Modern Sculptures
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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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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Style: Modern
Recognized Seller Listings
Opinion Ciatti Ombres de Chats #2 Bookend
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Ombres de Chats by Angelo Barcella are poetic objects, delicate table sculptures. Shadows of curious, busy, sore, angry or bored cats, instants which are made eternal when transforme...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Sculptures
Materials
Steel
Opinion Ciatti Papavero Delicato Large Table Decoration
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Fragility and stability, lightness and solidity: those usually antithetical terms, Papaveri Delicati (Delicate Poppies), seem to be able to co-exist as in all the other creations of Gherardo Frassa. Small metal sculptures...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Sculptures
Materials
Metal
Large Iron Sculpture Designed by Torsten Johansson, Denmark, 1960s
Located in Stockholm, SE
Sculpture designed by Torsten Johansson, Denmark, 1960s.
Iron.
Dimensions:
H: 103 cm
W: 77 cm
D: 30 cm
Base: 30 x 45 cm
Category
1960s Danish Vintage Modern Sculptures
Materials
Iron
Ghidini 1961 Small Rabbit Figurine in Polished Brass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Small rabbit figurine in brass.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Sculptures
Materials
Brass
Diane Cooper Mixed Media over Wood Wall Mounted Bundle Sculpture
Located in Chicago, IL
Diane Cooper Mixed Media over Wood Wall Mounted Bundle Sculpture, From Ruth Horwich collection.
Textures Canvas and Metal
About Diane Cooper:
Inspired by the visual culture in Japan,...
Category
1990s American Modern Sculptures
Materials
Metal
Geometric Forms, 8" tall Circa 1900
Located in Culver City, CA
Geometric Forms, 8" tall
Italy circa 1900
Collection of (10) with taped lettering.
3”-8”h
Category
Early 1900s Italian Antique Modern Sculptures
Materials
Wood
2 Pc. Assemblage #1 by David Haskell
Located in New York, NY
Ceramic floating bowl with green glazes. Artist signed on underside.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Sculptures
Materials
Ceramic
Tony Rosenthal Standing Black and White Plus Yellow Floor Sculpture
Located in Chicago, IL
Tony Rosenthal Standing Black and White Plus Yellow Floor Sculpture 1987
Painted aluminum on both sides, signed Tony Rosenthal on the base
Dimensions:
60" high
37" wide
8" deep
Category
1980s American Vintage Modern Sculptures
Materials
Aluminum
Tony Rosenthal Maquette for Large T-Square Sculpture
Located in Chicago, IL
Tony Rosenthal Maquette for Large T-Square Sculpture, 1978 Welded Steel painted.
Last Photograph Tony Rosenthal ’’T-Square’’ (1978) at Grove Isle, Miami, Florida © Estate of Tony Ros...
Category
1970s Vintage Modern Sculptures
Materials
Metal
Tony Rosenthal Wall Sculpture "Twenty One- Two"
Located in Chicago, IL
Tony Rosenthal Wall Sculpture "Twenty-One- Two"
Painted aluminum, bolted together, Hanging brackets on the backside, to be shown 3" away from wall
Signed on backside 21-2
Tony Rosent...
Category
Early 2000s American Modern Sculptures
Materials
Aluminum
A stoneware fawn by Gunnar Nylund
Located in San Francisco, CA
A stoneware figurine of a deer by Gunnar Nylund at Rörstrand. Incised on the base with makers mark, GN, SWEDEN.
Category
1960s Swedish Vintage Modern Sculptures
Materials
Stoneware
Opinion Ciatti Ombres de Chats #3 Bookend
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Ombres de Chats by Angelo Barcella are poetic objects, delicate table sculptures. Shadows of curious, busy, sore, angry or bored cats, instants which are made eternal when transforme...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Sculptures
Materials
Steel
Tony Rosenthal Wall Sculpture
Located in Chicago, IL
Tony Rosenthal Wall Sculpture, Untitled 2000c. Painted Aluminum bolted together.
Signed lower right side Tony Rosenthal
Wall mounting bracket on the backside floats 3" off the wall
...
