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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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.
Vintage Crystal & Sterling Silver Inkwell – Desk Accessory, 1960s
Located in Roma, IT
Elegant vintage inkwell featuring a clear faceted crystal glass base with a hinged sterling silver lid. The geometric cut crystal body paired with the polished silver top creates a r...
Silver
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
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
$1,776Sale 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
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
$2,313 / 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
WMF Art Nouveau Inkwell, Silver-Plated Metal, Germany, c. 1900
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
Sterling Silver Circular Standing Frame
Located in New York, NY
Sterling Silver Circular Standing Frame. Vintage Mexican sterling portrait frame with easel back. Stamped “EMP•PLAT•MEX •S.A” STERLING 0.925 HECHO EN MEX. & ME 15. Mexico, 20th cent...
Sterling Silver
Vintage White Marble Jeweled Elephant Sculpture Paper Weight
By Rajhastani
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage jeweled elephant sculpture paper weight wearing traditional ceremonial costume. Finely hand painted animal sculpture of an elephant...
Marble
Vintage Silver Thermometer, Italy, Early 20th Century
Located in Roma, IT
This vintage silver thermometer is a precious decorative object realized in the 1910s. Silver frame with weather thermometer. Frame with floral decorations. On the back footres...
Silver
$11,685
H 8.67 in W 19.69 in D 19.69 in
Max Ingrand, Fontana Arte Prod. Italy 1950 alzata in cristallo colorato.
Located in Palermo, IT
Max Ingrand, alzata in cristallo colorato, curvato e molato con base in metallo. prod. Fontana Arte, Italia, 1950 ca. cm 50x22 . Centrotavola mid-centurymodern. Maggiori informazioni...
Crystal
$315
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
Sterling Silver Repousse Bookmark
By Kirk & Son
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Being offered is a sterling silver bookmark by S. Kirk and Sons of Baltimore, Maryland. Inspired by their iconic Repousse pattern, it has clu...
Sterling Silver
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
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
$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
19th Century French Crystal and Bronze Inkwell
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th century French Crystal and Bronze Mounumental Inkwell. Signed. Escalier de Cristal Paris.
Crystal, Bronze
$58,427 / set
H 13.78 in W 26.78 in D 1.97 in
Max Ingrand per Fontana Arte Dubé Sole & Luna ''Duilio Barnabé'' Dubé 1955
By Duilio Dubé Bernabe, Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in Palermo, IT
Cristalli a lastra Fontana Arte Dube 'Duilio Barnabe', 1955 Max Ingrand. Coppia centrotavola Fontana Arte realizzato dall'artista italiano Dube' negli anni '50 che rappresenta la c...
Crystal
$3,564
H 7.88 in W 5.91 in D 5.12 in
Iconic Mid century modern Murano Glass Photo Frame Max Ingrand Fontana Arte
Located in Nicolosi, IT
Refined Italian photo frame from the 1950s, produced by Fontana Arte and designed by Max Ingrand. The piece is crafted in thick shaped glass with polished beveled edges, brass insert...
Brass
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