Skip to main content

Marcel Breuer Lighting

American, Hungarian, 1902-1981

The architect and designer Marcel Breuer was one the 20th century’s most influential and innovative adherents of modernism. A member of the Bauhaus faculty, Breuer — like such colleagues as the architects Walter Gropius and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, and the artists and art theoreticians László Moholy-Nagy and Josef Albers — left Europe in the 1930s to champion the new design philosophy and its practice in the United States.

Born in Hungary, Breuer became a Bauhaus student in 1920 and quickly impressed Gropius, the German school’s founder, with his aptitude for furniture design. His early work was influenced by the minimalist Dutch design movement De Stijl — in particular the work of architect Gerrit Rietveld. In 1925, while he was head of the Bauhaus furniture workshop, Breuer realized his signature innovation: the use of lightweight tubular-steel frames for chairs, tables and sofas — a technique soon adopted by Mies and others. Breuer’s attention gradually shifted from design to architecture, and, at the urging of Gropius, he joined his mentor in 1937 on the faculty of Harvard and in an architectural practice.

In the 1940s, Breuer opened his own architectural office, and there his style evolved from geometric, glass-walled structures toward a kind of hybrid architecture — seen in numerous Breuer houses in New England — that pairs bases of local fieldstone with sleek, wood-framed modernist upper floors. In his later, larger commissions, Breuer worked chiefly with reinforced concrete and stone, as seen in his best-known design, the brutalist inverted ziggurat built in New York in 1966 as the home of the Whitney Museum of American Art.

Breuer’s most famous furniture pieces are those made of tubular steel, which include the Wassily chair — named after Wassily Kandinsky and recognizable for its leather-strap seating supports — and the caned Cesca chair. Breuer also made several notable designs in molded plywood, including a chaise and nesting table for the British firm Isokon and a student furniture suite commissioned in 1938 for a dormitory at Bryn Mawr College. Whether in metal or wood, Breuer’s design objects are elegant and adaptable examples of classic modernist design — useful and appropriate in any environment.

Find vintage Marcel Breuer seating, storage cabinets and lighting on 1stDibs.

2
to
1
1
2
2
2
1
2
1
1
1
1
Height
to
Width
to
2
2
1
1
1
2
1
1
236
1,428
1,328
1,251
1,080
Creator: Marcel Breuer
Marcel Breuer Articulating Table Lamp
By Marcel Breuer
Located in New York, NY
Bauhaus Articulating desk lamp by Marcel Breuer. Designed for the International Exposition of Modern Industrial and Decorative Arts, in Paris 1925, number 44 of 100. Articulating mov...
Category

1920s German Bauhaus Vintage Marcel Breuer Lighting

Materials

Bronze, Nickel

Tablelamp Original Design by Marcel Breuer Art Deco Style Brass, Paris, 1925
By Marcel Breuer
Located in Vienna, AT
Tablelamp original design by Marcel Breuer Art Deco style, Paris, 1925. A highly desireable object created by of one of the most iconic designers of the 20th century. Its wonderfully...
Category

1980s French Art Deco Vintage Marcel Breuer Lighting

Materials

Brass

Related Items
Clear and Modern Art Deco Style Bauhaus Brass Table Lamp, Re-Edition
By Woka Lamps
Located in Vienna, AT
This is a very clear and modern lamp from the Bauhaus- period 1920-1930. the image shows a black-lacquered finish. Manufactured at the WOKA Workshop in Vienna. All components a...
Category

2010s Austrian Art Deco Marcel Breuer Lighting

Materials

Brass

1950's Italian Articulating Desk Lamp
Located in Paris, FR
A beautiful Italian Mid-Century Modern vintage desk lamp with cone shade and double articulating solid polished brass structure. In rare origin...
Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Marcel Breuer Lighting

Materials

Brass

1930s Articulating Floor or Table Lamp by O.C. White
By O.C. White
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Task lamp designed by O.C. White (circa 1930s) composed of a steel arm, stem, and base with a painted shade. Unique size (height of the stem is 31.75") suitable for floor or table us...
Category

1930s American Industrial Vintage Marcel Breuer Lighting

Materials

Metal, Steel

Oak Peono Table Lamp by Simone & Marcel
Located in Geneve, CH
Oak Peono Table Lamp by Simone & Marcel Dimensions: Ø 40.6 x H 61 cm. Materials: Brass, acrylic and oak wood. Also available in different marble, woo...
Category

2010s Spanish Post-Modern Marcel Breuer Lighting

Materials

Brass

Infinitus-V Contemporary Brass Articulating Table Lamp, Flow Collection
By Jonathan Amar
Located in Paris, FR
Contemporary handcrafted articulating table lamp pictured in a solid polished brass finish, adorned with a dark red hand-sewn sheathed leather detail by artisan saddle makers. The la...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Marcel Breuer Lighting

