Skip to main content

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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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

17
to
2
14
2
17
17
17
189
29
21
3
3
3
1
1
1
133
1,407
1
33
75
1
3
1
7
15
29
13
Height
to
Width
to
Depth
to
14
3
7
7
6
5
5
13
13
3
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
Style: Modern
Period: 1970s
Karl Springer Pair of Rare JMF Benches in Ox Blood Goatskin with Cushions 1970s
Located in New York, NY
Pair of rare sculptural “J.M.F. Benches” in oxblood lacquered goatskin with seat cushions by Karl Springer, American 1970's. These exquisite benches are stunning in every way. Newl...
Category

1970s American Vintage Modern Benches

Materials

Goatskin, Upholstery, Wood, Lacquer

Polished Steel and Leather Bench
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Upholstered Beige Leather Bench with polished steel legs and edge. Supported underneath with a steel cross frame. Excellent quality, heavy, sturdy...
Category

1970s American Vintage Modern Benches

Materials

Steel

American Designer, Large Organic Bench, Fabric, USA, 1940s
Located in High Point, NC
A large organic off white bouclé fabric over wood bench designed and produced in the US, c. 1940s.  Condition: Reupholstered in brand new fabric.
Category

1970s American Vintage Modern Benches

Materials

Fabric, Wood

Vintage Pair Parsons Benches Stools Ottomans Newly Upholstered Coral Quadrille
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Wonderful pair of vintage 1970s parsons benches stools ottomans. In the style of Billy Baldwin. These have been newly upholstered a beautiful coral Quadrille fabric...
Category

1970s American Vintage Modern Benches

Materials

Upholstery

Rustic Solid oak benches -sold separately
Located in Los Angeles, CA
W60 D21 H32.5 SW60 SD13 SH17 Rustic Solid oak benches sold separately. These primitive benches have been restored, filled and sealed. Both benches are heavy and structurally sound. ...
Category

1970s Vintage Modern Benches

Materials

Driftwood

Karl Springer Style Large Waterfall Bench in Leopard Velvet & Black Leather
Located in Saint Louis, MO
Bougie leopard velvet with black leather piping 1970s Karl Springer Style Waterfall Bench coming through. Instantly delivers a sexy lux vibe to any space. Treat yourself to this deli...
Category

1970s American Vintage Modern Benches

Materials

Leather, Upholstery, Velvet

Italian Modern Wood Bench Torbecchia by Giovanni Michelucci for Poltronova 1970s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern wood Bench Torbecchia by Giovanni Michelucci for Poltronova, 1970s Bench mod. Torbecchia entirely in solid wood. The rectangular seat...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Modern Benches

Materials

Wood

Modern Bench with Curved Metal Legs
Located in North York, ON
Modern bench with curved metal legs. Beautiful textured beige fabric with thick cushioning for maximum comfort. Completed with curved metal legs in an ant...
Category

1970s American Vintage Modern Benches

Materials

Metal, Brass

Verdigris Color Iron Vintage Bench in Vintage Italian Modernist Style
Located in Palm Springs, CA
This bench is so unusual and fabulous. A dark green verdigris that looks like itvwas painted by an Italian artist. The bench is extremely well made and the heaviest bench we have ever seen. Perfect for under a console or by by the side of a living room table. The bench retains its original fabric by choice. It is so unusual as well. A green and purple iridescent chenille. Of course it could reupholstered in a bright color velvet or animal print velvet for contrast if preferred. In researching this special piece, only one other has been found (marked SOLD) at a very high end vintage store...
Category

1970s American Vintage Modern Benches

Materials

Iron

Stylish Clean Line Upholstered Bench 1970s
Located in New York, NY
Stylish fully upholstered bench with beautiful graphic fabric, American, 1970s.
Category

1970s American Vintage Modern Benches

Materials

Upholstery, Wood

Vintage Lucite Scroll Ming Vanity Bench Stool Newly Upholstered
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Amazing lucite vanity stool bench with castors. Beautiful ming scroll rare design. Polished and newly upholstered. Dimensions: 17 H x 22.25 W x 13.7...
Category

1970s American Vintage Modern Benches

Materials

Lucite

De Sede DS47 Two-seater black heavy Buffalo leather Switzerland 1970
Located in Oostrum-Venray, NL
De Sede DS47 Two-seater black heavy Buffalo leather Switzerland 1970 Rare beautiful DS47 sofa designed and produced by De Sede, Switzerland 1970. These heavy quality sofas are mad...
Category

1970s Swiss Vintage Modern Benches

Materials

Leather

Philip & Kelvin LaVerne Rare "Generation" Sculpture 1970s (Signed)
Located in New York, NY
Rare and important sculpture "Generation" with cast bronze figures and table top in patinated and engraved bronze and pewter with enamel cloisonne by Philip & Kelvin LaVerne, 1970’s ...
Category

1970s American Vintage Modern Benches

Materials

Bronze, Enamel

Dark Brown Scored Leather Bench by Karl Springer
Located in Palm Springs, CA
1970s H dark brown scored leather bench by renowned designer Karl Springer. The bench is constructed of wood covered in dark brown scored leather. Newly restored. Shows minor wear consistent with age. Sheep rug...
Category

