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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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.
Ghidini 1961 Knotted Cherry Medium Box in Copper-Plated 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...
Copper
Contemporary Rocco Egg Box in Antique Copper by Robert Kuo, Limited Edition
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rocco design egg box Antique copper Hand repoussé Contemporary Each piece is individually crafted and is unique. Repoussé is the traditional art of hand-hammering decorative re...
Copper
Large Hand Blown Murano Glass Box in Onyx Black W/24 Karat Gold Flecks
Located in New York, NY
This stunning 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 vo...
Murano Glass
Set/2 Pineapple Ceramic Pots, Black, 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 waterproof ceramic pots with lid, perfect t...
Gold
Woven leather laundry basket ELENA - Standard - Regenerated leather
By Limac Design
Located in Conegliano, IT
The woven design laundry basket ELENA represents the perfect combination of functionality and innovation. An original creation by LIMAC Design, it is designed for those who are seek...
Leather, Cotton
Cylindrical laundry basket ROBY Deluxe Cotton Bag - Regenerated Leather
By Limac Design
Located in Conegliano, IT
ROBY is a cylindrical laundry basket in leather from the LIMAC Design Casa Collection. It’s a precious design item ideal for the bathroom, created to contain linen, sheets, blankets,...
Leather, Cotton
Set/2 Wooden Boxes, Beige, Gold Leaf, Handmade in Portugal by Lusitanus Home
By Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
Dandara Boxes, Lusitanus Home Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Lusitanus Home. Dandara box set includes two wooden boxes, perfect to be displayed together and enrich ...
Metal, Gold Leaf, Brass
Elongated Octagonal Lidded Tessellated Bone Box in the Style of Enrique Garcel
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A well crafted wooden Octagonal box with Tessellated bone inlay - lidded and ready for many different contents, from desk accessories to television remotes, jewelry, letters, memento...
Bone, Wood
Multi Compartment Brass Box
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A refined mid-century Italian brass gentleman’s travel case, designed with a clean rectangular silhouette and warm patinated finish. The interior reveals a thoughtfully organized lay...
Brass
Wooden Lidded Box with Brass-Tone Mirror Top
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Elegant vintage round storage box crafted from richly stained wood with a sleek ribbed exterior detail and a striking brass-tone mirrored lid. The lid is topped with a sculptural bra...
Wood
Laundry basket with Regenerated Leather heart ADELE
By Limac Design
Located in Conegliano, IT
Il portabiancheria di design con cuore ADELE è della linea LIMAC Design Casa. Questo splendido cesto per biancheria con base rettangolare è realizzato artigianalmente in cuoio rigene...
Leather, Cotton
Birdie Miller Jewelry Box, Mahogany & Walnut, Modern Design, USA
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Birdie Miller Raised Jewelry Box. Looks equally good off of it's raised platform. Made of several woods with rosewood handles. Signed to bottom platform.
Mahogany, Maple, Rosewood, Walnut
Finish Samples by Alessandra Delgado: Modern Materials from Brazil
Located in Alto da Lapa, SP
Finishing options for Alessandra Delgado Design products. Choose the samples you want for finishing the product, and check with the store for the cost of sending the chosen samples....
Steel
Vintage Bamboo-Style Metal Trinket Box with Hinged Lid
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Stylish vintage decorative box featuring a sculptural bamboo motif throughout, crafted in metal with a dark silver-tone finish. The exterior is designed to resemble stacked bamboo se...
Metal
Silverplate Round Trinket or Pill Box with Decorative Enamel Lid, 1960s
Located in Roma, IT
A charming small round silverplate box featuring a decorative enamel-style lid illustration of a dancing couple in period costume. The scene, rendered in a theatrical folkloric style...
Silver
Contemporary 'Pixel' Jewelry Box Handmade Black Wood and Glass by Ghirò Studio
By Ghirò Studio
Located in Pieve Emanuele, Milano
2022 Collection of Jewelry boxes by Ghirò Studio. 'Pixel' is perfect synthesis of timeless style, innovative design and italian craftsmanship excellence. This box is entirely in woo...
