Modern Boxes
MODERN STYLE
The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw sweeping social change and major scientific advances — both of which contributed to a new aesthetic: modernism. Rejecting the rigidity of Victorian artistic conventions, modernists sought a new means of expression. References to the natural world and ornate classical embellishments gave way to the sleek simplicity of the Machine Age. Architect Philip Johnson characterized the hallmarks of modernism as “machine-like simplicity, smoothness or surface [and] avoidance of ornament.”
Early practitioners of modernist design include the De Stijl (“The Style”) group, founded in the Netherlands in 1917, and the Bauhaus School, founded two years later in Germany.
Followers of both groups produced sleek, spare designs — many of which became icons of daily life in the 20th century. The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics. While Bauhaus principals Marcel Breuer and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe created furniture from mass-produced, chrome-plated steel, American visionaries like Charles and Ray Eames worked in materials as novel as molded plywood and fiberglass. Today, Breuer’s Wassily chair, Mies van der Rohe’s Barcelona chair — crafted with his romantic partner, designer Lilly Reich — and the Eames lounge chair are emblems of progressive design and vintage originals are prized cornerstones of collections.
It’s difficult to overstate the influence that modernism continues to wield over designers and architects — and equally difficult to overstate how revolutionary it was when it first appeared a century ago. But because modernist furniture designs are so simple, they can blend in seamlessly with just about any type of décor. Don’t overlook them.
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Style: Modern
Vintage Black Lacquer & Gilded Papier-Mâché Box - Asia - Late 20th Century
Located in Chatham, ON
Vintage hand painted and gold gilded papier-mâché box with removeable lid - featuring three gilded lotus flowers to the lid and an intricate double band of decoration to the edge - u...
Category
Late 20th Century Asian Modern Boxes
Materials
Paper
Vintage Silver Plate, Brass and Ebonized Wood Hinged Box Italian
Located in North Miami, FL
This stunning vintage Italian silver-plate, brass and wood hinged box is a beauty. The twisted brass rope design on the bottom is an interesting element that refines and raises the b...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Boxes
Materials
Silver Plate, Brass
Maitland Smith Unusual Pink Tessellated Marble Box, ca 1990s
Located in Cathedral City, CA
Maitland Smith Unusual Pink Tessellated Marble Box, ca 1990s.
This rectangular box is clad in a beautiful tessellated pink marble and accented with a brass inlay along all the face ...
Category
Late 20th Century Philippine Modern Boxes
Materials
Marble, Brass
Ghidini 1961 Small Knotted Cherry Box in Polished Brass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Small box available in brass and rose gold finishes.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Boxes
Materials
Brass
Gold-plated brass Chiseled Round Box, Nuage Collection, 2021
By Carole Serny
Located in VIC-LA-GARDIOLE, FR
More than a collection of finished objects, the Nuage collection works as a variation on a single ornamental theme: the breakthrough of a few rays of light through the clouds (Nuage ...
Category
2010s French Modern Boxes
Materials
Brass
Gold-plated brass Chiseled Round Box, Ecaille Collection, 2021
By Carole Serny
Located in VIC-LA-GARDIOLE, FR
The classic art deco-inspired Ecaille (Scale) pattern perfectly matches the diameter of the box lid, highlighting the contrast between the smooth box body and the finely chiseled lid...
Category
2010s French Modern Boxes
Materials
Brass
Vintage Raymor White Ceramic Hand Two Part Box Italian
By Raymor
Located in North Miami, FL
This vintage hallmarked white ceramic 2 part box has a formed hand as part of the box. it is an obscure rare box and marked on the bottom Raymor Mancer Made In Italy with a Raymor s...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Boxes
Materials
Ceramic
Maitland Smith Tessellated Rosso Levanto Marble Box, ca 1990s
Located in Cathedral City, CA
Exquisite Maitland Smith Tessellated Rosso Levanto Marble Box, ca 1990s.
This octagonal slope sided box is clad in a beautiful tessellated rosso levanto marble and accented with a ...
