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Modern Lighting

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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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 chaircrafted 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
Globe Flush Mount by Research.Lighting, Black Made to Order
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This listing is for 1x Globe Flush Mount in black designed and manufactured by Research.Lighting. Materials: Brass, Steel & Glass Finish: Black Electronics: 1x G9 Socket, 1x 4.5 Wat...
Category

2010s American Modern Lighting

Materials

Brass, Steel

"Il Pezzo 3 Wall Sconce" - width 27cm/10.3" - polished brass - crystal - LEDs
Located in Firenze, IT
Inspired by Arabic calligraphic art and the icon of the classical candelabrum is Il Pezzo 3, a collection of lamps with a hand-forged brass structure and elegant “candles” crafted fr...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Lighting

Materials

Crystal, Brass, Bronze

Brass "Pulsar Completo" Chandelier
Located in Geneve, CH
Brass "Pulsar Completo" chandelier. Dimensions: 40 height x 82 diameter cm. Materials: Brass, crystal. 30 brass rings with a satin brass finish, light source inserted in the hollow ...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Lighting

Materials

Crystal, Brass

Hype XL Pendant Lamp by Patricia Bustos de la Torre
Located in Geneve, CH
Hype XL Pendant Lamp by Patricia Bustos de la Torre Dimensions: D 20 x W 161 x H 110 cm. Materials: White opal glass, transparent methacrylate tubes, iridescent vinyl and brass. Hyp...
Category

2010s Spanish Modern Lighting

Materials

Brass, Other

Tenfold Pendant Light 3TB 12inch, Polished Nickel, Brutalist, Ceiling Lamp
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Tenfold Pendant 3TB in Polished Nickel by Luft Tanaka Studio Composed of interlocking mirror polished metal panels, the Tenfold Series is inspired by the aesthetics, architectural s...
Category

2010s American Modern Lighting

Materials

Aluminum, Steel, Brass

Globe Flush Mount by Research.Lighting, Brushed Brass, Made to Order
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This listing is for 1x Globe Flush Mount in brushed brass designed and manufactured by Research.Lighting. Materials: Brass, Steel & Glass Finish: Brushed Brass Electronics: 1x G9 So...
Category

2010s American Modern Lighting

Materials

Brass, Steel

Natural Brass Contemporary-Modern Decorative Pendant lamp Handcrafted in Italy
Located in Saonara, IT
Handcrafted pendant lamp model "Riga 2200", made in brass; with its sober and elegant design, this piece perfectly fits into modern-contemporary context. Its name, "Riga", is the Ita...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Lighting

Materials

Brass

Pair of Paco Ponte Table Lamp, circa 2022, Spain
Located in Girona, Spain
Pair of Paco Ponte table lamps. Very decorative. Made with bisque ceramic. Signed by the designer. Circa 2022, Spain. Very good condition. Paco Ponte ...
Category

2010s Spanish Modern Lighting

Materials

Ceramic

Antares X3 Ceiling Light by Gaspare Asaro-Polished Brass
Located in New York, NY
The Antares X3 ceiling light harmoniously balances the linear details of its intersecting arms with the organic form of its handblown glass shades. The first images show the fixture ...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Lighting

Materials

Brass

Dish Pendant, by Research.Lighting, Glass Dome Shade, Made to Order
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This listing is for 1x Dish Pendant Light designed and manufactured by Research.Lighting. Materials: Steel, Glass Finish: Powder Coated Steel in black Electronics: 1x G9 Socket, 4....
Category

2010s American Modern Lighting

Materials

Metal

Glazed Ceramic Table Lamp by Keramos, France, c. 1940
Located in New York City, NY
Glazed Ceramic Table Lamp, Keramos, France, c. 1940 Monumental glazed ceramic table lamp by Keramos, France. The yellow glaze beautifully highlights the patterned stoneware body of ...
Category

20th Century French Modern Lighting

Materials

Ceramic

Custom Exclusive Polished Nickel & Murano Glass Molecular Snowflake Chandelier
Located in New York, NY
This stunning and dramatic polished Nickel and Handblown Murano glass Molecular "Snowflake" Chandelier was realized in Murano, Italy- the islands off the coast of Venice, renowned fo...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Lighting

Materials

Gold, Nickel

Volterra Ceiling Light by Gaspare Asaro-Satin Nickel and Satin Brass Finish
Located in New York, NY
The Volterra ceiling light is an ode to the historic Tuscan city by the same name known for its striking architecture and its precious stone quarries. The fixture exemplifies these q...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Lighting

Materials

Alabaster, Brass

Artistic glass lightbulb chandelier Murano Bulb Marcantonio X Multiforme #11
Located in Trebaseleghe, IT
The art of Murano glass meets the iconicity of a bulb, together they give rise to a brilliant piece of furniture: a lightbulb, a chandelier or whatever your imagination suggests. Murano Bulb...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Lighting

