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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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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
Number in Set: Set of 5
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

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

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 Anjos Dining Chairs, Light-Brown Leather, Handmade 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 ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Chairs

Materials

Leather, Wood, Beech, Oak

21st Century Type Armchair in Blue Jacquard Fabric by Etro Home Interiors
Located in Cantù, Lombardia
With its wide armrests and soft lines that convey a feeling of reassuring welcome, the Type armchair is the emblem of comfort and relax. An armchair with a timeless style and eclecti...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Fabric, Wood

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

2018 Eero Saarinen for Knoll Armless Executive Chairs in Star Struck Red Fabric
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is a single (multiple chairs are available, though the price listed is for each chair) Eero Saarinen for Knoll armless executive chair...
Category

2010s American Modern Chairs

Materials

Steel

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

Green H-Chair by Estudio Persona
Located in Geneve, CH
Green H-chair by Estudio Persona Dimensions: W 45.8 x D 48.3 x H 78.8 cm Materials: Mohair fabric Upholstered dining chair. Shown in mohair fabric. COM option available. Custo...
Category

2010s American Modern Chairs

Materials

Mohair

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

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

Modern Margot Dining Chairs, Nubuck Leather, Handmade in Portugal by Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
Margot Chair, Modern Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by GF Modern. The Margot leather dining chair stands as a contemporary piece that redefines the standards of modern...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Chairs

Materials

Leather, Fabric, Bouclé, Velvet

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

Chic 'Méandre' Bronze Side Chair by Design Frères
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The 'Méandre'™ dark bronze side chair by Design Frères®. Chic and understated.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Chairs

Materials

Steel

Modern Laurence Dining Chairs, Italian 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

Exotic Argentine Rosewood Leather Counter Stool from Costantini, Umberto
Located in New York, NY
The Umberto counter stool is one of Costantini’s original seating designs, featuring a modern, low, carved solid wood back with a tight seat, and optional burnished bronze footrest. ...
Category

2010s Argentine Modern Chairs

Materials

Wood

1965 Giancarlo Piretti for Castelli DSC 106 Stacking Dining / Side Chairs in Oak
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is a single (multiple chairs are available, though the price listed is for each chair) DSC 106 chair designed by Giancarlo Piretti and produced by Castelli in Italy. ...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Modern Chairs

Materials

Oak

Tensa Chair, Yellow by Ries
Located in Geneve, CH
Tensa chair, yellow by Ries Dimensions: W40 x D49,5 x H82 cm Materials: Round steel tube, laser cut metal sheet, high density foam, velvet upholstery, aluminum/bronze caps Matte ...
Category

2010s Argentine Modern Chairs

Materials

Steel

Set of 8 Exotic Argentine Rosewood Counter Stools from Costantini, Umberto
Located in New York, NY
The Umberto Counter stool is one of Costantini’s best selling original seating designs featuring a modern, low, carved solid wood back with a tight seat.. Available now as shown in w...
Category

2010s Argentine Modern Chairs

Materials

Wood

1960s Verner Panton for Fritz Hansen Outdoor Box Wire Chair w/ Black Frames
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is a single (multiple chairs are available, though sold separately) Verner Panton for Fritz Hansen box chair, produced circa mid 1960s. These are gorgeous and iconic ...
Category

1960s Danish Vintage Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal

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

21st Century Ratio Up Armchair in Green Velvet by Etro Home Interiors
Located in Cantù, Lombardia
A perfect mix between modernity and tradition, Ratio is a soft and welcoming armchair, characterized by decorative stitching, an expression of Etro Home Interiors’ sartorial quality....
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Fabric, Wood

21st Century Dahlia Armchair in Brown Jacquard Fabric by Etro Home Interiors
Located in Cantù, Lombardia
Fabric and colour. The two founding themes of the fashion Maison are among the main peculiarities of the Dahlia armchair, a piece of furniture with contemporary lines that takes insp...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Fabric, Wood

Modern De Castro Dining Chairs, Velvet, Beech, Handmade Portugal by Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
De Castro Chair, Modern Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by GF Modern. The De Castro dining chair is a tribute to one of the most remarkab...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Chairs

Materials

Brass

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

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

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

1990 Herman Miller Eames Soft Pad Executive Desk Chair w Dark Postmodern Fabric
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is a single (the price listed is for one chair, but multiple chairs are available) 1990 production Herman Miller Eames aluminum group executive high back desk chair, ...
Category

1990s American Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal

Walter Knoll George Cantilever Stacking Chairs designed by EOOS in Black Leather
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is a single (chairs are sold individually but multiple chairs are available) ""George"" armchair, designed by EOOS of Vienna and produced by Walter Knoll. In the US, ...
Category

2010s German Modern Chairs

Materials

Steel

Modern Fortune Swivel Chair Made with Iron and Suede, Handmade by Stylish Club
Located in Seroa, PT
The Fortune collection creates a disruption of the traditional. The joining of different materials and the combination of straight lines creates pieces that escape the conceptualizat...
Category

2010s Portuguese Modern Chairs

Materials

Iron

La Prima Minimalistic Chair in Metal and Fabric
Located in London, GB
La Prima is an object that is meant to sit at the table. La Prima, designed by Bodegon Cabinet, follows the lead of La Redonda, changing its scale and adj...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal

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

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

Lloyd Contemporary Bar Stool in Wood
Located in London, GB
The Lloyd barstool by Crump and Kwash, is built using sustainably sourced solid wood, and Italian leather. This chair features a barrel backrest, solid metal rugs, and premium foam s...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal

