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.
Find International Style furniture on 1stDibs.
Montblanc 75th Anniversary Fountain Pen – “Passion and Soul Since 75”
Located in Vienna, AT
Montblanc 75th Anniversary Fountain Pen – “Passion and Soul Since 75" with leather case. A very special Montblanc 75th Anniversary fountain pen featuring the commemorative engraving ...
Gold, Gold Plate
Pelikan “Souverän” Fountain Pen unused, 1975, with Original Box
Located in Vienna, AT
A classic Pelikan Souverän fountain pen from 1982, preserved in excellent condition and complete with its original packaging. A sought-after mid-20th-century Pelikan model, appreciat...
Alabaster, Metal, Gold, Gold Plate
Set of two Montblanc money clips, crafted from stainless steel. 1950
Located in Vienna, AT
Set of two Montblanc money clips, crafted from polished stainless steel. These elegant accessories showcase Montblanc’s signature attention to quality and refined design, making them...
Stainless Steel
$5,767 / set
Enzo Mari cubs 60‘s
By Enzo Mari
Located in Vienna, AT
Two resin cubes, each containing a sphere, designed by Enzo Mari. Made in Italy by Danese Milano, 1950s. 7 x 7 cm .. large ones Danese Milano (Hersteller*in),Enzo Mari (Designer*in)
Resin
Montblanc Sterling Silver Money Clip – Elegant Luxury Accessory for Collectors
Located in Vienna, AT
Montblanc money clip crafted from sterling silver, exemplifying the brand’s renowned precision and timeless elegance. This refined accessory combines practicality with luxury, making...
Sterling Silver
Italian Silver-Plated Ivy Garland Placemats, Brass, Circa 1990
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
What to put in place of the usual placemats to embellish the table ? Four ivy garlands, but silvered ! to illuminate the table and make it more precious. ref. O/1790 -
Brass, Silver Plate
Brass Paperweight with Elephant Motif by Walter Bosse
Located in Vienna, AT
A solid brass paperweight designed by Walter Bosse, executed by Herta Baller, featuring a stylized elephant motif. Well-crafted with a warm, even patina and characteristic mid-centur...
Brass
Gucci Gold Metal Letter Opener in Black Leather Case
By Gucci
Located in New York, NY
Gucci gold cast metal letter opener with signature double G logo at handle. Engraved signature on reverse GUCCI Made In Italy Original black leather case with Gucci stamp on back.
Metal
Montblanc Chrome Cufflinks with Glass Insets – Elegant Vintage Luxury Accessory
Located in Vienna, AT
Montblanc chrome-plated cufflinks with glass insets, exemplifying the brand’s signature blend of precision, elegance, and innovative design. These vintage accessories are a refined s...
Chrome
Montblanc Gilded Cufflinks, Vintage 1950 – Elegant Mid-Century Collectible
Located in Vienna, AT
Montblanc gilded cufflinks, circa 1950, showcasing the brand’s classic elegance and meticulous craftsmanship. These vintage accessories combine timeless style with refined luxury, ma...
Gold Plate
Canova Italian inkwell in bronze and marble circa 1850.
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible and big CANOVA inkwell in italian old bronze with marble base circa 1850.
Marble, Bronze
Unavailable|$2,648
H 5.9 in W 7.5 in D 1.2 in
Luxury Photo Frame, Silver with gold bath, marble , Reflection Noir
Located in Sarezzo, IT
Reflection noir is an italian gold silver floral double photo frame with black marble, a jewel photo frame signed Laura G Art with Heart. It is hand...
Stone, Silver
Luxury Silver Floral Double Photo Frame, Reflection
Located in Sarezzo, IT
Reflection is gilded silver floral double photo frame with aventurine stone, a jewel photo frame signed Laura G Art with Heart. It is handcrafted in...
Stone, Silver
$269 / item
H 0.75 in W 5.5 in D 0.75 in
Minimal Bottle Opener Made in Brass, Stainless Steel and Raw Steel
Located in Chicago, IL
Strong in form and heavy in weight, the bottle openers are elegant in their simplicity and precision. Solid bar stock is transformed through the most minimal intervention possible, c...
Brass, Stainless Steel, Steel
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
$95
H 4.75 in W 3.25 in D 3 in
Petite English Electroplated Nickel on Silver Lidded Container with Flame Finial
Located in Atlanta, GA
A petite English electroplated nickel on silver lidded container from the 20th century, with flaming finial and bead-and-reel motifs. Created in England during the 20th century, this...
Silver Plate, Nickel
$4,598Sale 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 Salimbeni, Giorgio 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
$764Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 1 in W 4 in D 1.25 in
1950s German Newspaper Advertising Tin Clips Midcentury Graphic Design Set
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Small collection of light duty metal clips, from German newspapers. Silkscreen on thin metal. All working. Kölnische Zeitung (Cologne Gazette) Frankfurter Rundschau Rheinische P...
Tin
$3,000
H 2.75 in W 2.75 in D 2.75 in
Enzo Mari, Rare Cube Resin with Black Ball Sphere, Sculpture/Paperweight
By Enzo Mari
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Very nice modern resin cube by the very well known designer Enzo Mari, Measures in cm 7 x 7 x 7.
