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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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
Period: Late 20th Century
Italian Plona armchair by Piretti for Anonima Castelli in leather and steel 1970s
Located in MIlano, IT
Plona model armchair, folding, with chrome-plated oval aluminum tube frame and original black leather seat.
Circa 1970 production by Anonima Castelli and 1969 design by Giancarlo Pir...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Armchairs
Materials
Steel
Armchair Interview by Massimo and Lella Vignelli for Poltrona Frau, Italy 1989
Located in modena, Emilia-Romagna
By Poltrona Frau the "Intervista" model designed by Massimo and Lella Vignelli in 1989 , which originated as a television studio armchair. Proposed here in a beautiful brick orange c...
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Modern Armchairs
Materials
Leather
Mario Bellini Vintage Chocolate Brown Leather Dining Chairs Cassina 1970s Italy
By Cassina, Mario Bellini
Located in Vienna, AT
Mario Bellini vintage set of six dining chairs or armchairs Mod. Cab 413 from high quality leather in chocolate brown color Italy 1970s. Executed by Cassina, 1990s, Italy.
While the ...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Armchairs
Materials
Metal
Mario Bellini "Forma" Cantilever Armchair for Vitra, Italy 1990s
Located in Budapest, HU
The now historic story goes:
“About 20 years ago Rolf Fehlbaum, the Chairman of Vitra, called me up and said: The things we’re making are too boring. We want to change that, and you...
Category
1990s Italian Modern Armchairs
Materials
Metal
Shiro Kuramata 1985 Sing Sing Sing Armchair
Located in Weesp, NL
Introducing the Sing Sing Sing armchair, a stunning and iconic piece of furniture designed by Shiro Kuramata in 1985 and produced by xO in France. This ...
Category
1980s French Vintage Modern Armchairs
Materials
Steel
Modern Italian armchairs, brown leather and chrome-plated steel, Cassina ca. 1970.
By Cassina
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian and modern period armchairs in brown leather and chrome-plated steel, produced by Cassina ca. 1970.
Pair of brown leather office or desk armchairs with chrome-plated steel ar...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Armchairs
Materials
Steel
Italian modern armchair Proust by Alessandro Mendini for Cappellini, 1990s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern armchair Proust by Alessandro Mendini for Cappellini, 1990s
Armchair mod. Proust with fabric and hand-painted wood. The pattern of the fabric and the decoration on the...
Category
1990s Italian Modern Armchairs
Materials
Fabric, Wood
1970s upholstered armchair with headrest
Located in Premariacco, IT
Italian 1970s design armchair with black fabric-covered frame and removable upholstered cushions.
It has a removable headrest that can be removed as desired.
H 39cm seat.
Height wi...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Armchairs
Materials
Fabric, Plastic, Polyester, Rubber
Set of 2 Piazzesi Armchairs model "Okay," A. Piazzesi, Italy, 1970s
Located in modena, Emilia-Romagna
Pair of Okay model armchairs in black Sky and steel. The armchairs designed by designer Adriano Piazzesi and produced by Studio Tre D Florence are distinguished not only by their wel...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Armchairs
Materials
Steel
Pair of guillerme et chambron oak armchairs
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
A large pair of oak arm chairs "Romeo" by Guillerme et chambray edition votre maison
Category
1970s French Vintage Modern Armchairs
Materials
Fabric, Oak
Chauffeuse d'angle Togo "peau de pêche" par Michel Ducaroy pour Ligne Roset
Located in SAINT-ESTÈVE, FR
Très belle chauffeuse d'angle, modèle Togo, créée par Michel Ducaroy pour Ligne Roset dans les années 70. Modèle en "peau de pêche" datant du début des a...
Category
1970s French Vintage Modern Armchairs
Materials
Velvet
Art Deco / Modern Club Chairs in Ivory White Ultrasuede
Located in Stratford, CT
Simple yet really elegant design, the metal structure going though each armrest shows only its narrow side, giving the chair an illusion of lightness. In the style of Milo Baughman o...
