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Modern Building and Garden Elements

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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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
Aina One of a Kind Jurassic Fossil Marble Erosion Double Sink, Unique Collection
Located in ES
One of a kind Erosion double sink sculpted from a solid piece of Jurassic Marble (base and faucets not included), with Nerineas fossils in relief, combining natural and leather finis...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Marble

Victoria Teak Coffee Table with Travertine Top by Harbour
Located in Delray Beach, FL
Exceptional travertine top coffee table for either indoor or outdoor use. Features a track base with two poses pedestals.    
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Travertine

Zen Fire Pit by AK47 Design
Located in Boston, MA
Zen fire pit by AK47 Design. Steel fire pit Ø1800 mm. Zen is a wood-burning outdoor fire pit with a round steel crown and built-in brazier. Stone, g...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Steel

Monumental Architectural Pottery Marilyn Kay Austin Pot
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A satin black monumental Marilyn Kay Austin wide mouth high fired clay designer pot / planter. These pots came in a wide range of related shapes and sizes often used by designers, la...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Pottery

Vondom Faz Daybed with Hinged Canopy/360º Swivels Design by Ramon Esteve
Located in Boston, MA
A collection fashioned as the new norm with an inherit universal and logical appeal. A functional daybed that strikes a perfect balance between design, technology, and ergonomics based on basic cube...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Resin

Melon Legs Base Swing Chair Modern 21st Century Steel Daybed in/Outdoor White
Located in Johannesburg, ZA
The Melon Lounger is inspired by a hammock - but with its structured hard frame it will not fold in and is thus hugely comfortable. It’s organic shape is reminiscent of a slice of f...
Category

2010s South African Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Steel

Large Vintage Olmec Terracotta Wall Head, Mexico 1970s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Large (43x36x10 cm) raw terracotta wall mask of an Olmec Warrior. The Olmec's was a pre-culumbian, Mesoamerican civilisation that lived from 1200-400 bc. This particular example is a...
Category

1970s Mexican Vintage Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Terracotta

Concrete Machu Pichu Bench
Located in Hawthorne, CA
Machu picchu bench Inspired by Carlo Scarpa's architectural works, We have designed this original practical art piece as a bench to last forever, Conc...
Category

2010s American Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Concrete

Trio Mod Pop Art Plastic Parsons Style Square Side Tables Style Kartell or Syroc
Located in Topeka, KS
Amazing trio of mod pop art plastic parsons style square side tables in the style of Kartell or Syroco. With one table design in the style of Josef Albers. They are in wonderful vint...
Category

1970s Vintage Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Plastic

Blue Cement Modern Vintage Willy Guhl Loop Coffee Table, 1995, Switzerland
Located in Vienna, AT
Blue modern vintage Loop coffee table by Willy Guhl (1915-2004). This coffee table is very suitable for indoor and outdoor as a futuristic beautiful ...
Category

Late 20th Century Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Cement

Rock Crystal Wash Basin by ARTISS
Located in Geneve, CH
Rock crystal wash basin by ARTISS Dimensions: D 41.5 x H 1.65 cm Materials: Rock crystal ARTIS is named from artist, whose two -S" stands for natural gem and natural mother shell...
Category

2010s Chinese Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Rock Crystal

Bronze Sculpture by Artiss
Located in Geneve, CH
Bronze sculpture by Artiss Dimensions: L 67 x W 30 x H 57 cm Materials: Mlachite, Bronze Artiss is named from artist, whose two -S" stands for natural gem and natural mother shell. ...
Category

2010s Chinese Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Malachite, Bronze

Set of 3 Outdoor Terracotta Vases from the series "Gardenias" by Jaime Hayon
Located in Barcelona, ES
Jaime Hayon designed the Gardenia Vases in terracotta as a complement to his outdoor furniture collection. The three vases are unique in form, illustrating Hyaon's unmistakable hal...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Ceramic

10'6" Solid Belgian Oak and Blue Stone Dining Table with 6 Legs Indoor/Outdoor
Located in Bonita Springs, FL
IN STOCK, READY TO SHIP. This stunning outdoor/indoor table is made with a Belgian Bluestone top fixed over a solid French oak frame.. This strong table is handmade of long-lasting o...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Belgian Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Stone

