Modern Natural Specimens
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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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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Item type: Antique and Vintage
Style: Modern
Swarovski Crystal Encrusted Starfish by Douglas Cloutier
By Douglas Cloutier
Located in New York, NY
Large Starfish encrusted with Swarovski crystals and
miniature shells by Artist Douglas Cloutier
The piece is signed on the back with the Cloutier label.
Category
1990s American Modern Natural Specimens
Materials
Crystal
Marble Plinth
Located in New York, NY
A square marble plinth element, in the Modern style, circa late-20th century. Marble colors include white, pink, and shades of grey and black. Use for sculpture, a plant, a cocktail,...
Category
Late 20th Century Modern Natural Specimens
Materials
Marble
Decorative Palm Tree Sculpture
Located in New York, NY
A brass palm tree sculpture by Luciano Benevello.
Engraved signature on the base.
Category
20th Century Italian Modern Natural Specimens
Materials
Metal, Brass
Large-Scale Teak Apple Sculpture on Carrara Marble Pedestal
Located in New York, NY
Decorative, large-scale teak apple sculpture on a Carrara marble pedestal. Has a solid brass connector which holds the apple to the marble. The apple is made of solid teak planks.
Sc...
Category
1980s Vintage Modern Natural Specimens
Materials
Carrara Marble
Harry Storms 1945-2023 Bronze Torso on pedestal
Located in Den Haag, NL
Very nice Harry Storms ,1945 -2023 Bronze Torso of a Women .On a Sandstone pedestal .Storms was trained at the pedagogical academy. Initially he was a tea...
Category
1990s Dutch Modern Natural Specimens
Materials
Bronze
Bronze Corn Stalk with Turquoise Ear Sculpture by Charles Pratt
Located in San Diego, CA
A large bronze corn stalk with turquoise ear of corn sculpture by Charles Pratt, circa 1990s. The piece is in very good condition with a great patina measures 13"W x 8"D x 65"H. The...
Category
Late 20th Century American Modern Natural Specimens
Materials
Bronze
Modernist Uruguayan Amethyst Rock Crystal Specimen on Black Lacquer Base
Located in New York, NY
This powerfully scaled and stunning Modernist Uruguayan Amethyst Rock Crystal Specimen on Black Lacquered Base originates from Uruguay during the latter half of the 20th Century. Fea...
Category
20th Century Uruguayan Modern Natural Specimens
Materials
Rock Crystal
Modernist Chrome on Black Marble Stacked Pears Sculpture
Located in San Diego, CA
Modernist chrome on black marble stacked pears sculpture, circa 1980s.
The piece is very well crafted and in excellent vintage condition with no chips or cracks; it measures 6"W x 6...
Category
Late 20th Century American Modern Natural Specimens
Materials
Marble, Chrome
Joan Shapiro Modern Abstract Alabaster Sculpture
Located in New York, NY
Joan Hyde Shapiro (American, XX-XXI) Modern Abstract pink alabaster stone sculpture carved into an organic freeform shape with central cutout, signed to reverse, mounted on a beveled...
Category
20th Century Modern Natural Specimens
Materials
Stone, Alabaster
Airin Canedo sculture in wood, glass, reptiles and eggs circa 1990
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible sculpture in wood, glass, lizard and eggshell by AIRIN CANEDO circa 1990
Category
1990s Brazilian Modern Natural Specimens
Materials
Eggshell, Glass, Wood, Lizard
18th Century Italian Gilded Fragment with a Faceted Black Crystal on Obsidian
By Interi
Located in Dublin, Dalkey
18th century Italian gold leaf fragment with a faceted cut black crystal on a free-forming obsidian mineral with a polished face.
Obsidian is naturally occurring volcanic glass prod...
Category
18th Century Italian Antique Modern Natural Specimens
Materials
Crystal, Lava, Gold Leaf
Angel Botello Sculpture "Denise", circa 1981, Spain
Located in Girona, Spain
Angel Botello sculpture "Denise".
Made with bronze.
Very decorative.
Signed and numbered 6/6.
Certificate.
Circa 1970, Spain
Angle Botello was born in 1913 in the small town of...