1970s American Vintage Modern Benches

Materials

Leather

Pair of Poul Kjaerholm PK91 Folding Stools Created by E. Kold Christensen
Located in Stamford, CT
A pair of PK91 stools each stamped EKC inside a square. Please note these are from the first edition of PK91 stools not the latter edition by Fritz Hansen....
Category

1970s Danish Vintage Modern Benches

Materials

Steel

1970s Modern Brass Bench or Stool in the Style of Designer Paul Evans
Located in New York, NY
A 1970s modern brass bench or stool with upholstered seat cushion in the style of designer Paul Evans, circa 1970s. Measurements: 13.75" D x 15" W x 17.75" H Postmodern decorative object...
Category

1970s American Vintage Modern Benches

Materials

Brass

Design Institute of America Chrome Slat Bench
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage chrome bench for the Design Institute of America in great vintage condition. Has light wear on the top surface. Retains DIA sticker.
Category

1970s American Vintage Modern Benches

Materials

Chrome

Related Items
Karl Springer Modern Leather Bench
Located in New York, NY
Modern leather surfaced bench with waterfall rounded armrests, made by Karl Springer in 1987. Signed and dated by the designer. The piece is in great vintage condition with age-appro...
Category

1980s American Vintage Modern Benches

Materials

Leather

Karl Springer Modern Leather Bench
Karl Springer Modern Leather Bench
H 24.25 in W 73 in D 20 in
Modern Black Braided Leather Bench W/ Suede Arms & Polished Brass Legs
Located in Porto, PT
Limited Edition: Zeus Bench is a modern bench design, perfect for a modern hotel lobby or a presidential suite. An upholstered leather seat with a s...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Benches

Materials

Brass

Solid Oak Mobley Bench in Natural Golden Finish
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Mobley bench in solid 1 3/4" oak using natural oils to give a golden finish Customizable to specifications.
Category

2010s Canadian Modern Benches

Materials

Oak

1960s Organic Bench
Located in New York, NY
1960s organic bench. Solid walnut bench with dovetails. Can also be used as a coffee table.
Category

1970s Vintage Modern Benches

Materials

Walnut

1960s Organic Bench
1960s Organic Bench
H 13.75 in W 40 in D 11.25 in
Rustic Hardwood Bench
Located in Lakeville, CT
This bench is made from aged lumber pulled from a 16th century Pennsylvania Mennonite barn floor. Texture and color are left natural. Wire brushed to remove all splinters and oiled i...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Benches

Materials

Wood

Rustic Hardwood Bench
Rustic Hardwood Bench
H 13 in W 66 in D 9 in
1980s Waterfall Benches in a Green Moire Fabric in the Style of Karl Springer
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A really nice pair of waterfall benches that will compliment any room. The green moire fabric is in wonderful shape. We can also upholster th...
Category

Late 20th Century North American Modern Benches

Materials

Upholstery

Midcentury Milo Baughman Style Parsons Leopard Print Ottoman
Located in Houston, TX
Stunning midcentury Milo Baughman Parsons style upholstered ottoman. This gorgeous Hollywood Regency Parsons ottoman, stool or bench has been professio...
Category

1970s American Vintage Modern Benches

Materials

Chenille

Karl Springer Brass Bench
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Karl Springer Brass Bench Original upholstery A large example of this form
Category

1970s North American Vintage Modern Benches

Materials

Brass

Karl Springer Brass Bench
Karl Springer Brass Bench
H 17.5 in W 49.5 in D 17 in
Modern Sculptural Bench Clad in Scored Brown Leather by Karl Springer
Located in Toledo, OH
Mid-Century Modern sculptural bench clad in brown scored leather by Karl Springer. Very good condition. Dimensions: 18" depth x 44" W x 22" H, seat height 16.5".
Category

20th Century American Modern Benches

Materials

Leather

Fabulous Pair of Billy Baldwin Upholstered X Motif Benches
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Super stylish iconic Billy Baldwin upholstered benches having classic X shaped stretchers. Newly updated with smashing Quadrille grey blue and white faux leopard fabric with brass na...
Category

1980s American Vintage Modern Benches

Materials

Upholstery

Pair of All Upholstered Flower Pattern c1960s Benches Billy Baldwin Style MINT!
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Pair of All Upholstered Flower Pattern c1960s Benches Billy Baldwin Style MINT!
Category

20th Century American Modern Benches

Materials

Upholstery

1980s Post Modern Sculptural Waterfall Upholstered Bench, Style of Karl Springer
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Post modern curved waterfall bench upholstered in a black satin fabric. This sculptural Hollywood Regency style stool is perfect for extra seati...
Category

1980s Vintage Modern Benches

Materials

Upholstery

Previously Available Items
Italian Oakwood and Slate Bench
Located in Milan, IT
Italian Oakwood and Slate Bench. Can work also as a coffee table.
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Modern Benches

