Modern Settees
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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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
Returnable Items Only
21st Century Woodstock 4-Seater Sofa in Velvet by Etro Home Interiors
Located in Cantù, Lombardia
A sofa with a welcoming and comfortable look, emphasized by the mattress conformation of the seat. Refined details such as the polished brass tips of the basement and the roll cushio...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Settees
Materials
Velvet, Wood
Beautiful Saccaro Velvet Love Seat with Walnut Trim, 21st Century
By Saccaro
Located in Miami, FL
Beautiful Saccaro velvet loveseat with walnut trim. Saccaro produces high end designer furniture from Brazil's top furniture designers.
Category
Late 20th Century Brazilian Modern Settees
Materials
Velvet, Walnut
21st Century Darlington Sofa in Leather by Roberto Cavalli Home Interiors
Located in Cantù, Lombardia
Darlington is an iconic sofa of the Roberto Cavalli Home Interiors collection, characterized by a refined capitonné finishing.
Darlington 3-seater sofa structure in poplar wood and f...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Settees
Materials
Foam, Wood
21st Century Ligomancer Sofa in Metal and Black Elastic Webbing by CTRLZAK
Located in Cantù, Lombardia
"Ligomancer sofa shows what is normally hidden. More than one hundred meters of elastic band, the type commonly used for the internal structure of cush...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Settees
Materials
Metal, Copper
21st Century Sharpei Sofa in Black Leather by Roberto Cavalli Home Interiors
Located in Cantù, Lombardia
The refined manufacturing of the seatback, enriched with decorative studs, is the main feature of the Sharpei sofa, an iconic piece of furniture that comb...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Settees
Materials
Leather, Foam
Vintage Style Hand Dyed Cigar Brown Leather Sofa Lovely Style and Design
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale hand dyed aged brown leather sofa
A good looking well made and decorative sofa, the lines to the sides especially the arms are very nice
We h...
Category
20th Century English Modern Settees
Materials
Leather
21st Century Caicos 3-Seater Sofa in Fabric by Roberto Cavalli Home Interiors
Located in Cantù, Lombardia
In the Caicos sofa, the simple and linear shapes acquire a bold and seductive charm. The upholstery with fabrics or leathers of the collection, characterized by the presence of the i...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Settees
Materials
Foam, Fabric
21st Century Inanda Sofa in Fabric and Leather by Roberto Cavalli Home Interiors
Located in Cantù, Lombardia
This new sofa with an appealing design is characterized by an interior upholstered with the new silks from the last Roberto Cavalli collection and a leather ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Settees
Materials
Foam, Upholstery
21st Century Manhattan Sofa in Grey Fabric by Roberto Cavalli Home Interiors
Located in Cantù, Lombardia
A design sofa that offers the cozy sensation of inviting warmth and comfortable softness raised off the floor on thin gold finished legs.
Manhattan 3-seater sofa structure in poplar ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Settees
Materials
Fabric, Foam
21st Century Aruba 3-Seater Sofa in Leather by Roberto Cavalli Home Interiors
Located in Cantù, Lombardia
Contemporary lines and vintage references for the Aruba sofa, available in 2 or 3-seat versions or modular according to customer needs. The light legs in transparent plexiglass give ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Settees
Materials
Foam, Leather
21st Century Klee 3-Seater Sofa in Fabric by Etro Home Interiors
Located in Cantù, Lombardia
Classic charm and rigorous lines for an elegant sofa able to fit into any environment. The linear shape of the frame in patinated bronze metal meets the elegance of the upholstery in...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Settees
Materials
Metal
21st Century Clark_2 Sofa in Leather by Gianfranco Ferré Home
Located in Cantù, Lombardia
A sofa with an urban charm and a bold character, which combines the elegance of leather with details in pinstriped fabric, in a typical Gianfranco Ferré Home style. The feet in metal...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Settees
Materials
Leather, Foam, Beech
21st Century Highlander Sofa in Leather and Fabric by Gianfranco Ferré Home
Located in Cantù, Lombardia
A sofa with a bold personality that combines essential design, contemporary lines and a high level of craftsmanship. The alternation between different finishings, with capitonné part...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Settees
Materials
Foam, Leather, Beech
21st Century Fylgrade Sofa in Leather and Historical Fabric by CTRLZAK
Located in Cantù, Lombardia
"A sofa that hides the secret of mysterious identity. Fylgrade’s concealed soul emerges from the cuts in the leather upholstery that uncover the fine fabrics from the archive of Luigi Bevilacqua...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Settees
Materials
Leather
21st Century Woodstock.2 Modular Sofa in Leather by Etro Home Interiors
Located in Cantù, Lombardia
