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Modern Side Chairs

MODERN STYLE

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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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 chaircrafted 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.

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Style: Modern
Gerrit Rietveld De Stijl Red Blue Chair
Located in New York, NY
Gerrit Rietveld (Dutch, 1888-1964) De Stijl Red Blue Chair, originally designed in 1918 with red, blue, yellow, and black colors applied in 1923, this e...
Category

20th Century Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Wood, Paint

Set of 6 Contemporary Dining Chairs Upholstered in Sophisticated Melange Fabric
Located in New York, NY
Timeless design in combination with handmade couture techniques. The dining chairs features curved wooden upholstered back for greater comfort. Offered in fumed Oak frame and brick v...
Category

2010s Portuguese Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Fabric, Wood, Upholstery

Suelo Modern Side Chair
Located in Oak Harbor, OH
This Suelo modern side chair is beautifully constructed from solid wood in Ohio, USA. The lounge chair's silhouette is simple, modern, and slee...
Category

2010s North American Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Hardwood

Vanity Seat in Grey Lacquer by Robert Kuo, Limited Edition
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vanity seat. Grey lacquer. Handmade. Wood base. Lacquer is a technique that dates back to the Shang dynasty, circa 1600-1100 B.C. These pieces are made with at least 60 coats of org...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Lacquer

Bent Wood Dining Chair With Rattan Cane Backrest, Set of 8
Located in New York, NY
This dining chair, at first glance, appears typical, yet upon closer inspection, it reveals unique features. The backrest, crafted from two elegantly curved pieces, coupled with a s...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Leather, Wood

Fernandine Dining Chair, Medley and Oak, InsidherLand by Joana Santos Barbosa
Located in Maia, Porto
The Fernandine walls are a part of History that embraces the city of Porto, located in the north of Portugal. These medieval fortifications topped off by battlements were completed d...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Fabric

CM 196 Side Chair by Pierre Paulin
Located in Los Angeles, CA
All original CM 196 side chair by Pierre Paulin. Measure: Seat height is 18" inches. Very comfortable and sturdy.
Category

1960s Vintage Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Steel

Contemporary David Mocarski for Gunlocke Tia Side Guest Chairs Brand New, a Pair
Located in Secaucus, NJ
A fabulous pair of Tia side guest chairs feature a simple and refined design. Tia is driven by profile, silhouette, and proportion. Its wooden frame embraces and cradles the continuo...
Category

2010s American Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Fabric, Hardwood, Maple, Oak, Plywood

Solid Bentwood Side Chair Stool, Velvet Upholstery by Raka Studio
Located in Cape Girardeau, MO
A side/filler chair made in solid ashwood by bending wood. Three of the legs have been made using the wood-turning technique to adopt an abstract natural wave-like design. It has bee...
Category

2010s Unknown Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Ash, Bentwood, Velvet

Mid-Century Modern Dining Chairs Set of 8
Located in New York, NY
Mid-Century Modern curved back dining chairs upholstered in black faux leather. Crafted of solid heavy full grain hardwood with walnut finish. Perfect for either casual or formal di...
Category

2010s Portuguese Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Faux Leather, Wood

Kartell Eur Stool in White by Fabio Novembre
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The EUR stool by Fabio Novembre is a cube printed with shapes and geometries inspired, to scale, by Italian rationalist architecture of the 1930s and 1940s. The stool can be multi-pu...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Plastic

Jayson Home Serge Chair with Natural Goat Hide and Teak Frame
Located in Morristown, NJ
21stC. goat Hide and teak wood side chair by Jayson Home of Chicago. The chair is handcrafted in the United States. This is a smart chair that would work well in an entryway, dressin...
Category

2010s Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Goatskin, Teak

Tusk Sling Chair - Set of 8 - Ready to Ship in Black Ash
Located in Calgary, CA
Tusk sling dining chair by Möbius Objects - hand-sculpted in solid American Ash in a black stain. Raked legs offer a unique 'wind-swept' silhouette. The veg-tan leather sling is ergo...
Category

2010s Canadian Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Leather, Wood

Declan Barstool
Located in Houston, TX
Our Declan Barstool is the newest piece in our collection. Just like our Declan Side Chair it exudes sophisticated elegance. It is sleek and curvaceous, with the perfectly unexpect...
Category

2010s American Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Brass

Disney Quest Aluminum Armillary Chairs by Jordan Mozer Set of 5
Located in Chattanooga, TN
Created for Chicago and Orlando's Disney Quest in 1995, the "Armillry Chair" is a stunning contribution to the world of the design. Crafted from the genius of Jordan Mozer, this solid aluminum chair looks like it jumped off the screen from a Ridley Scott film. Rarely do we see such a thoughtful blend of modern design and sinister sci-fi inspiration. The anthropomorphic...
Category