Hosta Leaf, Small Scale Cast Bronze Botanical Sculpture with Subtle Patina
Located in Chicago, IL
This small bronze sculpture is a maquette for a large scale sculpture at the Olbrich Gardens in Madison, Wisconsin. Made with the ancient lost wax method, a process dating back to th...
Category

2010s American Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Bronze

Set of 2 Aluminum Palais Door Handles by Henry Wilson
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2 Aluminum Palais Door Handles by Henry Wilson Dimensions: W 13 x D 8 x H 2 cm Materials: Aluminum Palais lever handle in aluminium. Each handle i...
Category

2010s Australian Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Aluminum

Muhly, Indoor/Outdoor Stainless Steel Side Table by Laun
By LAUN
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The Muhly side table's name is taken from the native Californian Muhly grass found in the San Bernardino mountain range. It can also be spotted at the Huntington Library Gardens, whe...
Category

2010s American Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Stainless Steel

Large Fireplace Grate for Andirons, Firedogs
Located in Amerongen, NL
Made of 1.4 cm (0.55") thick steel bars. All sizes of the fire grate of fireplace rack are outside sizes. Distance between the beams is 26.5 cm (10.44...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Dutch Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Steel

Modern Steel Basket Hanging Swing Chair
Located in Johannesburg, ZA
The basket twig hanging swing chairs’ round shape creates a cozy feel. It is simple and striking in its visual appeal. The pattern detail is inspired by nature and reminiscent of th...
Category

2010s South African Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Steel

Black Marble Low Pedestal Cylinder
Located in Mexico City, MX
Monterrey black marble carved cylinder. Handmade in Mexico by local craftsmen. Production time: 6-8 weeks for items without marble / 13-14 weeks for marble pieces. Shipping +10 addi...
Category

2010s Mexican Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Marble

Hoodoo Stacks, Sculptural Concrete Planters by OPIARY (H50"-78")
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Opiary is a Brooklyn-based biophilic design and production studio. We integrate nature in each of our designs, incorporating live greenery and organic shapes into bespoke furniture, planters, and sculpture. Through the ethos of biophilia, our work reflects the shifting, yet timeless relationship between humans and nature. These modern, elongated towers are an organic, elegant, and chic way to introduce nature and sculpture into your space. They are named after the geological term for tall thin rock spires protruding from the bottom of an arid drainage basin or badland. Unlike spires, hoodoos have a variable thickness often described as having a "totem pole-shaped body". Hoodoos are common to the Great Plains...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Cement

Contemporary Octagon Narcissus Planter / Pot in Pink Rosa Perlino Terrazzo
Located in London, GB
The pieces follow the Narcissus vases in Rosa Perlino and Rosso Levanto shown at David Gill Gallery in November 2017 and are made from these two traditional...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary British Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Stainless Steel

Modern Circular Steel Wheel Hanging Chair
Located in Johannesburg, ZA
The Wheel hanging swing chair is sculptural and dynamic. Its striking circular shape lends itself for use as a functional art piece. The pattern detail is inspired by nature and rem...
Category

2010s South African Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Steel

Custom Modernist Polished Brass & Tempered Glass Fire Screen by High Style Deco
Located in New York, NY
This custom modernist fire screen was custom made by artisans in New York State exclusively for High Style Deco. It features a frameless pane of ½" thick tempered glass mounted on a ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Brass, Nickel

Custom Modern Fire Screen in Polished Nickel and Tempered Glass
Located in New York, NY
This custom fire screen features a frameless pane of ½" thick tempered glass mounted on a pair of polished nickel feet. This design is customizable,...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Nickel

Modernist Brushed & Polished Nickel Four Piece Fire Tool Set by High Style Deco
Located in New York, NY
This exceptional custom four-piece fire tool set consists of a stoker, shovel, brush and log holder with polished nickel handles and brushed nickel rods, neatly suspended from a poli...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Nickel

Modern Twins Outdoors Sofa, Sunbrella Fabric, Handmade in Portugal by Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
Twins Chaise Longue Outdoors, Contemporary Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Greenapple. Designed by Rute Martins for the Contemporary Col...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Leather, Wood, Fabric

Modern Twins Outdoors Sofa, Sunbrella Fabric, Handmade in Portugal by Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
Twins Sofa Outdoors, Contemporary Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Greenapple. The Twins outdoors sofa and day bed share the same genes, ye...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Leather, Fabric