Category
Early 2000s North American Modern Sculptures
Materials
Aluminum, Steel
Ken Warneke Face Painting "Female looking Left"
Located in Chicago, IL
Ken Warneke Face Painting "Female looking Left"
Chicago School of Painters
Ken Warneke Face Painting "Female Looking Left"
Category
1980s Vintage Modern Sculptures
Materials
Masonite, Paint
Opinion Ciatti Ombres de Chats #4 Bookend
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Ombres de Chats by Angelo Barcella are poetic objects, delicate table sculptures. Shadows of curious, busy, sore, angry or bored cats, instants which are made eternal when transforme...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Sculptures
Materials
Steel
Gufram "the End Stool Is Black" by Toiletpaper
Located in La Morra, Cuneo
The funeral look of this furniture-sculpture is tempered by the softness of the polyurethane that makes it: in perfect Gufram tradition nothing is as it seems. "THE END in BLACK" is ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Sculptures
Materials
Paint
Venini Clessidre Glass Hourglass in Pink and Gray by Fulvio Bianconi
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Clessidre Hourglass, designed by Paolo Venini and Fulvio Bianconi, was originally designed in 1957. Available in different colors, the grey / mint green version is a limited edition ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Sculptures
Materials
Glass
Clessidra Glass Hourglass in Grey and Red by Venini
By Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Venini glass hourglass in grey and red. Perfect for indoor home decor or as a statement piece for any room. Limited edition of 199 pieces. Also availab...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Sculptures
Materials
Art Glass
Boeltz Style Large Shell Sculpture in Gold with Malachite Elements 1970s
Located in New York, NY
Large shell sculpture model No 22, 24-karat plated "exploded bronze" design with malachite accents, in the manner of Claude Victor Boeltz, France 1970's. Boeltz’s "exploded-bronze" p...
Category
1970s French Vintage Modern Sculptures
Materials
Malachite, Gold Plate, Bronze
Modern Umberto Dattola for Dilmos Gold Leaf Sculpture Storage Light Handcrafted
Located in Milan, IT
Hanging light designed by Umberto Dattola for Dilmos, made of hardwood, covered in gold, silver or copper leaf and lacquered in different colours. One of the little houses is equippe...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Sculptures
Materials
Gold Leaf
John Torreano Contemporary Sculpture of a Jewel
Located in New York, NY
This faceted, geometric sculpture by the contemporary New York artist John Torreano dates to the mid-1980s.
Category
Late 20th Century American Modern Sculptures
Materials
Paint
Modern Umberto Dattola for Dilmos Gold Leaf Standing Sculpture Handcrafted
Located in Milan, IT
Free standing sculpture with small openings made of hard wood completely covered by the designer in gold leaf; The sculpture is on sticks that represent a banch of wood sticks. The ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Sculptures
Materials
Gold Leaf
Big Bud Vase #9 by Robbie Heidinger
Located in New York, NY
Glazed stoneware. Green glazes, and great relief decoration. Artist signed on underside.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Sculptures
Materials
Ceramic
Opinion Ciatti Ombres de Chats #6 Bookend
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Ombres de Chats by Angelo Barcella are poetic objects, delicate table sculptures. Shadows of curious, busy, sore, angry or bored cats, instants which are made eternal when transforme...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Sculptures
Materials
Steel
Opinion Ciatti Papavero Delicato Small Table Decoration
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Fragility and stability, lightness and solidity: those usually antithetical terms, Papaveri Delicati (Delicate Poppies), seem to be able to co-exist as in all the other creations of Gherardo Frassa. Small metal sculptures...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Sculptures
Materials
Metal
Aurora Pink Portal Glass Bookends, ANDREW HUGHES
Located in New York, NY
The Portal design is a simple exercise in optics and color. The Aurora color and reflective light are diffused by a surface etching on the top third of the interior of each bookend. ...
Category
2010s American Modern Sculptures
Materials
Blown Glass
ClassiCon Usha Umbrella Stand in Steel by Eckart Muthesius
Located in New York, NY
It is a sign of a most mature culture when articles of everyday use also come to catch the aesthetic eye. Coiling upwards like a snake at a snake-charming is Eckart Muthesius‘ spiral...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary German Modern Sculptures
Materials
Steel
American Anna Vaughn Hyatt Huntington “Lioness and Cubs” Bronze Sculpture
By Anna Vaughn Hyatt Huntington, Gorham
Located in Shippensburg, PA
ANNA VAUGHN HYATT HUNTINGTON
United States, 1876-1973
"Lioness and Cubs"
Sand-cast patinated bronze signed on the back "Anna V. Hyatt Sc", "4", "Q9", "G [lion] C" (Gorham foundry ...
Category
Early 20th Century American Modern Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
French Horn in Resin Sculpture by Arman
By Arman
Located in Montreal, QC
Fractured cast bronze French Horn, encased in resin, by Arman Armand Fernandez. Mounted on original polished bronze base. Signed "Arman." The dimensions are without the base.
Category
1970s French Vintage Modern Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
without title
Located in London, GB
The breath of sculpture is the distinctive originality of Andrea Cascella’s work, who belonged to a generation that since World War II has re-founded and re-invented the destiny of s...
