Mid-Century Modern Ottomans and Poufs
MID-CENTURY MODERN STYLE
Organically shaped, clean-lined and elegantly simple are three terms that well describe vintage mid-century modern furniture. The style, which emerged primarily in the years following World War II, is characterized by pieces that were conceived and made in an energetic, optimistic spirit by creators who believed that good design was an essential part of good living.
ORIGINS OF MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN
- Emerged during the mid-20th century
- Informed by European modernism, Bauhaus, International style, Scandinavian modernism and Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture
- A heyday of innovation in postwar America
- Experimentation with new ideas, new materials and new forms flourished in Scandinavia, Italy, the former Czechoslovakia and elsewhere in Europe
CHARACTERISTICS OF MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN
- Simplicity, organic forms, clean lines
- A blend of neutral and bold Pop art colors
- Use of natural and man-made materials — alluring woods such as teak, rosewood and oak; steel, fiberglass and molded plywood
- Light-filled spaces with colorful upholstery
- Glass walls and an emphasis on the outdoors
- Promotion of functionality
MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNERS TO KNOW
- Charles and Ray Eames
- Eero Saarinen
- Milo Baughman
- Florence Knoll
- Harry Bertoia
- Isamu Noguchi
- George Nelson
- Danish modernists Hans Wegner and Arne Jacobsen, whose emphasis on natural materials and craftsmanship influenced American designers and vice versa
ICONIC MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNS
- Eames lounge chair
- Nelson daybed
- Florence Knoll sofa
- Egg chair
- Womb chair
- Noguchi coffee table
- Barcelona chair
VINTAGE MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE ON 1STDIBS
The mid-century modern era saw leagues of postwar American architects and designers animated by new ideas and new technology. The lean, functionalist International-style architecture of Le Corbusier and Bauhaus eminences Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Walter Gropius had been promoted in the United States during the 1930s by Philip Johnson and others. New building techniques, such as “post-and-beam” construction, allowed the International-style schemes to be realized on a small scale in open-plan houses with long walls of glass.
Materials developed for wartime use became available for domestic goods and were incorporated into mid-century modern furniture designs. Charles and Ray Eames and Eero Saarinen, who had experimented extensively with molded plywood, eagerly embraced fiberglass for pieces such as the La Chaise and the Womb chair, respectively.
Architect, writer and designer George Nelson created with his team shades for the Bubble lamp using a new translucent polymer skin and, as design director at Herman Miller, recruited the Eameses, Alexander Girard and others for projects at the legendary Michigan furniture manufacturer.
Harry Bertoia and Isamu Noguchi devised chairs and tables built of wire mesh and wire struts. Materials were repurposed too: The Danish-born designer Jens Risom created a line of chairs using surplus parachute straps for webbed seats and backrests.
The Risom lounge chair was among the first pieces of furniture commissioned and produced by legendary manufacturer Knoll, a chief influencer in the rise of modern design in the United States, thanks to the work of Florence Knoll, the pioneering architect and designer who made the firm a leader in its field. The seating that Knoll created for office spaces — as well as pieces designed by Florence initially for commercial clients — soon became desirable for the home.
As the demand for casual, uncluttered furnishings grew, more mid-century furniture designers caught the spirit.
Classically oriented creators such as Edward Wormley, house designer for Dunbar Inc., offered such pieces as the sinuous Listen to Me chaise; the British expatriate T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings switched gears, creating items such as the tiered, biomorphic Mesa table. There were Young Turks such as Paul McCobb, who designed holistic groups of sleek, blond wood furniture, and Milo Baughman, who espoused a West Coast aesthetic in minimalist teak dining tables and lushly upholstered chairs and sofas with angular steel frames.
As the collection of vintage mid-century modern chairs, dressers, coffee tables and other furniture for the living room, dining room, bedroom and elsewhere on 1stDibs demonstrates, this period saw one of the most delightful and dramatic flowerings of creativity in design history.
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Style: Mid-Century Modern
Creator: Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
Knoll Barcelona Stools by Mies Van Der Rohe
Located in Atlanta, GA
Iconic Pair of Barcelona stools or ottomans, designed by Mies van der Rohe for Knoll, American, circa 2000s. Retains Knoll tag underneath. They have been cleaned and a leather condit...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Ottomans and Poufs
Materials
Metal
Mies van der Rohe for Knoll Barcelona Ottomans circa 1979 Pair Available
Located in Atlanta, GA
Iconic Barcelona Stools or Ottomans, designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe for Knoll, American, circa 1979. Signed with Knoll labels underneath. Please note they have some cat scratches...
Category
1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ottomans and Poufs
Materials
Metal
Midcentury Barcelona Ottoman Stool in bright yellow Leather for Knoll
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
Mid century Ludwig Mies van der Rohe Barcelona ottoman or stool for Knoll studio. The classic design that helped define Mid-Century Modernism. Premium leather in a Rare bright yellow...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Ottomans and Poufs
Materials
Stainless Steel
Midcentury Barcelona Ottomans / Stools in Black Leather for Knoll
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
Midcentury Ludwig Mies van der Rohe Barcelona ottomans / stools for Knoll. The classic design that helped define Mid-Century Modernism. Premium leather in a black color. As you can s...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Ottomans and Poufs
Materials
Chrome
Italian Mid Century Barcelona Pouf by Mies Van Der Rohe for Knoll, 1970s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian Mid-Century Modern white leather Barcelona pouf or footrest by Mies Van Der Rohe for Knoll, 1970s.
Pouf or footrest mod. Barcelona with polyurethane foam seat covered in whit...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ottomans and Poufs
Materials
Steel
1980s Barcelona Foot Stool White Leather & Chrome style Mies Van der Rohe
Located in Chula Vista, CA
1980s Barcelona ottoman stool in white leather and chrome designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe.
