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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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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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Item Ships From: Europe
Style: Modern
Big Monster stool
Located in Bilbao, PV
By straddling the boundary between art object and design furniture, the fringes of this stool recall the groves of tall grass from which “esparto” is collected—that natural and resilient fibre used by weavers to make espadrilles and baskets. Overflowing with potential from every angle, captured in the midst of its creation, it holds a space between an animal mane and the work in progress. "Little Monsters" furniture’s set it’s composed of a high stool, low stool and a table. CHARACTERISTICS The little monster’s set is composed of: High stool 28cm x 28cm x 75cm Low stool 29cm x 29cm x 46cm A table 56cm x 56cm x 56cm However, we can adjust the measurements to your needs. Designed and handcrafted in collaboration with the Industrial furniture design...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal

Pair of Charlotte Perriand Dordogne Chairs for Robert Sentou, France c1950
Located in London, GB
Set of four or six available. Charlotte Perriand (1903-1999), a key figure of European modernism, famously started her career with a rebuff from Le Corbusier’s studio: “We don’t em...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Modern Chairs

Materials

Straw, Pine

VIDAL GRAU, Pair of Chairs 1980
Located in Madrid, ES
VIDAL GRAU, Pair of chairs Production Spain approx. 1980 Pair of chairs with 24 kt golden metal tubular structure, seat and armrests in black leather, upper part of the backrest in m...
Category

20th Century Spanish Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal

Italian modern black chairs Spaghetti by Giandomenico Belotti for Alias, 1980s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern black chairs Spaghetti by Giandomenico Belotti for Alias, 1980s Set of six chairs mod. Spaghetti with rectangular and elastic seat and back made from black scooby thr...
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal

Thonet S320 green Chair Ulrich Boehme & Wulf Schneider
Located in Munich, Bavaria
This Thonet Chair Model S320 in green version. Rare Colour. Designed by Ulrich Boehme & Wulf Schneider.
Category

1980s Vintage Modern Chairs

Materials

Beech, Bentwood, Plywood

Viva Stripe Black and White Bench by Houtique
Located in Geneve, CH
Viva Stripe Black and White Bench by Houtique Dimensions: D 100 x W 45 x H 48 cm Materials: Velvet, Upholstery, Wood Also available in different ...
Category

2010s Spanish Modern Chairs

Materials

Upholstery, Velvet, Wood

Italian modern black plastic chairs Modus SM 203 by Borsani for Tecno, 1980s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern black plastic chairs Modus SM 203 by Borsani for Tecno, 1980s Chairs mod. Modus SM 203 with seat and backrest composed of a curved ...
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal

Italian modern Gray plastic aluminum Chair Modus SM 203 by Borsani Tecno, 1980s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern Gray plastic aluminum Chair Modus SM 203 by Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno, 1980s Chair mod. Modus SM 203 with seat and backrest comp...
Category

1980s European Vintage Modern Chairs

Materials

Aluminum

Italian modern chair in curved tubular chromed steel, 1970s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern chair in curved tubular chromed steel, 1970s Curved chromed steel chair. The seat and backrest are made of fine tubular chromed steel that follows the shape of the bod...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Modern Chairs

Materials

Steel

Italian chairs manufactured by Fly Line di Carrè in gray metal and black leather 1990s
Located in MIlano, IT
Set of three stackable chairs with armrests with square seat in black leather. The frame is made of light gray painted iron tending to white, with a rectangular, slightly curved, per...
Category

1990s Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal

Mond 12 Reading Chair - Modern Design hand-crafted in Germany
Located in Seehausen (Altmark), DE
Newly released design by Rittergut & Runnymede. Currently exhibiting at the Staatsschauspiel Dresden/Saxony (Dresden State Theatre). With Mond Zwölf Rittergut & Runnymede are present...
Category

2010s German Modern Chairs

Materials

Leather, Ash

Santorini Green Chairs
Located in Milan, IT
Santorini is a chair that combines lightness and aesthetics. Made by Medaarch in 2020, it conforms like a body of continuous material. The 3D printed seat in PETG or PLA is well suit...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Resin

Pair Kazuhide Takahama Kazuki Chairs for Simon Gavina International, Italy 1969
Located in London, GB
Set of four or six available. Kazuhide Takahama was born in Japan in 1930 and after completing his studies in Architecture in Tokyo he started working in Kazuo Fuioka’s studio. In ...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Modern Chairs

Materials

Lacquer

Outdoor Manolo Easy Armchair by Kenneth Cobonpue
Located in Geneve, CH
Outdoor Manolo easy armchair by Kenneth Cobonpue. Materials: Polyethelene, nylon, steel. Also available in other colors and for indoors. Dimen...
Category

