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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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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
Guhl Chair by Willy Guhl '1. Edition, Special Sealed, Safe Surface'
Located in Zürich, CH
Willy Guhl was a Swiss furniture designer and became one of the most important representatives of the 20th century Swiss neofunctionalism. Between 1941 and 1980 Guhl taught at the Sc...
Category

Mid-20th Century Swiss Modern Chairs

Materials

Concrete

A Set Of 4 MODERNIST CUBIST "CRATE" CHAIRS after GERRIT RIETVELD, Holland 1980
Located in PARIS, FR
A suite of 4 "Crate" chairs, Constructivist, Cubist, Modernist, Brutalist, geometric structures in blackened solid wood, based on the model by Gerrit Rietveld, handcrafted, Holland 1...
Category

1970s French Vintage Modern Chairs

Materials

Wood

Modern Toro Dining Chair made with wood and textile, Handmade by Stylish Club
Located in Seroa, PT
The Toro chair is a finely crafted piece of furniture with solid wood construction. Its elegant design is inspired by modern aesthetics, presenting smooth c...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Chairs

Materials

Textile, Oak

Chachacha Pouf by Houtique
Located in Geneve, CH
Chachacha pouf by Houtique Dimensions: H 45 x D 35 cm Materials: Upholstery velvet 100% polyester with backing. 345 gr/m^2. 45000 Martindale cycles. TEAD foam with fibre-covered All...
Category

2010s Spanish Modern Chairs

Materials

Velvet

sedia in cuoio , anni 2000
Located in Felino, IT
sedia di fabbricazione Italiana, in cuoio bianco ottico. struttura in metallo rivestita in cuoio di qualita'. cuciture a vista modello simile alla sedia Lara di cattelan. anni 90/200...
Category

Early 2000s Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Animal Skin

"Minivarius" chair tubular steel painted in anodic black by Oscar Tusquets Spain
Located in Barcelona, ES
In 2008 Oscar Tusquets reviewed his famous Various chair design, and came up with this smaller and updated version presented in a painted Anodic Black. The seat is available in a ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Chairs

Materials

Steel

Viva Purple Bench by Houtique
Located in Geneve, CH
Viva Purple Bench by Houtique Dimensions: D 100 x W 45 x H 48 cm Materials: Velvet, Upholstery, Wood Also available in different colours. Please contact u...
Category

2010s Spanish Modern Chairs

Materials

Upholstery, Velvet, Wood

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

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

Shiro Kuramata Sing Sing Sing Chair for XO, France 1985, six available
Located in London, GB
Six available in total. Shiro Kuramata (1931-1991) created a fluid exchange between Japanese design philosophy and methodology and European postmodern design. Kuramata’s training was initially centred around traditional woodworking however, when he enrolled at the Kuwasawa Design School was taught by Isamu Kenmochi, who helped him reimagine ancient Japanese traditions using modern materials. The philosophy Kuramata. His designs are made from materials that have reflective, transparent, translucent, opaque and tactile qualities to them, each form a response each material. The sing sing sing chair...
Category

1980s French Vintage Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal

Modern Maia Dining Chair, Beige Italian Leather, Handmade Portugal by Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
Maia Chair, Contemporary Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Greenapple. Designed by Rute Martins for the Contemporary Collection, the Maia leather dining chair takes it...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal, Brass, Stainless Steel

Baleri Italia Cafè Chair by Philippe Starck
Located in Milan, IT
Structure in steel tubing painted with epoxy powders in metallic silver gloss. Seat in lasten: latex rubber and polypropylene belting in black (y9).    
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Steel

Armchair by Yngve Ekström, 1960
By Ingve Eastrum
Located in Milano, Lombardia
very pretty and elegant Nordic chair with a retro flavor and very colorful. Perfect for warming up the rooms in your home if you want to indulge in a vintage touch. The chair is in e...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Modern Chairs

Materials

Textile, Wood

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

Glazy Counter Stool by Royal Stranger
Located in Geneve, CH
Glazy counter stool by Royal Stranger Dimensions: width 55cm, height 90cm, depth 60cm, seat height 84cm Materials: Solid wood frame, foam, upholstery, stainless steel. Color: Lago...
Category

