So Disco Modern
2010s South African Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Brass
2010s South African Modern Side Tables
Brass
2010s South African Modern Lounge Chairs
Upholstery, Ceramic, Bouclé, Walnut
2010s South African Modern Table Lamps
Brass
2010s South African Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Brass
2010s South African Modern Lounge Chairs
Ceramic, Upholstery
2010s South African Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Brass
2010s South African Modern Table Lamps
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Nepalese Modern Western European Rugs
Wool, Silk
Recent Sales
1970s American Evening Bags and Minaudières
People Also Browsed
2010s South African Minimalist Night Stands
Wood
Vintage 1940s American Mid-Century Modern Desks
Aluminum
Vintage 1970s American Modern Sofas
Chrome
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and...
Onyx, Brass
2010s Mexican Brutalist Decorative Art
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary American Wall Lights and Sconces
Brass
Early 2000s Japanese Anglo-Japanese Table Lamps
Metal
Vintage 1970s American Brutalist Wall-mounted Sculptures
Resin, Wood
2010s Dutch Ottomans and Poufs
Wool
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Cabinets
Beech
Vintage 1980s American Jewelry Boxes
Wood
2010s Austrian Jugendstil Chandeliers and Pendants
Silk
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Planters and Jardinieres
Cement
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Mid-Century Modern Ottomans and...
Stainless Steel, Brass
2010s South African Modern Chairs
Steel
A Close Look at Modern Furniture
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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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.
- What is inside a disco ball?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022The inside of a disco ball is typically a round piece of foam, plastic or aluminum. Disco balls are made by gluing hundreds of tiny reflective pieces, such as mirrors, onto the outside of the ball. You’ll find a variety of fine disco balls and 1970s nostalgia items on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Today, a disco ball usually represents the 1970s. That's because the discotheques that heavily influenced society, fashion and music during that decade often had a mirrored disco ball mounted on the ceiling. Its purpose was to cast reflections down onto the dancers as they moved. You'll find a range of vintage disco balls on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021When attending a disco party, it is important to wear bright, funky colors and statement accessories. Opt for flared pants, sparkly miniskirts or even a disco suit. Find the perfect ensemble for a disco party on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 31, 2023Frida Giannini designed the Gucci Soho Disco bag, which debuted in 2014. Giannini served as the director of handbag design starting in 2002 and went on to become the Creative Director for the entire luxury Italian fashion house in 2006. She served in the position until 2015. On 1stDibs, find a collection of Gucci Soho Disco bags.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022While the Gucci Soho disco bag as a style is not being discontinued, the popular red colorway was phased out after the holiday season in 2018. The Gucci Soho disco bag will continue being produced in other colorways. You’ll find a large collection of Gucci bags from many of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMay 5, 2023Which clothing style was most popular in the discos in the 1970s is open to debate. Some of the trends of the discotheque scene included sleeveless, sequined tops paired with bell bottoms and knee-length halter dresses topped off with tall go-go boots. For men, jumpsuits and leisure suits were the favorite looks. Both men and women often wore shoes with chunky heels and thick platforms. On 1stDibs, find an assortment of 1970s vintage clothing and accessories.
- What is midcentury modern?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021Organic shapes, clean lines and elegant simplicity describe mid-century modern American furniture well. The style, which emerged primarily in the post-World War II era, is characterized by furniture that was crafted by creators who believed that good design was key to good living.Today, mid-century modern is by far the largest category of furnishings on 1stDibs.
- What is a modern home?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertAugust 17, 2021A modern home is a style of residential building that was constructed during the modernist design movement of the mid-20th century. Modernist architecture is defined by clean lines, simple rectangular shapes and a lack of ornamentation.
- 1stDibs ExpertSeptember 25, 2019
In art and design, the term contemporary is applied to works by 21st-century artists, while modern refers to works created from the 1880s and through the 1960s.
- Who is the father of modern art?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertSeptember 25, 2019
Paul Cézanne is often cited as the father of modern art.
