The Bauhaus was a progressive German art and design school founded by the architect Walter Gropius that operated from 1919 to 1933. Authentic Bauhaus furniture — sofas, dining chairs, tables and more — and the school’s followers married industrial and natural materials in simple, geometric forms. The goal of the Bauhaus was to erase the distinction between art and craft while embracing the use of new technologies and materials.
ORIGINS OF BAUHAUS FURNITURE DESIGN
CHARACTERISTICS OF BAUHAUS FURNITURE DESIGN
BAUHAUS FURNITURE DESIGNERS YOU SHOULD KNOW
AUTHENTIC BAUHAUS FURNITURE ON 1STDIBS
The name Bauhaus is derived from the German verb bauen, “to build.” Under the school’s innovative curriculum, students were taught the fine arts, such as painting and sculpture, as well as practical skills like carpentry and metalworking.
The school moved from Weimar in 1925 to the city of Dessau, where it enjoyed its heyday under Gropius, then Hannes Meyer and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. The period from 1932 to 1933 when it operated in Berlin under Mies was its final chapter. Despite its brief existence, the Bauhaus has had an enduring impact on art and design in the United States and elsewhere, and is regarded by many as the 20th century’s chief crucible of modernism.
The faculty roster at the Bauhaus reads like a who’s who of modernist creative genius — it included such artists as Paul Klee, Wassily Kandinsky and László Moholy-Nagy along with architects and designers like Mies and Marcel Breuer, who became known for his muscular brutalist-style concrete buildings in the postwar years. In 1925, while he was head of the Bauhaus carpentry workshop, Breuer gave form to his signature innovation: the use of lightweight tubular-steel frames for chairs, side tables and sofas — a technique soon adopted by Mies and others. Breuer’s Cesca chair was the first-ever tubular steel frame chair with a caned seat to be mass produced, while the inspiration for his legendary Wassily chair, a timeless design and part of the collection crafted to furnish the Dessau school, was the bike he rode around campus.
Bauhaus design style reflects the tenets by which these creators worked: simplicity, clarity and function. They disdained superfluous ornament in favor of precise construction. Seating pieces such as side chairs, armchairs or club chairs for example, were made with tubular metal or molded plywood frames, and upholstery was made from leather or cane. Above all, designs in the Bauhaus style offer aesthetic flexibility. They can be the elements of a wholly spare, minimalist space, the quiet foundation of an environment in which color and pattern come from one’s own collection of art and artifacts.
Today, from textiles to typefaces, architecture, furniture and decorative objects for the home, Bauhaus creations continue to have an outsize influence on modern design.
Find a collection of authentic Bauhaus furniture on 1stDibs.
Marvelous Design & Warm Color Burl Walnut Art Deco, Bauhaus Mantel / Desk Clock
Located in Lisse, NL
Beautiful and also practical in size Bauhaus style clock. Over the years we have sold a number of striking (no pun intended) Art Deco clocks, but rarely one as timeless, as stylish,...
Chrome, Brass, Iron
Kienzle, Heinrich Moller for Kienzle 1932 'Bauhaus'era Table Clock
Located in Sharon, CT
Heinrich Moller for Kienzle, 1932. A modernist table clock. Chromed brass, glass and black enameled dial with brass numerals and white hands.
Brass
Bauhaus Adrianus Willem Aad Uithol - AWU Table Clock
By AWU, Kienzle Clocks
Located in Vienna, AT
Brass construction painted, clockface 10cm diameter. Original condition with original Kienzle movement still working. Desiged in the late 1930s in Netherlands by Adrianus Willem Uith...
Brass
Bauhaus Table or Desk Clock by Marianne Brandt for Ruppelwerk Gotha Germany 1932
By Ruppelwerk, Marianne Brandt
Located in Munich, DE
A pure German Bauhaus Design object: table or desk clock by Marianne Brandt. Manufactured by Ruppelwerk, Gotha, Germany, ca. 1932. With original mechanical 8 days clock work. With key. Originally owned by Singer Nähmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft. Fabrik Wittenberg. Bez. Pdm (marked reverse). The table clock is repaired and maintained by a professional clock master who is specialized in maintenance of expensive clocks...
Metal
Large Station Clock on a beautiful piece of wood with 3 lights.
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Large station clock with three integrated lights. The clock has been fully restored with respect for its original appearance. Efforts were made to ...
Metal
Vintage Art Deco Mantel Clock
Located in San Diego, CA
Elegant vintage Art Deco mantel clock with a German Hermie movement, circa 1950s. The clock is in very good vintage condition and holds a...
Glass, Wood
$888Sale Price|20% Off
H 10.5 in W 15.5 in D 5.5 in
KIENZLE Art Deco Macassar Ebony and Oak Mantle Clock
Located in Chicago, IL
1930s Art Deco mantle clock by Keinzle, one of the top clock manufacturers in Germany during the Art Deco period. Constructed of Macassar Ebony or Zebra wood and oak wood with brass ...
Metal, Brass
$661
H 6.54 in W 5.52 in D 2.76 in
Vintage 1960s Hollywood Regency brass walnut Table Clock by Kienzle, Germany
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article: Table clock Origin: Germany Producer: Kienzle, Germany Age: 1960s This original vintage table clock was produced in the 1960s by the prem...
Metal, Brass
Large Siemens Factory, Station or Workshop Wall Clock
By Siemens
Located in Vienna, AT
Huge 43cm steel painted clock face made in Germany in the 1950s. Formerly a slave clock, it is now fitted with a modern quartz movement with a batt...
Steel
Junghans Mid-Century Golden Sunburst Brass Table Desk Clock, Germany, 1950s
Located in Vienna, AT
A wonderful Atomic Starburst Hollywood Regency table or desk clock from the 1950s, executed by Junghans Germany. The clock has a beautiful withe and pastel yellow clocks face with go...