Category
Late 20th Century Unknown Modern Armchairs
Materials
Chrome
Flat Bar Armchair in Cream Leather and Chrome, in the style of Mies van der Rohe
Located in San Francisco, CA
A modern, timeless classic, this chair has a perfect sense of proportion, as well as minimalist form and exquisitely refined details. The cantilevered base and padded arms support th...
Category
Late 20th Century American Modern Armchairs
Materials
Chrome
Poltrona Plona italiana di Piretti per Anonima Castelli in pelle e acciaio 1970
Located in MIlano, IT
Poltrona modello Plona, pieghevole, con struttura in tubo di alluminio ovale cromato e seduta in pelle nera originale.
Produzione di Anonima Castelli del 1970 ca. e disegno di Gianca...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Armchairs
Materials
Steel
Solid Wood and Woven Papercord Armchair, Europe 1970s
Located in Utrecht, NL
Twisted paper cord as a form of upholstery has been used to form the seats of European chairs since the 1940s, but through the 1950s and 1970s, paper cord became perhaps the most dis...
Category
1970s European Vintage Modern Armchairs
Materials
Papercord, Wood
Vintage Patchwork Bean Bag brown Aniline Leather Lounge Chair
Located in Munich, Bavaria
Vintage Bean Bag upholstered with brown patchwork leather and filled with polystyrene beads. Armchair Lounge Chair in aniline leather.
Original leather f...
Category
1970s German Vintage Modern Armchairs
Materials
Leather, Upholstery, Foam, Polystyrene
Poltrona norvegese moderna, regolabile, in metallo, legno e tessuto rosso, 1980s
Located in MIlano, IT
Poltrona norvegese moderna, regolabile, in metallo, legno e tessuto rosso, 1980s
Poltrona norvegese, con seduta curvata e imbottita, rivestita in tessuto originale rosso, così come l...
Category
1980s Norwegian Vintage Modern Armchairs
Materials
Metal
Pop Art Dining Chairs and Table Rud Thygesen Johnny Sorensen Denmark c 1989
Located in Vienna, AT
Pop Art multicolored vintage three ( 3 ) dining chairs with one ( 1 ) table model Dark Horse designed by Rud Thygesen & Johnny Sorensen for Botium, Denmark, circa 1989.
A stunning set with multicolored chairs...
Category
Late 20th Century Danish Modern Armchairs
Materials
Chrome
"JOE" Baseball Glove Armchair by De Pas, D' Urbino, and Lomazzi
Located in Dallas, TX
JOE baseball glove armchair designed by De Pas, D' Urbino, and Lomazzi for Poltronova in 1970, soft Italian leather, with castors, Made in Italy, circa 19...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Armchairs
Materials
Leather, Wood
Italian modern Brown leather steel armchair Wassily by Breuer for Gavina, 1970s
By Gavina, Marcel Breuer
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern Brown leather and chromed steel armchair Wassily or B3 by Marcel Breuer for Gavina, 1970s
Iconic armchair mod. Wassily or B3, with chromed tubular steel structure. The...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Armchairs
Materials
Steel
Karl Springer JMF Arm Chair in Lacquered Goat Skin
Located in Norwalk, CT
Karl Springer's lacquered goat skin pieces are amongst his most impressive. Springer, well known for outstanding quality and attention detail, produced the JMF chairs starting in 198...
Category
1980s American Vintage Modern Armchairs
Materials
Goatskin, Lacquer
Gianni Moscatelli Pair of Chrome Lounge Chairs, Italy, circa 1970
Located in New York, NY
A pair of lounge chairs / armchairs by Gianni Moscatelli, for Formanova, 1970's.
The chairs display a sleek and sinuous shaped chrome design for which Moscatelli was known. Newly r...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Armchairs
Materials
Chrome
Pair of large curved wooden armchairs - Belgian work, 1980/90
Located in Bruxelles, BE
Beautiful curved grey wooden armchairs
Belgian work, 1980-90
painted in grey
74 x 73 x 79 cm
Very confortable and large armchairs.
