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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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.
64
14
3
to
1
38
36
81
23
30
108
81
46
13
11
9
9
6
5
5
5
4
3
3
2
1
14
67
4
7
2
1
1
5
2
Height
to
Width
to
Depth
to
76
57
50
51
49
50
49
50
49
50
49
50
42
34
30
13
13
48
35
25
20
5
6
5
5
3
3
Style: Modern
Recognized Seller Listings
Karl Springer Stunning "Round Leg Lucite Bench" 1980s (Signed)
Located in New York, NY
Beautifully made “Round Leg Lucite Bench” with polished brass stretchers and upholstered seat by Karl Springer, American 1980's (signed “Karl Springer” on front of stretcher). Brass...
Category
1980s American Vintage Modern Benches
Materials
Brass
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
X-Bench
By FOS
Located in Copenhagen, DK
About the bench
Other joys and fears or x- bench which come from the crooked legs making an X.
The bench is one of the furnitures connected to the art institution from where one rest...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary European Modern Benches
Materials
Concrete
Customizable Upholstered Wave Bench in Corduroy by Objects for Objects
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Sculptural yet comfortable, the Wave Bench by Los Angeles–based design studio Objects for Objects is a fun piece for the end of the bed, or in any ...
Category
2010s American Modern Benches
Materials
Fabric, Wood
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
Gufram Broken Bench by Snarkitecture - Blue edition 1/33
Located in La Morra, Cuneo
The Broken Bench, an irregular slab of “soft concrete” in polyurethane, seems to be the part missing from the large Broken Mirror, and just like the other pieces of the collection pl...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Benches
Materials
Other
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
Upholstered Cherry Wood and Douglas Fir Bench by Gregory Beson
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This elemental wood-frame bench with a soft top is shown upholstered in one-of-a-kind vintage linen, but it is available made to order in COM / COL. It can also be custom ordered in ...
Category
2010s American Modern Benches
Materials
Fabric, Cherry, Fir
Phase Design, "Pill Bench", (Two-Piece)
By Phase Design
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Important to note that this listing is for the Pill Bench (Two Piece) in a Flat Black Powder Coat Finish. Pricing is COM and this listing does not include t...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Benches
Materials
Brass, Steel
Phase Design, "Pill Bench", (Three-Piece)
By Phase Design
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Important to note that this listing is for the Pill Bench (Three Piece) in a Flat Black Powder Coat Finish. Pricing is COM and this listing does not include...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Benches
Materials
Brass, 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
"Tavira" Rectangular Walnut and Leather Bracket Leg Bench
Located in New York, NY
2 "Tavira" Contemporary Mid-Century Modern-style rectangular benches with walnut frames and brown leather seat tops, resting on two bracket-shaped walnut legs.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Modern Benches
Materials
Leather, Walnut, Wood
Pair of Contemporary Taupe Leather Upholstered Benches
Located in New York, NY
PAIR of Contemporary rectangular benches with taupe leather upholstered tops with bronze upholstery nail detail on each corner, resting on four square wooden legs with a dark wood ve...
Category
20th Century Unknown Modern Benches
Materials
Bronze, Metal
Indoor / Outdoor Lineage Bench in Powder-Coated Metal by Muhly Studio
By Muhly
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Graphic cutouts add visual interest to the relatively simple form of Muhly's Lineage Bench. Shown here in powder-coated steel, a material suitable for the outdoors, the bench's decor...
Category
2010s American Modern Benches
Materials
Steel
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
Thomas Newman Studio, "Evox2", Bench
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The name “evolution” suggests an elemental, primitive concept: a simple beginning for more complex ideas that evolve from it. The two legs of this piece are identical, held together ...
Category
2010s American Modern Benches
Materials
Upholstery, Sapele Wood
Sculptural Plump Bench in Clear Resin by Ian Alistair Cochran
By Ian Cochran
Located in Brooklyn, NY
In Ian Alistair Cochran's Plump series of sculptural furniture, shapes play upon the effect that resin has as light is refracted through a solid material....
