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.
Set of Six Dining Chairs by Walter Gropius and Ben Thompson for Thonet
By Ben Thompson, Walter Gropius, Thonet
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Set of six W199 dining armchairs by Walter Gropius and Ben Thompson for Thonet, c.1950's, Austria. The chairs showcase a bent birch wood frame and legs. The seats have been newly uph...
Upholstery, Birch
D51 Fagus chair with armrests by Walter Gropius, manufactured by Tecta in 1920
By Walter Gropius
Located in Ravenna, IT
D51 Fagus arm chair designed by Walter Gropius and manufactured by Tecta in Germany in 1920. This painted ash wood seat fully reflects the German style of those years. Walter Gropius...
Fabric, Wood, Harewood
$9,530 / set
H 32.29 in W 17.72 in D 17.72 in
Set of Six Dining Chairs by Richard Jensen and Kjaerulff Rasmussen
By Richard Jensen & Kjærulff Rasmussen
Located in Karlstad, SE
Set of 6 dining chairs by Richard Jensen and Kjaerulff Rasmussen, Denmark. These chairs are made of solid teak. The design is inspired by traditio...
Teak
Bauhaus D41 Cantilever Chair in Black by Tecta
By Marcel Breuer
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Cantilever side chair in the style of Marcel Breuer's D41 design, produced by Tecta. The chair features a black painted tubular steel sled frame with a continuous curved profile and ...
Steel, Chrome
Set of Six Rare Brass Dining Side Chairs
By Maison Baguès
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Set of rare design brass chairs. Low profile HEAVY brass dining chairs.
Brass
Set of Six W2 Dining Chairs by Hans Wegner
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Barcelona, ES
Set of six W2 chairs designed in 1953 by Hans Wegner for C. M. Madsen, Denmark. Solid teak wood and new upholstery with tan leather.
Leather, Teak
B20 cantilever chairs, Marcel Breuer, Tecta
Located in Neuss, NW
Timeless B20 cantilever chair based on designs during the cooperation of Mart Stam, Marcel Breuer and Jean Pouvé with Tecta. High-quality frame made of bent tubular steel. Seat and b...
Steel
$4,247 / set
H 29.14 in W 22.45 in D 22.45 in
Set of Two Accent Dining Chair Gropius CS1, Upholstered, Wool, NOOM
By Kateryna Sokolova, NOOM
Located in Paris, FR
New Noom furniture collection is dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Bauhaus School in Germany. Ideas of functionalism and concise...
Fabric, Velvet, Wool, Cotton, Linen, Faux Fur, Acrylic, Wood, Ash, Sheep...
Florio Outdoor Chair with Armrests
By Officina Ciani
Located in Milan, IT
The striking design of this magnificent chair with armrests comes to life thanks to the masterful expertise of Officina Ciani's craftsmen, who forged...
Stainless Steel
$3,402Sale Price / set|24% Off
H 31.5 in W 19.69 in D 20.87 in
Thonet, Set of 6 Rare Design Black Wood Chairs
By Thonet
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This set of 6 design black wood chairs is stamped Thonet-Vienna-1993 and has the gold Thonet incrusted label. They have a nice design, are large and...
Wood
Set of 4 dining chairs by Thonet Debrecen
By Thonet
Located in Hronská Breznica, Banskobystrický kraj
Set of 4 dining chairs by Thonet Debrecen in very nice original condition.
Beech, Bentwood
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
$1,320 / set
H 45.67 in W 18.51 in D 18.51 in
Midcentury Set of 5 Thonet High Back Bentwood Dining Chairs
By Thonet
Located in Saarbruecken, DE
Set of 5 !!!!! Thonet high back bentwood beech chairs. Solid and stabile. Signed. Fabric can be changed easily.
Bentwood
$4,000Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 34.5 in W 22 in D 18 in
Set of Six Dining Chairs by Robsjohn Gibbings for Widdicomb
By T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings, Widdicomb Furniture Co.
Located in New York, NY
Exceptional set of 6 dining chairs by noted mid century designer, Robsjohn Gibbings, for Widdicomb Furniture. The set includes 2 arm, and 4 armless chairs...
Upholstery, Walnut
Sold
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 Walter Gropius, Thonet
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
Sold
H 30 in W 23 in D 22 in
Set of 8 Mid-Century Modern W199 Bent-Wood Chairs by Walter Gropius for Thonet
By Walter Gropius, Thonet
Located in Lafayette, IN
Spectacular set of 8 "W199" bentwood armchairs designed by Bauhaus co-founder Walter Gropius. Set features (2) "captains chairs" with arms and (6) of the even-more-rare arm-less chai...
Wood, Plywood
Sold
H 30 in W 23 in D 22 in
Rare Mid-Century Modern W199 Chair Designed by Walter Gropius for Thonet Bauhaus
By Walter Gropius
Located in Lafayette, IN
This is a rare model "W199" bentwood armchair designed by Bauhaus co-founder Walter Gropius. Chair features bent birch plywood legs, arms and back supports with ...
Wood
Walter Gropius Set of Ten-Armchairs
By Walter Gropius, Thonet
Located in Chicago, IL
Walter Gropius for Thonet armchairs model W199, set of ten. These have all been professionally restored to original tone and appearance Stained an...
Birch