Modern Decorative 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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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.
341
170
31
to
48
237
187
542
309
398
855
542
495
473
173
149
131
108
89
88
79
74
74
56
45
30
23
20
1
1
168
372
9
25
97
3
1
2
2
11
31
25
13
Height
to
Width
to
251
140
106
70
51
301
126
111
55
52
29
24
21
17
13
Style: Modern
Po Shun Leong Handcrafted Koa Wood Box, USA, 1986
Located in Costa Mesa, CA
Po Shun Leong Handcrafted Koa Wood Box, USA, 1986. Signed to the bottom.
Category
20th Century American Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Wood
American Modernist Geometric Inlaid Two-Tone Wood Lidded Bucket /Vessel, 1950s
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
American Modernist Geometric Inlaid Two-Tone Wood Lidded Bucket /Vessel, 1950s
Presenting a tour de force of unknown American modern design, this inlaid two-tone wood lidded bucke...
Category
20th Century American Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Ash, Pine, Walnut
Karl Springer Lidded Box with Artisan Lacquered Exterior 1970s
Located in New York, NY
Exquisitely hand-lacquered lidded box with wood motif exterior and interior covered in beige suede by Karl Springer, American 1970's. This box is meticulously crafted. Springer had...
Category
1970s American Vintage Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Suede, Wood, Lacquer
Natural, Grey Bone Dimensional Tiled Box
Located in New York, NY
Decorative optical illusion keepsake box with beveled details and contrasting bone tiles. Lined in Wood.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Wood, Bone
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 Decorative Boxes
Materials
Gold
Decorative box or planter with vintage Italian ash tray in gilded metal briar
Located in Milano, IT
Let me introduce you to an elegant vintage Italian decorative set from the 1970s. This exquisite duo comprises a decorative box, or planter, and an ashtray, both crafted with meticul...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Metal
Modern Serving Tray Calacatta Marble Cork Handmade in Portugal by Lusitanus Home
Located in Lisboa, PT
Antuã serving tray, Lusitanus Home Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Lusitanus Home.
A sublime serving tray, Antuã was design to uplift layback moments.
A rectang...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Onyx, Marble
Jewelry or Storage Boxes, Set of 2
Located in New York, NY
A set of two (2) white/cream hue resin laminate over wood jewelry or storage boxes. A matching/coordinating set of boxes convenient for holding jewelry (as ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Laminate, Wood
Handpainted Limoges Porcelain Egg Box for Asprey
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine diminutive porcelain dresser or vanity box.
By Limoges for Asprey.
In the size and shape of an egg. Decorated with handpainted green plants, blue devices, and extensive ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Porcelain
Karl Springer "Molding Box" in Multicolor Lacquers 1970s
Located in New York, NY
Hinged “Molding Box” with multi-colored lacquer design and dark green suede interior by Karl Springer, American 1970's. Springer’s superb lacquer work and attention to detail make t...
Category
1970s American Vintage Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Chrome
Channeled Small Grey Bone Box
By Global Views
Located in Norwalk, CT
A small bone box in shades of grey with a faint hint of blue. This box is hand assembled and hand dyed by artisans. The half round bone segments have been hand pieced to reveal a cha...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Bone
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 Decorative Boxes
Materials
Metal, Sheet Metal
Rino Pirovano for Rexite, Italy. 900 Multiplor. Container in red plastic
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Rino Pirovano for Rexite, Italy. 900 Multiplor.
Container in red plastic with four compartments.
1970s/80s.
Designed in 1977.
In very good condition, lid with two interior chips.
Mar...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Plastic
Vintage Signed Silver Plate Textural Hinged Box
Located in North Miami, FL
This lovely vintage silver plate hinged textural small box is signed Raimond. We were advised it was French. It has a black velvet interior. It was re- silver plated and then recentl...
Category
1970s French Vintage Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Silver Plate
Channeled Large Grey Bone Box
By Global Views
Located in Norwalk, CT
A large bone box in shades of grey with a faint hint of blue. This box is hand assembled and hand dyed by artisans. The half round bone segments have been hand pieced to reveal a cha...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Bone
Kleenera Black Marble Tissue Holder
Located in Mexico City, MX
Indulge in the epitome of opulence with the Kleenera Tissue Holder, a creation meticulously hand-carved from pure, pristine marble. Crafted with artisanal expertise, this objet trans...
Category
2010s Mexican Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Marble
Vintage Enzo Mari Travertine And Brass Hinged Box Italian
By Enzo Mari
Located in North Miami, FL
This vintage Italian travertine and brass hinged box is by the architect Enzo Mari. Great desk accessory and cocktail table addition. Very well made. From the 70's.
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Travertine, Brass
Mother of Pearl Decorative Box
Located in New York, NY
Decorative box with hand inlaid mother of pearl shell rectangular tiles.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Shell
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 Decorative Boxes
Materials
Metal, Sheet Metal
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 Decorative Boxes
Materials
Marble, Brass
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 Decorative Boxes
Materials
Silver Plate, 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 Decorative Boxes
Materials
Velvet, Wood, Burl
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 Decorative Boxes
Materials
Brass
Novelty Solid Silver Box by Theo Fennell - 1986
Located in Bath, GB
A highly collectable heavy, solid sterling silver box signed on the underside by the famed London silversmith and Jeweller, Theo Fennel.
The box is hand crafted in the form of a tru...
