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.
$120Sale Price|78% Off
Vintage West German Ceramic Art Vase from the 1970s
By Scheurich & Greulich Keramik
Located in Søborg, DK
Beautiful large ceramic art vase from the 1970s and made in West Germany Lovely floral designs and no chips or cracks.
Ceramic
Art Deco Bauhaus Era Bakelite Catalin Fruit Knife Set with Stand 1930s, Set of 6
By Bauhaus
Located in Bad Säckingen, DE
Elegant Art Deco fruit knife set from the 1930s, comprising six stainless steel knives with beautiful marbled brown and butterscotch Bakelite/Catalin handles. The handles display a r...
Stainless Steel
10 Bauhaus Tea Cups and Teapot "Teho" by Wilhelm Wagenfeld for Jenaer ca 1931
Located in Stockholm, SE
10 Bauhaus Tea Cups and Teapot in green-toned glass from the "Teho" series by Wilhelm Wagenfeld for Jenaer ca 1931. The Jenaer German glass was produced by Schott & Genossen, a compa...
Glass
Teapot and Lid with Infuser, Verran Collection by Schott-Zwiesel
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Glass Teapot and Lid with Infuser Verran Collection by Schott-Zwiesel German, Designed in the 1950's marked on the bottom Bauhaus Design, MOMA-Exhibited 1957 Award-Winning German Teapot...
Glass
Modernist Bauhaus Czech Repro Ceramic Ashtray by Vlastislav Hofman
Located in Hamburg, DE
Modernist Bauhaus Czech Repro Ceramic Ashtray by Vlastislav Hofman for Modernista, in Flawless conditions. Designed 1890 to 1919 This piece has an attribution mark. Additional infor...
Ceramic
1930s Bauhaus glass wine cooler by Wilhelm Wagenfeld for Lausitzer Glaswerke
Located in Berlin, DE
This smoked glass wine cooler was designed by Wilhelm Wagenfeld in 1937 and manufactured by the Lausitzer Glaswerke in Weißwasser, Germany. Made from mould-pressed glass, the piece r...
Smoked Glass
$1,756Sale Price|25% Off
Jordi Vilanova Pine Wood Bar Cart, Spain, Circa 1960
Located in Barcelona, ES
Jordi Vilanova Pine Wood Bar Cart, Spain, Circa 1960 Elegant bar cart designed by Jordi Vilanova, crafted in pine wood (pino melis) in Spain circa 1960. This piece embodies the rati...
Wood
Wilhelm Wagenfeld Original Bauhaus Glass Teapot
Located in Sharon, CT
Classic original Schott Jeana Wagenfeld Teapot signed.
Glass
Bauhaus Style Art Deco Vintage White Metal Napkin Holder, Germany, circa 1920
Located in Vienna, AT
Bauhaus Style Art Deco vintage napkin holder from white lacquered metal Germany, circa 1920 . The napkin holder shows signs of age and use like ...
Sheet Metal
"Danube" flatware by artist János Megyik, c. 1970, Service for 8
By Janos Megyik, Georgian House 1
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Design 7000 or Danube flatware service for eight by Janos Megyik, Artist, Hungary by Georgian House, Japan In excellent condition, I do not think it was ever used. In original pla...
Stainless Steel
Art Deco Bauhaus Era Vintage Coffee Machine 1920s Hungary
Located in Vienna, AT
Art Deco Bauhaus era coffee machine designed 1920s, Hungary. The coffee machine was made of chromed metal, glass and bakelite. Electric vacuum ready - 600W - an electric cord is not ...
Metal
Set of 7 Glass Shells by Wilhelm Wagenfeld for Vlg Weisswasser, Germany, 1960s
By Wilhelm Wagenfeld, VLG Weißwasser
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article: Set of seven glass shells Producer: WMF, Germany Design: Prof. Wilhelm Wagenfeld Bauhaus Decade: 1950s-1960s Description: Original vint...
