clean workmanship and understated design that will suit any space, DOTTIE MODULAR L SOFA suits your home very well with its functi...
Fabric, Bouclé, Cotton, Upholstery, Faux Leather, Foam, Hardwood
$19,720Sale Price / item|20% Off
H 31.11 in W 157.49 in D 96.46 in
Extra Deep Sectional Sofa in Custom Velvet, Modern Design, Europe
Located in NEW YORK, NY
Tailor made and fully upholstered sectional sofa offered in a selection of luxurious, velvet fabrics. Shown with taupe cotton velvet. All hardwood frame with advanced comfort spring ...
Velvet, Wood, Foam
Sold
H 27.96 in W 118.12 in D 98.43 in
Modular Element DOMINO.18 Landscape Sofa by Dick Spierenburg for Montis
By Montis, Dick Spierenburg
Located in Izegem, VWV
The DOMINO.18 element sofa was designed by Dick Spierenburg for the renowned Dutch company Montis. This set contains (LxWxH): 2 elements: 150 x 75 x...
Wool
Montis Daley Sofa designed by Niels Bendtsen in STOCK
By Montis, Niels Bendtsen
Located in New York, NY
Daley Soft 3.5 seat sofa - Matte black frame 245cm / 96.5" W x 33.5 D 2x Daley 110x50cm back cushions 2x Daley 75cm Bolsters Everything upholstered in Maharam TRESS IDYLL
Fabric
Sold
H 25.99 in W 89.77 in D 66.15 in
Montis Daley Sectional in stock designed by Niels Bendtsen in STOCK
By Montis, Niels Bendtsen
Located in New York, NY
Daley Sectional consist of: 1) 3.5 SEAT SOFA (1) 2.5 SEAL AL (LEFT FACING) Throw pillows are not included. COM: MAHARAM TRESS 466529 003 IDYLL
Fabric
Montis Axel Sectional Sofa
By Montis, Gijs Papavoine
Located in New York, NY
Montis axel sofa Axel 3-seat sofa right arm, surround upholstered in Kodiak snow Seat and back upholstered in Flores 06 Axel chaise Surround upholstered i...
Fabric, Leather
Sold
H 45.28 in W 55.91 in D 36.62 in
Vintage Patinated Leather Pair of Couches by Gerard Van Den Berg for Montis
By Gerard Van Den Berg, Montis
Located in Antwerp, BE
Sofa by Gerard Van Den Berg, for Montis, The Netherlands, 1970s Mid-Century Modern luxury leather vintage high back couch 'The Rock'. It's magnificent design let's the piece act as...
Metal
Montis Daley Sectional 2
By Montis, Niels Bendtsen
Located in New York, NY
The Daley sofa consists of 4-seat sofa and 4-seat dormeuse components, creating an L-shaped Daley. Dimensions: W 108”, D 33.4", H 25.9", SH 16.5” and 94.4”...
Fabric
Montis Domino.18 Modular Sofa
By Montis, Dick Spierenburg
Located in New York, NY
Domino modular sofa upholstered in Mellow 60 consist of: (2) Pillows 80 x 40 cm (2) Pillows 95 x 40 (2) module 60mm (75 x 150 x 40)cm (2) module (100 x 125 x 40cm) (1) module on...
Fabric
Montis Daley Sectional
By Montis, Niels Bendtsen
Located in New York, NY
The Daley sofa consists of 4-seat sofa and 4-seat dormeuse components, creating an L shaped Daley. Dimensions: W 108”, D 33.4", H 25.9", SH 16.5” and 94.4”...
Fabric
Sold
H 45.28 in W 55.91 in L 45.28 in
Vintage Patinated Leather Pair of Couches by Gerard Van Den Berg for Montis
By Montis, Gerard Van Den Berg
Located in Antwerp, BE
Mid-Century Modern luxury leather vintage high back couch 'The Rock'. It's magnificent design let's the piece act as a room divider or screen at the same time as being a sofa. Made...
Metal
Montis Domino Modular Sofa
By Montis, Dick Spierenburg
Located in New York, NY
The building blocks for a modern life. Dinner with friends. A business meeting. Playing a video game. The architectural modules of the Domino.18 are the building blocks for any and a...
Fabric
Montis Axel XL Fabric Sectional Sofa with Walnut Table
By Montis, Gijs Papavoine
Located in New York, NY
Axel XL by Montis. It has a walnut table, which can be attached to the sectional, or used as a coffee table. 127” with the table integrated. Upholstered in S30 Smile fabric #60. ...
Fabric