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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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

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Style: Modern
Color:  Black
Four Vintage Danish Fritz Hansen Chairs Model 3107
Located in Toledo, OH
Four Mid-Century Modern chrome and fabric side chairs by Danish designer Fritz Hanson. Some light wear. No pitting in the chrome. Dimensions: 20.48" depth...
Category

Mid-20th Century European Modern Chairs

Materials

Chrome

Set of 2 Kartell One More Please Square Bar Stools in Black by Philippe Starck
Located in Brooklyn, NY
If you want to sip a drink at the bar in peace and quiet, you need a comfortable tall stool with a back to lean against. Sometimes one drink is not ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Plastic

Brogliato Traverso Newood Light Bar Stool in Solid Ashwood for Cappellini
Located in New York, NY
BrogliatoTraverso studio has continued to amplify its celebrated family, inspired by classic Windsor chairs, this time in two ultra-light versions: Newood Light chair and Newood Ligh...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Stainless Steel

'Balzaretti' Mocha Brown Dining Chair
Located in San Pietro di Morubio, Verona
Timeless charm and simple elegance set this chair apart. Entirely upholstered in mocha brown velvet, this design is a perfect balance of modern materials and Classic shapes, featuring slender legs with brass ferules, rounded backrest, and a spacious square seat. Versatile and comfortable, this dining chair will complete a sophisticated but not overly formal dining room...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Upholstery

Greg Lynn "Ravioli" Chair & Ottoman, circa 2005, Switzerland
Located in Girona, Spain
Greg Lynn "Ravioli" Chair & Ottoman. Chair with ottoman. Original upholstery Made with fiberglass and reinforced plastic. Polyurethane foam with integrated cushioning and knitted...
Category

Early 2000s Swiss Modern Chairs

Materials

Fabric, Fiberglass

Claretta Chair with Black Ash Frame & Musk Velvet Seat by Florian Schmid
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Parisian in character and drawing its inspiration from the traditional bistro chair, Claretta appears as a slender, impeccably groomed seat. The design is simple yet sports essential...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Ash

GAN Rugs Grapy Soft Seat Velvet Lounge Chair in Navy by Kensaku Oshiro
Located in New York, NY
This innovative easychair is available in two different cotton fabrics, canvas and velvet, in five colour choices with reinforced seams with contrasting colours and a filling of poly...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Chairs

Materials

Velvet

Iconic Eero Aarnio Black Swivel Ball Lounge Chair
Located in New York, NY
The ball chair was designed in 1963 and debuted at the Cologne Furniture Fair in 1966. The chair is one of the most famous and beloved classics of Finni...
Category

2010s Finnish Modern Chairs

Materials

Fabric, Fiberglass

Iconic Eero Aarnio Blue Swivel Ball Lounge Chair
Located in New York, NY
The Ball chair was designed in 1963 and debuted at the Cologne Furniture Fair in 1966. The chair is one of the most famous and beloved classics of Finni...
Category

2010s Finnish Modern Chairs

Materials

Fabric, Fiberglass

21st Century Modern Wooden Black T-Shaped Chair Tao Made in Italy
Located in Sant'Elena, IT
The name of this chair reveals the core of the project. In fact it is precisely on the T-shaped support of the backrest that we have focused our attention on. At the root of the con...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Steel

Arflex Delfino Chair in Mistral Fabric with Golden Legs by Erberto Carboni
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Delfino armchair by Erberto Carboni is a significant example of the so-called ""organic"" furniture, which develops in the 1950s and draws inspiration from the forms of nature. With ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Fabric

Set of 4 Contemporary Barstool w. Backrest Nuit Noir & Tobacco Leather
Located in Alcoy, Alicante
The Wanderlust contemporary collection belongs to a collection of minimalist and serene pieces where exclusivity and precision are shown in small details such as the hand-turned meta...
Category

2010s Spanish Modern Chairs

Materials

Steel

Opinion Ciatti Mammamia Diamond Non Stackable Chair
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mammamia knows how to be chic, very chic, incredibly chic! Mammamia Diamond is definitely the most sophisticated chair in the Mammamia range and stems from the co-operation between O...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal

Established & Sons Mauro Chair by Mauro Pasquinelli
Located in London, GB
An exemplar of great 20th century Italian design made possible by 21st century manufacturing techniques, the Mauro chair is a hardworking, irrepressibly stylish, stackable, timber chair...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Chairs