2010s Philippine Modern Chairs

Materials

Steel

Ebonized Oak Dining Chairs by Antonio Citterio for Maxalto, 2000s
Located in Antwerp, BE
Maxalto ebonized oak dining chairs, crafted by Antonio Citterio in 2004, a striking example of contemporary furniture design. Antonio Citterio's design expertise shines through in th...
Category

Early 2000s Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Oak

Italian modern chairs in black metal and rubber, 1980s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern chairs in black metal and rubber, 1980s Set of three chairs with round seats in black rubber. The backrest is composed of a black painted metal structure with a square...
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal

Italian modern rectangular aluminum chair, 1980s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern rectangular aluminum chair, 1980s Chair with rectangular base entirely in aluminium. The seat and backrest are rectangular with rounded corners and have two "folds" th...
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Modern Chairs

Materials

Aluminum

Paolo Pallucco "Lizie" Iron Designer Armchair 1984, Original Piece of Modern Art
Located in Vienna, AT
Design: Paolo Pallucco, 1984, Literature: Design Dasein, Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe Hamburg 1987 Material used us black lacquered iron.   
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Modern Chairs

Materials

Iron

Austrian modern Chairs 414 in black wood purple fabric by Kammerer Thonet, 1990s
Located in MIlano, IT
Set of 3 chairs mod. 414 with square seat and oval backrest, padded and covered in bright purple silk fabric. The structure is entirely made of black lacquered wood, with matt finish...
Category

1990s Austrian Modern Chairs

Materials

Fabric, Silk, Wood

Italian modern brown leather chairs with chromed steel structure by D.I.D, 1970s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern brown leather chairs with chromed steel structure by D.I.D., 1970s Set of four chairs with rectangular base. The seat a...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal

Italian modern light green blue chairs Quinta 605 by Mario Botta Alias, 1980s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern light green blue chairs Quinta 605 by Mario Botta Alias, 1980s Pair of chairs mod. Quinta 605 in metal. The seat and backrest are made of a sheet of micro-perforated m...
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal

Italian modern black metal and grey fabric chairs with round seats, 1980s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern black metal and grey fabric chairs with round seats, 1980s Set of ten chairs with round seats. The structure is in black painted meta...
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal

Modern Laurence Dining Chair, Light Blue Cotton, Handmade Portugal by Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
Laurence Chair, Contemporary Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Greenapple. Designed by Rute Martins for the Contemporary Collection, the Laurence moderndining chair wa...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Chairs

Materials

Bouclé, Wood, Wool

Arches II Dining Chair, Walnut & Brass, InsidherLand by Joana Santos Barbosa
Located in Maia, Porto
The Arches II dining chair is designed in the likeness of the architectural scale that suggests a crossing through the structures of a utopian c...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Chairs

Materials

Fabric, Oak, Wood, Walnut

Accent Chair in oak
Located in Macieira de Sarnes, PT
Accent Chair Designed by Project 213A in 2023 The accent chair has three individually shaped legs and a wide seat. Hand carved in solid walnut by skilled artisans in Northern Portug...
Category

2010s Portuguese Modern Chairs

Materials

Oak

Handcrafted Matrice Chair in Gold Steel and Blue Velvet
Located in MONTROZIER, FR
Matrice side chair is a steel corset compressing a velvet fleece, an organic, carnal form, compressed by a wire mesh. The interaction of two antagonistic materials reminds us of the poetry of blown glass, the bodice on the waist, the imprint left on the body by the wicker chairs. We tried to give the seat a feeling of comfort, both visually and in its use. The iconic Chesterfield sofa quickly became a reference to be summoned. Matrice is a reinterpretation, a sensitive statement of its imprint: the upholstery here is turned over like a glove, revealing the wire mesh structure. The latter forms a corset compressing the softness of the seat and backrest to give it an organic geometry. Matrice is customizable on demand (colors of steel and fabrics, other fabrics), modular in chair or multi-seater bench, and each piece is numbered. This handcrafted chair...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Chairs

Materials

Steel, Metal

Italian Modern Pair of Black Metal and Leather Chairs with High Back, 1980s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern pair of black metal and leather chairs with high back, 1980s Pair of chairs with metal structure with round sections, with elegant crossing under the oval-shaped seat...
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal, Brass

Curve Bench Brodie Neill Contemporary Natural Cedar Made in Italy Riva 1920
Located in Cantù, IT
Bench in a single block of scented cedar. Distinguished by its arched shape below the seat that exalts the wood grains and the shades of the natural cedar.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Wood, Cedar

