A guide to Bauhaus furniture designers (updated in 2023)

The Bauhaus was a school of art, architecture, and design that was active in Germany between 1919 and 1933. The school was founded by Walter Gropius, and its philosophy was based on the idea of creating a new form of art that was functional, efficient, and accessible to everyone. Many of the furniture designers associated with the Bauhaus were heavily influenced by the school's principles and their work continues to be highly influential today.

One of the most influential furniture designers associated with the Bauhaus was Marcel Breuer. He was a student at the Bauhaus from 1920 to 1924, and later became a teacher there. Breuer is best known for his designs of tubular steel furniture, including his iconic Wassily chair, which was designed in 1925. He believed that furniture design should prioritize functionality and efficiency, and his tubular steel designs were a reflection of this belief.

here are 5 key furniture designs by Marcel Breuer:

1. Wassily Chair (1925-1926): The Wassily Chair was designed by Marcel Breuer in 1925-1926, and it is considered one of the most iconic pieces of furniture of the 20th century. It is made of tubular steel and leather, and its simple, sleek design was inspired by the frame of a bicycle. The chair was originally produced by Thonet and is still in production today by Knoll. The current price for a Wassily Chair ranges from $1,200 to $2,500, depending on the materials and finish.

2. Cesca Chair (1928-1929): The Cesca Chair, also known as the Model B32 chair, was designed by Marcel Breuer in 1928-1929. It is made of tubular steel and cane, and its innovative design features a cantilevered seat and back. The chair was first produced by Thonet and is still in production today by Knoll. The current price for a Cesca Chair ranges from $600 to $1,200, depending on the materials and finish.

3. Laccio Table (1925): The Laccio Table was designed by Marcel Breuer in 1925, and it is a simple, geometric design made of tubular steel and glass. The table was originally designed to accompany the Wassily Chair and was inspired by the frame of a bicycle. The table is still in production today by Knoll, and the current price ranges from $800 to $1,500, depending on the size and finish.

4. Long Chair (1930): The Long Chair, also known as the Model B3 chair, was designed by Marcel Breuer in 1930. It is made of tubular steel and canvas, and its innovative design features a cantilevered seat and back that can be adjusted to several different positions. The chair was first produced by Thonet and is still in production today by Knoll. The current price for a Long Chair ranges from $2,500 to $5,000, depending on the materials and finish.

5. Club Chair (1930): The Club Chair, also known as the Model B34 chair, was designed by Marcel Breuer in 1930. It is made of tubular steel and leather, and its unique design features a cantilevered seat and back that are supported by two curving armrests. The chair was first produced by Thonet and is still in production today by Knoll. The current price for a Club Chair ranges from $3,000 to $5,000, depending on the materials and finish.

Breuer's key furniture designs were innovative for their time because they combined the principles of modernism with new materials and construction techniques. His use of tubular steel, in particular, allowed him to create designs that were strong, lightweight, and visually striking. Many of his designs also featured cantilevered elements, which added to their visual appeal and made them more comfortable and functional. Today, his furniture designs are still highly sought after for their timeless beauty and innovative design.

Another important furniture designer associated with the Bauhaus was Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. He was a teacher at the Bauhaus from 1930 until the school's closure in 1933. Mies van der Rohe is known for his clean, minimalist designs, which were heavily influenced by the principles of the Bauhaus. He designed a number of iconic pieces of furniture, including the Barcelona chair, which is still in production today.

Here are 5 key furniture designs by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe:

1. Barcelona Chair and Stool (1929): The Barcelona Chair and Stool were designed by Mies van der Rohe for the German Pavilion at the 1929 International Exposition in Barcelona, Spain. The chair is made of chromed steel and leather, with the frame consisting of a single piece of metal bent into a U-shape. The chair's clean lines, geometric form, and luxurious materials make it an iconic example of modernist furniture design. The chair and stool are still in production today and can be purchased for around $6,000-$8,000.

2. Brno Chair (1930): The Brno Chair was designed by Mies van der Rohe for use in the Tugendhat House in Brno, Czech Republic. The chair is made of tubular steel and leather, with a cantilevered seat and back. Its sleek, minimalist design and innovative use of materials make it a classic of modern furniture design. The Brno Chair is still in production and can be purchased for around $1,000-$2,000.

3. Tugendhat Chair (1930): The Tugendhat Chair was designed by Mies van der Rohe for use in the Tugendhat House in Brno, Czech Republic. The chair is made of chrome-plated steel and leather, with a cantilevered seat and back. The chair's simple, elegant design and innovative use of materials make it an important piece of modernist furniture design. The Tugendhat Chair is no longer in production and is a rare and valuable collector's item.