Category
2010s American Modern Benches
Materials
Resin
Cala Bench by Draga&Aurel Resin and Concrete, 21st Century
Located in Como, IT
Featuring a juxtaposition of cast resin and concrete, these benches have been inspired by Lake Como and its countless shades. The resin, in the tones of blue and green, looks like wa...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Benches
Materials
Concrete
Customizable Upholstered Wave Bench in Lavender Velour by Objects for Objects
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Sculptural yet comfortable, the Wave Bench by Los Angeles–based design studio Objects for Objects is a fun piece for the end of the bed, or in any ...
Category
2010s American Modern Benches
Materials
Fabric, Wood
Anza Large Upholstered Bench with Floating Cushion
Located in Brooklyn, NY
For the past six years Portuguese designer Rui Pereira and Japanese designer Ryosuke Fukusada have been collaborating on projects that tap into the...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Modern Benches
Materials
Wood
Rive Bench Big by Draga & Aurel Cement and Bronze, 21st Century
Located in Como, IT
Transparency Matters collection by Draga & Aurel:
Bench in concrete with details obtained through a technique involving the corrosion of sea salt. Hand finished brass leg.
The benc...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Benches
Materials
Cement, Brass
Xanto Bronze Benches by Alexandre Logé
Located in New York, NY
Studio-built base of hammered bronze with great details. Hand-applied gold patina. These studio-made pieces are created individually per order. 20-24 week lead time.
C.O.M 1 yard pe...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Benches
Materials
Bronze
Oltremare Bench in Seventy Grey Upholstery & Matt Black Legs by Antonio Marras
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The seating collection “Oltremare” designed by Antonio Marras and produced in collaboration with Saba, stems from a far-away past and place, ful...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Benches
Materials
Upholstery
Modern Handpainted Hardwood Bench Coffeetable Dilmos Colourful Geometric Graphic
Located in Milan, IT
Seating and low table, interchangeable according to desire. Handpainted hardwood structure embellished with hand-drawn graphic details designed by the author, then protected with a c...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Benches
Materials
Acrylic, Hardwood, Paint
Modern Handpainted Hardwood Bench CoffeeTable Dilmos Colourful Geometric Graphic
Located in Milan, IT
Seating and low table, interchangeable according to desire. Handpainted hardwood structure embellished with hand-drawn graphic details designed by the author, then protected with a c...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Benches
Materials
Acrylic, Hardwood, Paint
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
Modern Handpainted Hardwood Bench CoffeeTable Dilmos Colourful Geometric Graphic
Located in Milan, IT
Seating and low table, interchangeable according to desire. Handpainted hardwood structure embellished with hand-drawn graphic details designed by the author, then protected with a c...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Benches
Materials
Acrylic, Hardwood, Paint
Pair of Sculptural "Atlante" Benches by Alexandre Logé
Located in New York, NY
Elegant benches with organically shaped bronze bases. These studio made pieces are created individually to order and are the original design from the "Atlante" series. 20-24 weeks le...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Benches
Materials
Bronze
21st Century Awaiting H Bench Printed Velvet and Brass double seating
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
Rive Bench Small by Draga&Aurel Cement and Bronze, 21st Century
Located in Como, IT
Transparency Matters collection by Draga&Aurel:
Bench in concrete with details obtained thought a technique involving the corrosion of sea salt. Hand finished brass leg.
The bench ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Benches
Materials
Cement, Brass
Golia Bench by Draga&Aurel Concrete Resin and Brass, 21st Century
Located in Como, IT
Dialoghi Mimetici Collection by Draga&Aurel:
Bench in concrete with details obtained thought a technique involving the corrosion of sea salt. Top in cast resin. Details in brass. Ha...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Benches
Materials
Cement, Brass
New York Velvet Blue Upholstered Armrest Bench with Chrome Legs, Sergio Bicego
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The New York family adds yet another seating solution to the dining area collection. New York Dining is a two-seater bench with integrated armrests that maintains the collection’s agile structure as well as the comfortable upholstery distinguished by small tonal quilted parts. Available in chrome or painted finish. Fully removable covers.
