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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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.
Late 20th Century French Modern Sofas
Ultrasuede
1980s American Vintage Modern Sofas
Fabric
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Sofas
Chrome
1980s American Vintage Modern Sofas
Upholstery, Wood
1990s French Modern Sofas
Velvet
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Sofas
Leather
1990s German Modern Sofas
Velvet
1980s Italian Vintage Modern Sofas
Metal
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Sofas
Leather
1990s American Modern Sofas
Velvet, Wood, Down
1970s Vintage Modern Sofas
Steel
1980s Italian Vintage Modern Sofas
Fabric
1970s French Vintage Modern Sofas
Fabric
1970s American Vintage Modern Sofas
Fabric, Rattan
1970s Vintage Modern Sofas
Chrome
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Sofas
Metal
1990s Italian Modern Sofas
Leather
1980s Italian Vintage Modern Sofas
Fabric, Velvet, Plastic
1980s Italian Vintage Modern Sofas
Steel
1970s French Vintage Modern Sofas
Leather
1990s American Modern Sofas
Leather, Cotton, Upholstery, Foam, Polyester, Wood, Lacquer
1970s German Vintage Modern Sofas
Leather, Upholstery, Plastic, Wood, Beech
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Sofas
Fabric
1980s Italian Vintage Modern Sofas
Leather, Plastic, Rubber
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Sofas
Leather, Plastic
1990s Modern Sofas
Cotton, Foam, Feathers
1970s Vintage Modern Sofas
Metal
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Sofas
Stainless Steel
1990s Danish Modern Sofas
Metal
1970s Swiss Vintage Modern Sofas
Leather, Upholstery
1980s Italian Vintage Modern Sofas
Fabric
1970s French Vintage Modern Sofas
Leather
1970s Swiss Vintage Modern Sofas
Leather, Upholstery
1970s Swiss Vintage Modern Sofas
Leather
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Sofas
Suede, Fabric
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Sofas
Aluminum
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Sofas
Fabric
1990s Italian Modern Sofas
Velvet
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Sofas
Leather
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Sofas
Bouclé
1980s American Vintage Modern Sofas
Fabric, Chenille, Upholstery, Down
1980s Italian Vintage Modern Sofas
Metal
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Sofas
Leather, Foam
1990s American Modern Sofas
Cotton, Rattan, Down
1970s European Vintage Modern Sofas
Velvet, Fiberglass
1980s Italian Vintage Modern Sofas
Suede
Late 20th Century American Modern Sofas
Fabric, Foam
1980s Italian Vintage Modern Sofas
Metal
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Sofas
Leather, Wood
1980s Italian Vintage Modern Sofas
Leather, Wood
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Sofas
Fabric
1970s German Vintage Modern Sofas
Leather, Upholstery, Plastic, Wood
1970s American Vintage Modern Sofas
Fabric, Plastic, Foam
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Sofas
Chrome
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Sofas
Velvet
1970s French Vintage Modern Sofas
Bouclé, Elm
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Sofas
Bouclé
Late 20th Century American Modern Sofas
Fabric, Wood