The International Style, a modernist movement within architecture and furniture design that was given its name by American architect Philip Johnson and historian Henry-Russell Hitchcock, was born during the 1920s and ’30s. It gained steam initially in Europe and then in the United States as a response to the first World War. Building projects associated with the movement, as well as vintage International Style chairs, tables and other furnishings, are minimal and pared back.
Pioneers of the International Style — architect Walter Gropius and his Bauhaus colleagues Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Marcel Breuer, De Stijl advocate and Dutch architect J.J.P. Oud and visionary designer Le Corbusier — stripped away decorative elements and placed considerable value on functionality and clean lines, integrating the use of industrial materials like steel, concrete and large sheets of glass in their work. Quite aptly, this mode of design and architectural style coincided with an era now known as the Machine Age and became a global symbol of modernism. The primary motive of its practitioners was to address the changing needs of a rapidly industrializing society, especially the demand for office complexes and apartments in large cities, through economical, technologically advanced, yet aesthetically pleasing designs for furniture and buildings.
“Space and light and order. Those are the things that men need just as much as they need bread or a place to sleep,” said Le Corbusier of the philosophy behind his practical modernist architecture.
The International Style’s designers and architects were inspired by the advantages afforded them by the era’s new technology and industrial machinery as well as state-of-the-art materials. Le Corbusier was fond of framing his buildings in steel but reinforced concrete made far more economic sense. He is probably most admired for the iconic private homes and commercial buildings that he designed or codesigned with his cousin Pierre Jeanneret, which are spread across the world, from New York City to Paris to Chandigarh, India. Today, Breuer’s Wassily Lounge chair; the elegant LC series created by Le Corbusier, Jeanneret and Charlotte Perriand; and Mies van der Rohe’s Barcelona chair, crafted with his romantic partner, designer Lilly Reich, are emblems of progressive modernist design and all make prominent use of tubular steel. Vintage originals are the prized cornerstone of collections.
“The International Style is probably the first fundamentally original and widely distributed style since the Gothic,” posited Johnson in the book that accompanied “Modern Architecture: International Exhibition,” an architectural show he cocurated with Hitchcock that featured the work of Frank Lloyd Wright, Le Corbusier, Richard Neutra and others. While the term “International Style” had previously been circulating in Europe, when the show opened at the Museum of Modern Art in 1932, it yielded a much broader application of this important style of design.
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Fitz and Floyd Porcelain Dalmation Trinket Box, Glazed, USA, 1985
Located in Philadelphia, PA
From Fitz and Floyd, a charming porcelain Dalmation trinket box, dating to 1985. Two yellow and black spotted dogs sit atop an oval, green glazed lidded box with metal bracing. The...
Porcelain
$1,000Sale Price|20% Off
Vintage Sterling Silver And Wood English Hinged Small Box Desk Accessory
Located in North Miami, FL
This lovely small vintage turn of the century sterling silver hinged box has a wood interior with etched design top. There are English hallmarks on the bottom that are clearly visibl...
Sterling Silver
Vintage Limoges France Butterfly Trinket Box Handpainted
By Limoges
Located in Neguri, Vizcaya
Vintage Limoges France Butterfly Trinket Box Handpainted Type Trinket Box Brand Limoges Material Porcelain Subject Butterfly Finish Painted Color Multicolor Shape Hear Shape Item Len...
Enamel, Gold Leaf
Halcyon Days English Bilston Enamel Rabbit Trinket Box
By Halcyon Days
Located in Philadelphia, PA
From Halcyon Days, a Bilston enamel trinket box shaped as a rabbit, Stoke-on-Trent, England, circa 1970-1980s. Established in the 1950s, Halcyon Days ...
Copper
Salimbeni Purse Cigarette Case Two-Color Enamel Stripes Blue and White
By Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Purse cigarette case, oval section in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with two-color enameled stripes. Early 20th century English style. Measures 9 x 4.3 x 2.6 cm. Weight 96 g. ...
Sterling Silver, Enamel
Russian papier mâché box from Tsarina Alexandra, early 1900
Located in Bilzen, BE
A black paper mache box with the portrait of Tsarina Alexandra, wife of Tsar Nicholas II , the last tsar of Russia this box is from the early 1900 10.5 x 6.2 cm, heigth 3 cm
Paper
Vintage Spanish Red Morocco Tooled Leather Correspondence Box
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
VINTAGE SPANISH RED MOROCCO TOOLED LEATHER CORRESPONDENCE BOX First half of the 20th Century. Of rectangular form with fitted interior H. 2 1/4" in. (5.7 cm.) L. 8 1/8" in. ( 20.7 c...
Leather
Staffordshire Enamel Old Hall Pink Clover Trinket Box
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A Staffordshire Enamels Old Hall trinket box, England, circa 1980s. A hand-enameled Clover and Butterfly design on a pink base with copper framing. A Butterfly appears on the interi...
Copper, Enamel
Large 1980's Dunhill Style Ribbon Mahogany Wood Humidor, Box with Brass Hinges
By Dunhill
Located in New York, NY
Large 1980's Dunhill style ribbon mahogany humidor / document / art box, with brass hinges. Fully lined with wood interior.