1990s American Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Aluminum

Pierre Jeanneret Demountable Armchair Model PJ-SI-07-A
Located in New York, NY
One of the earliest and rarest chairs from the Chandigarh project, model PJ-SI-07-A, This chair is one of the first creations of Pierre Jeanneret when he arrived in Chandigarh. He u...
Category

Mid-20th Century Indian Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Teak

Declan Side Chair
Located in Houston, TX
Our declan side chair exudes sophisticated elegance. It is sleek and curvaceous, with the perfectly unexpected walnut and brass back detailing. Shown here in wool - mineral, black o...
Category

2010s American Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Brass

CraftAssociates Dining Chair, Milo Baughman Dining Chairs, Oval, Cane, Walnut
Located in Oak Harbor, OH
CraftAssociates Dining Chair, Milo Baughman Dining Chairs, Oval, Cane, Walnut The Milo Baughman Oval Cane Back Walnut Side Chair for Craft Associates® Furniture is expertly crafted....
Category

2010s American Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Sheepskin, Walnut, Wood

ISU Lowback Handcrafted Textured Satin Metal Chair by Soraya Osorio
Located in Vero Beach, FL
ISU Lowback chair has a handcrafted satin grazed textured metal finish that sheens when exposed to light. The 1.50" seat cushion is a lustrous black hair on hide. COM accepted upon ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Metal, Aluminum

A Pair of 2 Vintage Spindle Back Chairs
Located in Oak Park, MI
A good pair of vintage ash spindle back side chairs. Painted French grey and very solidly built in the traditional way. Handsome profiles and good and heavy. Perfect around a farmh...
Category

Late 20th Century British Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Ash

Six Variations on Stainless Steel by Pietro Franceschini
Located in Geneve, CH
Six variations on stainless steel by Pietro Franceschini Two pipes back Dimensions: W 51 x L 61 x H 123 cm Materials: Stainless steel mirror-polished, sheepskin Series of six ...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Steel

Trolley Armless Side Chair by Phase Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Trolley Armless Side Chair by Phase Design Dimensions: D 59.7 x W 55.2 x H 81.3 cm. Materials: Leather and polished chrome. Solid steel bar available in a smoked brass, polished ch...
Category

2010s American Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Chrome

Trolley Side Chair With Arms by Phase Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Trolley Side Chair With Arms by Phase Design Dimensions: D 59.7 x W 55.2 x H 81.3 cm. Materials: Upholstery and powder-coated metal. Solid steel bar available in a smoked brass, po...
Category

2010s American Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Metal

Trolley Side Chair With Arms by Phase Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Trolley Side Chair With Arms by Phase Design Dimensions: D 59.7 x W 55.2 x H 81.3 cm. Materials: Upholstery and powder-coated metal. Solid steel bar available in a smoked brass, po...
Category

2010s American Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Metal

Trolley Side Chair With Arms by Phase Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Trolley Side Chair With Arms by Phase Design Dimensions: D 59.7 x W 55.2 x H 81.3 cm. Materials: Leather and polished chrome. Solid steel bar available in a smoked brass, polished ...
Category

2010s American Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Chrome

Set of 8 Knoll Handkerchief Chairs by Massimo vignelli
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Vintage 'Handkerchief' stacking chairs designed by Massimo Vignelli for Knoll, 1983. Grey plastic seat over a painted steel rod base. 18" seat height. Sold as a set of 8.
Category

1980s Vintage Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Steel

Kickstand Armless Side Chair by Phase Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Kickstand Armless Side Chair by Phase Design Dimensions: D 63.5 x W 55.9 x H 79.4 cm. Materials: Leather, powder-coated metal and brushed brass. Solid steel bar available in a flat...
Category

2010s American Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Metal, Brass

Kickstand Side Chair With Arms by Phase Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Kickstand Side Chair With Arms by Phase Design Dimensions: D 63.5 x W 59.1 x H 79.4 cm. Materials: Upholstery, powder-coated metal and brushed brass. Solid steel bar available in a...
Category

2010s American Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Metal, Brass

Kickstand Armless Side Chair by Phase Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Kickstand Armless Side Chair by Phase Design Dimensions: D 63.5 x W 55.9 x H 79.4 cm. Materials: Upholstery, powder-coated metal and brushed brass. Solid steel bar available in a f...
Category

2010s American Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Metal, Brass

Pair of Channeled Accent Chairs with Pouf by Luigi Massoni for Poltrona Frau
Located in Chicago, IL
A pair of vegan leather accent chairs by Luigi Massoni for Poltrona Frau, Italy 1980s. These rare three-legged chairs feature elegant curvature and make the most of negative space, o...
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Leather, Upholstery

Italian Designer, Side Chair, Pine, Italy, 1950s
Located in High Point, NC
A pine side chair designed and produced in Italy, 1950s. Seat height 17.75”.
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Pine

