Modern Chairs
MODERN STYLE
The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw sweeping social change and major scientific advances — both of which contributed to a new aesthetic: modernism. Rejecting the rigidity of Victorian artistic conventions, modernists sought a new means of expression. References to the natural world and ornate classical embellishments gave way to the sleek simplicity of the Machine Age. Architect Philip Johnson characterized the hallmarks of modernism as “machine-like simplicity, smoothness or surface [and] avoidance of ornament.”
Early practitioners of modernist design include the De Stijl (“The Style”) group, founded in the Netherlands in 1917, and the Bauhaus School, founded two years later in Germany.
Followers of both groups produced sleek, spare designs — many of which became icons of daily life in the 20th century. The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics. While Bauhaus principals Marcel Breuer and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe created furniture from mass-produced, chrome-plated steel, American visionaries like Charles and Ray Eames worked in materials as novel as molded plywood and fiberglass. Today, Breuer’s Wassily chair, Mies van der Rohe’s Barcelona chair — crafted with his romantic partner, designer Lilly Reich — and the Eames lounge chair are emblems of progressive design and vintage originals are prized cornerstones of collections.
It’s difficult to overstate the influence that modernism continues to wield over designers and architects — and equally difficult to overstate how revolutionary it was when it first appeared a century ago. But because modernist furniture designs are so simple, they can blend in seamlessly with just about any type of décor. Don’t overlook them.
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Item Ships From: USA
Style: Modern
Tubular Brass Chairs by ChromeCraft- Set of Four
Located in Los Angeles, CA
W22 D21 H33 SW18 SD19 SH17 AH24
Vintage Rolling Chairs by ChromeCraft in overall great condition. Chairs features structurally sound brass frames with light patina, three units are ...
Category
1980s Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Metal
Eric Schmitt (*1955), Osselet Chairs, 1996
Located in New York, NY
Pair of sculptural " Osselet " side chairs by Eric Schmitt.
Patinated bronze frames and cognac leather seats.
Category
1990s French Modern Chairs
Materials
Bronze
Moooi The Golden Chair in Black Steel Frame with Vesper, Bronze Upholstery
By Nika Zupanc, Moooi
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Under a mysterious magic spell, a retro-looking school chair is dipped in enchanted golden nectar, which washes away its austerity and crows it with a shi...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Dutch Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel
Wassily Style Leather Chair in the Manner of Marcel Breuer
Located in Austin, TX
A fine, comfortable Wassily style lounge chair from France featuring bands of stitched leather attached to a seamless tubular chrome frame, inspired by Marcel Breuer’s original desig...
Category
20th Century French Modern Chairs
Materials
Metal, Chrome
Kartell Pilastro Stool in Green by Ettore Sottsass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Pilastro stool is part of the Kartell goes Sottsass, a tribute to Memphis collection, launched in 2015 in homage to design guru Ettore Sottsass....
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs
Materials
Plastic
Iconic Eero Aarnio Yellow Pastil Chair
By Eero Aarnio
Located in New York, NY
Eero Aarnio made the first prototype of the Pastil chair out of polystyrene, which helped him to verify the measurements, ergonomics and rocking ability. ...
Category
2010s Finnish Modern Chairs
Materials
Fiberglass
Pair of Chic 'Méandre' Side Chairs by Design Frères
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of chic undulating 'Méandre' side chairs by Design Frères.
Bronzed steel frames. Natural linen upholstered cushions.
These Méandre™ chairs from our exclusive Design Frères® li...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel
Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH Post Mundus Chair in Beech
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Five pieces of bent wood make up the unique profile of Post Mundus, the chair designed by Martino Gamper that plays on the iconic lines of the historic Aus...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Modern Chairs
Materials
Wood
Woven Black Ash Wood Dining Chair Molteni&C by Tobia Scarpa - made in Italy
Located in New York, NY
Miss Chair in Black Ash Wood and Leather by Afra and Tobia Scarpa.
Expert-crafted in Italy exclusively by Molteni&C.
Husband and wife powerhouse designers...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs
Materials
Ash
Customizable e15 That Lounge Chair by Stefan Diez
By Stefan Diez, e15
Located in New York, NY
The lounge chair That is part of the distinct This That Other seating series. Named after the famous card trick, Stefan Diez uses the same plywood material as for the iconic Houdini ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary German Modern Chairs
Materials
Oak
Stool/Bench Modern Medieval Handmade Horsehair Iron Woven Textile Fringe Tassel
Located in Bronx, NY
HORSE HAIR BENCH NO. 1 - WHITE
J.M. Szymanski
d. 2019
Contemporary furniture at its finest. Horsehair textile and blackened iron are combined to create an exciting juxtaposition o...
