International Style Decorative Objects
INTERNATIONAL STYLE
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.
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Style: International Style
Seguso Vetri dArte Murano glass multicolor circa 1950 jar
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible Seguso Vetri dArte Murano glass multicolor jar circa 1950
Category
1950s Italian Vintage International Style Decorative Objects
Materials
Murano Glass
Le Faguays bronze Art Deco "Pierrot e Columbine" signed
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible Art Deco bronze signed Le Faguays from 1930 original representing "Pierrot and Columbina"
Category
1930s French Vintage International Style Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Large Venini Murano glass gray, black and gold circa 1950 vase
By Venini
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible large VENINI Murano glass gray, black and gold circa 1950 vase.
Category
1950s Italian Vintage International Style Decorative Objects
Materials
Murano Glass
Vertical garden of ceramic and turtledove grey wood from SoShiro Ainu collection
By SoShiro
Located in London, GB
The Herbal Wardrobe cart from SoShiro’s Ainu collection, a collaboration between award-winning artist Toru Kaizawa and Shiro Muchiri, was initially imagined with troughs designed to house an arrangement of various sized potted herb plants, to achieve a visual and aromatic effect that evokes the restorative experience of walking through an herb garden. This versatile storage unit is not only a vertical garden planter, but also can serve as a bar, or a decorative shelf unit in any room.
This ceramic, beech wood with a turtle grey finish, and small locking wheels cart features three-tiered shelves cast and hand-finished in the Veneto region of Italy, renowned for its rich heritage in ceramics. On the white porcelain is a Blakiston’s fish owl...
Category
2010s Italian International Style Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic, Beech
Vertical garden cart of ceramic and beech wood from the SoShiro Ainu collection
By SoShiro
Located in London, GB
The Herbal Wardrobe cart from SoShiro’s Ainu collection, a collaboration between award-winning artist Toru Kaizawa and Shiro Muchiri, was initially imagined with troughs designed to house an arrangement of various sized potted herb plants, to achieve a visual and aromatic effect that evokes the restorative experience of walking through an herb garden. This versatile storage unit is not only a vertical garden planter, but also can serve as a bar, or a decorative shelf unit in any room.
This ceramic and beech wood cart with small locking wheels features three-tiered shelves cast and hand finished in the Veneto region of Italy, renowned for its rich heritage in ceramics. On the white porcelain is a Blakiston’s fish owl...
Category
2010s Italian International Style Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic, Beech
Honey and sugar canister jar set in ceramic from the SoShiro Ainu collection
By SoShiro
Located in London, GB
The ceramic canister jars with lids from SoShiro’s Ainu collection, a collaboration between award-winning artist Toru Kaizawa and Shiro Muchiri, are generously sized and can be used ...
Category
2010s Italian International Style Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic, Clay, Kaolin
Seguso Vetri dArte Murano glass green circa 1950 "corroso" vase.
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible Seguso Vetri dArte Murano glass circa 1950 "corroso"green vase.
Category
1950s Italian Vintage International Style Decorative Objects
Materials
Murano Glass
Archimede Seguso sculpture in Murano glass "sfumatto oro" circa 1950 Museo
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible Archimede Seguso "sfumatto oro"sculpture in Murano glass circa 1950. Museo.
Category
1950s Italian Vintage International Style Decorative Objects
Materials
Murano Glass
Large Barovier&Toso Murano vase circa 1950 coral and black.
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible and large Barovier&Toso (attributed) Murano vase circa 1950 coral and black
Category
1950s Italian Vintage International Style Decorative Objects
Materials
Murano Glass
Seguso. Vetri dArte Murano Glass white "Corroso" vase circa 1950
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible Seguso Vetri dArte Murano glass circa 1950 white vase with applied glass.
Category
1950s Italian Vintage International Style Decorative Objects
Materials
Murano Glass
Guido Cacciapuoti italian porcelain "Putan" circa 1950
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible Guido Cacciapuoti porcelain representing "Putan" circa 1950 signed and sealed.
Category
1950s Italian Vintage International Style Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Barovier&Toso Murano glass iridized basket circa 1950
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible Barovier&Toso Murano glass iridized basket with flower circa 1950
Category
1950s Italian Vintage International Style Decorative Objects
Materials
Murano Glass
Kralik Bohemian multicolor glass vase circa 1900
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible KRALIK bohemian multicolor Art Nouveau glass vase circa 1900.
Category
Early 1900s Czech Antique International Style Decorative Objects
Materials
Murano Glass
Narciso italian pompeian bronze circa 1900.
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible old bronze reproduction by Narciso found in Pompei 1862.