Materials

Wood

Warm Nordic Gesture Monochrome Fully Upholstered Chair in Black, by Hans Olsen
Located in Viby J, DK
This beautiful, moulded Gesture Chair, designed in the 1950s, was the work of the acclaimed Danish architect, Hans Olsen. With its welcoming design, the Gesture Chair creates a warm ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Danish Modern Chairs

Materials

Wood

Customizable e15 Eugene Lounge Chair with Oak Base by Stefan Diez
Located in New York, NY
The lounge chair Eugene makes an inspiring link to the chair family Houdini through its unique appearance and construction. With its high back, wide, deep seat shell and sloped back ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary German Modern Chairs

Materials

Wood

Black Fabric Waterproof Stainless Steel Outdoor Dining Armchair
Located in Santo Tirso, PT
Nodo Outdoor Dining Armchair The most luxurious and sophisticated outdoor furniture piece that will assure elegance and a comfortable space to...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Chairs

Materials

Stainless Steel

Contemporary Bar Stool Black Smoke Metal & Natural Tobacco 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

Steel

8x Shaker Modern Side Chairs by Ambrozia, Walnut, Black Steel, Leather & Cowhide
Located in Drummondville, Quebec
Here' s a set of 8 Shaker modern chair. They are handmade to order from our unique Ambrozia black textured steel tubing frame with a leather upholstered seat and Cow Hide Hair back. We have a large variety of leather and cow hide hair skin option. We'll make sure you have the right unique set of chair...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Canadian Modern Chairs

Materials

Steel

Set 2Kartell Smatrik Rocking Chair in Black with Chrome Legs by Tokujin Yoshioka
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Smatrik is available transparent in white with painted or chrome-plated steel legs, and in stainless steel with oak-stained wood finish. Dimensions: Height: 30.33 in.; Width: 24 i...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Plastic

Gervasoni Brick Side Chair in Azzurro Upholstery with Black Lacquered Base
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Nordic suggestions and industrial touches give life to the Brick 221/223 family of chairs. With a clean, simple structure in natural lacquered solid Canaletto walnut or beech lacquer...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Upholstery

Gesture Chair in Pure Wood, by Hans Olsen from Warm Nordic
Located in Viby J, DK
This beautiful, moulded gesture chair, designed in the 1950s, was the work of the acclaimed Danish architect, Hans Olsen. With its welcoming design, the gesture chair creates a warm ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Danish Modern Chairs

Materials

Wood

Minimalist Modern Chair in Solid Wood Solid Black Finish, Leather Seating
Located in Vila Cordeiro, São Paulo
Evo Chair collection. Our Evo collection is based in the harmonic fusion between geometrical forms and the modern interpretation of wood archetypes. All elements that compose ...
Category

2010s Brazilian Modern Chairs

Materials

Leather, Hardwood

Set of 3 Contemporary Kitchen Counter Bar Stool Black Steel, Dark Brown Leather
Located in Alcoy, Alicante
The Hug contemporary counter stool is designed and conceived with a light aesthetic, the slight oscillation of the steel rod of 12 mm is complemented by the flexibility of the double...
Category

2010s Spanish Modern Chairs

Materials

Steel

Set of 3 Contemporary Bar Stool Black Smoke Metal & Natural Tobacco 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

Steel

Face of Africa Sling Hanging Swing Chair Genuine Leather 21st Century Modern
Located in Johannesburg, ZA
Stripped away from all excess, this hanging chair has a circular frame with the sheets of leather or fabric hanging loose within it, to create a sleek, sexy, and oh so comfortable experience. This chair’s clean lines and lightness makes it a perfect fit for any space. Pairing the purity of simple tubular steel with the sensual warmth of natural hide, it has a sleek look and an air of functional elegance. As you live with your product, the leather will evolve. With the correct care, the appearance of your newly-purchased piece will retain its beauty, developing its own character and patina. Each design is carved out of thick Vegetable Tan Leather leaving an exposed and undyed trench or valley that forms a beautiful picture of your choice. The options available are a variety of African faces, plants and South Africa’s beloved Blue Crane...
Category

2010s South African Modern Chairs

Materials

Steel

Sama High Stool, Contemporary Modern Minimalist Black Oak & Black Metal
Located in Istanbul, TR
Sama high stool is part of the Sama collection, which provides functionality through simple, yet striking and sculptural forms that add a unique and elegant touch to its environment. Inspired by the poetry of whirling costumes worn...
Category