4. MR Chair (1927): The MR Chair was designed by Mies van der Rohe in collaboration with Lilly Reich. The chair is made of tubular steel and leather, with a cantilevered seat and back. Its lightweight construction and innovative use of materials make it an important example of modernist furniture design. The MR Chair is still in production and can be purchased for around $1,000-$2,000.

5. Barcelona Daybed (1930): The Barcelona Daybed was designed by Mies van der Rohe for the Tugendhat House in Brno, Czech Republic. The daybed is made of chrome-plated steel and leather, with a tufted cushion. Its elegant, minimal design and use of luxurious materials make it an iconic example of modernist furniture design. The Barcelona Daybed is still in production and can be purchased for around $7,000-$9,000.

Willy Guhl was also an important furniture designer associated with the Bauhaus. He was a student at the school from 1923 to 1927, and later became a teacher there. Guhl is known for his designs of outdoor furniture, which were heavily influenced by the Bauhaus' focus on functionality and efficiency. He designed a number of iconic pieces of outdoor furniture, including his Loop Chair, which is still in production today.

Here are 5 pieces of furniture by Willy Guhl:

1. Loop Chair (1951): The Loop Chair is a simple yet striking outdoor chair designed by Willy Guhl in 1951. It is made from a single piece of fiber-reinforced cement, which is molded into a loop shape. The chair is 28.5 inches high, 23 inches wide, and 27.5 inches deep. It is available in a range of colors, including white, gray, and charcoal. The Loop Chair is an innovative design because of its use of fiber-reinforced cement, which was a relatively new material at the time. It is also notable for its minimalist form and sculptural quality.

2. Diagonal Chair (1953): The Diagonal Chair, also known as the "cigarette chair," is a sleek and modern outdoor chair designed by Willy Guhl in 1953. It is made from a single sheet of fiber-reinforced cement that is bent into a diagonal shape, creating a comfortable seat and backrest. The chair is 29 inches high, 22.5 inches wide, and 27.5 inches deep. It is available in a range of colors, including white, gray, and charcoal. The Diagonal Chair is innovative because of its use of fiber-reinforced cement, which was a new and unusual material for furniture at the time. It is also notable for its streamlined form and elegant simplicity.

3. Hourglass Chair (1954): The Hourglass Chair is a unique and eye-catching outdoor chair designed by Willy Guhl in 1954. It is made from a single piece of fiber-reinforced cement that is molded into an hourglass shape, with a curved seat and backrest. The chair is 31.5 inches high, 20 inches wide, and 22 inches deep. It is available in a range of colors, including white, gray, and charcoal. The Hourglass Chair is innovative because of its use of fiber-reinforced cement, which was a new and unusual material for furniture at the time. It is also notable for its sculptural form and organic curves.

4. Spindle Chair (1954): The Spindle Chair is a playful and sculptural outdoor chair designed by Willy Guhl in 1954. It is made from a single piece of fiber-reinforced cement that is molded into a spindle shape, with a wide base and a tapered top. The chair is 29.5 inches high, 18.5 inches wide, and 18.5 inches deep. It is available in a range of colors, including white, gray, and charcoal. The Spindle Chair is innovative because of its use of fiber-reinforced cement, which was a new and unusual material for furniture at the time. It is also notable for its whimsical form and dynamic lines.

5. Loop Table (1954): The Loop Table is a sleek and minimal outdoor table designed by Willy Guhl in 1954. It is made from a single piece of fiber-reinforced cement that is molded into a loop shape, with a flat top and a hollow base. The table is 16.5 inches high and 31.5 inches in diameter. It is available in a range of colors, including white, gray, and charcoal. The Loop Table is innovative because of its use of fiber-reinforced cement, which was a new and unusual material for furniture at the time. It is also notable for its simple

Gerrit Rietveld was another important furniture designer associated with the Bauhaus. He was a student at the school from 1919 to 1922, and later became a teacher there. Rietveld is known for his use of geometric shapes and primary colors in his designs. He designed a number of iconic pieces of furniture, including the Red and Blue Chair, which is still in production today.

Here are 5 examples of furniture designed by Gerrit Rietveld:

1. Red and Blue Chair (1917/18): The Red and Blue Chair is perhaps Rietveld's most famous and iconic design. It was created in 1917/18 as a response to De Stijl's call for art and design to be reduced to its simplest form. The chair is made of painted beech wood and has a simple geometric form, with rectangular planes of primary colors (red, blue, and yellow) intersecting at right angles. It is currently produced by Cassina and has a price range of $8,000 to $10,000.

