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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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
Pair of John Vesey "Maximilian Lounge Chairs"
By John Vesey
Located in New York, NY
The “Maximilian Lounge Chair” was John Vesey’s finest and most celebrated chair design — it was also his most expensive one to produce, and appeared in a 1959 issue of Vogue. The aluminum frame was wrought rather than cast, solid rather than assembled, and polished to a seamless satiny sheen. An industrial-aluminum screen supports the black-leather upholstery tufted in a pattern that harks back to the 19th century. So too does the chair’s form that’s based on low-slung Latin American planters’ chairs. One that belonged to the ill-fated Emperor Maximilian of Mexico...
Category
1950s American Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Aluminum
Pair of Vintage GF GoodForm Aluminum Task Chairs
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of vintage GF GoodForm aluminum task chairs.
Category
1960s American Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Aluminum
Hiroyuki Yamakado, 2 Cinderella Folding Chairs, Design, 1987
By Porada Arredi, Hiroyuki Yamakado
Located in Den Haag, NL
Pair of Hiroyuki Yamakado Cinderella folding stools for Arredi with new Faux leather seats. They are constructed of Black etching tubular steel and equipped with pivoting and anti-sk...
Category
1980s French Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Metal
Danish modern Black wood Chairs 7 Series by Jacobsen for Fritz Hansen, 1970s
Located in MIlano, IT
Danish modern Black wood Chairs 7 Series by Jacobsen for Fritz Hansen, 1970s
Set of 4 danish chairs mod. 0465 or 7 Series in black painted wood....
Category
1970s Danish Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Metal
Thomasville Walnut Dining Chairs, Set of 6
By Thomasville
Located in Countryside, IL
Thomasville walnut dining chairs - set of 6
Each armless chair measures: 23 wide x 27 deep x 42 high, with a seat height of 18 inches.
Each capt...
Category
1970s American Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Upholstery, Walnut
Italian Modern Chromed Metal and Cotton Sof Sof Chairs, Enzo Mari, Driade, 1980
By Enzo Mari
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern chromed metal and checked cotton set of three Sof Sof chairs by Enzo Mari for Driade, 1980s
Fantastic set of three Sof Sof model chairs in chro...
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Metal
Vintage Modern Vecta Contract Brown Leather & Chrome Cantilever Pair of Chairs
By Vecta Group
Located in Topeka, KS
Handsome vintage modern Vecta Contract brown leather & chrome cantilever pair of chairs. Beautiful condition, keeping in mind that these are vintage and...
Category
Late 20th Century Unknown Modern Chairs
Materials
Chrome
Ron Arad Spring Collection Soft Heart Chair for Moroso
Located in Miami, FL
Spring Collection Soft Heart chair designed by Ron Arad in 1988 for Moroso. This example is from the early 1990s. The base of the chair is weighted w...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel
Rattan Chair, circa 1955
By Geneviève Dangles
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
An interesting chair in rattan by Genevieve Dangles. I
Category
20th Century French Modern Chairs
Materials
Rattan
Guillerme et Chambron, Rare Oak Armchairs Edition Votre Maison circa 1960
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Guillerme et Chambron,rare oak armchairs. Edition Votre Maison, circa 1960.
full restored.
Category
Mid-20th Century French Modern Chairs
Materials
Oak
Herbert Ohl, Circo, A set of six chairs, Lübke, Germany, 1980s
By Herbert Ohl, Lübke
Located in Paris, FR
Herbert Ohl (1926-2012)
Circo
A beautiful set of six black lacquered wood dining chairs, the round seat and arched back all joined w...
Category
1980s German Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Wood
Italian Modern Solid Wood and Vienna Straw Pair of High Backed Chairs, 1980s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern solid wood and Vienna straw pair of high backed chairs, 1980s
Very particular pair of vintage high-backed chairs with structure entirely in solid wood with curved and...
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Straw, Wood
Sculptural Arm Chair
Located in Clermont, FL
Geometric Bentwood Style Mid-Century Chair custom made by HighPoint Furniture NC. Angular framing constructed from Walnut & upholstered in a STEEL BLUE fabric supported by high quality medium density foam. Est. production from the 1970's High Point Furniture...
Category
20th Century American Modern Chairs
Materials
Wood
Italian modern Chairs in black and gray leather and wood, 1980s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern Chairs in black and gray leather and wood, 1980s
Set of three chairs with square seat with rounded corners in two-tone gray and black leather. The curved backrest in ...