Category
1980s Belgian Vintage Modern Armchairs
Materials
Wood
Italian Leather and Chrome Armchairs, Attributed to Adriano Piazzesi, Pair
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Chunky curves enveloped in cognac Italian leather and wrapped in chrome. These Adriano Piazzesi attributed armchairs epitomize the allure of 1970s Italian design.
In good condition....
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Armchairs
Materials
Chrome
Walter Knoll Pair of two Arm chairs in Bentwood and Cognac Leather, Germany 1970
By Walter Knoll
Located in Almelo, NL
Walter Knoll Pair of two Arm chairs in Bentwood and Cognac Leather, Germany 1970s
This set of two modern armchairs or side chairs was manufactu...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Armchairs
Materials
Leather, Bentwood
Italian space age modern light blue leather black wood Armchair by Westnofa 1980
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian space age modern light blue leather black wood Armchair by Westnofa, 1980s
Armchair with round base in black painted wood. The armchair ...
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Modern Armchairs
Materials
Leather, Fabric, Wood
Italian space age modern black leather wood Armchair by Westnofa, 1980s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian space age modern black wood and leather Armchair by Westnofa, 1980s
Armchair with round base in black painted wood. The armchair has back and...
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Modern Armchairs
Materials
Leather, Fabric, Wood
Modernist Vintage Four Dining Chairs Cognac Brown Leather Chrome, 1980s, Italy
Located in Vienna, AT
Modernist vintage four ( 4 ) dining chairs or armchairs from cognac brown leather and chromed base by Fasem, Italy 1980s.
A beautiful set of four ( 4 ) dining chairs or armchairs fr...
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Modern Armchairs
Materials
Chrome
Italian modern red armchair Marenco by Mario Marenco for Arflex, 1970s
By Arflex, Mario Marenco
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern red armchair Marenco by Mario Marenco for Arflex, 1970s
Square shaped armchair mod. Marenco. The seat and backrest are composed of t...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Armchairs
Materials
Metal
Set of two Flap armchair, De Pas, D'urbino, Lomazzo
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Flap armchairs exemplify the revolutionary culture of post-68 design. These ultra-modern armchairs were prooged to exapnd into a sofa or bed, to be in short flexible objects in revol...
Category
1970s European Vintage Modern Armchairs
Materials
Leather
Italian modern Black leather steel Armchair Wassily B3 by Breuer Gavina, 1980s
By Gavina, Marcel Breuer
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern Black leather and steel Armchair Wassily or B3 by Marcel Breuer for Gavina, 1980s
Iconic and vintage armchair mod. Wassily or B3, with chromed tubular steel structure ...
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Modern Armchairs
Materials
Steel
Pair of armchairs, wood and cotton, circa 1970, Italy.
Located in Nice, Cote d' Azur
Pair of armchairs,
wood and cotton,
circa 1970, Italy.
Height 85 cm, seat height 35 cm, width 90 cm, depth 85 cm.
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Armchairs
Materials
Cotton, Wood
1970s Cesca B64 Armchair by Marcel Breuer for Knoll / Thonet 12+ Avail
By Knoll, Marcel Breuer
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a 'Cesca' armchair, model B64, originally designed by Marcel Breuer in 1928. These particular examples were seemingly manufactured by Knoll in the 1970s. Some may have been p...
Category
1970s American Vintage Modern Armchairs
Materials
Brass, Steel
Late 20th Century Gray & Chrome Cantilever Chairs Style Steelcase Set of 8
By Steelcase
Located in Topeka, KS
Awesome gray & chrome vintage cantilever chairs by United Chair Company in the style of Steelcase, set of 8. Comprised of a chrome cantilever fram...
Category
Late 20th Century American Modern Armchairs
Materials
Chrome
St. James chair by Angelo Donghia for Donghia Inc
Located in Kleinburg, ON
Three elegant and very comfortable arm chairs that featuring deep cushions, tall back and high quality textured velvet fabric. The chairs have a sleek and modern design that reflects the style of the their creator, Angelo Donghia, who was known for his minimal and luxurious interiors. The chairs are perfect for relaxing, reading, or entertaining guests in any living room or bedroom.