Glass
Rare Marguerite Wildenhain Putten, Holland Ceramic Bowl
Located in Sharon, CT
Rare bowl by the famous Bauhaus educated potter Marguerite Friedlander Wildenhain. Made in Holland during her 7 years in Putten, Holland (1933-1940) before immigrating to the United States and setting up her pond farm pottery.
Ceramic
Art Deco Bauhaus Bakelite Catalin Fruit Knife & Fork Set, 1930s, 15 Pcs
By Bauhaus
Located in Bad Säckingen, DE
Exceptional and highly decorative Art Deco fruit knife and fork set dating to the 1930s, created in the spirit of the Bauhaus era. This striking 15-piece set features beautifully scu...
Stainless Steel
$176Sale Price|20% Off
Wilhelm Wagenfeld Bauhaus Salt and Pepper Shakers New in Box 1950s
Located in San Diego, CA
Wilhelm Wagenfeld glass and stainless steel salt and Pepper Shakers, 1952. Produced by WMF of Germany. Selected for the MoMA Good Design Exhibition and part of their permanent colle...
Stainless Steel
$168Sale Price|32% Off
Modernist Bauhaus Porcelain Creamer by Chodziez, Gold Trim, Made in Poland
Located in Chicago, IL
Polish porcelain creamer with gold line detailing and stylized handle. Bauhaus design in typical orange color. Made in Chodziez/Cmielow porcelain factory. Very good vintage conditio...
Gold
$2,275Sale Price|49% Off
Signed Wiener Werkstätte Lidded Glazed Earthenware Box, 1920's, Vienna
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Signed Wiener Werkstätte Lidded Glazed Earthenware Box, 1920's, Vienna Exquisite early Wiener Werkstätte box in glazed earthenware with embellis...
Ceramic
German Hammered Silver 4-Piece Tea & Coffee Set Bauhaus Style Early 20th Century
Located in New York, NY
German silver 4-piece tea and coffee set, beautifully hand-hammered, with wood handles, from the early 20th century and in Bauhaus style, consisting of: a coffeepot, measuring 12 3/...
Silver
Eva Zeisel Schramberg Tea Pot German Modernist
By Eva Zeisel
Located in Sharon, CT
Extremely rare and important example of the young Eva Zeisel's early work for the German Majolica Factory Schramberg.
Ceramic
Marianne Brandt Avantgarde Bauhaus „Mignon" Table Brush Dustpan Set, 1930s
By Marianne Brandt, Ruppelwerk
Located in Vienna, AT
An iconic Bauhaus table brush and pan sweeping set from the early 1930s in light-green / pastel jade green. Designed by Marianne Brandt (1893-1983), manuf...
Metal, Sheet Metal
1930s Art Deco Bauhaus Air Brushed Ceramic and Silver Plate German Round Tray
By Theodor Bogler, Marianne Brandt
Located in Aci Castello, IT
This rare 1930s German serving tray is a masterful fusion of Art Deco elegance and Bauhaus functionalism, featuring the distinctive "Spritzdekor" airbrushed technique. The round cera...
Silver Plate
$570Sale Price|25% Off
Marina Sgarbi Kettle for Stella Collection, Italy, 1980s
Located in Barcelona, ES
Marina Sgarbi Kettle for Stella Collection, Italy, 1980s Elegant vintage kettle designed by Marina Sgarbi for the Stella Collection, Archimede Design, made in Italy circa 1980. A fi...
Stainless Steel
$496Sale Price|20% Off
Vase, Ceramic, Enamel Hand Painted, Attributable to Late Bauhaus, 1930, Germany
Located in Wien, AT
Very special vase, made of ceramic with extraordinarily decorative painting, made by hand in enamel. This style in Art Deco, the workmanship and the objects of comparison, for exam...
Ceramic, Majolica
Art Deco Ceramic Floor Vase Bo Fajans Ewald Dahlskog, Sweden, 1940s
Located in Hillringsberg, SE
Wonderful large off-white ceramic vase manufactured in Sweden at Bo Fajans and designed by Ewald Dahlskog in the 1940s. The shape and lines of the vase goes perfect with the wonderf...