Glass, Wood
Set of Four Galvanized Steel Display Cubes — Amsterdam Diesel Flagship Store
By Diesel
Located in Dronten, NL
A rare and highly collectible set of four original display cubes created for the Amsterdam Diesel flagship store. Constructed in galvanized steel, these industrial-modern cubes featu...
Steel
Vintage Italian Silver-Plated Guilloché Playing Card Box
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Italian playing card box, crafted in silver-plated metal with a refined guilloché cross-hatch pattern across the lid and intricate geometric border detailing. The box exhibit...
Metal
Italia Silver Round Box by C. Giardetti Firenze, 1960s
Located in Roma, IT
Small circular silvered metal box of clean modernist form with a fitted lid and engraved monogram to the top. The understated cylindrical silhouette reflects the restrained elegance ...
Silver
21st Century Igea Sanitizing Box Handmade in Italy
By Pinetti
Located in Bagnatica, Lombardia
An instant touch of class, wherever displayed. A smart solution for your rooms, stores, showrooms, yachts, hotel or meeting rooms; ideal to maintain your environments clean and sanit...
Leather
Exotic Solid Wood Modern Minimal Modular Drawer Units from Costantini, Baccello
By Costantini
Located in New York, NY
The Baccello Drawers are identical units in shape created to highlight the natural variations of the beautiful wood grain from which they are made. Combined to make a functional stor...
Wood
21st Century Coffee Round Paper Bin with Lid Waste Bin Handmade in Italy
By Pinetti
Located in Bagnatica, Lombardia
Nothing like a sleek waste bin in calfskin leather to keep your bathroom looking chic. The cylindrical body is entirely covered by hand with fine calfskin leather in a woven pattern....
Leather
Sculptural Green Marble Box
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Decorative rectangular box in polished deep green marble, featuring intricate veining and subtle variations in tone. Its curved sides and shaped feet create a sculptural silhouette, ...
Marble
Wooden Box with Burl Veneer Detail
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Elegant rectangular wooden box featuring a richly patterned burl veneer panel framed by fine contrasting inlay. The warm brown tones, elongated proportions, and stepped edges give th...
Wood
Lacquered Round Container with Brass, Saffron Ecru, Viya by Vikram Goyal
Located in Noida, DL
Lacquered Round Container with Brass, Saffron Ecru, Viya by Vikram Goyal Lacquered round container with brass. Handmade in India. With moniker’s such as red gold, exquisite thread ...
Brass
Fratelli Mannelli Italian Travertine Oval Box with Sculpted Lid
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A sculptural oval travertine box produced by Fratelli Mannelli in Signa (Florence), Italy, during the 1970s. Carved from solid stone, the piece highlights the warm ivory tones, organ...
Travertine
$380Sale Price|20% Off
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...
Hardwood
Rectangular laundry basket LUNDRA Standard in regenerated leather
By Limac Design
Located in Conegliano, IT
Il portabiancheria rettangolare LUNDRA in cuoio rigenerato rappresenta l’incontro perfetto tra eleganza e praticità. Originale creazione di LIMAC Design, pensata per chi desidera un ...
Leather, Cotton
XXI Century Italian Sterling Silver Modern Table Box
Located in VALENZA, IT
XXI Century Italian Sterling Silver Modern Table Box Modern style 925 sterling silver table box. The box is square in shape and the edge of the body is lined. The lid is hinged and h...
Sterling Silver
Vintage Tessellated Horn & Wood Box with Metal Trim
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Distinctive vintage decorative box featuring a striking tessellated horn tile lid framed in polished metal over a warm wood body. The geometric arrangement of natural horn panels cre...
