Modern Dutch design owes a great deal to Gerard van den Berg. While the Netherlands has a rich furniture-making tradition, it took a maverick like Van den Berg to bring it into a new era.
Van den Berg was born in 1947 to a family of designers. His father owned a furniture company in Hellevoetsluis where Van den Berg worked as an apprentice and then designer until he and his brother, Ton, founded their own workshop, in 1974. That company, named Montis, produced mostly upholstered seating for homes and businesses.
At Montis, Van den Berg challenged traditional Dutch furniture forms. Rather than starting with the piece's frame, which he felt was restrictive, he focused on the silhouette. This inspired Van den Berg to create slim and elegant furniture, often featuring angular metal legs and leather upholstery. In 1983, he pioneered the "jacket technique," consisting of a zipped leather cover around a metal frame. Several iconic Montis seats use this technique, including the Chaplin chair, the Butterfly lounge chair and the Rocky sofa.
In 1989, Van den Berg launched his own design studio and began designing for companies like Wittmann, Molteni and Perobell. He left Montis in 1990 to cofound a new company, called Label, with Ton the following year. Today, Van den Berg's son Jasper and Ton's daughter, Marieke, manage Label. Van den Berg's other son, Ivo, is also a designer at the company.
Van den Berg's irreplaceable contributions to furniture design have garnered multiple awards over the years. Some of the most notable include the Kho Liang Prize, the Mobilia Innovation Award and the Prize for Interior Architecture.
Find vintage Montis seating on 1stDibs.
$12,901 / item
H 31.5 in W 98.4 in D 38.2 in
Custom Noah Modular Sectional Sofa with Walnut Matte by Nolita Harbour
Located in Carvalhosa, PT
Noah Modular Sofa by Nolita Harbour is a masterpiece of modern design, combining flexibility and sophistication to suit any living space. This sofa is meticulously crafted to provide...
Velvet, Walnut
$22,122 / item
H 26.8 in W 177.2 in D 137.8 in
Handmade Gino Modular Sofa with Walnut Accents by Nolita Harbour
Located in Carvalhosa, PT
The Gino Modular Sofa is a versatile and luxurious addition to any living space. This contemporary design features plush, textured upholstery with clean lines and a built-in walnut s...
Travertine, Brass
$10,060 / item
H 28.1 in W 175.1 in D 85.8 in
Malora Sectional Sofa - Plush Velvet Upholstery with Walnut Matte Base Detailing
Located in Carvalhosa, PT
The Malora Sofa expresses soft, architectural comfort through flowing lines and generous modular volumes. Its rounded corners and continuous seat profile create a serene, sculptural ...
Velvet, Walnut
$15,350 / item
H 28 in W 123 in D 77 in
Lawson-Fenning Morro Sectional, Beige Tufted Linen & Solid Oak, Modern Sofa
By Lawson-Fenning
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The Morro Sectional by Lawson-Fenning is our deepest and largest scaled sectional featuring a biscuit tufted seat, loose back cushions and a geometrically sculpted base. Available in...
Linen, Oak, Upholstery
$21,157 / item
H 27.6 in W 141.7 in D 103.1 in
Pierre Sofa by Nolita Harbour: Velvet Upholstery and Walnut Base
Located in Carvalhosa, PT
Pierre Sofa is a luxury velvet modular sofa conceived as a calm architectural anchor for living spaces. Its language is linear and composed, designed to read as part of the interior’...
Bouclé, Velvet, Walnut
$15,500 / item
H 30 in W 126 in D 97 in
Dawson Sectional Arms Walnut Frame Trim detail loose seat & back cushions piping
Located in Ridgewood, NY
With a low back, elegant frame detail, and dark walnut legs, the sophisticated Dawson Sectional is a perfect example of traditional with a modern twis...
