Modern furniture and contemporary furniture were born from a change in attitude, style and design that started in the late nineteenth century. Previously, furniture had tended towards more heavy, robust and lavish pieces, items that made a statement for its huge character, rather than simple elegance. Contemporary furniture design has veered more to that very elegance, often characterised by smooth, sleek lines and noted for its neat finishes rather than for its bulk and size.
The opportunity to create new, modern furniture designs has been greatly helped by advances in technology, materials and tooling. Where older pieces were constructed of wood and adorned with intricate, fussy carvings and deep-coloured, luscious fabrics, contemporary furniture is more likely to be built from polished metal, sleek steel and moulded plastics. With the introduction of man-made padding after the Second World War, even soft, cushioned seating can be styled in a more ‘clean’ and slick finish. Even the computer has had an impact on modern furniture, with designers more easily able to manipulate a prototype image to come up with striking and innovative new creations.