Modern Chairs
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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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.
Style: Modern
Color: Beige
Celeste Chair in Boucle Fabric and Brass and Mint Metal by Lara Bohinc
By Lara Bohinc
Located in Holland, AMSTERDAM
Celeste chair plays with contrasting shapes, materials and textures. The circles and squares join to make a chair that has both substance and lightness. ...
Category
2010s British Modern Chairs
Materials
Metal
Pair of Chic 'Méandre' Side Chairs by Design Frères
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of chic undulating 'Méandre' side chairs by Design Frères.
Bronzed steel frames. Natural linen upholstered cushions.
These Méandre™ chairs from our exclusive Design Frères® li...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel
Woven Black Ash Wood Dining Chair Molteni&C by Tobia Scarpa - made in Italy
Located in New York, NY
Miss Chair in Black Ash Wood and Leather by Afra and Tobia Scarpa.
Expert-crafted in Italy exclusively by Molteni&C.
Husband and wife powerhouse designers...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs
Materials
Ash
Customizable e15 That Lounge Chair by Stefan Diez
By Stefan Diez, e15
Located in New York, NY
The lounge chair That is part of the distinct This That Other seating series. Named after the famous card trick, Stefan Diez uses the same plywood material as for the iconic Houdini ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary German Modern Chairs
Materials
Oak
Strelitzia Modern Solid Brass Upholstered Luxury Dining Chair by Egg Designs
By Egg Designs
Located in Bothas Hill, KZN
The Strelitzia bespoke, dining chair is designed by Egg Designs and manufactured in South Africa.
This luxury dining chair has a backrest of so...
Category
2010s South African Modern Chairs
Materials
Brass
Modern De Castro Dining Chairs, Velvet, Beech, Handmade Portugal by Greenapple
By Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
De Castro Chair, Modern Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by GF Modern.
The De Castro dining chair is a tribute to one of the most remarkab...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Chairs
Materials
Brass
Modern Margot Dining Chairs, Leather Bouclé, Handmade in Portugal by Greenapple
By Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
Margot Chair, Modern Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by GF Modern.
The Margot leather dining chair stands as a contemporary piece that redefines the standards of modern...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Chairs
Materials
Leather, Velvet, Bouclé, Fabric
Modern Maia Dining Chair, Beige Italian Leather, Handmade Portugal by Greenapple
By Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
Maia Chair, Contemporary Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Greenapple.
Designed by Rute Martins for the Contemporary Collection, the Maia lea...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Chairs
Materials
Metal, Brass
Modern Margot Dining Chairs, Cream Leather, Handmade in Portugal by Greenapple
By Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
Margot Chair, Modern Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by GF Modern.
The Margot leather dining chair stands as a contemporary piece that redef...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Chairs
Materials
Leather, Velvet, Bouclé, Fabric
Minimalist Modern Lounge Chair in Natural Leather and Polished Stainless Steel
Located in Lisbon, PT
Embracing the purpose to take a break, LISBOA chair invites you to just sit and relax. Combining many observations from different cultures of how people use chairs...
Category
2010s Portuguese Modern Chairs
Materials
Stainless Steel
e15 Jean Stool Wood by Stefan Diez
By e15, Stefan Diez
Located in New York, NY
The bar stool jean is a natural development of the dynamic chair family Houdini. Jan consists of a seat with circumferential brim, which provides comfort and hold when seated. Betwee...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary German Modern Chairs
Materials
Wood
Meridiana Chair in Transparent by Christophe Pillet for Driade
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Meridiana table stems from the ultimate globetrotter chair, revised this year with solid wooden legs. An archetype of the coffee shop or domestic table, it displays a precious balance between the round, wood particleboard top and the solid wood frame and legs. A mass-colored clay mixture is smoothed over the top by hand with a scraper. The table’s aesthetic is distinguished by the shaded, handmade finish of its top. Available in the following colors: Volcano red, Lava black and Champagne.
