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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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
Period: Mid-20th Century
Unique Wrought Iron and Wicker Gossip Bench in the Style of Arthur Umanoff 1950s
Located in Mexico, DF
Very unique wrought iron and wicker Gossip Bench from the 50s. in the very simple yet sophisticated style of Arthur Umanoff (doesn´t have authentication)....
Category
Mid-20th Century American Modern Benches
Materials
Wrought Iron
4 French Mid-Century Modern Industrial Iron Stools / Benches
Located in New York, NY
Two pairs of French Mid-Century Modern / Industrial Design stools
Priced and sold by the pair.
Category
1950s French Vintage Modern Benches
Materials
Steel
1960s John Behringer Link Bench Model 656 for Fabry Associates
By John Behringer, Fabry
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is a gorgeous 4-seater bench (model 656) by John Behringer for Fabry Associates. These iconic benches were used in the TWA terminal, famously designed by Eero Saarine...
Category
1960s American Vintage Modern Benches
Materials
Steel
A Pair Of Unusual Benches By John Vesey ca' 1960's
By John Vesey
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
A pair of rare benches in solid brass by John Vesey, ca' 1960's. Priced per pair (2 pairs or four stools available). Heavy brass, reupholstered in natural suede.
Category
1960s American Vintage Modern Benches
Materials
Brass
Bench covered in white Bouclé, 1960s
Located in Milano, Lombardia
A small mid-century style bench, covered in white bouclet, new upholstery.
Category
1960s Vintage Modern Benches
Materials
Bouclé, Wood
Guglielmo Pecorini, Bench, Fabric, Wood, Brass, Italy, c. 1950s
Located in High Point, NC
A wood, brass, and white fabric bench designed and produced by Guglielmo Pecorini, Italy, circa 1950s.
seat height 13.5”.
Literature: M. R. Rogers, Italy At Work. Her Renaissance i...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Modern Benches
Materials
Brass
Lucite Bench Upholstered in Louis Vuitton Monogram Fabric
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Design and purpose best describe this one-of-a-kind custom bench. This piece features an authentic classic Monogram Louis Vuitton fabric...
Category
Mid-20th Century Modern Benches
Materials
Fabric, Lucite
Alvar Aalto Bench Blue Linoluem Top
By Alvar Aalto
Located in 東御市, JP
1960's alvar aalto design bench
It is blue linoleum top.
Category
1960s Finnish Vintage Modern Benches
Materials
Birch
Extra large modernist solid wood bench, Netherlands 1960s
Located in ECHT, NL
Large modernist bench. Made from solid wood. The bench consists of two halves that are joined together with wood dowels and 2 large metal bolts. They can also be used as 2 separate s...
Category
Mid-20th Century Dutch Modern Benches
Materials
Wood
Pair of Hunter Green Square Faux Leather Stools/Benches with Brushed Steel Legs
Located in San Francisco, CA
each square-form bench with semi-detached faux leather cushion over a deep apron; raised on square tapering brushed-steel supports
Category
1960s American Vintage Modern Benches
Materials
Steel
Willy Guhl Concrete and Steel Floating Bench, 1960s Switzerland
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Remarkable mid-century floating concrete bench by Swiss Architect Willy Guhl. Circa 1960s. Sturdy and substantial. Holds the weight of 3 adults easily. Perfect minimal design as is c...
Category
1960s Swiss Vintage Modern Benches
Materials
Concrete, Steel
50's bench 153A natural
By Alvar Aalto
Located in 東御市, JP
alvar aalto design 153A bench.
This condition is very nice patine and original finish.
Category
1950s Finnish Vintage Modern Benches
Materials
Birch
1950s Harry Bertoia for Knoll Associates Model 400 Bench in Oak with Black Base
By Knoll, Harry Bertoia
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is an iconic slatted oak bench designed by Harry Bertoia and produced by Knoll. It dates to circa 1952. This piece was constructed using solid oak wood for the top an...
