What is “Modern Furniture”?

Ever since furniture was first created, it has been a manifestation of our culture and civilization. From the ancient times to the contemporary era, furniture was been a reflection of how we view the world and how we think it should be changed, going away from it’s mere functional aspect. Furniture takes up space all around us, usually taken for granted, obscuring its real meaning most of the times

Meaning

The term “Modern Furniture” refers to the furniture created all through the 19^th century till today, inspired by the art movement called modernism. A huge departure from the furniture design before it, highly ornate and gilded pieces of wood and richly textured fabrics gave way to staggering simplicity and the aesthetic geometry of metal.

Chief Influences

Before the modernist movement began, great emphasis was laid on creating furniture which was highly ornate with intricate patterns and rich fabrics. Usually the time taken to create a piece was directly related to amount of desire for that particular piece. While the western or old school of thought laid emphasis on tradition and history, the modern movement looked for fresh newness, originality and innovation. The chief influences of Modernist design evolved out of a combination of various ideas: technically more advanced materials and manufacturing methods and the new thought of design from Werkbund and the Bauhaus School, from the exoticness of foreign influences, from Art Nouveau and from the tremendous amount of creativity of the various artists and designers of that era.

Icons of Modern Furniture

Elieen Grey’s side table created in 1972 created specially for her new home is one such great example of Modern Furniture. It’s unusual asymmetry and the non-conformist design style is a reflection of her own self. True to the Bauhaus school’s thought of usability the table can be adjusted such that breakfast can be eaten on it while one is in bed. The iconic Barcelon Chair on the other hand today represents the infamous Bauhaus design movement. Designed by Mies Van Der Rohe and Lilly Reich in 1929 for an international design fair in Barcelona, many consider this chair to be functional art instead of furniture. The Noguchi Coffee Table created by the noted sculptor, architect, furniture and landscape designer Isamu Nogichi still remains as landmark owing to its unique and unmistakable simplicity. Refined and at the same time very organic, this particular piece of design still remains as one of the most sough after pieces of furniture in the modern furniture movement.