The Bauhaus was a progressive German art and design school founded by the architect Walter Gropius that operated from 1919 to 1933. Authentic Bauhaus furniture — sofas, 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
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.
Restored Bauhaus Sofa, by Hynek Gottwald, Chromed Steel, Leather, Czech, 1930s
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
Breathe unmistakable energy, boldness, and confident aesthetics of the interwar avant-garde into your interior through this magnificent sofa, born in the 1930s in Czechoslovakia. The...
Chrome, Steel
Restored Bauhaus Sofa, by Robert Slezák, Chrome-Plated Steel, Czech, 1930s
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
This architecturally clean and visually captivating sofa in the spirit of Bauhaus functionalism dates from the 1930s in Czechoslovakia and was manufactured by the prominent maker Rob...
Steel, Chrome
Restored Bauhaus Sofa, by Robert Slezák, Chrome-Plated Steel, Czech, 1930s
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
This exceptionally valuable, shape-refined, and visually captivating sofa in the spirit of interwar Bauhaus functionalism dates from the 1930s in Czechoslovakia. The authorial signat...
Steel, Chrome
Restored Bauhaus Sofa, by Hynek Gottwald, Chrome, Oak, Leather, Czech, 1930s
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
This generously conceived and shape-refined sofa in the spirit of Bauhaus functionalism dates from the 1930s in Czechoslovakia and bears the signature of the prestigious manufacturer...
Chrome, Steel
Restored Bauhaus Sofa, by R. Slezák, Chromed Steel, Leather, Czech, 1930s
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
Bring the absolute pinnacle of interwar avant-garde and the embodiment of pure design luxury into your interior through this breathtaking, highly sophisticated sofa, born in the 1930...
Chrome, Steel
Restored Bauhaus Sofa, by Vichr a spol., Chromed Steel, Leather, Czech, 1930s
By Vichr & Spol
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
This elegant and shape-refined sofa in the spirit of Bauhaus functionalism dates from the 1930s in Czechoslovakia and bears the signature of the prestigious manufacturer Vichr & Co. ...
Chrome, Steel
Restored Bauhaus Sofa by Robert Slezak, High-Quality Leather, Chrome, 1930s
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
Fully Restored Bauhaus Sofa with Chrome Tubular Steel Frame by Robert Slezak. Maker: Robert Slezak Source: Czechia (Czechoslovakia) Period: 1930-1...
Chrome
$28,536Sale Price / item|20% Off
21st Viv Id II Sofa Metlted Hammered Brass Dedar Made in Portugal by Malabar
Located in RIO TINTO, PT
Against the minimalist design concept and characterized by a free use of color and shapes, the modernism movement sparks the impulse for Malabar designers to conceive this future cla...
Brass
Robert Haussmann for Hans Kaufeld or De Sede RH 302 Leather Sofa First Edition
By Hans Kaufeld, Robert Haussmann, De Sede
Located in Munich, Bavaria
Robert Haussmann RH 302 3-seat sofa manufactured by Hans Kaufeld. This sofa is the first early production for Hans Kaufeld. Later it was manu...
Chrome
$28,536Sale Price / item|20% Off
21st Viv Id II Sofa Metlted Hammered Brass Bouclé Made in Portugal by Malabar
Located in RIO TINTO, PT
Against the minimalist design concept and characterized by a free use of color and shapes, the modernism movement sparks the impulse for Malabar designers to conceive this future cla...
Brass
Restored Bauhaus Sofa, by Vichr a spol., Chromed Steel, Leather, Czech, 1930s
By Vichr & Spol
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
Breathe unmistakable energy, boldness, and confident aesthetics of the interwar avant-garde into your interior through this magnificent sofa, born in the 1930s in Czechoslovakia. The...
Chrome, Steel
Restored Bauhaus Sofa, by Vichr a spol., Chromed Steel, Leather, Czech, 1930s
By Vichr & Spol
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
Breathe unmistakable energy, boldness, and confident aesthetics of the interwar avant-garde into your interior through this magnificent sofa, born in the 1930s in Czechoslovakia. The...
Chrome, Steel
Grey Bauhaus Sofa Made in 1930s Czechia by Robert Slezak, Designed by Thonet
By Thonet, Robert Slezák
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
Bauhaus style sofa with chrome tubular steel frame. Manufactured by Robert Slezák in the 1930s. Chrome tubular steel is in perfect original condition. Upholstered with high qualit...
