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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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.
Snuff Box Oval curved Green Enamel Guilloche Salimbeni
By Franco Salimbeni, Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Oval curved snuff-box in 925/1000 sterling silver gold-plated with translucent fired enamels on guilloché, above and below. Modern contemporary style. Size cm. 4.5 x 6.5 x 2.3. Weigh...
Gold, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Vintage Gucci Enamel and Gilt Cigarette/Card Case
By Gucci
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A rare vintage Gucci cigarette or card case, featuring the brand’s iconic design elements. The exterior is crafted with a glossy black enamel finish em...
Enamel
$199Sale Price / item|20% Off
Luxury Exotic Wood and Bronze Dugout by William Stuart for Costantini Design
By Costantini
Located in New York, NY
Luxury Exotic Wood and Bronze Dugout by William Stuart for Costantini Design 3.75" H x 1.75 W x 0.5" D Costantini founder William Stuart has bough...
Bronze
Reed & Barton Sterling Silver Cigar Box with Hound Dog Finial
Located in New York, NY
Modern sterling silver cigar box. Made by Reed & Barton in Taunton, Massachusetts, ca 1920. Rectangular with straight sides. Cover hinged with molded rim; on top, cast figural finial...
Sterling Silver
Vintage Georg Jensen Sterling Silver Box 1142A by Soren Georg Jensen
Located in Hellerup, DK
A sterling silver Georg Jensen box, design #1142A by Soren “Søren” Georg Jensen from 1965. The lid is a separate piece and lifts off. There are different sizes of this box, this is t...
Sterling Silver
Vintage Georg Jensen Sterling Silver Box w/ gilt lid 1142A by Soren Georg Jensen
Located in Hellerup, DK
A sterling silver Georg Jensen box, design #1142A by Soren (Søren) Georg Jensen from 1965. The lid is a separate piece and lifts off, the top surface of the lid is gilt. There are di...
Sterling Silver
$400 / set
Set of 4 Kubus Snuffer by Lassen
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 4 Kubus snuffer by Lassen Dimensions: D 21 x W 2.50 x H 3.50 cm Materials: Metal Weight: 0.33 Kg With reference to the iconic Kubus candleholders, the Kubus Snuffer in...
Metal
Antique Asian Wood Opium Container with Lid and Brass Pull
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Decorative Antique Asian round wood box container with lid and brass pull. Vintage collectible Asian wooden tobacco or opium round container. Round shaped lidded opium container...
Wood
Large English Modern Sterling Silver Box, 1963
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 ...
Sterling Silver
19th Century Dog House Cigar Box or Humidor
Located in San Francisco, CA
Charming 19th Century cigar box or humidor guarded by a metal dog with glass eyes on a short lease. These boxes are perfect for collectors of boxes...
Metal
Lidded Pewter Box by Georg Wahlgren for Lau Tenn
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This lidded pewter box, designed by Georg Wahlgren for Lau Tenn in 1960s Sweden, features a modernist sphere lid pull. The underside bears the designer and maker’s marks.
Pewter
Tiffany Small Modern Sterling Silver Box
Located in New York, NY
Small Modern sterling silver box. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York. Rectangular with straight sides. Cover hinged and flat with molded rim. Box interior cedar-lined. Cover interior ...
Sterling Silver
Large Folk Art Wood 4 Drawer Jewelry Box Chest of Drawers
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Folk Art Jewelry Box or Miniature Tabletop Sized Chest of Drawers. This vintage wood piece with four drawers has lots of character and patina. Each drawer features a hand painted lea...
Wood, Paint
Tiffany American Modern Sterling Silver Box
Located in New York, NY
Modern sterling silver box. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York, ca 1912. Rectangular with straight sides. Cover hinged with gently curved top and molded rim. Box interior cedar lined....
Sterling Silver
Edwardian Period Sterling Silver Table Box Having a Hinged Lid
Located in New York, NY
Edwardian Period, sterling silver table box, London, year-hallmarked for 1904, maker's mark unreadable. Measures 3 inches wide x 3 inches deep x 1 1/2 inches high. The box is wood-li...
Sterling Silver
Smart Antique English Sterling Silver Cigar Case / Box
Located in Bath, GB
A very handsome top-quality four finger cigar case or box made from a heavy gauge of solid English sterling silver weighing 151 grams / 4.86 Troy Ounces. The case is in near mint co...
Sterling Silver
Vintage Burl Wood Lidded Box
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This exquisite vintage keepsake box is a masterclass in the beauty of natural materials. Hand-crafted from richly figured burl wood, the lid displays a breathtaking array of swirling...