Category
1990s British Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Sterling Silver
Hand-Painted Dome Top Wood and Brass Decorative Chest
Located in Germantown, MD
A fancy highly decorative, hand painted wooden box in good vintage condition. Heavy solid brass hardware. Meadures 19.5" in width, 10.25" in depth and 14" in height.
Category
Late 20th Century Argentine Modern Decorative 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 Decorative Boxes
Materials
Brass
Kleenera White Marble Tissue Holder
Located in Mexico City, MX
Indulge in the epitome of opulence with the Kleenera Tissue Holder, a creation meticulously hand-carved from pure, pristine marble. Crafted with artisanal expertise, this objet trans...
Category
2010s Mexican Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Marble
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 Decorative Boxes
Materials
Ceramic
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 Decorative Boxes
Materials
Porcelain
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 Decorative Boxes
Materials
Leather
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 Decorative Boxes
Materials
Murano Glass
Set/2 Porcelain Vases, Tang Vases, White, Handmolded & Hand Decorated
Located in Lisboa, PT
Set/2 Tang Porcelain Vases, Lusitanus Home Collection by Lusitanus Home.
Real chinese porcelain vase produced by hand with traditional methods. Waterproof. The nacre finish makes ea...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Porcelain
21st Century Leather Tilting Lid Waste Bin Handmade in Italy
By Pinetti
Located in Bagnatica, Lombardia
A cylindrical and contemporary silhouette with subtle detail.
Our round metal bin with tilting lid is perfectly sized for use in the bathroom.
More than 30 harmonious shades can be paired with our modern bathroom...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Leather
Box
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Box
Mango wood / black finish
Dimensions: length: 28,5 / width: 22 / height 13 cm.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary European Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Wood
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 Decorative Boxes
Materials
Marble, Brass
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 Decorative Boxes
Materials
Crystal, Nickel
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 Decorative Boxes
Materials
Paper
Guilherme Small Agate Box in Black and Gold by CuratedKravet
Located in Woodbury, NY
A small decorative black wooden box featuring a gold plated, natural agate slice. Due to the natural material of the agate slice, size, shape and color will vary.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Stone
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 Decorative Boxes
Materials
Stone, Onyx
Ghidini 1961 Knotted Cherry Medium Box in Brass by Nika Zupanc
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
Fiasco. Guilt. Fear of love. A place to hide all the things we secretly desire yet are too scared to utter. The luscious things the perfect lover knows are never to be told. She drea...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Brass
Vintage John Miller Studio Pottery Box, 20th Century
By John Miller
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A stunning vintage Studio Pottery stoneware lidded box applied with an arrangement of irregular cut shapes decorated in blue, brown and cream colored glazes on a light mottled creame...
Category
20th Century British Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Pottery, Stoneware
Christian Dior Paris Silver Plate Box with Quartz Stone Finial, 1970s
Located in Atlanta, GA
This beautiful modernist silver plate decorative box was crafted for the renowned Christian Dior House for his Home Collection. It features an elegant minimalist round shape with a lid ornate with a large quartz stone...
Category
1970s French Vintage Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Stone, Quartz, Metal, Silver Plate
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 Decorative Boxes
Materials
Metal, Silver Plate
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 Decorative Boxes
Materials
Bone, Felt
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 Decorative Boxes
Materials
Brass
Knotted Tissue Box Square André Fu Living New PU Home Office Accessories Modern
By André Fu
Located in CENTRAL, HK
Description: Tissue box
Color: Caramel
Size: 14 x 14 x 15 H cm
Material: PU
Collection: Knotted.
Category
2010s Thai Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Faux Leather
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 Decorative Boxes
Materials
Bronze
Romeo Rega Brass Large Pyramid Step Box Sculpture Desk Accessory Italian Vintage
By Romeo Rega
Located in North Miami, FL
This amazing and very special heavy large vintage brass pyramid box and or sculpture designed by Romeo Rega is Italian and now rare. This is from the...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Brass
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 Decorative Boxes
Materials
Brass
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 Decorative Boxes
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
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 Decorative Boxes
Materials
Stone, Brass
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 Decorative 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 Decorative Boxes
Materials
Ceramic
Set/2 Pineapple Ceramic Pots, White, Handmade in Portugal by Lusitanus Home
Located in Lisboa, PT
Pineapple Decorative Pots, Lusitanus Home Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Lusitanus Home.
This beautiful set includes two wa...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Gold
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 Decorative Boxes
Materials
Sterling Silver
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 Decorative Boxes
Materials
Crystal, Metal
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 Decorative Boxes
Materials
Lapis Lazuli, Marble
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 Decorative Boxes
Materials
Hardwood
Modern decorative boxes for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Modern decorative 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 decorative boxes created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass, more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, wood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Modern decorative 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 decorative boxes, popular names associated with this style include AIREDELSUR, Lusitanus Home, Greenapple, and Paola Valle. 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 decorative 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 $82,000 while the average work can sell for $989.
Recently Viewed
View AllMore Ways To Browse
Mid Century Inlaid Wood Box
Lacquer Tray And Box
French Trinket
Wooden Box With Inlay
Wooden Inlayed Boxes
Brass Casket
Antique Bronze Metal Box
Inlay Wooden Box
Inlayed Wooden Box
Large Brass Box With Lid
Vintage Trinkets
Antique Desk Top Box
Antique Ebony Box
Antique Candy
Sevres Box
Sevres Boxes
Antique Cedar Box
Antique Hand Carved Wooden Boxes