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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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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:  White
INVICTA II dining chair in white boucle and brass rear leg
Located in Frazão, Porto
The INVICTA II dining chair has an exclusive and impressive design, with just one leg in the back, it brings shophistication to your decoration...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Chairs

Materials

Brass, Stainless Steel, Nickel

White Oak Dining Chair with Leather Seat or Dining Chair GH2
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Reminiscent of an old farmhouse chair, the dining chair GH2 is second in the collection of chairs designed for the restaurant Auburn in Los Angeles. The piece is handcrafted by our t...
Category

2010s American Modern Chairs

Materials

Leather, Oak

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

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 Black Green Gray White Orange Pink Red Purple or Blue Rabbit Accent Chair
Located in Origgio (VA), IT
Rabbit is a family of products with a strong media impact, one of Stefano Giovannoni's hat tricks, and immediately became a pop icon, a symbol of love and fertility, which brings goo...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Plastic

Meridiana Chair in White 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 ba...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Plastic

Three Headed Chair White by Rejo Studio
Located in Riyadh, SA
The “three headed” chair, is a fairy tale chair, inspired by those who have a lot to think about, where one head is never enough to deal with everyday life...
Category

2010s Saudi Arabian Modern Chairs

Materials

Linen, Velvet, Polyester

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

Matte Black Modern Ribbon Plastic Dining or Side Chair Set of 2
Located in Origgio (VA), IT
Ribbon chair, evoking an extraordinarily romantic world, is the feminine chair par excellence. A successful chair, with a strong identity and characterized by a bow designed as a bac...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Plastic

White Oak Dining Chair with Leather Seat / Dining Chair GH1
Located in Los Angeles, CA
We’ve been tasked to design an effortless, elegant, honest and most importantly comfortable dining chair for Chef Eric Bost, whose restaurant Auburn, we've been designing for the past few years. After a good year...
Category

2010s American Modern Chairs

Materials

Leather, Oak

Balzaretti Chair in White Mohair
Located in San Pietro di Morubio, Verona
Part of the Balzaretti series, this chair reflects the traditional values of Italian craftsmanship reinterpreted in a light and modern design of great visual harmony. Stunning in its simplicity, the glossy black metal frame features slender legs and a large square seat upholstered in white mohair...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal

e15 Customizable Kashan Ottoman w by 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

1983, Marc Newson, Orgone Chair in White
Located in Amsterdam IJMuiden, NL
This chair is part of the private collection of Casey Godrie and is situated in his private house. Ask him for competitive shipping quotes. His incredible Dune Villa, Amsterdam Beach, find more details on his family name plus eu, is for sale soon too. :-) Orgone in white. Beautiful sculptural chair. There are two Orgone chair...
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Modern Chairs

Materials

Plastic

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

De Sede Leather Beanbag Longue Chair
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

Opinion Ciatti Con Fort Set of 2 Steel Folding Chairs
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Foldable and light, with an adjustable back, Con fort is a contemporary reinterpretation of one of the Industrial era’s first work chairs. Designed by Maurizio Galante and Tal Lancman, Con fort is the solution for all the problems that usually have the folding chair...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Aluminum

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

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

1980s Osvaldo Borsani Swivel Wheeled White Office Chairs
Located in IT
Three Office swivels chair by Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno, made in Italy in 1980s. Stamped on the bottom and marked Tecno on the side. The swivel chairs are made of white plastic. The ...
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal

Moroso Bloomy Table by Patricia Urquiola
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Base is black or white varnished steel; column is steel with white or black ABS plastic sleeve; tops are in Laminam. Tops are not interchangeable.    
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Steel

Modern White or Brown Dinosaur or Dog Bone Garden Sculpture by Daï Sugasawa
Located in Origgio (VA), IT
Daï Sugasawa loves to visit regularly Natural History Museum. He had always been fascinated by the huge size of dinosaur bones. His dream was to own one at home, in his own garden. T...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Plastic

Modern Black Green Beige or White Nordic Loop Dining or Accent Chair Set of 2
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

