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Bauhaus Armchairs

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
Creator: Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
Mies Van Der Rohe Brno Armchairs in Leather and Chrome
Located in Almelo, NL
Mies van der Rohe Brno Armchairs in Leather and Chrome. This set of four Mies van der Rohe Brno armchairs, model 255, in polished chrome-plated flat bar steel with original leathe...
Category

Late 20th Century American Bauhaus Armchairs

Materials

Steel, Chrome

Set of Eight Chrome Brno Chairs by Mies Van Der Rohe for Thonet
Located in Buffalo, NY
Set of eight chrome Brno chairs by Mies Van Der Rohe for Thonet, classic Bauhaus design, nice original condition, hand delivery avail to New York City or anywhere en route from Buffa...
Category

1990s American Bauhaus Armchairs

Materials

Chrome

Bauhaus MR 20 Cantilever Arm Chairs by Mies Van Der Rohe for Stendig
Located in Detroit, MI
This pair of vintage Mies van der Rohe MR 20 cantilevered cane arm chairs made by Stendig are circa 1970. The MR chair was designed by modernist archit...
Category

1970s Vintage Bauhaus Armchairs

Materials

Steel, Chrome

Classic Midcentury Brno Chairs by Mies van der Rohe for Gordon International
Located in Buffalo, NY
Classic set of 4 midcentury Brno chairs by Mies van der Rohe for Gordon International, beautiful polished chrome tubular steel, retain original orange wool fabric, minor blemishes an...
Category

1970s American Vintage Bauhaus Armchairs

Materials

Chrome

Pair of Mies van der Rohe Tubular Chrome Brno Chairs by Knoll
Located in Hanover, MA
Designed in 1930 for the Tugendhat house in Brno, Czechoslovakia, the Brno chair is in the Pantheon of modern design icons. The cantilevered frame is a single piece of tubular chrome...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Bauhaus Armchairs

Materials

Chrome

Rattan MR Chair by Mies Van Der Rohe, Rare Elegant Tecta Variant
Located in Grand Cayman, KY
Iconic Mid-Century Modern cantilever MR Chair by Mies Van Der Rohe in chromed bent tube steel and stunning original rattan weave. This beautiful example...
Category

Mid-20th Century German Bauhaus Armchairs

Materials

Metal, Steel, Chrome

Armchair Barcelona by Mies Van Der Rohe, circa 2010
Located in Saint ouen, FR
Mies Van Der Rohe Barcelona Barcelona Armchair and its ottoman, 2010 Publisher KNOLL Black leather and chromed steel Dimensions: Armchair: W 75cm x D 77cm x H 77cm - Seat H 4...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary European Bauhaus Armchairs

Materials

Leather

Early Thonet S533 RF Cane Weißenhof Armchair Chair Mies van der Rohe Set of 2
Located in Munich, Bavaria
These Cantilever vintage armchairs are Bauhaus classics and were designed by Mies van der Rohe and knowned by the name Weißenhof Chair.This pair were produced by Thonet with the Model name S533 RF. 3 license holders are producing this chair today. As well as Knoll International MR10. Tecta B42 and this 2 Thonet S533...
Category

Mid-20th Century German Bauhaus Armchairs

Materials

Steel, Chrome

Set of 4 Black Leather and Chrome "Brno" Armchairs
Located in Buffalo, NY
Set of 4 black leather and chrome "Brno" armchairs. Nice original condition, unknown maker, possibly Italian, quality construction,.
Category

20th Century Unknown Bauhaus Armchairs

Materials

Chrome

Classic set 6 Brno Chairs , , Black Leather & Chrome, , MADE BY kNOLL sTUDIO'S
Located in Buffalo, NY
Classic set of 6 Brno Chairs made by Knoll Studios,, Wonderfull Black leather and polished Chrome..Extremely comfortable,,, Retain original Knoll labels...
Category

2010s American Bauhaus Armchairs

Materials

Chrome

Related Items
Vintage Ivory Leather Copper Frame Tubular Knoll Brno Chair, Mies van der Rohe
Located in Pasadena, TX
A vintage Knoll Brno chair designed by Mies van der Rohe with tubular steel frame. This chair has been lovingly restored with a new ivory leather with a frame powder coated in a rust...
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1960s American Vintage Bauhaus Armchairs

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Stainless Steel

Set of 6 Mies van der Rohe MR10 white cantilever dining chairs for Thonet, 1980s
Located in amstelveen, NL
An iconic set of 6 MR10 (256CS/MR533) cantilever dining chairs designed by Mies van der Rohe and manufactured by Thonet. Chrome-plated tubular steel frames with white saddle leather ...
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1980s Vintage Bauhaus Armchairs

