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Bauhaus Settees

BAUHAUS STYLE

The Bauhaus was a progressive German art and design school founded by the architect Walter Gropius that operated from 1919 to 1933. Authentic Bauhaus furnituresofas, dining chairs, tables and more — and the school’s followers married industrial and natural materials in simple, geometric forms. The goal of the Bauhaus was to erase the distinction between art and craft while embracing the use of new technologies and materials.

ORIGINS OF BAUHAUS FURNITURE DESIGN

CHARACTERISTICS OF BAUHAUS FURNITURE DESIGN

  • Emphasis on craft
  • Simplicity, order, clarity and a prioritization of functionalism
  • Incorporation of geometric shapes
  • Minimalist and refined, little to no ornamentation
  • Use of industrial materials such as tubular chrome, steel and plastic as well as leather, cane and molded plywood in furniture and other products

BAUHAUS FURNITURE DESIGNERS YOU SHOULD KNOW

AUTHENTIC BAUHAUS FURNITURE ON 1STDIBS

The name Bauhaus is derived from the German verb bauen, “to build.” Under the school’s innovative curriculum, students were taught the fine arts, such as painting and sculpture, as well as practical skills like carpentry and metalworking. 

The school moved from Weimar in 1925 to the city of Dessau, where it enjoyed its heyday under Gropius, then Hannes Meyer and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. The period from 1932 to 1933 when it operated in Berlin under Mies was its final chapter. Despite its brief existence, the Bauhaus has had an enduring impact on art and design in the United States and elsewhere, and is regarded by many as the 20th century’s chief crucible of modernism

The faculty roster at the Bauhaus reads like a who’s who of modernist creative genius — it included such artists as Paul Klee, Wassily Kandinsky and László Moholy-Nagy along with architects and designers like Mies and Marcel Breuer, who became known for his muscular brutalist-style concrete buildings in the postwar years. In 1925, while he was head of the Bauhaus carpentry workshop, Breuer gave form to his signature innovation: the use of lightweight tubular-steel frames for chairs, side tables and sofas — a technique soon adopted by Mies and others. Breuer’s Cesca chair was the first-ever tubular steel frame chair with a caned seat to be mass produced, while the inspiration for his legendary Wassily chair, a timeless design and part of the collection crafted to furnish the Dessau school, was the bike he rode around campus.

Bauhaus design style reflects the tenets by which these creators worked: simplicity, clarity and function. They disdained superfluous ornament in favor of precise construction. Seating pieces such as side chairs, armchairs or club chairs for example, were made with tubular metal or molded plywood frames, and upholstery was made from leather or cane. Above all, designs in the Bauhaus style offer aesthetic flexibility. They can be the elements of a wholly spare, minimalist space, the quiet foundation of an environment in which color and pattern come from one’s own collection of art and artifacts.

Today, from textiles to typefaces, architecture, furniture and decorative objects for the home, Bauhaus creations continue to have an outsize influence on modern design.

Find a collection of authentic Bauhaus furniture on 1stDibs.

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Style: Bauhaus
'LC2' Black Leather Settee Sofa Loveseat by Le Corbusier for Cassina, Signed
'LC2' Black Leather Settee Sofa Loveseat by Le Corbusier for Cassina, Signed

'LC2' Black Leather Settee Sofa Loveseat by Le Corbusier for Cassina, Signed

This incredibly comfortable Le Corbusier for Cassina 'LC2' two-seat loveseat sofa, signed (see pics, in gorgeous thick Italian black leather on chrome steel frame is in beautiful vin...

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1990s Italian Bauhaus Settees

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De Sede Ds 450 Blau Funktion Sofa  Verstellbar Wohnzimmer
De Sede Ds 450 Blau Funktion Sofa  Verstellbar Wohnzimmer

De Sede Ds 450 Blau Funktion Sofa Verstellbar Wohnzimmer

By De Sede

Located in Garching a. d. Alz, DE

Das DS 450 Sofa von de Sede, entworfen von Thomas Althaus, ist ein Meisterwerk des modernen Designs. Dieses Sofa ist mit hochwertigem, blauem Echtleder bez...

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21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Bauhaus Settees

Materials

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Leather LC3 Grand Confort Sofa by Le Corbusier & C. Perriand for Cassina (1/2)
Leather LC3 Grand Confort Sofa by Le Corbusier & C. Perriand for Cassina (1/2)

Leather LC3 Grand Confort Sofa by Le Corbusier & C. Perriand for Cassina (1/2)

The LC3 sofa is an iconic piece of modernist design, designed in 1928 by Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret, and Charlotte Perriand. The sofa is a symbol of timel...