Category
Late 20th Century Philippine Modern Boxes
Materials
Marble, Brass
Spiky Ceramic Vessel By LGS Studio
By LGS Studio
Located in Norwalk, CT
A sculptural lidded vessel by Los Angeles based ceramic studio LGS Ceramics. This beautiful object has a gorgeous glaze in tones of grayish blue with...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Boxes
Materials
Ceramic
Watch Box for Nine Watches in Briar with Leather Detail by Agresti
By Agresti
Located in New York, NY
Elm briar and striped mahogany for your collectable watches. Leather handles. Briar box for nine watches.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Boxes
Materials
Leather, Wood
Aimara Medium Alpaca Silver Box
By AIREDELSUR
Located in Buenos Aires, AR
The waves on a choppy lake, rough by the wind, inspire the design of alpaca boxes and picture frames of this family, whose name comes from the tribe that dwelled in the North Argenti...
Category
2010s Argentine Modern Boxes
Materials
Metal, Sheet Metal
Lino Sabattini, Italy Silver Plate Geometric Box, 1980s
Located in Atlanta, GA
Lino Sabattini for Sabattini Argenteria designed this elegant silver plate decorative box circa 1980. This tall-lidded box has a minimalist geometric design and can be displayed as a...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Boxes
Materials
Metal, Silver Plate
Hand-Blown Amber Murano Glass Box with 24 Karat Gold Flecks
Located in New York, NY
This beautiful modernist decorative box was realized in Murano, Italy- the island off the coast of Venice renowned for centuries for its superlative glass production. It features a v...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Boxes
Materials
Gold
Green and White Two-Tone Glazed Porcelain Lidded Box by Raymor, c. 1960
By Raymor
Located in New York City, NY
Green and White Two-Tone Glazed Porcelain Lidded Box by Raymor, Italy, c. 1960
Simple glazed ceramic box from Raymor. The lid of the box features a beautiful glaze that fluctuates b...
Category
20th Century Italian Modern Boxes
Materials
Porcelain
Karl Springer Unique Hinged Box in Polished Sodalite Stone 1980s 'Signed'
Located in New York, NY
Stunning one-of-a-kind hinged box in polished blue sodalite stone by Karl Springer, American 1980's (shown with original showroom tag from the 1980’s). Blue sodalite is a rare minera...
Category
1980s American Vintage Modern Boxes
Materials
Stone, Brass
Italian Burl Jewelry Box
Located in New York, NY
An Italian jewelry box in the modern style, circa late-20th century, Italy. Box is wood with a burl veneer and velvet lining. Box has two compartments,...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Boxes
Materials
Velvet, Wood, Burl
Wonderful Mid-Century Modern Baccarat Crystal Glass Bronze Ormolu Casket Box
By Baccarat
Located in Roslyn, NY
A Wonderful Mid-Century Modern Baccarat Style Crystal / Glass With Bronze Ormolu Mount Casket Box.
Category
20th Century French Modern Boxes
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
AIMARA Large Alpaca Silver Box
By AIREDELSUR
Located in Buenos Aires, AR
The waves on a choppy lake, rough by the wind, inspire the design of alpaca boxes and picture frames of this family, whose name comes from the tribe that dwelled in the North Argenti...
Category
2010s Argentine Modern Boxes
Materials
Metal, Sheet Metal
21st Century Leather Door Stop Handcrafed in Italy
By Pinetti
Located in Bagnatica, Lombardia
Keep your doors open.
Hand-crafted in leather it includes a matching handle which blends into the design, while making it easy to pick up and move between rooms. A soft door stop ...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Boxes
Materials
Leather
Macassar Wood Hand-Carved Horse Head Tall Box
Located in Atlanta, GA
This extra tall decorative lidded box has an incredible hand-carved horse head on the top. The piece features an all-height square shape, made in Macassar wood, handmade and hand-carved. The massive figurative horse...
Category
Late 20th Century American Modern Boxes
Materials
Wood, Macassar
Tronador Square Black Onyx Stone Box
By AIREDELSUR
Located in Buenos Aires, AR
The shape of the inactive Tronador volcano reminded us of the pyramid shaped idea of our boxes that make up this collection. With a rectangular or square base, the box is a reflectio...