2. Zig-Zag Chair (1932): The Zig-Zag Chair, also known as the Rietveld Chair, was designed in 1932 and was originally made from unpainted wood. It is constructed from four flat boards, joined together with metal hardware. The design is notable for its use of simple, horizontal and vertical lines, as well as its cantilevered seat and backrest. The chair is available in a variety of finishes, including painted colors, and has a price range of $1,800 to $2,400.

3. Utrecht Armchair (1935): The Utrecht Armchair was designed in 1935 for the Metz & Co. department store in Amsterdam. It is a low-slung, boxy armchair with wide arms and a single loose cushion for the seat and back. The chair has a solid wood frame and comes in a range of fabrics and leathers. It is currently produced by Cassina and has a price range of $6,000 to $8,000.

4. Crate Chair (1934): The Crate Chair, also known as the Milk Crate Chair, was designed in 1934 and was inspired by the wooden crates used to transport milk bottles in the Netherlands. The chair is made of unpainted wood and features a simple, rectangular frame with two horizontal slats for the seat and backrest. The design is notable for its use of found materials and its minimalist aesthetic.

5. Beugel Chair (1927): The Beugel Chair, also known as the Tube Chair, was designed in 1927 and was made from chrome-plated steel tubing and black leather. The design is characterized by its use of cantilevered tubular steel, which creates a sense of lightness and flexibility. The seat and back are slung between two tubular steel frames and the chair has a slight backward tilt for added comfort. The chair is still in production and is available through various manufacturers, with a price range of $1,500 to $2,000.

These furniture designs were innovative for their time because they prioritized simplicity, functionality, and modern materials over traditional ornamentation and decorative elements. They were part of the De Stijl movement, which sought to reduce design to its most basic elements and create a visual language of simple geometric shapes and primary colors. Rietveld's designs were also characterized by their use of new materials, such as tubular steel, and their focus on mass production and accessibility. These designs remain influential today and have had a lasting impact on modern furniture design.

Finally, Mart Stam, was also an important furniture designer associated with the Bauhaus. He was a student at the school from 1919 to 1922, and later became a teacher there. Stam is known for his designs of tubular steel furniture, which were heavily influenced by the Bauhaus' focus on functionality and efficiency. He designed a number of iconic pieces of furniture, including the S 33 chair, which is still in production today.

Here are five key Mart Stam furniture designs:

1. S 33 Chair (1927): The S 33 Chair, also known as the "Thonet chair" or the "S33 cantilever chair," was designed by Mart Stam in 1927. It is a cantilever chair made of chromed steel and woven cane, and is one of the first chairs to use the principle of the cantilever in furniture design. The S 33 Chair is still in production today and is available from various manufacturers. Prices vary depending on the manufacturer, but generally range from several hundred to several thousand dollars.

2. S 43 Chair (1931): The S 43 Chair is another cantilever chair designed by Stam, this time in 1931. It is similar in design to the S 33 Chair, but with a more streamlined look. It is made of chromed steel and either leather or fabric upholstery. The S 43 Chair is still in production and available from various manufacturers, with prices ranging from several hundred to several thousand dollars.

3. S 34 Chair (1935): The S 34 Chair is a cantilever chair designed by Stam in 1935. It is similar in design to the S 33 and S 43 chairs, but features a wider seat and backrest. It is made of chromed steel and either leather or fabric upholstery. The S 34 Chair is still in production and available from various manufacturers, with prices ranging from several hundred to several thousand dollars.

4. S 35 Chair (1935): The S 35 Chair is a cantilever chair designed by Stam in 1935. It is similar in design to the S 33, S 43, and S 34 chairs, but with a more angular frame. It is made of chromed steel and either leather or fabric upholstery. The S 35 Chair is still in production and available from various manufacturers, with prices ranging from several hundred to several thousand dollars.

5. Freischwinger Chair (1926): The Freischwinger Chair, also known as the "Cantilever chair," was designed by Stam in 1926. It is considered one of the earliest examples of a cantilever chair, and features a tubular steel frame with no back legs. The chair is made of either leather or fabric upholstery, and is still in production today. Prices vary depending on the manufacturer, but generally range from several hundred to several thousand dollars. The Freischwinger Chair is considered an innovative design because of its use of the cantilever principle, which had not been used in furniture design before.

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