Modern Benches
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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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
Customizable Items Only
Emeco Alfi 3-Seat Bench in Brown & Dark Ash with High Back by Jasper Morrison
By Emeco, Jasper Morrison
Located in Hanover, PA
Emeco and Morrison together, designed and engineered The Alfi Collection with the conviction that what you don't see is as important as what you do see. Alfi reflects Emeco and Morri...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Benches
Materials
Wood
Emeco Alfi 3-Seat Bench in Red and Ash with High Back by Jasper Morrison
By Emeco, Jasper Morrison
Located in Hanover, PA
Emeco and Morrison together, designed and engineered The Alfi collection with the conviction that what you don't see is as important as what you do see. Alfi reflects Emeco and Morri...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Benches
Materials
Wood
Emeco Alfi 3-Seat Bench in Brown and Ash with High Back by Jasper Morrison
By Emeco, Jasper Morrison
Located in Hanover, PA
Emeco and Morrison together, designed and engineered The Alfi Collection with the conviction that what you don't see is as important as what you do see. Alfi reflects Emeco and Morri...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Benches
Materials
Wood
Emeco Run 4-Seat Bench in Black Powder-Coat and Walnut by Sam Hecht & Kim Colin
Located in Hanover, PA
Run is a collection of tables, benches and shelves by Sam Hecht and Kim Colin, designers of the simple and no-nonsense. Run effortlessly finds balance in both indoor and outdoor land...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Benches
Materials
Aluminum
Modern Minimal "Brass Bench" Reclaimed Structural Oak Beams on Brass Frame
By Stefan Rurak
Located in Biddeford, ME
Two unique structural beams dating from the 1860s feature hand-hewn adze marks and hand-cut mortises. These beams are charred in the ancient Japanese technique of Shou-sugi-ban and then sealed with oil. The beams "float" upon a welded brass frame.
This is a bespoke piece so custom dimensions, materials, colors and finishes (both interior and exterior) can be accommodated. Please inquire for pricing.
All Stefan Rurak Studio...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Benches
Materials
Brass, Steel
Military Canvas and Antique Brass Two-Seat Sofa and Bench
By Stephen Kenn
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Slightly smaller in size, the two-seat sofa is ideal for apartments or smaller spaces requiring a smaller footprint. The inheritance bench is a versatile piece that can be used as a ...
Category
2010s American Modern Benches
Materials
Steel
Emeco Alfi 3-Seat Bench in Gray and Ash with Low Back by Jasper Morrison
By Emeco, Jasper Morrison
Located in Hanover, PA
Emeco and Morrison together, designed and engineered The Alfi collection with the conviction that what you don't see is as important as what you do see. Alfi reflects Emeco and Morri...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Benches
Materials
Wood
Emeco Alfi 3-Seat Bench in Red and Ash with Low Back by Jasper Morrison
By Emeco, Jasper Morrison
Located in Hanover, PA
Emeco and Morrison together, designed and engineered The Alfi collection with the conviction that what you don't see is as important as what you do see. Alfi reflects Emeco and Morri...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Benches
Materials
Wood
Emeco Alfi 3-Seat Bench in Gray and Ash with High Back by Jasper Morrison
By Emeco, Jasper Morrison
Located in Hanover, PA
Emeco and Morrison together, designed and engineered The Alfi Collection with the conviction that what you don't see is as important as what you do see. Alfi reflects Emeco and Morri...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Benches
Materials
Wood
Emeco Alfi Three-Seat Bench in Sand & Dark Ash with Low Back by Jasper Morrison
By Emeco, Jasper Morrison
Located in Hanover, PA
Emeco and Morrison together, designed and engineered The Alfi Collection with the conviction that what you don't see is as important as what you do see. Alfi reflects Emeco and Morri...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Benches
Materials
Wood
Emeco Alfi 3-Seat Bench in Red and Dark Ash with High Back by Jasper Morrison
By Jasper Morrison, Emeco
Located in Hanover, PA
Emeco and Morrison together, designed and engineered The Alfi Collection with the conviction that what you don't see is as important as what you do see. Alfi reflects Emeco and Morri...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Benches
Materials
Wood
Emeco Run 3-Seat Bench in Clear Anodized Aluminum by Sam Hecht & Kim Colin
Located in Hanover, PA
Run is a collection of tables, benches and shelves by Sam Hecht and Kim Colin, designers of the simple and no-nonsense. Run effortlessly finds balance in both indoor and outdoor land...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Benches
Materials
Aluminum
Emeco Run 3-Seat Bench in Black Powder-Coat and Ash by Sam & Kim Colin
Located in Hanover, PA
Run is a collection of tables, benches and shelves by Sam Hecht and Kim Colin, designers of the simple and no-nonsense. Run effortlessly finds balance in both indoor and outdoor land...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Benches
Materials
Aluminum
Ash Bench with Gradated White Dowels and White Frame by Hinterland Design
Located in Vancouver, BC
Like the ocean’s mist rising from seas over the forests of the west coast, the Fogbench also seems to be slowly bleached from bottom to top. This functional...
