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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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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
Creator: Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH
Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH Magistretti 03 01 Armchair in Red Lacquered Beech
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Designed by Vico Magistretti in 2003, the Magistretti 03 01 chair combines the warmth of wood and the timeless elegance of the design language of Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH (GTV) wi...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Modern Armchairs

Materials

Wood

Pair of Black Armchairs with White Leather Upholstery by Thonet, at circa 1980
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Incredible looking pair of black lacquered armchairs made by the renown company of Thonet Vienna around 1980. These timeless designed black armchairs from the late 20th century impress with elegant lines and were crafted out of fine beechwood. The still original white leather upholstery shows minimal signs of use and age and build a great contrast to the black frames. A really fantastic, timeless designed pair of contemporary armchairs from the 1980s in Austria, manufactured by the famous company of Thonet Vienna. PLEASE NOTE: we also offer the matching black round coffe table/ side table from Thonet, which would perfectly transforms this pair of armchairs into an amazing coffee seating set. (please see pictures #3, #16 & #19) It would also be a great addition to our offered black Thonet writing desk...
Category

Late 20th Century Austrian Modern Armchairs

Materials

Leather, Beech

Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH Czech Black Armchair with Upholstered Seat & Beech
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Designed in 1994, the Hermann Czech chair represents the turning point of modern furniture towards the passion of reminiscence and intimacy: a contemporary design that evokes memorie...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Modern Armchairs

Materials

Wood

Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH Czech Armchair in Orange with Plywood & Birch Feet
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Designed in 1994, the Hermann Czech chair represents the turning point of modern furniture towards the passion of reminiscence and intimacy: a contemporary design that evokes memorie...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Modern Armchairs

Materials

Wood

Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH Loie Armchair in Dark Walnut with Metal Base
Located in Brooklyn, NY
With a balanced style and passion for high craftsmanship, Chiara Andreatti brands LOÏE, a lounge chair with harmonious curves, combining ease and refinement. A pursuit of elegant cra...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Modern Armchairs

Materials

Wood

Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH Czech Armchair in Flame Red with Upholstered Seat
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Designed in 1994, the Hermann Czech chair represents the turning point of modern furniture towards the passion of reminiscence and intimacy: a contemporary design that evokes memorie...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Modern Armchairs

Materials

Wood

Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH Czech Armchair in Steel Blue with Plywood Seat
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Designed in 1994, the Hermann Czech chair represents the turning point of modern furniture towards the passion of reminiscence and intimacy: a contemporary design that evokes memorie...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Modern Armchairs

Materials

Wood

Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH Wiener 144 Armchair in Walnut with Upholstered Seat
Located in Brooklyn, NY
An unusual classic. Elegant and comfortable. The new color variants of this chair evoke the ambiance of the cafe society. A new edition of the model originally designed by Adolf Loos...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Modern Armchairs

Materials

Wood

Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH Czech Armchair in Dark Walnut with Plywood Seat
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Designed in 1994, the Hermann Czech chair represents the turning point of modern furniture towards the passion of reminiscence and intimacy: a contemporary design that evokes memorie...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Modern Armchairs

Materials

Wood

Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH Pince Armchair in Beech with Upholstered Seat
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Tradition meets modernity in the carefully selected materials and shapes of the PINCE armchair, also by LucidiPevere. Its distinctive “C” in curved ash defines the backrest and is the key element of the design, a contemporary interpretation of the classic GTV design...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Modern Armchairs

Materials

Wood

Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH Sugiloo Chair in Black Lacquer
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The rigorous style of Michael Anastassiades defines the new SUGILOO bent wood chair with wood or upholstered seat, proposed with and without wooden bac...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Modern Armchairs

Materials

Wood

Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH Sugiloo Chair in Dark Green by Michael Anastassiades
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The rigorous style of Michael Anastassiades defines the new SUGILOO bent wood chair with wood or upholstered seat, proposed with and without wooden backrest. A strongly contemporary ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Modern Armchairs

Materials

Beech

Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH Sugiloo Chair in Black Lacquer in Backrest
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The rigorous style of Michael Anastassiades defines the new SUGILOO bent wood chair with wood or upholstered seat, proposed with and without wooden backrest. A strongly contemporary ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Modern Armchairs

