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Bauhaus Lighting

BAUHAUS STYLE

The Bauhaus was a progressive German art and design school founded by the architect Walter Gropius that operated from 1919 to 1933. Authentic Bauhaus furnituresofas, 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

  • Emphasis on craft
  • Simplicity, order, clarity and a prioritization of functionalism
  • Incorporation of geometric shapes
  • Minimalist and refined, little to no ornamentation
  • Use of industrial materials such as tubular chrome, steel and plastic as well as leather, cane and molded plywood in furniture and other products

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.

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Style: Bauhaus
Pair of Bauhaus bakelite table or wall lights by Elektrosvit, 1950s
Located in PRAHA 5, CZ
Manufactured by Elektrosvit Nové Zámky under catalogue number 11641. Former Czechoslovakia 1950s. Crafted from black and white bakelite, can b...
Category

1950s Czech Vintage Bauhaus Lighting

Materials

Bakelite

Czech Bauhaus Floor Lamp, Textile Lamp Shade, Chrom-Plated Steel, 1920s
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
Period: 1920-1929. This item features classic Bauhaus design elements. Elements of this style are neutral colors and occasional bright primary colors. Bauhaus designers avoided the ...
Category

Early 20th Century Czech Bauhaus Lighting

Materials

Steel, Chrome

J Hanging Lamp with Integrated Led and Brass
Located in Mumbai, Maharashtra
Sleek metal frames, industrially produced in true Bauhaus style, form the language of this lighting collection. The series is very versatile, can be customised to required formats an...
Category

2010s Indian Bauhaus Lighting

Materials

Metal, Brass, Copper

Veil Pendant, Modern Perforated Metal and Glass Pendant
Located in Edmonton, CA
The Veil Lighting Collection utilizes perforated steel shades to obscure the fixture's source of light, creating an ever-changing visual illusion. Our light fixtures are made in Ca...
Category

2010s North American Bauhaus Lighting

Materials

Metal

Functionalist Table Lamp, Europe, 1950s, Excellent Condition
Located in Praha, CZ
Table lamp with adjustable height and shade. Restored: excellent condition. Rewired: 1x40W, E25-E27 bulb US plug adapter included
Category

1950s European Vintage Bauhaus Lighting

Materials

Nickel

20th Century Czech Bauhaus Chrome Floor Lamp, by Hynek Gottwald, 1930s
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
Period: 1930-1939. Origin: Czech (Czechoslovakia) Made by Hynek Gottwald, a company credited with being the pioneers of metal furniture. Our professional refurbishing team in...
Category

1930s Czech Vintage Bauhaus Lighting

Materials

Chrome, Steel

Chrome Bauhaus Table Lamp, Newly Electrified, Designer M. Prokop, Czechia, 1920s
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
Chrome Bauhaus table lamp. Period: 1920-1929 Designer: M. Prokop Maker: Vorel, Praha Source: Czechia Material: Chrome Restored and newly electrified.
Category

1920s Czech Vintage Bauhaus Lighting

Materials

Metal, Chrome

Aluminium and Glass Bauhaus / Functionalism Pendant - 1930s / Czechoslovakia
Located in Praha, CZ
- 1930s, Czechoslovakia - complete renovation: polished, newly wired - nice nad simple design - the glass has a small crack, see the picture jr.  
Category

1930s Czech Vintage Bauhaus Lighting

Materials

Chrome

Unique Big Chrome Buahaus Flushmount / Pendant, 1930s
Located in Praha, CZ
- Czechoslovakia - 1930s - polished - intact glasses jr.
Category

1930s European Vintage Bauhaus Lighting

Materials

Chrome

Desk Lamp by Christian Dell for Helo Leuchten
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A black patinated desk or table lamp with two adjustable pivot points by Bauhaus designer Christian Dell. Manufactured by Helo Leuchten in the 1930s -1940s.
Category

1940s German Vintage Bauhaus Lighting

Materials

Metal

Design Bauhaus Chrome and Glass Pendant, 1930s
Located in Praha, CZ
- Around 1930 - Original condition with patina - Checked, new electricity, polished - Original glass shades - Height can be shortened.
Category

1930s European Vintage Bauhaus Lighting

Materials

Metal, Chrome

Restored Chrome Floor Lamp, Steel, Milk Glass, Adjustable Height, Czech, 1930s
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
Restored Bauhaus floor lamp Origin: Czechia Period: 1930-1939 Material: Chrome-plated steel, milk glass Adjustable lamp height (167 - 185 cm)...
Category

Early 20th Century Czech Bauhaus Lighting

Materials

Chrome, Steel

Restored Bauhaus Floor Lamp, Steel, Milk Glass, Adjustable Height, Czech, 1930s
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
Restored Bauhaus floor lamp Origin: Czechia Period: 1930-1939 Material: Chrome-plated steel, milk glass Adjustable lamp height (167 - 185 cm)...
Category

