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.
Bauhaus Modernist Office Cabinet / Sideboard, R. Slezák, Czechoslovakia, 1930s
Located in Żory, PL
Original office storage cabinet (model SK 19) made in Czechoslovakia in the 1930s by the Robert Slezák factories. A clean, modernist form with balanced proportions, warm wood veneer...
Steel, Chrome
1950s Oak Bauhaus Mirror Cabinet, Czechoslovakia
Located in Praha, CZ
- good /very good original condition with minor signs of use
Chrome
$6,581Sale Price|20% Off
Bauhaus-Style Sideboard, Wood and Iron with Glass Shelves, Italy, 1920
By Bauhaus
Located in Milano, IT
This cabinet is a remarkable example of Bauhaus-inspired design, showcasing a harmonious blend of wood, iron, and reflective glass shelves. Crafted during the iconic period of ration...
Iron
Restored Bauhaus Small Cabinet, by R. Slezák, Chrome-Plated Steel, Czech, 1930s
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
This elegant cabinet from the early 20th century was crafted by the renowned Czechoslovak manufacturer Robert Slezák. Its original chrome steel frame has been professionally cleaned...
Steel, Chrome
$1,269Sale Price|20% Off
German Metal Drawers Cabinet, 1970s
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Beautiful Cabinet with drawers. The cabinet has been restored and the drawers are sealed with Linseed oil, the top part is original and has a nice patina look.
Metal
$874Sale Price|20% Off
Green Metal German DDR double door cabinet 1960's
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Double doors metal cabinet with 2 metal drawers. Made in the DDR periode by the factory VEB METAN from Tannenberg.
Metal
1930s Multi Drawer Card Filing Cabinet by August Blodner
Located in Praha, CZ
Multi drawer card filing cabinet marked by Stahlmobel August Blodner, Gotha. Used in office in Bauhaus factory in Czechoslovakia. Item is in a very g...
Steel
Bauhaus Kitchen Wall Cabinet with Glass Bar 1930s
Located in Saarbruecken, DE
This small wall cabinet is a kitchen cabinet from the early 1930s. The cream white softwood wall cabinet features a spacious interior with two bakel...
Metal
DOOQ Organic Modern Bar Cabinet, Hand Sculpted Doors and Rattan Traje De Luces
By DOOQ
Located in Lisbon, PT
Traje de Luces Bar Cabinet encompasses an exploration of delicate forms and a richness in details found while travelling through the south of Spain. Elegance, tradition and superior ...
Brass
Bauhaus cabinet Modell B 290 – Bruno Weill (BeWe) for Thonet-Paris, ca. 1930
By Bruno Weil
Located in Berlin, DE
This exceptionally rare Model B 290 cabinet, designed by Bruno Weill (BeWe) around 1930 for Thonet-Paris, represents a key moment in the dialogue between Bauhaus Modernism and the Fr...
Steel
$13,163Sale Price|20% Off
Bauhaus Briar Wood Sideboard in Hynek Gottwald style
Located in Milano, IT
This stunning storage cabinet, with uncertain attribution but strongly influenced by the style of Hynek Gottwald, immediately captures attention with its modernist lines and perfect ...
Iron
DOOQ Organic Modern Bar Cabinet, Hand Sculpted Doors and Rattan Traje De Luces
By DOOQ
Located in Lisbon, PT
Traje de Luces Bar Cabinet encompasses an exploration of delicate forms and a richness in details found while travelling through the south of Spain. Ele...
Brass
Large 1930s German Modernist Showcase Counter with Drawers
Located in Berlin, DE
Spectacular large showcase counter in the style of German Modernism — an impressive display unit from the 1930s, originally produced for a luxury department store or high-end retail ...
Steel, Chrome, Nickel
Rare Jules Buoy Custom Cabinet / Shelves/ Dry Bar, c 1931
By Jules Buoy
Located in Buffalo, NY
Rare Custom Art Deco, Bauhaus cabinet with removable mirror and ingenious double hinged doors with circular cutout pulls, Designed by architect and designer Jules Buoy, Made for Carlo's Salzedo's Summer Harp Colony in Camden , Maine, Amazing design, color, patina ,Reminiscent of famed designs by Paul Frankl, Donald Deskey, Kim Weber...
Wood
$639Sale Price|20% Off
Green Metal German DDR cabinet 1960's
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Metal cabinet with metal drawer. Made in the DDR periode by the factory VEB METAN from Tannenberg.
Metal
$639Sale Price|20% Off
Green Metal German DDR cabinet 1960's
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Metal cabinet with metal drawer. Made in the DDR periode by the factory VEB METAN from Tannenberg.
Metal
$6,438 / item
PH Cabinet, natural oak veneer
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Constructed of clean lines in luxurious wood, the PH Cabinet is the perfect place to display precious mementoes. The PH Cabinet also features a highly pract...
Wood, Oak
White Vintage Chrome Bauhaus Bookcase Manufactured by Vichr and Spol, 1930s
By Vichr & Spol
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
20th century Art Deco Bauhause display bookcase Completely restored. Material: Chrome-plated steel and lacquered wood Source: Czechia (Czechoslovakia) Period: 1930-1939. Maker: Vichr and Spol...