- 1stDibs ExpertAugust 8, 2024Modern furniture is made of many different types of materials. Some modern furniture makers used natural materials like wood for frames and leather and linen for upholstery. Metals, such as aluminum, stainless steel and nickel, were also common, as were some plastics. Explore a diverse assortment of modern furniture from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
- What is Danish modern furniture?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2024Danish modern furniture is the term for a style of furniture that emerged during the 1930s through the innovation of designers from Denmark. It is a subset of Scandinavian modern furniture, the warmest and most organic iteration of modernist design. The work of the designers associated with vintage Scandinavian modern furniture was founded on centuries-old beliefs in both quality craftsmanship and the ideal that beauty should enhance even the humblest accessories of daily life. Some notable Danish modern designers include Hans J. Wegner, Kaare Klint, Arne Jacobsen, Finn Juhl, Arne Vodder and Verner Panton. Shop a range of Danish modern furniture on 1stDibs.
- Is a shag rug modern?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Shag rugs and shag carpeting were very popular in American households in the 1960s and 1970s, but they’ve been around much longer than that. This style of long nap rug can be traced back to Ancient Greece and has also been used for a long time in the Middle East and Central Asia. On 1stDibs, find a collection of shag rugs from some of the world’s top sellers.
- What is modern furniture design?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertAugust 8, 2024Modern 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.
- What is modern style furniture?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021Modern style furniture has smooth shiny surfaces, straight lines, simple shapes. The general objective is a simple uncluttered look.
- 1stDibs ExpertSeptember 25, 2019
Modern art is characterized by a rejection of realism and narrative and a trend toward abstraction.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021Most experts agree that mid-century modern correlates specifically to the years following World War II. It has grown in popularity in the decades since, particularly due to the media and cultural institutions that have promoted the truly innovative era of design. Not only did the MoMA promote modern furniture, but pieces are prominently visible on the set of very popular television shows such as Mad Men. Shop a wide and beautiful range of mid-century modern furniture on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertSeptember 25, 2019
Modern art encompasses Postimpressionism, Fauvism, Cubism, futurism, expressionism, Dada, Surrealism, Abstract Expressionism and Pop art.
- Is rattan mid-century modern?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 13, 2024Yes, some rattan is mid-century modern. Designers of the mid-century modern movement often preferred to use natural materials, including rattan, in their designs. However, not all rattan furniture was made during this period. Rattan was also a popular material for furniture produced during the Victorian era and continues to be used to produce furniture today. Shop a wide range of rattan furniture on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Modern day sculptures are typically made with bronze, which is an alloy of copper and tin. Sculptures can also be crafted with gold, silver, aluminum, lead and iron. Find a collection of sculptures from many of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
Read More
Joan Mitchell’s Rare, Late-Career Diptych Buzzes with Life
Beneath the inky blackness, the painter’s irrepressible energy electrifies this pair of intaglio prints.
39 Incredible Swimming Pools
It's hard to resist the allure of a beautiful pool. So, go ahead and daydream about whiling away your summer in paradise.
The 21 Most Popular Mid-Century Modern Chairs
You know the designs, now get the stories about how they came to be.
Why Is Italy Such a Hotbed of Cool Design?
Patrizio Chiarparini of Brooklyn’s Duplex gallery sheds light on the lasting legacy of Italy’s postwar furniture boom.
Eileen Gray’s Famed Cliffside Villa in the South of France Is Returned to Its Modernist Glory
After years of diligent restoration, E-1027, the designer-cum-architect’s marriage of romance and modernism, is finally complete.
12 Calming Spaces Inspired by Japanese Design
From cherry-blossom-adorned walls paired with glamorous lighting to wood-paneled ceilings above checkerboard-patterned chairs, these 12 spaces seamlessly blend Eastern and Western aesthetics.
Eileen Gray’s Deco Designs Launched Modernism. That Was Just the Beginning
Decades after her death, appreciation for the legendary designer and architect's work continues to flourish.
Harvey Probber Was the Godfather of Modern Modular Seating
The forward-thinking designer is finally getting his due.