Early 20th Century Czech Bauhaus Lighting

Materials

Steel, Chrome

Rare Bauhaus Chandelier by Franta Anyz for Napako, 1940s
Located in Praha, CZ
Made in Czechoslovakia Made of glass, metal, chrome Designer: Franta Anýž Re-polished Fully functional Good original condition.
Category

1940s Czech Vintage Bauhaus Lighting

Materials

Metal, Chrome

Early 20th Century Chrome Floor Lamp, Milk Glass, New Electrification, 1930s
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
Chrome lamp. European plug (up to 250V) New electrification. Style: Bauhaus. Period: 1930-1939. Material: Chrome-plated steel, milk glass.
Category

Early 20th Century Czech Bauhaus Lighting

Materials

Chrome

Glass Base Kandem Bauhaus Table Lamps
Located in London, GB
Iconic Kandem table or desk lamps. These are a rare model as they have a glass base, dating them to WWII when iron was requisitioned for the war effort. Pressed glass base, Bak...
Category

1940s German Vintage Bauhaus Lighting

Materials

Steel

Bauhaus Black and White Email Metal Brass Vintage Hanging Lamps 1920s Set of Six
Located in Vienna, AT
Bauhaus vintage six ( 6 ) simple black and white enameled metal hanging Lamps 1920s, Germany. A great set of hanging lamps from enameled metal, an original brass chain and one porcel...
Category

1920s Vintage Bauhaus Lighting

Materials

Metal, Brass

Functionalist nickel plated table lamp by Franta Anýž, 1930
By Jaroslav Anyz, Franta Anyz
Located in PRAHA 5, CZ
Iconic table lamp produced by the Franta Anýž Company and designed by Jaroslav Anýž, his son in early 1930s. This desk lamp is renowned for its distinctive joints, patented to allow the lampshade to pivot in any direction, with adjustable height. Franta Anýž, an influential figure in Czech design, studied at the Academy of Arts, Architecture, and Design in Prague. His notable achievements include work at Pragotron, camera design for Flexaret, and winning a gold medal at the Salon International des Inventions in Geneva in 1965 for his Beta 21 watch...
Category

1930s Czech Vintage Bauhaus Lighting

Materials

Steel, Nickel

Large Bauhaus Chadelier with Two Wall Lamps
Located in Banská Štiavnica, SK
Large bauhaus chadelier with two wall lamps in excellent original condition.
Category

1940s German Vintage Bauhaus Lighting

Materials

Chrome

Modernist Wall Light by Wilhelm Wagenfeld for Lindner Licht
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A sleek and finely fabricated wall sconce having a sculptural porcelain body and projecting, slightly tapered milk glass shades.
Category

1930s German Vintage Bauhaus Lighting

Materials

Milk Glass, Porcelain

Bauhaus Art Deco Green Metal Vintage Table Lamp, 1920s
Located in Vienna, AT
Bauhaus Art Deco table lamp or architects desk lamp from green metal adjustable from up to down, 1920s. The green lacquered metal base shows a great patina. The metal lamp shade is g...
Category

1920s Vintage Bauhaus Lighting

Materials

Metal

Functionalist / Bauhaus Flexible Table Lamp by Franta Anyz, 1930s
Located in Praha, CZ
Iconic table lamp by Franta Anyz. Niickel-plated version. This lamp is famous for its patented Anyz joints that make the shade as flexible as possible. Cleaned, polished. Some scratc...
Category

1930s Czech Vintage Bauhaus Lighting

Materials

Nickel

Bauhaus Metal Wall Scissor Lamp Art Deco Era, 1930
Located in Vienna, AT
This wonderful original wall scissor Bauhaus lamp features a wall bracket made of beechwood - black lacquered. Furthermore the wall sconce was made of metal and nickel-plated metal. ...
Category

1930s Vintage Bauhaus Lighting

Materials

Metal

Bauhaus Vintage Black and White Email Hanging Lamp, 1920s, Germany
Located in Vienna, AT
Bauhaus vintage hanging lamp from enameled metal in black and white color 1920s, Germany. A simple and sophisticated hanging lamp consists of enameled metal, chromed metal and a por...
Category

1920s Vintage Bauhaus Lighting

Materials

Metal

Restored Chrome Floor Lamp, Steel, Milk Glass, Adjustable Height, Czech, 1930s
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
Restored Bauhaus floor lamp Origin: Czechia Period: 1930-1939 Material: Chrome-plated steel, milk glass Adjustable lamp height (167 - 185 cm)...
Category

Early 20th Century Czech Bauhaus Lighting

Materials

Steel, Chrome

Bauhaus lighting for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Bauhaus lighting for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage lighting created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include lighting, decorative objects, wall decorations and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, glass and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Bauhaus lighting made in a specific country, there are Europe, Germany, and Czech Republic pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original lighting, popular names associated with this style include Schneid Studio, Adam Otlewski, Christian Dell, and Kaiser Idell. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for lighting differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $153 and tops out at $31,727 while the average work can sell for $1,114.

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