Wood
Two Garouste and Bonetti Bronze Boxes for the Collection of Herbert Blome 2001
By Elizabeth Garouste and Mattia Bonetti
Located in Milan, IT
Two Garouste and Bonetti Bronze Boxes for the Collection of Herbert Blome 2001 Both are fully signed
Bronze
American flag in glazed presentation cabinet
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Here we present a traditionally folded American flag in glazed cabinet. Complete with certificate to say that the flag was flown over the capital and presented by the architect of t...
Fabric, Glass, Teak
Sterling Silver Oval Hinged Box / Pill Case, 1950s
Located in Roma, IT
A refined sterling silver hinged box of elongated oval form, featuring softly rounded ends and a clean minimalist silhouette. The lid is engraved with an elegant cursive monogram “AB...
Silver
Handmade Grey Bone Inlay Box, Modern Design, Wood Lined, Spain, New
Located in New York, NY
Handmade natural bone box inlaid with grey bone oblong segments, lined in wood. A great storage solution for your desk or coffee table.
Bone
Pair of Grey Italian Pottery Covered Table Boxes, 20th Century
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine pair of figural Italian pottery covered boxes. In the form of grey pears with a twig and leaf stem. A charming pair of figural boxes! Marke...
Pottery
Round Bone Tessellated Box, Modern Design, United States, 20th Century
Located in Queens, NY
Round patterned bone tessellated box with lift-off cover.
Bone
Vintage Italian Black Lucite Desk Box / Lidded Container with Heraldic..., 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Elegant vintage cylindrical desk box or storage container crafted from glossy black lucite/acrylic and topped with a decorative heraldic-style medallion. The lid features a metallic ...
Silver
Hammered Silver-Tone Lidded Box with Monogram, 1970
Located in Roma, IT
A compact cylindrical lidded box featuring an attractive hand-hammered silver-tone finish and understated geometric monogram engraving to the lid. The textured surface creates a live...
Silver
Red Antique Lacquer Trinket Box
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Red Antique Lacquer Trinket Box This trinket box measures: 14 wide x 14 deep x 7.5 inches high This box is in Excellent Vintage Condition with minor marks, dents, and wear. We tak...
Wood, Lacquer
Large and Stylish Italian Modern Sterling Silver Box
By Pampaloni
Located in New York, NY
Modern sterling silver box. Rectangular with curved corners; on front, concave lunette thumb rest. Cover hinged. A capacious and stylish receptacle. Post-1967 Italian marks including...
Sterling Silver
grey and brown stoneware woodfiring ceramic boxe by B. Chassang unique piece
Located in Neuilly-en- sancerre, FR
Brigitte Chassang Unique handamde ceramic Grey and brown stoneware woodfiring decorative ceramic boxe by Brigitte Chassang Realised in 2025 Original perfect condition Signed h...
Ceramic
grey and brown stoneware woodfiring ceramic boxe by B. Chassang unique piece
Located in Neuilly-en- sancerre, FR
Brigitte Chassang Unique handamde ceramic Grey and brown stoneware woodfiring decorative ceramic boxe by Brigitte Chassang Realised in 2025 Original perfect condition Signed h...
Ceramic
Set/3 Jars, White and Gold Leaf, Handmade in Portugal by Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
Set/3 Ceramic Jars & Pots, Lusitanus Home Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Lusitanus Home. Elegant and timeless, this white glazed ceramic vase features a refined...
Gold Leaf
Large Onyx Shagreen and Macassar Ebony Box with Bone Inlay
Located in New York, NY
Elegant, exotic, and unmistakably refined, shagreen has long captivated those with a discerning eye for luxury. A study in subtle opulence, this artisan-crafted decorative box is wra...
Stainless Steel
Modern Serving Tray Calacatta Marble Walnut Handmade Portugal Lusitanus Home
Located in Lisboa, PT
Guadiana serving tray, Lusitanus Home Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Lusitanus Home. Guadiana is a sublime serving tray, designed to uplift layback moments. Handcra...