Patio or Garden Dining Room Table in Wrought Iron with Glass Top
Located in Miami, FL
Patio or garden dining room table in wrought iron with glass top Indoor & Outdoor Estructure measurements: Depth 27.5 in Width 47.24 in Height 29.52 in.
Category

2010s Spanish Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Wrought Iron

The Minimalist: A Modern Stone Fireplace with a Stepped-in Frame
Located in Chicago, IL
The Minimalist is a pared-down, simple but elegant modern fireplace surround, with a step in around the opening for added visual interest and...
Category

2010s American Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Limestone

Outdoor & Indoor Glide White Concrete Monkey Side Table by Jaime Hayon
Located in Barcelona, ES
Side table made of solid architectural concrete in white. Apt for indoor and outdoor use. Regulatory glides included. Few pieces have achieved bestseller success and simultaneous pu...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Concrete

Modernist Custom-Made Fire Screen in Brushed Brass with Iron Mesh Grill
Located in New York, NY
This stunning modernist fire screen was custom made by artisans in New York State. It features an austere square body in brushed brass, with rectangular feet in the same material and...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Brass

Set of 2 Steles, Grey Marble Columns, 20th Century.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Set of 2 steles, grey marble columns, 20th century. Set of 2 grey marble columns, 20th century. 1st: H: 100cm, W: 25cm, D: 25cm 2nd: H: 90cm, W: 25cm, D: 25cm
Category

20th Century French Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Marble

Set of 3 Steles, White Marble Columns, 20th Century.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Set of 3 steles, white marble columns, 20th century. Set of 3 white marble columns, 20th century. 1st: H: 70cm, W: 30cm, D: 30cm 2nd: H: 60cm, W: 30cm, D: 30cm 3rd: H: 50cm, W: 30cm...
Category

20th Century French Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Marble

Set of 3 Steles, Black Marble Columns, 20th Century.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Set of 3 steles, black marble columns, 20th century. Set of 3 columns, black marble steles, 20th century. 1st: H: 70cm, W: 30cm, D: 30cm 2nd: H: 60cm, W: 30cm, D: 30cm 3rd: H: 30cm,...
Category

20th Century French Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Marble

Blue Patterned Outdoor Resistant Pillow
Located in Santo Tirso, PT
Pillow Big I Modern outdoor pillow made with Dedar Milano fabrics. The pillow's customizable design allows you to choose from a range of premium fabrics and colors to create the pe...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Fabric

Waterproof Outdoor Pillow with Pattern
Located in Santo Tirso, PT
Pillow Big I Modern outdoor pillow made with Designers Guild fabrics. The pillow's customizable design allows you to choose from a range of premium fabrics and colors to create the...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Fabric

Orange Waterproof Outdoor Pillow with Pattern
Located in Santo Tirso, PT
Pillow Big I Modern outdoor pillow made with Designers Guild fabrics. The pillow's customizable design allows you to choose from a range of premium fabrics and colors to create the...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Fabric

Green Patterned Waterproof Pillow
Located in Santo Tirso, PT
Pillow Big I Modern outdoor pillow made with Dedar Milano fabrics. The pillow's customizable design allows you to choose from a range of premium fabrics and colors to create the pe...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Fabric

Patterned Waterproof Outdoor Pillow
Located in Santo Tirso, PT
Pillow Big I Modern outdoor pillow made with Dedar Milano fabrics. The pillow's customizable design allows you to choose from a range of premium fabrics and colors to create the pe...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Fabric

Blue Waterproof Outdoor Pillow with Pattern
Located in Santo Tirso, PT
Pillow Big I Modern outdoor pillow made with Designers Guild fabrics. The pillow's customizable design allows you to choose from a range of premium fabrics and colors to create the...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Fabric

Isla Del Sol Puerto Rico Stoneware Round Planter
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This is a Puerto Rican, Isla Del Sol Stoneware Planter. It depicts a heavy orange round planter decorated with six rows of circles adorned in the center with stars. These rows are al...
Category

20th Century American Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Stoneware

Vintage Custom French Mini Subway Tiles, Cerafrance Normandie, Biscuit
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Vintage custom French mini subway tiles, Cerafrance Normandie, 32 x 100 biscuit. Custom made for a project that never came to fruition. Rare mini subway tiles by Cerafrance Ceramique...
Category

Late 20th Century French Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Ceramic