Rustic Solid Pine Chairs with Carved Backs, Europe early 20th century
Located in Utrecht, NL
This one-of-a-kind pair stands as evidence to the enduring charm of handcrafted furniture. These chairs tell a story of craftsmanship, history, and the timeless appeal of rustic beau...
Category

Early 20th Century European Modern Chairs

Materials

Wood

Austrian modern Chairs in black wood by Ernst W. Beranek for Thonet, 1990s
Located in MIlano, IT
Austrian modern Chairs in black wood by Ernst W. Beranek for Thonet, 1990s Set of three chairs with square seat, padded and covered in black fabr...
Category

1990s Austrian Modern Chairs

Materials

Fabric, Silk, Wood

Italian modern Chair in gray metal, black rubber and wood, 1980s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern Chair in gray metal, black rubber and wood, 1980s Chair with gray painted tubular metal structure. The rectangular seat is in black curved wood and the cylindrical bac...
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal

leather and leather chairs from "the new house," 2000s
Located in Felino, IT
Leather and leather chair, made in Italy, 2000s. Metal frame and covered in leather with upholstered leather cushioning. All with Italian quality materials. Brand "The New House" Ita...
Category

Early 2000s Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Leather

Set of Four Charlotte Perriand Dordogne Chairs for Robert Sentou, France c1950
Located in London, GB
Set of six available. Charlotte Perriand (1903-1999), a key figure of European modernism, famously started her career with a rebuff from Le Corbusier’s studio: “We don’t embroider ...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Modern Chairs

Materials

Straw, Pine

Chair New Pansé, Blue Velvet Fabric, Made in Italy
Located in Treviso, Treviso
They are the harbingers of spring, nature awakens with them and colours emerge. Pansies are the inspiration for the new VG chair, with its slender legs of Canaletto walnut and the en...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Upholstery, Velvet, Wood, Walnut, Plywood

Set Of 2 Newcastle Chairs by Patricia Bustos de la Torre
Located in Geneve, CH
Set Of 2 Newcastle Chairs by Patricia Bustos de la Torre Dimensions: D 47 x W 48 x H 91 cm. Materials: Wood and plush. Newcastle Chair is a three-legged wooden chair with a rattan s...
Category

2010s Spanish Modern Chairs

Materials

Other

La Redonda Minimalistic Chair in Metal
Located in London, GB
La Redonda is a chair that flirts with a pure two-dimensional geometrical figure, the circle. This perfect shape is molded after being cut over a steel plat...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal

Austrian modern white wood fabric tub chairs Joseph Hoffmann for Thonet, 1970s
Located in MIlano, IT
Austrian modern white wood fabric tub chairs Joseph Hoffmann for Thonet, 1970s Set of four tub chairs. The structure is in white painted wood, has a rhomboid decoration on the sides ...
Category

1990s Austrian Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal

Marlen Chair, Red, Indoor, Chair, Made in Italy, Home, Contract
Located in MARANO VICENTINO, IT
Comfort, an ergonomic shape and a hardy structure are the characteristics of the Marlen design, the new Trabà chair designed by EP Studio. Hints of a 1950s vibe can be glimpsed in t...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal

Italian modern black chair Terna by Gaspare Cairoli for Seccose, 1980s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern black chair Terna by Gaspare Cairoli for Seccose, 1980s Chair mod. Terna with triangular base. The seat is round and is made of black plastic with two semicircular par...
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal

Chair Audrey, Dove Colour Fabric, Italy
Located in Treviso, Treviso
VG furniture represent luxury in terms of exclusivity, distinction and high quality. They are the result of sophisticated and exclusive design with a strong identity and are the outc...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Fabric, Upholstery, Wood

Set of 2 Purple Cielo Bar Stool by Sebastian Herkner
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2 purple Cielo bar stool by Sebastian Herkner Materials: Galvanized and powder-coated tubular steel. PVC strings are made from recycled plastic. Technique: Made from recycle...
Category

2010s German Modern Chairs

Materials

Steel

Newcastle Chair by Patricia Bustos de la Torre
Located in Geneve, CH
Newcastle Chair by Patricia Bustos de la Torre Dimensions: D 47 x W 48 x H 91 cm. Materials: Wood and plush. Newcastle Chair is a three-le...
Category

2010s Spanish Modern Chairs

Materials

Other

Austrian modern black wooden chairs by Ernst W. Beranek for Thonet, 1990s
Located in MIlano, IT
Austrian modern black wooden chairs by Ernst W. Beranek for Thonet, 1990s Set of five chairs with armrests in black lacquered wood with a matt finish. The seat is padded and covered ...
Category