Materials

Wood

Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH Magistretti 03 01 Armchair in Beech
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Designed by Vico Magistretti in 2003, the Magistretti 03 01 chair combines the warmth of wood and the timeless elegance of the design language of Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH (GTV) wi...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Modern Armchairs

Materials

Wood

Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH Wiener 144 Armchair in Walnut with Upholstered Seat
Located in Brooklyn, NY
An unusual classic. Elegant and comfortable. The new color variants of this chair evoke the ambiance of the cafe society. A new edition of the model originally designed by Adolf Loos...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Modern Armchairs

Materials

Wood

Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH Hold On Armchair in Wenge with Upholstered Seat
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The bent beech-wood structure of HOLD ON reveals a large and welcoming seat that can house a soft cushion, available in the fabrics of the collection: an armchair that can easily fit into home and contract environments, communicating perfectly with other elements of the Wiener GTV Design...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Modern Armchairs

Materials

Wood

Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH Twiggy Armchair in Steel with Orange & Backrest
Located in Brooklyn, NY
An unusual classic. Elegant and comfortable. The new color variants of this chair evoke the ambiance of the cafe society. A new edition of the model originally designed by Adolf Loos...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Modern Armchairs

Materials

Steel

Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH Sugiloo Chair with Armrest & Upholsterd Seat
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The rigorous style of Michael Anastassiades defines the new SUGILOO bent wood chair with wood or upholstered seat, proposed with and without wooden backrest. A strongly contemporary ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Modern Armchairs

Materials

Beech

Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH Brezel Armchair in Curry Yellow and Upholstered Seat
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The armchair, Brezel, by the creative duo Lucidi Pevere, enriches the home with its playful and versatile presence. Its wooden structure is enriched with decorative curved beech elem...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Modern Armchairs

Materials

Wood

Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH 144 Armchair in Walnut with Strip Pattern Seat
Located in Brooklyn, NY
An unusual classic. Elegant and comfortable. The new color variants of this chair evoke the ambiance of the cafe society. A new edition of the model originally designed by Adolf Loos...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Modern Armchairs

Materials

Wood

Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH Magistretti 03 01 Armchair in Lacquered Beech
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Designed by Vico Magistretti in 2003, the Magistretti 03 01 chair combines the warmth of wood and the timeless elegance of the design language of Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH (GTV) wi...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Modern Armchairs

Materials

Wood

Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH Brezel Armchair in Blue Grey with Upholstered Seat
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The armchair, Brezel, by the creative duo Lucidi Pevere, enriches the home with its playful and versatile presence. Its wooden structure is enriched with decorative curved beech elem...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Modern Armchairs

Materials

Wood

Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH Magistretti 03 01 Armchair in Beech with Leather
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Designed by Vico Magistretti in 2003, the Magistretti 03 01 chair combines the warmth of wood and the timeless elegance of the design language of Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH (GTV) wi...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Modern Armchairs

Materials

Wood

Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH Twiggy Armchair in Steel with Black & Backrest
Located in Brooklyn, NY
An unusual classic. Elegant and comfortable. The new color variants of this chair evoke the ambiance of the cafe society. A new edition of the model originally designed by Adolf Loos, with an austere steam bentwood beech design that slims the backrest and redesigns space. The ring-shaped seat stabilizes the feet bent from a single piece of wood. Back legs and backrest have also been formed from a single piece of bentwood. Available with a wide range of different seats. Additional Info: Materials: Steel. Dimensions: H 33 x W 18.1 x D 16.5 inch Seat height: 18.1 inch Armrest height: 24.8 inch WIENER GTV DESIGN is a trademark which distinguishes the historical and contemporary collection of Gebrüder Thonet...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Modern Armchairs

Materials

Steel

Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH 144 Armchair in Walnut with Cane Seat
Located in Brooklyn, NY
An unusual classic. Elegant and comfortable. The new color variants of this chair evoke the ambiance of the cafe society. A new edition of the model originally designed by Adolf Loos...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Modern Armchairs

Materials

Wood

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Category

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Category

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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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