What is modern furniture design?

Modern furniture design is an overarching term for the new approach that designers began taking in the early 20th century. Many experts cite the Bauhaus movement as the start of the modern era. Its style was defined by the instructors and students at a progressive German art and design school founded by the architect Walter Gropius that operated from 1919 to 1933. In Bauhaus-style furniture, the school’s followers married industrial and natural materials in simple, geometric forms. The goal of the Bauhaus was to erase the distinction between art and craft while embracing the use of new technologies and materials. As the Bauhaus movement was emerging, so too was Art Deco. This iconic movement made an indelible mark on all fields of design throughout the 1920s and ’30s, celebrating society’s growing industrialization with refined elegance and stunning craftsmanship. Art Deco furniture makers respected the dark woods and modern metals with which they worked; they frequently incorporated decorative embellishments such as exotic animal hides as well as veneers in their seating, case pieces, living room sets and bedroom furniture. After World War II, modern design continued with the mid-century modern movement. The style is characterized by pieces that were conceived and made in an energetic, optimistic spirit by creators who believed that good design was an essential part of good living. Historians typically say that the modern approach to furniture design ended in the mid-1960s or early 1970s. Pieces made after that time may be called postmodern or contemporary. Shop a large collection of modern furniture on 1stDibs.

Who were the most famous mid-century modern furniture designers?

Some of the most famous mid-century modern furniture designers were Alvar Aalto, Charles and Ray Eames , Paul Evans, Poul Kjærholm, Florence Knoll, George Nakashima, Giò Ponti, Hans Wegner, Charlotte Perriand, Sergio Rodrigues and Eero Saarinen.

What are the defining characteristics of mid-century modern design?

The defining characteristics of mid-century modern furniture design include simplicity, an emphasis on organic forms, clean lines and a mix of both natural and man-made materials. The mid-century modern style, which emerged primarily in the years following World War II, is used to describe the work of furniture designers who believed that good design was an essential part of good living . Both neutral tones and bold Pop art colors can typically be found in mid-century modern interiors , which usually include light-filled spaces . An integration of floor-to-ceiling windows and abundant access to the outdoors renders prominent a connection with nature, which owes in part to the ideas of celebrated architect Frank Lloyd Wright , an inspiration for mid-century furniture designers. Popular mid-century modern designers include Ray and Charles Eames , Florence Knoll , Harry Bertoia and others. Find vintage mid-century modern furniture on 1stDibs.

What material did Marcel Breuer introduce to modern furniture design?

Marcel Breuer introduced the material of tubular steel to modern furniture design. He employed it in many of his chairs, tables and sofas, prizing the material because it minimized the weight of pieces without sacrificing their strength. Shop a range of Marcel Breuer furniture on 1stDibs.

Why has mid-century modern design stayed popular for decades?

The style first broke through commercially in the postwar decades, as covered in the History section above, and has come back into demand several times since.

Modern Design Books

George Nelson Herman Miller Headboard

George Jensen

Taschen Book Stand

Mies Van Der Rohe Books

Movel Moderno Brasileiro

Jens Risom Magazine Side Table

Jens Risom Playboy Dining Chairs

Finland Textile

Pair of Umanoff Side Tables, Solid Walnut/ Brass-by Arthur Umanoff for Audo, H45

$3,414 / set

Pair of Umanoff Side Tables, Solid Walnut/ Brass-by Arthur Umanoff for Audo, H45

By Arthur Umanoff

Located in Bayrut, Beirut Governorate

Despite its decidedly small footprint, the versatile piece makes a big impact as a mid-century modern design for piles of books, mugs of coffee or flower-filled vases.

Category

2010s Chinese Scandinavian Modern Side Tables

Materials

Brass

Set of 2 Umanoff Side Tables 45&60 Solid Walnut/Brass-by Arthur Umanoff for Audo

$3,642 / item

Set of 2 Umanoff Side Tables 45&60 Solid Walnut/Brass-by Arthur Umanoff for Audo

Located in Bayrut, Beirut Governorate

Despite its decidedly small footprint, the versatile piece makes a big impact as a mid-century modern design for piles of books, mugs of coffee or flower-filled vases.

Category

2010s Danish Scandinavian Modern Side Tables

Materials

Brass

Umanoff Side Table, H45 - Solid Walnut / Brass - by Arthur Umanoff for Audo

$1,707 / item

Umanoff Side Table, H45 - Solid Walnut / Brass - by Arthur Umanoff for Audo

By Arthur Umanoff

Located in Bayrut, Beirut Governorate

Despite its decidedly small footprint, the versatile piece makes a big impact as a mid-century modern design for piles of books, mugs of coffee or flower-filled vases.

