Modern Armchairs
MODERN STYLE
The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw sweeping social change and major scientific advances — both of which contributed to a new aesthetic: modernism. Rejecting the rigidity of Victorian artistic conventions, modernists sought a new means of expression. References to the natural world and ornate classical embellishments gave way to the sleek simplicity of the Machine Age. Architect Philip Johnson characterized the hallmarks of modernism as “machine-like simplicity, smoothness or surface [and] avoidance of ornament.”
Early practitioners of modernist design include the De Stijl (“The Style”) group, founded in the Netherlands in 1917, and the Bauhaus School, founded two years later in Germany.
Followers of both groups produced sleek, spare designs — many of which became icons of daily life in the 20th century. The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics. While Bauhaus principals Marcel Breuer and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe created furniture from mass-produced, chrome-plated steel, American visionaries like Charles and Ray Eames worked in materials as novel as molded plywood and fiberglass. Today, Breuer’s Wassily chair, Mies van der Rohe’s Barcelona chair — crafted with his romantic partner, designer Lilly Reich — and the Eames lounge chair are emblems of progressive design and vintage originals are prized cornerstones of collections.
It’s difficult to overstate the influence that modernism continues to wield over designers and architects — and equally difficult to overstate how revolutionary it was when it first appeared a century ago. But because modernist furniture designs are so simple, they can blend in seamlessly with just about any type of décor. Don’t overlook them.
Style: Modern
Color: Orange
Filou Adjustable Reclining Leather Easy Lounge Chair by FSM
Located in Brooklyn, NY
FSM Filou chair by De Sede. Filou's seat and footrest are fully crafted and can be stopped at any angle without any effort. A clever solution presents the upholstery from being undul...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Armchairs
Materials
Leather
Cleo Adjustable Reclining Leather Easy Lounge Chair by FSM
Located in Brooklyn, NY
FSM Cleo chair by De Sede. Slim and self-assured in every setting – the Cleo easy-chair is made for relaxing. Its striking modern lines transform it into a contemporary sculpture tha...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Armchairs
Materials
Leather
Pavo Adjustable Leather Armchair by FSM
Located in Brooklyn, NY
FSM Pavo chair by De Sede. The all-purpose armchair. Pavo has many facets, whether as an elegant side armchair or as a comfortable relaxing armchair with remarkable functions. Pavo o...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Armchairs
Materials
Leather
Louise Upholstered Armchair in Beechwood Legs, by Miniforms Lab
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Here you are shown the Louise upholstered armchair with beech wood legs, and multiple upholstering options by Miniforms Lab. The Louise Armchair is also available with an ash stained...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Armchairs
Materials
Upholstery, Beech
Marcel Wanders Dalia Armchair with Fabric or Leather Upholstery for Cappellini
Located in New York, NY
Charming at first glance: the Dalia armchair by Marcel Wanders is a floral embrace whose sensual curves capture the soul in poetic suspense. An iconic element of design, with a conte...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Armchairs
Materials
Foam, Resin
Jasper Morrison Low Pad Armchair in Beech with Fabric or Leather for Cappellini
Located in New York, NY
Maximum comfort, minimum dimensions: this was the underlying study behind this design by Jasper Morrison. The low pad has a shell made of curved beech plywood ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Armchairs
Materials
Foam, Beech, Plywood
De Sede Leather Armchair by Stephan Hürlemann
Located in Brooklyn, NY
DS-77/01 armchair by De Sede.
