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What is modern furniture design?

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What is modern furniture design?
Modern furniture design is an overarching term for the new approach that designers began taking in the early 20th century. Many experts cite the Bauhaus movement as the start of the modern era. Its style was defined by the instructors and students at a progressive German art and design school founded by the architect Walter Gropius that operated from 1919 to 1933. In Bauhaus-style furniture, 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. As the Bauhaus movement was emerging, so too was Art Deco. This iconic movement made an indelible mark on all fields of design throughout the 1920s and ’30s, celebrating society’s growing industrialization with refined elegance and stunning craftsmanship. Art Deco furniture makers respected the dark woods and modern metals with which they worked; they frequently incorporated decorative embellishments such as exotic animal hides as well as veneers in their seating, case pieces, living room sets and bedroom furniture. After World War II, modern design continued with the mid-century modern movement. The style is characterized by pieces that were conceived and made in an energetic, optimistic spirit by creators who believed that good design was an essential part of good living. Historians typically say that the modern approach to furniture design ended in the mid-1960s or early 1970s. Pieces made after that time may be called postmodern or contemporary. Shop a large collection of modern furniture on 1stDibs.
1stDibs ExpertAugust 8, 2024
Shop for Modern Furniture on 1stDibs
Pink Marble Side Table ‘Flow’
Located in Eindhoven, NB
FLOW is a modern pink marble side table with a clean shape and a wave detail at the bottom. The simple cube form is combined with a flowing base, giving the table a light and playful...
Category

2010s Dutch Modern Side Tables

Materials

Marble, Stone

Serrallés Chandelier
Located in Macieira de Sarnes, PT
SERRALLÉS CHANDELIER, designed in 2025. Large asymetric brass chandelier with handcrafted ceramic shells. The shells are hand-sculpted and finished in a bespoke galze. Each piece is...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Chandeliers and Pendants

Materials

Brass

Serrallés Chandelier
$11,648 / item
Art Deco Style Sofa Covered In Olive Velvet By Munna Design
Located in NEW YORK, NY
Evoking the bold and historic strength of Scotland's kilts, this Sofa makes a powerful statement. Its design captures the essence of the kilt's dynamic folds, resulting in a comforta...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Sofas

Materials

Velvet

Sculptural Boucle Dining Chair with Split Pedestal Base - Mondo Design Studio
Located in NEW YORK, NY
A sculptural blend of form and function, this contemporary dining chair exudes elegance with its soft curves and refined silhouette. Upholstered in a range of heavy textured boucle w...
Category

2010s Portuguese Modern Chairs

Materials

Bouclé, Upholstery, Wood

AMAZONITE Dry Green Beige Striped Velvet Deluxe Handmade Decorative Pillow
Located in Viseu, PT
Inspired by the allure of crystals, gems, and precious stones, this luxurious velvet cushion will spark and spread beauty, positive energies, and comfort throughout your living space...
Category

2010s Portuguese Modern Pillows and Throws

Materials

Cotton, Velvet

Barbican Bedside Tables
Located in London, GB
Handmade in the English Lake District from European oak and native British ash, the Barbican bedside tables bring together bold geometry and traditional craftsmanship. Inspired by br...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary English Modern Night Stands

Materials

Ash, Oak

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