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Wood, Leather
Pair of Modern Contemporary Club Chairs by Pearson
By Pearson Co.
Located in Lake Worth, FL
For FULL item description be sure to click on CONTINUE READING at the bottom of this listing.
Offering one of our recent palm beach estate fine furniture acquisitions of a
pair of modern contemporary club chairs...
Category
Late 20th Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Fabric
Pair of Toad Leather Patchwork Armchairs
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Glamorous 1980’s pair of toad leather patchwork arm chairs.
Constructed of wood covered with toad leather and lacquered, the seat is off white leather. ...
Category
1980s American Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Leather, Wood
Pair of Modernist Tall Back "Throne Chairs"
Located in New York, NY
" Throne chairs "
A pair of Modernist tall back side chairs.
Thuja root with ebonized inlaid details.
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Ebony, Burl, Wood
Revers Chair by Andrea Branzi for Cassina Italian Design, Ca 1993
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is an iconic armchair designed by Andrea Branzi for Cassina of Italy and dating to the late 20th century, Circa 1993
The chair has a reverse ribbon design and is called "Rev...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Chairs
Materials
Aluminum
Sculptural Spiral Leather Lounge Chair
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Modern sculptural black leather accent lounge chair.
Made in Canada.
Category
1990s Canadian Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel
Pair of Brass and Leather Swivel Chairs by J. Robert Scott
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Beautiful pair of patchwork leather chairs with a brushed brass base designed by Sally Sirkin Lewis for J. Robert Scott in the 1980’s. Original...
Category
1980s American Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Brass
Italian Modern Black Steel Chairs Omstak by Rodney Kinsman Bieffeplast, 1970s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern Black steel chairs Omstak by Rodney Kinsman for Bieffeplast, 1970s
Fantastic pair of chairs mod. Omstak, with black painted steel rod...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel
Piretti Castelli Lucite 'Plia ' Folding Chairs, 4
Located in New York, NY
Four Modern Giancarlo Piretti (b. 1940) for Castelli Furniture "Plia" folding chairs, acrylic in chromed steel frames. 29.5" H x 18.25" W x 18.75" D x Seat 18" H. Fading, surface scu...
Category
Mid-20th Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Chrome
Set of 6: Pierre Jeanneret Office Chairs Ahmedabad
Located in New York, NY
A breathtaking set of very early Pierre Jeanneret Office Chairs. With so many Jeanneret chairs on the market why are these exceptional? First: the thickness of the wood is perfect and in accordance with some of the best examples ever sold. Second: rich, expressive patina on each chair. Third: matching catalog letters. Fourth: double support bars under the chair. Undoubtedly, these are extremely rare examples.
Also it is worth noting that these chairs come from Ahmedabad, a city historically active in India’s textile...
Category
1950s Indian Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Teak
Italian Modern Wood Gruppo Chairs by De Pas, D'urbino, Lomazzi for Bellato, 1979
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern light and black wood pair of Gruppo model chairs by De Pas, D'Urbino and Lomazzi for Bellato 1979.
Chairs mod. Group with light wood structure with square section leg...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Wood
Set of Four Thonet Bentwood Cafe Dining Chairs Romania
By Thonet
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Set of 4 very sturdy and tight bentwood sweetheart chairs by Thonet and crafted in Romania. Brown vinyl seat seat covering that can be changed easi...
Category
1960s Romanian Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Beech, Naugahyde
Set of Six Modernist Tall Back Dining Chairs
Located in New York, NY
A set of six tall back Modernist dining chairs.
Stained bamboo with upholstered seats.
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Bamboo
Lucite and Boucle Vanity Stool by Hill Manufacturing
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Glamorous 1980’s clear lucite with chrome details vanity stool on casters by Hill Manufacturing Corp.
In beautiful vintage condition, the seat...
Category
1980s American Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Chrome
Italian modern Green wood black metal chair Kim by De Lucchi for Memphis, 1980s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern Green wood and black metal Chair mod. Kim by Michele De Lucchi for Memphis, 1980s
Fantastic chair mod. Kim with the seat and the back in bright green painted wood. The...
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Metal
Set of Six Karl Springer JMF Silver Leaf Dining Chairs
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Spectacular set of Karl Springer JMF dining chairs featuring an ethereal lacquered silver leaf square gilt finish. The rare set consists of four side chairs and two host armchairs me...
Category
20th Century American Modern Chairs
Materials
Silver Leaf
Italian modern Chairs in transparent thick plexiglass and black sky, 1980s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern Chairs in transparent thick plexiglass and black sky, 1980s
Set of three chairs with transparent plexiglass structure. The curved backr...