Category
1980s Spanish Vintage Modern Natural Specimens
Materials
Bronze
Shell and Porcelain Sculpture, 20th Century.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Shell sculpture, porcelain figure and gilt bronze base, 20th century.
h: 32.5cm, w: 18cm, d: 17cm
Category
20th Century French Modern Natural Specimens
Materials
Bronze
Shell and Crystal Sculpture, 20th Century.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Shell sculpture, porcelain figure and crystal base, 20th century.
h: 30cm, w: 17cm, d: 14cm
Category
20th Century French Modern Natural Specimens
Materials
Crystal
Malachite Decorative Objects
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful set of two (2) round natural green malachite decorative objects. Pieces have a nice weight to them, round in shape, and polished smooth. Great items for a desk, cocktail ...
Category
20th Century Modern Natural Specimens
Materials
Malachite
Quartz Crystal Mineral Specimen on Brass Stand
Located in New York, NY
Clear rock crystal quartz mineral specimen slap on a fitted brass stand. Overall: 14" H x 8.25" W x 5.5" D.
Category
20th Century Modern Natural Specimens
Materials
Crystal, Quartz, Brass
Pair of Carved Fossilized Limestone Bookends with Many Fossils Visible
Located in Morristown, NJ
20th c., a high quality pair of demilune columnar form stone bookends, unmarked. Skillfully carved beige limestone with a large number of spiral shell gastropods, nautiloids, and other fossils polished to show off the beauty of the fossils. There are natural streaks of dark and light limestone, orange iron oxide, and crystalline calcite in the shells. The stone contains a large amount of calcite (or aragonite) with the remainder made of impurities such as dolomite, quartz or silicates, clay, iron oxides, and rock particles of many kinds.
These are of lovely quality and are fascinating to look at. As they are cut from the same piece, the fossils match up when both bookends are placed together and the corresponding portion of fossils can be seen on the opposite interior vertical plane.
Dimensions:
7"h x 5.75"w x 2.75"d (each half)
Condition:
Good, a few scratches and nicks on base, attractive appearance.
Provenance:
A Private Collection: The Sherry Netherland...
Category
1980s Unknown Vintage Modern Natural Specimens
Materials
Stone
Large Polished Labradorite Freeform
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A spectacular naturally formed large polished labradorite freeform sourced from Madagascar. Characterised by its iridescent colours...
Category
15th Century and Earlier Malagasy Antique Modern Natural Specimens
Materials
Stone
Italian Pink and White Marble Obelisk
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful and substantial Italian pink and white marble Obelisk, in the modern style, circa mid-20th century, Italy. Marble is predominantly pink and wh...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Modern Natural Specimens
Materials
Marble
Pair of Modernist Monumental Faceted Hand Carved Rock Crystal Obelisks
Located in New York, NY
This stunning pair of monumental modernist hand carved rock crystal obelisks were realized in Brazil- renowned for its glorious abundance of precious and semi-precious stones- during...
Category
20th Century Brazilian Modern Natural Specimens
Materials
Rock Crystal
Pair of Blue Murano Glass Duck Sculptures Signed Cenedese 1980s Italy
By Cenedese
Located in Villaverla, IT
Pair of Blue Murano glass duck sculptures signed Cenedese 1980s Italy with Submerged Gold Finishes
This artistic pair of duck sculptures will brings with itself a touch of Venerian ...
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Modern Natural Specimens
Materials
Glass, Murano Glass, Cut Glass, Blown Glass, Art Glass
Large Polished Labradorite Freeform
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A spectacular large polished labradorite freeform sourced from Madagascar. Characterised by its iridescent colours, principally blue, this huge high grade labradorite is a stunning specimen, the lustrous colours fluctuating as it is observed from different angles. It is freestanding, making a striking sculptural piece for an interior, with a polished face to one side and a naturalistic reverse.
Labradorite is named after the region of its discovery at Paul Island in the Canadian province of Labrador, first discovered here in 1770. Madagascar is currently the main source of labradorite. To expose its stunning colours, the stone is highly polished, revealing its natural beauty. This in itself is a talented skill, with only a small percentage of labradorites yielding positive results, making this specimen a rare discovery.
We also have two other large labradorite...
Category
15th Century and Earlier Malagasy Antique Modern Natural Specimens
Materials
Rock Crystal
Hardstone, Quartz, Amethyst, Nephrite and Silver-Gilt Flower Model
Located in London, GB
Hardstone, quartz, amethyst, nephrite and silver-gilt flower model
Continental, 20th century
Measures : Height 25cm, width 21cm, depth 12cm.