Modern Black Green Beige or White Nordic Loop Dining or Accent Chair Set of 2
Located in Origgio (VA), IT
Loop chair designed from the original and recognizable Front's stroke. The experimentations on “free hand sketches” products, early 2000s one-of-a-kind artworks that used to material...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Plastic

Large Pink Decorative Sculptural Modern Plastic Rabbit Chair
Located in Origgio (VA), IT
Rabbit is a family of products with a strong media impact, one of Stefano Giovannoni's hat tricks, and immediately became a pop icon, a symbol of love and fertility, which brings goo...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Plastic

Arflex Katrin Armchair in Natural Fur with White Metal Legs by Carlo Colombo
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The continuous search for elegance and simplicity has brought the architect Carlo Colombo to the realization of Katrin Armchair, conceived as a body to be dressed with an elegant and luxurious dress...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Fur

Customizable Artifort Tulip Lounge with Swivel Base by Pierre Paulin
Located in New York, NY
The tulip armchair for Artifort…. as if designer Pierre Paulin had premonitions of flower power! The simple tulip spreads its half-open petals around the sitter, inviting and warming...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Dutch Modern Chairs

Materials

Textile

Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH Wiener Stuhl Chair in Pure White
Located in Brooklyn, NY
"A simplified design to create an elegant, comfortable, popular item”. The structure has an all-embracing simplicity, and is formed from just a few elements in steam bent solid beech...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Modern Chairs

Materials

Wood

Gorilla Chair with Real Off White Leather by Marcantonio
Located in Kolkata, IN
Gorilla chair with real off white leather by Marcantonio is an ape shaped seat with a rich off white leather covering. A lounge chair with ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Chairs

Materials

Wood, Leather, Resin, Foam

Lounge Chair in Whitewashed Canadian Ash and Sheepskin by Hinterland Design
Located in Vancouver, BC
Hinterland's first lounge chair offering, the Shepherd's Chair is the culmination of years of design and prototyping. Inspired by the close relationship between a traditional herders...
Category

2010s Canadian Modern Chairs

Materials

Sheepskin, Upholstery, Ash

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

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

Matte Black Modern Ribbon Plastic Dining or Side Chair Set of 2
Located in Origgio (VA), IT
The ribbon chair is the object that expresses the female language of Nika Zupanc with a strong and essential icon. In black, white, pink and the new gold and rose gold versions the r...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Plastic

Jasper Morrison Lotus High Chair in Polished Chrome for Cappellini
Located in New York, NY
The Lotus (High), by Jasper Morrison, is part of a complete collection of chairs, envisioned to be easily adaptable for both domestic and variegated professional settings. Available ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal

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

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal

De Sede Leather Beanbag Longue Chair
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

Jasper Morrison Hi Pad Chair in Beech Plywood & Fabric or Leather for Cappellini
Located in New York, NY
The Hi pad chair, and accompanying Hi pad stool, are the result of a production process that represents the perfect balance between technology and artisan...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Foam, Beech, Plywood

Jasper Morrison Small Hi Pad Stool in Fabric or Leather Upholstery by Cappellini
Located in New York, NY
The Hi pad chair, and accompanying Hi pad Stool, are the result of a production process that represents the perfect balance between technology and artisan...
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

Opinion Ciatti Mammamia High Barstool
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mammamia high barstool with die-cast aluminum shell, steel structure and rubber-covered footrest. Lacquered, not for outdoor use. Non stackable. Availab...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal

Mariolina Chair in Anthracite Metal Legs, Silk Gray Shell, by E-GGs
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This Mariolina chair is offered with iron legs in anthracite, a shell in polypropylene silk grey and the option to select an upholstered cushion material for your chair. The iron leg...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal

Botera High Chair in Upholstery, by E-GGS
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Botera High chair is padded with four different types of foam, following the chair's design focus of comfort. A chunky cushion forms the base from which the high or low backrest is d...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Upholstery

Vintage Modern to Post Modern White Lacquered Side Chair with Arched Top
Located in Topeka, KS
Lovely vintage modern to postmodern white lacquered side chair with arched top. Beautiful condition, keeping in mind that this is vintage and not new so will have signs of use and we...
Category

