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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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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Style: Modern
Period: 20th Century
Italian modern Tub chairs in blue velvet and chromed metal, 1980s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern Tub chairs in blue velvet and chromed metal, 1980s
Set of 4 tub chairs with backrest and seat, padded and upholstered in teal blue velvet. The 3 legs are in tubular c...
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Metal
Early Kaare Klint Red Chairs in Cuban Mahogany, circa 1930s
Located in Oakland, CA
Early model "Red" chairs model 3758 designed by Kaare Klint for Rud Rasmussen c1930s with original Niger leather with brass nails on Cuban Mahogany frames. Very rare design with orig...
Category
1930s Danish Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Leather, Mahogany
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
Set of 6 Contemporary Dining Chairs from Theodore’s Upholstered in Ultra Suede
Located in Kensington, MD
Set of 6 Contemporary Dining Chairs from Theodore’S Upholstered In Ultra Suede
Additional information:
Material: Upholstery, wood
Fea...
Category
Late 20th Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Upholstery
Guillerme et Chambron, Set of 8 Oak Chairs, Edition Votre Maison, circa 1960
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Guillerme et Chambron, set of eight oak chairs. Edition Votre Maison, circa 1970.
the fabric is in good condition
the small wooden screw covers are miss...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Modern Chairs
Materials
Oak, Upholstery
Italian Modern Set of Six Black Lacquered Wood and Vienna Straw Chairs, 1980s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern set of six black lacquered wood and Vienna straw chairs, 1980s.
Set of six chairs in lacquered wood with front legs offset from the rear ones, back with rounded shape...
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Straw, Wood
Jorgen Hovelskov Harp Chair, Denmark 1960s
Located in New York, NY
A sculptural Jorgen Hovelskov designed harp chair.
Solid oak and rope.
Category
1960s Danish Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Rope, Oak
Pair of Gastone Rinaldi 'Z' Chairs, Rima, Italy 1970s
Located in London, GB
SOLD AS A SET OF FOUR
Gastone Rinaldi (1920-2006) was a brilliant designer who also played football for AC Padua and AC Udinese in the 1940s. He took over RIMA, the metal furniture ...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Upholstery
Wire Cone Chair by Verner Panton
Located in New York, NY
Verner Panton. Wire cone chair, model K2. Designed 1959. An early example manufactured by Plus-linje, Denmark. Galvanized and chrome-plated steel. Cush...
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Modern Chairs
Materials
Metal
Italian Modern Brown Leather Chair Tucroma by Guido Faleschini 4Mariani, 1970s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern brown leather and metal Chair Tucroma by Guido Faleschini for 4Mariani, 1970s
Chair mod. Tucroma with padded seat upholstered in brown leather. The backrest is compos...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel
Rare Pair of Low Lounge Chairs by Carl-Johan Boman
Located in San Francisco, CA
A rare pair of easy chairs with beautiful curved backs on tapered wooden feet. Very nice vintage condition.
Category
1940s Finnish Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Upholstery, Elm
Boris Tabacoff Set of 4 'Dumas Chairs" in Sculpted Lucite, 1970s
Located in New York, NY
Set of 4 "Dumas Chairs" in sculpted thick lucite by Boris Tabacoff for MMM, (Moblier Modulaire Moderne), France, 1970’s. Custom contoured gray ultra suede cushions by Lobel Modern. T...
Category
1970s French Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Ultrasuede, Lucite
Set of six by Uwe Fischer 'SINA' chairs for B&B ITALIA, Label
Located in Milano, IT
B&B Italia's Sina chairs, designed by Uwe Fischer in 1990 and still sold as one of the best vintage chairs of the 1990s. Beautifully constructed with two c...
Category
1990s Italian Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel
Grete Jalk Molded Plywood GJ Chair
By Grete Jalk
Located in San Francisco, CA
A molded teak plywood "GJ' or bow chair by Grete Jalk. Originally designed in 1963 for P. Jeppesen, only 300 chairs were produced and few remain in existence...
Category
1960s Danish Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Brass
Matthias DeMacker "Icon" Red Geometric Enameled Bar Stools
By Matthias Demacker, B-Line
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Matthias DeMacker "Icon" Red Enameled Bar Stools. Stools come with a thin black seat pad. Foot rest is 11.125". In original condition, with visible wear. The black pads are visibly w...
Category
1990s Italian Modern Chairs
Materials
Metal
Pair of Sculptural Concrete Club Chairs, 1940s Belgium
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Stunning and extremely rare pair of sculptural outdoor chairs made of concrete. Hand made in the 1940s in Belgium. Club chair design with a ho...
Category
1940s Belgian Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Concrete
Set 4 sedie nere, Pietro Costantini
Located in Milano, Lombardia
These four chairs represents the 80’s design at their best. Designed by Pietro Costantini we recommend you those great black chairs. The conditions are very good, no restoration need...
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Leather, Wood
Set of 4 Italian High-Back Dining Chairs in Wood & Cane, 1970s
Located in Antwerp, BE
A beautiful set of 4 Italian high-back dining chairs.
The chairs are a perfect combination between design and comfort, because of their high backs. This makes that the chairs can ...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Cane, Wood
Modern Vecta Chrome Armchairs 4 Purple 2 Blue 2 Multicolored Stripe Set of 8
By Vecta Group
Located in Topeka, KS
Stunning modern chrome armchairs by Vecta 4 purple, 2 blue, and 2 multicolored striped, set of 8. Beautiful condition, keeping in mind that the...