Brass
1950's Italian Gold Embossed Leather Book Jewelry Box with Velvet Lining
Located in New York, NY
1950's Italian finely detailed. leather book form jewellery box with gilt embossed Fleur de Lis design at corners of front and back sides. The gilt brass wide band central clasp sect...
Leather, Velvet
Halcyon Days English Bilston Enamel Floral Egg Trinket Box
By Halcyon Days
Located in Philadelphia, PA
From Halcyon Days, a Bilston enamel trinket box shaped as an egg, Stoke-on-Trent, England, circa 1970-1980s. Established in the 1950s, Halcyon Days Ltd ...
Copper
Murano Latticino Venetian Glass Heart Shaped Trinket Box
By Compagnia Di Venezia E Murano (C.V.M.)
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A metal braced heart shaped Venetian glass trinket box, Murano, Italy, circa 1970s. A swirled cobalt blue and white glass box hand made in the process...
Metal
Rochard Limoges Paris Perfume Bottle in Porcelain Box
By Rochard Limoges
Located in Philadelphia, PA
From Rochard, Limoges Paris, a hand enameled trinket box, a scent chest with a metal caged glass bottle, circa 1970-1980s. The oval metal braced box has a domed lid with a tear-drop...
Copper
Amber Trinket Box
Located in Tampa, FL
A beautifully decorated Indian metal box with a stone of amber on the top. 1920s or earlier There once was a fabric inside but it has disintegrated you can see it, all of the fibers ...
Stone, Metal
Porcelain Peint Main Vintage Slot Machine Trinket Box by Limoges
By Limoges
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful porcelain peint main (hand painted) vintage slot machine trinket box by Limoges, circa 1980s. This piece is in very good vintage condition with no chips or cracks and measu...
Porcelain
$475
H 4 in W 7 in D 3.5 in
Schmid Design White Ceramic Peanut Trinket Decorative Box, Keepsake, Jewelry Box
By Jonathan Adler, Fitz and Floyd
Located in Miami, FL
Schmid Design Folio Trademark Mid-Century Modern white glazed ceramic peanut shaped box, Keepsake or Trinket Box. Made out of cast Ceramic molds in America in the 1970s. Makers Mark ...
Ceramic
Limoges Bisque Trinket Box with Neo-Classical Relief with Cherubs.
By Limoges
Located in Stockholm, SE
Bisque Trinket Box / Jewelry Casket with Neo-Classical Relief with Cherubs by Limoges, France. Will hallmark: LIMOGES , FRANCE. Late 1800s/early 1900s. In good condition, smaller/n...
Porcelain
Antique English Art Deco Sterling Silver Box
Located in New York, NY
George VI sterling silver box. Made by Robert Pringle & Sons in London in 1939. Rectangular with curved corners. Cover hinged and tabbed; top has engine-turned wave ornament and rect...
Sterling Silver
$16,227Sale Price|20% Off
H 1.58 in Dm 7.68 in
20th Century Sterling Silver Italian Gilded and Enameled Table Box
By Salimbeni
Located in VALENZA, IT
Round haped silver gilded 925/1000 table box with translucent enamels on guilloche with hand-painted floral miniatures and gold paillons Made in Italy 1.400 grams The Miniatures are hand-painted on a usually white homogeneous enamel base. The same colored glazes are used, but ground much finer, which are mixed with special oils to form an infinite palette of colors. The paint must be gradually dried on electric stoves...
Sterling Silver
Kashmir Papier-Mâché Box
Located in Tampa, FL
A wonderful hand-painted papier-mâché box beautifully decorated in a blue and gold. Kashmir, India, circa turn of the century.
Wood
Unusual Art Deco Sterling Silver Table Box With Hinged Lid
By Hassett & Harper Ltd
Located in New York, NY
Unusual, rare, Art Deco Period, footed sterling silver table box with rounded, hinged lid, Birmingham, England, year-hallmarked for 1938, Hassett and Harper Ltd. - makers. Underside ...
Sterling Silver
Art Deco Sterling Silver Engine-Turned Table Box Having a Hinged LId
Located in New York, NY
Art Deco Period, sterling silver table box having a hinged lid and engine-turned design, Chester, England, year-hallmarked for 1936, E.J. Trewitt - maker. Lovely stepped-up border su...
Sterling Silver
Antique Bilston Enamel Etui / Sewing Box Case, circa 1780
Located in Basildon, GB
Antique 18th Century Bilston Enamel Etui / Sewing Box Case, decorated with pink enamel and gilt Rococo cartouche containing romantic figural and animal ...
Enamel
Vintage Cobalt Blue Royal Limoges France 22-Karat Gold Trinket Box
Antique Chinese blue and white porcelain trinket/Rouge box
Located in Pomona, CA
The item in the image is an antique Chinese blue and white porcelain Rouge/trinket box with a fish design. These small boxes a...