2010s Portuguese Modern Chairs

Materials

Stainless Steel

Pair of Shiro Kuramata Sing Sing Sing Chairs for XO, France 1985
Located in London, GB
Set of four or six available. Shiro Kuramata (1931-1991) created a fluid exchange between Japanese design philosophy and methodology and European postmodern design. Kuramata’s training was initially centred around traditional woodworking however, when he enrolled at the Kuwasawa Design School was taught by Isamu Kenmochi, who helped him reimagine ancient Japanese traditions using modern materials. The philosophy Kuramata. His designs are made from materials that have reflective, transparent, translucent, opaque and tactile qualities to them, each form a response each material. The sing sing sing...
Category

1980s French Vintage Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal

sedie in cuoio e pelle, anni 2000
By La Nuova Casa (Who's Perfect)
Located in Felino, IT
sedie in cuoio e pelle, anni 2000sedia in cuoio e pelle, made in Italy, anni 2000. struttura in metallo , rivestito in cuoio, + cuscinatura in pelle imbottita. il tutto con materiali...
Category

Early 2000s Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Leather

Pierre Jeanneret ‘Library’ chair, model no. PJ-SI-51-A, France/India, 1956
Located in London, GB
Pierre Jeanneret (1896-1967) is recognised as a pivotal figure in modernism. His collaborations with his cousin Le Corbusier are especially significant, particularly their codificati...
Category

1950s French Vintage Modern Chairs

Materials

Wood

Set of Six Charlotte Perriand Dordogne Chairs for Robert Sentou, France c1950
Located in London, GB
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 cushions here.” Not dete...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Modern Chairs

Materials

Pine, Straw

"La Gomi" Chair by Fiormi Studio, Spain, 2023
Located in Madrid, ES
"La Gomi" is completely upholstered from toes to head. Soft and lightweight, it reminds of the chair you thought of when you were a kid. The chair is totally handmade and it's compos...
Category

2010s Spanish Modern Chairs

Materials

Fabric, Foam, Wood

Four Shiro Kuramata Sing Sing Sing Chairs for XO, France 1985
Located in London, GB
Set of six available. Shiro Kuramata (1931-1991) created a fluid exchange between Japanese design philosophy and methodology and European postmodern design. Kuramata’s training was initially centred around traditional woodworking however, when he enrolled at the Kuwasawa Design School was taught by Isamu Kenmochi, who helped him reimagine ancient Japanese traditions using modern materials. The philosophy Kuramata. His designs are made from materials that have reflective, transparent, translucent, opaque and tactile qualities to them, each form a response each material. The sing sing sing chair...
Category

1980s French Vintage Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal

Glossy stacking chair by Gerd Lange for Drabert, 1980s
Located in Athens, Attiki
Black glossy stacking chair SM400 by Gerd Lange for West German manufacturer Drabert, 1980s. Gerd Lange's chairs have been extremely successful.He had a decisive influence on the des...
Category

1980s German Vintage Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal

Modern Mary Swivel Bar Stools, Leather Brass, Handmade in Portugal by Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
Mary Swivel Bar Stool, Contemporary Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Greenapple. Designed by Rute Martins for the Contemporary Collection, the Mary bar stool transcen...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Chairs

Materials

Brass, Stainless Steel

Zero V2 Chair by Edizione Limitata
Located in Geneve, CH
Zero V2 Chair by Edizione Limitata Limited edition of 15+3 AP pieces. Signed and numbered. Dimensions: D 73 x W 43 x H 130 cm. Materials: Veneered wood and velvet. Edizione Limitata...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Wood, Velvet

Modern Eleanor Leather Dining Chairs, Brown, Handmade in Portugal by Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
Eleanor Chair, Contemporary Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Greenapple. The Eleanor leather dining chair, named after Queen Eleanor of Avis, embodies all the virtues...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Chairs

Materials

Leather, Oak, Beech, Velvet, Bouclé, Fabric

Modernist Armchair by Dom Hans van der Laan, Netherlands, 1960s
Located in Antwerp, BE
Dutch modernist chair, Dom Hans Van Der Laan, Jan De Jong, 1961, Bossche School One of 12 ever made, from the boards room of the townhall of Budel, 1961, The Netherlands. It was com...
Category

1960s Dutch Vintage Modern Chairs

Materials

Copper

Willy Rizzo C2 70s Production Chromed Steel Frame Gray Vintage Leather Set of 4
Located in IT
Willy Rizzo chairs C2 70s production with chromed steel frame and gray vintage leather seats. Set of 4 chairs. The seat has been re upholstered with vintage leather. The chairs are...
Category