Marble
Handmade Modern Decorative Box, Black Bone and Wood, Spain, 2022
Located in New York, NY
Hand made dimensional bone box with hand set black centers. Rectangular pieces form a dimensional facade, lined in wood. A great addition to any coffee table to store remote controls...
Bone, Wood
Modern Serving Tray Calacatta Marble Ebony Handmade Portugal Lusitanus Home
Located in Lisboa, PT
Guadiana serving tray, Lusitanus Home Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Lusitanus Home. Guadiana is a sublime serving tray, designed to uplift layback moments. Handcra...
Marble
Set Picture Frame+Table Box Enamel two-tone ruby red and emerald green Salimbeni
By Salimbeni, Giorgio Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Rectangular Photo Frame in Gold-Plated 925/1000 Silver: Imagine a frame that frames your most precious memories with elegance and modernity. This frame is made of gold-plated 925/100...
Sterling Silver, Enamel, Gold, Gold Plate
Antique Pink Marble Box, Modern Design, United States, 20th Century
Located in Queens, NY
Rectangular marble box with lift-off cover
Marble
Oval Leather Laundry Basket by Limac Design, ARPEA Standard
By Limac Design
Located in Conegliano, IT
ARPEA is an oval leather laundry basket from the LIMAC Design Home Collection. This beautiful laundry basket is handcrafted from double-layered...
Leather, Cotton
Vintage Italian Honey Marble and Brass Decorative Box
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Elegant rectangular Italian decorative box crafted from translucent honey-toned marble, featuring a sculpted mosaic-pattern lid and brass trim. The natural variations in the stone gi...
Marble
Waste Bin in White Shagreen Detail by R&Y Augousti
Located in West Hollywood, CA
The White Shagreen Detail Waste Bin by R&Y Augousti is a masterful blend of elegance and functionality, crafted with meticulous attention to detail. Encased in luxurious white sh...
Wood, Shagreen Stingray
Modern Faux Bone Woven Design Box, USA, 20th Century
Located in Queens, NY
Contemporary faux bone woven design rectangular box
Bone
Set/2 Boxes, Aged Silver, Handmade in Portugal by Lusitanus Home
By Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
Madagáscar Boxes, Lusitanus Home Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Lusitanus Home. Madagáscar box set includes two wooden boxes, perfect to be displayed together and e...
Brass
Open laundry basket in regenerated leather AQUALIS Standard
By Limac Design
Located in Conegliano, IT
The AQUALIS open laundry basket in recycled leather represents the perfect blend of elegance and practicality. An original creation by LIMAC Design, it is designed for those who seek...
Leather, Cotton
Vintage Red Lacquer Decorative Box with Scalloped Footed Base
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A striking red lacquered box featuring a glossy, high-shine finish in a warm coral-red tone with natural mottled variation throughout the surface. The box has a rectangular silhouett...
Wood
Antique Green Marble Box with Bronze Accents and Animal Finial
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Elegant box is crafted from deep green marble with natural veining, giving it a refined and luxurious appearance. It rests on four ornate bronze feet featuring stylized motifs that l...
Marble
Waste Bin in White Shagreen by R&Y Augousti
Located in West Hollywood, CA
The White Shagreen Rhomboid Waste Bin by R&Y Augousti is a masterpiece of functional design, combining luxurious materials and artisanal craftsmanship. Its exterior is adorned wi...
Wood, Shagreen Stingray
Decorative Box with Black Velvet Interior, 1970s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Elegant Italian decorative box from the 1970s, handcrafted with a refined bone inlay exterior arranged in a subtle brick-pattern composition. The warm natural tones and delicate vari...
Wood
Opinion Ciatti Snow.White Object Holder
By Maurizio Galante 2, Tal Lancman, Opinion Ciatti
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Snow.White, an elegant object holder (available in black or white marble) with an inner mirror and details in galvanic gold brass. Part of Once Upon A Time, the collection designed b...
Marble
