Modern 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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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.
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Style: Modern
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...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Boxes
Materials
Marble
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 Boxes
Materials
Suede, Wood, Lacquer
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 Boxes
Materials
Wood
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 Boxes
Materials
Laminate, Wood
Italian Modernist Black Marble, Lapis, Tiger, Pink Rhodochrosite Butterfly Box
By Richard Blow
Located in North Miami, FL
This stunning and hard to find vintage modernist Pietra Dura Italian stone hinged box has an elaborate butterfly in the center of the black marble. The sections of the butterfly have...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Modern Boxes
Materials
Lapis Lazuli, Marble
Large Japanese Kazaribako Glass Box Ancient Captial Kyohei Fujita
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Kazaribako "Ornamented Box" made of glass by Japanese artist Kyohei Fujita (1921-2004) circa 1990s. The hand-blown glass box is substantial in size and weight. It features a hexago...
Category
1990s Japanese Modern Boxes
Materials
Silver
Grey, White Brindle Ponyskin Keepsake Box
Located in New York, NY
Grey, White hide keepsake box lined in black canvas. Great for storing things at your desk or jewelry.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Boxes
Materials
Hide
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 Boxes
Materials
Metal
Modern Serving Tray Calacatta Marble Cork Handmade in Portugal by Lusitanus Home
Located in Lisboa, PT
Guadiana serving tray, Lusitanus Home Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Lusitanus Home.
A sublime serving tray, Guadiana was designed to uplift layback moments.
A rec...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Boxes
Materials
Marble
Contemporary Bronze Incense Box or ashtray, LINES by Reda Amalou, 2020
Located in Paris, FR
The bronze incense box or ashtray is designed with a patterned removable top. The motif used here, a repetition of lines and voids, has been developed by Reda Amalou and is used in s...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Modern Boxes
Materials
Brass, Bronze
Tessalated Horn Box
Located in New York, NY
Decorative keepsake document box decorated with hand applied rectangular horn pieces. A great addition to any desk, night stand, bookcase or coffee table.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Boxes
Materials
Horn, Wood
Watch Box in Oak with Oak Burl Lid
Located in Edinburgh, GB
6 Watch box in Scottish oak, with veneered oak burl lid. The box is finished with solid rosewood edge banding and beautifully figured book-matched walnut on the underside of the lid....
Category
2010s Scottish Modern Boxes
Materials
Brass
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 Boxes
Materials
Bone
Marble and Onyx Jewelry Box or Decorative Vanity Box
Located in New York, NY
A substantial white marble and onyx-agate jewelry box or decorative vanity box. Box is square, predominately white marble, with an onyx-agate square surrounded by chrome lid detail. ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Boxes
Materials
Onyx, Marble, Metal, Chrome
Brass Vanity Vessels with Brass Box
Located in Paonia, CO
The (wh)ORE HAüS STUDIOS small goods collection was made for those that wanted to experience the (wh)ORE HAüS brand without committing to our larger pieces. Our brass vessels with the solid brass box are made with spun brass for the vessels and solid brass for the box. This pice looks great containing small items on a vanity. Contains 4 vessels...
Category
2010s American Modern Boxes
Materials
Brass
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 Boxes
Materials
Ash, Pine, Walnut
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 Boxes
Materials
Plastic
Agresti Il Cofanetto Jewelry Box
By Agresti
Located in New York, NY
Lockable jewelry box with removable tray, lined for earrings, rings, necklaces. Available in polished ebony, polished red burl wood or white bird’s...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Boxes
Materials
Wood
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 Boxes
Materials
Travertine, Brass
James Box in Ivory and Black Bone by CuratedKravet
Located in Woodbury, NY
An ivory and black striped decorative resin and bone box.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Boxes
Materials
Bone
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 Boxes
Materials
Velvet, Wood, Burl
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 Boxes
Materials
Chrome
Watch Box in Scottish Elm with Maple and Walnut Basket-Weave Parquetry lid
Located in Edinburgh, GB
6 Watch box in Scottish elm, with a hand cut parquetry lid in ripple maple and walnut in a basket weave pattern inspired by guilloche watch dials....
Category
2010s Scottish Modern Boxes
Materials
Brass
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 Boxes
Materials
Bone
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 Boxes
Materials
Marble, Brass
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 Boxes
Materials
Metal, Sheet Metal
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 Boxes
Materials
Silver Plate, Brass
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 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 Boxes
Materials
Sterling Silver
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 Boxes
Materials
Murano Glass
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 Boxes
Materials
Metal, Sheet Metal
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 Boxes
Materials
Silver Plate
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 Boxes
Materials
Brass
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 Boxes
Materials
Bone, Felt
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 Boxes
Materials
Brass
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 Boxes
Materials
Brass
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 Boxes
Materials
Marble, Brass
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 Boxes
Materials
Stone, Brass
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 Boxes
Materials
Ceramic
Contemporary American Modern Heart Shaped Seashell Jewelry Box
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary American Modern heart shaped jewelry box, with an applied seashell exterior and red velvet interior.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Boxes
Materials
Coral
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 Boxes
Materials
Leather
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 Boxes
Materials
Crystal, Nickel
21st Century Leather Cigar Ashtray Handcrafted in Italy
By Pinetti
Located in Bagnatica, Lombardia
For poker nights. A Compact design with a single cigar rest, this piece serves both as an ashtray and support for the cigar. It is made out of polished stee...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Boxes
Materials
Metal
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 Boxes
Materials
Paper
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 Boxes
Materials
Metal, Silver Plate
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 Boxes
Materials
Porcelain
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 Boxes
Materials
Stone, Onyx
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 Boxes
Materials
Onyx, Marble
Macassar Wood Hand-Carved Horse Head Tall Box
Located in Atlanta, GA
This extra tall decorative lidded box has an incredible hand-carved horse head on the top. The piece features an all-height square shape, made in Macassar wood, handmade and hand-carved. The massive figurative horse...
Category
Late 20th Century American Modern Boxes
Materials
Wood, Macassar
1960s Snake Skin Covered Box
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful snake skin covered box lacquered in a natural bone color. Wonderful vintage condition.
Category
1960s Vintage Modern Boxes
Materials
Wood
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 Boxes
Materials
Bronze
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 Boxes
Materials
Lapis Lazuli, Marble
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 Boxes
Materials
Stone, Quartz, Metal, Silver Plate
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 Boxes
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Dolcevita 40 cigars Humidor
By Maccarrone
Located in Milan, IT
From the Yacht collection, Supersport is the smallest humidor of Maccarrone's collections. Metal accessories are in chromed brass and high gloss mahog...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Boxes
Materials
Polyester, Wood
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 Boxes
Materials
Murano Glass
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 Boxes
Materials
Crystal, Metal
Bone Decorative Box with Steel Horn Handle
Located in New York, NY
Square decorative box made out of Horn with a steel Horn handle. Interior made of wood with square comparments.
Property from esteemed interior designer Juan Montoya. Juan Montoy...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Boxes
Materials
Steel
Modern boxes for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Modern 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 boxes created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, case pieces and storage cabinets, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, wood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Modern 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 boxes, popular names associated with this style include Agresti, AIREDELSUR, Lusitanus Home, and Greenapple. 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 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 $299,000 while the average work can sell for $1,145.
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