Fabric
$15,455 / item
H 27.17 in W 92.92 in D 33.08 in
De Sede DS-21/203A Two-Seat Modular Sofa in Hazel Leather by Stephan Hürlemann
By Stephan Hürlemann, De Sede
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Opulent elements for modular use. The architectural structure of DS-21 is created by a metal frame that surrounds individual cushion volumes, seemingly carrying them effortlessly. Th...
Leather
$8,896 / item
H 28.75 in W 100.4 in D 50.01 in
Contemporary Lounge Sofa 'Retreat', Monica Förster X Fogia, Ritz-4700 (Setup 5)
By Monica Förster, FOGIA
Located in Paris, IDF
Contemporary "Retreat" Sofa designed by Monica Förster for Fogia. Materials : - Frame : Solid wood - Legs : Solid oak and Nozag springs - Seat : Wood board & foam - Backrest : ...
Leather, Fabric, Oak
$22,570 / item
H 28.5 in W 123 in D 77 in
Lawson-Fenning Morro Sectional XL, Grey Tufted Cushions & Solid Oak, Modern Sofa
By Lawson-Fenning
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The Morro Sectional by Lawson-Fenning is our deepest and largest scaled sectional featuring a biscuit tufted seat, loose back cushions and a geometrically sculpted base. Available in...
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Frameworks Marfa Sectional with Dark Brown Legs
By Brendan Bass
Located in Dallas, TX
The Marfa low leg sofa and sectional takes shape from the rolling hills of west Texas as the interior arm subtly tapers from the top of the arm into the s...
Fabric, Leather
Montis Axel XL Sectional Sofa by Gijs Papavoine in STOCK
By Montis, Gijs Papavoine
Located in New York, NY
Monza, Color 00
Leather, Fabric
Montis Domino.18 Modular Sofa by Dick Spierenburg in STOCK
By Dick Spierenburg, Montis
Located in New York, NY
Upholstery: Zaffera 01 & Sahco / Kvadrat Fiorella #0222 Table Colour: oak carbon Execution: 50x75x36 Export carton: Export Feet: 60mm synthetic material plug: USA USB: USB-C We confirm this table * with USB-C * with US-style power socket Domino.18 Experiment with the various elements to create your ideal combination and seating arrangement. Arrange (and rearrange) them in whatever way you like. Play with three different heights and create your own skyline. We’ve expanded our collection with the new round corner modules and connecting elements to reflect on the current organic trend. Dick Spierenburg...
Fabric
Montis Aztec Sectional Sofa & Ottoman by Gerard Van Den Berg in STOCK
By Montis, Gerard Van Den Berg
Located in New York, NY
Fabric: MONZA Aztec sofa sectional consist of the following: (1) 3-Z-AL (1) H-30 R (1) H-CLOSED-90 (1) 1-5-Z-ZA (1) P-60X90 The Aztec is back at last, wi...
Fabric
Zanotta Pianoalto Sectional Sofa by Ludovica+Roberto Palomba in STOCK
By Zanotta, Ludovica + Roberto Palomba 1
Located in New York, NY
1) PIANOALTO ROUNDED SHORT BACKREST END SOFA ORIENTATION LEFT COVER TESSUTO QUEEN CAT40 SENAPE 040418 38%ACRILICO 28%LANA 1) PIANOALTO SOFA 130X116 COVER TESSUTO QUEEN CAT40 SENAPE ...
Fabric
Tacchini Le Mura Modular Sofa by Mario Bellini in STOCK
By Mario Bellini, Tacchini
Located in New York, NY
CAT M- MALVA 02 WOOL PADDING MATT BLACK NICKEL CLASP AND ZIP T148 WITH CAL117 INTERLINER The project Le Mura by Mario Bellini represents the manifesto of a radical design that went ...
Velvet
MDF Italia Array Sofa by Snøhetta in STOCK
By MDF Italia
Located in New York, NY
MDF Italia Array Upholstered: Moss Col 13 Cat. G Fabric N.2 F061754 N.3 F061750 N.5 F061752 N.2 F061755 Array is a sofa system designed by Snøhetta to offer maximum flexibility and ...
Fabric