Chrome
$676Sale Price|20% Off
Green Metal German DDR cabinet 1960's
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Metal cabinet with metal drawer. Made in the DDR periode by the factory VEB Starkstrom-Anlagenbau Cottbus.
Metal
Pair of Bauhaus Bedside Cabinets by Robert Slezák, Reseda Green, 1930s
Located in Berlin, DE
Original pair of bedside cabinets manufactured by Robert Slezák in the 1930s. Their combination of chromed tubular steel and reseda-green lacquered wooden cabinets is a characteristi...
Steel
PH Display Cabinet - mahogany veneer with glass doors for visual display
Located in Copenhagen, DK
The PH Display Cabinet presents objects with clarity in a refined, architectural form. Two variants serve different needs: Glass doors for visual display and wood doors for discreet storage. Balanced proportions and precise joinery keep the expression intentionally quiet so the room remains legible. Interiors are organised for daily use with well-resolved adjustable shelves and discreet hardware. Sits naturally in living, dining, office or gallery settings. Beautiful, strong and powerful of presence yet still light in appearance, the PH Display Cabinet is intended to be displayed as well as to display. As with PH’s Dressing Table and PH Office Desk...
Wood, Mahogany, Glass
Piombo Cabinet, Bar or Entertainment Center By Leon Rosen for Pace, 1983
By Pace Collection, Leon Rosen
Located in North Miami, FL
This fabulous and rare Bauhaus meets modernist style monumental cerused ash and sandblasted glass entertainment cabinet, buffet, bar, or even bookcase cabinet has wonderful storage a...
Lead
Restored Small Bauhaus Cabinet, Chrome-Plated Steel, Wood, Czechia, 1930s
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
Restored Small Bauhaus Cabinet. Revived Original Paint. Source: Czechia (Czechoslovakia) Period: 1930-1939 Material: Chrome-Plated Steel, Lacquered Wood It has been fully res...
Steel, Chrome
1950s Karl Baisch Bauhaus Industrial Steel Desk with Iconic Chrome Sled Feet
By Karl Baisch
Located in Landshut, BY
Description: This exceptional mid-century modern desk was manufactured in Germany during the 1950s by the renowned medical and dental furniture maker Karl Baisch. Combining high-end...
Iron, Metal, Chrome, Sheet Metal
$6,438 / item
PH Cabinet, Mahogany Veneer
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Constructed of clean lines in luxurious wood, the PH cabinet is the perfect place to display precious mementoes. The PH cabinet also features a highly pract...
Wood, Mahogany
$6,438 / item
PH Cabinet, Black Oak Veneer
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Constructed of clean lines in luxurious wood, the PH cabinet is the perfect place to display precious mementoes. The PH cabinet also features a highly pract...
Wood, Oak
$11,061
H 59.85 in W 48.43 in D 13.39 in
Two-Door Solid Oak Cabinet with Scalloped Panels, France, 1950s
Located in Split, Splitsko-dalmatinska županija
In the style of Guillerme et Chambron, two-door display cabinet, solid oak, France, 1950s. This display cabinet stands on two substantial cylindrical drum feet set on a low, stepped...
Oak
$3,290
H 46.46 in W 31.5 in D 14.18 in
1950s Art Deco Mid-Century Italian Walnut Mirror Mosaic Bar Cabinet
Located in Carimate, Como
Beautiful 1950s Italian Art Deco bar cabinet in great wood veneer front double doors standing on four tapered legs giving elegance and importance. Once you open the two doors the ful...
Brass
Italian Bar Cabinet, 1970s
Located in Palermo, PA
Italian bar cabinet, 1970s. Dimensions: H= 122 cm; W= 104 cm; D= 45 cm.
Teak
$528Sale Price|23% Off
H 24.02 in W 45.28 in D 10.24 in
Bauhaus Chrome-Plated Tubular Steel Étagère / Flower Stand, 1930s
Located in Lucenec, SK
Chrome-plated tubular steel étagère made in the 1930s with glass shelves. Chrome plating is in original condition.
Steel, Chrome
$4,525
H 81.89 in W 46.86 in D 20.48 in
Børge Mogensen Oak Cabinet, Scandinavian Modern Design, Sweden, 1950s
Located in Berlin, DE
Shelving and storage cabinet in oak by Borge Mogensen.
Wood, Oak
Art Deco Mirror Cabinet, 1930s
Located in Praha, CZ
Made in Czechoslovakia. Built inside light. Very good condition with minor signs of wear.
Mirror, Wood
Beautiful Art Deco Cabinet from 1930s
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Introducing a piece of history - an Art Deco cabinet from the 1930's that has been repurposed as a bar/fridge, but with endless possibilities for customization. This unique piece of ...
Mahogany
Veneered Art Deco cabinet - Sweden, 1930s
Located in London, GB
This lavishly veneered Art Deco cabinet features four doors and inner shelves and sits atop lion-shaped feet. Its intricate geometric marquetry and contrasting veneer finish are real...
