International Style Furniture
The International Style, a modernist movement within architecture and furniture design that was given its name by American architect Philip Johnson and historian Henry-Russell Hitchcock, was born during the 1920s and ’30s. It gained steam initially in Europe and then in the United States as a response to the first World War. Building projects associated with the movement, as well as vintage International Style chairs, tables and other furnishings, are minimal and pared back.
Pioneers of the International Style — architect Walter Gropius and his Bauhaus colleagues Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Marcel Breuer, De Stijl advocate and Dutch architect J.J.P. Oud and visionary designer Le Corbusier — stripped away decorative elements and placed considerable value on functionality and clean lines, integrating the use of industrial materials like steel, concrete and large sheets of glass in their work. Quite aptly, this mode of design and architectural style coincided with an era now known as the Machine Age and became a global symbol of modernism. The primary motive of its practitioners was to address the changing needs of a rapidly industrializing society, especially the demand for office complexes and apartments in large cities, through economical, technologically advanced, yet aesthetically pleasing designs for furniture and buildings.
“Space and light and order. Those are the things that men need just as much as they need bread or a place to sleep,” said Le Corbusier of the philosophy behind his practical modernist architecture.
The International Style’s designers and architects were inspired by the advantages afforded them by the era’s new technology and industrial machinery as well as state-of-the-art materials. Le Corbusier was fond of framing his buildings in steel but reinforced concrete made far more economic sense. He is probably most admired for the iconic private homes and commercial buildings that he designed or codesigned with his cousin Pierre Jeanneret, which are spread across the world, from New York City to Paris to Chandigarh, India. Today, Breuer’s Wassily Lounge chair; the elegant LC series created by Le Corbusier, Jeanneret and Charlotte Perriand; and Mies van der Rohe’s Barcelona chair, crafted with his romantic partner, designer Lilly Reich, are emblems of progressive modernist design and all make prominent use of tubular steel. Vintage originals are the prized cornerstone of collections.
“The International Style is probably the first fundamentally original and widely distributed style since the Gothic,” posited Johnson in the book that accompanied “Modern Architecture: International Exhibition,” an architectural show he cocurated with Hitchcock that featured the work of Frank Lloyd Wright, Le Corbusier, Richard Neutra and others. While the term “International Style” had previously been circulating in Europe, when the show opened at the Museum of Modern Art in 1932, it yielded a much broader application of this important style of design.
Find International Style furniture on 1stDibs.
1980s Italian Vintage International Style Furniture
Chrome
1950s Slovenian Vintage International Style Furniture
Beech
2010s Turkish International Style Furniture
Leather, Oak, Walnut
Late 20th Century French International Style Furniture
Wood, Elm, Fruitwood
1960s Italian Vintage International Style Furniture
Earthenware
1970s American Vintage International Style Furniture
Stainless Steel
1980s French Vintage International Style Furniture
Metal
Late 20th Century French International Style Furniture
Metal
1970s French Vintage International Style Furniture
Metal
Late 20th Century Italian International Style Furniture
Steel, Chrome
2010s Brazilian International Style Furniture
Stainless Steel
2010s Spanish International Style Furniture
Brass
2010s Brazilian International Style Furniture
Stainless Steel
1970s English Vintage International Style Furniture
Copper
2010s Brazilian International Style Furniture
Stainless Steel
2010s Turkish International Style Furniture
Leather
2010s Chinese International Style Furniture
Wool
2010s Chinese International Style Furniture
Silk
Mid-20th Century European International Style Furniture
Porcelain
1970s Dutch Vintage International Style Furniture
Ceramic
Late 20th Century Unknown International Style Furniture
Metal
2010s Brazilian International Style Furniture
Wood
Late 19th Century English Antique International Style Furniture
Silver Plate, Stainless Steel
20th Century Japanese International Style Furniture
Porcelain
Late 20th Century American International Style Furniture
Hardwood
1970s English Vintage International Style Furniture
Bronze, Steel, Chrome
Late 19th Century Italian Antique International Style Furniture
Wood
1970s Italian Vintage International Style Furniture
Travertine
2010s Turkish International Style Furniture
Leather, Oak, Walnut
1960s Japanese Vintage International Style Furniture
Chrome
2010s Chinese International Style Furniture
Wool
2010s Turkish International Style Furniture
Leather
2010s Brazilian International Style Furniture
Brass
2010s Turkish International Style Furniture
Leather
2010s French International Style Furniture
Fabric, Oak
1970s Dutch Vintage International Style Furniture
Ceramic
2010s Spanish International Style Furniture
Brass
Late 20th Century German International Style Furniture
Metal
1950s Italian Vintage International Style Furniture
Marble, Brass, Iron
2010s French International Style Furniture
Wood, Fabric
Mid-20th Century Italian International Style Furniture
Leather, Velvet
Early 19th Century French Antique International Style Furniture
Marble, Bronze
20th Century French International Style Furniture
Silk
1990s French International Style Furniture
Canvas
Early 1900s French Antique International Style Furniture
Iron
2010s Brazilian International Style Furniture
Aluminum, Brass
2010s French International Style Furniture
Rattan
21st Century and Contemporary Italian International Style Furniture
Cement
2010s Chinese International Style Furniture
Wool
2010s Philippine International Style Furniture
Chestnut
2010s Philippine International Style Furniture
Leather
20th Century Swiss International Style Furniture
Brass
1970s French Vintage International Style Furniture
Metal
2010s Brazilian International Style Furniture
Wood
20th Century Italian International Style Furniture
Plywood
Late 20th Century American International Style Furniture
Marble, Steel
2010s Turkish International Style Furniture
Leather
Early 20th Century American International Style Furniture
Sterling Silver
20th Century International Style Furniture
Wood
1980s Baltic Vintage International Style Furniture
Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century French International Style Furniture
Enamel, Gold Leaf
Early 2000s Montenegrin International Style Furniture
Gold Leaf
2010s Chinese International Style Furniture
Wool
21st Century and Contemporary American International Style Furniture
Walnut
2010s Turkish International Style Furniture
Marble
19th Century Thai Antique International Style Furniture
Wood
2010s Spanish International Style Furniture
Brass
1970s Italian Vintage International Style Furniture
Metal
2010s Brazilian International Style Furniture
Wood, Plywood
2010s Turkish International Style Furniture
Leather
2010s Brazilian International Style Furniture
Wood
2010s American International Style Furniture
Linen, Wood, Down
2010s Turkish International Style Furniture
Marble