Category
2010s Canadian Modern Benches
Materials
Steel
Emeco Run 3-Seat Bench in Black Powder-Coat and Walnut by Sam Hecht & Kim Colin
Located in Hanover, PA
Run is a collection of tables, benches and shelves by Sam Hecht and Kim Colin, designers of the simple and no-nonsense. Run effortlessly finds balance in both indoor and outdoor land...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Benches
Materials
Aluminum
Emeco Run 4-Seat Bench in Aluminum and Ash by Sam Hecht and Kim Colin
Located in Hanover, PA
Run is a collection of tables, benches and shelves by Sam Hecht and Kim Colin, designers of the simple and no-nonsense. Run effortlessly finds balance in both indoor and outdoor land...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Benches
Materials
Aluminum
"Tecnica" Rectangular Walnut Low Table/Bench by Jaume Tresserra for Dessie'
Located in Brooklyn, NY
"Tecnica" is a hybrid piece of furniture between a table and a bench, designed by Jaume Tresserra and manufactured by Dessie', featuring a metallic str...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Benches
Materials
Metal, Nickel
Emeco Run 4-Seat Bench in Aluminum and Walnut by Sam Hecht & Kim Colin
Located in Hanover, PA
Run is a collection of tables, benches and shelves by Sam Hecht and Kim Colin, designers of the simple and no-nonsense. Run effortlessly finds balance in both indoor and outdoor land...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Benches
Materials
Aluminum
Emeco Run 4-Seat Bench in Clear Adonized Aluminum by Sam Hecht & Kim Colin
Located in Hanover, PA
Run is a collection of tables, benches and shelves by Sam Hecht and Kim Colin, designers of the simple and no-nonsense. Run effortlessly finds balance in both indoor and outdoor land...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Benches
Materials
Aluminum
Triple Rectangle Bench in Stainless Steel by Cain Modern
By Cain Modern
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful and modern bench executed in stainless steel and manufactured by Cain Modern as part of the Triple rectangle line.
The bench is very modern and it can be customized both i...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Benches
Materials
Stainless Steel
Awaiting H Bench Printed Velvet and Brass
Located in Roma, IT
This bench is part of the awaiting collection, presented by Secondome during Milan Fuorisalone 2016. It's a series of items born from the encounter between the printed silk and cotto...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Benches
Materials
Brass
Footstool Brass Steel and Dark Brown Saddle Leather, Hug Collection
Located in Alcoy, Alicante
HUG Footstool Aged Brass Steel and Vegetable Tanned Dark Brown Saddle Leather
The HUG footstool is designed and conceived with a light aesthetic,...
Category
2010s Spanish Modern Benches
Materials
Brass, Steel
Triple Rectangle Bench in Solid Brass and Antique Finish
By Cain Modern
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful and modern bench executed in solid brass and manufactured by Cain Modern as part of the Triple rectangle line.
The bench is very modern and it can be customized both in si...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Benches
Materials
Brass
Bench or Coffee Table, LINK by Reda Amalou, 2016, White Lacquer
Located in Paris, FR
Contemporary coffee table or bench in glossy lacquer or wood essence .
The bench, table and stool are the three pieces of furniture that make up the Link collection. Arranged separa...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Modern Benches
Materials
Wood, Oak, Walnut
Bench or Coffee Table, LINK by Reda Amalou, 2016, White Lacquer
Located in Paris, FR
Contemporary coffee table or bench in glossy lacquer or wood essence .
The bench, table and stool are the three pieces of furniture that make up the Link collection. Arranged separa...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Modern Benches
Materials
Wood, Oak, Walnut
Contemporary Flash Bench in Aluminium by Altreforme
Located in Calolziocorte (Lecco) Italy, IT
A comet-sitting: a trail of sparkling colors and round lines to make unique indoor and outdoor spaces.
Pricing excludes VAT.
Category
2010s Italian Modern Benches
Materials
Aluminum
Custom Mongolian Fur Bench with Twisted Lucite Legs
By Venfield
Located in New York, NY
Custom Mongolian fur bench with twisted Lucite legs. Customization is available in different sizes and colors.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Benches
Materials
Fur, Lucite
Awaiting M Bench Printed Velvet and Brass
Located in Roma, IT
This bench is part of the awaiting collection, presented by Secondome during Milan Fuorisalone 2016. It's a series of items born from the encounter between the printed silk and cotto...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Benches
Materials
Brass
Biche Bench II, USA, 2022
By Alex Roskin
Located in New York, NY
Todd Merrill Studio has been the exclusive representative of Alex Roskin since 2017. Roskin’s works blend functional design with modernist sculptural references. A natural successor ...
Category
2010s American Modern Benches
Materials
Aluminum
Contemporary Bench Featuring a Small Cushion
Located in New York, NY
This bench expresses harmony through its special details. Featuring a small cushion that can be adjusted or even removed, this seating design has the rig...
Category
2010s Portuguese Modern Benches
Materials
Stainless Steel
Modern benches for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Modern benches 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 benches created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include seating, tables, building and garden elements and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Modern benches made in a specific country, there are Europe, North America, and United States pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original benches, popular names associated with this style include Marie Burgos Design, Emeco, Jasper Morrison, and Stephen Kenn. 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 benches differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $350 and tops out at $96,000 while the average work can sell for $4,139.
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