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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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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 chaircrafted 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.

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Style: Modern
Color:  White
Marc Newson Felt Armchair in Fiberglass Shell with Glossy Finish for Cappellini
Located in New York, NY
An explosion of vitality: Felt chair by Marc Newson has a reinforced fiberglass shell that can be varnished with a glossy finish in a vast array of colors: orange, red, blue, white o...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Armchairs

Materials

Aluminum

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

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 DS 55 High Back Chair in White Leather Upholstery by De Sede Design Team
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The profile of the first DS-55 states: “The future belongs to high-backed chairs! As attractive individual pieces of furniture, they set accents and enliven every room as soloists.” ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Armchairs

Materials

Leather

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

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

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

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 Thinking Man's Outdoor Chair in Gypsum White for Cappellini
Located in New York, NY
An eloquent name for a product that invites contemplation. For the Thinking Manâ’s Chair, Jasper Morrison envisioned a design in which all the elements are functional contributions t...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Armchairs

Materials

Metal

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

e15 Customizable Byron Lounge Armchair by Florian Asche and Philipp Mainzer
By e15, Florian Asche and Philipp Mainzer
Located in New York, NY
The armchair Byron with its clear lines and distinctive armrests resembles a modern take on a Classic smoking chair. Byron has a Classic wooden construction with a solid wood materia...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary German 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

Werner Aisslinger Juli Plastic Chair in Metal Base & Plastic Shell by 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

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

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

Armchair in Vegetable Tanned Leather and Oiled Laser-Cut Steel
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Bulging over its edges, this contemporary single sofa seat by Klein Agency screams comfort. Puffy cushions hug the laser cut steel frame, crea...
Category

2010s American Modern Armchairs

Materials

Cut Steel

Ghidini 1961 Frame Armchair with Arms in Cuoio Leather by Stefano Giovannoni
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
Stefano Giovannoni designs frame for Ghidini 1961, a new collection composed of sofas, armchairs, dining and coffee tables, bookshelves and cabinets. Everything starts from a simple ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Armchairs

Materials

Fabric

Rex Posture Support Leather Armchair by FSM
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

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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