Technical details:
Standard configuration: Steel legs, matte dark nickel coating. Standard seat and back heights. Neck support in brushed stainless ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Armchairs
Materials
Leather
Werner Aisslinger Juli Plastic Chair in Polished Aluminum for Cappellini
Located in New York, NY
The Juli plastic armchair, by Werner Aisslinger, reflects new experimental frontiers. Over the decades, this chair has lent itself to numerous creative and constructive interpretatio...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Armchairs
Materials
Metal
"Mingx" Leather and Steel Armchair Designed by Konstantin Grcic for Driade
Located in Brooklyn, NY
"Mingx" is an armchair, designed by Konstantin Grcic and manufactured by Driade, with structure in printed steel sheet and rod with polyester painted in orange, light gray, bronze or...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Armchairs
Materials
Steel
De Sede DS-144 Armchair in Maine Orange Upholstery by Werner Aisslinger
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Sit the way you would sit in a racing car. Minimalist, streamlined lan guage of design for maximum seating comfort: sitting in the lounge chair is like sitting in a quick, sleek spee...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Armchairs
Materials
Leather
Sunset Armchair in Beech with Orange Hallingdal Fabric by Christophe Pillet
Located in New York, NY
The sunset armchair by Christophe Pillet has a swiveling design and backrest and seat made of curved beechwood; the base is made of satined stainless steel. The padding of the sunset...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Armchairs
Materials
Stainless Steel
Marcel Wanders Wanders' Tulip Armchair in Fiberglass and Resin Shell, Cappellini
Located in New York, NY
A sculptural presence makes the Wanders' Tulip armchair, by Marcel Wanders, an exceptional protagonist in any setting: ideal in spacious areas, both contract and private, thanks to t...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Armchairs
Materials
Resin, Fiberglass, Foam
Blush Pink Shearling & Antique Brass Armchair with Wing Table
By Stephen Kenn
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The refined design of the Inheritance Armchair is juxtaposed here with a luxurious and plush shearling upholstery set in a contemporary color palette.
This variation is upholstered...
Category
2010s American Modern Armchairs
Materials
Nickel
Cappellini High Time Small Armchair in Fabric or Leather by Christophe Pillet
Located in New York, NY
Extreme visual lightness, extreme versatility: the High Time sofa, designed by Christophe Pillet, can be used to create studied, yet essential compositions that reflect the individua...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Armchairs
Materials
Metal
"Mingx" Leather and Steel Armchair Designed by Konstantin Grcic for Driade
Located in Brooklyn, NY
"Mingx" is an armchair, designed by Konstantin Grcic and manufactured by Driade, with a structure in printed steel sheet and rod with polyester painted in orange, light gray, bronze ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Armchairs
Materials
Steel
Sergia Armchair in Natural Ash, Upholstery, by Francesco Beghetto
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Here you are shown Sergia armchair in natural ash and upholstery cushions. The Sergia Armchair is offered with customizable options with a wooden base and frame in natural ash, ash s...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Armchairs
Materials
Wood
Smile Adjustable Rotating Leather Armchair by FSM
Located in Brooklyn, NY
FSM Smile chair by De Sede. With its new, patented adjustment mechanism, Smile offers comfort that stands out from the rest and can be stopped at any angle...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Armchairs
Materials
Leather
Pli Dual Rotation Multi-Functional Leather Armchair by FSM
Located in Brooklyn, NY
FSM Pli chair by De Sede. A miracle of rotation. The chair Pli consists of two armchair parts, each rotating about its own axis. Thanks to the option of Dual rotation the armchair can fulfill a variety of functions and surprises the person seated with unimagined flexibility. Depending on how the two chair parts are rotated relative to one another, the armchair can be used with an armrest, a footrest or an intelligent shelf. The needs and demands of the person seated are virtually limitless. Designer Stefan Heiliger’s basic IDEA was to create a functional armchair that can be operated differently. Previous functional armchairs had a footrest that could be pulled up or an armrest that could be folded up individually. Pli can do without all this. This smart swivel armchair revolutionarily fulfills the arm- or footrest functions with the correct pivot point. The design of the dynamic seating object looks stately. This is how Pli lends a tasteful touch of extravagance to the commercial and residential settings alike.
Details:
Standard configuration: Round base and column coated in matte black with a fine texture.
Upholstery and assembly: Seat, back and footrest: supporting metal structure, high bulk density molded foam. Seat and back with comfort upholstery, back with integrated lumbar support.
Seat comfort: Ergonomically designed seat with soft upholstery.
Function: Footrest and armchair can be rotated 360° independently of one another.
Substructure: Round base and column coated in matte black with a fine texture. Pearl-gloss chrome-plated or coated in different color on request for a surcharge. Double-shell steel structure with closed round base. Synthetic slide-on glides also supplied.
Note: The seat and back are loosely covered...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Armchairs
Materials
Leather
De Sede Fixed Leather Armchair by Alfredo Häberli
Located in Brooklyn, NY
DS-110/101 armchair by De Sede.