This exc...
Category
20th Century European Modern Natural Specimens
Materials
Amethyst, Quartz, Silver
Rose Quartz Specimen Gem Table Ornament
Located in New York, NY
Rose Quarts specimen gem table ornament in a four-sided spiral on flat base. 6.75" H x 4.25 diameter.
Dealer: S138XX
Category
15th Century and Earlier Antique Modern Natural Specimens
Materials
Rose Quartz
Marguerite Stix Designed Natural Seashell and Brass Object, circa 1960s
By Marguerite Stix
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful and rare 'Stix' seashell by Austrian designer Marguerite Stix, circa 1960s, New York, New York. Marguerite Stix was a designer, sculptor, jeweler and ceramicist known for her later work with shells. This Stix piece is a natural seashell...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Modern Natural Specimens
Materials
Brass
Eberhard Bank, Obsidian Sculpture / Carving of Mice on Calcite, Idar-Oberstein
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This is a great sample of the Idar- Oberstein, Germany carvings in precious stones, by Eberhard Bank, This is made in grey obsidian and calcite base with onyx cabochon eyes.
Category
Mid-20th Century German Modern Natural Specimens
Materials
Multi-gemstone
Large Hardstone, Quartz, Gold, and Lapis Lazuli Model of an Alpine Flower Bed
Located in London, GB
Large hardstone, quartz, gold, nephrite and lapis lazuli model of an alpine flower bed
Continental, 20th Century
Measures: Height 7cm, width 37cm, depth 27cm
A beautiful objet d'art, this exceptionally fine flower bed model is a 20th century continental precious stone and metal model, made from a host of precious materials and assembled with great poise, skill, and artistry. The quartz base underpinning the miniature garden...
Category
20th Century European Modern Natural Specimens
Materials
Lapis Lazuli, Quartz, Gold
Modern Asian Teak Tree Root Sculpture
Located in New York, NY
Modern sculpture comprised of an organic root from an Asian teak tree mounted with two metal rods on a rectangular wooden base.
Category
20th Century Modern Natural Specimens
Materials
Teak, Wood
Asian Style Carved Semi Precious Stones Floral Bouquet in Stone Vase
Located in Toledo, OH
Carved semi precious multi colored floral bouquet in carved stone base. Jade and other stones shaped into petals and leaves. Very nice condition. Dimensions: 15" diameter x 18" H.
Category
20th Century Unknown Modern Natural Specimens
Materials
Jade
Curved Horn and Mirror Cube Sculptures Pair of
Located in North Miami, FL
This lovely pair of curved horn and mirror base cube sculptures are from the 80's. The gradients of colors of the horn range from tan to off white to gray and slate gray and etc. The...
Category
1980s American Vintage Modern Natural Specimens
Materials
Horn, Mirror
Set of Three Large Italian Marble Eggs
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Unique set of three large Italian polished marble egg specimens from Italy. Beautifully hand-formed and each having a slightly different color. The exquis...
Category
20th Century Italian Modern Natural Specimens
Materials
Marble
18th Century Italian Gold Ribbon Fragment with a Baroque Pearl on Obsidian
By Interi
Located in Dublin, Dalkey
18th century Italian gold ribbon fragment with a coordinating Baroque pearl on a free-forming obsidian mineral with a polished face. Obsidian is naturally occurring volcanic glass produced when lava flowing from a volcano cools rapidly with minimum crystal growth. The obsidian face is polished to host the fragment. The hand-carved fragment is from Tuscany and came from a Rococo style church artifact.
Category
18th Century Italian Antique Modern Natural Specimens
Materials
Wood
Vintage Onyx Paperweight
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Italian spherical onyx desk paperweight, in natural neutral hues / Made in Italy circa 1970s
Measures: diameter 4 inches
1 in stock in Palm Springs ON 50% OFF SALE for $199 !...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Modern Natural Specimens
Materials
Onyx
Vintage Sphere in Green Fuchsite Crystal, Madagascar, 1980s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Artisan made sphere with matching stand in green Fuchsite crystal. Mined, crafted and polished in Madagascar ca 1980. Measurements: H: 14 cm, D: 12 cm. Weight: over 2kg. Fuchsite chert also commonly known as "Dragon Stone...