Late 20th Century European Modern Chairs

Materials

Steel

Orbit Garden Chair, Outdoor , Pink Steel and Stripe Fabric, in stock
Located in Holland, AMSTERDAM
The Orbit Chair is now available with outdoor specifics and can be left outside all year round, even in winter. The frame is made from powder coated stainless steel to protect it fro...
Category

2010s Portuguese Modern Chairs

Materials

Stainless Steel

Set of 4 Diamond chairs, Harry Bertoia, Knoll International
Located in Milano, Lombardia
The Diamond Chair is an astounding study in space, form and function by one of the master sculptors of the last century. Like Saarinen and Mies, Bertoia found sublime grace in an ind...
Category

1960s American Vintage Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal

Modern Maia Leather Dining Chairs Set/6, Handmade in Portugal by Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
Maia Chair, Contemporary Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Greenapple. Designed by Rute Martins for the Contemporary Collection, the Maia leather dining chair takes it...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal, Brass

René Herbst 'Sandows' Dining Chair in Steel and Cord
Located in Waalwijk, NL
René Herbst, 'Sandows' chair, model '101', chrome-plated steel, elastic rope, France, design 1928, produced 1970s. The 'Sandows' chair epitomizes the industrial advancements of the ...
Category

1920s French Vintage Modern Chairs

Materials

Steel, Chrome

Modern Anjos Dining Chairs, Leather Oak Root, Handmade in Portugal by Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
Anjos Chair, Contemporary Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Greenapple. Designed by Rute Martins for the Contemporary Collection, the Anjos dining chair draws inspirat...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Chairs

Materials

Leather, Wood, Beech, Oak

Set of 5 Classic Counter Stool 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

Modern Laurence Dining Chairs, Nubuck Leather, 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 leather dining chair ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Chairs

Materials

Leather, Wood

Set of four René Herbst Sandows chairs Herbst studio, France, 1927
Located in London, GB
René Herbst (1891-1982) was a French designer who studied in London, Frankfurt and Russia. He founded Établissements René Herbst in Paris and exhibited at the seminal “Exposition Int...
Category

1920s French Vintage Modern Chairs

Materials

Chrome

Modern Eleanor Outdoors Dining Chairs Set/6, Handmade in Portugal by Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
Eleanor Outdoors Chair, Contemporary Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Greenapple. The Eleanor outdoors dining chair, named after Queen Eleanor of Avis, embodies all t...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Chairs

Materials

Leather, Oak, Beech, Velvet, Bouclé, Fabric

Italian modern wooden chairs with triangular holes, 1980s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern wooden chairs with triangular holes, 1980s Set of six chairs made entirely of wood. The seat is rectangular with the two front corners rounded, the backrest ends with ...
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Modern Chairs

Materials

Wood

Set of six chairs "CM 196" by Pierre Paulin 1960's Thonet edition
Located in Paris, FR
Set of six chairs "CM 196" by Pierre Paulin 1960's Thonet edition
Category

1960s French Vintage Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal

Contemporary Fabric Bisou Armchair
By DOOQ
Located in Geneve, CH
Contemporary Bisou armchair Dimensions: D 70 x W 65 x H 74 cm Seat height 44 cm Materials: Fabric, solid wood Also available leather.  
Category

2010s Portuguese Modern Chairs

Materials

Upholstery, Wood

Cross Stool by Arno Declercq
Located in Geneve, CH
Black Bunker Side Table by Arno Declercq Dimensions: D 21 x W 21 x H 50 cm. Materials: Burned and waxed Oak and burned steel. Arno Declercq Belgian designer and art dealer who...
Category

2010s Belgian Modern Chairs

Materials

Steel

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

2010s German Modern Chairs

Materials

Steel

Upholstered oak soap contemporary Chair, om5.1 by mjiila
Located in PARIS, FR
Minimal modern design chair by Parisian based studio mjiila. The om5.1 is a contemporary upholstered high-end chair handcrafted by skilled cabinetmaker. Available in soaped natural f...
Category

2010s French Modern Chairs

Materials

Ash, Oak

Arcus Walnut Stool by Tim Vranken
Located in Geneve, CH
Arcus walnut stool by Tim Vranken Materials: American Walnut Dimensions: 30.5 x H 45 cm Tim Vranken is a Belgian furniture designer who focuses on solid, handmade furniture. Throu...
Category

2010s Belgian Modern Chairs

Materials

Walnut

Pouf Pill L by Houtique
Located in Geneve, CH
Pouf pill L by Houtique Dimensions: H 45 x 80 x 35 cm Materials: Velvet upholstery and 30cm fringes Pill Pouf L Art-deco style pouf with wood ...
Category