Category
2010s American Modern Chairs
Materials
Iron, Steel
Vanity Seat in Grey Lacquer by Robert Kuo, Limited Edition
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vanity seat.
Grey lacquer.
Handmade.
Wood base.
Lacquer is a technique that dates back to the Shang dynasty, circa 1600-1100 B.C. These pieces are made with at least 60 coats of org...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Modern Chairs
Materials
Lacquer
Pair of Midcentury Leather Chairs, Designer Sedus
Located in Asheville, NC
1960s style side office chairs with tubular chrome legs, molded plastic shell with sectioned and boxed attached leather upholstery. Recently shipped from the South of England.
Category
1960s German Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Metal
Handsome Modern Robert Marinelli Super Stylish Club Chair
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Handsome Modern Robert Marinelli Super Stylish Club Chair.
Category
2010s American Modern Chairs
Materials
Walnut
Modern Mary Dining Chairs, Velvet Leather, Handmade in Portugal by Greenapple
By Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
Mary Chair, Contemporary Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Greenapple.
Designed by Rute Martins for the Contemporary Collection, the Mary lea...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Chairs
Materials
Brass, Stainless Steel
Modern Laurence Dining Chairs Set/6, Bouclé, Handmade in Portugal by Greenapple
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 bouclé dining chair w...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Chairs
Materials
Bouclé, Wood
Swift Easy Chair, Modern Spindle Back Walnut and Rope Woven Lounge Chair
Located in Stevenson, WA
With a high spindle back and handcrafted bridle joinery clearly displayed, the Swift Easy Chair frame is studio favorite. Each Swift is a complex build for a skilled craftsperson: th...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Chairs
Materials
Rope, Hardwood
Basket Chair for Beach or Slope by de Vries of Germany, including Accessories
Located in San Francisco, CA
Manufactured by deVries of Germany, this stylist basket chair is a must for beach or slopes! Made of brushed teak, the body is intricately braided in a circular pattern on both sides...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary German Modern Chairs
Materials
Stainless Steel
Deloache Dining Chair
Located in Houston, TX
DBDG custom Deloache chair available exclusively at Moxie.
As shown in Métaphores Eden fabric featured at Kips Bay Showhouse Dallas 2021 ~ $5,100.00...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Chairs
Materials
Wood
Pair of Armchairs, Italy, 1990s
Located in New York, NY
Inox steel frames featuring wraparound backs upholstered in dark brown leather, the seats and backs upholstered in the original crushed velvet with leaf pattern. These chairs were de...
Category
1990s Italian Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel
Ignazio Gardella R64 Armchair for Azucena in Olive Brown 1963
Located in Bonita Springs, FL
A hard to find original Ignazio Gardella R63 Armchair for Azucena in Olive Brown synthetic vinyl leather that was used at the times by many furniture designers. The chair maintains t...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Brass
Modern Robert Marinelli Le Caprice Designer Shagreen Desk Arm Chair
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Modern Robert Marinelli Le Caprice Designer Shagreen Desk Arm Chair
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Chairs
Materials
Mahogany
Patine Chair in Brown Leather
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The Patine Chair infuses cool modern metal with the finesse of a past era. With its plush channeled design, the rolls are loved for the comfort and the chic contrast of rich leather ...
Category
2010s Asian Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel
Patine Chair in Brown Leather
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The Patine Chair infuses cool modern metal with the finesse of a past era. With its plush channeled design, the rolls are loved for the comfort and the chic contrast of rich leather ...
Category
2010s Asian Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel
Garcon Chair in Black Nubuck Leather
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The Garcon Chair is more than steel and leather, rather a perfect minimalist blend of those two materials. Supple leathers contrast beautifully against the cutting-edge distressed br...
Category
2010s Asian Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel
Patine Chair in Grey Leather
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The Patine Chair infuses cool modern metal with the finesse of a past era. With its plush channeled design, the rolls are loved for the comfort and the chic contrast of rich leather ...
Category
2010s Asian Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel
Patine Chair in Grey Leather
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The Patine Chair infuses cool modern metal with the finesse of a past era. With its plush channeled design, the rolls are loved for the comfort and the chic contrast of rich leather ...
Category
2010s Asian Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel
Patine Chair in Brown Leather
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The Patine Chair infuses cool modern metal with the finesse of a past era. With its plush channeled design, the rolls are loved for the comfort and the chic contrast of rich leather ...
Category
2010s Asian Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel
Patine Chair in Brown Leather
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The Patine Chair infuses cool modern metal with the finesse of a past era. With its plush channeled design, the rolls are loved for the comfort and the chic contrast of rich leather ...