Category
1980s American Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Chrome
Custom Green Dyed French Armchair with Tropical Palm Tree Upholstery
Located in Houston, TX
Beautiful Louis the XV style green dyed French armchair with custom pink tropical upholstery featuring a floral palm tree design.
Category
20th Century French Modern Chairs
Materials
Fabric, Wood
Italian Modern White Metal Grey Leather Dining Chairs by G. Belotti, Alias, 1979
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern set of rare white metal and light grey leather dining chairs by Giandomenico Belotti for Alias, 1979.
Set of five Spaghetti ...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Metal
Italian Modern Set of Steel and Leather Chairs like Cantilever S33, Gavina 1970s
By Gavina
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern set of eight steel and leather chairs inspired by Cantilever S33 by Mart Stam and attributable to Gavina, 1970s.
Set of eight chairs with tubular steel and black leat...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Metal
Modern Bungee Armchair after René Herbst
By René Herbst
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Modern bungee armchair after René Herbst, a nice vintage 1990s version, measures: arm height is 25-inches, seat height is 17-inches.
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Chairs
Materials
Chrome
Guillerme et Chambron, 8 Oak Chairs, Edition Votre Maison, circa 1970
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Guillerme et Chambron, 8 oak chairs. Edition Votre Maison, circa 1970.
4 model chairs are also available in another ad
so there are 12 chairs available ...
Category
Late 20th Century French Modern Chairs
Materials
Wool, Oak
Guillerme et Chambron Set of Six Dining Chairs
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Guillerme et Chambron set of six oak and straw dining chairs circa 1960.
Category
1960s French Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Oak
"El Rey" by Mats Theselius, 1999
Located in Stockholm, SE
Brass frame. Seat and back in crocodile patterned prime leather. Leatherclothes-wound armrests. Limited edition of 360 pcs produced 1999. This example is number 77.
Category
1990s Swedish Modern Chairs
Materials
Brass
Guillerme et Chambron, Six Oak Chairs, Edition Votre Maison, circa 1970
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Guillerme et Chambron, six chairs, Edition Votre Maison, circa 1970.
Category
Late 20th Century French Modern Chairs
Materials
Other
Arrben Italy Modern Dining Chair Model Marylin, Set of 4
By Arrben
Located in Munich, Bavaria
This comfortable dining chair is manufactured from the 1980s by Arrben and the Model is Marylin 2.
This version has a black leather seat and the armrest are also covered in black le...
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Chrome, Steel
Naos Black Saddle Leather Dining Chairs Italy Design Set of 6
By Naos
Located in Munich, Bavaria
Unique highback dinings chairs from producer Naos made in Italy.
The frame is made of strong steel and covered with black saddle leather.
Graphical Industrial Design from the /90ti...
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel
Josef Hoffmann for Stendig Bentwood Cane Dining Chairs, Set of Six
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Set of six cane dining chairs by Josef Frank and Josef Hoffmann for Stendig. Two with arms, four without. They feature minimal bentwood sturdy fra...
Category
1960s European Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Cane, Bentwood
Giancarlo Vegni for Fasem 'P90' Leather Chair
Located in Los Angeles, CA
1980s Italian black leather chair designed by Giancarlo Vegni for Fasem. Good condition consistent with age and use.
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Leather
Swaged Leg Chair in Gray and White by Georg Nelson & Associates, 1954
Located in New York, NY
Swaged leg chair, model MAF, in fiberglass, enameled steel, rubber, enameled aluminum, and plastic. Designed by George Nelson & Associates for Herman Miller, USA, 1954.
Category
1950s American Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Fiberglass
Empire Chair in Molded Plywood by Robert Venturi & Denise Scott, 1984
Located in New York, NY
Empire chair in molded plywood with laminated finish in the "Grandmother" pattern. Designed by Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown for Knoll, USA, 1984.
Category
1980s American Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Plywood
Baby Molar Chair in Lime Green Plastic by Wendell Castle, 1971
Located in New York, NY
Baby Molar chair in gel-coated, fiberglass-reinforced plastic. Designed and made by Wendell Castle, Rochester, New York, 1969.
Category
1960s American Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Plastic
S-Chair No. 275 in Red by Verner Panton, 1956
Located in New York, NY
Verner Panton. S-chair, model 275. Designed 1956, this example manufactured ca. 1965. Manufactured by A. Sommer, Germany. Retailed by Thonet, Frankenberg, Germany. Aniline-dyed beech...
Category
1960s German Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Plywood
Lounge Chair in Caviona Wood and Tan Leather by José Zanine Caldas, 1960s
Located in New York, NY
Lounge chair in caviona wood with tan leather upholstered seat and backrest. Designed by José Zanine Caldas, Brazil, circa 1960.
Category
1960s Brazilian Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Wood
Guillerme et Chambron, Set of Six Blackened Oak Chairs, Edition Votre Maison
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Guillerme et Chambron, set of six blackened oak chairs. Edition Votre Maison, circa 1970.
these chairs are currently in Philadelphia (USA)
Category
Late 20th Century French Modern Chairs
Materials
Oak
Amazing Set of Four Steve Chase Lamb Suede Bucket Chairs
By Steve Chase
Located in Sofia, BG
A set of four bucket chairs made in the softest lamb suede standing over wooden legs, by the legendary designer, Steve Chase, circa 1985
These chairs are absolutely stunning!
...
Category
Late 20th Century American Modern Chairs
Materials
Suede, Wood
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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