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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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: Black
Set of 4 Gaulino Dining Chairs by Oscar Tusquets, black stained ash wood, Spain
Located in Barcelona, ES
The Gaulino Chair is one of the best designs by Oscar Tusquets and has become an iconic Spanish design. Made exclusively from wood and leather, the name comes from the influences th...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Chairs
Materials
Leather, Ash
Pair of John Vesey "Maximilian Lounge Chairs"
By John Vesey
Located in New York, NY
The “Maximilian Lounge Chair” was John Vesey’s finest and most celebrated chair design — it was also his most expensive one to produce, and appeared in a 1959 issue of Vogue. The aluminum frame was wrought rather than cast, solid rather than assembled, and polished to a seamless satiny sheen. An industrial-aluminum screen supports the black-leather upholstery tufted in a pattern that harks back to the 19th century. So too does the chair’s form that’s based on low-slung Latin American planters’ chairs. One that belonged to the ill-fated Emperor Maximilian of Mexico...
Category
1950s American Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Aluminum
Mirtha Chair
Located in New York, NY
Chic profile and comfort define the Mirtha chair. Beautiful Upholstered chair with a removal apron, extremely comfortable and versatile. Choose from a variety of fabrics (Linens, Vel...
Category
2010s American Modern Chairs
Materials
Upholstery
Wassily-Inspired Black Wood Box Chair w/ Swiveling Backrest by N. Bijan Pourfard
By Nicholas Bijan Pourfard
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Box chair is a minimal occasional lounge chair created by California-based designer N. Bijan Pourfard to emphasize linear simplicity and an “airy” quality that allows you to see through the chair as much as possible. Built using solid wood with equal dimensions in all axes, the Box Chair creates a sort of cube that pays homage to Marcel Breuer's Wassily chair and other Bauhaus creations. With a swiveling backrest and oversized plank seat. Chair shown...
Category
2010s American Modern Chairs
Materials
Wood
Vintage Modern Vecta Contract Brown Leather & Chrome Cantilever Pair of Chairs
By Vecta Group
Located in Topeka, KS
Handsome vintage modern Vecta Contract brown leather & chrome cantilever pair of chairs. Beautiful condition, keeping in mind that these are vintage and...
Category
Late 20th Century Unknown Modern Chairs
Materials
Chrome
INVICTA dining chair with contrast piping
Located in Frazão, Porto
The INVICTA dining chair is a unique piece, and the impressive design with just one leg in the back, in solid wood, will make the dining room a so...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Chairs
Materials
Fabric, Lacquer
Custom Holly Hunt Jockey Club Chair in Black Lucca Onyx Leather
By HOLLY HUNT
Located in North Miami, FL
Custom Holly Hunt Jockey Club chair in Black Lucca Onyx leather. The brand is very unique and offers a curated experience featuring their designs as ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Chairs
Materials
Onyx
Set of 6 dining chairs "Gaulino" black stained ashwood, black leather seat Spain
Located in Barcelona, ES
The Gaulino Chair is one of the best designs by Oscar Tusquets and has become an iconic Spanish design. Made exclusively from wood and leather, the name comes from the influences th...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Chairs
Materials
Leather, Ash
Set of 8 Gaulino Armchairs Dining Chairs Lacquered Black Ash Wood Hide Seat
Located in Barcelona, ES
The Gaulino Chair is one of the most important designs by Oscar Tusquets. The chair is made integrally from wood and leather and has become an icon of Spanish design. Its name comes ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Chairs
Materials
Leather, Ash
Angle II Armchair in Grace Black and White Tuxedo
By TRNK
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This chair brilliantly balances both form & function — it is not so stiff that you don’t feel comfortable, and not so soft that you don’t feel supported. It also suits many different...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Chairs
Materials
Cotton, Linen
Bondi Stackable Dining Chair in Ashwood
By Please Wait to be Seated, Fräg Woodall
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Please Wait to be Seated Bondi chair is inspired by designer Frag Woodall's earliest memories of watching artisans at work, fascinated by the way they joined and fitted timber. The s...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Modern Chairs
Materials
Wood
Minimalist Outdoor Lounge Chair in "Slate" Fabric and Polished Stainless Steel
Located in Lisbon, PT
Embracing the purpose to take a break outside, the outdoor version of the LISBOA lounge chair invites you to just sit and relax under the sun, enjoying the long days and warm summer ...