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2 Leather MR10 Chairs by Ludwig Mies Van Der Rohe, 1960s
Located in Argelato, BO
Vintage set of 2 MR10 dining chairs by Mies Van der Rohe. Chrome cantilevered frames with black original leather
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1970s Vintage Bauhaus Armchairs

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Metal

Rare Set of 8 Mies van der Rohe for Knoll MR10 and MR20 Chairs
Located in Phoenix, AZ
Rare Set of 8 Mies van der Rohe for Knoll MR10 and MR20 Chairs This exceptional set of eight chairs by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe for Knoll represents the epitome of modernist design. Comprising six MR10 and twor MR20 chairs, this collection showcases Mies' commitment to simplicity, functionality, and elegance in both form and material. Style & Usage in Interior Design These chairs belong to the Bauhaus and International Style, characterized by clean lines, minimal ornamentation, and an emphasis on the use of modern materials. The MR10 chairs are armless, offering a sleek and unobtrusive silhouette perfect for dining or office spaces where a minimalist aesthetic is desired. The MR20 chairs, featuring a distinctive curved armrest, provide additional comfort and a more commanding presence, making them ideal as statement pieces in living rooms, lounges, or reading nooks. In interior design, these chairs are best used in spaces that celebrate the beauty of industrial materials like steel and leather. They complement open-plan layouts, where their airy structure can be fully appreciated, and they pair well with other iconic mid-century modern pieces. Key Differences: MR10 vs. MR20 MR10 Chairs: Armless design, characterized by a continuous steel frame that supports the seat and back. Their simplicity allows them to fit seamlessly into various spaces, from dining rooms to offices. MR20 Chairs: Include curved armrests, adding both aesthetic and functional value. These chairs provide more support and comfort, making them suitable for longer periods of sitting or as standalone accent pieces. Mies van der Rohe: A Brief History Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, born in Germany in 1886, was a pioneering figure in modern architecture and design. He began his career in his family's stone-carving business, later studying architecture and working under the influential architect Peter Behrens. Mies was a leading member of the Bauhaus movement, which emphasized the integration of art, craft, and technology. In 1938, Mies emigrated to the United States, where he became the head of the architecture school at the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT). His work in America solidified his reputation as one of the most influential architects of the 20th century. Architectural Legacy Mies van der Rohe's architectural philosophy is encapsulated in his famous dictum, "Less is more." His buildings are renowned for their clarity of form, open spaces, and use of modern materials such as glass and steel. His approach sought to create structures that were both functional and aesthetically pleasing, stripping away unnecessary ornamentation to reveal the essence of the design. Notable Works: The Barcelona Pavilion (1929): A masterwork of modern architecture, showcasing Mies' minimalist approach with its flowing spaces and use of glass, marble, and steel. The Farnsworth House (1951): An iconic example of his philosophy, this glass and steel structure is celebrated for its simplicity and seamless integration with the surrounding landscape. The Seagram Building (1958): Located in New York City, this skyscraper is a landmark of the International Style, known for its clean lines, bronze facade, and innovative use of space. This rare set of MR10...
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Bauhaus Armchairs

Materials

Chrome

One Authentic Knoll Brno Chair by Mies Van Der Rohe in Black Leather
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
One black leather Brno chair with tubular frame and thin pad seat and back as was the original design. Ludwig Mies van der Rohe by Knoll. Beautiful showing very little use. 800 per ...
Category

1990s American Bauhaus Armchairs

Materials

Chrome

Bauhaus MR 10 Side Chairs by Mies Van Der Rohe for Stendig, 1970s
Located in Detroit, MI
This set of vintage Mies van der Rohe MR 10 cantilevered cane side chairs produced by Stendig are circa 1970. The MR chair was designed by modernist ar...
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Bauhaus Armchairs

Materials

Steel, Chrome

L. Mies Van Der Rohe — set of 4 "MR10" Chairs
Located in Paris, FR
Set of four armchairs, model "MR10" 1980s reissue, equipped with leather instead of the textile used in the original 1930s edition. The reissued chairs are functional and can be use...
Category

20th Century German Bauhaus Armchairs

Materials

Chrome

Ludwig Mies Van der Rohe Mr. Longue Chair
Located in Čelinac, BA
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe Mr. Longue Chair for Knoll 1960s
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Bauhaus Armchairs