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Modern Sculptures
Materials
Porphyry
GUFRAM Sunrise Cactus by Drocco & Mello - Paul Smith limited edition 1/169
Located in La Morra, Cuneo
Gufram and Paul Smith renew their collaboration to present the SUNRISE CACTUS®, a bold new interpretation of the iconic piece originally designed by Guido Drocco and Franco Mello in ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Sculptures
Materials
Other
Large Silver, Vermeil and Diamond Model of a Lion by Asprey
Located in London, GB
Large silver, vermeil and diamond model of a lion by Asprey
English, c. 1980
Lion: Height 12cm, width 38cm, depth 13cm
Case: Height 19cm, width 49c...
Category
20th Century English Modern Sculptures
Materials
Vermeil, Silver
‘The Goal’, Ukrainian Contemporary Kinetic Sculpture by Yaryna Lehnevska
Located in London, GB
‘The Goal’, Ukrainian contemporary kinetic sculpture by Yaryna Lehnevska
Ukrainian, 2023
Sculpture: Height 21cm, width 13cm, depth 13cm
Box: Height 31cm, width 21.5cm, depth 21.5
Bringing together multiple luxurious materials, this intriguing sculpture by a Ukranian artist Yaryna Lehnevska for SUPERNATURAL is designed to inspire the user to chase their dreams.
A stack of raw pyrite crystal stands at the centre of the sculpture, with the unique nature of this crystal representing the owner’s individuality. The surrounding brass constellations...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Ukrainian Modern Sculptures
Materials
Pyrite, Multi-gemstone, Lapis Lazuli, Silver, Brass
Singularity Sculpture
By Duffy London
Located in London, GB
Singularity Sculpture sees Duffy realise the Singularity design concept in its purest form; crafting a showcase sculptural piece from the byproduct off AI generative programming – br...
Category
2010s British Modern Sculptures
Materials
Bronze, Stainless Steel
Large 18K Gold, Silver Gilt, Diamond and Hardstone Bird Model by Asprey
Located in London, GB
Large 18K gold, silver gilt, diamond and hardstone bird model by Asprey
English, c. 1980
Height 22cm, width 17cm, depth 15cm
Made in around 1980, by th...
Category
Late 20th Century English Modern Sculptures
Materials
Stone, Gold, Vermeil
Modigliani style Tete sculpture
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary Modernist style sculpture of a head made of composite materials resting on a black base (style of Modigiani "Tete") (signed and made by Austin Productions 1985)
Category
20th Century Unknown Modern Sculptures
Materials
Plaster
Artisan Wall Sculpture Of An Ancient Greek Man in Pewter On Wood 1950s
Located in New York, NY
Artisan made face of an ancient Greek man with a laurel wreath molded in pewter and set on a walnut backing, American 1950's. This captivating work is beautifully made.
Category
1950s American Vintage Modern Sculptures
Materials
Pewter
Cast Sterling Silver Pair of Duck Models - London 1992 Richard Comyns
Located in London, London
Hallmarked in London in 1992 by Richard Comyns, this charming pair of Sterling Silver Duck Models, are realistically cast and hand finished.
The male measures 4.5"(11.5cm) tall, by ...
Category
1990s English Modern Sculptures
Materials
Sterling Silver
Philip and Kelvin LaVerne "Nude #1" Wall-Hanging Sculpture 1960s (Signed)
Located in New York, NY
"Nude #1", a rare figural wall sculpture incorporating a femaile nude motif in solid pewter by Philip & Kelvin LaVerne, American 1960's (signed with original gallery label on back st...
Category
1960s American Vintage Modern Sculptures
Materials
Pewter
ClassiCon Folding Screen in White by Eileen Gray
By Eileen Gray
Located in New York, NY
The high-tech look that arose in the 1980s and which is still potentially current had an ingenious predecessor. Over half a century ago, Eileen Gray anticipated the cool industrial a...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary German Modern Sculptures
Materials
Wood
"Young Mozart" Porcelain Sculpture by Lladro, Spain. Depicts Mozart at The Piano
By Lladro
Located in Incline Village, NV
Entitled "Young Mozart", or the Spanish presentation "Joven W. Mozart"; this was a limited edition hand painted porcelain made in 1992 and retired the same year; manufactured by Llad...
Category
1990s Spanish Modern Sculptures
Materials
Porcelain
Charlie Chaplain Porcelain Sculpture by Lladro, Spain Depicts Chaplain in Stance
By Lladro
Located in Incline Village, NV
Entitled "Charlie Chaplain", hand painted porcelain made in 1984 by Lladro, in Spain and retired in 1990 This is labeled 5233 and 025F; signed on the bottom by the sculptor, Juan Hue...
Category
1980s Spanish Vintage Modern Sculptures
Materials
Porcelain
"Young Bach" Porcelain Sculpture by Lladro, Spain Depicts Bach at The Pipe Organ
By Lladro
Located in Incline Village, NV
Entitled "Young Bach", or the Spanish presentation "Juan Sebastian Bach"; this was a limited edition hand painted porcelain made in 1994 and retired the same year; manufactured by Ll...