Born in 1953 he left formal education and began, almost by chance, his experience in the field of the padded furniture. Fascinated by the world that surrounded him, he eagerly devoted himself to researching building forms and techniques which have borne fruit for the companies in which he worked. In 1991 he opened his studio as an independent designer and in 1993 he came across Saba Italia. New challenges and new incentives lead to the creation of the “nomad sofa...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Benches
Materials
Upholstery
Gervasoni Gray 15 Bench in Grey Lacquered Oak & Brick Upholstery by Paola Navone
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Classic and simple furniture, the Gray 15 bench has a padded seat in polyurethane foam, with a removable cover enriched by the visible stitching that further outlines the strong geom...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Benches
Materials
Oak
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
Gufram Broken Bench by Snarkitecture
Located in La Morra, Cuneo
The Broken Bench, an irregular slab of “soft concrete” in polyurethane, seems to be the part missing from the large Broken Mirror, and just like the other...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Benches
Materials
Other
Anza Small Upholstered Bench with Floating Cushion
Located in Brooklyn, NY
For the past six years Portuguese designer Rui Pereira and Japanese designer Ryosuke Fukusada have been collaborating on projects that tap into the...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Modern Benches
Materials
Wood
Forest Bench with Brass Inlay by Marcantonio
Located in Kolkata, IN
Forest bench with brass inlay by Marcantonio is a fun seat with a brass inlay top and "walking" legs.
For his debut creations, Marcantonio introduced “Vegetal Animal”, a concept t...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Benches
Materials
Metal, Brass
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
Macassar Ebony Wood Bench Orion by Hervé Langlais France One-Off
Located in Paris, FR
Orion, bench by Hervé Langlais for Gallery Negropontes, 2020
Measures: H. 15.74 x W. 65 x D. 15.74 inch
Macassar ebony waxed and black lacquer
Hervé Langlais is a graduate of the No...
Category
2010s French Modern Benches
Materials
Wood
Big Sur Wooden Couch, by Peter Shire for Memphis Milano Collection
Located in La Morra, Cuneo
The Big Sur couch is made out of 100% wool, and the structure is in lacquered wood. The couch was originally designed in 1986 by Peter Shire for Memphis M...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Benches
Materials
Wool, Wood
Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH Coat Rack Bench in Black with Cane Seat
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The two Swedish designers able to give a poetic and innovative touch to materials at the same time, have come up with Coat Rack Bench for the Wiener GT...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Modern Benches
Materials
Wood
Contemporary Black Lacquer and Upholstery Square Footstools
Located in New York, NY
4 contemporary square footstools with shaped black lacquered legs and a black and beige patterned tapestry upholstered top cushion. (priced each).
Category
20th Century American Modern Benches
Materials
Wood, Fabric, Upholstery
Untitled Waxed Ash Sculptural Bench by Christopher Norman
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This series by Los Angeles–based artist Christopher Norman explores the traits of molded forms executed in exceptional woods. The mass and the scale of the curves are unusual while b...
Category
2010s American Modern Benches
Materials
Ash
Contemporary Blue Pony Hair Stool
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary Italian folding stool / luggage rack with a black base and cornflower blue pony hair seat.