Materials

Art Glass, Blown Glass

Flos Miss K Table Lamp in Transparent by Philippe Starck
Located in Brooklyn, NY
MISS K desk/table lamp providing diffused light. Fully transparent, injectionmolded PMMA (polymethylmethacrylate, UL-94 HB) frame; opal, injectionmolded polycar...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Lighting

Materials

Plastic

Jacques Duval-Brasseur Brass, Agate Butterfly Floor Lamp
Located in New York, NY
French modernist floor lamp composed of hand welded, gilt washed brass patchwork pieced trunk and limbs with a single butterfly with large agate geode...
Category

20th Century French Modern Lighting

Materials

Agate, Brass

A brass and marble table lamp
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
an unique horse brass head table lamp attributed to Maison Jansen
Category

1980s French Vintage Modern Lighting

Materials

Marble, Brass

Contemporary, Handmade Floor Lamp, Natural Rattan, White, Mediterranean Objects
Located in Barcelona, ES
AMÀ - Floor lamp Amà , comes from the Catalan '' a mà '', which means '' handmade '', and it is how this contemporary lamp is made. With hand-turned beech wood, white metal details,...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Lighting

Materials

Metal

Globe Flush Mount by Research.Lighting, Brushed Nickel, Made to Order
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This listing is for 1x Globe Flush Mount in brushed nickel designed and manufactured by Research.Lighting. Materials: Brass, Steel & Glass Finish: Brushed Nickel Electronics: 1x G9 ...
Category

2010s American Modern Lighting

Materials

Brass, Steel

Luigi Caccia Dominioni Bidone pendant, Azucena, Italy, 1960s
Located in London, GB
Luigi Caccia Dominioni, one of the world’s oldest practicing architects until he died in 2016 aged 103, was according to Pin Up magazine – “the architect’s architect”. Visible in eve...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Modern Lighting

Materials

Brass

Uno Classico Semi-Flush Mount by Gaspare Asaro-Bronze Finish
Located in New York, NY
The Uno ceiling light exemplifies simple elegance via its clean profile designed around a single Murano glass shade. Starting pricing by size-10% upcharge for specialty finishes: 1...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Lighting

Materials

Brass

Serpente Ceiling Light by Gaspare Asaro- Brass Finish
Located in New York, NY
The Serpente ceiling light features a gently winding frame to which are mounted six organic shades. Each shade cradles one of our Sfera glasses on the inside and a clear molded glass...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Lighting

Materials

Brass

Turquiose Glazed Ceramic Table Lamp by Primavera le Printemps, circa 1930
Located in New York City, NY
Turquiose Glazed Ceramic Table Lamp by Primavera for Le Printeps, France Small but striking glazed ceramic table lamp in a vibrant turquoise glaze. Created by the French studio Prim...
Category

20th Century French Modern Lighting

Materials

Ceramic

Angel 14 Contemporary Lamp Crystal Bowl Craquele, colored Silvered Glass Ring
Located in Pietrasanta, IT
This object is a contemporary piece, entirely made in Tuscany, Italy and 100% of Italian origin. Inspired by the universal love, drawn as a planet, with its clean lines, Angel wil...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Lighting

Materials

Crystal, Brass

Hollywood Regency Flower Brass Wall Light, Willy Daro for Massive Lighting 1970s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Elegant Willy Daro flower light for ‘Massive Lighting', 1970s. Cast brass flower wall or ceiling light, the light attaches by a plate so can be used either way. The light is wired an...
Category

1970s German Vintage Modern Lighting

Materials

Brass

Italian modern floor lamp in opaline glass and white metal, 1980s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern floor lamp in opaline glass and white metal, 1980s Floor lamp with 4 lights in white painted metal. The 4 spherical diffusers are made of opaline glass, each positione...
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Modern Lighting

Materials

Metal

Modernist Articulating Seven Shade Honey Comb Chandelier in Brass & Black Enamel
Located in New York, NY
This bold geometric fixture originates from the United States during the latter, half of the 20th century. featuring a black enamel frame of hexagonal elements, linearly oriented tha...
Category

20th Century American Modern Lighting

Materials

Brass, Enamel

Austrian Crystal and Brass Pair of Wall Sconces by J.T. Kalmar
Located in Palm Springs, CA
1970’s Glamorous pair of Austrian crystal and brass wall sconces by J.T. Kalmar. In original vintage condition, shows minor wear consistent with age(no chips). They take one 60w ma...
Category

1970s Austrian Vintage Modern Lighting

Materials

Crystal, Brass

Italian modern red metal Adjustable table lamp Daphine by Cimini Lumina 1980s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern red metal Adjustable table lamp Daphine by Tommaso Cimini for Lumina, 1980s Adjustable table lamp mod. Daphine, in bright red painted metal. The semi-cylindrical dif...
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Modern Lighting