Born in 1959, he graduated from the Academy of Decorative Arts in Nice in 1985 and a year later took a post-graduate course at the Domus Academy in Milan. From 1986 to 1988 he worked with Martine Bedin in Milan, and from 1988 to 1993 with Philippe Starck in Paris. His first items of furniture, issued by XO, date from 1991. Since May 1993 he has been working as an independent designer. His work ranges from furniture to product design, from interior design to architecture and exhibit design. He works, among others, with Artelano, Cappellini, Ceccotti, JC Decaux, Driade, Mazzega, Moroso, Trussardi, Daum, Moët e Chandon, Ecart International, Lacoste Lancome, l’Oreal, Shiseido, Whirlpool. Nominated Creator of the Year in 1995, he has exhibited his works at the Georges Pompidou Center in Paris, at the Museum of Decorative Arts in Lucerne and at many other prestige venues. Among his most recent works or works in progress...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs
Materials
Plastic
Chubby Chair in Eraser 3D Printed Recycled Plastic
Located in London, GB
Dirk van der Kooij first fell in love with low resolution 3D printing as a student, fulfilling his search for honest and functional ornamentation. The chubby chair...
Category
2010s Dutch Modern Chairs
Materials
Plastic
Pair of Chic 'Méandre' Bronze Chairs by Design Frères
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of Méandre™ dark bronze side chairs by DESIGN FRÈRES®.
Chic and understated.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel
Armchair in Boucle Fabric Molteni&C by Gio Ponti D.154.2 - made in Italy
By Gio Ponti, Molteni & C
Located in New York, NY
D.154.2 Lovechair in Bouclé Fabric by Gio Ponti.
Expert-crafted in Italy exclusively by Molteni&C.
The mid-century D.154.2 lovechair features a shell-like structure inspired by ren...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs
Materials
Bouclé
Chair in Black Ashwood and Black Leather Molteni&C by Tobia Scarpa - Miss
Located in New York, NY
Miss Chair in Black Ashwood and Black Leather by Afra and Tobia Scarpa. Expert-crafted in Italy exclusively by Molteni&C.
Husband and wife powerhouse desi...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs
Materials
Ash, Leather
Iola Upholstered Chair in Black Metal Base, by E-ggs
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Iola chair comes with a seat, back and armrests in a injected flameretardant polyurethane foam covered with the listed fabrics. The structure base is available for custom orders in W...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs
Materials
Metal
e15 Mr. Collins Stool by Stefan Diez
By e15, Stefan Diez
Located in New York, NY
With its dynamic form and ergonomic comfort, Mr. Collins is an endearing stool applicable in diverse arrangements for living or working situations. Based on couture construction meth...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary German Modern Chairs
Materials
Wood
Cream Boucle', Bronzed Steel, Brass & Feather Trim, Ostrich Fluff Lounge Chair
By Egg Designs
Located in Bothas Hill, KZN
This lounge chair is part of the Ostrich Fluff collection designed by Egg Designs and manufactured in South Africa.
The lounge chair is constructed in two section, these are connecte...
Category
2010s Portuguese Modern Chairs
Materials
Brass, Steel
Chair in Wood and Leather Molteni&C by Tobia Scarpa - Made in Italy - Miss
Located in New York, NY
Miss Chair in Wood and Leather by Afra and Tobia Scarpa.
Expert-crafted in Italy exclusively by Molteni&C.
Husband and wife powerhouse designers Afra and...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs
Materials
Ash
Orbit Chair, Outdoor , Red Powder-Coated Steel and Stripe Fabric, in stock
By Lara Bohinc
Located in Holland, AMSTERDAM
The Orbit Chair is now available with outdoor specifics and can be left outside all year round, even in winter. The frame is made from powder coated stainless steel to protect it fro...
Category
2010s Portuguese Modern Chairs
Materials
Stainless Steel
Opinion Ciatti Mammamia Stool with Adjustable Height
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mammamia Stool is a swivel stool with die-cast aluminium shell. Chrome-plated steel structure, base and footrest. Adjustable in height with gas piston. ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs
Materials
Metal
GRACE Urban dining chair in velvet
Located in Frazão, Porto
The sophisticated character of the GRACE Urban chair is given by the combination of the most distinct raw materials, from wood to the fabric textures and metallic details, taking sha...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Chairs
Materials
Brass, Stainless Steel, Nickel
Customizable Modern Dining Chair with Cubed Seat Design
Located in Greenwich, CT
Our tailored home exclusive "Branford" dining chair on casters is shown in our own ecru linen fabric. This chair is perfect for the dining table or as an accent chair in any living space. It features a simple and modern cubed seat...
