Modern Sofas
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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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.
1970s Brazilian Vintage Modern Sofas
Suede, Rosewood
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Sofas
Chrome
1970s French Vintage Modern Sofas
Bouclé, Elm
Late 20th Century American Modern Sofas
Fabric, Wood
1970s Swedish Vintage Modern Sofas
Leather
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Sofas
Fabric, Plastic, Polyester, Rubber
Late 20th Century American Modern Sofas
Damask, Silk, Upholstery, Wood, Trimming, Feathers
Late 20th Century Swiss Modern Sofas
Fabric, Foam
1970s Dutch Vintage Modern Sofas
Leather
1970s Dutch Vintage Modern Sofas
Leather, Fabric, Foam
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Sofas
Leather, Foam
1970s American Vintage Modern Sofas
Stainless Steel
1970s German Vintage Modern Sofas
Leather, Upholstery, Plastic, Wood
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Sofas
Steel, Chrome
1980s American Vintage Modern Sofas
Fabric
1990s Italian Modern Sofas
Metal
1970s American Vintage Modern Sofas
Fabric
1970s Dutch Vintage Modern Sofas
Leather
1980s Italian Vintage Modern Sofas
Steel
1980s American Vintage Modern Sofas
Fabric
1980s French Vintage Modern Sofas
Metal
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Sofas
Leather, Fabric, Velvet
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Sofas
Cotton, Foam
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Sofas
Chrome
1980s Swiss Vintage Modern Sofas
Steel
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Sofas
Metal
Late 20th Century Modern Sofas
Upholstery, Hardwood
1980s German Vintage Modern Sofas
Leather
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Sofas
Chrome
1970s American Vintage Modern Sofas
Upholstery, Wood
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Sofas
Mohair, Wood
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Sofas
Metal
1980s Italian Vintage Modern Sofas
Leather, Fabric, Plastic, Foam
1990s Italian Modern Sofas
Metal
1970s American Vintage Modern Sofas
Fabric, Oak
1980s German Vintage Modern Sofas
Suede, Foam
1990s Unknown Modern Sofas
Wool
1970s American Vintage Modern Sofas
Leather, Oak
Late 20th Century Spanish Modern Sofas
Foam
Late 20th Century American Modern Sofas
Bouclé
1980s Italian Vintage Modern Sofas
Metal
1980s German Vintage Modern Sofas
Steel
1990s Italian Modern Sofas
Velvet
1980s Italian Vintage Modern Sofas
Cotton
1980s Swiss Vintage Modern Sofas
Leather
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Sofas
Velvet
Late 20th Century Modern Sofas
Leather, Suede
1990s Norwegian Modern Sofas
Leather, Teak
1990s Italian Modern Sofas
Metal
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Sofas
Steel
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Sofas
Steel
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Sofas
Cotton
Late 20th Century German Modern Sofas
Upholstery, Wood
1980s Italian Vintage Modern Sofas
Metal
1970s French Vintage Modern Sofas
Wool
1970s Vintage Modern Sofas
Chrome
1980s American Vintage Modern Sofas
Upholstery, Hardwood
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Sofas
Fabric, Plastic