Materials

Brass

Mid-Century Modern Double-Cone Articulating Brass Table Lamp
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Mid-Century Modern double-cone articulating brass table lamp.
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Marcel Breuer Lighting

Materials

Metal, Brass

1970s Chapman Vintage Art Deco Design Pair of Hollywood Regency Gold Brass Lamps
By Chapman Manufacturing Company
Located in New York, NY
A very chic vintage pair of glamorous American Hollywood Regency table lamps. Exquisite high quality of execution in handcrafted shiny gold heavy solid brass, the streamline organic ...
Category

1970s American Art Deco Vintage Marcel Breuer Lighting

Materials

Brass

1950s Stanley Industrial Vintage Articulating Magnifying Table Lamp 701
By Stanley
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Vintage Scientific Industrial Stanley Magnifying Task Light model 701 Made in New Britain Conn U.S.A. Vintage Stanley 701 magnifying bench light. Articulating arm with swivel action ...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Marcel Breuer Lighting

Materials

Metal

Modernist Art Deco Enamel Green and Brass Table Lamp
Located in Oakland, CA
Modernist Art Deco Enamel green and brass table lamp. The rare table lamp is unique and visually stunning. It has been restored with great d...
Category

1930s French Art Deco Vintage Marcel Breuer Lighting

Materials

Metal, Brass, Enamel

French Art Deco Table Lamp Classic Desny Design
By Desny
Located in Oakland, CA
French Art Deco table lamp by Maison Desny design. A very important French company who are well known for table lamps, nightstands, accent lamps, bowls, lights, and other objects wit...
Category

1930s French Art Deco Vintage Marcel Breuer Lighting

Materials

Metal

Original French Art Deco Pink/Peach Art Glass Table Lamp by Jean Gauthier
By EJG
Located in New York City, NY
A fine French Art Deco pink / peach / living coral, flesh tinted frosted art glass table lamp, by Etablisseme Jean Gauthier, EJG. Extracting ideas from elements of nature, multi ti...
Category

1930s French Art Deco Vintage Marcel Breuer Lighting

Materials

Nickel, Silver Leaf

Table Desk or Bedside Lamps, Articulate Italy Mid-Century
Located in Vienna, AT
Articulate vintage desk lamps in great condition, Italy around 1970 Very cool petite articulate lamps in super condition. It features a rotating almost round shade with a sunken b...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Marcel Breuer Lighting

Materials

Steel, Chrome

Previously Available Items
Pair of Marcel Breuer Bauhaus Table Lamps for the Paris Exhibition 1925, France
By Marcel Breuer
Located in Zagreb, HR
Pair of the iconic architectural table lamps designed by Marcel Breuer for the The International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts in Paris, held in Paris, France, ...
Category

1920s French Bauhaus Vintage Marcel Breuer Lighting

Materials

Bronze, Nickel

Brass Table Lamp by Marcel Breuer, 1925, Marked
By Marcel Breuer
Located in Milano, IT
Marcel Breuer was one of the biggest names in the design history. His works are still best sellers nowadays and this lamp is a clear example of his exceptional avant-garde approach....
Category

Early 20th Century French Bauhaus Marcel Breuer Lighting

Materials

Brass

Stand Lamp by Marcel Breuer
By Marcel Breuer
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
Designed by Marcel Breuer for the International Exposition of Modern Industrial and Decorative Arts, in Paris of 1925. Made in Germany, Breuer was a member of Bauhaus movement Comp...
Category

1920s German Bauhaus Vintage Marcel Breuer Lighting

Materials

Brass, Nickel

Stand Lamp by Marcel Breuer
Stand Lamp by Marcel Breuer
H 16.54 in W 7.88 in D 5.12 in
Stand Lamp by Marcel Breuer
By Marcel Breuer
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
Designed by Marcel Breuer for the International Exposition of Modern Industrial and Decorative Arts, in Paris of 1925. Made in Germany, Breuer was a member of Bauhaus movement Comp...
Category

1920s German Bauhaus Vintage Marcel Breuer Lighting

Materials

Brass, Nickel

Stand Lamp by Marcel Breuer
Stand Lamp by Marcel Breuer
H 21.66 in W 11.82 in D 5.52 in
First Edition Stand Lamp by Marcel Breuer
By Marcel Breuer
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
Designed by Marcel Breuer for the International Exposition of Modern Industrial and Decorative Arts, in Paris of 1925,number 014 of 100. Made in Germany, Breuer was a member of Bauh...
Category