Category
2010s American Modern Chairs
Materials
Linen
Arflex Botolo High Back Armchair in Natural Fur & Black Metal Legs by Cini Boeri
By Cini Boeri, Arflex
Located in Brooklyn, NY
An innovative upholstered rolling chair with three large tubular legs. Botolo is an ideal place to sit, relax and be creative.Cini Boeri designed Botolo in 1973, giving life to a new design style, where you could choose the height of the legs to have a dining chair in the high version or a style, at that time modern, "the living at a low level", a way of living...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs
Materials
Fur
Tube Chair in Canaletto Walnut, Upholster Seat, by Giopato & Coombes
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This tube chair is available with a Canaletto wood structure, and an upholstered seat in the listed fabrics. The tube chair is also available in beech and solid oak wood.
Cristiana Giopato...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs
Materials
Wood, Upholstery
e15 This Side Chair by Stefan Diez
By Stefan Diez, e15
Located in New York, NY
The deceptively simple side chair this illustrates e15's key philosophy in exposing and featuring elements essential to the construction of a product. Named after the famous card tri...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary German Modern Chairs
Materials
Oak
Chubby Chair in Buttermilk 3D Printed Recycled Plastic
Located in London, GB
Dirk van der Kooij first fell in love with low resolution 3D printing as a student, fulfilling his search for honest and functional ornamentation. T...
Category
2010s Dutch Modern Chairs
Materials
Plastic
Kartell Stone Stool in Yellow by Marcel Wanders
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Stone is a stool with a simple shape but with a very precious appearance. Made with an essential symmetrical linear shape which is reminiscent of an hourglass, its surface is simply ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs
Materials
Plastic
Chubby Chair in Dijon 3d Printed Recycled Plastic
Located in London, GB
Dirk van der Kooij first fell in love with low resolution 3D printing as a student, fulfilling his search for honest and functional ornamentation. T...
Category
2010s Dutch Modern Chairs
Materials
Plastic
Set of 2 Pink Ribbon Chairs, Designed by Nika Zupanc
By Nika Zupanc
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Scroll down and click "view all from Seller" to see more than 500 other unique products. (2.2)
The Ribbon chair is the object that expresses the female language of Nika Zupanc with ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs
Materials
Plastic
Thonet Softec Stacking Chairs by David Rowland
Located in Tucson, AZ
Chairs feature David Rowland's patented "Soflex" seat and back in original school bus color vinyl plastisol on tubular chrome frame. - Soflex is a material invented by Rowland in 197...
Category
Late 20th Century American Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel, Wire
Pair Contemporary Kitchen Counter Bar Stool , Old Silver Metal & Tobacco Leather
Located in Alcoy, Alicante
The Wanderlust contemporary counter stool belongs to a collection of minimalist and serene pieces where exclusivity and precision are shown in small details such as the hand-turned m...
Category
2010s Spanish Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel
Arm Chair Shearling/ COM Modern Contemporary Blackened Steel Waxed
Located in Bronx, NY
CHAIR NO. 2
J.M. Szymanski
d. 2023
Did you count sheep as a child to fall asleep? We introduce you to one of these sheep. Hand craved iron is combined with plush shearling to creat...
Category
2010s American Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel, Iron
Modern Accent Chairs by Carsons Inc Chrome Frames & Oatmeal Herringbone a Pair
Located in Topeka, KS
Wonderful MCM (Mid-Century Modern) to Modern Carsons Incorporated accent chairs with rectangular chrome tube frames and original oatmeal herringbone fabric, a pair. Beautiful conditi...