Technical details:
Standard configuration: Thread color according to the color of the body. For further versions, please inquire. If not specified...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Armchairs
Materials
Leather
Cappellini Newood Relax Light Armchair in Beech & Ashwood by Brogliato Traverso
Located in New York, NY
The Newood Relax Light chair, by BrogliatoTraverso, is an elegant interpretation of the Newood chair, but this version is lighter due to the elimination of the eight rods that charac...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Armchairs
Materials
Ash, Beech, Foam
Customizable Artifort Kalm Armchair with Wooden Base by Patrick Norguet
Located in New York, NY
Kalm is Artifort’s large, new cosy armchair by our French designer Patrick Norguet. It is a sanctuary in its own right, a place to unwind and get comfortable. With Kalm, Patrick Norg...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Dutch Modern Armchairs
Materials
Textile
Johan Lindstèn Embroidery Simple Armchair in Fabric or Leather for Cappellini
Located in New York, NY
Simple, refined, versatile: the Embroidery Simple chair designed by Johan Lindstén is a tasteful accent for private or professional settings, thanks to a presence that is discrete ye...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Armchairs
Materials
Beech, Poplar, Foam
Nube Italia Gordon Armchair in Orange by Kemistry of Style
Located in New York, NY
Inner steel frame covered with polyurethane cold-foam. Bright or brushed chromium-plated base. Not removable cover.
Kemistry of style was launched in 2001 by Marco Corti, a respec...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Armchairs
Materials
Steel, Chrome
21st Century Belmer Armchair in Velvet by Matteo Cibic
Located in Cantù, Lombardia
"Between sculpture and design, Belmer is a wonder object suggesting a newly discovered sociality. Unusual encounter of irregular shapes, it appears as an alien organism, coming from ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Armchairs
Materials
Metal
Emeco 1 Inch Reclaimed Chair in Orange by Jasper Morrison
By Emeco, Jasper Morrison
Located in Hanover, PA
For the 1 Inch Reclaimed Jasper Morrison designed a one-piece mono-block stackable chair, that is useful and durable, engineered to meet the demands of high use environments, and sui...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Armchairs
Materials
Plastic
Italian Leather Armchair by Claudio Salocchi
Located in Munich, Bavaria
This unique armchair with its 1970s design by Claudio Salocchi is characterized by the rotating headrest and adjustable supports.
Very unusual is also the abstract leather embossing...
Category
20th Century Italian Modern Armchairs
Materials
Leather
Ghidini1961 Katana Armchair in Fabric with Polished Brass Legs by Paolo Rizzatto
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
This three-legged armchair with a comfortable backrest is an invitation to relax, to enjoy the minutes slowly. The elliptical section of the leg emphasizes its elegant and solid supp...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Armchairs
Materials
Fabric
Rex Posture Support Leather Armchair by FSM
By De Sede
Located in Brooklyn, NY
FSM Rex chair by De Sede. The armchair Rex revolutionizes the act of sitting. Like the De Sede model DS-343, the armchair Rex is based on a patented seat study developed over the last two decades by seat expert and physical therapist Bart Van der Heyden...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Armchairs
Materials
Leather
Upholstered and Leather Club Chair, Approx. 1960
Located in Kastrup, DK
Danish upholstered and leather club chair, circa 1960, with a tub back and partially padded leather armrest.
Original leather with a warm patina and new upholstery from Baker.
Category
1950s Danish Vintage Modern Armchairs
Materials
Leather, Fabric, Wood
Contemporary Barrel Armchair Upholstered in Orange Velvet
Located in New York, NY
Handcrafted armchair shown in fumed word frame with burnt orange velvet and black piping.
Multiple layers of foam with various densities provide high level of comfort.
Stain resistant and water repellent...
Category
2010s Portuguese Modern Armchairs
Materials
Velvet, Wood
Gufram Roxanne Armchair in Orange Melange by Michael Young
Located in La Morra, Cuneo
The name of this seat evokes music as well as Michael Young's passion for Sting and the Police. And music played a fundamental role in the conception of this sinuous armchair: as a m...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Armchairs
Materials
Fabric, Wood
Modern armchairs for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Modern 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, asian art and furniture and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with fabric, wood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Modern armchairs made in a specific country, there are Europe, Italy, and Portugal pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original armchairs, popular names associated with this style include Finn Juhl, De Sede, Jaime Hayon, and Philippe Starck. 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 $139 and tops out at $497,965 while the average work can sell for $4,833.
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