1920s German Bauhaus Vintage Marcel Breuer Lighting

Materials

Brass, Nickel

First Edition Stand Lamp by Marcel Breuer
First Edition Stand Lamp by Marcel Breuer
H 18.51 in W 9.06 in D 11.03 in
Table Lamp by Marcel Breuer
By Marcel Breuer
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Table Lamp by Marcel Breuer. Designed and manufactured in Paris, circa 1920's. Brass. Original EU cord. We recommend one E27 60w maximum bulb. Bulb not included. Retains original sta...
Category

1920s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Marcel Breuer Lighting

Materials

Brass

Table Lamp by Marcel Breuer
Table Lamp by Marcel Breuer
H 20.63 in W 5 in D 10.25 in
Vintage Table Lamp by Marcel Breuer, 1925
By Marcel Breuer
Located in Roma, IT
Vintage Table Lamp is a fashionable lamp designed by Marcel Breuer in 1925. Vintage brass lamp realized in occasion of the Exposition of Paris held in 1925 (as reported on the bas...
Category

1920s French Art Deco Vintage Marcel Breuer Lighting

Materials

Brass

Vintage Table Lamp by Marcel Breuer, 1925
Vintage Table Lamp by Marcel Breuer, 1925
H 20.87 in W 10.44 in D 5.71 in
Bauhaus Marcel Breuer Lamps circa 1925 Engraved 100/12 + 100/31 Table/Desk Light
By Marcel Breuer
Located in Torrance, CA
Authentic Marcel Breuer lamps, circa 1925 circa 1925 engraved 100/12 + 100/31 Designed for the international exposition of modern industrial decorative arts, Paris. Composed of...
Category

Early 20th Century German Bauhaus Marcel Breuer Lighting

Materials

Brass

First Edition Stand Lamp by Marcel Breuer, 1925
By Marcel Breuer
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
Designed by Marcel Breuer for the International Exposition of Modern Industrial and Decorative Arts, in Paris of 1925,number 034 of 100. Made in Germany, Breuer was a member of Bauh...
Category

1920s German Bauhaus Vintage Marcel Breuer Lighting

Materials

Brass, Nickel

Stand Lamp by Marcel Breuer, 1925
By Marcel Breuer
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
Designed by Marcel Breuer for the International Exposition of Modern Industrial and Decorative Arts, in Paris of 1925 Made in Germany, Breuer was a member of Bauhaus movement Compo...
Category

1920s German Bauhaus Vintage Marcel Breuer Lighting

Materials

Brass, Nickel

Stand Lamp by Marcel Breuer, 1925
Stand Lamp by Marcel Breuer, 1925
H 19.3 in W 14.97 in D 9.06 in
Stand Lamp by Marcel Breuer 1925
By Marcel Breuer
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
Designed by Marcel Breuer for the International Exposition of Modern Industrial and Decorative Arts, in Paris of 1925 Made in Germany, Breuer was a member of Bauhaus movement Compo...
Category

1920s German Bauhaus Vintage Marcel Breuer Lighting

Materials

Brass, Nickel

Stand Lamp by Marcel Breuer 1925
Stand Lamp by Marcel Breuer 1925
H 21.66 in W 11.82 in D 5.52 in
Stand Lamp by Marcel Breuer 1925
By Marcel Breuer
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
Designed by Marcel Breuer for the International Exposition of Modern Industrial and Decorative Arts, in Paris of 1925 Made in Germany, Breuer was a member of Bauhaus movement Compo...
Category

1920s German Bauhaus Vintage Marcel Breuer Lighting

Materials

Brass, Nickel

Stand Lamp by Marcel Breuer 1925
Stand Lamp by Marcel Breuer 1925
H 20.87 in W 11.82 in D 5.91 in

Marcel Breuer lighting for sale on 1stDibs.