Late 20th Century Unknown Modern Chairs

Materials

Fabric, Wood, Lacquer

Dedo High Stool in Steel Lacquer Legs, Wooden Seat, by Miniforms Lab
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Here you are shown the Dedo high stool in lacquered steel legs with beechwood seat. This stool with an ergonomic seat is in solid beech and steel structure lacquered in 9 colors. The...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Steel

Balzaretti Chair in White Mohair
Located in San Pietro di Morubio, Verona
Part of the Balzaretti series, this chair reflects the traditional values of Italian craftsmanship reinterpreted in a light and modern design of great visual harmony. Stunning in its simplicity, the glossy black metal frame features slender legs and a large square seat upholstered in white mohair...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal

Plush Modern Black Side or Arm Chair with Chrome Legs by Andrea Branzi
Located in Origgio (VA), IT
Pupa armchair signed by Andrea Branzi is agile and voluptuous at the same time. It leans on a light metallic frame leaving the volume floating in the space. Born with chrome frame fo...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Plastic

Diverge Chair in Wood Structure, Dove Gray Cushion, by Skrivo Design
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This Diverge chair is offered in wooden ash, stained black, anthracite or walnut leg structure, with the upholstered Twins Dove Gray cotton cushion. The seat cushion is available in ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Cotton, Ash

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

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

111 Navy Mini Chair by Coca-Cola
Located in Hanover, PA
The 111 Navy Mini is a story of innovation, turning waste plastic into something that lasts. Each stool is made of 111 recycled PET bottles. Like the original 111 Navy stool...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Chairs

Materials

Plastic

Shaker Modern Chair by Ambrozia, Solid Walnut, Black Steel, Cream Vinyl
Located in Drummondville, Quebec
The Shaker modern dining chair is handmade to order from our unique Ambrozia black textured steel tubing frame and a premium vinyl upholstered seat and back. Available in a large var...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Canadian Modern Chairs

Materials

Steel

Set of 2 White / Brass Cactus Chair by Marcantonio, Made in Italy
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Scroll down and click "view all from Seller" to see more than 500 other unique products. (2.2) In Stock In Los Angeles This set includes 2 x Cactus chairs...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Brass

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

Modern Brass Armchair or Dining Chair in Black White Green or Pink
Located in Origgio (VA), IT
Pupa armchair signed by Andrea Branzi is agile and voluptuous at the same time. It leans on a light metallic frame leaving the volume floating in the space. Born with chrome frame fo...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Plastic

Cow Horn Walnut Chair, by Knud Færch from Warm Nordic
Located in Viby J, DK
The cow horn chair is an iconic 1960s chair and a sculptural masterpiece for design lovers, created by the internationally renowned Danish furniture designer, Knud Færch. The cow hor...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Slovenian Modern Chairs

Materials

Wood

Opinion Ciatti Mammamia Sled Stackable Chair with Armrests Set of 2
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mammamia Sled has stackable steel sled base with armrests. For indoor/outdoor use. Available in gold structure with black, white, or gold leaf finish. Also available in mirrored aluminum and chrome finish. This Item is sold as a set of 2 chairs. One, one hundred, one thousand Mammamia! You could very well say that when you realize the surprising versatility of this chair collection by Marcello Ziliani...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal

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

Opinion Ciatti Mammamia Fur Non Stackable Chair
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mammamia is sinuous, colored, brilliant…warm! Mammamia fur, the special edition by Lapo Ciatti, is the warm and welcoming version of the Mammamia chair....
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal

Mula Chair in Black Metal Leg Base with Upholstery Seat, by E-GGs
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mula chair is offered with iron rebar metal base, varnished in black. The seat and back are made with an injected flame-retardant polyurethane foam, upholstered in the listed fabrics. The body is packed separately from the base. Here you are shown the Mula Chair in Black Metal Base with Upholstery Seat. This item is also available in a swivel office chair option. Formed by Gaia Giotti, Giona Scarselli and Cristina Razzanelli, E-GGS deals with design with a transversal approach, ranging between product design, interior and architecture. Attention and curiosity are captured by the discovery of the unusual in everyday life, in the search for new expressive and material languages. Additional information: Dimensions: Seat height 46.7 cm, overall chair height 78 cm, width of chair 57...
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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