Category
1860s Italian Antique International Style Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Venini zanfirico and filigrana bowl with venturina circa 1950
By Venini
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible bowl in Murano glass with venturina, zanfirico e filigrana circa 1950
Category
1950s Italian Vintage International Style Decorative Objects
Materials
Murano Glass
Auguste Rodin french museu reproduction in plaster and wood signed "Le Penseur"
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible museu reproduction in plaster and wood by Auguste Rodin sculpture "Le Penseur" circa 1950 signed in the piece.
Category
1950s French Vintage International Style Decorative Objects
Materials
Plaster
Archimede Seguso bottle in Murano glass to Luxardo circa 1950
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
incredible Archimede Seguso Murano glass bottle for Luxardo in two colors circa 1950.
Category
1950s Italian Vintage International Style Decorative Objects
Materials
Murano Glass
Seguso Vetri dArte Murano glass amber "corroso" circa 1950 vase.
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible Seguso Vetri dArte amber "corroso" Murano glass circa 1950 vase.
Category
1950s Italian Vintage International Style Decorative Objects
Materials
Murano Glass
Venini Murano glass incolor hourglass circa 1950
By Venini
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
incredible Venini Murano glass incolor hourglass circa 1950.
Category
1950s Italian Vintage International Style Decorative Objects
Materials
Murano Glass
Dino Martens Murano glass blue and white vase circa 1950
By Dino Martens
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible Dino Martens Murano glass blue and white vase circa 1950.
Category
1950s Italian Vintage International Style Decorative Objects
Materials
Murano Glass
Dino Martens Aureliano Toso pigmentati iridium tall vase circa 1950
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible tall and rare Aureliano Toso iridium pigmentati vase circa 1950
Category
1950s Italian Vintage International Style Decorative Objects
Materials
Murano Glass
Archimede Seguso large astray in Murano glass circa 1950
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible astray in Murano glass attributed to Archimede Seguso circa 1950 in green and blue applied and molded hand made.
Category
1950s Italian Vintage International Style Decorative Objects
Materials
Murano Glass
Archimede Seguso Murano glass gold vase "Cartoccio" circa 1950
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible Archimede Seguso Murano glass vase caroccio" circa 1950.
Category
1950s Italian Vintage International Style Decorative Objects
Materials
Murano Glass
Large Fratelli Toso Murano glass bicolor vase
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible Fratelli Toso Murano glass bicolor vase circa 1950. Big.
Category
1950s European Vintage International Style Decorative Objects
Materials
Murano Glass
Terracota polychromed bust of woman with flowers signed
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible and big bust of woman with multicolor flowers in terracota signed A.TALLARI 1992
Category
1990s Brazilian International Style Decorative Objects
Materials
Terracotta
Antonio Canova italian brown bronze circa 1850 "Gladiator"
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible and big italian brown bronze after Antonio Canova circa 1850 representing "Gladiator"
Category
1850s Italian Antique International Style Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Cenedese Murano glass set of pears with bubbles circa 1950
By Cenedese
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible set Cenedese Murano glass pears multicolor circa 1950
Category
1950s Italian Vintage International Style Decorative Objects
Materials
Murano Glass
Itamo Pustetto Murano glass bicolor circa 1950 basket.
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible Itamo Pustetto Murano glass bicolor 1950 basket.
Category
1950s Italian Vintage International Style Decorative Objects
Materials
Murano Glass
Franz Weissmann Brazilian Abstract Sculpture steel !979
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible abstract sculpture in steel by Franz Weissmann 1979
Category
1970s Brazilian Vintage International Style Decorative Objects
Materials
Steel
Archimede Seguso sculpture in Murano glass 'Sfumato oro' circa 1950.
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible Archimede Seguso Murano glass sculpture in "sfumato oro" bird circa 1950.
Category
1950s Italian Vintage International Style Decorative Objects
Materials
Murano Glass
Emanoel Araujo brazilian sculpture in fiberglass and wood polychrome circa 1980
By Emanoel Araújo 1
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible EMANOEL ARAUJO abstract sculpture in fiberglass and wood signed and polychrome circa 1980.
Category
1980s Brazilian Vintage International Style Decorative Objects
Materials
Fiberglass, Wood
Murano glass in blue Cornucopia vase circa 1950
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible Murano glass in intense blue cornucopia vase circa 1950
Category
1950s Italian Vintage International Style Decorative Objects
Materials
Murano Glass
Large Fratelli Toso Murano glass multicolor circa 1950 vase.
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible Fratelli toso Murano glass multicolor circa 1950 vase.
Category
1950s Italian Vintage International Style Decorative Objects
Materials
Murano Glass
Tall Orrefors scandinavian bicolor 1950 glass vase
By Orrefors
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible Tall Orrefors scandinavian bicolor 1950 glass vase.
