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.
Czech Bauhaus Chrome and Zebra Hide Mirror, 1930s
Located in Wien, AT
Vintage Czech Tubular Steel Mirror with Zebra Hide, 1930s A striking wall mirror combining an original vintage Czech tubular steel frame from the 1930s with a newly made wooden inner...
Chrome
$8,368 / item
Rupert Bevan Lucian Mirror
By Rupert Bevan
Located in London, GB
Our Lucian Mirror is made from the finest materials, with it’s fumed oak frame and cathedral glass bordering a lightly antiqued mirror glass centre panel. The mirror includes hidden ...
Blown Glass, Oak
$5,875Sale Price / item|20% Off
Ih Maj In Mirror Brass, Wood Veneer Marquetry Made in Portugal by Malabar
Located in RIO TINTO, PT
In terms of art, Pablo Picasso is probably the most important artist of the 20th Century. The Spanish-born painter had become well-known for his most distinct style and eye for artistic creation. A confluence of influences from Cézanne and Henri Rousseau to tribal art encouraged Picasso to lend his figures more weight and structure. That's when Cubism started born in his creations, and Picasso changed the direction of art for generations to come. Inspired by the emphasized combination of forms in Picasso's cubism art paintings, his use of color and geometrical figures, Malabar designers imagined this exquisite and refined piece of art. The Ih Maj...
Brass
$904Sale Price|20% Off
Bauhaus mirror in chrome-plated steel
Located in LYON, FR
Bauhaus mirror in chrome-plated steel With its bold geometric lines and chrome-plated metal frame, this wall mirror embodies the functional aesthetic of Bauhaus. The floating mirro...
Mirror
$6,214 / item
Rupert Bevan Grace Dressing Room Mirror
By Rupert Bevan
Located in London, GB
A tall, elegant mirror framed in cathedral glass with softened ‘kiss’ corners, Grace brings lightness and refinement to a dressing room or interior, balancing clean geometry with sub...
Blown Glass, Mirror, Oak
$4,685 / item
Rupert Bevan Octavia Mirror
By Rupert Bevan
Located in London, GB
A jewel-like mirror with a faceted cathedral glass border that wraps around both the face and sides of the frame, the Octavia Mirror combines colour, reflection, and geometry with an...
Blown Glass, Mirror, Oak
PH Mirror, aluminium brushed, diameter 360mm, on/off pull cord, ph initials
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Created in the late 1930s, the PH mirror features backlit illumination that provides a reflection that is free from shadows and glare. PH’s wall mounted mirror design fits harmonious...
Aluminum
$4,932 / item
Rupert Bevan Enamel Morier Mirror
By Rupert Bevan
Located in London, GB
Our Morier Mirror is made from the finest materials, with its sleek enamel border surrounding a lightly antiqued mirror glass centre panel and placed on a fumed oak backboard. The mi...
Enamel
$12,211Sale Price / item|20% Off
21st Wanderlust Mirror Marble Walnut Wood Root Made in Portugal by Malabar
Located in RIO TINTO, PT
Suppose Design Office, an interior architecture studio, located in Hiroshima, Japan, once created a project that brought wilderness into an urbanistic environment. By distributing a huge number of cardboard pipes from the ceiling, they provided a feeling of walking through an exotic forest or an impressive cavern, recreating an incredible experience in any city downtown. With this inspiration, several pieces were created and a family was born. As part of it, the Wanderlust modern mirror, a jewel-like piece, is structured in polished brass with marble and walnut wood root accents. Wanderlust modern mirror is like an unique piece of art that will pass on the feeling of walking through an exotic forest. Wanderlust mirror...
Marble, Brass
$6,214 / item
Rupert Bevan Glass Morier Mirror
By Rupert Bevan
Located in London, GB
Our Morier Mirror is made from the finest materials, with it's cathedral glass bordering a lightly antiqued mirror glass centre panel and placed on a fumed oak backboard. The mirror ...
Blown Glass, Oak
PH Mirror, 500 mm, Yellow Painted Satin Matt, on/off Pull Cord, Ph
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Created in the late 1930s, the PH mirror features backlit illumination that provides a reflection that is free from shadows and glare. PH’s wall-mounted mirr...
Aluminum
PH Mirror, Aluminium Brushed, Diameter 700 mm, On/Off Pull Cord, PH Initials
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Created in the late 1930s, the PH mirror features backlit illumination that provides a reflection that is free from shadows and glare. PH’s wall mounted mirror design fits harmonious...
Aluminum
Large Architectural Bamboo Mirror
Located in Bradenton, FL
Large architectural design natural bamboo wall mirror.
Bamboo
PH Mirror, Brass Brushed, 360mm on/off Pull Cord, PH Initials
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Created in the late 1930s, the PH mirror features backlit illumination that provides a reflection that is free from shadows and glare. PH’s wall mounted mirr...
Brass
PH Mirror, Copper Brushed, 360 mm, On/Off Pull Cord, PH Initials
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Created in the late 1930s, the PH mirror features backlit illumination that provides a reflection that is free from shadows and glare. PH’s wall mounted mirr...