Category
2010s Portuguese Modern Chairs
Materials
Stainless Steel
Reclining Leather Chair and Ottoman By Ekornes
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Chair and ottoman by Ekornes for their stressless line. This piece features subtle leather seating, armrests and ottoman sitting on a ornate wood and metal base. If you are in need o...
Category
20th Century Norwegian Modern Chairs
Materials
Leather
Hiroyuki Yamakado, 2 Cinderella Folding Chairs, Design, 1987
By Hiroyuki Yamakado, Porada Arredi
Located in Den Haag, NL
Pair of Hiroyuki Yamakado Cinderella folding stools for Arredi with new Faux leather seats. They are constructed of Black etching tubular steel and equipped with pivoting and anti-sk...
Category
1980s French Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Metal
4x Liverpool Modern Backless Stools, by AMBROZIA, Solid Walnut & Black Steel
By AMBROZIA
Located in Drummondville, Quebec
The Liverpool Modern Backless stool is made to order. Available in a large variety of finishes in bar or counter height version. The wide opening on th...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Canadian Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel, Metal
Opinion Ciatti Mammamia Leather Non Stackable Chair
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mammamia leather is the leather-coated version of Mammamia, the chair designed by Marcello Ziliani, whose myriad of versions never cease to astonish. ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs
Materials
Metal
"Gaulinetta" Dining Chair Lacquered Black Ash Wood, Contemporary Spanish Design
Located in Barcelona, ES
The Gaulinetta is an evolution of the Gaulino chair. In words of Oscar Tusquets -In homage to Enzo Mari, who called his chair Tonietta, a derivative of Thonet, I’ve called this chair...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Chairs
Materials
Hide, Ash
Contemporary Black Lacquer Vanity Seat by Robert Kuo, Hand Made, Limited Edition
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vanity Seat
Black Lacquer
Wood Vase
Hand Made
Contemporary
Limited Edition
Lacquer is a technique that dates back to the Shang dynasty, circa 1600-1100 B.C. These pieces are...
Category
2010s Modern Chairs
Materials
Wood, Lacquer
Pair of Vintage GF GoodForm Aluminum Task Chairs
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of vintage GF GoodForm aluminum task chairs.
Category
1960s American Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Aluminum
Kartell A.I. Counter Stool in Black by Philippe Starck
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Kartell continues its ongoing commitment to sustainability with eco-friendly products which are part of the broader project expressed by the industrial manifesto Kartell loves the pl...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs
Materials
Plastic
Modern Sling Chair in Brown
Located in Johannesburg, ZA
Stripped away from all excess, this hanging chair has a circular frame with a sheet of natural thick leather hanging loose within it, to create a sleek, sexy, and oh so comfortable e...
Category
2010s South African Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel
e15 Jean Stool Wood by Stefan Diez
By Stefan Diez, e15
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
e15 Mr. Collins Stool by Stefan Diez
By Stefan Diez, e15
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
Eco Friendly Vegan Cactus Leather Hanging Chair in Green
Located in Johannesburg, ZA
Our SLING hanging chair which is crafted with cactus leather – a highly-sustainable
environmentally-friendly vegan material.
Stripped away from all excess, this hanging chair has a...
Category
2010s South African Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel
Minimal Style, Bar Stool in Solid wood, Textiles or Leather Seat, Black finish
By SIMONINI
Located in Vila Cordeiro, São Paulo
The Wing chair solid wood collection, flexibility, modern aesthetics, comfort and softness are the keywords for this collection. The concept is inspired by the B-52 plane design, thi...
Category
2010s Brazilian Modern Chairs
Materials
Textile, Cane, Wood, Hardwood
Pair Artisan Contemporary Barstool, Dark Brown Leather, Black Rubber Metal
Located in Alcoy, Alicante
The “Repose” contemporary counter stool belongs to a collection that revisit the director chair collection, serene pieces where exclusivity and precision are shown in small details s...
Category
2010s Spanish Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel
Strelitzia Modern Solid Silver Polished Aluminum and Boucle Luxury Dining Chair
By Egg Designs
Located in Bothas Hill, KZN
The Silver Strelitzia handcrafted, modern dining chair is designed by Egg Designs and manufactured in South Africa.
This luxury dining chair ha...