Ceramic
Velten-Vordamm Theodor Bogler Bauhaus Covered Compote
Located in Sharon, CT
An extraordinary Bauhaus ceramic covered compote, most likely designed by Bauhaus Ceramicist Theodor Bogler, circa 1925. Marked 'Made in Germany', and t...
Ceramic
Eva Zeisel Shramberg Pitcher German Modernism
By Eva Zeisel
Located in Sharon, CT
Rare example of the young designers work for Schramberg.
Ceramic
Tableware porcelain KPM Berlin Urbino by Trude Petri for 24 persons
By Trude Petri
Located in Kiel, SH
KPM Berlin porcelain set for 24 persons Form "URBINO" by Trude Petri designed in 1929 influenced by Bauhaus movement awarded the Grand Prix at the 1937 Paris...
Porcelain
$1,600 / set
Charles Counts Pottery Lidded Jars - A Pair
Located in Savannah, GA
Charles Counts (American, 1934-2000) A pair of lidded jars, c.1960 larger: 10 by 10 inches smaller: 8 by 9 inches
Ceramic
Set of 4 Bowls Model Erbach by Wilhelm Wagenfeld 1938, Early Production
Located in Krefeld, DE
Rare set of 4 bowls, mod. Erbach designed by Wilhelm Wagenfeld and manufactured by Vereinigte Lausitzer Glaswerke. Design 1938 and production in the 1930ies, a...
Glass
Shaker de Sylvia Stave, design Art Déco, Bauhaus, Alessi, 1989
By Sylvia Stave
Located in Meyrin, Switzerland
Shaker avec des inspiration Art Déco et Bauhaus, design de Sylvia Stave, Suède en 1925, réédition de 1989 par Officina Alessi, Italy. Modèle no. 894715, acier inoxydable 18/10 chromé...
Stainless Steel, Chrome
Copper TeaPot, Austria, circa 1900
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
This Item is a teapot. It has been made in Austria circa 1900. With a wood and Brass handle.
Copper, Brass
$900 / set
Schramberg Rare Plates Eva Zeisel
Located in Sharon, CT
Pair of very rare 'Suprematist' plates produced by Schramberg during the Eva Zeisel era. Stencil decorated in Bauhaus geometric manner. Both signed on bottom.
Ceramic
Bauhaus Rosé Aluminium Tray, Bowl, Vide-Poche, Zeppelin Werke, Germany, 1930s
By Fritz August Breuhaus de Groot 1
Located in Vienna, AT
A square, pink-anodized bowl, handmade of aluminum, attributed to Fritz August Breuhaus de Groot. Executed by Zeppelin Metallwerke in the early 1930s, made as tableware for the Zeppelin airships...
Aluminum
Bauhaus Inspired German Stoneware Vase
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
An exceptional quality German Bauhaus inspired art pottery glazed stoneware vase probably dating between 1930 and 1950. The vase is beautifully made of large bulbous shape standing o...
Stoneware
Set of 2 Glass Vase by Richard Lauke for VLG Weisswasser, Germany, 1960s
By Wilhelm Wagenfeld, VLG Weißwasser
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article: Set of 2 glass vases Producer: VLG Weisswasser, GDR Design: Richard Lauke designed in 1939 Decade: 1960s Description: Original vintage set of 2 glass vases "Fe...
Glass
Bauhaus Hutschenreuther Selb Silver-clad Tea and Coffee Set
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Bauhaus Hutschenreuther Selb (Bavaria) Silver-clad tea and coffee set. Incredible design: silver plated thermal insulators lined with felt covering the pots. Sold as a set. Dimens...
Silver, Silver Plate
Bauhaus Era Desk Cigar Cutter in Brass, English 1930s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
A well-used yet highly decorative and useable desk cigarcutter in patinated brass. It screws apart at the middle allowing you to empty its content when you want to. It was made in En...
Brass
Complete Aubock Egg Holder Set, Designed in the Early 1950s
Located in Vienna, AT
A set of 2 egg cups, on a bechwood holder, a very characteristic design by the Auböck workshop, Vienna, Austria. Original production from the 1950‘s. Excellent condition. The 2 massive brass rings with beautiful patina but can be polished. Measure: Height of one egg...
