As the founder of the Bauhaus — the German art and design school that was one of the chief crucibles of modernism — Walter Gropius had a central and enduring impact on the architecture and design of the 20th century and beyond. Along with fellow Bauhaus principals such as Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Marcel Breuer, Gropius championed a philosophy of design focused on simplicity, efficiency and the inherent beauty of steel, glass and other industrial materials.
Born in Berlin, Gropius followed in his architect father’s footsteps and after completing his studies was employed by the brilliant proto-modernist designer Peter Behrens. Gropius’s early architectural work demonstrated many of the aspects that define the modernist aesthetic: ribbon windows, an emphasis on light and minimal decoration. Gropius became known primarily as a great organizer, writer and teacher. After military service in World War I, he developed concepts of what are now called the applied arts — a marriage of creative imagination with practical skill and technology. These notions drove Gropius’s founding of the Bauhaus in 1919. The school would welcome many of the great creators of the 20th century, including Paul Klee, Laszlo Moholy-Nagy and Josef Albers. After the independent-minded college fell afoul of the Nazi regime in the 1930s, Gropius immigrated to the United States, and finished out his years on the Harvard faculty.
Gropius produced far fewer furniture designs than his fellows on the Bauhaus faculty, but what he did make has a purity of form and spirit. As you will see from the works offered on 1stDibs, Walter Gropius never compromised his vision of design that encompassed beauty, creativity and the highest level of technical skill.
Walter Gropius, Armchair, Birch, Austria, 1950s
By Walter Gropius
Located in High Point, NC
A birch armchairs designed by Walter Gropius and produced by Thonet, Austria, c. 1950s. Overall Dimensions (inches): 29.25"H x 23.25"W x 20.25"D Seat Height (inches): 17.5" Arm He...
Birch
1951 W199 Dining Armchair by Walter Gropius and Ben Thompson for Thonet in Birch
By Ben Thompson, Thonet, Walter Gropius
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a W199 Dining Armchair, originally designed by Walter Gropius and Ben Thompson for Thonet in 1951. The chair was produced in Austria in the early 1950s. The design features b...
Birch, Nutwood
1951 Set of 4 Bauhaus W199 Arm Chairs by Walter Gropius and Ben Thompson
By Thonet, Ben Thompson, Walter Gropius
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is an outstanding set of 4 W199 Birch Armchairs, designed by Walter Gropius and Ben Thompson for Thonet in 1951. They were produced in Austria in the early 1950s and the listed ...
Birch
1951 Set of Four W199 Dining Arm Chairs by Walter Gropius and Ben Thompson
By Thonet, Ben Thompson, Walter Gropius
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is an outstanding set of 4 W199 Birch Armchairs, designed by Walter Gropius and Ben Thompson for Gebruder Thonet in 1951. They were produced in Austria in the early 1950s and th...
Steel
$7,600 / set
Walter Gropius, Armchairs, Oak, Austria, 1950s
By Walter Gropius
Located in High Point, NC
A set of four stained oak armchairs or dining room chairs designed by Walter Gropius and produced by Thonet, Austria, c. 1950s. Dramatic patina. Natural wood cracking and weathering...
Oak
German Model D51 Fagus Armchair with Bauhaus Pattern Cushion
By Walter Gropius
Located in Hamburg, DE
D51 fagus armrest chairs from the renowned manufacturer tecta based on a design by walter gropius from the 1920s. Here in the rare version with black and white striped upholstery wit...
Wood
Set of 2 German Model D51 Fagus Armchair with Bauhaus Pattern Cushion, 1920s
By Walter Gropius
Located in Hamburg, DE
D51 fagus armrest chairs from the renowned manufacturer tecta based on a design by walter gropius from the 1920s. Here in the rare version with black and white striped upholstery wit...
Wood
Walter Gropius, Armchairs, Oak, Velvet, USA, 1970s
By Thonet, Walter Gropius
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of oak and purple velvet armchairs designed by Walter Gropius in 1951, produced by Thonet, Statesville, North Carolina, USA, c. 1970s. Dimensions: 29.5” H x 24” W x 19” D Se...
Velvet, Oak
Walter Gropius, Armchairs, Oak, Velvet, USA, 1970s
By Thonet, Walter Gropius
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of oak and purple velvet armchairs designed by Walter Gropius in 1951, produced by Thonet, Statesville, North Carolina, USA, c. 1970s. Seats reupholstered in brand new velvet...
Velvet, Oak
Walter Gropius, Armchairs, Oak, Velvet, USA, 1970s
By Thonet, Walter Gropius
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of oak and purple velvet armchairs designed by Walter Gropius in 1951, produced by Thonet, Statesville, North Carolina, USA, c. 1970s. Dimensions: 29.5” H x 24” W x 19” D Se...
Velvet, Oak
Set of Chairs by Gerd Lange for Thonet
By Gerd Lange, Thonet
Located in Čelinac, BA
Set of four chairs by Gerd Lange for Thonet.
Metal
$2,498Sale Price / set|50% Off
H 31.5 in W 24.41 in D 29.93 in
Roger Landault French Oak Compass Armchairs Wool Bouclé, 1950s
By Roger Landault
Located in Paris, IDF
These elegant compass armchairs are sure to add an element of modernism chic to any room in your home. Designed by Roger Landault in the late 1950s, w...