Category
1990s Spanish Modern Sculptures
Materials
Porcelain
American Artist, Abstract Sculpture, Metal, USA, 1960s
Located in High Point, NC
An abstract cast metal sculpture, produced in the US, c. 1960s.
Category
1960s American Vintage Modern Sculptures
Materials
Metal
Cloud Sculpture #2202 by Chris Gustin
By Chris Gustin
Located in New York, NY
Glazed stoneware. Unique, wood-fired sculpture.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Sculptures
Materials
Ceramic, Stoneware
Domingos Tótora "Escultura Âmago Mod.06", Brazil 21st Century
Located in Utrecht, NL
This organic sculpture by contemporary artist Domingos Tótora is a visual expression of the artist’s view of design. Tótora creates objects and sculptures where beauty is inseparable...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Sculptures
Materials
Paper
Glacier Vase 1, by Robbie Heidinger
Located in New York, NY
Glazed stoneware. Abstract form with blue glazes & applied discs. Artist signed on underside.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Sculptures
Materials
Ceramic, Stoneware
Cloud Sculpture #2205 by Chris Gustin
By Chris Gustin
Located in New York, NY
Glazed stoneware. Unique, wood-fired sculpture.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Sculptures
Materials
Ceramic, Stoneware
Roberto Estevez Incredible Large Unicorn Sculpture 1979 'Signed and Numbered'
Located in New York, NY
Exquisite large unicorn bust sculpture in cast resin with inlaid bronze mane, solid engraved brass alicorn, and gold leaf ears on a sculptural solid brass base by Roberto Estevez, Am...
Category
1970s American Vintage Modern Sculptures
Materials
Brass, Bronze, Gold Leaf
Oval Bud Vase by Robbie Heidinger
Located in New York, NY
Glazed stoneware. Footed oval-shaped vase with applied forms & blue glazes. Artist signed on underside.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Sculptures
Materials
Ceramic, Stoneware
Pollinator, Vase by Robbie Heidinger
Located in New York, NY
Glazed stoneware. Footed orb-shaped vase form with applied discs. Blue, brown & cream colored glazes. Artist signed on underside.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Sculptures
Materials
Ceramic, Stoneware
De Sede Leather Elephant Toy Accessory by Alfredo Häberli
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Miniature toy elephant accessory designed by Alfredo Ha¨berli for De Sede.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Sculptures
Materials
Leather
Vernal Blue Porcelain Vase 1 by Robbie Heidinger
Located in New York, NY
Glazed porcelain. Footed orb-shaped vase with applied circular forms. Blue and green glazes. Artist signed on underside.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Sculptures
Materials
Ceramic, Porcelain
X-Large Sculptural Vase #4 by Dena Zemsky
By Dena Zemsky
Located in New York, NY
Glazed ceramic. Hand built, large-scale vase. Light blue glazed interior and textured exterior. Artist-signed on underside.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Sculptures
Materials
Ceramic
Domingos Tótora "Escultura Âmago Model 04", Brazil 21st Century
Located in Utrecht, NL
This organic sculpture by contemporary artist Domingos Tótora is a visual expression of the artist’s view of design. Tótora creates objects and sculptures where beauty is inseparable...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Sculptures
Materials
Paper
"Garden Song" Porcelain Figure by Lladro Spain. Depicts Young Girl with Parasol
By Juan Huerta, Lladro
Located in Incline Village, NV
This was a limited edition hand painted porcelain made in 1992 and retired in 1995; manufactured by Lladro in Spain. Designed and sculpted by world renowned artist, Juan Huerta, it i...
Category
1990s Modern Sculptures
Materials
Porcelain
X-Large Sculptural Vase #3 by Dena Zemsky
By Dena Zemsky
Located in New York, NY
Hand built, large-scale ceramic vase. Light blue glazed interior and textured exterior. Artist-signed on underside.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Sculptures
Materials
Ceramic
"Summer Stroll" Porcelain Figurine by Lladro, Spain, "Young Girl with Umbrella"
By Juan Huerta, Lladro
Located in Incline Village, NV
This was a limited edition hand painted porcelain made and retired in 1991 by Lladro in Spain. Designed and sculpted by world renowned artist, Juan Huerta, it is entitled "Summer Stroll...
Category
1990s Spanish Modern Sculptures
Materials
Porcelain
Modern sculptures for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Modern sculptures 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 sculptures created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass, lighting and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, ceramic and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Modern sculptures 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 sculptures, popular names associated with this style include Mosche Bianche, Superego Editions, Europa Antiques, and Richard A. Hirsch. 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 sculptures differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $19 and tops out at $6,718,000 while the average work can sell for $2,219.
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