Resin
$995 / set
H 5.38 in Dm 0.38 in
Pair of Vintage Montblanc Meisterstruck & Starwalker Pens with Boxes & Papers
By Montblanc
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This pair of vintage rollerball pens were made by the well known Montblanc factory of Germany in approximately 1990 in their classic modern style. theiThe black cased pen from this grouping is their "Meisterstruck" model with a clear tip on the cap, and a gold band around the center of the barrel with "MONTBLANC" and "MEISTERSTRUCK" in block letters. The other pen of this group with the brushed metal case is their "Starwalker" model. Both pens come with thier original fitted boxes, and we have one outer box and some paperwork. Both of these Montblanc rollerball pens...
Stainless Steel
$1,793Sale Price|20% Off
H 0.6 in W 2.09 in D 10.44 in
Vintage Hermès Paperweight Ruler Silver-plate Leather Desk Accessory 1970's
By Hermès
Located in Lausanne, CH
Vintage Hermès, Paris, an elegant desk accessory. The paperweight is in the shape of a decimal ruler, silver-plate with detachable black leather tab. Made circa 1975, signed.
Silver Plate
$2,585 / set
H 5.67 in Dm 0.63 in
Cartier 18ct Gold Nib Black Godron Ribbed Fountain Pen With Cartier Box
Cartier 18ct Gold Nib Louis Black Godron Ribbed Fountain Pen With Cartier Box, Finished With An Onyx Cabochon Manufactured by Montblanc The pen is made from a black composite Pen n...
Gold, Gold Plate
$993 / 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
Vintage Silver Plate Hand Held Magnifying Glass
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A substantial, silver plated hand-held magnifying glass, circa 1980s. Perfect for the desk top or a library, this heavy magnifying has a ribbed metal handle terminating in a solid b...
Metal
Jonathan Adler Acrylic Pop Art Pill Sculpture, 300 MG Blue
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Get your daily prescription of surrealism with Jonathan Adlers’ lustrous homages to fab pharmaceuticals. Crafted from solid acrylic in poppy colors with laser-etched dosages. Use a...
Acrylic
Jonathan Adler Acrylic Pop Art Pill Sculpture, 150 MG Red
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Get your daily prescription of surrealism with Jonathan Adlers’ lustrous homages to fab pharmaceuticals. Crafted from solid acrylic in poppy colors with laser-etched dosages. Use as ...
Acrylic
Jonathan Adler Acrylic Pop Art Pill Sculpture, 150 MG Yellow
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Get your daily prescription of surrealism with Jonathan Adlers’ lustrous homages to fab pharmaceuticals. Crafted from solid acrylic in poppy colors with laser-etched dosages. Use as ...
Acrylic
Sold
H 1 in W 2.25 in D 3.75 in
Manuel Mafra Caldas Portuguese Palissy Style Stag Beetle Desk Paperweight
Located in Philadelphia, PA
An extremely scarce glazed earthenware desk weight or paperweight of a Stag Beetle, from the workshop of Manuel Mafra, Caldas da Rainha, Portugal, circa. 1870-80. In the Palissy style, the life cast beetle is molded in a naturalistic manner, and glazed in tones of brown. The insect sits on an oval base of green extruded clay creating a moss effect, he holds something yellow in his front pincers. The base has a blue scalloped rim. The clear glazed underside is indented. Manuel Cipriano Gomes (1831-1905) was born near Mafra. In 1850, he moved to Caldas da Rainha, a spa town in central west Portugal known for ceramic making. He adopted the name Mafra and set up his workshop in 1853, having purchased the existing workshop of Maria dos Cacos, for whom he had at first worked. In 1870, he gained royal patronage. The artisanal workshop specialized in zoomorphic vessels...
Earthenware
Table Clock Made of Stone and Brass Attr. to Carl Aubock
Located in Vienna, AT
Fine, heavy archaic clock, built into a polished stone cube. The face of the clock certainty shows typical similarities to the clocks produced in the Aubock...
Stone, Brass
Sold
H 8.67 in W 1.97 in D 0.2 in
Letter Opener by Christofle France Coat of Arms of the Grand Duche Luxembourg
By Christofle
Located in Vienna, AT
Superb letter opener from Christofle brand with coat of arms of the Grand Duche of Luxembourg Excellent condition. Measures: Length: 22 cm Weight: 136 grams.
Brass
19th Century Cast Bronze Russian Logbook, circa 1860
Located in Valladolid, ES
An exceptional 19th century Russian binnacle in cast solid bronze and crystal. It’s coming from a Russian ship and then acquired by a private Dutch colle...
Bronze
Gilt Tooled Leather Desk Accessories Italian or French, 20th Century
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
A gilt tooled leather desk accessories set, Italian or French, first half of the 20th century. Comprising of a stationery box, pen tray with gl...
Leather
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
Handsome Trio of Buttery Leather Lidded Vessels
By Abercrombie & Fitch, Ralph Lauren, Louis Vuitton
Located in New York, NY
Handsome set of three leather lidded vessels or canisters. Leather is heavy, rich and buttery with a perfectly broken in look. Substantial overstitching gives these pieces added text...
Leather