Modern furniture: A brief history

If you are unfamiliar with the history of furniture, you may be surprised to discover that most of today’s modern furniture can actually be traced to the 1920s. Modernism arose in Europe around the turn of the 19th century as a reaction to the current events of the day. Forward-thinking artists, poets and great thinkers foresaw cataclysm and sought to change public opinion. At that time, modernism was a revolutionary view, espoused only by a small minority.

Following World War One, however, public opinion changed. What had once been the province of only a few quickly became the defining spirit of the age. It was during this renaissance that modern pieces ranging from the marshmallow sofa to a full range of coffee tables got their start.

Yet we as a people continue to be fascinated with thoughts of the future. The bold, sleek styling of modern furniture captures us today as it did nearly a hundred years ago, as a representation of the future that is always just around the corner.

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