Cosanti Bronze Bells Paolo Soleri
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Nice set of bronze bells with a wonderful verdigris patina. No two are exactly alike. Made at the Arcosanti bronze factory in Arizona. They have a nice musical sound. One is missing ...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Bronze

Walter Lamb for Brown Jordan Bronze Patio Ottoman
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A bronze ottoman by Walter Lamb for Brown Jordan. The ottoman has simple construction in tubular bronze with a patinated finish, with rounded squares serving as runners on each side....
Category

Mid-20th Century American Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Bronze

Verdigris Bronze Wind Chime
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Nice wind bell with a wonderful verdigris patina. Great musical sound. Fine original vintage condition. Great for any environment and collections...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Bronze

Cosanti Studio Pottery Bell Paolo Soleri
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Nice ceramic wind bell. No two are exactly alike. Made at the Arcosanti studios in Arizona. Normal wear and patina. No chips, cracks or repairs. Great for any environment and collect...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Steel

Marble Pedestal circa 1950
Located in Culver City, CA
Marble Pedestal France circa 1950 solid marble construction, with cylindrical base. Made from two different species. 16.25”L x 11.25”d x 13.25”h
Category

1950s French Vintage Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Marble

Outdoor Side Table in Stainless Steel and Fiberglass
Located in Santo Tirso, PT
Rem Side Table An outdoor side table inspired in one of the most emblematic architecture projects in cidade Invicta (Porto, Portugal) - Casa da Música. The Rem side table resembles...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Stainless Steel

White Outdoor Resistant Ribbon Coffee Table With Brown Lacquered Legs
Located in Santo Tirso, PT
Ribbon Coffee Table The Ribbon coffee table has a simple but elegant design. Its curved structure is in harmony with the rest of the pieces in the Ribbon collection, while its rect...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Stainless Steel

Set of Six Emeco Navy Counter Stools in Brushed Aluminum
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Iconic American set of six navy counter height stools finished in brushed aluminum made by Emeco. Designed in 1944 and still in production today. The navy chair is hand-formed from r...
Category

20th Century American Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Aluminum

Armchair in Black Stainless Steel and White Fabric
Located in Santo Tirso, PT
Trace Outdoor Dining Armchair The Trace Dining Chair is the epitome of functional yet enjoyable dining. With its perfect combination of comfort and practicality, this chair is desi...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Stainless Steel

John Caldwell for Brown Jordan Patio Sofa
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Luxurious wrought aluminum patio and garden sofa designed by John Caldwell for Brown Jordan known as the Parkway cushion sofa with a sleek profile and stylish bronzed finish. Topped ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary North American Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Aluminum

Marble and Fiberglass Outdoor Dining Table
Located in Santo Tirso, PT
Verve Dining Table In essence, the Verve dining table is a celebration of the vibrancy and potential of life. It's about infusing every moment around the table with passion and enth...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Marble, Stainless Steel

Contemporary Black Metal Mesh Firescreen
Located in Chicago, IL
Contemporary black metal mesh firescreen, 21st Century. Minimalist black metal frame and two vent/cutouts near the feet give it interest and shape.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Metal

Marble and Fiberglass Outdoor Coffee Table
Located in Santo Tirso, PT
Verve Coffee Table In essence, the Verve coffee table is a celebration of the vibrancy and potential of life. It's about infusing every moment with passion and enthusiasm. Its struc...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Marble, Stainless Steel

Outdoor Bench Crafted From Solid Block of Scented Cedar Wood
Located in New York, NY
This bench embodies simplicity with its essential and geometric lines, featuring a substantial beam as its seat. The focal point is the material itself: a single block of solid cedar...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Cedar

Hand Marbled Eggtimer Planter in White Chamota and Terracotta Clays.
Located in VALÈNCIA, ES
Introducing our exquisite tall egg timer-shaped planter, meticulously handcrafted by skilled artisans in the historic city of Valencia, Spain. This distinctive piece combines functio...
Category

2010s Spanish Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Clay

Modern building and garden elements for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Modern building and garden elements 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 building and garden elements created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include building and garden elements, seating, tables and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, stone and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Modern building and garden elements 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 building and garden elements, popular names associated with this style include Myface, Aimee Wilder, sicis, and Bari Ziperstein. 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 building and garden elements differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $10 and tops out at $375,000 while the average work can sell for $2,919.

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