Skip to main content

Bauhaus Furniture

BAUHAUS STYLE

The Bauhaus was a progressive German art and design school founded by the architect Walter Gropius that operated from 1919 to 1933. Authentic Bauhaus furnituresofas, 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

  • Emphasis on craft
  • Simplicity, order, clarity and a prioritization of functionalism
  • Incorporation of geometric shapes
  • Minimalist and refined, little to no ornamentation
  • Use of industrial materials such as tubular chrome, steel and plastic as well as leather, cane and molded plywood in furniture and other products

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.

3
1
to
2
2
1
4
4
4
694
370
147
33
24
21
21
21
17
13
7
5
4
3
3
1
1
3
1
2
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
2
2
1
1
1
1
Style: Bauhaus
Color:  Pink
New Contemporary Moroccan Rug with Bauhaus Style
Located in Dallas, TX
80948 New Contemporary Moroccan Rug, 08'04 x 12'03. Showcasing an expressive design, incredible detail and texture, this hand knotted wool contemporary Moroccan area rug is a captiva...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Pakistani Bauhaus Furniture

Materials

Wool

1960s Vintage Bamboo Sofa / Day Bed With Gated Underneath Storage Area
Located in Germantown, MD
1960s vintage jumbo bamboo Sofa with gated underneath storage. Two large seat and back cushions in polyester with wear consistent with age and use, but no tear. Front lifts up as a g...
Category

1950s Indonesian Vintage Bauhaus Furniture

Materials

Bamboo, Rattan

Pair of Cantilever Visitor Side Chairs, Signed Matteo Grassi, Italy, 1970s
Located in Beirut, LB
Vintage Matteo Grassi cantilever stylish visitor side chairs, Italy, 1970s. Signed Matteo Grassi on the leather. It is a Bauhaus chair designe...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Bauhaus Furniture

Materials

Steel

20th Century Czech Square Umakart Bauhaus Table, Chrome-Plated Steel, 1930s
Located in Horomerice, CZ
Original well preserved condition Bauhaus chrome table Style: Bauhaus, midcentury Period: 1940-1949. Material: Umakart and chrome-plated steel Source: Czechia.
Category

Mid-20th Century Czech Bauhaus Furniture

Materials

Chrome

Related Items
Modern Square Moroccan Rug
Located in New York, NY
Modern Moroccan carpet with a camel field featuring various asymmetrical lines.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Moroccan Bauhaus Furniture

Materials

Wool

Small Bauhaus Tubular Steel Desk, Oak Veneer and Chromium Plated Metal c 1930
Located in Berlin, DE
Small Bauhaus tubular steel desk, so-called 'typewriter desk', with 4 drawers. The desk is made of chromed tubular steel and oak-veneered wood. Germany/ Czechoslovakia/ Austria, circ...
Category

1930s German Vintage Bauhaus Furniture

Materials

Chrome

1 of 4 Vintage Leather Cantilever Armchairs in Style of Matteo Grassi, Italy 80s
Located in Zagreb, HR
Four vintage Bauhaus design dark brown leather cantilever chairs, in style of Matteo Grassi or Fasem Madrid chairs based on the designs...
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Bauhaus Furniture

Materials

Steel, Chrome

Matteo Grassi Pair of Dining Chairs in Leather and Steel
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Matteo Grassi, pair of dining chairs, leather and steel, Italy, 1980s. These sophisticated dark blue leather chairs with an angular design are designed for Italian manufacturer Matt...
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Bauhaus Furniture

Materials

Steel

Art Deco Black Wood and Leather Day Bed Sofa
Located in IT
Art Deco black wood and leather daybed sofa. Art Deco daybed sofa, from France, from 1930s Art Deco period. Black wood frame and leather upholstery. Conservative restoration of woode...
Category

Early 20th Century French Bauhaus Furniture

Materials

Leather, Wood

Art Deco Black Wood and Leather Day Bed Sofa
Art Deco Black Wood and Leather Day Bed Sofa
H 24.81 in W 94.49 in D 36.62 in
Moroccan Rug North African Tribal Bauhaus Design Djoharian Collection Beige
Located in Lohr, Bavaria, DE
Beige Moroccan Amazigh rug North African tribal design - Djoharian Collection. Berber rugs and carpets are mainly made in Morocco, Tunesia and Algeria. Largest producer are the tribal and nomadic Berber people of Morocco. Different areas produce very beautiful works of art. This small sized beige ground Berber rug comes from Morocco, North Africa. This stunning piece of art was hand knotted with tribal designs and Bauhaus inspirations. The abstract design of these Berber rugs inspired many modern European artists who visited Moroccan in the first half of the 20th century. The condition of the rug is excellent and new. Origin: Morocco Size: 150 x 100 cm / 5 x 3.3 ft Pile material: fine hand-spun wool Structure: Soft and with a high, plush pile - soft wool Colors: beige pile and charcoal kilim...
Category