1990s Austrian Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal

Festa
Located in 'S-GRAVENHAGE, NL
Festa, a series of honest, understandable and functional furniture made of simple steel components and fixing materials. Through a simple and manageable modular assembly system, anyo...
Category

2010s Dutch Modern Chairs

Materials

Steel

Vincent Sheppard Jack
Located in Belfort, FR
Vincent Sheppard Jack Chair Jack is truly a cutting edge design. Its contemporary shape, combined with Lloyd Loom's interesting weave, creates a slee...
Category

2010s Belgian Modern Chairs

Materials

Steel

Mond 12 Reading Chair - Modern Design hand-crafted in Germany
Located in Seehausen (Altmark), DE
Newly released design by Rittergut & Runnymede. Currently exhibiting at the Staatsschauspiel Dresden/Saxony (Dresden State Theatre). With Mond Zwölf Rittergut & Runnymede are present...
Category

2010s German Modern Chairs

Materials

Suede, Ash

Set of four Italian chairs in steel and pink fabric, 1970s
Located in MIlano, IT
Chairs with chrome-plated steel frame, seat and back upholstered in pink fabric with studs on the back. 1970 ca. Very good condition. Measurements in cm 54x47x72h Set of four chromed...
Category

1970s European Vintage Modern Chairs

Materials

Steel

Aluminum Chair by Mylene Niedzialkowski
Located in Geneve, CH
Aluminum Chair by Mylene Niedzialkowski Dimensions: D 43 x H 83. SH 41 cm. Materials: Aluminum and wood. Basic shapes associated with masculi...
Category

2010s French Modern Chairs

Materials

Aluminum

Four Legs Stool Naturel by Arno Declercq
Located in Geneve, CH
Four legs stool naturel by Arno Declercq Dimensions: W 32 x D 32 x H 50 cm Materials: African walnut Arno Declercq Belgian designer and art dealer who makes bespoke objects wi...
Category

2010s Belgian Modern Chairs

Materials

Walnut

Italian Spaghetti chair in white metal and gray leather G. Belotti Alias 1979
Located in MIlano, IT
Spaghetti model chair in a rare version with white metal rod frame and light gray leatherette seat and back. Curved handle at the back and iron springs at the back of the backrest an...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal

New 4 Gray Velvet Upholstered Chairs with Floral Back
Located in Madrid, ES
New 4 gray velvet upholstered chairs with floral back Data sheet: -Design chair, multipurpose. -Metal frame finished in black epoxy paint -Seat and back upholstered in gray velve...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal

Set of Six Shiro Kuramata Sing Sing Sing Chairs for XO, France, 1985
Located in London, GB
Sold individually upon request. Shiro Kuramata (1931-1991) created a fluid exchange between Japanese design philosophy and methodology and European postmodern design. Kuramata’s tr...
Category

1980s French Vintage Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal

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

Set of Four Chairs in the style of Afra & Tobia Scarpa with Durmast Frame
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1970s - 1980s. This set features a solid durmast frame with a multi-layered durmast seat and brass screws. It is interesting that they are slotted screws, and not sta...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Modern Chairs

Materials

Brass

Minimalist Modern Chair in Ash Wood Fabric Upholstery
Located in Lisbon, PT
The conceptural idea around the cast chair was to come up with a simple chair that could fit any nice table, desk and place. And so it was. The cast chair is a sturdy piece whose st...
Category

2010s Portuguese Modern Chairs

Materials

Fabric, Wood, Beech

Italian modern black Spaghetti chairs by Giandomenico Belotti for Alias, 1980s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern black Spaghetti chairs by Giandomenico Belotti for Alias, 1980s Pair of chairs mod. Spaghetti in metal rod with elastic seat and back made from black scooby threads. C...
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal

Tom Dixon S-Chair with Marsh Wicker Upholstery for Cappellini
Located in New York, NY
The iconic S-chair by Tom Dixon is an object with an artisanal core, successfully transformed into an authentic Industrial masterpiece, without losing the essence of the original pro...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Steel

Dig It Chair in Tiger Jacquard Velvet
Located in Milano, IT
Dig It is a chair with a cylindrical seat and an curved backrest. The wooden shell is covered with polyurethane foam and finished with a top layer of acrylic fiber. The base can be made of matte black lacquered wood or covered with a metal casing in brushed brass. This version of DIG IT chair...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Leather, Fabric, Jacquard, Velvet

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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