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Chrome

Ludwig Mies Van der Rohe Mr. Longue Chair
Ludwig Mies Van der Rohe Mr. Longue Chair
H 31.89 in W 24.02 in D 35.83 in
Authentic Mint Set of Four Midcentury Knoll Brno Chairs by Mies van der Rohe
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
Special order red leather chairs upholstered by Knoll. Beautiful showing very little use.
Category

1990s North American Bauhaus Armchairs

Materials

Chrome

Set of Eight, Ten or 12 Mies Van Der Rohe Tubular Brno Chairs by Knoll
Located in Highland, IN
These tubular Brno chairs by Mies van deer Rohe have stainless steel frames and are upholstered in Eames small dot fabric, giving a lighter, playful touch to an otherwise sober refin...
Category

1930s American Vintage Bauhaus Armchairs

Materials

Stainless Steel

4 Ludwig Mies van der Rohe Mr10 Dining Chairs 1960s Knoll International
Located in London, GB
Complete set of four chrome cantilever MR10 chairs by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, in brown leather. This set of chairs is an early 1960s example of his famous design produced by Knoll International. The MR10 chair was first designed in the 1920s, and this set of four features the chrome springs on the backs and seats. Later the design was improved, with a shortening of the springs and a reversion to an elastic corset cord. The chairs still bear the oval sticker marks on the back of the bottom of the seats. MR10 chairs are really comfortable, and are a real design Classic, as seen in many films and other media. Our MR10 chairs recently have been used to decorate the interior of a restaurant in London, which was featured in Architectural Digest, Dezeen, Elle Decoration, and many other publications (as shown in the images, which are property of Child Studio...
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1960s American Vintage Bauhaus Armchairs

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Steel, Chrome

Early Set of 4 'MR10' Chairs by Mies Van Der Rohe for Knoll, 1960s
Located in Antwerpen, VAN
Wonderful set of 4 Bauhaus design classics. The 'MR10' cantiliver chair was designed by Mies Van Der Rohe in 1927. These are early black leather examples from the 1960s produced by K...
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Mid-20th Century American Bauhaus Armchairs

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Steel

Previously Available Items
Set of two Mies van der Rohe MR2 chairs
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Two Italien Bauhaus chairs in wicker and chrome. Designed by Mies van der Rohe in 1927 - however, the manufacturer is unknown. These chairs were produced in the late 1970s / 1980s....
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Bauhaus Armchairs

Materials

Chrome

Set of two Mies van der Rohe MR2 chairs
Set of two Mies van der Rohe MR2 chairs
H 33.86 in W 21.66 in D 30.32 in
Pair of Armchair Barcelona by Mies Van Der Rohe, circa 1970
Located in Saint ouen, FR
Barcelona Chair by Mies Van der Rohe and Lily Reich Anniversary limited edition, red signature The Barcelona armchair was created for the Spanish royal c...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary European Bauhaus Armchairs

Materials

Leather

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe MR20 Gebruder Thonet Germany / Austria, 1927
Located in Camden, ME
An early example of Mies van der Rohe's great classic Bauhaus armchair the MR20. Margaretha Reichardt (1907-1984) also known as Grete Reichardt, was a textile artist, weaver, and gr...
Category

1920s Austrian Vintage Bauhaus Armchairs

Materials

Metal, Steel, Chrome

Mies Van Der Rohe 1970s Armchair, Cowhide and Polished Steel
Located in Valladolid, ES
Magnificent midcentury armchair "Brno Flat chair" design by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe for Knoll. Seat produced in the 1970s with a modern and contemporary aesthetics. The structure is...
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1970s French Vintage Bauhaus Armchairs

Materials

Steel

1980s Knoll Barcelona Chairs Black Leather Set of 2
Located in IT
Barcelona armchairs, 1980s production, set of two armchairs. Excellent conditions. They feature original sticker. The leather cushions have been renewed with "primo fiore " high qual...
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Late 20th Century Italian Bauhaus Armchairs

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Steel

Classic Pair of Brno Chairs Designed by Mies Van Der Rohe for Knoll
Located in Buffalo, NY
Matching pair of Brno chairs designed by Mies Van Der Rohe for Knoll, flat bar steel frames, stunning custom order fabric, one chair minor wear, retain original Knoll labels.
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1980s American Vintage Bauhaus Armchairs

Materials

Steel

Armchair Barcelona by Mies Van Der Rohe, circa 2020
Located in Saint ouen, FR
Mies van den Rohe Barcelona armchair Knoll edition, circa 2020 White leather/ stainless steel Signed / engraved In perfect condition.       
Category