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Leather, Plexiglass
Vintage Modern Geometric Barrel Back Tufted Club Chairs Newly Upholstered, Pair
Located in Chicago, IL
Vintage Modern Ebonized walnut carved Geometric barrel back Tufted club chairs newly upholstered in a high end plush precious pearl velvet - pair
Exquisite pair of sophisticated, ...
Category
1970s Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Velvet, Wood, Walnut
Italian Modern Red Armchair Mod. Saghi by Kazuhide Takahama for Gavina, 1970s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern Red armchair mod. Saghi by Kazuhide Takahama for Gavina, 1970s
Iconic and elegant armchair mod. Saghi with steel ...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel
Italian Modern Black Wood Base and Pied De Poule Cotton Seat Armchair, 1970s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern black lacquered wood base and pied de poule cotton seat small armchair, 1970s.
Armchair with black painted wooden structure and seat and ba...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Cotton, Wood
Arman "Cello" Chair, circa 1990, France
Located in Girona, Spain
Arman "Cello" Chair, circa 1990, France.
Arman "Cello" chair editions Hugues Chevalier n°9/50.
Signed and numbered under the seat on a brass plate.
Made with ebonized beech.
Circ...
Category
1990s French Modern Chairs
Materials
Beech
Coppia di sedie da cucina in tiglio massiccio, anni '80
Located in Felino, IT
2 Sedie da cucina anni 80, di Arclinea, in legno di tiglio massiccio. particolarmente curate negli incastri e nelle finiture, con sagomature inedite. Fanno parte di una serie di sedie per tavolo da cucina. Il fusto è ben tenuto, la rafia mostra i segni del tempo...
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Wood
Set of Modern Bar Stools
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Set of (5) sleek contemporary blue bar stools. These chairs feature contoured back rests, tall metal legs and foot rests. If you have a bar or high tab...
Category
20th Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Metal
Sedia DSC 106, Anonima Castelli, Anni 70
Located in Felino, IT
Sedia Anonima Castelli, mod dsc 106. Sedile di legno riverniciato con smalto bicomponente molto resistente all'usura. Colore caffè, gambe e piedini riverniciat...
Category
1980s Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Metal
Vintage Modern Royal Blue Hopsacking & Chrome Cantilever Sling Chair
Located in Topeka, KS
Fantastic vintage modern cantilever sling chair with original royal blue hopsacking fabric & chrome tube frame. Beautiful condition, keeping i...
Category
Late 20th Century Unknown Modern Chairs
Materials
Chrome
Guillerme et Chambron, set of ten oak chairs. Edition Votre Maison, circa 1970.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Guillerme et Chambron, set of ten oak chairs. Edition Votre Maison, circa 1970.
the wool fabric has been replaced and is in very good condition
Category
Late 20th Century French Modern Chairs
Materials
Wool, Oak
Rare Set of 8 Ilana Goor Leather and Steel Chairs
By Ilana Goor
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Ilana Goor side chairs made of hand wrought iron rebar with saddle leather seat and back. Currently we have 2 sets of 4 chairs that have slightly different leather applications. The...
Category
1980s Israeli Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Cut Steel
off White Leather and Chrome Lounge Chair by Jay Spectre
By Jay Spectre
Located in Palm Springs, CA
1980’s off white leather, chrome and whitewash oak ‘eclipse’ lounge chair by Jay Spectre.
In original condition shows minor wear consistent with age. The leather has been professio...
Category
1980s American Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Chrome
Vintage Modern to Post Modern White Lacquered Side Chair with Arched Top
Located in Topeka, KS
Lovely vintage modern to postmodern white lacquered side chair with arched top. Beautiful condition, keeping in mind that this is vintage and not new so will have signs of use and we...
Category
Late 20th Century Unknown Modern Chairs
Materials
Fabric, Wood, Lacquer
Italian Modern Aqua Green Armchair Saghi by Kazuhide Takahama for Gavina, 1970s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern aqua green velvet. armchair mod. Saghi by Kazuhide Takahama for Gavina, 1970s
Iconic and elegant armchair mod. Sa...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel
Italian Modern Yellow Armchair Mod, Saghi by Kazuhide Takahama for Gavina, 1970s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern yellow armchair mod. Saghi by Kazuhide Takahama for Gavina, 1970s
Iconic and elegant armchair mod. Saghi with steel rod structur...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel
Yellow Chair by Dutch Modernist H. Wouda, 1924
Located in Antwerp, BE
Yellow and black modernist chair, by Hendrik Wouda, H. Pander & Zonen, Netherlands, 1924.