Category
2010s Asian Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel
Patine Chair in Grey Leather
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The Patine Chair infuses cool modern metal with the finesse of a past era. With its plush channeled design, the rolls are loved for the comfort and the chic contrast of rich leather ...
Category
2010s Asian Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel
Patine Chair in Grey Leather
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The Patine Chair infuses cool modern metal with the finesse of a past era. With its plush channeled design, the rolls are loved for the comfort and the chic contrast of rich leather ...
Category
2010s Asian Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel
Patine Chair in Grey Leather
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The Patine Chair infuses cool modern metal with the finesse of a past era. With its plush channeled design, the rolls are loved for the comfort and the chic contrast of rich leather ...
Category
2010s Asian Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel
Patine Chair in Grey Leather
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The Patine Chair infuses cool modern metal with the finesse of a past era. With its plush channeled design, the rolls are loved for the comfort and the chic contrast of rich leather ...
Category
2010s Asian Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel
Garcon Chair in Black Nubuck Leather
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The Garcon Chair is more than steel and leather, rather a perfect minimalist blend of those two materials. Supple leathers contrast beautifully against the cutting-edge distressed br...
Category
2010s Asian Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel
Sculptural Bronze Chair by James Vilona
Located in Chicago, IL
This sculptural bronze chair by American artist James Vilona (b. 1955), exemplifies modern minimalist artistry through its use of patinated bronze and simple yet striking X-form desi...
Category
2010s American Modern Chairs
Materials
Bronze
Patine Chair in Brown Leather
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The Patine Chair infuses cool modern metal with the finesse of a past era. With its plush channeled design, the rolls are loved for the comfort and the chic contrast of rich leather ...
Category
2010s Asian Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel
Modern Occasional Chair
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Nice modern art accent chair.
Solid wood construction with black lacquered seat and backrest.
Original vintage condition with minor wear on close inspection with a nice patina.
No da...
Category
Late 20th Century American Modern Chairs
Materials
Oak
Pair of Verner Panton Design Within Reach Vitra 727 White Side Accent Chairs
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
A pair of Verner Panton Design Within Reach Vitra 727 side accent chairs. A lovely piece of design featuring a single piece construction. These chairs have an organic, but abstract p...
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Modern Chairs
Materials
Plastic
Moooi Smoke Armchair in Shade Pitch Black Upholstery by Maarten Baas
By Maarten Baas, Moooi
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Furniture finished with fire. The beauty and character of burned wood is now captured in a long lasting material, creating the strange sensation of sitting on burnt furniture Maarten Baas interpreted his fascination for the element fire with a groundbreaking approach. Capturing the burning flames into the solidity of wood. Each chair is unique due to this exceptional production process. Just like the Phoenix, the Smoke objects are reborn from their ashes, gaining new vitality and beauty in a very unusual way.
Additional information:
Material: Burnt wood finished with epoxy resin, fire retardant foam, leather upholstery
Upholstery: Shade pitch black...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Dutch Modern Chairs
Materials
Upholstery
Set of 4 Milo Baughman for Thayer Coggin Black Cushioned Dining Armchairs
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
A set of 4 Milo Baughman for Thayer Coggin armchairs. A wonderful set of whimsically patterned armchairs. These chairs are finished with a playful pattern with a black/grey/purple/bl...
Category
20th Century American Modern Chairs
Materials
Polyester, Wood
Kartell Stone Stool in Yellow by Marcel Wanders
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Stone is a stool with a simple shape but with a very precious appearance. Made with an essential symmetrical linear shape which is reminiscent of an hourglass, its surface is simply ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs
Materials
Plastic
Martin Ballendat Set of Four Up Chairs for Tonon, Italy.
By Martin Ballendat
Located in Bonita Springs, FL
Martin Ballendat Set of Four Up Chairs for Tonon, Italy.
The Up-Chair is an extremely emotional product. Designed to give the feeling of a light seat, the “Up” owes its name to the w...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Chairs
Materials
Metal
Set of 2 Kartell Masters Chairs in White by Philippe Starck & Eugeni Quitllet
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The masters chair is a powerful tribute to three symbolic chairs, re-read and re-interpreted by the creative genius of Starck. The unmistakable silhouett...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs
Materials
Plastic
Kartell Pilastro Stool in Black by Ettore Sottsass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Pilastro stool is part of the Kartell goes Sottsass, a tribute to Memphis collection, launched in 2015 in homage to design guru Ettore Sottsass....