2010s Turkish Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal

Trama Brown Leather Chair
Located in Milan, IT
This padded chair is both prestigious and comfortable. Its terra-colored leather covering and simple, fluid lines make it fit into either a residential or business environment. The s...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Leather

Moroso Supernatural Perforated Side Chair Set of 4 by Ross Lovegrove
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Multisensory design which calls out to be stroked, interpreted through touch and constantly re-processed. Its sinuous lines reach out into the space around it. Solids and voids, absences that become presences when they encounter light, air, the human body. The holes in the backrest, like a perforated...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Plastic

LOUIS Black Chair/Armchair Sandblasted Oak/Burgundy Cowhide Seat, Mandy Graham
Located in Torrance, CA
LOUIS chair by Mandy Graham LOUIS L01 - Chair / Armchair / Desk / Dining chair Sandblasted oak/hairy cowhide seat Measures: 24" W x 23" D x 33" H A celebration of modern classic silhouettes with luxurious materials, this collection brings clean-lined refinement to another level. Utilizing honed Italian Rosso Levanto...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Chairs

Materials

Cowhide, Oak

Forest Lounge Chair with Brass Inlay by Marcantonio
Located in Kolkata, IN
Forest lounge chair with brass inlay by Marcantonio, is a luxurious, pop chair, a conversation piece in any space. It is covered in brass "fur...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Chairs

Materials

Brass

UNA Dining Chair in Black Stained Oak with Leather Back by Estudio Persona
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The UNA chair intersects a round wooden seat and legs with a leather upholstered cylindrical back. Using these fluid shapes allows greater focus on the detai...
Category

2010s American Modern Chairs

Materials

Leather, Oak

GLOOH Bar Stool in Black Leather by KFF
By KFF
Located in New York, NY
One design concept — many prototypes: be they conventional chairs, catilevers or barstools including the pneumatic spring type, GLOOH, aside from having an extensive range and comfor...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary German Modern Chairs

Materials

Leather

Set of 2 Kartell Venice Chairs in Mat Black by Philippe Starck
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A tribute to the city of Venice in a chair for both the table and the living room, which combines classic lines with comfort. Venice is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.  
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Plastic

Pair Classic Contemporary Handmade Bar Stool Black Smoke Steel & Black 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

Steel

Contemporary Black Chair, Additive Manufacturing in Biopolymers, Italy
Located in Biassono, IT
SoHo Chair High-tech Manufacturing With A Human Touch The Soho chair symbolically represents all the values of Elli brand. Clean lines, aesthetic refe...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Plastic

Set of 3 Contemporary Bar Stool Black Smoke Metal & Black Leather Style
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

Steel

Grey Chair in Chenille & Solid Wood Molteni&C by Rodolfo Dordoni - made in Italy
Located in New York, NY
Chelsea Armless Chair in Velvet by Rodolfo Dordoni - Expert-crafted in Italy exclusively by Molteni&C The Chelsea is a contemporary armless dining chair by Rodolfo Dordoni crafte...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Chenille, Wood

Set of 2 Kartell Generic C Chairs in Black by Philippe Starck
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Generic is an ambitious project of deeply ethical connotations, in which new objectives are defined for contemporary design to fulfil and creativity is...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Plastic

Shaker Counter Stool Chair by Ambrozia, Walnut, Black Steel, Terracota Vinyl
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 premium vinyl upholst...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Canadian Modern Chairs

Materials

Steel

Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH Czech Black Chair with Upholstered Seat & Beech Feet
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Designed in 1994, the Hermann Czech chair represents the turning point of modern furniture towards the passion of reminiscence and intimacy: a contemporary design that evokes memorie...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Modern Chairs

Materials

Wood

GAN Spaces Lan Small Module with Backrest in Oak Wood Frame & Steel by Neri&Hu
Located in New York, NY
“Neri&Hu questions the sofa typology. Once the normal typology of a piece of furniture is broken down into its components, seating and rug become a single space. The back componen...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Chairs

Materials

Wool

Jasper Morrison Tate Stool Upholstered in Fabric or Leather for Cappellini
Located in New York, NY
Easy to stack – to a maximum of 6 pieces – the Tate chair designed by Jasper Morrison is part of a range that includes chairs and stools. This series has a ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Foam, Beech, Plywood