Category

2010s Chinese Scandinavian Modern Side Tables

Materials

Brass

Umanoff Side Table, H60 - Solid Walnut / Brass - by Arthur Umanoff for Audo

$1,932 / item

Umanoff Side Table, H60 - Solid Walnut / Brass - by Arthur Umanoff for Audo

By Arthur Umanoff, Audo

Located in Bayrut, Beirut Governorate

Despite its decidedly small footprint, the versatile piece makes a big impact as a mid-century modern design for piles of books, mugs of coffee or flower-filled vases.

Category

2010s Chinese Scandinavian Modern Side Tables

Materials

Brass

What Is Modern Industrial Design? (MoMA, 1946)

$475

What Is Modern Industrial Design? (MoMA, 1946)

By Charles and Ray Eames, Herbert Matter

Located in New York, NY

Museum of Modern Art Bulletin Volume. XIV, No. 1, Fall 1946. 8vo (7 × 9.5 inches), stapled pictorial wrappers, 16 pages, black-and-white illustrations. A seminal statement of postwar...

Category

Vintage 1940s American Mid-Century Modern Books

Materials

Paper

Clara Porset's Design: Creating A Modern Mexico

$875

Clara Porset's Design: Creating A Modern Mexico

By Clara Porset

Located in New York, NY

First edition, one of 2,000 copies, of this landmark exhibition catalog responsible for the international reassessment of Cuban-born, Mexican modernist designer Clara Porset (1895–19...

Category

Early 2000s American Mid-Century Modern Books

Materials

Paper

Problems of Design by George Nelson

$600

Problems of Design by George Nelson

By George Nelson

Located in New York, NY

First edition of George Nelson's Problems of Design, published by Whitney Publications in 1957. An important consideration of the topic by one of America's most significant and influ...

Category

Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Books

Materials

Paper

Frank O. Gehry: Design & Architecture (With Cardboard Insert)

$200

Frank O. Gehry: Design & Architecture (With Cardboard Insert)

By Frank Gehry, Vitra

Located in New York, NY

Thoughtfully conceived exhibition catalog whose materials echo Frank O. Gehry’s inventive approach to furniture and architecture. Plain brown stiff wrappers, lettered in orange, open...

Category

1990s German Post-Modern Books

Materials

Paper, Corrugated Cardboard

Paul Rand: Thoughts on Design (1st edition)

$850

Paul Rand: Thoughts on Design (1st edition)

By Paul Rand

Located in New York, NY

Hardcover first edition (stated) of this classic work. 160 pages, 4to, black cloth decorated in gilt, dust jacket, with 94 half-tone illustrations and 8 color plates. Published by Wi...

Category

Vintage 1940s American Mid-Century Modern Books

Materials

Paper

Light: Lamps 1968-1973 New Italian Design

$400

Light: Lamps 1968-1973 New Italian Design

By Ettore Sottsass, Superstudio, Fulvio Ferrari

Located in New York, NY

Seminal monograph on progressive-to-radical Italian lighting design, both iconic and obscure, in the period 1968-73. With selections by eminent gallerist, curator, designer, and auth...

Category

Early 2000s Italian Post-Modern Books

Materials

Paper

Ladislav Sutnar Catalog Design Progress (first edition)

$900

Ladislav Sutnar Catalog Design Progress (first edition)

By Ladislav Sutnar

Located in New York, NY

First edition of art director Ladislav Sutnar and research director Knud Lonberg-Holm’s landmark exposition on information design and visual communication, published in 1950 by Sweet...

Category

Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Books

Materials

Paper

Theory and Design in the First Machine Age (Inscribed)

$600

Theory and Design in the First Machine Age (Inscribed)

By Reyner Banham

Located in New York, NY

Second edition, second printing of the trade paperback edition of Reyner Banham’s Theory and Design in the First Machine Age, published in 1970 by Praeger. 8vo, printed wrappers, 338...

Category

Vintage 1970s American Modern Books

Materials

Paper

Functional Graphic Design in the 20's

$150

Functional Graphic Design in the 20's

By Kurt Schwitters, László Moholy-Nagy

Located in New York, NY

First edition of Eckhard Neumann’s pioneering study of modern graphic design, published in 1967 by Reinhold Publishing Corporation. Square 8vo (8.25” x 8.25”), 96 pages, profusely il...

Category

Vintage 1960s American International Style Books

Materials

Paper

Widdicomb: Designed by T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings (Sales Brochure)

$350

Widdicomb: Designed by T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings (Sales Brochure)

By T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings, Widdicomb Furniture Co.