Category
1950s American Vintage Modern Benches
Materials
Steel
1950s George Nelson Herman Miller 72.5 inch 4692 Slatted Platform Bench in Birch
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is a 1950s vintage George Nelson for Herman Miller natural and black-lacquered birch platform bench (Model 4692). This classic George Nelson example has a gorgeous pa...
Category
1950s American Vintage Modern Benches
Materials
Birch
1950s Erwine & Estelle Laverne Woven Black Leather Bench Laverne International
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is a very rare Erwine & Estelle Laverne woven black leather bench, produced by Laverne International. This example dates to the 1950's and is in gorgeous original con...
Category
1950s American Vintage Modern Benches
Materials
Metal
Uginox Benches, France 1970
By Uginox
Located in New York, NY
Bent stainless steel benches with light blue hair on hide upholstery.
Category
Mid-20th Century French Modern Benches
Materials
Stainless Steel
Willy Guhl Concrete and Steel Floating Bench, 1960s Switzerland
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Remarkable mid-century floating concrete bench by Swiss Architect Willy Guhl. Circa 1960s. Sturdy and substantial. Holds the weight of 3 adults easily. Perfect minimal design as is c...
Category
1960s Swiss Vintage Modern Benches
Materials
Concrete, Steel
French Designer, Long Bench, Oak, Iron, France, 1940s
Located in High Point, NC
A solid oak and white-lacquered iron long bench, designed and produced in France, c. 1940s.
Category
1940s French Vintage Modern Benches
Materials
Iron
Bentwood Bench, 1960s USA
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Minimal bentwood bench with plywood back and seat and contrasting dark wood legs. Beautiful curvature offers a comfortable seat for one or two adults. This bench features stunning wo...
Category
1960s Swiss Vintage Modern Benches
Materials
Wood, Bentwood, Plywood
Benche by Gio Ponti
By Gio Ponti
Located in Milan, IT
MASTERPIECE
Italy, 1930s
Provided with certificate of authenticity of the Gio Ponti Archives
Walnut frame, Dedar Tabularasa cotton satin upholst...
Category
1930s Italian Vintage Modern Benches
Materials
Cotton, Walnut
Willy Guhl Concrete Curved Bench, 1960s, Switzerland
By Eternit
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Substantial midcentury concrete seat/ bench by Eternit, circa 1960s. Perfect minimal concave design with convex sides that bow out gently. The bench is made of solid fiber cement which allows it to develop an incredible patina. Factory drilled drainage holes in the seat. A beautiful piece with a strong presence. Very sturdy and able to hold 1-2 adults. These can also be placed together in a variety of arrangements to make a different designs and seating arrangements. These seats are also perfectly compatible with our Willy Guhl Concrete Benches...
Category
1960s Swiss Vintage Modern Benches
Materials
Concrete
Poltronova Bench
By Poltronova
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Little bench produced by Poltronova. 1960s design modern and fresh, thanks to the yellow color cushion.
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Modern Benches
Materials
Textile, Wood
Galvanized Steel Manelco Bench, Cannes, France 1958
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Substantial and very heavy galvanized steel "Manelco" bench, from Cannes, France in 1958. Only produced for two years. Beautiful modern design with a large circular back rest and fra...
Category
1950s French Vintage Modern Benches
Materials
Steel
Pair of Benches, Italian Manufactory, 1960s
Located in Greding, DE
Pair of benches with extendable recliners made of beech wood. Very nice natural patina.
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Modern Benches
Materials
Beech
Triposto Bench by Gio Ponti for Techno
By Gio Ponti
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Designed by Gio Ponti for Techno, this Triposto bench features a highly unusual design with a detachable cabinet component. Metal legs and dark leather cushions complement this bench...
Category
Mid-20th Century Modern Benches
Materials
Metal
Spiros Zakas Vintage Rare Smoked Lucite Bend Bench, Off White Upholstery Cushion
By Spiros Zakas
Located in North Miami, FL
This wonderful large overscale rare vintage sculpted smoked gradient lucite bench with squared off arms is the work of a Greek designer from Atlanta in the 60's named Spiros Zakas. H...