21st Century and Contemporary European Bauhaus Armchairs

Materials

Leather

Modern Leather and Steel Brno Lounge Armchair by Mies van der Rohe for Knoll
Located in Shippensburg, PA
An iconic and very finely fabricated chair, this BRNO flat bar armchair was designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and manufactured by Knoll in stainless steel. The chair is stamped KP underneath the flat feet for Knoll Productions. It is expertly upholstered in a caramel top...
Category

1960s American Vintage Bauhaus Armchairs

Materials

Stainless Steel

6 Mies van der Rohe style Cantilever Brno Dining Chairs, Italy circa 1970
Located in Southampton, NJ
A set of 6 solid chromed steel flat bar cantilever Brno dining chairs designed by Mies van der Rohe and produced in Italy. Extremely comfortable des...
Category

1970s American Vintage Bauhaus Armchairs

Materials

Stainless Steel

Black Leather Flat Bar Brno Chairs by Mies Van Der Rohe & Lilly Reich by Gordon
Located in Topeka, KS
Handsome pair of black leather and chrome flat bar Brno chairs designed by Mies Van Der Rohe and Lilly Reich produced by Gordon International. One is in wonderful vintage condition. The other is in almost wonderful condition. The leather on both is perfect and the chrome on one is as well. But, the chrome on the other has some pitting on the flat part of the legs. We have cleaned it with lemon juice and 000 steel wool, circa 1980s-1990s. Please see photos The Brno MR50 cantilever chair is one of my very favorite iconic chairs. And these two, which are circa late 20th century, are outstanding and in my favorite color….black. The “official” holder of the license to produce the Brno chair is Knoll; however, many claim the design is in the public domain and able to be produced by anyone. And, they do. One of the best companies making them and, in my opinion, closest in quality to Knoll, is the maker of this pair, Gordon International. The chair was designed in 1930 by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe with much assistance, albeit unrewarded in her lifetime, from Lilly Reich for the renowned Tugendhat House in Brno, Czech Republic. The form is influenced by and roughly based on the earlier cantilevered chair designs by Marcel Breuer and Mart Stam. Interestingly, although there were 24 tubular Brno chairs in the Tugendhat House, there was only one flat bar example which was in the master bedroom. Due to this fact the flat bar chair was not put into mass production until after 1958 when Phillip Johnson requested of Knoll to produce them for his design of the Four Seasons restaurant. The original design was tweaked somewhat, in particular adding padding to the seat and back for more comfort, with approval from Mies. Ludwig Mies van der Rohe was born Maria Ludwig Michael Mies on March 27, 1886 in Germany. He was commonly referred to as Mies. He changed his name to reflect a higher societal standing. He is considered one of the pioneers of modernist design in both architecture and furnishings. Early in his career he worked in his father’s stone carving shop and several design firms. Then, moving to Berlin, he worked alongside Le Corbusier and Walter Gropius. He was director of the famed Bauhaus, an influential school of modern design. But in 1932 fled Germany and the Nazi regime, along with their opposition to modernism, by moving to the United States and Chicago specifically where he headed the architecture school at the Armour Institute of Technology now the Illinois Institute of Technology. Some of his famed architectural designs are the Barcelona Pavilion, 1929; Villa Tugendhat, 1930; Crown Hall...
Category

20th Century Bauhaus Armchairs

Materials

Chrome

Pair of Dark Brown Leather MR Lounge Armchairs by Mies Van Der Rohe for Knoll
Located in Dronten, NL
Pair of MR lounge chairs designed in 1927 by Mies van der Rohe, made by Knoll International in 2002. Beautiful very dark chocolate leather, signed with impressed Knoll mark in the f...
Category

Early 2000s American Bauhaus Armchairs

Materials

Chrome

Mies van der Rohe for Knoll Brno, Set of Four Chairs in Leather with Arm Pads
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Mies van der Rohe for Knoll chair in leather with arm pads and flat banded triple plated chrome frames. Never used and perfect. Dated 2002 on Knoll production tags. Mies name etched ...
Category

1920s American Vintage Bauhaus Armchairs

Materials

Chrome

Bauhaus armchairs for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Bauhaus armchairs 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 armchairs created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include seating, building and garden elements and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, wood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Bauhaus armchairs made in a specific country, there are Europe, Germany, and Italy pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original armchairs, popular names associated with this style include Marcel Breuer, Thonet, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, and Gavina. 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 armchairs differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $330 and tops out at $107,000 while the average work can sell for $3,500.

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