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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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.
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Style: Modern
Number in Set: Set of 9
Saturn Chair, Chrome Finish Steel Frame and Cream Boucle Wool by Lara Bohinc
By Lara Bohinc
Located in Holland, AMSTERDAM
The distinctive Saturn chair is a return to the split sphere concepts Bohinc originally created for her jewelry collections such as Sun and Moon (2007) and Solaris (2012). This form ...
Category
2010s Portuguese Modern Armchairs
Materials
Metal
Modern Mel Armchair, Beige Linen Fabric, Handmade in Portugal by Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
Mel Armchair, Contemporary Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Greenapple.
The Mel armchair, named after nature’s purest and sweetest gift, brings forth the comforting e...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Armchairs
Materials
Brass
Salvador Dali Surrealist Leda Armchair Sculpture Black Label Limited Edition
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Leda armchair designed by Dali manufactured by BD.
All pieces of ironwork in this collection are made of brass. The black label Leda collection has an artisanal application of a spe...
Category
2010s Spanish Modern Armchairs
Materials
Metal
Ginga Armchair XL in Black Oak, Handcrafted in Portugal by Duistt
Located in Leça da Palmeira, PT
Ginga Armchair XL in Black Oak, Handcrafted in Portugal by Duistt
Ginga is the swaying movement of Brazilian martial art, Capoeira. It is characterized by a flowing movement from on...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Armchairs
Materials
Brass
Manhattan Blue Leather Armchair
Located in Westwood, NJ
Upholstered in top-grade Chateau Blue leather, this chair is a statement piece that adds a modern touch to any space. Its unique double iron frame not only provides robust support bu...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Modern Armchairs
Materials
Metal
Manhattan Brown Leather Armchair
Located in Westwood, NJ
Upholstered in top-grade Havana Brown leather, this chair is a statement piece that adds a modern touch to any space. Its unique double iron frame not only provides robust support bu...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Modern Armchairs
Materials
Metal
Lotus Armchair, Modern Brown Leather Sofa with Brass Legs
Located in London, GB
The Lotus collection was created as a reference of elegance and etiquette, imbuing its design of a magnetic personality with its geometrical beauty. Its structure is shaped from curv...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary European Modern Armchairs
Materials
Brass
Lotus Armchair, Modern Black Leather Sofa with Brass Legs
Located in London, GB
The Lotus collection was created as a reference of elegance and etiquette, imbuing its design of a magnetic personality with its geometrical beauty. Its structure is shaped from curv...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary European Modern Armchairs
Materials
Brass
Lotus Armchair, Modern White Leather Sofa with Brass Legs
Located in London, GB
The Lotus collection was created as a reference of elegance and etiquette, imbuing its design of a magnetic personality with its geometrical beauty. Its structure is shaped from curv...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary European Modern Armchairs
Materials
Brass
Modern Quilted Blue Leather Armchair
Located in Westwood, NJ
With top grain Chateau Blue leather, with a sloping rear and curved arms, with a partially quilted seat and backrest, with decorative buckles.
Dimensions: 31" W x 34" D x 34" H
Seat ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Modern Armchairs
Materials
Leather
Industrial Black Leather Desk Chair
Located in Westwood, NJ
A modern industrial-style swivel desk chair with channel quilting onyx black leather upholstery on a metal frame with wooden armrests.
Dimensions: 25" W x 28" D x 38" H
Seat - 21" H
...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Modern Armchairs
Materials
Metal
Modern Quilted Black Leather Armchair
Located in Westwood, NJ
With top grain Onyx black leather, with a sloping rear and curved arms, with a partially quilted seat and backrest, with decorative buckles.
Dimensions: 31" W x 34" D x 34" H
Seat - ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Modern Armchairs
Materials
Leather
Modern Andrea Salvetti for Dilmos Milano White Armchair Lacquered Fiberglass
Located in Milan, IT
Extraordinary armchair made in white glossy fiberglass for Dilmos Milano. The artist Andrea Salvetti was inspired by the posture of the Madonna holding Christ in the famous Pietà scu...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Armchairs
Materials
Fiberglass
Modern Andrea Salvetti for Dilmos Polished Armchair Aluminium Cast
Located in Milan, IT
Extraordinary armchair made in lost wax-casting aluminium for Dilmos Milano. The artist Andrea Salvetti was inspired by the posture of the Madonna holding Christ in the famous Pietà ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Armchairs
Materials
Aluminum
Armchair PLAY in wool fabric
Located in Kyiv, UA
“PLAY” armchair has an unusual shape that was assembled from several geometric elements. The bagel-shaped detail serves the back of the chair.