Category
1960s American Vintage Modern Benches
Materials
Upholstery, Lucite
Italian Black and Rush Seat Nesting Stools after Gio Ponti
By Gio Ponti
Located in New York, NY
A set of Italian genuine rush seat nesting stools, in the style of Italian designer, Gio Ponti, circa mid-20th century, Italy. Seats are made of genuine rush with black ebonized wood bases. Each have paper label authentication "Genuine Rush", please see closeup images #17 and 18. And both are marked "Made in Italy" on underside of wood stretcher; shown in image #19.
Measurements include:
Top seat/stool: 15.75" D x 19.63" W x 18" H
Nesting seat...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Modern Benches
Materials
Rush, Wood
1930s Italian Bench
Located in New York, NY
This 1930s Italian bench is so over-scaled, and monumental in appearance, that it seems to have been made for the large room it was destined, rather than the comfort of a typical sitter. As such, it would function equally well as a low side table or a high cocktail table. We’ll allow the buyer to determine its use.
The designer was Pierluigi Colli, and the fabricator Martinotti, the Turin furniture and interior decorating firm that was established in 1831, and exhibited at the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition and the 1904 St Louis World’s Fair. Colli’s family owned a textile company that supplied Martinotti with upholstery fabrics, suggesting nepotism had something to do with his being hired as the firm's director in 1926. Nevertheless, he proved himself worthy as a designer and a businessman. Having studied in Paris at the Ecole des Arts Decoratifs, he befriended leading French designers, and arranged for Martinotti to retail Lalique glass and Jean Perzel lighting. In addition, the quality of their work, and Colli’s dedication to the modern design movement, prompted Carlo Mollino, Gio Ponti, and Gino Levi-Montalcini, among others, to have Martinotti fabricate some of their furniture. Colli’s claim to fame, however, is his own work as a designer, and his ability to master the vocabularies of every trend from Art Deco to midcentury modern.
During the Great Depression, when nearly every nation floundered economically, fascist Italy...
Category
1930s Italian Vintage Modern Benches
Materials
Other
Pair of Jørgen Høj 'Danish, 1925–1994' Aluminum Stools/Benches
By Jorgen Hoj
Located in San Francisco, CA
Each square stool composed of rectilinear tubes fitted with leather strapwork supporting loose cushions; Jørgen Høj was originally trained as a metal worker and upholsterer at the Copenhagen School...
Category
1960s Danish Vintage Modern Benches
Materials
Aluminum
Pair of Black and White French Demilune Iron Benches Recovered in Fortuny Fabric
Located in Westport, CT
Pair of black and white French demilune iron benches recovered in Fortuny fabric.
Category
Mid-20th Century French Modern Benches
Materials
Iron
Gerrit Rietveld Church Pew for Hoeksteen Church, Uithoorn, Netherlands, 1963
Located in Berlin, DE
Gerrit Rietveld church pew for the Hoeksteen church, Uithoorn, Netherlands, 1963.
Category
1960s Dutch Vintage Modern Benches
Materials
Metal
Sober French Mid-Century Modern Bench Covered in Giraffe Skin
Located in New York, NY
A rare French Modernist bench covered in Giraffe Skin, circa 1930. A sober and exotic piece.
Category
1930s French Vintage Modern Benches
Materials
Wood
A Classic Upholstered Bench With Caned Back
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
A classic upholstered bench with original speckled finish. Caned back, reupholstered in Larsen fabric.
Category
1960s American Vintage Modern Benches
Materials
Mahogany
Upholstered Bench Attributed to Gio Ponti
By Gio Ponti
Located in New York, NY
Walnut, upholstery. Sleek and modern upholstered bench.
Category
1940s Italian Vintage Modern Benches
Materials
Fabric, Walnut
Paul Frankl Low Cork Table
Located in New York, NY
Asian-inspired form with cork-wrapped top above dark-stained mahogany base. This piece is designed by Paul Frankl for Johnson furniture company from the post war period.
Category
1940s American Vintage Modern Benches
Materials
Mahogany, Cork
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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