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 Walter Gropius, Ben Thompson, 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
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
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
"Julia" chair in solid wood with armrests
By Alessandra Delgado
Located in Alto da Lapa, SP
When she created Julia chair with wooden arms, Alessandra Delgado wanted a piece with delicate features, exploring the curves of the wood with a design ins...
Wood
Set of 8 Rare Wojciechów Thonet Chairs
By Thonet
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Set of 8 Wojciechów Thonet chairs. Original tags. Rare as a set of 8. Nice set of pre-war bentwood chairs signed Wojciechów, the first Polish bentwood furniture factory. It was foun...
Bentwood
$4,196 / 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
Set of Six Ole Wanscher Dining Chairs
By A. J. Iversen, Ole Wanscher
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Set of six dining chairs by Ole Wanscher. Executed by A. J. Iversen for Illums Bolighus. Rosewood and light colored leather.
Upholstery, Rosewood
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
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
$9,335 / 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
$9,800 / set
H 30 in W 23 in D 20 in
Set of Six Dining Chairs by Thonet Industries, Inc., American, circa 1970
By Thonet
Located in Palm Desert, CA
A striking set of six armchairs by Thonet Industries, the American arm of the legendary Thonet firm, executed in polished tubular chrome steel with newly upholstered seats and curved...
Chrome
Set of Mid-Century Mies van der Rohe Dining Chairs by Thonet
By Thonet, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This set of four flat chrome Brno dining chairs feature the exquisite vintage cantilever design that so adeptly mixes comfort and style. Heavy chrome, unique style, and vintage fabri...
Chrome
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 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
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 Thonet, Walter Gropius
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 Thonet, Walter Gropius
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