Copper
PH Mirror, brass brushed, diameter 500mm, on/off pull cord, ph initials
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Created in the late 1930s, the PH mirror features backlit illumination that provides a reflection that is free from shadows and glare. PH’s wall mounted mirror design fits harmonious...
Brass
PH Mirror, Red Painted Satin Matt, diameter 700mm, on/off Pull Cord, Ph Initials
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Created in the late 1930s, the PH mirror features backlit illumination that provides a reflection that is free from shadows and glare. PH’s wall-mounted mirror design fits harmonious...
Aluminum
PH Mirror, 360 mm Yellow Painted Satin Matt, on/off Pull Cord, Ph
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Created in the late 1930s, the PH mirror features backlit illumination that provides a reflection that is free from shadows and glare. PH’s wall mounted mirr...
Aluminum
PH Mirror, green painted satin matt, diameter 700mm, on/off pull cord, ph
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Created in the late 1930s, the PH mirror features backlit illumination that provides a reflection that is free from shadows and glare. PH’s wall mounted mirror design fits harmonious...
Aluminum
PH Mirror, Brass Brushed, diameter 700mm, on/off Pull Cord, Ph Initials
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Created in the late 1930s, the PH mirror features backlit illumination that provides a reflection that is free from shadows and glare. PH’s wall-mounted mirror design fits harmonious...
Brass
PH Mirror, Black Painted Satin Matt, Diameter 700mm, on/off Pull Cord, Ph
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Created in the late 1930s, the PH mirror features backlit illumination that provides a reflection that is free from shadows and glare. PH’s wall mounted mirror design fits harmonious...
Aluminum
"PH" Mirror in matt white satin aluminium, Medium diameter, on/off pull cord.
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Created in the late 1930s, the PH mirror features backlit illumination that provides a reflection that is free from shadows and glare. PH’s wall mounted mirr...
Aluminum
PH Mirror, Copper Brushed, Diameter 700 mm, On/Off Pull Cord, PH Initials
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Created in the late 1930s, the PH mirror features backlit illumination that provides a reflection that is free from shadows and glare. PH’s wall mounted mirr...
Copper
PH Mirror, Copper Brushed, diameter 500mm, On/Off Pull Cord, PH Initials
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Created in the late 1930s, the PH mirror features backlit illumination that provides a reflection that is free from shadows and glare. PH’s wall mounted mirr...
Copper
PH Mirror, Black Painted Satin Matt, diameter 360mm, on/off Pull Cord, ph
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Created in the late 1930s, the PH mirror features backlit illumination that provides a reflection that is free from shadows and glare. PH’s wall mounted mirror design fits harmonious...
Aluminum
PH Mirror, Red Painted Satin Matt, diameter 360mm, On/Off Pull Cord, PH Initials
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Created in the late 1930s, the PH mirror features backlit illumination that provides a reflection that is free from shadows and glare. PH’s wall mounted mirror design fits harmonious...
Aluminum
PH Mirror, green painted satin matt, diameter 360mm, on/off pull cord, ph
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Created in the late 1930s, the PH mirror features backlit illumination that provides a reflection that is free from shadows and glare. PH’s wall mounted mirror design fits harmonious...
Aluminum
PH Mirror, white painted satin matt, diameter 360mm, on/off pull cord, ph
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Created in the late 1930s, the PH mirror features backlit illumination that provides a reflection that is free from shadows and glare. PH’s wall mounted mirror design fits harmonious...
Aluminum
PH Mirror, black painted satin matt, diameter 500mm, on/off pull cord, ph
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Created in the late 1930s, the PH mirror features backlit illumination that provides a reflection that is free from shadows and glare. PH’s wall mounted mirror design fits harmonious...
Aluminum
PH Mirror, yellow painted satin matt, diameter 700mm, on/off pull cord, ph
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Created in the late 1930s, the PH mirror features backlit illumination that provides a reflection that is free from shadows and glare. PH’s wall mounted mirror design fits harmonious...
Aluminum
PH Mirror, Green Painted Satin Matt, diameter 500mm, On/Off Pull Cord, PH
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Created in the late 1930s, the PH mirror features backlit illumination that provides a reflection that is free from shadows and glare. PH’s wall mounted mirror design fits harmonious...
Aluminum
PH Mirror, red painted satin matt, diameter 500mm, on/off pull cord, ph initials
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Created in the late 1930s, the PH mirror features backlit illumination that provides a reflection that is free from shadows and glare. PH’s wall mounted mirror design fits harmonious...
Aluminum
PH Mirror, Aluminium Brushed, diameter 500mm, On/Off Pull Cord, PH Initials
Located in Copenhagen, DK
"Created in the late 1930s, the PH mirror features backlit illumination that provides a reflection that is free from shadows and glare. PH’s wall-mounted mir...
Aluminum
PH Mirror, White Painted Satin Matt, diameter 700mm, on/off Pull Cord, Ph
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Created in the late 1930s, the PH mirror features backlit illumination that provides a reflection that is free from shadows and glare. PH’s wall mounted mirror design fits harmonious...
Aluminum