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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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.
Claude Victor Boeltz Gilt Bronze Letter Opener, circa 1970, France.
Located in Brussels, BE
Beautiful Claude Victor Boeltz Letter Opener , circa 1970, France. Gilt exploded bronze, metal blade. Dimensions: 24 cm W, 5 cm H, 7 cm D. Boeltz’s "exploded-bronze" pieces, made fam...
Bronze
$875Sale Price|30% Off
Italian Horn Letter Opener by Arca
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Letter opener with horn and matte metal in the form of a realistically depicted lizard, length 10.5 inches, made by Arca an Italian home-ware company since 1958 This piece is brand ...
Metal
Scissor, Letter Opener, Leather Desk Set
Located in Denton, TX
Gold leaf design on bankers green leather holder with nickel plated letter opener and D shaped handle forged scissors.
Steel
Gucci Gold-Plated Letter Opener with Green Leather Case in Original Box
By Gucci
Located in Miami, FL
This vintage Gucci desk accessory is a 22K gold plated letter opener featuring a dark green leather sheath and the iconic interlocking G emblem. Presented in its original green prese...
Gold Plate
Gucci Brown Leather Desk Letter Opener with Equestrian Motif, circa 1970
By Gucci
Located in Atlanta, GA
This rare Gucci-designed luxury leather desktop accessory was meticulously crafted in Italy, circa 1970. This exquisite letter opener embodies refined elegance and superior mastery. ...
Gold Plate
Boxed Vintage Asprey Letter Opener
Located in Bath, GB
A very fine vintage letter opener by Asprey of Bond Street, London. The letter opener looks never to have been used. Made from a combination of polished steel, partly gilded to cre...
Metal
Silver Plate Letter Opener
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Silver plate letter opener - a large and well designed letter opener in silver plate - ergonomically designed and weighted on one end for easy handling and an artful design - handsom...
Silver Plate
Vintage Silver-Plated Equestrian Desk Set
Located in Chicago, IL
An Italian equestrian desk set from the 1980s, comprising a silver-plated letter opener and a magnifying glass that doubles as a bottle opener. Each piece is modeled after classic h...
Silver
$380Sale Price|20% Off
Modern Brass Letter Opener
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful modern brass letter opener, circa 20th century, Europe. Dimension: 9.94" long/wide. White French vide-poche catch-all shown also available, ...
Brass
Vintage Sterling Silver Letter Opener Torchon, Italy, 1970s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage sterling silver letter opener torchon, Italy, 1970s.
Silver Plate
Italian Silver and Black Wood Turner Letter Opener, 1980s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Italian silver and black wood turner letter opener. Good vintage condition.
Silver
GUCCI Set of Magnifying Glass and Letter Opener
By Gucci
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Gucci set of magnifying glass and letter opener made of solid brass / Made in Italy Original mark on the item / comes in original box length 4.7 inches / magnifying glass dia...
Brass
Vintage French Equestrian Letter Opener, Christian Dior, c.1970's
Located in Bath, GB
An unusual and highly sought-after vintage silver plated letter opener by the world renowned, Christian Dior. The letter opener is fashioned in the form of a belt with engraved "s...
Silver Plate
Hermes, Paris, Equestrian / Horse Head Letter Opener, c.1960
Located in Bath, GB
A highly collectable letter opener or paper knife made in gilded bronze and dating to c.1960; a scarce-find in the gold colour. The handle is in the form of a horse head, beautifu...
Bronze
Claude Boeltz, Bronze Eclaté Candleabras, France, circa 1970s
Located in New York, NY
Claude Boeltz’s candelabras possess the asymmetrical, numinous beauty of lightening, mimicking the natural phenomenon in hue, form, and arrangement.
Quartz, Bronze
Antique French Art Nouveau Bronze Claw & Quill Letter Opener, 1920s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A beautiful antique bronze letter opener dating to the 1920s or earlier, crafted by an unknown sculptor. This beautiful Art Nouveau piece displays graceful, flowing lines and subtle ...
Bronze
Antique French Art Nouveau Bronze Letter Opener, 1920s or earlier
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A beautiful antique bronze letter opener dating to the 20th Century, crafted by an unknown sculptor. This beautiful Art Nouveau piece displays graceful, flowing lines and subtle scul...
Bronze
Hermes Horse Head / Equestrian Letter Opener, 1960s France
By Hermès
Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos
Hermes Equestrian Letter Opener, 1960s France. Sleek Hermès letter opener with a detailed horse head handle in solid metal. Hermès Paris stamped on the top of blade. Beautiful light ...
Bronze
Sterling Silver Plate Letter Opener Horse Head Design
Located in New York, NY
A substantial sterling silver-plated letter opener with horse head handle, circa mid-20th century, USA. A great desk, office, library, etc., accessory. With maker's mark on underside...
Metal, Silver Plate
Hermes Horse Head / Equestrian Letter Opener, 1960s France
By Hermès
Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos
Hermes Equestrian Letter Opener, 1960s France. Sleek Hermès letter opener with a detailed horse head handle in solid metal. Hermès Paris stamped. Beautiful light patina on the silver...