Jasper Morrison Tate Chair in Fabric or Leather Upholstery for Cappellini
Located in New York, NY
Easy to stack, to a maximum of 6 pieces, the Tate chair designed by Jasper Morrison is part of a range that includes chairs and stools. This series has a ba...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Foam, Beech, Plywood

Set of 2 Kartell One More Square Bar Stools in Black by Philippe Starck
Located in Brooklyn, NY
If you want to sip a drink at the bar in peace and quiet, you need a comfortable tall stool with a back to lean against. Sometimes one drink is not enough, and you need "One more" an...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Crystal

Pair Contemporary Bar Stool Black Smoke Metal & Natural Tobacco 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

Steel

Lensvelt PHA201 Chair
Located in Amsterdam, NL
The Aluminium collection by Piet Hein Eek, designed in the 1990s, is made of folden aluminium plate. Piece de resistance is the Aluminium chair which was used in the interior design ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Dutch Modern Chairs

Materials

Aluminum

FORTUNA Dining Chair
Located in Frazão, Porto
FORTUNA is a dining chair with a well-balanced design, with an enveloping back, which gives a feeling of extreme comfort, characterized by the elegant tufted details.‎ The legs are l...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Chairs

Materials

Lacquer, Fabric

Iola Armrest Chair in Black Ashwood Base and Foam Seat, 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

Upholstery, Wood

Opinion Ciatti Mammamia Stackable Chair with Armrests Set of 2
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mammamia stackable chair with armrests, made with die-cast aluminium shell and steel structure. For indoor/outdoor use. Stackable. Available in gold structure with white or black coa...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal

Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH N.0 Black Chair with Mesh & Upholstered Seat
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The N.0 chair by Front is a design that reveals a new concept of elegance that harnesses the expressive power of GTV’s distinctive hallmarks: bent wood and Vienna straw. The Swedish duo reinterpret the two elements with a contemporary flair, enhancing their features and aesthetics by using the circle as a geometric motif in the backrest, seat and armrest. This feminine, eclectic chair...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Modern Chairs

Materials

Wood

Pair Contemporary Bar Stool Black Smoke Metal & Navy Blue 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

Steel

Set of 5 Classic Contemporary Bar Stool w. Backrest Nuit Noir & Tobacco Leather
Located in Alcoy, Alicante
The Wanderlust contemporary collection belongs to a collection of minimalist and serene pieces where exclusivity and precision are shown in small details such as the hand-turned meta...
Category

2010s Spanish Modern Chairs

Materials

Steel

Brogliato Traverso Newood Chair in Black Stained Ash Structure for Cappellini
Located in New York, NY
The result of a contemporary re-interpretation of the timeless charm of Windsor-style chairs. Newood chairs and stools express the successful harmony between technologically advanced...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Stainless Steel

De Sede DS 515 Chair with Armrest in Black Upholstery by Greutmann Bolzern
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A stylish companion for anywhere, anytime. With DS-515, a filigree, runner-shaped base frame made of steel carries the inviting seat area. With DS-515, a thin wire construction serves as a shaping frame over which a padded leather cover is drawn. The folded and tucked leather defines the delicate design, masterful leather seams and sophisticated detailing. A textile insert in the back gives the chair a distinctive note, and the overall craftsmanship of the composition makes it a stylish companion at the dining table, in the home office or in the conference room. With a special cover, it is also perfect for semi-outdoor use. Carmen and Urs Greutmann run their own design studio in Zurich, where they design spaces and furniture characterized by special clarity in form and materiality. This series of different sculptures all belonging to a family features the play of exact, different linings with little lightness. The results are universally usable seating...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Chairs

Materials

Upholstery

Sama High Stool, Contemporary Modern Minimalist Natural Oak & Black Metal
Located in Istanbul, TR
Sama high stool is part of the Sama collection, which provides functionality through simple, yet striking and sculptural forms that add a unique and elegant touch to its environment....
Category

2010s Turkish Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal

Sama High Stool, Contemporary Modern Minimalist Natural Oak & Black Metal
Located in Istanbul, TR
Sama high stool is part of the Sama collection, which provides functionality through simple, yet striking and sculptural forms that add a unique and elegant touch to its environment. Inspired by the poetry of whirling costumes worn...
Category

2010s Turkish Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal

Set of 2 Kartell Smatrik Chair in Black with Black Legs by Tokujin Yoshioka
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The constant interplay of design and technological innovation has led to the creation of Smatrik, the latest interpretation of a chair, designed by Tokujin Yoshioka. It has an innova...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Plastic

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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