Category
Late 20th Century American Modern Chairs
Materials
Metal, Chrome
Shiro Kuramata 01 Chair in Polished Chrome or Matte Varnish for Cappellini
Located in New York, NY
Created as a tribute to the 1980s, the decade during which the original design was made and when Shiro Kuramata began his fertile collaboration with Cappellini, sedia 01 chair featur...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs
Materials
Iron
Sitar Chair in Ash Wood Polished Walnut with Beige Cord Seat by Enzo Berti
By Enzo Berti
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A light armchair that brings to mind the softness of a feather, a caress, a moment of harmony in ash wood and woven nautical cords. The name has Persian origins: “seh-tar” literally ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs
Materials
Ash
e15 Houdini Side Chair by Stefan Diez
By e15, Stefan Diez
Located in New York, NY
E15 celebrates ten years of chair Houdini by Stefan Diez with a curated palette of anniversary colors. In his search for an ergonomic, organic seating shell without involving expensi...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary German Modern Chairs
Materials
Wood
Rive Gauche Dining Chair
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Custom Furniture MLB Design
Customizable in any size and upholstery
As featured in Architectural Digest February 2019
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Chairs
Materials
Faux Leather
Pair Contemporary Bar Stool Aged Brass Metal & Dark Brown Leather
Located in Alcoy, Alicante
The Wanderlust contemporary barstool belongs to a collection of minimalist and serene pieces where exclusivity and precision are shown in small details such as the hand-turned metal ...
Category
2010s Spanish Modern Chairs
Materials
Brass, Steel
Ward Bennett for Brickell Newly Caned "Sled" Lounge Chair, Circa 1970
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Original Chromed Steel & Cane Lounge Chair by Ward Bennett for Brickell. Featuring the vintage low chromed x frame, with newly natural and unstained cane seat, curved back, covered a...
Category
1960s American Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Chrome
De Sede Leather Beanbag Longue Chair
By De Sede
Located in Brooklyn, NY
DS-9087/60 beanbag chair by De Sede. Styrofoam ball filling.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Chairs
Materials
Leather
La Colima Chair by Maria Beckmann, Represented by Tuleste Factory
Located in New York, NY
Silla Colima by Maria Beckmann
Lounge Chair
2017
26 2/5 × 26 2/5 x 24 2/5 in
67 × 67 x 72 cm
La Colima Chair combines a soft leather with a rigid wood structure.
Picture...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Mexican Modern Chairs
Materials
Leather
Pedro Franco Fla chair nº 1, Bahia Collection, Brazil 2021
By Pedro Franco
Located in São Paulo, BR
The collection of Fla chairs created by designer Pedro Franco is a high quality piece of art design by A LOT OF Brasil. Inspired by Brazilian lace, it has a steel structure, a backre...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel
De Sede Stepped Leather Longue Chair by Christophe Marchand
Located in Brooklyn, NY
DS-2660/101 longue chair by De Sede.
Technical details:
Standard configuration: Armrests covered in leather. For further versions, please inquire. If not specified otherwise, the...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Chairs
Materials
Leather
Pedro Franco Fla Chair Nº 5, Bahia Collection, Brazil, 2021
By Pedro Franco
Located in São Paulo, BR
The collection of Fla chairs created by designer Pedro Franco is a high quality piece of art design by A LOT OF Brasil. Inspired by Brazilian lace, it has a steel structure, a backre...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel
Pedro Franco Fla Chair Nº 3, Bahia Collection, Brazil, 2021
By Pedro Franco
Located in São Paulo, BR
The collection of Fla chairs created by designer Pedro Franco is a high quality piece of art design by A LOT OF Brasil. Inspired by Brazilian lace, it has a steel structure, a backre...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel
Pedro Franco Fla chair nº 2, Bahia Collection, Brazil 2021
By Pedro Franco
Located in São Paulo, BR
The collection of Fla chairs created by designer Pedro Franco is a high quality piece of art design by A LOT OF Brasil. Inspired by Brazilian lace, it has a steel structure, a backre...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel
Set of four Gastone Rinaldi 'Z' Chairs, Rima, Italy 1970s
Located in London, GB
SOLD AS A SET OF FOUR
Gastone Rinaldi (1920-2006) was a brilliant designer who also played football for AC Padua and AC Udinese in the 1940s. He took over RIMA, the metal furniture ...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Upholstery
Modern Fortune Swivel Chair Made with Iron and Suede, Handmade by Stylish Club
Located in Seroa, PT
The Fortune collection creates a disruption of the traditional. The joining of different materials and the combination of straight lines creates pieces that escape the conceptualizat...