In the new edition Woodstock sofa, re-elaborated in a modular version and without fees, the mattress-like conformation of ethnic inspiration, recalls the ""Majlis"" environments - li...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Settees
Materials
Fabric, Wood
21st Century King's Cross Sofa in Leather by Gianfranco Ferré Home
Located in Cantù, Lombardia
An elegantly manufactured sofa. A timeless model which combines modern and classic styles, with an exquisite and rigorously artisanal capitonné finishing, revealing the company’s exp...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Settees
Materials
Leather, Foam, Beech
21st Century Highlander Sofa in Leather by Gianfranco Ferré Home
Located in Cantù, Lombardia
A sofa with a bold personality that combines essential design, contemporary lines and a high level of craftsmanship. The alternation between different finishings, with capitonné part...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Settees
Materials
Leather, Foam, Beech
21st Century Clapton Sofa in Leather by Gianfranco Ferré Home
Located in Cantù, Lombardia
An attractive sofa with a comfortable seat and a contemporary design. The geometric volumes are emphasized by the external plates in metal upholstered leather and by the piping enhancing the profiles of the cushions. The use of leather as privileged upholstery material...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Settees
Materials
Leather, Foam, Beech
21st Century Frida 3-Seater Sofa in Velvet by Etro Home Interiors
Located in Cantù, Lombardia
The rich and evocative fabric of the new Home Interior Collection is the main feature of the Frida sofa, whose precious and inimitable style is enhanced by the velvet piping, the bro...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Settees
Materials
Metal
Leather Sitting Set Rock Series Gerard Van Den Berg Montis
Located in Atlanta, GA
A wonderful two-piece set of sitting consisting of a loveseat and a single lounge chair by Gerard Van Den Berg (b. 1947). The beautiful chairs are of the rock series designed by Gerard Van Den Berg for Montis designed in 1981. With their low profile and slightly upturned corners, these two whimsical chairs can be arranged in different positions to create a very chic space, like between two rocks in the forest.
The loveseat measures 56.5" W x 45" H x 36" D. The slip chair...
Category
1980s Dutch Vintage Modern Settees
Materials
Leather
21st Century Soho Sofa in Leather by Gianfranco Ferré Home
Located in Cantù, Lombardia
Elegance and sobriety meet the urban soul of the Gianfranco Ferré Home 2019 collection in the Soho sofa, thanks to the combination of the soft leather uphols...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Settees
Materials
Leather, Foam, Beech
Settee, Sofa, Pair of 6-Seat, Custom Made, Terence Conran, Sutton Place
Located in BUNGAY, SUFFOLK
This massive pair of 6-seat sofas were commissioned as part of Stanley J Seeger’s remodeling and grand redecoration of Sutton Place. They are upholstered ...
Category
1980s British Vintage Modern Settees
Materials
Cord
21st Century Ixorb Sofa in Metal and Paper-Like Fabric by Alessandro Zambelli
Located in Cantù, Lombardia
"The planning of a design on paper comes to life in Ixorb, a sofa offering a new perception of space. Its volumes are enclosed in a dimension of perspective that guides the eye to se...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Settees
Materials
Metal
Azucena ABCD Two-Seat Sofa by Luigi Caccia Dominioni
Located in Novedrate, IT
The greatest designers know only too well that success lies in the detail. Luigi Caccia Dominioni took a forensic interest in all his work, whether a large-scale architectural project or a piece of furniture. The ABCD armchair is the acme of design and it continues to surprise us today. Through subtle changes to Caccia Dominioni’s original concept and drawing, this very traditional reading chair has been updated to meet the needs of contemporary living. ABCD is at once classic and timeless - memorable for its fine details. It is easy to move thanks to two small wheels yet retains its stability. The back legs differ in shape to the front ones in a playful nod to the chair’s square, octagonal and circular forms that are not apparent at first glance. The upholstery studs...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Settees
Materials
Mohair
Settee, 1950, French, 3-Seat, Upholstered, Red, Velvet, John Piper
By John Piper
Located in BUNGAY, SUFFOLK
Incorporating 'Stones of Bath' into this settee is inspired the pipers use of one of the five designs commissioned for their centenary, ‘The Glyders’, as loose covers for the chairs at their home Fawley bottom which John Betjeman called ‘Fawley Bum’.
'Stones of Bath' is one of five John Piper (1903-1992) designs commissioned by Arthur Sanderson & Sons in 1959 for their 1960 centenary celebrations. In 1962 Sanderson's screen printed ‘Stones of Bath’ on their Sanderlin fabric, a satinised linen which gave the design a shimmering, restless texture. This was ideally suited to the play of light depicted on the stone in the architectural repeat of buildings in the city of Bath.
A piece of this fabric which is in the collection of the V&A was exhibited at the John Piper retrospective held at the Tate Gallery, London, 1983. Reference: 'Artists’ Textiles in Britain 1945-1970', Cat. No. 74.