Handcrafted in Ukraine, this armchair e...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Ukrainian Modern Armchairs
Materials
Fabric, Plywood
Classic Contemporary Chaise Lounge Aged Brass Steel & Navy Blue Leather Sample
Located in Alcoy, Alicante
Showroom sample
The Wanderlust contemporary chaise lounge belongs to a collection of minimalist and serene pieces where exclusivity and precision are shown in small details such as ...
Category
2010s Spanish Modern Armchairs
Materials
Brass, Steel
Finn Juhl 45 Chair, Wood and Fabric
By Finn Juhl
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Chair designed by Finn Juhl in 1945, relaunched in 2003.
Manufactured by House of Finn Juhl in Denmark.
In the Autumn of 1945, Finn Juhl presented the 45 Chair at the annual Cabi...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Modern Armchairs
Materials
Fabric, Wood
Ginga Armchair in Black Oak, Handcrafted in Portugal by Duistt
Located in Leça da Palmeira, PT
Ginga Armchair in Black Oak, Handcrafted in Portugal by Duistt
Ginga is the swaying movement of Brazilian martial art, Capoeira. It is characterized by a flowing movement from one s...
Category
2010s Portuguese Modern Armchairs
Materials
Brass
Foz Armchair, COM, Insidherland by Joana Santos Barbosa
Located in Maia, Porto
Foz is an armchair with the same design as the grand sofa that gathers surprising details of a beach located in Porto, in the north of Portugal.
Designed in layers, the contour of t...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Armchairs
Materials
Brass
Poltrona in tessuto bouclet con basamento in metallo finitura titanio
Located in Bisceglie, IT
La poltrona Ford, parte della collezione Diamond, si ispira a quelle che sono le facce del diamante che ne conferiscono la particolare forma dello schienale.
Questa poltrona a pozzet...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Armchairs
Materials
Aluminum
21st Century Carrés Pink Fabric Armchair Indoor Outdoor Metal
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
"Carrés" pink armchair. Very comfortable and original, it can decorate your garden or terrace.
Available in a range of fabric and frame colours.
This armchair comes with a weather co...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Armchairs
Materials
Metal
Modern Pink Terracotta Armchair Outdoor or Indoor in Metal and Ropes, 21 century
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Modern Pink Terracotta Armchair Outdoor or Indoor in Metal and Ropes, 21 century
Modern production armchair for outdoor or indoor use. The frame is made of metal and reinforced with ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Armchairs
Materials
Metal
21st Century Carrés Dark Green Fabric Armchair, Indoor, Outdoor, Metal
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Dark green "Carrés" armchair
Dark green "Carrés" armchair. Very comfortable and original, it can decorate your garden or terrace.
Available in a range of fabric and frame colours.
Th...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Armchairs
Materials
Metal
Modern Green Outdoor or Indoor Armchair in Metal and Ropes, 21 century
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Modern Green Outdoor or Indoor Armchair in Metal and Ropes, 21 century
Modern production armchair for outdoor or indoor use. The frame is made of metal and reinforced with ropes on t...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Armchairs
Materials
Metal
Modern Grey Armchair Outdoor or Indoor in Metal and Ropes, 21 century
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Modern Grey Armchair Outdoor or Indoor in Metal and Ropes, 21 century
Modern production armchair for outdoors or indoors. The frame is made of metal and reinforced with ropes on the ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Armchairs
Materials
Metal
21st Century Carrés Olive Green Fabric Armchair, Indoor , Outdoor, Metal
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Olive colour armchair "Carrés
Pink armchair "Carrés". Very comfortable and original, it can decorate your garden or terrace.
Available in a range of fabric and frame colours.
This ar...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Armchairs
Materials
Metal
Contemporary Velvet Armchair Offered With Nails On The Curve & Back
By Munna Design Studio
Located in New York, NY
This armchair is the epitome of serenity inducing design. With an embracing silhouette and luxurious deep seat, its sensuous curves and comfortable back perfectly adapt to the body. ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Armchairs
Materials
Velvet, Wood
Modern Yellow Armchair Outdoor or Indoor in Metal and Ropes, 21 century
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Modern Yellow Armchair Outdoor or Indoor in Metal and Ropes, 21 century
Modern production armchair for outdoor or indoor use. The structure is m...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Armchairs
Materials
Metal
21st Century Carrés Orange Terracotta Fabric Armchair Indoor Outdoor Metal
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
"Carrés" terracotta-coloured armchair
Terracotta-coloured "Carrés" armchair. Very comfortable and original, it can decorate your garden or terrace.