Located in New York, NY

Large folding sales brochure (12" x 9", opening to 36" x 24"), printed in color and black-and-white, published by The Widdicomb Furniture Company circa 1950 and distributed through M...

Category

Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Books

Materials

Paper

Electronics--A New Science for a New World (Herbert Bayer design)

$750

Electronics--A New Science for a New World (Herbert Bayer design)

By General Electric, Herbert Bayer

Located in New York, NY

Booklet touting the wonders of the nascent electronic era published in 1942 by the General Electric Company, “leader in radio, television, and electronic research.” Austrian-America...

Category

Vintage 1940s American Mid-Century Modern Books

Materials

Paper

Golden Bell and Beehive: Light Fittings Designed by Alvar and Aino Aalto

$300 / item

Golden Bell and Beehive: Light Fittings Designed by Alvar and Aino Aalto

By Alvar Aalto, Aino Aalto

Located in New York, NY

Book issued in conjunction with an exhibition held at the Alvar Aalto Museum in Jyvaskyla, Finland from Nov. 1, 200l to February 28, 2002. Published by the Alvar Aalto Museum in 2002...

Category

Early 2000s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Books

Materials

Paper

A Design Students' Guide to the New York World's Fair (Standalone Edition)

$500

A Design Students' Guide to the New York World's Fair (Standalone Edition)

By Paul Rand, Donald Deskey

Located in New York, NY

First edition of this guide to the 1939 (and 1940) New York World’s Fair, published jointly by P/M Magazine and the Laboratory School of Industrial Design. 8vo (5.75” x 8”), printed ...

Category

Vintage 1930s American Machine Age Books

Materials

Paper

Edward Wormley Designs for Dunbar: Market Notes January 1956

$250

Edward Wormley Designs for Dunbar: Market Notes January 1956

By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley

Located in New York, NY

Small format brochure published in January 1956 showcasing nearly 50 new Edward Wormley designs for Dunbar Furniture, presented at the Chicago Merchandise Mart. Highlights include th...

Category

Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Books

Materials

Paper

C.F. Christensen Mobelfabrik (1974 Catalog Featuring Designs by Illum Wikkelso)

$175

C.F. Christensen Mobelfabrik (1974 Catalog Featuring Designs by Illum Wikkelso)

By Illum Wikkelsø

Located in New York, NY

Catalog presenting four modular design groups by renowned mcm Danish designer Illum Wikkelso (1919-1999), produced by the Danish firm C.F. Christensen Mobelfabrik and published circa...

Category

Vintage 1970s American Scandinavian Modern Books

Materials

Paper

Get Updated with New Arrivals

Save "Modern Design Books", and we’ll notify you when there are new listings in this category.

Modern Design Books For Sale on 1stDibs

At 1stDibs, there are several options of modern design books available for sale. Frequently made of paper, metal and other, all modern design books available were constructed with great care. There are 36 antique and vintage modern design books for sale at 1stDibs, while we also have 2 modern editions to choose from as well. Modern design books have been made for many years, and versions that date back to the 20th Century alongside those produced as recently as the 21st Century. Modern design books are generally popular furniture pieces, but Mid-Century Modern and Modern styles are often sought at 1stDibs. Many modern design books are appealing in their simplicity, but David Hicks, Charles Eames and Eero Saarinen produced popular modern design books that are worth a look.

Finding the Right Books for You

Antique and vintage books add a sense of culture and style to any room. Displaying these types of books in your living room or reading nook can warm a space with a distinguished feel.

Several factors make antique books highly desirable. Original jackets, ornate binding, illustrations and quality of the print all contribute to making a vintage book special. Rare books are of great interest to collectors in the know and can command high prices at auction. In 2021, an important early artist book by Andy Warhol sold at auction for more than $106,000. Somewhere between all the commercial work he did as an ambitious young graphic designer in the early 1950s and his first real debut as a Pop artist a decade later, Warhol produced a trove of incredibly charming drawings. His illustrated self-published artist books from the 1950s are very rare.

Many collectors seek the first edition of certain books. Fewer copies of a book and higher demand make it a rare find. A book that contains the author’s signature also makes it much more prized than other examples of the same title.

Collectors and designers decorate rooms with vintage books for a cozy feeling in a home. Coffee-table books, such as those featuring photography and design, serve as conversation pieces or offer a relaxing moment when leafed through.

Interior designers look for vintage books when they want to add color or detail. For instance, leather-bound books can create a scholarly air while mid-century titles offer a modern edge. Vintage international books or first editions can provide a sense of history.