Brass
Franz Rudolf Wildenhain Ceramic Bowl Bauhaus
Located in Sharon, CT
A beautiful bowl very much in Bauhaus aesthetic. Glazed white interior and exterior in 'gun metal'. Signed 'Wildenhain', could possibly mean Marguerite (Friedlander) as well.
Ceramic
Rare 60‘s brass CAP Lifter in the Shape of a Wineglass
Located in Vienna, AT
Rate cap lifter in the style of Carl Aubock. Not marked. Funny shape as a wine or beer glass. Made in Austria or Italy in 1950 or 1960.
Brass
Hayno Focken Brass Teapot with Lid, circa 1930
By Hayno Focken
Located in San Francisco, CA
Hayno Focken (Germany, 1905-1968) rare brass teapot with lid, circa 1930 Extremely rare handmade teapot by noted metalworker Hayno Focken. Dimensions approximately 8" diameter at the body x 8" high + handle. Hayno Focken completed an apprenticeship with Professor Karl Muller...
Brass
Large Wilhelm Wagenfeld 'Felicitas' Vase, 1939
By Wilhelm Wagenfeld, Richard Lauke
Located in Los Angeles, CA
wonderful turmalin vase 'Felicitas' designed by Richard Lauke for Glasfabrik Weißwasser, produced in 1939, the largest model in this series.
Blown Glass
$1,404Sale Price|20% Off
Three-piece Bauhaus Silver Mocca Set, Grininger, Heilbronn, circa 1930
Located in Regensburg, DE
Elegant, small three-piece Bauhaus mocha set from Heilbronn, Germany, circa 1930. Stamped Grininger / Heilbronn. Hallmarked 835 silver. Excellent quality, wooden handle. Dimensions:...
Silver
$1,591Sale Price / set|20% Off
Ceramic Tee Set from 1920s, Germany, in Cabana Style
Located in Vienna, Austria
Ceramic tee set "Wilhemine" from 1920s produced in Germany. Designed with flowing glaze pattern, typical for this period.
Ceramic
Bruce Fox Large Square Cigar Ashtray Collectible Cast Aluminum Square
By Bruce Fox
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Handcrafted Bruce Fox cast aluminum large collectible square cigar ashtray Rare vintage cast aluminum signed "GIN BUTLER"..."an original by Bruce Fox " Circa 1950's or 60's, serving "butler" tray for your poker nights, each corner has a place for a total of 4 drink glasses, and 4 large grooves for resting cigars, has a great King card emblem in center, Large server...
Aluminum
Bauhaus Style Serving Cart
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Circa 1960. We offer this rare Bauhaus Style Serving Cart. Made in wood with fantastic patina over the wheels.
Wood
1940s Bauhaus, Salt, Pepper and Sugar Set, Made in Germany
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Circa 1940. We offer this Bauhaus, salt, pepper and sugar set, made in Germany. Each piece includes marks "German Silver" Recently platered and polished.
Metal
Ceramic Coral Coloured Pipe-Ashtray from 1930s, in Cabana Style
Located in Vienna, Austria
Ceramic pipe-ashtray, glazed in coral, blue and off white. Manufactured in 1930s in Czechoslovakia. In a very good condition.
Ceramic
Continental Silver Demitasse Tea / Coffee Set by Hugo Böhm in Bauhaus Style
$450Sale Price / set|30% Off
Vintage Brass Candlestick and Ashtray by Hayno Focken - Germany 1930s
By Hayno Focken
Located in Roma, IT
Brass Candlestick and Ashtray is an original decorative pair of objects realized in the second third of the XX Century. Original brass. Made in Ge...
Brass
Carstens Uffrecht, Art Deco Stylised Flow Glaze Dish att. Hildegard Delius
By Hildegard Delius, Steingutfabrik J. Uffrecht & Co.
Located in Frome, GB
This striking work of 1930s Bauhaus Art Deco design is by Carstens Uffrecht Pottery and attributed to the then lead designer Hildegard Delius (b. 189...
Ceramic