2010s Moroccan Bauhaus Furniture

Materials

Wool

Mid-Century Modern Italian Bamboo Sofa Bed, 1970s
Located in Prato, IT
Mid-Century Modern Italian red brown coated bamboo sofa bed. This sofa bed comes with its original metallic bed net and needs a mattress of cm. 80 x 190 (about inch. 31.50 x 74.80)....
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Bauhaus Furniture

Materials

Bamboo, Rattan

Set of Eight Matteo Grassi Italian Black Leather Dining Chairs
Located in Ferndale, MI
Eight dining chairs by Matteo Grassi . Chairs are covered in saddle thick black leather over a steel frame . Marked Matteo Grassi on underside , incised stamp on rear cross stretcher...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Bauhaus Furniture

Materials

Leather

Bauhaus Tubular Steel and Wood Desk, Germany, 1930s
Located in Praha 2, Hlavní město Praha
Bauhaus tubular steel and wood desk, made in Germany, 1930s. Date of manufacture: 1930s Origin: Germany Material: Chrome-plated steel, Wood Dime...
Category

1930s German Vintage Bauhaus Furniture

Materials

Steel, Chrome

American Classical Two-Tier Square Oak Bobbin Legs Parlor Table, C 1930s
Located in Germantown, MD
1930s square Two-Tier Bobbin legs Parlor table, tea table with hand carved edges. Measures 23.5"W x 23.5"D x 29"H. Shelf height is 10". Great vintage ...
Category

Early 20th Century American Bauhaus Furniture

Materials

Oak

50 x Matteo Grassi Leather Cantilever Dining Chairs by Mart Stam, Italy 1970
Located in DE MEERN, NL
Looking for a sophisticated and stylish seating solution for your restaurant, hotel or dining room? Look no further than the Cantilever Black Leather...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Bauhaus Furniture

Materials

Chrome

Matteo Grassi Vintage Grey Leather Chair or Side Chair, 1980s, Italy
Located in Vienna, AT
A Matteo Grassi vintage grey leather chair or side chair, which was designed and manufactured 1980s in Italy. The stable and comfortable high-end c...
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Bauhaus Furniture

Materials

Leather

Previously Available Items
Bauhaus Geometric Carpet / Rug, 1940s
Located in Praha, CZ
- Bauhaus geometric carpet / rug, 1940s, rare type.
Category

1940s Czech Vintage Bauhaus Furniture

Materials

Wool

20th Century Bauhaus-Style Steel Armchair, 15 in Stock
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
These fantastic upholstered tubular steel armchairs, circa 1960s, are after the original “Cesca” chair, designed by Marcel Breuer in 1928, for Knoll. Jo...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Bauhaus Furniture

Materials

Steel

Set of Three Matteo Grassi Rust Italian MG Chairs
Located in New York, NY
#MG5/B MG chair (3) available Coach leather: Rust color Steel frame: Polished chrome Measures: 24" x 22.1" x 31.6" H 17.8" SH Set of eight MG5 dining chairs designed by Mart Stam...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Bauhaus Furniture

Materials

Chrome

Wierner Werkstatte Argentor Brass Trinket Tobacco Snuff Jewelry Box Collection
Located in Hyattsville, MD
All pieces marked Austria. One mushroom has Argentor symbol, the box appears to be older and is heavier with made in Austria, and 273. Measures: Box 4 x 3 x 1.5 in. Blk mushroom ...
Category

1930s Austrian Vintage Bauhaus Furniture

Materials

Brass

Bauhaus furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Bauhaus furniture 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 furniture created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include lighting, seating, tables and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, wood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Bauhaus furniture made in a specific country, there are Europe, Germany, and Czech Republic pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original furniture, popular names associated with this style include Poul Henningsen, Marcel Breuer, Schneid Studio, and Adam Otlewski. 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 furniture differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $84 and tops out at $327,316 while the average work can sell for $1,863.

Recently Viewed

View All