Category
1980s Malagasy Vintage Modern Natural Specimens
Materials
Crystal
Vintage Large Black Steer Horn Desk Decoration on Silver Base
Located in Vero Beach, FL
Vintage large black steer horn desk decoration on silver base
This large black steer horn with lighter colored striations represents the Classic image of an exotic sculpture. The natural horn has elegant appeal. It is mounted in a silver sleeve on a silver finished square base. This exceptional piece is a fabulous masculine desk...
Category
20th Century Unknown Modern Natural Specimens
Materials
Horn
Rock Crystal Carving Decoration, with Custom Stand
Located in Cypress, CA
Impressive monumental carved rock crystal Quartz sculpture with custom stand
monumental sculpture of leaf-form, carved from a single large boulder of rock crystal quartz, with sufficient transparency to transmit light. Beautifully displayed on a custom hand forged wrought iron black patinated stand.
Overall H. 68"
Rock crystal boulder...
Category
Late 20th Century Brazilian Modern Natural Specimens
Materials
Rock Crystal, Wrought Iron
Brass Lobster Sculpture from the 1970s
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A cool 1970s solid brass lobster sculpture.
Dimensions: 5.5” deep 16” wide 2” high.
Category
1970s American Vintage Modern Natural Specimens
Materials
Brass
Lump of Recently Carved Burr Walnut Ideal for Making a Stand or Small Boards
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this very nice lump of burr walnut
Ideal for making a display stand, its heavily burred
Dimensions:
Height 8cm
Width 20.5cm
Depth 16...
Category
20th Century English Modern Natural Specimens
Materials
Burl
Kazuo Kadonaga Peeled Wood Log 'Wood No. 5'
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Japanese artist Kazuo Kadonaga: peeled wood log, Wood No. 5, 1981, Signed
Provenance: Space Gallery.
Category
1980s Japanese Vintage Modern Natural Specimens
Materials
Wood
Large Skull Sculpture by the Spanish Artist Gabriel, circa 1990
Located in Girona, Spain
Large skull sculpture by the Spanish Artist Gabriel
Made with Rubber Strips,
circa 1990, Spain
Very good vintage condition.
Gabriel Sanz Romero was born in 1954 in Barcelona. He ...
Category
Late 20th Century Spanish Modern Natural Specimens
Materials
Rubber
Set of 12 Porcelain Shells by Giovanni Garibaldi for Richard-Ginori
Located in New York, NY
In the 1920s Gio Ponti, who defined 20th century Italian design, was the art director of Richard-Ginori, a venerable porcelain company established in the 18th century. When Ponti moved on in 1930, his protégé Giovanni Gariboldi, who also designed furniture and interiors, filled the vacated position. It would seem that Gariboldi found his model for these shell-shaped dishes in nature, but this is not the case. Rather, he channeled the essence of “shellness," and endowed his design with the faux verisimilitude of delicate ribbing along the scalloped edge. Yet he had them glazed in improbable candy-like pastel colors of pink, yellow, and blue. Originally used principally as ashtrays, no doubt, they could also be put to use as serving dishes for nuts and candies, or as decorative tabletop objects...
Category
1940s Italian Vintage Modern Natural Specimens
Materials
Porcelain
Authentic Tiger Skull Mounted on Brushed Steel Base, 1970s
Located in New York, NY
Authentic tiger skull mounted on Lucite stem with brushed steel base, American, 1970s (this piece was decommissioned from a museum). It is beautifully moun...
Category
1970s American Vintage Modern Natural Specimens
Materials
Steel
Deer Head by Mellerio dits Meller 'founded 1613' France, circa 1980
By Mellerio
Located in New York, NY
Finely crafted deer head executed in .950 silver, the antlers and chest are adorned with small crystal prisms, raised on a rock crystal cluster.
Incised “Mellerio” “AMADOR NO. 10-25...
Category
1980s French Vintage Modern Natural Specimens
Materials
Rock Crystal, Silver
Modern natural specimens for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Modern natural specimens 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 natural specimens created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, more furniture and collectibles, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with stone, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Modern natural specimens 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 natural specimens, popular names associated with this style include Interi, Studio Greytak, Rinat Design, and Edizione Limitata. 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 natural specimens differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $178 and tops out at $35,800 while the average work can sell for $1,300.
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