Unmarked
16.5H x 21.5 D x 23.5 W
Original preowned vintage unrestored condition.
Plea...
Category
1980s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ottomans and Poufs
Materials
Chrome
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Authentic Knoll Brno Chair by Mies Van Der Rohe
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Pair of Mies van Der Rohe Barcelona Ottomans for Knoll International
Located in Chicago, IL
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Previously Available Items
Barcelona Chair Ottoman by Ludwig Mies Van Der Rohe for Knoll 1980s
Located in Saarbrücken, SL
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H 14.97 in W 23.63 in D 22.05 in
Knoll Barcelona Stools by Mies van der Rohe
Located in Atlanta, GA
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Knoll Barcelona Stool by Mies Van Der Rohde
Located in Atlanta, GA
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1st-Gen Knoll 'Barcelona' Stool by Mies Van Der Rohe, c. 1968, Double-Signed
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A fantastic collectors example of a double-signed 1st-Generation "original" Barcelona stool / ottoman by Knoll International labelled (on the cushion) and stamped (on the frame) and in its original gorgeous cognac brown color leather. What is special about this piece is that it was produced between 1968 and 1969 just after Knoll Associates became Knoll International, at the height of their ascent in modern designs and production and just before they moved to their future location on Fifth Ave in 1970. Shortly after this period they changed production on the Barcelona line thus making these rare collectors examples from the end of Knoll's 1st Generation production run of the Barcelona series and for collectors, often the most desirable.
*Note, we have a pair of Barcelona Chairs with two ottomans in another listing. We acquired this set from the daughter of the original owner who had two chairs and three ottomans. This listing is only for the single ottoman. See our other listings or contact us if you wish to purchase as a combined set.
Being one of the most copied designs (and a timeless classic), we never purchase unsigned Barcelona chairs and we suggest you be hesitant when considering unsigned examples, so of course we were delighted to acquire this fantastic set of signed originals. In addition - people often add Knoll stickers to fakes, so the entirety of details is vastly more important than just a sticker label alone. This stool / ottoman possess its original Knoll International paper label stitched into the cushion with the 320 Park Ave New York address. We have confirmed these paper labels have not been removed and reattached via the stitching which is a great sign that the leather and underside canvas are original. And the frame has the Knoll Production KP-stamp which Knoll used in their early years to identify their stainless steel frames. The correct strap fasteners are apparent indicating they have not been replaced. The leather straps exhibit correct age and via its details we have determined the straps are original as well. And even the foam inside of the cushions are original - there is slight firmness and hardening to them which is actually a good thing, it shows that it is original which collectors prefer. All in all, this is a fabulous all-original double-signed example with original frame, original straps and hardware, original leather cushions, original inner foam, and original canvas fabric on the undersides of the seat cushion. Collectors and art/design investors... eat your hearts out.
With this early 1st Gen example you'll feel pride in that you have the "real thing", and rare early production examples to boot, while your friends boast either a knock-off, reproduction or brand-new production-line versions which do not have the collectability value as the earlier originals such as this one - you can feel pride in having one of the most desirable examples out there.
Considered to be the epitome of modern design, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Lilly Reich originally designed the Barcelona chair in 1929 to serve as seating for the king and queen of Spain in the German Pavilion. This was Germany's entry for the International Exhibition, hosted by Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. The frames were made with polished chrome hand-ground and hand-buffed to a mirror finish with leather upholstery straps attached with aluminum rivets. The upholstery is fabricated from a single cowhide with each individual panel being cut, hand-welted and hand tufted with leather buttons.
Whether you're a designer seeking a quintessential piece or a collector adding to your modern design collection, this iconic Knoll International Barcelona...
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Pair Mies Van Der Rohe for Knoll Barcelona Ottomans in Stainless Steel
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American Mid-Century Pair of Leather Barcelona Pouf by Der Rohe for Knoll, 1970s
Located in MIlano, IT
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H 15.75 in W 22.64 in D 23.23 in
Pair of Knoll Barcelona Stools Ottomans in White Sabrina Leather, circa 2000s
Located in Ft Lauderdale, FL
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Barcelona Chair with Ottoman, Black Leather, Knoll International, 1960s
Located in Regensburg, DE
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Double Signed Knoll Associates Barcelona Stool by Mies van der Rohe
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This listing is for a highly sought-after-by-collectors Double Signed Generation Knoll Associates Barcelona Stool / Ottoman by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, ...
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Pair of Mid-Century Modern Knoll Barcelona Cognac Leather Bench Set or Ottomans
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Four Midcentury Barcelona Ottomans / Stools in Stainless Steel and Leather
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
Midcentury Ludwig Mies van der Rohe Barcelona ottomans / stools for Knoll. The classic chair that helped define Mid-Century Modernism. This is the highly desirable version produced i...
Category
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Barcelona Chairs & Ottoman by Mies van der Rohe for Knoll International, 1960s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A fantastic set of two (2) Barcelona lounge chairs and one (1) Barcelona ottoman by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe for Knoll International.
This set is double-signed, with Knoll Intern...
Category
1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ottomans and Poufs
Materials
Stainless Steel
H 30.25 in W 29.5 in D 30 in
Mid-century Modern ottomans and poufs for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Mid-Century Modern ottomans and poufs 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 ottomans and poufs created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include seating, tables, building and garden elements and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with fabric, wood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Mid-Century Modern ottomans and poufs made in a specific country, there are North America, United States, and Europe pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original ottomans and poufs, popular names associated with this style include Lawson-Fenning, Marie Burgos Design, De Sede, and Montage. 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 ottomans and poufs differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $150 and tops out at $25,800 while the average work can sell for $1,963.
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