Oak
Secession armchairs no.6093 by Otto Wagner for Thonet
By Otto Wagner, Thonet
Located in Banská Štiavnica, SK
Secession bentwood armchairs no.6093 by Otto Wagner for Thonet. Armchairs were restored in the past, needs to be need firming up, they are a bit...
Beech, Bentwood
Set of Ten Dining Chairs by Anton Lorenz for Thonet
By Thonet, Anton Lorenz
Located in Dallas, TX
Set of ten armchairs designed by Anton Lorenz for Thonet. Each chair has tan upholstered backrest and seat with polished chrome tubular frames. Mid-Century Modern S-37 chairs were originally designed by Anton Lorenz in 1929 and later manufactured by Gebruder Thonet in the 1970s. In 1929 Anton Lorenz founded the firm Desta (Deutsche Stahlmobel) in Berlin making Anton Lorenz the first to manufacture tubular-steel furniture on a commercial scale.
Chrome
$3,390 / set
H 27.17 in W 21.66 in D 20.48 in
Rare Set of Two Bauhaus Armchairs B 246 by Josef Frank for Thonet, 1930s
By Thonet, Josef Frank
Located in Praha, CZ
Rare Bauhaus armchairs B 246 designed by Josef Frank and manufactured by Thonet in 1930s. Historically, this model was among those installed in the iconic Villa Rezek in Vienna, buil...
Bentwood
Pair of French Oak Armchairs, France, 1950s
Located in ŁÓDŹ, PL
This refined pair of French armchairs from the 1950s showcases the understated elegance of mid-century design. Crafted from solid oak, the chairs feature beautifully sculpted armrest...
Straw, Oak
French Modernist Armchair, 1950s
Located in Aartselaar, BE
Step into the refined charm of mid-century France with this exquisite French armchair. A masterclass in design and proportion, this piece seamlessly blends functional simplicity with...
Wood, Oak, Fabric, Mohair
$6,499Sale Price / set|31% Off
H 30 in W 23 in D 22 in
Set of 6 Mid-Century Modern W199 Bent-Wood Chairs by Walter Gropius for Thonet
By Thonet, Walter Gropius
Located in Lafayette, IN
Spectacular set of 6 "W199" bentwood armchairs designed by Bauhaus co-founder Walter Gropius. Set features (2) "captains chairs" with arms and (4) of the even-more-rare arm-less chai...
Wood, Plywood
$1,760Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 30 in W 21.5 in D 24 in
Set of Six Harvey Probber Style Dining Chairs 4 Side 2 Arm
By Harvey Probber
Located in New York, NY
Squared bright chrome frames, original, but worn green fabric upholstery. Set consistes of four side chairs, and two arm, or captains, chairs. Dimensions in listing are for Arm chair...
Chrome
$3,449 / set
H 30.71 in W 22.05 in D 22.84 in
Set of Armchairs Designed by Thonet and Manufactured by Ligna in the 1950s
By Thonet, Ligna
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Remarkable set of armchairs, designed by Thonet and expertly manufactured by Ligna in the 1950s. Combining Thonet's visionary design aesthetic with Ligna's craftsmanship, these armch...
Rattan, Bentwood
$1,560Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 32.68 in W 19.69 in D 17.72 in
Josef Hoffmann Armchair – Model No. A 811/F for Thonet
By Thonet, Josef Hoffmann
Located in Budapest, HU
Josef Hoffmann Armchair – Model No. A 811/F for Thonet (1900s) This exquisite armchair, Model No. A 811/F, designed by the renowned architect and designer Josef Hoffmann for Thonet ...
Reed, Beech
1950s French Reconstruction Style Oak Mid Century Armchairs
Located in London, GB
A very good pair of mid-20th century armchairs in beautifully patinated solid oak, with newly upholstered cushions in textured, champagne-hued wool. Sadly unattributed but finely fab...
Oak
Walter Gropius, Armchairs, Birch, Austria, 1950s
By Walter Gropius, Thonet
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of birch armchairs designed by Walter Gropius and produced by Thonet, Austria, c. 1950s. Seat Height (inches): 17.5" Arm Height (inches): 26" All items ship from High Point...
Birch
Set of 12 Walter Gropius Chairs for Thonet
By Walter Gropius, Thonet
Located in Chicago, IL
Walter Gropius chairs for Thonet. Additional chairs in stock if a larger set is required.
Wood
Walter Gropius f51 chairs in black leather
By Walter Gropius
Located in Antwerp, BE
Bauhaus Weimar, f51 chair, Walter Gropius After his studies in Munich and Berlin, Walter Gropius joined the office of architect Peter Behrens, where he wor...
Leather, Wood
Walter Gropius Armchairs W199 Set of Eight
By Walter Gropius
Located in New York, NY
Walter Gropius and Ben Thompson "W199" armchairs set of eight. Designed in 1951 with Benjamin Thompson a fellow professor at Harvard. Gropi...
Birch
Pair of Walter Gropius Cubist Armchairs
By Walter Gropius
Located in Dronten, NL
Armchairs designed in 1920 for the director’s room at the Bauhaus school in Weimar by Walter Gropius. These examples date from 1980 and are manufactured by Tecta. Excellent fast a...
Ash, Wool