Angelo Donghia was an American interior designer, born in 1935 in Pennsylvania. He studied at Parsons School of Design and joined the firm of Yale Burge Interiors, where he became a partner in 1966. He was known for his minimal and luxurious interiors that featured silver-foil ceilings, lacquered walls, bleached floors and oversized furniture...
Category
1990s American Modern Armchairs
Materials
Fabric, Upholstery, Walnut
Pair of Donghia Black Lacquered Designer Arm Chairs
By Donghia
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Pair of Donghia Black Lacquered Designer Arm Chairs W Freshly Upholstered Silk Cut Velvet Seats.
Category
1990s Italian Modern Armchairs
Materials
Wood, Lacquer
Poltrona moderna Wassily in pelle e acciaio di Marcel Breuer per Knoll, 1970 ca.
By Marcel Breuer, Knoll
Located in MIlano, IT
Wassily or B3 model leather armchair, with chromed tubular steel structure. The back, the armrests and seat are in banded entirely in brown leather, with visible stitching.
Disegnata...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Armchairs
Materials
Steel
Italian modern yellow fabric Armchairs Alky by Piretti for Anonima Castelli 1970
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern yellow teddy fabric Armchairs Alky by Giancarlo Piretti for Anonima Castelli, 1970s
Pair of armchair mod. Alky in yellow teddy fabric. The monocoque structure is provi...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Armchairs
Materials
Aluminum
Italian modern Blue fabric Armchairs Alky by Piretti for Anonima Castelli, 1970s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern Blue teddy fabric Armchairs Alky by Giancarlo Piretti for Anonima Castelli, 1970s
Pair of armchair mod. Alky in blue teddy fabric. The monocoque structure is provided ...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Armchairs
Materials
Aluminum
Rudolf B. Glatzel Vintage Walter Knoll Art Collection Leather & Stainless Chair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is an original vintage 1970's Rudolf B. Glatzel armchair, produced by Walter Knoll in Germany (The company owned by Hans Knoll of Knoll International's family). This ...
Category
1970s American Vintage Modern Armchairs
Materials
Stainless Steel
Poltrona Frau Leather Armchair
Located in Austin, TX
Leather armchair of black leather by Poltrona Frau.
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Modern Armchairs
Materials
Leather
Steelmobil armchair, 1980s
Located in Athens, Attiki
Vintage wooden Steelmobil armchair, 1980s
Elegant curves and shape.
Very good condition.
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Modern Armchairs
Materials
Wood
Italian modern black wood armchair mod. 4801 by Joe Colombo for Kartell, 1970s
By Joe Colombo, Kartell
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern black wood armchair mod. 4801 by Joe Colombo for Kartell, 1970s
Armchair mod. 4801 with structure made up of several interlocking parts, in black wood. It has a semi-o...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Armchairs
Materials
Wood
Coppia di poltrone nere in legno laccato rivestite in velluto Kirkby, 1970
Located in Florence, IT
Coppia di poltrone nere in legno laccato rivestite di recente con velluto Kirkby toni del grigio a righe sfumate. Buone condizioni vintage.
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Armchairs
Materials
Velvet, Lacquer
Wassily Armchairs by Marcel Breuer
Located in Austin, TX
Armchair, Italian, produced by Gavina. This B3 armchair by Marcel Breuer features a bent chromed steel tubular construction and black stained...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Armchairs
Materials
Steel
Pair of Sculptural 1970s Dunbar Chairs in Ivory Bouclé
Located in Saint Louis, MO
Sultry pair of Dunbar sculptural chairs freshly transported from the 1970s now in ivory bouclé. Created by Lydia dePolo and Jack Dunbar, these are the perfect chairs for the buyer wh...