Available in a range of fabric and...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Armchairs
Materials
Iron
21st Century Carrés Beige Fabric Armchair Indoor Outdoor Metal
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Beige armchair "Carrés
Beige "Carrés" armchair. Very comfortable and original, it can decorate your garden or terrace.
Available in a range of fabric and frame colours.
This armchair...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Armchairs
Materials
Iron
Wave-Shaped 21st Century Beige Fabric Armchair Indoor Outdoor
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Wave-shaped Beige armchair
Beige Wave-shaped armchair with cylinder rollers on the back and seat. Very comfortable and original, it can decorate your garden or terrace.
Available in ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Armchairs
Materials
Metal
Wave-Shaped 21st Century Orange Terracotta Fabric Armchair Indoor Outdoor
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Wave-shaped terracotta color armchair
Wave-shaped terracotta armchair with cylinder scrolls on the back and seat. Very comfortable and original, it can decorate your garden or terrac...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Armchairs
Materials
Metal
Wave-Shaped 21st Century Dark Green Fabric Armchair Indoor Outdoor
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Dark Green Wave Armchair
Dark green wave-shaped armchair with cylinder rollers on the back and seat. Very comfortable and original, it can decorate your garden or terrace.
Available ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Armchairs
Materials
Metal
Green Gardenias Armchair with Pergola, Outdoor by Jaime Hayon
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
The Gardenias collection is the second largest collection by Jaime Hayon for BD.
Structure made of cast and extruded aluminium. Powder-coated green (RAL 6021) with Alesta by Axalta....
Category
2010s Spanish Modern Armchairs
Materials
Aluminum
Wave-Shaped 21st Century Creme Fabric Armchair Indoor Outdoor
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Wave-shaped Cream armchair
Cream-coloured Wave-shaped armchair with cylinder rollers on the back and seat. Very comfortable and original, it can decorate your garden or terrace.
Avai...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Armchairs
Materials
Metal
"Wind" Ottoman in Velvet and Silk Fringes
Located in Centro, RS
The breeze is identified with the lightness and freshness of the feeling of the skin, of the wind, in its constant movement. Thus came the inspiration for the design of the Wind otto...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Armchairs
Materials
Velvet
Stephen Burks Contemporary Fabric Upholstered and Iron 'Grasso' Armchair for BD
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Armchair designed by Stephen Bruks manufactured by BD Barcelona.
An iron tubular (25 mm) structured armchair. Seat and backrest upholstered in fabric.
The fabric upholstery oozes o...
Category
2010s Spanish Modern Armchairs
Materials
Iron
Ralph nubuck leather armchair with fabric seat and back cushion
Located in Bisceglie, IT
The Ralph armchair, a cornerstone of the Hoffman collection, is composed of a rigid wooden shell that can be upholstered in a variety of fabric or leather combinations; the inner cus...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Armchairs
Materials
Leather, Fabric, Velvet
Brigitte woven leather armchair with fabric seat and back cushion
Located in Bisceglie, IT
The Brigitte armchair, is inspired by the world of fashion and leather goods. Its hard shell characterized by its silhouette is covered in the highest quality hand-woven leather. The...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Armchairs
Materials
Leather, Fabric, Velvet
Grasso Armchair by Stephen Burks padded grey curved upholstery black structure
Located in Barcelona, ES
“Grasso is not fat. Grasso is more than fat. It’s overflowing.” This is how Stephen Burks sums up his collection for BD. An armchair that pursues “ultra-comfort”, and invites you to ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Armchairs
Materials
Steel
Jaime Hayon Contemporary Plywood Upholstery Lounger Armchair for BD
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Lounger armchair designed by Jaime Hayon.
Manufactured by BD Barcelona Design.
Armchair structure base in cast aluminium and painted. Seat and backrest are in plywood with exteriors...
Category
2010s Spanish Modern Armchairs
Materials
Aluminum
Grasso Armchair by Stephen Burks padded red upholstery with a red metal structur
Located in Barcelona, ES
“Grasso is not fat. Grasso is more than fat. It’s overflowing.” This is how Stephen Burks sums up his collection for BD. An armchair that pursues “ultra-comfort”, and invites you to ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Armchairs
Materials
Steel
Foz Armchair, Bouclé & Brass, Insidherland by Joana Santos Barbosa
Located in Maia, Porto
Foz is an armchair with the same design as the grand sofa that gathers surprising details of a beach located in Porto, in the north of Portugal.
Designed in layers, the contour of t...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Armchairs
Materials
Brass
Jaime Hayon, Contemporary, Ash, Pistachio Upholstery Low Lounger Armchair
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Armchair structure base in cast aluminium.