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs
Materials
Plastic
Iconic Eero Aarnio Black Leather Swivel Ball Lounge Chair
By Eero Aarnio
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
Fiberglass, Leather
Seletti Pink "Lipsticks" Upholstered Occasional Chair by Toiletpaper
By Seletti, Toiletpaper
Located in Doral, FL
Mix and match the wildest graphics designed by Toiletpaper and get the most iconic dining room of all. Also available in blue.
- Material: Fabrics in polyester, frame in wood with...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Chairs
Materials
Polyester, Wood
Armchair in Velvet Molteni&C by Gio Ponti D.154.2 - made in Italy
By Molteni & C, Gio Ponti
Located in New York, NY
D.154.2 Lovechair in Velvet by Gio Ponti.
Expert-crafted in Italy exclusively by Molteni&C.
The mid-century D.154.2 lovechair features a shell-like structure inspired by renowned It...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs
Materials
Velvet
Armchair in Boucle Fabric Molteni&C by Gio Ponti D.154.2 - made in Italy
By Molteni & C, Gio Ponti
Located in New York, NY
D.154.2 Lovechair in Bouclé Fabric by Gio Ponti.
Expert-crafted in Italy exclusively by Molteni&C.
The mid-century D.154.2 lovechair features a shell-like structure inspired by ren...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs
Materials
Bouclé
Lloyd Modern Barrel Back Round Bar Stool
Located in Baltimore City, MD
Lloyd bar stool
Solid wood frame / hand rubbed oil finish / brushed brass, bronze or black rungs / leather wrapped back support / recessed leather ...
Category
2010s American Modern Chairs
Materials
Brass, Steel
Iconic Eero Aarnio Giant Ball Chair
By Eero Aarnio
Located in New York, NY
he Leather Ball Chair Designed by Eero Aarnio 1963 Designed by Eero Aarnio 1963 Designed by Eero Aarnio 1963 Designed by Eero Aarnio 1963 The Ball Chair was designed in the early 196...
Category
2010s Finnish Modern Chairs
Materials
Aluminum
Set of 2 Kartell Louis Ghost Armchairs in Crystal by Philippe Starck
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A comfortable armchair in transparent and colored polycarbonate in the Louis XV style, it is the quintessence of baroque revisited to dazzle, excite and captivate. Louis Ghost is the...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs
Materials
Plastic
Kartell Pilastro Stool in Pink by Ettore Sottsass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Pilastro stool is part of the Kartell goes Sottsass, a tribute to Memphis collection, launched in 2015 in homage to design guru Ettore Sottsass....
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs
Materials
Plastic
Amorph Gazelle Dining Chair, Solid Wood, Stained Graphite Walnut
By Amorph Inc.
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Dining chair designed by Amorph made out of solid ash wood and leather. It is stained dark walnut.
Dimension: 38" H x 20 1/2" L x 18" W
seat height: 18" inch.
We ask designers to pro...
Category
2010s American Modern Chairs
Materials
Wood, Ash, Leather
Seletti "Revolver" Upholstered Occasional Chair by Toiletpaper
By Toiletpaper, Seletti
Located in Doral, FL
Mix and match the wildest graphics designed by Toiletpaper and get the most iconic dining room of all.
- Material: Fabrics in polyester, frame in wood with polyurethane padding an...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Chairs
Materials
Polyester, Wood
Seletti "Lipsticks" Upholstered Occasional Chair by Toiletpaper
By Toiletpaper, Seletti
Located in Doral, FL
Mix and match the wildest graphics designed by Toiletpaper and get the most iconic dining room of all.
- Material: Fabrics in polyester, frame in wood with polyurethane padding an...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Chairs
Materials
Polyester, Wood
Modern Lloyd Accent Chair in White Oak, Brass, Shearling
Located in Baltimore City, MD
Lloyd Chair
by Crump and Kwash
Solid wood construction / hand rubbed oil finished / solid waxed brass rungs / shearling wrapped back support / shearling wrapped seat cushion.
D...
Category
2010s American Modern Chairs
Materials
Brass
UNA Leather Upholstered Dining Chair in Black Stained Oak by Estudio Persona
Located in Los Angeles, CA
UNA leather upholstered dining chair in black stained oak. Using these fluid shapes allows greater focus on the details of the wood grain and pristinely stitched leather top.
Made of solid oak, stained in black, with a black leather seat and black vegetable leather...
Category
2010s American Modern Chairs
Materials
Leather, Oak
Roly Poly Polyethylene Armchair in Concrete with Cushions by Faye Toogood
By Driade, Faye Toogood
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The distinctive, reassuringly chunky lines of Faye Toogood’s Roly-Poly furniture collection become even more inviting in her new collaboration with Driade. The latest line for the It...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs
Materials
Fabric, 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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