Pair Frank Gehry Cross Check Bent Maple Chairs For Knoll
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of Frank Gehry Cross Check Chairs. The chairs are made of Maple Bentwood Ribbon-like pieces, crossed and bent to work together to form, not onl...
Category

20th Century Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Maple, Bentwood, Plywood

Stay Side Modern Accent Vanity Chair
Located in North York, ON
The Stay Side Modern Accent Vanity Chair is a must-have addition to any seating space. This striking chair features a sleek brass metal frame that adds a touch of elegance to any roo...
Category

2010s Polish Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Metal, Brass

Pair Of Arhaus Italian Leather Lounge Chairs
Located in Bradenton, FL
Handsome pair of Arhaus Italian leather lounge chairs in a rich amber shade with brass nail head trim on ebonized wooden legs. Nice broken in leather in ove...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Leather

Petite Upholstered Accent Chair
Located in Westwood, NJ
This petite seat calls to mind the exquisite detail and drape of a bustle dress, fashionable during the late 1880s. Its elegant silhouette features a low camelback and dressmaker ski...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Asian Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Fabric, Wood

Polished Aluminum Magna Chair or Stool with Sheepskin Upholstery, Customizable
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Made from rolled aluminum — in a non-directional satin finish — and sheepskin, the Magna chair, designed by Charles Constantine, takes its inspiration from...
Category

2010s American Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Aluminum

Vintage Barrel Back Side-Chair w/ Grey Ebonized Frame & Full-Grain Leather
Located in Chicago, IL
Classic Vintage Castered Barrel Back Side-Chair w/ Grey Ebonized Frame Upholstered in Original Full Grain Grey Leather by Howard Lorton Furniture & Design's Hickory Chair The Hicko...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Leather, Wood

Sculptural Organic Vintage Side Chairs Pair Bohuslav Horak 1988 Czech Republic
By Bohuslav Horák
Located in Vienna, AT
Sculptural metal vintage chairs model Pupeny or Buds by Bohuslav Horak, 1988. A sculptural and fairy-tale design with a twist, these side chairs s...
Category

1980s Czech Vintage Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Iron

Michael Thonet Ton "Era" Yellow Chairs, 4
Located in New York, NY
Set of Four Michael Thonet Ton "Era" Chairs in Yellow, 21st Century. 33" H x 16.25" W x 20.5" D.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Wood

Afra and Tobia Scarpa Pair of 'Monk' Chairs for Molteni, Italy, circa 1974
Located in New York, NY
Afra and Tobia Scarpa Pair of 'Monk' Chairs for Molteni, Italy, circa 1974 A simplified and solid design by Italian award-winning designer couple Afra & Tobia Scarpa, the 'Monk' mo...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Leather, Walnut

Set of 8 Custom Modern Leather Dining Chairs with Washed Finish
Located in North York, ON
Set of 8 custom modern leather dining chairs with washed finish. This Neo-Deco side chair is a Carrocel custom piece. The frame is composed of unfinished maple with a curved rectangu...
Category

2010s Canadian Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Leather, Maple

Bling Bling Chair by Pietro Franceschini
Located in Geneve, CH
Bling bling chair by Pietro Franceschini Sold exclusively by Galerie Philia Manufacturer: Stefano Minotti Dimensions: W 79 ...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Bouclé, Ash

Set of 2 Hygge Stool by Collector
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2 Hygge stool by Collector Materials: Structure in solid oak wood. Upholstered in Pierre Frey fabric. Legs: Travertino Dimensions: 45 x H 44 cm Depe...
Category

2010s Portuguese Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Travertine

Celeste Chair in Boucle Fabric and Brass and Mint Metal by Lara Bohinc
Located in Holland, AMSTERDAM
Celeste chair plays with contrasting shapes, materials and textures. The circles and squares join to make a chair that has both substance and lightness. ...
Category

2010s British Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Metal

Declan Barstool
Located in Houston, TX
Our Declan Barstool is the newest piece in our collection. Just like our Declan Side Chair it exudes sophisticated elegance. It is sleek and curvaceous, with the perfectly unexpecte...
Category

2010s American Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Brass

Arthur Court Horn Chairs, a Pair
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful pair of Arthur Court horn chairs. These are cast aluminum with a beautiful hand painted off-white natural finish. Gorgeous gray suede as the covering. Some wear but adds to...
Category

Late 20th Century American Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Aluminum

Olivier De Schrijver Pair of Oak and Leather Chairs, Signed & Numbered
Located in New York, NY
A striking and sleek pair of lounge chairs designed by Olivier De Schrijver, the Belgian contemporary artist, who was born in 1958. Newly re-finished and re-upholstered in a butter c...
Category