Painted pine
Part of the Exhibition "De Klare Lijn"
The Interbellum, the period bet...
Category
1920s Dutch Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Belgian Black Marble
Eames Wire Bikini Chair DKR-2 with Black Cover, Design 1951
Located in Greding, DE
Set of five DKR-2 Eames Wire chairs with black bikini upholstery on Eiffel Tower frame. Signs of age and use.
Category
1950s Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Metal
Set of Stackable 40/4 Chairs By David Rowland in Green and Black
By Howe, David Rowland
Located in Cape Town, WC
Recognised as the first truly stackable chair, the 40/4 Chair is a feat of elegance and ergonomics; encompassing the full range of multi-function that has come to challenge modernist...
Category
1960s North American Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel
Set Eight Teak Danish Dining Chairs Svend Madsen for Moreddi
By Moreddi 1
Located in Toledo, OH
Eight teak Danish dining chairs by Svend Madsen for Moreddi. Removeable floating seats. Very nice condition circa 1960's. Arm chair measures 24' wide x 23" deep x36" tall. Side chair...
Category
1960s European Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Teak
Italian Modern Pink Armchair Mod, Saghi by Kazuhide Takahama for Gavina, 1970s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern Pink armchair mod. Saghi by Kazuhide Takahama for Gavina, 1970s
Iconic and elegant armchair mod. Saghi with steel...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel
“Sternum” Rocker Designed by David Ebner
By David Ebner
Located in Norwood, NJ
The “Sternum” rocker from David Ebner’s “Wishbone” series. Oak and cane. The entire form uses bent lamination technique.
“David Ebner played a pivotal role in the development of studio furniture during the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Ebner, who studied under Wendell Castle at the School for American Craftsmen at the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York, is known for his elegant, pared down works that blur the line between furniture and sculpture. Through his groundbreaking efforts, Ebner has helped redefine studio craft furniture...
Category
1980s American Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Wood, Oak, Cane
Italian Modern Coral Armchair Mod. Saghi by Kazuhide Takahama for Gavina, 1970s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern Coral armchair mod. Saghi by Kazuhide Takahama for Gavina, 1970s
Iconic and elegant armchair mod. Saghi with steel rod structure. The se...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel
Pair of Slender Side Chairs in the Style of Philippe Starck
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of slender side chairs in the style of Philippe Starck.
Category
1980s French Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel
Pair of Armchairs by Victor Courtray
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
A pair of oak chairs by victor Courtray (1896 -1987).
Éducation ; ÉCOLE BOULLE worked with Maurice Dufrene, Paul Follot.
Category
20th Century French Modern Chairs
Materials
Oak
Italian Modern Wood and Leather Tripolina Folding Deck Chair by Citterio, 1970s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern solid wood, metal and leather Tripolina folding deck chair by Citterio, 1970s
Folding deck chair, Tripolina model, made up of solid wood strips, with iron joints and ...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Metal
Vintage Barcelona Chair & Footstool by Knoll International, Early 1970s
Located in Berlin, Berlin
Lounge chair and footstool designed by Mies van der Rohe. U.S.A., Knoll International, Early 1970s.
Original super vintage and patinated 'BARCELONA CHAIR' in brown leather. Chrome...
Category
1970s American Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Leather
Set of Ten Dakota Jackson Leather Dolce Dining Chairs
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Remarkable set of ten leather dining chairs designed by Dakota Jackson. The bespoke chairs feature a cherry hardwood frame with an ebonized la...
Category
20th Century American Modern Chairs
Materials
Hardwood
Modernist White Wire Garden Chairs in the Manner of Mathieu Matégot, Pair
Located in Chicago, IL
Modernist white wire garden chairs in the manner of Mathieu Matégot - pair.
Stunning pair of Mathieu Mategot style white iron wire garden chairs that feature an amazing oval clams...
Category
1970s Vintage Modern Chairs
Materials
Iron
Modernist, 20th Century Italian Design Pierantonio Bonacina Bamboo Chairs, 1990s
Located in Catania, IT
Pair of elegant and iconic chairs made of bamboo by Pierantonio Bonacina. Founded in 1889, the company began to make each piece by hand by skilled craftsmen who, with care and experi...
Category
1990s Italian Modern Chairs
Materials
Bamboo
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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