Birch, Oak
Bauhaus Kitchen Wall Cabinet with Glass Bar 1930s
Located in Saarbruecken, DE
This small wall cabinet is a kitchen cabinet from the early 1930s. The cream white softwood wall cabinet features a spacious interior with two bakel...
Metal
$6,500
H 42.52 in W 39.38 in D 18.9 in
1950s Italian Sideboard in Green Lacquered Wood with Oak Interior and Black Legs
Located in Rome, IT
Italian sideboard from the 1950s, restored and restyled with great attention to craftsmanship and modern proportions. The structure is made of solid wood, finished with a green shell...
Brass, Iron
$3,700
H 73 in W 32.5 in D 19.5 in
Antique French Breton Armoire Wardrobe Linen Cabinet Double Doors Drawer c. 1900
Located in Tyler, TX
Beautifully Carved Antique French Oak Breton Double Door Armoire Bonnetiere, Linen Cabinet, Bookcase with Drawer~~c. 1900 Highly requested classic French Breton design~~Bre...
Oak
Black brutalist bar cabinet, 1970s
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Beautiful black wenge wooden brutalist bar cabinet. The cabinet consists of 4 doors. Good condition. 1970s - Belgium Dimensions: Height: 120cm Width: 116cm Depth: 45cm Ref.: 260...
Wood
Sold
H 49.61 in W 47.25 in D 23.63 in
Restored Bauhaus Low Cabinet, Oak, Chrome-Plated Steel, Repolished, Czech, 1930s
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
This Bauhaus-style low cabinet from the 1930s is an excellent example of Czechoslovak functionalist design. Its timeless and clean lines are perfectly functional even in modern inte...
Steel, Chrome
Sold
H 70.08 in W 47.64 in D 22.84 in
Pair of Restored Bauhaus Cabinets, by H.J.Hagemann, Mücke-Melder, Czech, 1930s
By Mücke & Melder, Hermann John Hagemann
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
Wardrobe dimensions: Height: 178 cm Width: 121 cm Depth: 58 cm Chest of drawers dimensions: Height: 119 cm Width: 121 cm Depth: 58 cm This unique set of two Bauhaus cabinets origin...
Wood, Lacquer
Sold
H 32.29 in W 49.61 in D 3.15 in
Large Vintage Wall Mounted Factory Glass Cabinet, Czechoslovakia, 1920s
Located in Zohor, SK
This remarkable vintage wall-mounted cabinet from a Czechoslovak factory is a true testament to industrial history and design. Dating back to the 1920s, the cabinet features two glas...
Glass, Wood
Pair of small storage units in lacquered wood
Located in Milano, IT
COD-2523 Pair of small storage units in lacquered wood with chromed tubular base and interiors in ivory lacquered wood. German/Austrian manufacture, 1960's 76x41xh80
Steel
Sold
H 27.56 in W 31.89 in D 16.15 in
Restored Bauhaus Cabinet, by Robert Slezák, Chrome Plated Steel, Czech, 1930s
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
This elegant cabinet from the early 20th century was crafted by the renowned Czechoslovak manufacturer Robert Slezák. Its original chrome steel frame has been professionally cleaned ...
Steel, Chrome
Metal German DDR cabinet made by VEB BEMEFA
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Metal cabinet with wooden drawer. Made in the DDR periode by the factory VEB BEMEFA.
Metal
Bauhaus Italian rare Tall Cabinet
By Bauhaus
Located in Milano, IT
This extraordinary tall cabinet is an iconic piece from the Bauhaus period, characterized by the simplicity of its forms and innovative functional design. Made by the Italian manufac...
Iron
Skagerak & Fritz Hansen Black Cutter Stool & Box by Niels Hvass
By Niels Hvass
Located in Rochester, England
The Fritz Hansen and Skagerak Black Cutter Stool & Box, designed by Niels Hvass, represents the epitome of Scandinavian functionality and minimalism. Both...
Oak
An Anthroposophical Display Cabinet By Felix Kayser
By Felix Kayser
Located in Forest Row, East Sussex
An Anthroposophical cabinet very much in the Bauhaus style designed by Felix Kayser. Cherry Wood with two lower interior shelves and an upper glass fronted display cabinet. Dimensi...
Cherry
Sold
H 59.06 in W 47.25 in D 23.63 in
Restored Bauhaus Cabinet, by Robert Slezák, H. J. Hagemann, Beech, Czech, 1930s
By Robert Slezák, Hermann John Hagemann
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
Made by Slezak Factories, a unique Czech furniture brand specialising on chrome and bent metal furniture The mahogany veneer on the door is folded into a tree pattern. The cabinet ...
Steel, Chrome
Tubular Steel and Wood Cabinet, 1940s
Located in Lewes, East Sussex
Tubular steel, wood and glass cabinet, 1940s. Original key present. The removable glass side panels and glass shelves have been replaced. Some wear to tubular steel frame (as ph...
Steel
Sold
H 65.75 in W 37.41 in D 15.75 in
1950s Set of Oak Bauhaus Mirror Cabinet and Bedside Tables, Czechoslovakia
Located in Praha, CZ
- good /very good original condition with minor signs of use - size of side tables: H:61 W:45 D:42 cm
Chrome