Bronze
$1,095
H 2.25 in W 8.75 in D 1.38 in
Hermès Paris Equestrian Horse Head Letter Opener – Made in France
By Hermès
Located in Victoria, BC
A finely detailed Hermès Paris equestrian-themed letter opener, beautifully formed with a sculptural horse head handle and a long, tapered blade. Elegant, functional, and distinctly ...
Metal
Brass Sword Letter Opener
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A brass letter opener in the shape of a sword. perfect for the desk or work station.
Brass
Carl Aubock Horn Letter Opener, Paper Knife, Vienna, Austria, 1960s
Located in Vienna, AT
A decorative and rare minimalist Mid-Century letter opener from the 1960s, designed and handcrafted by the Werkstätte Carl Auböck workshop in Vienna. Handmade from a single piece of ...
Horn
Gucci Letter Opener
By Gucci
Located in New York, NY
Brass plate with lizard print leather H 11 x W .75 x D .5 in. Stamped Gucci and Made in Italy
Brass
Must de Cartier Silver-Tone Letter Opener
Located in Astoria, NY
Must de Cartier Silver-Tone Letter Opener, with gold-plated accents, marked "Must de Cartier / Made in France / 000690". 7.5" L x 1" W. Provenance: From a New York City Collection.
Metal
Tiffany & Co. Sterling Silver Letter Opener
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine silver letter opener. Additional Details: In sterling silver. By Tiffany & Co. Marked to the end of the handle for Tiffany & Co. / 925 / © / 1995 Simply a wonderful letter...
Sterling Silver
Cartier sterling silver letter opener
By Cartier
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful Cartier sterling silver letter opener , Marked 75 , 6 inches.
Sterling Silver
Sold
H 4.85 in W 0.52 in D 0.27 in
Bvlgari Roma 1970s Vintage Parrot Bird Letter Opener in .925 Sterling Silver
By Bulgari
Located in Miami, FL
Letter opener designed by Bvlgari. Vintage desk piece, created in Rome Italy by the luxury house of Bvlgari, back in the 1970's. This very decorative letter cutter opener have been crafted with the stylized shape of a parrot bird in solid .925/.999 sterling silver with high polished finish. Weight: 26.2 Grams, (16.79 Dwt). Measurements: 123 mm by 14 mm by 7 mm (4.85 X 0.52 X 0.27 Inches). Hallmarks: Stamped with the maker's mark, the silver assay mark and signed, "BVLGARI MADE IN ITALY .925". Bvlgari, was founded in the late 19th century by Sotirio Bulgari, who was born in 1857 in Greece and was descended from a talented family of silversmiths. In 1884 he opened his first shop in Rome on the Via Sistina, and then in 1905 he moved to the actual flag's store in Via dei Condotti. Upon Sotirio’s death in 1932 his sons, Giorgio and Costantino, took over the business. They are credited with creating the highly distinctive ‘Bvlgari’ style...
Silver, Sterling Silver
Sold
H 0.79 in W 8.38 in D 0.47 in
Cartier Paris Santos Letter Opener Paper Weight in Plated Stailess with Glas NIB
Silver Magnifying Glass with a Feather Handle Letter Opener
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very nice silver magnifying glass with a feather handle, which could be used for opening letters as well. The magnification is good and works well. A compliment to any desk or work...
Silver
Stunning Solid Silver Swan Letter Opener by Sarah Jones
Located in Bath, GB
A wonderful top quality letter opener by the well renowned modern silversmith, Sarah Jones. This beautiful example has a handle created from an elegant Swan's head with it's long neck blending into the opener's blade. The silver is fully hallmarked for London 1984, the makers mark is also present for the highly collectable silversmith, Sarah Jones. Excellent condition measuring 5 1/4" x 3/4" x 1/2" Sarah Jones is well known for her small decorative silver which is held in numerous collections including those of the royal family. Having sold her work for ten years at Camden Lock...
Sterling Silver
Sold
H 7.75 in W 1.63 in D 0.25 in
Vintage English Solid Silver Novelty Golf Club Letter Opener, London 1984
Located in Bath, GB
A fabulous twentieth century solid sterling silver letter opener, English in origin and made from solid sterling silver fully hallmarked for London 1984. Cast in the form of a gol...
Sterling Silver
Sold
H 9.25 in W 1.38 in D 1 in
1980s Stylish Dagger in Bone & Bronze Vintage Desk Letter Opener African Motif
Located in Chula Vista, CA
1980s stylish dagger in bone and bronze vintage letter opener with African motif Measures: 9.25 L x 1.38 x 1 inches Unrestored vintage conditio...
Bronze
Pietrina Checcacci Cast Bronze Foot Letter Opener
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Cast bronze foot letter opener by Italian-Brazilian artist Pietrina Checcacci. The small weighted object features a patinated bronze blade with a foot with upraised big toe as the ha...
Bronze
Silver Plated Equestrian Letter Opener, Italy, 1980s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Silver plated equestrian letter opener, Italy, 1980s. This is a must-have on any gentleman collector's wish list.
Silver Plate