Materials

Metal

Glazed Ceramic Table Lamp by Keramos, c. 1940
Located in New York City, NY
Glazed Ceramic Table Lamp, Keramos, France, c. 1940 This large table lamp is decorated with painterly glazing techniques and patterned texture. Subdued colors complement the meticul...
Category

20th Century French Modern Lighting

Materials

Ceramic

Table Lamp by Jane & Gordon Martz
Located in San Francisco, CA
Stoneware table lamp in matte white by Jane & Gordon Martz for Marshall Studios. Etched “Martz” on the back. New wiring and plug. Shade not included.
Category

1950s American Vintage Modern Lighting

Materials

Stoneware

Pendant, Brass with Onyx Marble Spot Led
Located in Roeselare, BE
Pendant made of blackened brass profiles with onyx marble sheets which are translucent, filled with leds and below a hole with a MR16 spot light led. Power supply on distance. Overal...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Belgian Modern Lighting

Materials

Onyx, Brass

Volterra Ceiling Light by Gaspare Asaro-Polished Brass Finish
Located in New York, NY
The Volterra ceiling light is an ode to the historic Tuscan city by the same name known for its striking architecture and its precious stone quarries. The fixture exemplifies these q...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Lighting

Materials

Alabaster, Brass

Brazilian Contemporary Sculptural Steel Pendant Light - Max
Located in Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo
This pendant is named Sacurá Max. It is a Sculptural light pendant in steel. It can be paited in black, white ou brown (corten). It has 6 domes. The mall cotton domes in various colo...
Category

2010s Brazilian Modern Lighting

Materials

Steel

Adone by Artemide Vintage adjustable Floor Lamp, Italy, 1980s
Located in Milano, IT
Italian-made Vintage Artemide Adone Floor Lamp from the 1980s with a Modern metal design and stone base.
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Modern Lighting

Materials

Stone, Metal

Decorator Fine Art Lamps Gold Gilt Metal Skyscraper Modern Floor Lamps - a Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Decorator Fine Art Lamps Gold Gilt Metal Skyscraper Modern Floor Lamps - a Pair. Item features original round cloth shades, clean modern lines, burnishe...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Lighting

Materials

Metal

Pair of Paco Ponte Table Lamp, circa 2022, Spain
Located in Girona, Spain
Pair of Paco Ponte table lamps. Very decorative. Made with bisque ceramic. Signed by the designer. Circa 2022, Spain. Very good condition. Paco Ponte ...
Category

2010s Spanish Modern Lighting

Materials

Ceramic

Demetra Bronze Wall Lamp by Alabastro Italiano
Located in Geneve, CH
Demetra Bronze Wall Lamp by Alabastro Italiano Dimensions: D 9 x W 10 x H 60 cm. Materials: White alabaster, bronze and leather. Available in different finishes: Shiny Silver, Bronz...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Lighting

Materials

Alabaster, Bronze

Dome Sconce by Research.Lighting, Black, Made to Order
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This listing is for 1x Dome Sconce in Black designed and manufactured by Research.Lighting. Materials: Steel, Brass & Glass Finish: Powder Coated Steel in black Electronics: 1x G9 S...
Category

2010s American Modern Lighting

Materials

Brass, Steel

Serpente Ceiling Light by Gaspare Asaro- Polished Nickel and Satin Brass Finish
Located in New York, NY
The Serpente ceiling light features a gently winding frame to which are mounted six organic shades. Each shade cradles one of our Sfera glasses on the inside and a clear molded glass...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Lighting

Materials

Brass

T Sconce Offset, by Research.Lighting, Black with glass globes, Made to Order
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This listing is for 1x T Sconce Offset designed and manufactured by Research.Lighting. Materials: Steel, Glass Finish: Powder Coated Steel in black Electronics: 2x G9 Sockets, 2x 2...
Category

2010s American Modern Lighting

Materials

Metal

Vespera Light by WDSTCK Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Vespera Light by WDSTCK Studio Dimensions: 10 D x W 7 x H 15 cm Materials: Brass, LED Dimmable Input voltage: 110V or 220V Color temperature: 2.200-2....
Category

2010s Dutch Modern Lighting

Materials

Brass

Rare Italian Suspended Light Produced by Aureliano Toso, Murano Glass, c 1990s
Located in Zagreb, HR
Very rare suspended light fixture model JOINT produced by Aureliano Toso Murano 1938, circa 1990's or early 2000's The name of the designer is unknown The lamp features unique tria...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Modern Lighting

Materials

Metal

REGINA Lamp by Bobo PICCOLI, FONTANA ARTE 1968
Located in Berlin, Berlin
Table lamp designed by Bobo Piccoli. Italy, Fontana Arte, 1968. Large table lamp, known as 'REGINA' consisting of three interlocking matt opalescent glass pieces. Black metal base w...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Modern Lighting