Brass
Large Siemens Halske Factory, Station or Workshop Wall Clock
By Siemens
Located in Vienna, AT
Plastic frame with the acrylic front made in Germany in the 1970s. Formerly a slave clock, it is now fitted with a modern quartz movement with a battery.
Plastic, Acrylic
Large French Art Deco Marble Mantel Clock
Located in Vienna, AT
French Art Deco marble mantel clock still in original condition. Bronzed metal, ivory imitation and various types of stone, in the...
Marble, Brass
Siemens Halske Bauhaus Factory or Workshop Wall Clock
By Siemens
Located in Vienna, AT
Steel frame with gold ring inside and steel clock face with red and black digits, manufactured by Siemens Halske in the 1930s. According to the previous owner the clock was hanging...
Steel
Beautiful Large Bauhaus Wall Clock
Located in Vienna, AT
Very rare wall clock made of wooden frame with white painted glass clock face and black digits caught in steel, made by Chomutov in the 1930s. The original movement replaced to an el...
Steel
Art Deco Marble Mantel Clock
Located in Norwich, GB
Classic Art Deco mantle clock standing on a beige marble base with black inserts. A gilded dog is leaping over the clock. Gilded dial with ‘Deco’ numerals and original ‘Deco’ han...
Marble
Mid-Century Modern Brass Kundo German World Globe Desk or Table Clock
By Kundo
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This clock was made by the well known Kundo clock company of Germany and dates to approximately 1970 and done in a Mid-Century Modern style. This World globe clock...
Metal, Brass
Vintage German Kienzle Clock, circa 1960's
Located in Vilnius, LT
Vintage German Kienzle automatic table clock designed by Heinrich Möller in 1960s. The clock is made of brass structure, glass front. It is battery-operated and spring winding by an...
Brass
Sold
H 9 in W 13.2 in D 5.9 in
Great Looking & 'Timeless' Bauhaus meets Amsterdam School Mantel / Desk Clock
Located in Lisse, NL
Beautiful and also practical in size, Bauhaus style clock. Over the years we have sold a number of striking (no pun intended) Art Deco clocks, but rarely one as timeless, as stylish...
Metal, Brass, Iron
Vintage 1950s Extra Large Alarm Clock Made by Wehrle of Germany
Located in Søborg, DK
1950s Wehrle alarm clock in fantastic condition for its age. 13cm in diameter clock face. Luminous hands and numbers on the clock face. Three in one function sapphire jeweled and ...
Metal
Antique Art Deco Walnut Mantel Desk Clock Key Wound Chiming Bauhaus
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique Art Deco style, key wound, chiming mantel clock with a wooden oxbow/yoke shaped case and brass numbers. Measures: 26".
Walnut
Vintage 1950s Extra Large Alarm Clock Made by Wehrle of Germany
Located in Søborg, DK
1950s Wehrle alarm clock in fantastic condition for its age. 13cm in diameter clock face. Luminous hands and numbers on the clock face. Three in one function sapphire jeweled and ...
Metal
Sold
H 9.45 in W 11.82 in D 2.76 in
Unusual Czech Midcentury Bauhaus Wall Clock, Lacquered Wood, 1930s
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
Original preserved condition. Clockwork is working. Material: Lacquered wood Period: 1930-1939 Source: Czechia (Czechoslovakia).
Wood, Lacquer
Sold
H 9.25 in W 14.4 in D 5.5 in
Marvelous Design & Warm Color Burl Walnut Art Deco Mantel Desk or Pendulum Clock
Located in Lisse, NL
Beautiful and also practical in size Bauhaus style clock. Over the years we have sold a number of striking (no pun intended) Art Deco clocks, but never one as timeless and perfect...
Chrome, Iron
Vintage 1950s Extra Large Alarm Clock Made by Wehrle of Germany
Located in Søborg, DK
1950s Wehrle alarm clock in fantastic condition for its age. 13cm in diameter clock face. Luminous hands and numbers on the clock face. Three in one function sapphire jeweled and ...
Metal
Sold
H 4 in W 4 in D 4 in
Brass Barometer with Readings in French Wrapped in Black Leather, Adnet Style
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage brass barometer with readings in French. Wrapped in black leather and stitched. Great patina on leather in Jacques Adnet style. M...
Leather
Leather and Brass French Longchamp Desk Clock Jacques Adnet Style
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
French leather Longchamp desk clock in the style of Jacques Adnet. Hand stitched French leather desk clock with brass accent. Marked "Longchamp" and "Made in France." IMACO SA PARI...
Brass
Sold
H 9.75 in W 9.25 in D 3 in
Modernist World Desk Clock Kundo by Kieninger & Obergfell, West Germany, 1970s
By Kundo, Kieninger & Obergfell
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Large Kieninger & Obergfell modernist table world timer zone clock, 1970s Brass round world clock by Kundo Automatic made in West Germany, circa 1970s. Wonderful round clock with large 9" face in white with gold world map...
Brass
Leather and Brass Bauhaus French Endura Desk Clock Jacques Adnet Style
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
French leather Bauhaus desk clock in the style of Jacques Adnet. Hand stitched French leather desk clock with brass accent in the style of Adnet. Marked "Endura" and "Made in France....
Brass
Modernist Desk World Clock Kundo by Kieninger & Obergfell West Germany 1960s
By Kundo, Kieninger & Obergfell
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Large Kieninger & Obergfell modernist table world timer zone clock, 1960s Unique brass round world clock by Kundo Automatic made in West Germany, circa 1960s. Wonderful round clock with large 9" face in white with gold world map...
Brass