Richmond Contemporary Dining Chair

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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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

In addition to being functional, chairs can be works of art, and while antique and vintage corner chairs often make for a guaranteed conversation piece in your living room, these structures offer convenient seating for a range of spaces.

Corner chairs became popular in England during the 18th century. With their curved or angular backs, these chairs easily fit into dressing rooms, bedchambers and other areas of the home.

A corner chair can feel more comfortable when sitting for extensive periods of time. It allows one to face different directions, making it convenient for multitasking while working from home. Original and versatile, the unique shape of a corner chair makes it ideal for occupying the corner of a room. One can also add a corner chair to a conversation area or comfortable reading nook.

When it comes to antique and vintage corner chairs, Art Nouveau corner chairs showcase the natural grain of the wood and stand out with their asymmetrical lines, while Victorian corner chairs are frequently more ornamental.

On 1stDibs, find a variety of seating options that can be mixed and matched and are suited to meet any preferred furniture style or layout idea.