Category
2010s Argentine Modern Boxes
Materials
Stone, Onyx
Wonderful Mid-Century Modern Murano Blue Art Glass Crystal Nickel Casket Box
By Baccarat
Located in Roslyn, NY
A Wonderful Mid-Century Modern Murano Cobalt Blue Art Glass / Crystal With Polished Nickel Mounting Casket / Box.
Category
20th Century Modern Boxes
Materials
Crystal, Nickel
20th Century Tessellated Bone Trinket Box
Located in Bradenton, FL
An elegant modern style tessellated bone trinket box with black felt-lined interior. Mostly cream in color, but does have hints of light pink througho...
Category
20th Century Philippine Modern Boxes
Materials
Bone, Felt
1950s Murano Green Opaline Jewellery Box with Gilt Metal Edging
Located in London, GB
A 1950s Murano green opaline jewellery box by Cendese with gilt metal edging.
There are other available colours and designs under other listings.
Category
1950s French Vintage Modern Boxes
Materials
Metal
Bone Decorative Box with Steel Horn Handle
Located in New York, NY
Square decorative box made out of Horn with a steel Horn handle. Interior made of wood with square comparments.
Property from esteemed interior designer Juan Montoya. Juan Montoy...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Boxes
Materials
Steel
English Modern Sterling Silver Box
Located in New York, NY
English Modern sterling silver box. Tall and rectangular with curved corners. Cover hinged with gently curved top and double-scroll tab. Box interior cedar-lined with open leather-li...
Category
Early 20th Century English Modern Boxes
Materials
Sterling Silver
21st Century Leather Cigar Ashtray Handcrafted in Italy
By Pinetti
Located in Bagnatica, Lombardia
For poker nights. A Compact design with a single cigar rest, this piece serves both as an ashtray and support for the cigar. It is made out of polished stee...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Boxes
Materials
Metal
Contemporary American Modern Heart Shaped Seashell Jewelry Box
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary American Modern heart shaped jewelry box, with an applied seashell exterior and red velvet interior.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Boxes
Materials
Coral
Bronze Hinged Box with Face Signed and Dated
Located in North Miami, FL
This fabulous bronze heavy hinged box is signed and dated MIrko 1990. There is a dimensional, textural and theatrical face on the right hand side. Artist signed. It has been professi...
Category
1990s American Modern Boxes
Materials
Bronze
Modernist Hand Blown Murano Glass Box in Smoked Bronze with Brass Detailing
Located in New York, NY
This beautiful modernist decorative box was realized in Murano, Italy- the island off the coast of Venice renowned for centuries for its superlative glass production. It features a v...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Boxes
Materials
Murano Glass
Mademoiselle Georges Box II by Thomas Dariel
Located in Geneve, CH
Mademoiselle Georges box II by Thomas Dariel, Maison Dada
Measures: D 13 x H 25 cm
Material : Glossy glazed ceramic
Mademoiselle Georges hails its name from Marguerite Georges, ...
Category
2010s French Modern Boxes
Materials
Ceramic
Lucite and Velvet Jewelry Box with Storage Drawers
Located in New York, NY
A Lucite and velvet jewelry box with storage draws, in the Modern style, circa late-20th century. Box has ample room with four (4) storage draws lined with r...
Category
Late 20th Century Modern Boxes
Materials
Lucite, Velvet
Modern Serving Tray Calacatta Marble Cork Handmade in Portugal by Lusitanus Home
Located in Lisboa, PT
Guadiana serving tray, Lusitanus Home Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Lusitanus Home.
A sublime serving tray, Guadiana was designed to uplift layback moments.
A rec...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Boxes
Materials
Marble
1960s Snake Skin Covered Box
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful snake skin covered box lacquered in a natural bone color. Wonderful vintage condition.
Category
1960s Vintage Modern Boxes
Materials
Wood
Brass Box with Embossed Fish Silhouttes from Saks Fifth Avenue India
Located in New York, NY
Decorative brass box made by Saks Fifth Avenua, India. Embossed with fish silhouttes on each face with two small brass circular handles on each side. Natural patina.
