Born in Germany and trained in the family stonemason business, the architecture and design of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe became iconic of the cool, minimalist International Style from the first half of the century.

A member of the "Novembergruppe," an organization intent on expanding the scope and impact of modernism, Mies spent the first part of the 1920's designing buildings in this style. In 1927 the design and patent for his tubular steel cantilevered chair started to bring him into the international spotlight. The most famous of his piece is the 'Barcelona' chair, the outward appearance replaced the cozy qualities of a large upholstered armchair with a smaller and more streamlined chair.

Mies was director of the Bauhaus school in Berlin from 1930-32, and moved to Chicago in 1938, where he taught architecture at the Armour Institute. He designed the Seagram Building in New York (1962-67), a glass and steel building infused with the same affinity for balance and a sleek visual form as his furniture.