Category
1950s Scandinavian Vintage International Style Decorative Objects
Materials
Glass
Barovier&Toso Murano glass rubi circa 1950 vase.
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible Barovier&Toso Murano glass rubi iridescent circa 1950 vase.
Category
1950s Italian Vintage International Style Decorative Objects
Materials
Murano Glass
Contemporary Minimalist Golden / Black and Glass Solitary Vase V3
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
V3 vase - Monstera by Paulo Goldstein, Brazilian contemporary design is part of a series of vases inspired in the observation of the natural lines of the flowers and leaves held in t...
Category
2010s Brazilian International Style Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass, Steel
PAULI&C Murano glass black and white circa 1990 vase
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible attributed PAULI&C. Murano black and white vase circa 1990.
Category
1990s Italian International Style Decorative Objects
Materials
Murano Glass
Steel Sculpture by Nicolas Vlavianos, 1970
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Steel sculpture signed and dated Vlavianos in perfect conditions.
Category
1970s Greek Vintage International Style Decorative Objects
Materials
Steel
Contemporary minimalist steel, brass and glass solitary Vase V1
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
V1 vase by Paulo Goldstein, Brazilian contemporary design, blown glass and steel is part of a series of vases inspired in the observation of the natural lines of the flowers and leav...
Category
2010s Brazilian International Style Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass, Stainless Steel, Steel
VENINI Murano glass with many techniques circa 1950 bowl.
By Venini
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible VENINI Murano glass multicolor with many techniques circa 1950.
Category
1950s Italian Vintage International Style Decorative Objects
Materials
Murano Glass
Nicolas Vlavianos steel 1974 sculpture with wood base signed
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible NICOLAS VLAVIANOS brazilian steel 1970 abstract sculpture with wood base.
Category
1970s Brazilian Vintage International Style Decorative Objects
Materials
Steel
Dino Martens bicolor Murano glass with venturine vase circa 1950
By Dino Martens
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible Dino Martens Murano glass bicolor with venturine vase circa 1950
Category
1950s Italian Vintage International Style Decorative Objects
Materials
Murano Glass
Tall Barovier&Toso vase in Murano glass iridized circa 1950
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible Barovier&Toso Murano glass iridized vase circa 1950
Category
1950s Italian Vintage International Style Decorative Objects
Materials
Murano Glass
Pair of Murano glass bicolor apples with bulicante.
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible pair of Murano glass of apples bicolor with bubbles circa 1970.
Category
1970s Italian Vintage International Style Decorative Objects
Materials
Murano Glass
Contemporary Minimalist Steel and Glass Solitary Vase ELO G
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
ELO G vase by Paulo Goldstein, Brazilian contemporary design, blown glass and steel is part of a series of vases inspired in the observation of the natural lines of the flowers and l...
Category
2010s Brazilian International Style Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass, Steel
Contemporary Minimalist Steel and Glass Solitary Vase ELO Medium
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
ELO medium vase by Paulo Goldstein, Brazilian contemporary design, blown glass and steel is part of a series of vases inspired in the observation of the natural lines of the flowers ...
Category
2010s Brazilian International Style Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass, Steel
Cenedese Murano glass pink circa 1950 basket.
By Cenedese
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible CENEDESE Murano glass pink circa 1950 basket.
Category
1950s Italian Vintage International Style Decorative Objects
Materials
Murano Glass
Airin Canedo brazilian multicolor sculpture circa 1990
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible AIRIN CANEDO multimaterials sculpture circa 1990.
Category
1990s Brazilian International Style Decorative Objects
Materials
Metal, Other
Barovier&Toso Murano glass with silver and gold center piece circa 1950
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible Barovier &Toso Murano glass center piece with silver and gold circa 1950
Category
1950s Italian Vintage International Style Decorative Objects
Materials
Murano Glass
Nicolas Vlavianos Greek steel 1974 sculpture with wood base signed
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible steel sculpture with wood base signed VL 74 to Nicolas Vlavianos 1974
Category
1970s Greek Vintage International Style Decorative Objects
Materials
Steel
International Style decorative objects for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique International Style decorative objects 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 decorative objects created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass, more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with glass, murano glass and other materials. If you’re shopping for used International Style decorative objects made in a specific country, there are Europe, Italy, and Brazil pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original decorative objects, popular names associated with this style include Archimede Seguso, Paulo Goldstein, Arte Vetraria Muranese (AVEM), and Barovier&Toso. 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 decorative objects differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $108 and tops out at $70,000 while the average work can sell for $2,350.
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