Marcel Breuer lighting are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Marcel Breuer lighting, although beige editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original lighting by Marcel Breuer were created in the Art Deco style in europe during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider lighting by Karl Trabert, Max Schumacher, and Midgard. Prices for Marcel Breuer lighting can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $3,800 and can go as high as $4,000, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $3,804.
Questions About Marcel Breuer Lighting
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Marcel Breuer was an architect and furniture designer who made a major impact on modern design by introducing new materials and emphasizing the importance of form matching function. He was born in Pécs, Hungary, in 1902, and was a part of the Bauhaus school. You’ll find a collection of Marcel Breuer furniture on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    The Dutch art movement De Stijl inspired Marcel Breuer's early work. Artists in the movement like Piet Mondrian created art that adhered to the principles of geometry. This idea resonated with Breuer and informed his designs. Shop a selection of Marcel Breuer furniture on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    To pronounce Marcel Breuer, say "mar-SELL BROO-ur." The artist's first and last name both originate from the Hungarian language. Breuer was born in Pécs, Hungary, on May 21, 1902. You can shop a variety of Marcel Breuer furniture on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Marcel Breuer was born in Pécs, Hungary, on May 21, 1902. He attended the Bauhaus design school in Weimar, Germany, and eventually became a part of the faculty. After the Nazis shut the school down, Breuer moved to the U.S. He died in New York City on July 1, 1981. On 1stDibs, find a variety of Marcel Breuer furniture.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Marcel Breuer is known for his work as an architect and furniture designer during the 20th century. During his life, he created many famous chairs that remain popular today, including the Wassily lounge chair, the Cesca chair and the D40 cantilever chair. You’ll find a range of Marcel Breuer furniture on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Over the course of his life, Marcel Breuer designed many things. Furniture was one of his main focuses, and he created many influential pieces, including the Wassily lounge chair, the Cesca chair and the Laccio side table. Shop a collection of Marcel Breuer furniture on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 7, 2024
    Marcel Breuer is famous for being one of 20th-century modernism’s most influential innovators. His most well-known furniture pieces were crafted of tubular steel, including the Wassily chair and the caned Cesca chair. Breuer also made several notable designs in molded plywood, including a chaise longue and nesting table for the British firm Isokon and a student furniture suite commissioned in 1938 for a dormitory at Bryn Mawr College. Breuer’s designs are elegant and adaptable examples of modernism, useful and appropriate in any environment. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of Marcel Breuer furniture.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Yes, Marcel Breuer taught at the Bauhaus design school in Weimar, Germany. He arrived at the institution in 1920 as a student. By 1925, his duties expanded to include teaching classes of his own and running the school's furniture shop. On 1stDibs, find a selection of Marcel Breuer furniture.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Today, Marcel Breuer chairs are made in the factory locations of the furniture manufacturer Knoll, Inc. It operates production facilities in Italy and Canada, as well as in Pennsylvania and Michigan in the U.S. Find a collection of Marcel Breuer furniture on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    There are a number of ways that you can tell an original Marcel Breuer chair. One trick is to examine the frame. If you see end caps, you're likely looking at a replica. Authentic Breuer chairs featured polished, welded ends. Some chairs also feature stickers that identify the model name located under their seats. On 1stDibs, find a collection of expertly vetted Marcel Breuer chairs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Most Marcel Breuer chair legs are made out of bent tubular steel. The designer introduced this radical new material to modern furniture design with his Wassily Model B3 lounge chair. On 1stDibs, you can shop a collection of Marcel Breuer chairs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Marcel Breuer chose a bicycle tube frame to create his Wassily lounge chair because he was impressed by the strength and weight properties of the steel. The chair was a landmark in furniture design and opened the doors to the use of tubular steel frames in many chairs, tables and sofas produced during the modern period. You’ll find a selection of Marcel Breuer furniture on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Marcel Breuer was associated with the Bauhaus school in Weimar, Germany. After attending classes as a student, Breuer became the head of the school's furniture shop. While working there, he created the Wassily lounge chair, introducing the use of tubular steel frames to modern furniture design. Find a variety of Marcel Breuer chairs on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Marcel Breuer became an apprentice and student at the Bauhaus school in 1920. He made a big impression on the school's founder, Walter Gropius, and later became the head of the institution's furniture workshop. Find a selection of Marcel Breuer furniture on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Marcel Breuer created the Cesca chair while splitting his time between Paris and Germany. He made the chair in 1928, shortly after he left the Bauhaus school, but you can clearly see the influence of the institution's design principles in the clean, simple lines of the piece. Find a range of Marcel Breuer Cesca chairs on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    To identify Marcel Breuer bar stools, start by examining the frame. Genuine models will usually feature smooth, welded ends. Most reproductions have end caps instead. You can also look for a sticker that bears the model name on the underside of the seat. On 1stDibs, find a range of expertly vetted Marcel Breuer bar stools.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    To reupholster a Marcel Breuer Cesca chair, first pry out the staples, remove the original upholstery and disassemble the chair. Place the new fabric on a flat surface and position the seat upside down. Fold the fabric over the edge and secure it with a staple gun. On 1stDibs, shop a selection of expertly vetted Marcel Breuer Cesca chairs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    What was most innovative about Marcel Breuer's Model B3 chair was its frame. Also known as the Wassily lounge chair, the piece featured a lightweight, sturdy tubular steel frame inspired by the artist's Adler bicycle. His use of the metal started a radical shift in furniture design. You’ll find a variety of Marcel Breuer Model B3 chairs 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Marcel Breuer introduced the material of tubular steel to modern furniture design. He employed it in many of his chairs, tables and sofas, prizing the material because it minimized the weight of pieces without sacrificing their strength. Shop a range of Marcel Breuer furniture on 1stDibs.

Recently Viewed

View All