Property fro...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Boxes
Materials
Brass
Contemporary American Modern Oval Seashell Jewelry Box
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary American Modern oval jewelry box with an applied seashell exterior and red velvet interior.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Boxes
Materials
Coral
French Modern Specimen Hardwood Carved Conch Shell Motif Box
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
French Modern Specimen Hardwood Carved Conch Shell Motif Box
France, Later 20th Century
Realistically carved and modeled of book-matched hardwood as...
Category
Late 20th Century French Modern Boxes
Materials
Hardwood
Karl Springer Stunning "Kyoto Box" in Tessellated Penshell 1980s 'Signed'
Located in New York, NY
Exceptionally crafted "Kyoto Box" in tessellated penshell with brass inlays on top and trim around base by Karl Springer, American 1980's (signed “Karl Sprin...
Category
1980s American Vintage Modern Boxes
Materials
Brass
Vintage Japanese Ball Shaped Plastic Tea Caddy Storage Containers, Set of 3
Located in San Carlos, CA
🍵 Elevate Your Storage: Set of 3 Japanese Natsume Tea Caddies! 🍵
Enhance your storage solutions with a touch of elegance and functionality with our wonderful set of three hard pla...
Category
1980s Japanese Vintage Modern Boxes
Materials
Plastic
Bitossi Lidded Box in Glazed Ceramic with Fused Glass Mosaic, circa 1960s
By Bitossi
Located in New York City, NY
Bitossi Glazed Ceramic Lidded Box with Fused Glass Mosaic, Italy, c. 1960s
Additional Information:
Materials: Ceramic
Origin: Italy
Period: 1950-1979
Creation Date: c. 1960s
...
Category
20th Century Italian Modern Boxes
Materials
Ceramic
Hand Blown Murano Glass Box in Onyx Black with Murine Detailing
Located in New York, NY
This sophisticated modernist decorative box was realized in Murano, Italy- the island off the coast of Venice renowned for centuries for its superlative glass production. It features...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Boxes
Materials
Murano Glass
Large English Modern Sterling Silver Box
Located in New York, NY
Elizabeth II sterling silver box. Made by Padgett & Braham Ltd in London in 1963. Rectangular with straight sides. Cover hinged with gently curved top and tapering tab. Interior ceda...
Category
1960s English Vintage Modern Boxes
Materials
Sterling Silver
Hand Blown Octagonal Murano Glass Box in Smoked Garnet
Located in New York, NY
This sophisticated modernist decorative box was realized in Murano, Italy- the island off the coast of Venice renowned for centuries for its superlative glass production. It features...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Boxes
Materials
Murano Glass
Fantastic After Carl Faberge Egg "Mansion at MGM Grand"
Located in Madrid, ES
Fantastic After Carl FABERGE egg "The Mansion at MGM Grand"
Yellow enamelled egg, gilt bronze frame resting on a tripod foot, covered with palmet...
Category
20th Century French Modern Boxes
Materials
Malachite, Bronze
21st Century Kelly Decorative Hexagonal Box in Leather Handcrafed in Italy
By Pinetti
Located in Bagnatica, Lombardia
The refinement of resin meets the softness of italian leather.
An elegant lid with a mother of pearl look beautifully complete the hexagonal bases fully covered inside and outside...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Boxes
Materials
Leather, Wood, Resin
Karl Springer Exceptional Lidded Box in Tessellated Travertine 1980s 'Signed'
Located in New York, NY
Exceptionally crafted table top box in tessellated travertine with wood interior by Karl Springer, American 1980's (signed "Karl Springer" on bottom). This box has a nice scale and t...
Category
1980s American Vintage Modern Boxes
Materials
Travertine
21st Century Lily Decorative Box in Nubuck Leather Handcrafed in Italy
By Pinetti
Located in Bagnatica, Lombardia
The sophistication of nubuck leather inspired this collection.