No matter the genre, there is a book for you. You can find rare, one-of-a-kind antique books on 1stDibs. Browse by authors, like celebrated architect and designer Frank Lloyd Wright and Edgar Rice Burroughs, as well as by period, including mid-century modern, Art Deco and Victorian.

Questions About Modern Design Books

What is modern furniture design?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertAugust 8, 2024
Modern furniture design is an overarching term for the new approach that designers began taking in the early 20th century. Many experts cite the Bauhaus movement as the start of the modern era. Its style was defined by the instructors and students at a progressive German art and design school founded by the architect Walter Gropius that operated from 1919 to 1933. In Bauhaus-style furniture, the school’s followers married industrial and natural materials in simple, geometric forms. The goal of the Bauhaus was to erase the distinction between art and craft while embracing the use of new technologies and materials. As the Bauhaus movement was emerging, so too was Art Deco. This iconic movement made an indelible mark on all fields of design throughout the 1920s and ’30s, celebrating society’s growing industrialization with refined elegance and stunning craftsmanship. Art Deco furniture makers respected the dark woods and modern metals with which they worked; they frequently incorporated decorative embellishments such as exotic animal hides as well as veneers in their seating, case pieces, living room sets and bedroom furniture. After World War II, modern design continued with the mid-century modern movement. The style is characterized by pieces that were conceived and made in an energetic, optimistic spirit by creators who believed that good design was an essential part of good living. Historians typically say that the modern approach to furniture design ended in the mid-1960s or early 1970s. Pieces made after that time may be called postmodern or contemporary. Shop a large collection of modern furniture on 1stDibs.
Who were the most famous mid-century modern furniture designers?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertSeptember 25, 2019
Some of the most famous mid-century modern furniture designers were Alvar Aalto, Charles and Ray Eames, Paul Evans, Poul Kjærholm, Florence Knoll, George Nakashima, Giò Ponti, Hans Wegner, Charlotte Perriand, Sergio Rodrigues and Eero Saarinen.
What are the defining characteristics of mid-century modern design?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertSeptember 25, 2019
The defining characteristics of mid-century modern furniture design include simplicity, an emphasis on organic forms, clean lines and a mix of both natural and man-made materials. The mid-century modern style, which emerged primarily in the years following World War II, is used to describe the work of furniture designers who believed that good design was an essential part of good living. Both neutral tones and bold Pop art colors can typically be found in mid-century modern interiors, which usually include light-filled spaces. An integration of floor-to-ceiling windows and abundant access to the outdoors renders prominent a connection with nature, which owes in part to the ideas of celebrated architect Frank Lloyd Wright, an inspiration for mid-century furniture designers. Popular mid-century modern designers include Ray and Charles Eames, Florence Knoll, Harry Bertoia and others. Find vintage mid-century modern furniture on 1stDibs.
What material did Marcel Breuer introduce to modern furniture design?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
Marcel Breuer introduced the material of tubular steel to modern furniture design. He employed it in many of his chairs, tables and sofas, prizing the material because it minimized the weight of pieces without sacrificing their strength. Shop a range of Marcel Breuer furniture on 1stDibs.
Why has mid-century modern design stayed popular for decades?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertSeptember 16, 2026
The style first broke through commercially in the postwar decades, as covered in the History section above, and has come back into demand several times since.

47 Inspiring Swimming Pools by Top Designers

It's hard to resist the allure of a beautiful pool. So, go ahead and daydream about whiling away your summer in paradise.

28 Kids’ Rooms That Are Too Cool for School

It’s never too early for good design. These interiors combine elevated furnishings and a youthful spirit, resulting in spaces that are at once elegant and whimsical.

Dickens Fan on Your List? This First Edition of ‘A Christmas Carol’ Is a Treasure

Produced in 1843, the well-preserved volume is evidence of the author's exacting specifications.

Patchwork Quilts Are the Latest Nostalgic Design Trend

New or old, the coverlets add old-time charm to any space.

Medal-Worthy Memorabilia from Epic Past Olympic Games

Get into the games! These items celebrate the events, athletes, host countries and sporting spirit.

Ahoy! You’ve Never Seen a Collection of Sailor Art and Kitsch Quite Like This

French trendsetter and serial collector Daniel Rozensztroch tells us about his obsession with objects related to seafaring men.

Pamela Shamshiri Shares the Secrets behind Her First-Ever Book and Its Effortlessly Cool Interiors

The sought-after designer worked with the team at Hoffman Creative to produce a monograph that beautifully showcases some of Studio Shamshiri's most inspiring projects.