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 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

Modern Mary Swivel Bar Stools, Nubuck Leather, Handmade 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

Yellow Mohair and Walnut Chair Molteni&C by Herzog & de Meuron Made in Italy
Located in New York, NY
The Porta Volta chair by Herzog & De Meuron is a multi-functional design and a welcome addition to any space. Featured in the main reading room of The Nati...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Fabric, Mohair, Wood

Sedia COME in tessuto con braccioli, base in metallo. By Legame Italia.
Located in Pistoia, IT
Progettata dal designer brasiliano Ricardo Antonio, allievo di Oscar Niemeyer, la sedia COME si contraddistingue per il design leggero ed elegante, grazie ad una scocca sottile e con...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal

Handcrafted Black Outdoor Cali Wire Lounge Chair, Powder-Coated Steel
Located in Mexico City, Delegación Cuauhtémoc
This outdoor lounge chair is a unique creation by León León design from Mexico City. It features a solid powder-coated steel structure and can be used either indoor or outdoor. H...
Category

2010s Mexican Modern Chairs

Materials

Steel

Gorilla Chair with Real Green Leather by Marcantonio
Located in Kolkata, IN
Gorilla chair with real green leather by Marcantonio is an ape shaped seat with a rich green leather covering. A lounge chair with a fantastic, unique sh...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Chairs

Materials

Foam, Wood, Leather, Resin

2013 Vitra ID Trim Desk Chair Polished Aluminum & Leather by Antonio Citterio 6x
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is a single (multiple chairs are available but the price listed is for one chair) ID Trim chair in dark brown leather, designed by Antonio Citterio, produced by Vitra...
Category

2010s German Modern Chairs

Materials

Leather

Ribbon Chair Metal Silver by Nika Zupanc, Made in Italy
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Scroll down and click "view all from Seller" to see more than 400 other unique products. (2.2) The Ribbon chair is the object that expresses the female language of Nika Zupanc with ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Plastic

Arflex Botolo High Back Armchair in Natural Fur & Black Metal Legs by Cini Boeri
Located in Brooklyn, NY
An innovative upholstered rolling chair with three large tubular legs. Botolo is an ideal place to sit, relax and be creative.Cini Boeri designed Botolo in 1973, giving life to a new design style, where you could choose the height of the legs to have a dining chair in the high version or a style, at that time modern, "the living at a low level", a way of living...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Fur

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

21st Century Levity Armchair in Green Jacquard Fabric by Etro Home Interiors
Located in Cantù, Lombardia
A light and refined design for Levity armchairs. Their eclectic style is expressed in retro inspiration combined with contemporary aesthetics. The minimalist structure that gives lif...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Fabric, Wood

21st Century Cushy Armchair in Blue Jacquard Fabric by Etro Home Interiors
Located in Cantù, Lombardia
Expression of a new domestic scenario made of expressive colors and immersive fabrics, Cushy is a line of furniture made up of a sofa, armchair, bed and pouf, all characterized by so...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Fabric, Wood

Tube Chair in Canaletto Walnut, Upholster Seat, by Giopato & Coombes
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This tube chair is available with a Canaletto wood structure, and an upholstered seat in the listed fabrics. The tube chair is also available in beech and solid oak wood. Cristiana Giopato...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Wood, Upholstery

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

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

2010s Spanish Modern Chairs

Materials

Velvet, Upholstery, Wood

The Donna Chair, by Vicente Wolf
Located in New York, NY
The Donna Chair, by New York interior designer Vicente Wolf. From his furniture and accessories store, VW HOME by Vicente Wolf, the Donna Chair reflects the ...
Category

2010s American Modern Chairs

Materials

Fabric, Wood

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

Saturn Pouffe Large, Brass Frame and Cream Boucle by Lara Bohinc In Stock
Located in Holland, AMSTERDAM
The equally singular Saturn pouffe utilises the same gathered bilboquet seat construction, to create a more simplified but still incredibly distinctive form. The sumptuously undulati...
Category

2010s Portuguese Modern Chairs

Materials

Metal, Brass

White & Brass Outdoor Cactus Chair by Marcantonio, Made in Italy
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Scroll down and click "view all from Seller" to see more than 400 other unique products. (2.2) In Stock in Los Angeles This white indoor / outdoor armchair features a brass finish mid century legs...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Chairs

Materials

Brass

Hayche, Tornasol Rounded chair, Oak, Green & Pink, Solid Wood, UK, Made To Order
Located in Liverpool, GB
The Tornasol Rounded Chair takes a fresh approach to the solid oak chair, featuring an inviting curved wooden backrest crafted from several flat solid wood components. Each component...
Category

2010s Mexican Modern Chairs

Materials

Wood, Oak

Modern Organic Chair in Solid Wood, Upholstered Flexible Seating
Located in Vila Cordeiro, São Paulo
THE COLLANA SERIES – WHERE ARTISTRY MEETS COMFORT IN EVERY CURVE." Introducing the Collana Chairs, Armchairs and ottomans Collection, a testament to the...
Category

2010s Brazilian Modern Chairs

Materials

Leather, Textile, Upholstery, Fiberglass, Hardwood

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

Hayche Cuerdas Rounded chair, Black, UK, Made To Order
Located in Liverpool, GB
The Cuerdas Rounded Chair offers a fresh take on the classic Windsor chair, seamlessly blending solid oak with the unique element of woven cords. Named "Cuerdas," which translates to...
Category

2010s Mexican Modern Chairs

Materials

Cord, Wood, Oak

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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