Chrome
Restored Bauhaus Sofa, by Robert Slezak, Chrome, Quality Fabric, Czech, 1930s
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
This elegant sofa from the early 20th century originates from the renowned Slezákovy závody workshop. Its frame is crafted from tubular chrome steel, which has been professionally cl...
Steel, Chrome
Restored Bauhaus Sofa, by Robert Slezak, Beech, Czech, 1930s
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
This Bauhaus-style sofa originates from the first half of the 20th century and was manufactured by Robert Slezák. The frame is made of tubular chrome-plated steel, which has been exp...
Chrome, Steel
Red High-Quality Leather Bauhaus Sofa by Thonet, Chrome, Fully Restored, 1930s
By Thonet
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
Red high-quality leather Bauhaus sofa with chrome tubular steel frame. Period : 1930-1939. Source : Czechia (Czechoslovakia). Maker : Thonet Material : Beech, high-quality leat...
Chrome
Design-Klassiker Brühl Moule in Schwarz, Metallgestell, guter Zustand
By Brühl
Located in Garching a. d. Alz, DE
Hersteller & Design Marke: Brühl Modell: Moule (2-Sitzer) Designer: Addy W. H., 1995 Herkunft: Deutschland Beschreibung Dieses Brühl Moule 2-Sitzer Sofa in tiefschwarzem Led...
Metal
Fully Restored Red Bauhaus Sofa, High-Quality Leather, Tubular Chrome, 1930s
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
Fully restored red Bauhaus sofa with chrome tubular steel frame. Period: 1930-1939 Source: Czechia (Czechoslovakia) Material: high-quality leather...
Chrome
MW02 sofa in Bauhaus style With altuglass panels designed by Olivier Santini.
Located in Beaumont-Louestault, FR
Transforming furniture design into true art, the MW02 sofa enhances any space it inhabits. Available with glass panels for indoor use or ultra-resistant PMMA (altuglass) panels for b...
Stainless Steel
Le Corbusier LC2 Vintage White Leather Sofa by Cassina
By Le Corbusier, Cassina
Located in Munich, Bavaria
This LC2 three-seat sofa in white leather was designed by Le Corbusier and produced by Cassina. It features a black colored tubular steel frame. The leather has some patina. Some...
Leather, Upholstery, Lacquer
Restored Black Bauhaus Sofa, Robert Slezak, High-Quality Leather, Chrome, 1930s
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
Restored black Bauhaus sofa by Robert Slezak. Source: Czechia (Czechoslovakia) Period: 1930-1939 Number of Seats: 3 Material: Chrome-plate...
Chrome, Steel
Robert Haussmann De Sede Rh 302 Sofa and Armchair Black
Located in Munich, Bavaria
Robert Haussmann RH 302 2-seat sofa and armchair manufactured by De Sede. The sofa and chair were reupholstered some years ago in black Kvadrat Halingdal fabri...
Chrome
Restored Bauhaus Sofa, by Robert Slezák, Chromed Steel, Leather, Czech, 1930s
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
If you are looking for an original piece of furniture with a clear historical signature for your interior, this 1930s sofa represents an ideal ch...
Chrome, Steel
$21,288Sale Price / item|20% Off
21st Century Viv Id Sofa Hammered Brass Boucle Made in Portugal by Malabar
Located in RIO TINTO, PT
Against the minimalist design concept and characterized by a free use of color and shapes, the modernism movement sparks the impulse for Malabar designers to conceive this future cla...
Brass
Restored Bauhaus Sofa, by Mücke-Melder, Chrome, New Upholstery, Czech, 1930s
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
Made by Mücke Melder, an influential modernist furniture manufacturer specializing in tubular steel designs. Our professional refurbishing team in Czechia has fully restored it acc...
Chrome, Steel
Restored Bauhaus White Leather Tubular Chrome Sofa, Robert Slezák, 1930s
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
Restored Bauhaus white leather sofa with chrome tubular steel frame. Period: 1930-1939 Source: Czechia (Czechoslovakia) Maker: Robert Slezák. Number of seats: 3 The sofa is ...
Steel, Chrome