As the founder of the Bauhaus — the German art and design school that was one of the chief crucibles of modernism — Walter Gropius had a central and enduring impact on the architecture and design of the 20th century and beyond. Along with fellow Bauhaus principals such as Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Marcel Breuer, Gropius championed a philosophy of design focused on simplicity, efficiency and the inherent beauty of steel, glass and other industrial materials.
Born in Berlin, Gropius followed in his architect father’s footsteps and after completing his studies was employed by the brilliant proto-modernist designer Peter Behrens. Gropius’s early architectural work demonstrated many of the aspects that define the modernist aesthetic: ribbon windows, an emphasis on light and minimal decoration. Gropius became known primarily as a great organizer, writer and teacher. After military service in World War I, he developed concepts of what are now called the applied arts — a marriage of creative imagination with practical skill and technology. These notions drove Gropius’s founding of the Bauhaus in 1919. The school would welcome many of the great creators of the 20th century, including Paul Klee, Laszlo Moholy-Nagy and Josef Albers. After the independent-minded college fell afoul of the Nazi regime in the 1930s, Gropius immigrated to the United States, and finished out his years on the Harvard faculty.
Gropius produced far fewer furniture designs than his fellows on the Bauhaus faculty, but what he did make has a purity of form and spirit. As you will see from the works offered on 1stDibs, Walter Gropius never compromised his vision of design that encompassed beauty, creativity and the highest level of technical skill.
$2,124
H 31.5 in W 19.69 in D 21.66 in
A Dansk MID-CENTURY-MODERN Scandinavian CHAIR by KAI KRISTIANSEN, Denmark 1950
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in PARIS, FR
An astonishing, thin & elegant chair with compass legs, Modernist, Free Form, Dansk, Scandinavian, compass legs and structure in rosewood, seat in black imitation leather, rare "...
Wood
Mid Century No.515 armchair by Oswald Haerdtl for Thonet/TON
By TON a.s., Oswald Haerdtl
Located in PRAHA 5, CZ
An iconic beech wood armchair designed by renowned Austrian architect Oswald Haerdtl for the Thonet successor, Ton, in 1950. Produced under catalog number 515, the chair has been ful...
Beech
$1,173
H 30.31 in W 18.11 in D 1,000,000 in
Mid-Century Early German SE 68 Chair by Egon Eiermann for Wilde+Spieth
By Egon Eiermann
Located in Hamburg, DE
E 68 multi-purpose chair by wilde+spieth after a design by egon eiermann from the 50s. Here an early and rare … Read more E 68 multi-purpose chair by wilde+spieth after a design by e...
Metal
$1,180
H 32.29 in W 23.63 in D 21.26 in
Original Austro Armchair by Franz Schuster for Wiesner Hager, Austria, 1959
By Franz Schuster, Wiesner-Hager
Located in Munich, Bavaria
This Austro chairs are designed by Austrian architect Franz Schuster and produced by Wiesner Hager. This version is the original vintage version with br...
Wood, Lacquer, Beech
$1,180
H 32.29 in W 23.63 in D 21.26 in
Original Austro Armchair by Franz Schuster for Wiesner Hager, Austria, 1959
By Wiesner-Hager, Franz Schuster
Located in Munich, Bavaria
This Austro chairs are designed by Austrian architect Franz Schuster and produced by Wiesner Hager. This version is the original vintage version with br...
Wood, Lacquer, Beech
Bentwood Childs Chair by Thonet
By Thonet
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
Fun bentwood child’s chair by Thonet. This piece has a great patina from many years of use. Photographed with Bertoia side chair by Knoll for scale.
Bentwood
Ginotta Chair By Enrico Franzolini for Crassevig
By Enrico Franzolini, Crassevig
Located in New York, NY
The Ginotta Arm Chair, designed by Enrico Franzolini for Crassevig in 1989. This piece was manufactured in Italy and imported to the USA for distribution by Knoll. Sculptural design ...
Steel, Chrome
$11,700
H 31.7 in W 18.9 in D 21.97 in
Mid-Century Modern Chair by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, 1950's
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in New York, NY
Crafted from solid Brazilian Caviuna with a cane seat, this elegant chair was produced by Forma S.A. Móveis e Objetos de Arte in the 1950s. The piece exemplifies the refined work a...
Cane, Wood
Classic Modernist Chair . wood & iron by designed by Clifford Pascoe
By Clifford Pascoe
Located in Buffalo, NY
Classic Modernist Design ! Plywood & iron chair by Clifford Pascoe feature thoughtful lines, and a curved birch backrest. The seat has been reupholstered in a burnt orange mohair... ...
Iron
$1,950 / set
H 32.5 in W 24 in D 24 in
Rare Model 132 Chair, Sigvard Bernadotte Sold by John Stuart, Denmark, c. 1953
By Sigvard Bernadotte
Located in Deland, FL
This rare and elegant pair of Model 132 accent chairs was designed by Sigvard Bernadotte for France & Son (France & Daverkosen) and distributed in the United States by John Stuart. C...
Teak
Vintage Mid-Century Walnut Modern Dining Chairs Armchairs by Gunlocke
By Gunlocke
Located in Lafayette, IN
These awesome chairs feature spectacular 1960s style and, despite their solid walnut construction, are surprisingly comfortable! The chairs themselves are in very nice, re-finished c...
Walnut
Rare Vintage Mid Century Modern 4331 Lounge Chair by Pierre Paulin for Thonet
Located in Lafayette, IN
This is a rare example of the Model 4331 lounge chair designed by Pierre Paulin for Thonet. Chair features a plywood frame with black enamel finish, fresh white boucle upholstery, t...
Metal
Matching Pair of Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs by Steelcase
By Steelcase
Located in Lafayette, IN
Charming pair of streel-frame arm chairs built in 1965 by Steelcase Inc. Chairs feature angular, black-painted steel frames, walnut armrests and new saddle-brown vinyl embossed with a classic, western-inspired, paisley motif. With their architectural lines, unique upholstery...
Metal, Steel
Mid Century Modern Walnut & Black Vinyl Executive Swivel Desk Chairs by Thonet
By Thonet
Located in Lafayette, IN
As seen on the Apple TV limited series "Lessons in Chemistry" These actual chairs were featured in several pivotal scenes in the conference room at Hastings L...
Aluminum
Mid-Century Modern Swivel Desk Chair by Andrew Morrison & Bruce Hannah for Knoll
By Knoll, Bruce Hannah & Andrew Morrison
Located in Lafayette, IN
Arguably one of the most elegant desk chair designs from the mid-century era, this Morrison/Hannah design for Knoll Studios is utilitarian sculpture at its best. Chair features a cur...
Aluminum, Chrome
Rare Set of Six 1960s Mid-Century Modern Cherry and Chrome Dining Chairs
By Romweber Furniture Co.
Located in Lafayette, IN
This very unusual set of Mid-Century chairs is attributed to the manufacturer Romweber. We have been in the vintage furniture business for 4...
Chrome