Category
2010s South African Modern Chairs
Materials
Aluminum
Set of Stackable 40/4 Chairs By David Rowland in Green and Black
By Howe, David Rowland
Located in Cape Town, WC
Recognised as the first truly stackable chair, the 40/4 Chair is a feat of elegance and ergonomics; encompassing the full range of multi-function that has come to challenge modernist...
Category
1960s North American Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel
Minimalist Modern Lounge Chair in Black Leather and Brushed 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
4x Shaker Counter Stool, by Ambrozia, Ebonized Oak, Black Cowhide, S & P Cowhide
By AMBROZIA
Located in Drummondville, Quebec
The shaker modern counter stool chair is handmade to order from our unique Ambrozia black textured steel tubing frame and a Genuine leather seat and a beautiful cowhide back. Also of...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Canadian Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel
Pedro Friedeberg Phenomenal Hand Chair Black Fiberglass Mexico
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Fiberglass hand chair
Phenomenal black fiberglass hand chair design Pedro Friedeberg, Mexico
Unsigned. No COA available.
Measures: 36 tall x 2...
Category
Early 2000s Mexican Modern Chairs
Materials
Fiberglass
Avoa Chair • Handmade Edition • in Steel by Pedro Paulo-Venzon
Located in Florianopolis, Santa Catarina
The motivation for the development of the Avoa Chair (MMXIII) is autotelia, the autonomous design discourse. The challenge was to think of an object as a qu...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel
Modern Outdoor Hanging Chair in Stainless Steel with Black Waterproof Fabric
By Myface
Located in Santo Tirso, PT
Fable Outdoor Hanging Armchair
Hold by premium outdoor leather straps, this inviting outdoor hanging armchair will allow quality outdoor moments with...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Chairs
Materials
Stainless Steel
Pair Contemporary Kitchen Counter Bar Stool, Black Steel & Dark Brown 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
Italian Modern Black Wood Base and Pied De Poule Cotton Seat Armchair, 1970s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern black lacquered wood base and pied de poule cotton seat small armchair, 1970s.
Armchair with black painted wooden structure and seat and ba...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Cotton, Wood
Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH N.14 Chair in Black with Cane Seat
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The great classic. The item that is absolutely the most famous and most sold in the history of furniture. Designed by Michael Thonet in 1860, the No. 14 chair immediately became know...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Modern Chairs
Materials
Wood
Roly Poly Armchair in Peat by Faye Toogood for Driade
By Faye Toogood, Driade
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The distinctive, reassuringly chunky lines of Faye Toogood’s Roly-Poly furniture collection become even more inviting in her new collaboration with Driade. The latest line for the It...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs
Materials
Plastic
Brutus Armless Chair in Solid Wood with Cane Seat Designed by Craig Bassam
Located in Ridgefield, CT
The BassamFellows Brutus chair has its roots in the powerful Modernist vernacular of Perriand and Jeanneret, but is softer and visually lighter. It emphas...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Chairs
Materials
Cane, Wood
Álvaro Siza Vieira - Armchair in Walnut Wood and Black Leather - one of a kind
By Alvaro Siza
Located in Lisbon, PT
ALCÂNTARA armchair - a true collector's item designed by the legendary architect Álvaro Siza Vieira, renowned for his unparalleled contributions to contemporary architecture. Its sle...
Category
2010s Portuguese Modern Chairs
Materials
Leather, Wood, Walnut
Modern Outdoor Hanging Chair in Black Stainless Steel with Black Waterproof
By Myface
Located in Santo Tirso, PT
Fable Outdoor Hanging Armchair
Hold by premium outdoor leather straps, this inviting grey hanging armchair will allow quality outdoor moments without any concerns.
The whole design...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Chairs
Materials
Stainless Steel
Contemporary Black Dining Chair in Iroko Wood-v-dining by Arno Declercq
Located in Warsaw, PL
Contemporary dining chair in iroko wood - v-dining chair by Arno Declercq
Material:
Burned and waxed Iroko wood.
Cushion made in mohair by Pierre Frey. More fabrics available o...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Belgian Modern Chairs
Materials
Wood
Sling Oil Tanned Leather Brown
Located in Johannesburg, ZA
Each oil tanned leather sling hanging chair has been handcrafted by our leather artisans.
The leather is specially treated and made to change color when handling it but reverts back...
Category
2010s South African Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel
Set of 4 Contemporary Bar Stool W. Backrest Cognac Leather & Black Rubber Metal
Located in Alcoy, Alicante
The “Repose” contemporary stool belongs to a collection that revisit the director chair collection, serene pieces where exclusivity and precision are shown in small details such as t...
