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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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.
Cartier 'Must de Cartier' Crystal & Silverplate Mellon Inkwell
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Cartier 'Must de Cartier' Crystal and Silverplate Melon Inkwell France, Circa 1989 Dimensions: 3.25" diameter x 2.75" high A refined and elegantly crafted melon-form inkwell from th...
Crystal, Silver Plate
Vintage Must de Cartier crystal inkwell
By Cartier
Located in NEWARK, GB
A fine vintage Must de Cartier crystal inkwell. It is a melon shaped inkwell with a chunky ribbed crystal body, reflecting the light beautifully, the ...
Crystal, Silver Plate
$1,803Sale Price|20% Off
Inkwell attributed to Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte
Located in Lugo, IT
Glass inkwell attributed to a design by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte Thank you
Glass
Supreme x rOtring 600 3-in-1 Multicolor pen &v mechanical pencil, SS 2023, Japan
By Supreme
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Supreme®/rOtring 600 3-in-1 Multicolor pen and mechanical pencil. Includes black and red ballpoint inks with 0.5 mm mechanical pencil. Additional blue refill included.
Stainless Steel
WMF Art Nouveau Inkwell with Reclining Figure
Located in San Francisco, CA
Elongated wave-form base with classical draped figure reclining against rolling sea at one end. Hinged inkwell compartment at opposite end. Glass insert missing.White metal with silv...
Metal
Albert Paley American Post-War Single sided Knobs and Paper Weight
Located in Queens, NY
3 American Post-War forged and fabricated steel double sided knobs / paper weightS with controlled rust patina. marked (PALEY, 1994) (PRICED EACH)
Fabric
$2,348 / item
XXI Century Italian Sterling Silver Inlstand
Located in VALENZA, IT
Modern style sterling silver inkwell. The inkwell was made from a raw sheet of 925 silver and hand-shaped to form a slightly rounded rectangle. A double-line border was soldered on t...
Crystal, Sterling Silver
$350Sale Price / set|26% Off
H 5 in W 6 in D 4 in
Unique Marble and Brass Sculptural Paper Weight of a Dog or Animal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Unique marble and brass sculptural paper weight of a dog or animal.
Marble, Brass
outstanding fontana arte vase by max ingrand
Located in Munich, DE
very rare max ingrand vase / centerpiece for fontana arte. in wonderful and extremely nice patinated condition.
Crystal, Brass
$4,626Sale Price|20% Off
H 0.4 in W 7.01 in D 3.75 in
Desk Set stripes enamel Fountain pen, Ballpoint pen and Tray.Salimbeni
By Giorgio Salimbeni, Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Rectangular tray with rounded corners in 925/1000 sterling silver with translucent fired enamels with two-tone stripes on guilloche and hand engravings, cm. 9.5 x 18. For fountain pe...
Gold, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Vintage Cartier “Les Must de Cartier” Green Travel Clock — Complete Set
By Cartier
Located in Victoria, BC
An elegant and highly collectible vintage Cartier travel clock, produced under the celebrated Cartier – Les Must de Cartier line circa 1982. This refined example features Cartier’s s...
Metal
Max Ingrand bowl model 1639 Fontana Arte Italy 1960 brown
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Behold the exquisite Glass Bowl Model 1639, a testament to the visionary design of Max Ingrand and the meticulous craftsmanship of Fontana Arte, Italy, in 1960. Crafted from thick br...
Glass
Crystal Inkwell, Italy, 20th Century
Located in Roma, IT
Crystal Inkwell with stopper is a beautiful decorative object. The Inkwell is hexagonal and it is in good condition. Light oxidation at the base of the stopper.
Crystal
Italian Lucite Pen Pencil Desk Holder By Designer Rede Guzzini
By Rede Guzzini
Located in New York, NY
An Italian Lucite pen, pencil, marker and small paper desk organizer/holder, Postmodern period or Modern style, by designer Rede Guzzini, circa 1980s, Italy. A great desk accessory a...
Lucite
$998 / set
H 7.01 in W 2.37 in D 1.07 in
Classic Must de Cartier Silver Plated Trinity Vendome Fountain Pen & Box
A Classic Must de Cartier Silver Plated Trinity Vendome Fountain Pen With 18ct Gold Nib Made in Paris, France. Item Is Sold With Original Red & Gold Leather Box, Red & Gold...
Gold, Silver Plate
$320
H 7.09 in W 1.58 in D 1.58 in
Mid-Century Modern Silver Paper Weight & Paper Cutter by Christofle
By Christofle
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Modern Silver Paper Weight & Paper Cutter by Christofle
Silver
Marble Desk Pen Holder Organizer
Located in New York, NY
A substantial marble desk pen/pencil/marker holder organizer, in the modern style, Midcentury Modern design period, circa mid-20th century. Organizer can hold small pieces of paper, ...
Marble
Art Nouveau Bronze Inkwell with an Owl
Located in Stockholm, SE
An Art Noveau or Jugend patinated bronze pen and inkwell with an owl sitting in the center. The owl have inset glass eyes. Made ca.1900. Possibly Swedish. Symbolism of the owl: The...
Bronze
$1,250 / item
H 1.25 in W 9 in D 5 in
Albert Paley 1994 "Medallion" Paperweight in Blackened Steel with Bronzed Patina
By Albert Paley
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Albert Paley large handcrafted steel medallion paperweight. Small edition for Arts Patrons. Formed and fabricated blackened steel with chemical patina...
Iron
Cartier 'Must de Cartier' Crystal Gilt and Silver Mellon Inkwell
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Cartier 'Must de Cartier' Crystal Gilt and Silver Mellon Inkwell France, Circa 1989 Cartier 'Must de Cartier' crystal gilt and silver mellon inkwell, made in France around 1989. This understated inkwell is a true representation of Cartier's renowned elegance and exquisite craftsmanship. The inkwell features a stunning crystal body with an opalescent lift top adorned with silver and gilt metal mounts, adding a luminous touch to the piece. The top lid is fully marked with numerous Cartier hallmarks, signifying its authenticity and origin from Cartier. The front of the melon-shaped crystal is elegantly enameled with the iconic Cartier logo in gilt enamel. Whether displayed on a writing desk or as a part of an exquisite collection, this Cartier inkwell...
Crystal
Sold
H 3.25 in W 3.125 in D 4.75 in
Vintage Montblanc Cut Crystal & Brass Desktop Inkwell Stand Black Gold, Germany
By Montblanc
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage Montblanc Germany black resin stand with cut crystal and brass inkwell.
Crystal, Brass
Eissenloeffel Ink Well
Located in Dronten, NL
A polished brass base with pen tray mounted with a pair of inkwells. Made circa 1910, by Jan Eissenloeffel.
Brass
1970s Modern Onyx Desk Pen or Pencil Holder
Located in New York, NY
A multicolored square design onyx desk pen or pencil holder, circa 1970s.
Onyx, Marble
Octagonal Onyx Desk Pen or Pencil Holder, 1970s
Located in New York, NY
A multicolored octagonal design onyx desk pen or pencil holder, circa 1970s. Item available here online. By request, item can be made available by appointment to the Trade (in New York.) Cartier pen not included, for photo op only. Alternatively, by request, item can be made available for viewing in my showcase space in the Showplace Antique + Design Center, 3rd floor, New York. 70s Rattan...
Onyx