Category
1970s American Vintage Modern Armchairs
Materials
Bouclé, Upholstery
Armchair 54, Gae Aulenti, Knoll International
By Gae Aulenti
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Armchair 54, Gae Aulenti, Knoll International. This piece is attributed to the designer/manufacturer shown above. It has no attribution mark
Mid-Century Style, Modern Italian, Moder...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Armchairs
Materials
Metal
Pair Blue of Niccola Lounge Chairs by Andrea Branzi for Zanotta
By Andrea Branzi, Zanotta
Located in Madrid, ES
Pair of armchairs, model Niccola, designed in 1993 by Andrea Branzi for Zanotta. Construction on a four-legged tubular steel frame, upholstered and covered in dark blue leather, armr...
Category
1990s Italian Modern Armchairs
Materials
Steel
Office armchairs on wheels, modern Italian made by Saporiti Italia 1970s
By Saporiti
Located in MIlano, IT
Pair of office armchairs with four-spoke steel chair base on casters and curved armrests, with straight upholstered leather upholstered support part in its original black leather.
Pr...
Category
1970s European Vintage Modern Armchairs
Materials
Steel
Set of Six Steel and Leather Dining Chairs in the Manner of McGuire
By McGuire
Located in Hamburg, PA
A lovely set of six bronzed steel and leather indoor patio chairs with cowboy-stitched leather that appears to be hand sewn. This set of patio furniture would look great on an indoor...
Category
Late 20th Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Steel
Armchair “Little Big Easy” by Ron Arad for Moroso 1989
Located in Wien, AT
Early Armchair “Little Big Easy” by Ron Arad for Moroso, Italy 1989.
The Big Easy, steel chair designed by Ron Arad in 1988, shows that a volume, as sim...
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Modern Armchairs
Materials
Steel
Philippe Starck Costes Chair by Driade Italy
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A very well crafted Costes chair by French designer Philippe Starck with rounded wood back and hole detail to the upper edge for pulling the chair into po...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Armchairs
Materials
Steel
Italian Modern LC4 chaise lounge, Le Corbusier Jeanneret Perriand, Cassina 1970s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern black leather and metal LC4 chaise longue by Le Corbusier, Jeanneret and Perriand for Cassina, 1970s.
LC4 armchair or chaise longue, with black metal structure to sup...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Armchairs
Materials
Metal, Steel
Italian Modern Brown Suede Marenco Armchair by Mario Marenco for Arflex, 1970s
By Mario Marenco, Arflex
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern brown suede Marenco armchair by Mario Marenco for Arflex, 1970s.
Marenco model armchair, with invisible metal structure and wooden base, to which the cushions that co...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Armchairs
Materials
Metal
Italian modern brown teddy Alky armchairs by Piretti for Anonima Castelli, 1970s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern brown teddy Alky armchairs by Giancarlo Piretti for Anonima Castelli, 1970s
Pair of Alky model monocoque armchairs, in soft brown teddy fabric. The shell is provided o...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Armchairs
Materials
Metal
Giorgetti "Gallery 1975" Armchairs in Bouclé Upholstery Italy
Located in Almelo, NL
Giorgetti "Gallery 1975" Armchairs in Bouclé Upholstery Italy
These pair of two Giorgetti "Gallery 1975" armchairs are a perfect blend of classical a...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Armchairs
Materials
Bouclé, Upholstery, Beech
Black Armchair "D20" Axel Bruchhäuser for Tecta, Germany, 1980
Located in DE MEERN, NL
Black arm chair "D20" by axel Bruchhäuser for tecta, Germany 1980s
Introducing the black arm chair "D20" by axel Bruchhäuser for tecta, Germany 198...
Category
1980s German Vintage Modern Armchairs
Materials
Chrome
Pair of Vintage French Armchairs
Located in Austin, TX
Pair of armchairs in the French modernist style. The vintage armchairs feature an ivory polyurethane shell with an original black vinyl upholstery inside. The armchairs swivel on a c...
Category
1970s French Vintage Modern Armchairs
Materials
Steel
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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