From the late 1950s-early 1960s there was interest in painterly textiles that demonstrated the unique potential of screen printing, with its ability to capture the quality of brush-stroked color. 'The monumental grandeur of many artists' textiles in the early 1960s was necessary if they were to work in the large scale architectural interiors of the era which witnessed a rapid growth in new public buildings, all which required furnishing with suitably prestigious fabrics'. Artists' Textiles in Britain 1945-1970 by Geoffrey Rayner, Richard Chamberlain...
Category
Mid-20th Century British Modern Settees
Materials
Velvet
Italian Green Velvet Settee
Located in New York, NY
Italian 1940s style (modern) large settee / sofa with camel back design and flaired arms upholstered in light green velvet with 2 large seat cushions and ...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Modern Settees
Materials
Velvet
Molar Settee by Wendell Castle
Located in Atlanta, GA
A molar settee or loveseat designed by Wendell Castle and manufactured by Beylerian, circa 1970s. The molar series is a playful design from Wendell Castle...
Category
1970s American Vintage Modern Settees
Materials
Fiberglass
Amparo Calderon Tapia Tête–à–tête Daybed in Solid Bronze Flora Base
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Stunning and beautiful Tête–à–tête daybed with solid bronze base designed and manufactured by Amparo Calderon Tapia for Cain Modern.
The piece is very comfortable, each side ha...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Settees
Materials
Bronze
Industrial Modernist Anodized Aluminum Warren McArthur Park Ave Sofa
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Beautiful and rare McArthur sofa created in the early thirties, an icon of the Hollywood era. His signature grid with aluminum curved tubing, tootsie roll armrests and black puck feet are all present on this sofa. Notched tubes and milled washers another feature well represented. This sofa carries his Park Ave...
Category
1930s American Vintage Modern Settees
Materials
Aluminum
Italian Post-War Design Pink Velvet Settee
Located in New York, NY
Italian Post-War Design 1960s style (modern) black velvet settee with rounded sides and shaped front with pink velvet seat & 4 back cushions contempor...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Settees
Materials
Velvet
Canapé "Baisity" par Antonio Citterio pour B&B Italia
Located in SAINT-ESTÈVE, FR
Canapé 2 places, dessiné par Antonio Citterio dans les années 80, pour la marque B&B Italia. Structure en acier recouvert de cuir noir. Larges coussins...
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Modern Settees
Materials
Leather, Fabric
Studio-Made "Bone" Settee by Casey Mccafferty, 2010
By Casey McCafferty
Located in Skokie, IL
Casey McCafferty studio-made "Bone" settee, Los Angeles, California, 2010
Materials: Solid birch, upolstery
Dimensions: 27" H x 60" W x 23" D
Sea...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Settees
Materials
Birch
Settee by Illum Wikkelso
Located in San Francisco, CA
A two-seater sofa with tapered rosewood legs and 2 seat cushions. Upholstered with red leather. Model V12.
Exceptional condition for a piece of this vintage. Very little wear with...
Category
1950s Danish Vintage Modern Settees
Materials
Leather, Rosewood
Early Production #920 Sofa by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Cassina, c 1966, Signed
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This early production Model #920 modular four-seat sofa by Afra and Tobia Scarpa for Cassina was designed in circa 1966 and this example is from the earlier years of production as evidenced by the early style 'Figli di Amedeo Cassina' labels on each section (see photos).
Featuring soft supple black leather cushions which extend to the arms and backside along with nicely grained Walnut accents to the frame, this sofa is in two parts and can either be used together as one long four-seat sofa or separated as two loveseat...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Modern Settees
Materials
Leather, Walnut
Danish Settee
Located in San Francisco, CA
A Danish settee upholstered in beige linen, with piping along all the edges, including the rolled arms, and mahogany legs.
Seat has eight-way hand tied springs in excellent condi...
Category
1940s Italian Vintage Modern Settees
Materials
Linen, Mahogany
Swedish Gray Dining Banquette in Green Leopard
By Bjork Studio
Located in Atlanta, GA
Beautifully made custom banquette or bench in distressed Swedish gray finish with green leopard grospoint fabric by Bjork Studio. In excellent condition. Perfect for an entrance, a foyer, a hallway, as a dining banquette...
Category
2010s American Modern Settees
Materials
Hardwood
Modern settees for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Modern settees 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 settees created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include seating, building and garden elements, tables and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with fabric, wood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Modern settees made in a specific country, there are Europe, Italy, and North America pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original settees, popular names associated with this style include Etro, Jillian O'Neill, Roberto Cavalli Home Interiors, and Ghidini 1961. 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 $843 and tops out at $80,000 while the average work can sell for $9,685.
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