1990s Belgian Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Leather, Oak

21st Century Bare Chair in Fabric col. Bean by Etro Home Interiors
Located in Cantù, Lombardia
Comfortable as an armchair, Bare chair stands out for its retro lines and enveloping backrest, upholstered with Etro Home Interiors iconic fabrics. The chair features a fir wood stru...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Fabric, Wood

Pair of Chic 'Méandre' Side Chairs by Design Frères
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of chic undulating 'Méandre' side chairs by Design Frères. Bronzed steel frames. Natural linen upholstered cushions. These Méandre™ chairs from our exclusive Design Frères® li...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Steel

Seletti Pink "Lipsticks" Upholstered Occasional Chair by Toiletpaper
Located in Doral, FL
Mix and match the wildest graphics designed by Toiletpaper and get the most iconic dining room of all. Also available in blue. - Material: Fabrics in polyester, frame in wood with...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Polyester, Wood

Opinion Ciatti Tab.u Large Stool
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Take a wooden frame, cover it in aluminium and then work its surface, ""scrunch” it by hand to achieve a crimpled profile. This is the process at the core of the Tab.u collection, stools and tables with absolutely distinctive lines. The Tab.u large stool is a traditional tall bar stool. It is perfect in any environment and for all uses: around the table for an unexpected guest, in the bathroom to rest objects or towels, in the living room when there is no more room on the sofa or in the bedroom instead of the usual bedside table. It is stunning around a counter or a kitchen island, both at home or in the most glamorous clubs. The family is complete with the addition of the Tab.u mirror and the Tab.u lamp...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Aluminum

Opinion Ciatti Tab.u Small Stool
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Take a wooden frame, cover it in aluminium and then work its surface, ""scrunch” it by hand to achieve a crimpled profile. This is the process at the core of the Tab.u Collection, stools and tables with absolutely distinctive lines. The low Tab.u stool, the firstborn in the family, is a really versatile object. It is perfect in any environment and for all uses: around the table for an unexpected guest, in the bathroom to rest objects or towels, in the living room when there is no more room on the sofa or in the bedroom instead of the usual bedside table. Its elder brother, Big Tab.u is a traditional tall bar stool. It is stunning around a counter or a kitchen island, both at home or in the most glamorous clubs. The family is complete with the addition of the Tab.u Mirror and the Tab.u Lamp...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Aluminum

Black Playdough Chair by kar
Located in Geneve, CH
Black Playdough chair by kar Materials: FRP. Dimensions: 37 x 39 x 89 cm. Soft like cotton, with a strong contrast to the hard texture, the unique app...
Category

2010s Chinese Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Fiberglass

Emeco Broom Barstool in White by Philippe Starck
Located in Hanover, PA
Philippe Starck and Emeco came together to create a new chair that is reclaimed, repurposed, recyclable – and designed to last. The chair is made from 75% waste polypropylene and 15%...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Aluminum

Seletti "Lipsticks" Upholstered Occasional Chair by Toiletpaper
Located in Doral, FL
Mix and match the wildest graphics designed by Toiletpaper and get the most iconic dining room of all. - Material: Fabrics in polyester, frame in wood with polyurethane padding an...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Polyester, Wood

Emeco Broom Stacking Chair in White by Philippe Starck
Located in Hanover, PA
Philippe Starck and Emeco came together to create a new chair that is reclaimed, repurposed, recyclable – and designed to last. The chair is made from 75% waste polypropylene and 15% reclaimed wood fiber that would normally be swept into the trash, “Imagine”, says Philippe Starck, “a guy who takes a humble broom and starts to clean the workshop and with this dust he makes new magic”. That’s why we call it Broom chair...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Plastic

Emeco Broom Stacking Chair in Green by Philippe Starck
Located in Hanover, PA
Philippe Starck and Emeco came together to create a new chair that is reclaimed, repurposed, recyclable – and designed to last. The chair is made from 75% waste polypropylene and 15% reclaimed wood that would normally be swept into the trash, “Imagine”, says Philippe Starck, “a guy who takes a humble broom...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Plastic

Emeco Counter Stool in Brushed Aluminum by Philippe Starck
Located in Hanover, PA
The Museum of Modern Art asked Philippe Starck and Emeco to make a simple stool for the “Mies Van der Rohe in Berlin” retrospective. The result is one of our best selling stools, a c...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Side Chairs

Materials

Aluminum

Modern side chairs for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Modern side chairs for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage side chairs created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include seating, tables, decorative objects and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, wood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Modern side chairs made in a specific country, there are Europe, North America, and United States pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original side chairs, popular names associated with this style include Emeco, Jasper Morrison, Philippe Starck, and Sir Norman Foster. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for side chairs differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $65 and tops out at $90,000 while the average work can sell for $2,120.

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