Category
20th Century Italian Modern Benches
Materials
Leather, Wood
DeCastelli Wave Bench in Brushed Copper by Lanzavecchia + Wai
Located in Brooklyn, NY
With its essential shapes and gentle, sinuous sense of movement, Wave suggests a renewed, more conscious focus on the ritual of arriving home. The project reinterprets a quintessential piece Asian furniture: the shoe bench...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Benches
Materials
Copper
DeCastelli Wave Bench in Natural Brushed Copper by Lanzavecchia + Wai
Located in Brooklyn, NY
With its essential shapes and gentle, sinuous sense of movement, Wave suggests a renewed, more conscious focus on the ritual of arriving home. The project reinterprets a quintessential piece Asian furniture: the shoe bench...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Benches
Materials
Copper
Marino Modular Bench with LeftLow Panel in Kvadrat Maharam Merit Fabric by E-GGS
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Marino is a modular bench system for configuring spaces freely. With organic shapes, seats and backrests combine and transform, reinforced by a whole range of accessories that make i...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Benches
Materials
Upholstery
Alexandre Logé, Long Form, "Atlante" Sculptural Bronze Bench
Located in New York, NY
Made to order. Highly sculptural bench made out of cast bronze and upholstered with customer's own material. Please note that this bench comes in different sizes. Lead time: 20-24 we...
Category
Early 2000s French Modern Benches
Materials
Bronze
Modern Ron Gilad for Dilmos Limited Edition Hardwood Bench Sculpture Stool
By Ron Gilad
Located in Milan, IT
Limited Edition of two pieces designed by Ron Gilad for Dilmos Edizioni. The object is the end-result of what might be called “three-dimensional concept”. Gi...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Benches
Materials
Hardwood
DeCastelli Wave Bench in Copper by Lanzavecchia+Wai
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Wave Bench designed by Lanzavecchia+Wai for DeCastelli entirely made up of copper with 4mm thickness. The presence of an empty-pockets bowl creates a decorative perforated pattern. T...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Benches
Materials
Copper
Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH Coat Rack Bench in Pure White with Cane Seat
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The two Swedish designers able to give a poetic and innovative touch to materials at the same time, have come up with Coat Rack Bench for the Wiener GT...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Modern Benches
Materials
Wood
Bench by Analogia Project
Located in Milan, IT
Bench by Analogia Project
Unfold collection. Italy, 2019. Nilufar edition. Bronze, velvet upholstery. Measures: 130 x 40.5 x H 45 cm. 51 x 16 x 18 in.
Please note: Prices do not in...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Benches
Materials
Bronze
Golia Bench by Draga&Aurel Concrete Resin and Brass, 21st Century
Located in Como, IT
Dialoghi Mimetici collection by Draga&Aurel:
Bench in concrete with details obtained thought a technique involving the corrosion of sea salt. Top in cast resin. Details in brass. Ha...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Benches
Materials
Cement, Brass
Claudio Silvestrin Millenium Hope Bench in Natural Oak for Cappellini
Located in New York, NY
The Millenium hope table, by designer Claudio Silvestrin, is a monolithic union of honeycombed fir with medium density conglomerate fiber. This table, c...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Benches
Materials
Wood
Bench Guise 4 Spray by Odd Matter
By Odd Matter
Located in Milan, IT
Guise 4 spray bench by Odd Matter, Italy, 2018. Nilufar edition. EPS foam, spray. Measures: 163 x 40 x H 36 cm, 64.2 x 15.7 x H 14.2 in. Guise explores the first encounter? Through t...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Benches
Materials
Polystyrene, Paint
Raphael Navot Poh Patchwork Oval Hemisphere Bench in Walnut by Cappellini
Located in New York, NY
The Poh bench, designed by Raphael Navot, can also be used as a low table and consists of a patchwork of wooden pieces covered with solid natural American walnut. Every Poh bench is ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Benches
Materials
Poplar, Walnut
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 AllMore Ways To Browse
1970s Leather Benches
Antique Style Upholstered Bench
Bench Rattan
Pair Mahogany Benches
Wood Bench Arms Back
Blue And Black Bench
Three Seat Wood Bench
Floating Benches
Large Italian Bench
Floating Bench
American Bench 19th Century
Solid Walnut Bench Mid Century
Antique American Bench
Beach Bench
Rushed Bench Seat
Small Italian Bench
Rush Seat Benches
Straight Leg Bench