Structure base in tubular steel and painted. Seat, backrest are in plywood with exteriors in ash- natural FR13, and Pistachio Y19 upholste...
Category
2010s Spanish Modern Armchairs
Materials
Aluminum
Jaime Hayon, Contemporary, Plywood Orange Leather Low Lounger Armchair
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Armchair structure base in cast aluminium.
Footstool structure base in tubular steel and painted. Seat, backrest and footstool are in plywood with exteriors in walnut nature effect ...
Category
2010s Spanish Modern Armchairs
Materials
Aluminum
Dazzling Modern Chair
Located in Westwood, NJ
Dazzling Modern chair, bold in character, this dazzling chair is unique in every way. Its one-of-a-kind shape was born from design exploration of the organic beauty and inspiration f...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Modern Armchairs
Materials
Metal
Jaime Hayon, Monocolor Red Fabric Leather Upholstery Dino Armchair
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Main body made of rigid polyurethane covered with polyether foam cushioning. A fixed head rest, seat cushion and backrest in polyether foam cushioning. Cushion covers are removable. ...
Category
2010s Spanish Modern Armchairs
Materials
Aluminum
Mw04 "J'adore" design chair by Olivier Santini and Leah Kirsch, made in France
By MW Exclusive
Located in Notre Dame d'Oé, FR
The MW04 "J'adore" chair (identification number MW042305) is limited to 20 pieces worldwide. It is the result of a collaboration between Olivier SANTINI, the designer of MOJOW...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Armchairs
Materials
Other
Modern T50 Lounge Chair, Holly Hunt Light Brown, Handmade Portugal by Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
T50 Lounge Chair, Contemporary Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Greenapple.
Designed by Rute Martins for the Contemporary Collection, the T50 lounge chair pays homage...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Armchairs
Materials
Wool, Mohair, Bouclé, Wood, Oak
Modern Lisboa Sofa Terracotta Jacquard Fabric Handmade in Portugal by Greenapple
By GF Modern, Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
Lisboa sofa, Modern Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Greenapple.
A masterfully crafted sofa whose robust wooden structure and high-quality memory foam retain their sh...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Armchairs
Materials
Brass
Grasso armchair + footstool by Stephen Burks organge leather red metal structure
Located in Barcelona, ES
“Grasso is not fat. Grasso is more than fat. It’s overflowing.” This is how Stephen Burks sums up his collection for BD. An armchair that pursues “ultra-comfort”, and invites you to ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Armchairs
Materials
Steel
Grasso Armchair by Stephen Burks black padded leather upholstery black structure
Located in Barcelona, ES
“Grasso is not fat. Grasso is more than fat. It’s overflowing.” This is how Stephen Burks sums up his collection for BD. An armchair that pursues “ultra-comfort”, and invites you to ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Armchairs
Materials
Steel
"Olav" Chair in Black Carbon Steel, Upholstered and Wood Detail
Located in Centro, RS
The structure of the OLAV chair is made of carbon steel in the painted with black ink.
The upholstery fabric that can be customized (request information).
It has leather backrest in ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Armchairs
Materials
Metal
Grasso Armchair by Stephen Burks pale brown clay leather painted brown stucture
Located in Barcelona, ES
“Grasso is not fat. Grasso is more than fat. It’s overflowing.” This is how Stephen Burks sums up his collection for BD. An armchair that pursues “ultra-comfort”, and invites you to ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Armchairs
Materials
Steel
"Olav" Stool in Black Carbon Steel, Upholstered and Wood Detail
Located in Centro, RS
The structure of the OLAV stool is made of carbon steel in the painted with black ink, can be customized (request information).
The upholstery fabric that can be customized (request ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Armchairs
Materials
Metal
21st Century Kivu Chair in Leather by Roberto Cavalli Home Interiors
Located in Cantù, Lombardia
A slim and essential design for the Kivu chair. The thin metal armrest that rotates around the structure is characterized by a particular bush-hammered finish that lends a rough and ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Armchairs
Materials
Wood, Leather
Lotus Armchair, Modern Black Leather Sofa with Stainless Steel Legs
Located in London, GB
The Lotus collection was created as a reference of elegance and etiquette, imbuing its design of a magnetic personality with its geometrical beauty. Its structure is shaped from curv...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary European Modern Armchairs
Materials
Stainless Steel
Contemporary Armchair by Hessentia in Blue Velvet, plissè embroidery on the back
Located in Carate, Brianza (MB)
Penelope armchair, suitable to furnish modern living areas, can be also chosen as a unique and refined item for bedrooms. It is characterized by a sinuous and soft structure composed...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Armchairs
Materials
Velvet, 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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