Satinwood, Walnut, Burl
$595
H 0.75 in Dm 2.5 in
Blackington Sterling Silver and Guilloché Enamel Box with Mirrored Lid, C. 1925
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Blackington Sterling Silver and Guilloché Enamel Box with Mirrored Lid, Circa 1920s A luminous sterling silver and guilloché enamel bo...
Sterling Silver
$1,826
H 3.55 in W 2.76 in D 3.15 in
Antique Silver BOX Decorative Box, Sterling Silver Jewllery Box Home Decor
Located in Wembley, GB
Antique valuable handmade sterling silver box or Decorative jewllery box with Illustration pressed, cast and chased. Rectangular body on short, curved feet with hinged, vaulted lid. ...
Gold Plate, Silver, Sterling Silver
1980s Elegant Brass and Green Enamel Cigarette Box by Gucci
By Gucci
Located in Aci Castello, IT
This is a captivating, elegant piece of 1980s Gucci Florence craftsmanship. This Vintage Cigarette or Card Case is a fantastic example of the luxury accessories the brand was known f...
Brass, Enamel
Sold
H 3.75 in W 1.75 in D 0.5 in
Luxury Ebony Wood and Bronze Dugout by William Stuart for Costantini Design
By Costantini
Located in New York, NY
Luxury Ebony Wood and Bronze Dugout with One Hitter by William Stuart for Costantini Design 3.75" H x 1.75 W x 0.5" D Costantini founder William Stuart has bought, lost, gifted and abandoned dozens of dugouts throughout his adult life. We have a limited edition of two in ebony wood available now. Compatible with most pipes for sale at most smoke shops and designed specially for discreet and handy transport and use of marijuana. It includes a ceramic pipe simulated to look like a cigarette. Made with love in Argentina where most people don't know what this is (yet). About William Stuart: William C Stuart...
Bronze
Sold
H 1.19 in W 3.86 in D 3.55 in
Sterling Silver Heart-Shaped Snuff Box, Fire Enameled on Guilloche Salimbeni
By Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Large heart-shaped snuff box in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with translucent fired enamel on top and bottom on guilloche. Size cm. 9 x 9.8 x 3 Weight gr. 235. Contemporary s...
Sterling Silver, Enamel
Sold
H 3.23 in W 9.97 in D 8.39 in
Hermès Humidor for Cigars Made 1980’s Hand Crafted Veneered and Marquetry
By Hermès
Located in London, GB
A hand made and crafted Hermes humidor or Cigar Box showing all the expressions, signs of detailing and fine craftsmanship we have come to expect from o...
Pearwood
Innovative English Sterling Silver Snuffbox-Cum-Portable Ashtray
Located in New York, NY
Elizabeth II sterling silver snuffbox. Made by Joseph Gloster Ltd in Birmingham in 1962. Rectangular with plain sides. Cover and bottom have engine-turned wave ornament and scrolled rims. Cover top has rectangular mono plate (vacant). Interior has cigarette cradle. A handy receptacle that doubles as a portable ashtray...
Sterling Silver
Dunhill Gold-Plated Smoking Stand, Paris, circa 1950
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Dunhill gold-plated smoking stand, Paris, circa 1950, beautifully crafted, high quality, with continuous decoration solid and engine turned stripes, very ...
Gold Plate, Bronze
Euro Red Leather and Brass Cigarette Holder Case or Box
Located in New York, NY
A chic Modern Euro red leather and brass cigarette 'box' holder case, circa 20th century, Spain. Box comfortably holds cigarette box, easily opens with the press of the serrated butt...
Brass
Sold
H 1.58 in W 3.55 in D 2.56 in
Rock Crystal Box with Enameled Gold Mounts, Algernon Asprey Ltd, Sheffield
Located in Paris, FR
An oval, the lid applied with a pink enamel flower and green leaves on which rests a gold butterfly with pierced wings, twisted rope cagework mounts, the base rim engraved 'Designed & enameled by Philip Barnes, made by Ron Edwards for Algernon Asprey...
Rock Crystal, Gold
Vanity or Desk Box
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful cherrywood vanity or desk box, circa 20th century. Box is beautifully made as show in details; joints, soft corners, and lid. Box has three comp...
Cherry, Teak
Sterling Silver Box Buckingham Palace London, England Mallory of Bath
Located in Montreal, QC
Impressive English sterling silver box; the upper plateau of the fitted hinged cover is ornamented with a scene depicting Buckingham Palace and embellished with an applied scrolling ...
Sterling Silver