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Mid-20th Century Bauhaus Settees

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Strässle Hans Eichenberger Sessel mit Hocker Designersessel Ledersessel #0573
Strässle Hans Eichenberger Sessel mit Hocker Designersessel Ledersessel #0573

Strässle Hans Eichenberger Sessel mit Hocker Designersessel Ledersessel #0573

By Strassler

Located in Garching a. d. Alz, DE

Strässle Echtleder Designer Sessel von Hans Eichenberger, inklusive Hocker. Designed im Jahr 1976. Verchromte Stahlrohrkonstruktion, schwarzes Leder. In sehr gutem Zustand. E...

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Late 20th Century European Bauhaus Settees

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Matteo Grassi Sofa Designersofa Italian Design Ledersofa Vintage Couch #0387
Matteo Grassi Sofa Designersofa Italian Design Ledersofa Vintage Couch #0387

Matteo Grassi Sofa Designersofa Italian Design Ledersofa Vintage Couch #0387

By Matteo Grassi

Located in Garching a. d. Alz, DE

Matteo Grassi Designersofa Guter Zustand. Minimale Gebrauchsspuren am Holzrahmen Nichtraucherhaushalt Keine Haustiere Leder ist im tadellosen Zustand. Abmessungen: Breite...

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21st Century and Contemporary European Bauhaus Settees

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Leather, Wood

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Early Year Grey Leather 'LC3' Club Chairs by Le Corbusier for Cassina, Signed
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Previously Available Items
De Sede DS 152 Leder Zweisitzer Hocker Designersofa Ledersofa Desede Glastisch
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Der Zweisitzer DS 152 mit Hocker mit roten Echtleder bezogen und steht auf silbernen Metallfüßen. Abmessungen: Breite: 193cm Höhe: 68cm Tiefe: 152cm Sitz...

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Early Production Leather 'LC3' Two-Seat Sofa by Le Corbusier for Cassina, Signed
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Early Production Leather 'LC3' Two-Seat Sofa by Le Corbusier for Cassina, Signed

If you want the most comfortable and cushioned sofa to sink your heinie into, this Le Corbusier for Cassina (signed) LC3 is the sofa for you (and of course, your heinie). Large and in-charge, the 'LC3 - Grand Modèle' is the pinnacle in living grand; grand in style and grand in comfort and substantially wider than the LC2 variation of similar design. Ideal collectors pieces, this two-seat loveseat sofa is signed with the early production stamped (embossed) frame with Cassina production details and is a sought after example of this design for collectors and interior designers alike. The LC3 was designed in 1928 by Le Corbusier; his cousin and colleague Pierre Jeanneret; and Charlotte Perriand. Produced by Cassina from 1965 to 2011 and early production models, such as the example in this listing, and is signed on the frame as shown in the photographs with Cassina embossed model number and production numbers along with the Cassina logo decal, this style of embossing and decal is the earlier variation of how Cassina signed the frames. Incredible light attractive patina on the thick, supple and high-quality black leather cushions which are wrapped by tubular chrome frames, this fantastic extra-wide 'LC3' settee sofa is suitable for interior designers and their most demanding collector clients. The gorgeous light leather patina adds a laid-back casualness ideal for those who love aged leather and the warmth that age provides in their home. *Note* We also have two matching LC3 armchairs available, listed together as a pair but can also be sold individually, see our storefront by clicking on 'view more from this seller' or contact us for more details. This elegant and sophisticated LC3 couch by Cassina would work great in a Mid-Century Modern, Scandanavian Modern or Danish modern home or penthouse apartment but could also look fantastic in a Contemporary or Post-Modern room. Also consider mixing it up in a Traditional, Transitional, Classical or Art Deco room with a splash of juxtaposition. Would also be an Apt choice in a commercial project such as a hotel lobby lounge or members club, creative design studio or high-rise executive office. More About the Design (From Cassina's website): The LC3, historically known as the Fauteuil Grand Confort, was designed in 1928 by Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret and Charlotte Perriand as part of their revolutionary interiors project. The first prototypes were made to furnish Villa Church, owned by an American couple living in Paris, and the next year a selection was displayed – with much scandal - at the Salon d’Automne at the Grand Palais. Each architect had designed a specific version for the exhibit, the production of which they personally financed, based on their individual ideas and tastes. Their final choice was to show the Le Corbusier version. Following the exhibition the three architects took their personal prototypes home: Charlotte Perriand to her apartment in Montparnasse, Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret to rue Jacob...

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Early Production LC2 Loveseat Sofa by Le Corbusier for Cassina, c. 1965, Signed
Early Production LC2 Loveseat Sofa by Le Corbusier for Cassina, c. 1965, Signed

Early Production LC2 Loveseat Sofa by Le Corbusier for Cassina, c. 1965, Signed

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Bauhaus settees for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Bauhaus settees for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Mid-20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage settees created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include seating and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with animal skin, chrome and other materials. While there are many designers and brands associated with original settees, popular names associated with this style include Cassina, Pierre Jeanneret, Le Corbusier, Jeanneret, Perriand, and Le Corbusier. 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 settees differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $6,183 and tops out at $6,183 while the average work can sell for $6,183.