2010s Spanish Modern Chairs

Materials

Velvet

Cross armchair, Marcello Cuneo, Arflex 1960 circa
Located in Milano, Lombardia
The seat was born from a very simple idea : two U-shaped tubes connected by a joint. These two chairs are exemplars from the 1970s and are perfect for more types of environments, inc...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal

Pair New Spanish Chair, Metal, Green Velvet Upholstery
Located in Madrid, ES
Pair New Spanish chair, metal, green velvet upholstery. -Metal frame finished in black epoxy paint and finished in matte gold detail -Seat and back upholstered in pink velvet -Oth...
Category

2010s Spanish Modern Chairs

Materials

Velvet

Tree New Spanish Chairs in Blue " Pavo Real "
Located in Madrid, ES
Tree New Spanish Chairs in Blue " Pavo Real " beautiful new Spanish chairs 73cm x 57cm x 41cm Brand new
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal

Chocolate Memento Chair, Jesse Sanderson
Located in Geneve, CH
Chocolate Memento chair, Jesse Sanderson Original signed chair by Jesse Sanderson Materials: leather, steel Dimensions: W 43 x D 50 x H 80 cm Seating height: 47 cm Frame fin...
Category

2010s Dutch Modern Chairs

Materials

Steel

New Design Taller Chair in Aged Gold Color
Located in Madrid, ES
General Information Size Dim. (cm) Dim. (in) Wgt. (kg) Wgt. (lbs) Taller 52 x 53 x 102 20.5 x 20.9 x 40.2 7 15.4 Materials and colors Structure: Resin reinforced with fiberglas...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Chairs

Materials

Resin

Chubby Chair in Dijon 3d Printed Recycled Plastic
Located in London, GB
Dirk van der Kooij first fell in love with low resolution 3D printing as a student, fulfilling his search for honest and functional ornamentation. T...
Category

2010s Dutch Modern Chairs

Materials

Plastic

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

2010s Spanish Modern Chairs

Materials

Upholstery, Velvet, Wood

Chocolate and Black Memento Chair, Jesse Sanderson
Located in Geneve, CH
Chocolate and black Memento chair, Jesse Sanderson Original signed chair by Jesse Sanderson Materials: leather, steel Dimensions: W 43 x D 50 x H 80 cm Seating height: 47 cm. ...
Category

2010s Dutch Modern Chairs

Materials

Steel

Alchemy Chair by Rick Owens
Located in Geneve, CH
Alchemy chair by Rick Owens. 2012 Dimensions: L 62 x W 50 x H 71 cm Materials: Bronze, leather Weight: 20 kg Rick Owens is a California-born fashion and furniture has developed a un...
Category

2010s French Modern Chairs

Materials

Bronze

Pair of Mink Brown Velvet Upholstered Metal Armchair New
Located in Madrid, ES
Mink brown velvet upholstered metal armchair new. Data sheet: -Design armchair, multipurpose. -Seat and back in wood and foam rubber, upholstered in mink brown velvet 19 fabric -...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Chairs

Materials

Velvet

New Design Chair in Aged Gold Color
Located in Madrid, ES
General information Dimensions (cm): 58 x 57 x 90 Dimensions (in): 22.8 x 22.4 x 35.4 Weight (kg): 9 Weight (lbs): 19.8 Materials and colors Structure: Resin reinforced with fibergl...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Chairs

Materials

Resin

Eight German Chairs of the 20th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Eight German chairs Of the 20th century In gilded metal, decorated with plant motifs and masks. Upholstered seats and back. Signs of use. Dimensions: 96.5 x 45 x 42 cm. THE PRICE IS...
Category

20th Century German Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal

New Design Lower Chair in Aged Gold Color
Located in Madrid, ES
General Information Size Dim. (cm) Dim. (in) Wgt. (kg) Wgt. (lbs) Ref. Lower 52 x 53 x 82 20.5 x 20.9 x 32.3 6.5 14.3 Materials and colors. Structure: Resin reinforced with fibe...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Chairs

Materials

Resin

Pair of Metal Velvet Upholstered Metal Armchair New
Located in Madrid, ES
Upholstered Metal Armchair New Data sheet: -Design armchair, multipurpose. -Seat and back in wood and foam rubber, upholstered in mink brown velvet 19 fabric -Tapered met...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Chairs

Materials

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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