Materials

Metal

Pair of Ceramic Table Lamps with Shades by Olivia Cognet
Located in Saint-Ouen, IDF
Pair of table lamps made by Olivia Cognet. Each piece is made of a large cylindrical body covered with sculpted decors and topped with a curved ceramic lampshade. Since moving to Lo...
Category

2010s French Modern Lighting

Materials

Ceramic

DDR Table lamp VEB Metalldrücker
By VEB
Located in Montréal, QC
DDR desk lamp made by VEB Metalldrücker in East. Lacquered aluminium shade, polished steel fittings, lacquered bakelite knobs, lacquered steel base. 40-60 watts E-26 Edison medium ba...
Category

1960s German Vintage Modern Lighting

Materials

Aluminum, Enamel, Steel, Chrome

Murano Glass and Brass Modern Lamps
Located in Austin, TX
Pair of modern lamps made with brass structures and clear Murano glass elements. Each piece has hand-blown circular pieces of glass stacked around a brass center. They have been newl...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Lighting

Materials

Brass

Pair of Murano Blown Fluted Amethyst Wall Lights, Contemporary
Located in Westport, CT
Pair of tall artisan blown conical shaped wall lights on unlacquered brass arm supports, color blown in a very pale and beautiful amethyst. Made install ready and electrified to cod...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Lighting

Materials

Blown Glass

Helios 66 Ceiling Light by Gaspare Asaro-Satin Brass and Satin Nickel Finish
Located in New York, NY
The Helios ceiling light features an imposing composition of illuminated Murano glass shades gravitating around a central tinted mirror. The first images show the fixture in a satin ...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Lighting

Materials

Brass

Modern Vintage Table Lamp Zelig by Walter Monici for Lumina, 1980s, Italy
Located in Wien, AT
A modern vintage table lamp or desk lamp or architect lamp, which was designed by Walter A. Monici for Lumina, Italy. Marked A triangular shaped ...
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Modern Lighting

Materials

Aluminum

Almond Small Kyrtos Table Light by Lisa Allegra
Located in Geneve, CH
Almond Small Kyrtos Table Light by Lisa Allegra Dimensions: Ø 8 x H 27 cm. Materials: Ceramic. Also available in Blackened gold and Pearl finishes. Please contact us. Born in 1986 i...
Category

2010s Spanish Modern Lighting

Materials

Ceramic

Casa Wall Light No1
Located in Macieira de Sarnes, PT
Casa Wall Light No 1 in yellow Designed by Project 213A in 2023 Artisanal ceramic light with textured finish, made in Project 213A's own ceramic workshop. Each piece is unique due t...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Lighting

Materials

Ceramic

Dot Table Lamp by SB26
Located in Geneve, CH
Dot Table Lamp by SB26 Dimensions: W 29 x D 29 x H 43 cm Materials: Alabaster, LED Source. In a consistently geometric vocabulary, this family of lamps unveils the translucent and o...
Category

2010s French Modern Lighting

Materials

Alabaster

Set of 2 Murano glass wall sconces, Roberto Pamio, Leucos, Italy, 1970s
Located in modena, Emilia-Romagna
Pair of precious Murano glass wall lamps, designed in the late 1960s by Roberto Pamio and produced by Leucos. The condition is perfect and both lamps have no defects. Of considerable...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Modern Lighting

Materials

Metal

Murano Glass Swirl Pendant 1970's Italy
Located in Albano Laziale, Rome/Lazio
A beautiful large handmade Murano glass ceiling lamp with a swivel design in wheat/caramel and off-white. Elegant and striking in it´s simplicity. The light shines through the lamp a...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Modern Lighting

Materials

Blown Glass, Murano Glass

Modern Floor Lamp Rough Steel Led
Located in Roeselare, BE
Floor lamp made of rough steel which is patinated. Inside covered with white chalk paint. Transparent led lamps inside.
Category

2010s Belgian Modern Lighting

Materials

Steel

Cream Cutout Chandelier, Made in Italy
Located in Culver City, CA
Cream Cutout Chandelier Made in Italy Brass chandelier with painted aluminum disc with 15 satin lenses. E27 socket 24”d x 28”h Ref. L4386 *4-6...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Lighting

Materials

Aluminum, Brass

Set of four large two tier handblown Murano feather sconces by Barovier et Toso
Located in New York City, NY
A set of four of large double tier Barovier et Toso hand-blown crystal leaf sconces. (Seven or possibly eight single sconces available) Each sconce features tiered palm fronds or lea...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Lighting

Materials

Blown Glass

Modern lighting for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Modern lighting 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 lighting created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include lighting, decorative objects, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, glass and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Modern lighting 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 lighting, popular names associated with this style include Vistosi, Artemide, Flos, and DOOQ. 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.

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