Category
2010s Spanish Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel
Roly Poly Polyethylene Armchair in Charcoal by Faye Toogood for Driade
By Driade, Faye Toogood
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The distinctive, reassuringly chunky lines of Faye Toogood’s Roly-Poly furniture collection become even more inviting in her new collaboration with Driade. The latest line for the It...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs
Materials
Plastic
Italian Modern Black Steel Chairs Omstak by Rodney Kinsman Bieffeplast, 1970s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern Black steel chairs Omstak by Rodney Kinsman for Bieffeplast, 1970s
Fantastic pair of chairs mod. Omstak, with black painted steel rod...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel
Set of 4 Artisanal Counter Stool w. Backrest Black Leather & Black Rubber Metal
Located in Alcoy, Alicante
The “Repose” contemporary stool belongs to a collection that revisit the director chair collection, serene pieces where exclusivity and precision are shown in small details such as t...
Category
2010s Spanish Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel
Office chair model "Showtime" by Jaime Hayon, all black stained wood wooden legs
By Jaime Hayon
Located in Barcelona, ES
A new version of the Showtime chair by Jaime Hayon which does not make the original design obsolete, but rather compliments it. The Showtime Nude Chair is simpler than the previous v...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Chairs
Materials
Other
Set of 6 Classic Contemporary Barstool Cognac Leather & Black Rubber Metal
Located in Alcoy, Alicante
The “Repose” contemporary counter stool belongs to a collection that revisit the director chair collection, serene pieces where exclusivity and precision are shown in small details s...
Category
2010s Spanish Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel
De Sede DS-279 Dinning Chair in Red Velour Fabric by Christian Werner
By De Sede
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A relaxing miracle for all desires. Low- or high-backed chairs with a slender star base, as dining chairs or lounge chairs, for uplifting seating comfort with the highest esthetic st...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Chairs
Materials
Upholstery
Pair Timeless Contemporary Armchair Black Leather & Black Rubber Metal
Located in Alcoy, Alicante
The “Repose” contemporary armchair belongs to a collection that revisit the director chair collection, serene pieces where exclusivity and precision are shown in small details such a...
Category
2010s Spanish Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel
Set of 6 Handmade Barstool w. Backrest Navy Blue Leather & Black Rubber Metal
Located in Alcoy, Alicante
The “Repose” contemporary stool belongs to a collection that revisit the director chair collection, serene pieces where exclusivity and precision are shown in small details such as t...
Category
2010s Spanish Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel
Kitchen Counter Bar Stool w. Backrest Black Smoke Metal & Dark Brown Leather
Located in Alcoy, Alicante
The Hug contemporary counter stool with backrest is designed and conceived with a light aesthetic, the slight oscillation of the steel rod of 12 mm is complemented by the flexibility...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel
Pair Contemporary Classic Bar Stool Cognac Leather Black Rubber Frame
Located in Alcoy, Alicante
The “Repose” contemporary counter stool belongs to a collection that revisit the director chair collection, serene pieces where exclusivity and precision are shown in small details s...
Category
2010s Spanish Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel
Contemporary Counter Bar Stool w. Backrest Black Metal & Black Rubber Metal
Located in Alcoy, Alicante
The “Repose” contemporary stool belongs to a collection that revisit the director chair collection, serene pieces where exclusivity and precision are shown in small details such as t...
Category
2010s Spanish Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel
Set of 3 Contemporary Counter Bar Stool Navy Blue Leather Black Rubber Metal
Located in Alcoy, Alicante
The “Repose” contemporary counter stool belongs to a collection that revisit the director chair collection, serene pieces where exclusivity and precision are shown in small details s...
Category
2010s Spanish Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel
Set of 3 Contemporary Counter Bar Stool Dark Brown Leather & Black Rubber Metal
Located in Alcoy, Alicante
The “Repose” contemporary counter stool belongs to a collection that revisit the director chair collection, serene pieces where exclusivity and precision are shown in small details s...
Category
2010s Spanish Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel
Black Sculptural Three-Legged Armchair in Resin-Covered Foam by Michal Cihlar
By Michal Cihlar
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The three legged armchair is an experiment in construction and finish, its form inspired by a 13th-century Mycenaean terracotta sculpture — “Fema...
Category
2010s American Modern Chairs
Materials
Resin, Foam
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
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.
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