Materials

Slate

Italian Oakwood and Slate Bench
Italian Oakwood and Slate Bench
H 14.38 in W 70.87 in D 17.33 in
Vintage Waterfall Solid Brass Bench Velvet Pair Available Milo Baughman Style
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
The most amazing brass bench, two available at time of listing. These are being sold individually. The brass waterfall legs are solid brass and heavy! They have been polished. Newly upholstered in a cut velvet faux bois fabric. These are from an iconic Palm Beach...
Category

1970s American Vintage Modern Benches

Materials

Brass

Baker Furniture Bench with Caned Seat
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Baker Caned Bench with a slight concave seat and floating top. Legs flair on all corners. Simple elegant design that is very sturdy!.
Category

1970s American Vintage Modern Benches

Materials

Cane, Wood

Baker Furniture Bench with Caned Seat
Baker Furniture Bench with Caned Seat
H 18 in W 48.75 in D 16.75 in
Italian Modern Rectangular Black Metal and Sandstone Long Bench, 1970s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern rectangular black metal and sandstone long bench, 1970s Large bench with black metal frame with rod parts and square section legs and top entirely in sandstone, recta...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Modern Benches

Materials

Sandstone, Metal

Contemporary White Bouclé Bench with Metal Base & Brass Details, Italy, 1970s
Located in Antwerp, BE
Contemporary; Minimalist; White; Bouclé; Brass; Wool; Bench; Chair; Stool; Metal; Italy; Italian Design; Contemporary bench in white bouclé with a metal frame. Bench featuring a tub...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Modern Benches

Materials

Metal, Brass

Paul Evans Studio Wrap-Around Corner Bench and Cabinet, c 1970, Authenticated
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This unique and authenticated custom piece was fabricated by Paul Evans and Dorsey Reading as what they considered a 'Studio' piece for Paul Evans Studio, circa 1970, is part of the 'Sculptured Metals Collection" and is quite versatile - functions as both a bench and a storage cabinet. It can be floated in the room around a coffee table and used as bench seating. Or it can wrap around a corner wall so that you have seating on both sides. Interior designers - think of all the times you have a blank corner with two different facing sides - now you can fill both spaces with one unique and rare piece. Also consider creating a custom base for this and making it a wrap-around console table / credenza. A custom base can be made out of lucite if you want it to "float" or made of steel to match the rest of the piece. Originally we thought this was a piece made for Directional but after speaking with Dorsey Reading we learned this was a studio piece which they crafted together for a client in York PA along with a large suite of other Paul Evans designs. A Certificate of Authenticity was issued by Dorsey and will be provided to the new owner of this fine piece of Paul Evans history. Crafted from heavy steel panels welded together in an artistic form, this floor bench corresponds with the PE-39 and PE-40 cabinets and the PE-11 and PE-13 cocktail tables. The two cabinet doors on this bench feature signature Paul Evans designs on the door panels. The two pieces can come apart for easier transportation and easily connect back together. For those with the matching credenza cabinet or coffee table - get this unique one-off piece to complete your matching set! *NOTE* We also have the very large matching bar...
Category

1970s American Vintage Modern Benches

Materials

Metal

Vintage Pair of Carlo di Carli Benches
Located in Austin, TX
Pair of Italian benches with black lacquered steel and brass legs. New upholstery done in a custom Italian fabric.
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Modern Benches

Materials

Brass, Steel

Vintage Pair of Carlo di Carli Benches
Vintage Pair of Carlo di Carli Benches
H 20.25 in W 49 in D 17 in
Tri Mark Designs Nickel Plated and Upholstered Bench Vintage
Located in North Miami, FL
This classic and timeless vintage Tri Mark Designs bench is always chic and modern. It has been restored with nickel plating over the chrome and new u...
Category

1970s American Vintage Modern Benches

Materials

Nickel

Oak and Chrome Bench
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Oak Slatted Bench with a Chrome Frame. Simple sturdy design that looks great. Unsold Bench that had been hanging in a Furniture Warehouse in Philad...
Category

1970s American Vintage Modern Benches

Materials

Chrome

Oak and Chrome Bench
Oak and Chrome Bench
H 16.5 in W 72 in D 18.5 in
English 1970s Upholstered Window Seat
Located in London, GB
This is an elegant window seat, made in England in the 1970s. It is finished on both sides, so the piece can stand free, as well as in a window, by a wall, or at the end of a bed. ...
Category

1970s British Vintage Modern Benches

Materials

Linen, Wood

English 1970s Upholstered Window Seat
English 1970s Upholstered Window Seat
H 23.23 in W 61.03 in D 20.87 in
Karl Springer Sculptural Molded Lucite Bench 1970s
Located in New York, NY
Sculptural molded Lucite bench by Karl Springer, American 1970's. Reference: Karl Springer LTD brown paper catalog published in the 1970’s, on page 5...
Category

1970s American Vintage Modern Benches

Materials

Lucite

Sculptural Molded Clear Acrylic Bench by Karl Springer
Located in Palm Springs, CA
1970’s Sculptural clear acrylic bench by Karl Springer. Constructed of one piece of acrylic that’s molded in to shape. Newly professionally polished. ...
Category

1970s American Vintage Modern Benches

Materials

Lucite

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.

Recently Viewed

View All