Category
2010s Portuguese Modern Chairs
Materials
Iron
e15 Customizable Kashan Ottoman w by Philipp Mainzer
By e15, Philipp Mainzer
Located in New York, NY
In its form and material, the Kashan ottoman epitomizes the logical continuation of e15 design. The 550 mm (21 5/8 inch) tall backrest is notched to the equally tall side frames, und...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary German Modern Chairs
Materials
Fabric
De Sede Smooth Leather Longue Chair by Christophe Marchand
Located in Brooklyn, NY
DS-2660/01 longue chair by de Sede.
Technical details:
Standard configuration: Armrests covered in leather. For further versions, please inquire. If not specified otherwise, the ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Chairs
Materials
Leather
Modern Club Chair Made with Stainless Steel, Velvet and Leather by Stylish Club
Located in Seroa, PT
The Club collection is inspired by exclusive clubs devoted to socializing among privileged members. In order to create functional areas that serve the purpose of a club, this collect...
Category
2010s Portuguese Modern Chairs
Materials
Stainless Steel
"Amalfi" Outdoor Stool in Aluminum and Handmade Nautical Rope
Located in Centro, RS
With organic and fluid shapes, the design of the Amalfi chair is inspired by the Italian Amalfi Coast nature.
The fluidity of the design offers a clean, ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Chairs
Materials
Aluminum
Big Girl Chair by Lara Bohinc, Cream Wool, Organic Sculptural Shape, Armchair
By Lara Bohinc
Located in Holland, AMSTERDAM
Part of the Peaches collection, the Big Girl armchair is the largest piece in this new body of works. Reminiscent of a curvaceous female body, the pieces are composed of a wooden str...
Category
2010s English Modern Chairs
Materials
Wool, Bouclé
Set of 4 Grey Beige Leather Dining Chairs with Polished Chrome Cantilever Base
By Rolf Benz
Located in Chicago, IL
Set of four grey beige leather dining chairs with a cantilevered rectangular tubed base in polished chrome.
Showroom display chairs, two...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary German Modern Chairs
Materials
Chrome
Modern Black Green Beige or White Nordic Loop Dining or Accent Chair Set of 2
By Front Design, Qeeboo
Located in Origgio (VA), IT
Loop chair, born from the original and recognizable magical and Nordic trait typical of the Front. The experiments on "freehand sketches" objects, unique pieces of the early 2000s, w...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs
Materials
Plastic
e15 Customizable ELBE III Bench by Marguerre, Besau and Schöning
By Eva Marguerre, Marcel Besau and Daniel Schöning, e15
Located in New York, NY
Originally conceived for concert hall Elbphilharmonie by Herzog & de Meuron architects, bench ELBE III is focussed on essential forms that allow for classic references. The removable...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary German Modern Chairs
Materials
Wood, Textile
Modern chairs for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Modern chairs 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 chairs created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include seating, building and garden elements, more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, fabric and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Modern chairs made in a specific country, there are Europe, Italy, and Scandinavia pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original chairs, popular names associated with this style include Finn Juhl, Jover + Valls, Emeco, and Kartell. 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 chairs differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $25 and tops out at $103,950 while the average work can sell for $2,723.
Recently Viewed
View AllMore Ways To Browse
Wegner Woven
Mid Century Italian Plywood Chair
Baroque Style Chair
Arts And Crafts Oak Chair Antique
Ribbon Back Chairs
Used Steel Folding Chairs
Hollywood Regency Velvet Chair
Mahogany French Art Deco Chair
Heart Chair Retro
Gold Italian Dining Chairs
Geometric Office Chair
Ponti Style Dining Chairs
Low Back Side Chair
Modern Circle Chair
Ear Chair
Mid Century Wood Square Chairs
Ornately Carved Chairs
Red Patterned Chair