Sterling Silver
$375
H 0.5 in W 3 in D 3 in
Porcelain Peint a la Main Vintage Crossword Puzzle Trinket Box by Limoges w/ Box
By Limoges
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful porcelain peint a la main (hand painted) vintage crossword puzzle trinket box with original presentation box by Limoges, circa 1980s. This unusual piece is in very good vin...
Porcelain
$2,916
H 0.4 in W 3.04 in D 3.39 in
Antique German Silver & Enamel Cigarette Case c 1900 Erotic Nude Sea Ocean
Located in London, GB
A gorgeous Antique solid Silver Cigarette Case with an Enamel Image on the front cover. This Image shows a nude woman with long brown hair surrounded by a cresting wave in the ocean....
Enamel
$340Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 2.36 in W 1.25 in D 1.8 in
11 Vintage Enameled Cloisonne Trinket Keepsake Pill Match Boxes
Located in Dayton, OH
This collection features an array of vintage Chinese cloisonné enamel trinket boxes, showcasing the intricate centuries-old metalworking technique where delicate brass or copper wire...
Metal
Decorative metal box by Serdar Gulgun
Located in Hong Kong, HK
A rare and collectible decorative lidded box by the renowned Istanbul artisan, Serdar Gülsün. This exquisite piece features three meticulously cast metal turtles supporting a domed v...
Stone, Bronze
Vintage Gucci Horsebit burgandy leather jewelry box
By Gucci
Located in Walnut Creek, CA
Classic Gucci Horsebit design leather jewelry box in burgundy color. It's in nice vintage condition. Marked "Made in Italy by Gucci" on the bottom
Leather
S/3 Limoges Boxes - (private listing for Teresa)
By Limoges
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Private listing for Teresa 3 Limoges boxes as shown, to be shipped along with the rooster box. Needle Holder - $175 Handbag Box - $230 Scent Case - $385 ...
Porcelain
French Limoges Porcelain Rooster Box
By Limoges
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A French Limoges hand painted porcelain box, a Rooster, circa 1980s. A charming rooster, the symbol of France since ancient times, brightly painted in the round, and sitting on a br...
Metal
Limoges Enameled Porcelain Scent Chest Trinket Box
By Limoges
Located in Philadelphia, PA
From Limoges France, a hand enameled trinket box, a scent chest with two glass bottles, circa 1970-1980s. The metal braced trunk has a domed lid and is painted in a faux tortoise sh...
Metal
French Limoges Porcelain Handbag Trinket Box
By Limoges
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A hand-painted French Limoges trinket box formed as a handbag with a chain handle, circa 1980s. A charming floral rose and pink striped motif, braced in a gold tone metal with a flo...
Metal
French Limoges Hand Painted Pink Floral Oval Trinket Box
By Limoges
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A hand painted French Limoges trinket or pill box, circa 1970s. An oval shaped box with a pink body and a floral spray in a gold cartouche...
Metal
Rochard Limoges Gold & Blue Bow Florist Box of Roses
By Rochard Limoges
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A porcelain trinket box by Rochard modeled as a gift box of roses – Limoges, France, circa 1970-1980s. This collectible Limoges box is shaped as a florist box of long stem roses, h...
Metal
Cambodian Mother of Pearl Lacquered Trinket Box
Located in Astoria, NY
Antique Southeast Asian Cambodian mother of pearl inlaid black lacquered wood trinket box with cover. Provenance: From the collection of Le Lieu and Malcolm Browne (American, 1931-20...
Mother-of-Pearl, Wood
Traditional Pen/Ink Decorated Bone Box
Located in New York, NY
Traditional pen and ink hand decorated hinged bone box with wood interior. Great as a desk or coffee table accessory for storage of remotes, letters, scissors etc.
Bone, Wood
Round Sea Shell Covered Trinket Box with Lid
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
Round Folk Art shell trinket box. A lovely accent piece to any coffee table, nightstand or side table. This pretty box is surrounded with white, purple and yellow shells. The top fea...
Shell, Fabric
Fabienne Jouvin Cloisonne Vintage Paris French Studio MCM Canister Jar Box
Located in Wilton, CT
Vintage Fabienne Jouvin Cloisonné jar and cover with intricate design of multi colored bars. Great design, beautifully executed. This Parisia...
Enamel
Rare Tiffany & Co. Sterling Silver Tube Cigar Holder Case
Located in New York, NY
Vintage Tiffany & Company solid sterling silver cigar holder case in excellent condition. Signed Tiffany & Co. 1837. This collection is n...
Sterling Silver
Vintage Lapis Lazuli and X-Form Malachite Hinged Box
Located in North Miami, FL
This gorgeous and unusual European hinged vintage box that is continental is a gorgeous combination of lapis lazuli and malachite X-formed diamond pattern. This is a very fine box an...
Lapis Lazuli, Malachite, Gold Plate, Silver Plate
English "Milners 212" Fire Resisting Box, 19th Century
Located in Hixson, TN
An English 19th century fire resisting box. Milners 212 was one of the finest safe and fire resisting box makers of the day. A little history of Milners: In 1830 Thomas Milner moved ...