Lily is our new family of decorative boxes embellished by tone on tone embroidery. Two finishing, three sizes and f...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Boxes
Materials
Metal
Judith Leiber Swarovski Crystal Floral Minaudiere / Clutch
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This is a Judith Leiber Swarovski crystals minaudiere / clutch. It depicts a gold tone metal heart shaped minaudiere adorned with a large peony flower with green leaves in the front ...
Category
20th Century American Modern Boxes
Materials
Crystal, Metal
2011 Dr. Lakra Wood Tequila Reserva De La Familia Box
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Awesome wood tequila box featuring Dr. Lakra art on every surface. Made to hold Jose Cuervo Tequila Reserva De La Familia, 2011. Very limited edition. Bo...
Category
2010s Mexican Modern Boxes
Materials
Wood
Karl Springer Set of Stunning Polished Petrified Wood Orbs on Custom Bases 1980s
Located in New York, NY
Set of 3 polished petrified wood orbs on custom metal bases by Karl Springer, American 1980's (retain original labels from the 1980s showing the original pric...
Category
1980s American Vintage Modern Boxes
Materials
Stone, Brass, Metal
Log Jar with Brass Inlay by Marcantonio
Located in Kolkata, IN
Log Jar, an usual object from the Forest collection, has intricate brass and resin inlay to resemble a log of wood, with a cute boney lid.
For his debut creations, Marcantonio int...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Boxes
Materials
Brass
Black, Beige, Brass Striped Box
Located in New York, NY
Modernist keepsake, document box clad in Black, White resin stripes accented with brass inlay stripes.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Modern Boxes
Materials
Brass
Contemporary American Modern Seashell Music Box / Jewelry Box
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary American Modern music box / jewelry box with an exterior finished in beige and pink speckled seashells, which opens along a hinged edge to a red velvet interior, with a ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Boxes
Materials
Coral
Blue Lapis Lazuli and Marble Stone Rectangular Jewelry or Trinket Box
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
Beautiful blue Lapis Lazuli and Carrara marble stone jewelry box. Created from genuine blue Lapis Lazuli, this box is low in profile and rectangular in form. This lovely jewelry or trinket box features a lid that fits onto its base. Both of which are completely covered in this beautiful blue stone.
The interior of the box's base and lid, are created using Carrara marble. The lid features stays, which retrofit into the base, and allow the top to hold to the base without sliding or moving.
The exterior is flanked with the gorgeous richly hued blue lapis lazuli.
How we would style it:
This blue stone box...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Boxes
Materials
Lapis Lazuli, Marble
Arnolfo di Cambio Cigar / Cigarette Box by Joe Colombo in Years '68 Bilia Series
By Joe Colombo
Located in Biella, IT
Arnolfo di Cambio cigar/cigarette box by Joe Colombo in years '68 bilia series.
Glass perfect condition and silver plate with light fading.
Measure large 8 inches x deep 5" x...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Boxes
Materials
Silver Plate
Contemporary American Modern Large Seashell Box
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary American Modern rectangular box, with an applied seashell veneer and green, teal and blue patterned interior.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Boxes
Materials
Coral
Contemporary American Modern Small Circular Seashell Jewelry Box
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary American Modern small circular jewelry box with an applied seashell exterior and black interior.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Boxes
Materials
Coral
Tafi Medium Onyx Oval Box
By AIREDELSUR
Located in Buenos Aires, AR
Tafi oval box, it is made entirely by hand in alpaca metal and onyx stone. It comes in three different sizes and you can choose between four different onyx stone colors: black, white/cream, blue or bordeaux
Our pieces are made by hand. One of a kind.
All natural stones may vary in color.
About AIREDELSUR:
With its rustic chic personality and the elegant designs of Marcelo Lucini...
Category
2010s Argentine Modern Boxes
Materials
Stone, Onyx
Modern boxes for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Modern boxes for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage boxes created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, case pieces and storage cabinets, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, wood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Modern boxes made in a specific country, there are Europe, Italy, and North America pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original boxes, popular names associated with this style include Agresti, AIREDELSUR, Lusitanus Home, and Greenapple. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for boxes differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $27 and tops out at $299,000 while the average work can sell for $1,145.
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