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.
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Archimede Seguso pair of sculptures in Murano glass red fishes 1950
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible pair of fishes in red Murano glass by Archimede Seguso with air bubbles circa 1950.
Murano Glass
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.
Murano Glass
Set of 2 Italian Silver-Plated Candlesticks, Handcrafted Design, in stock
By FEDERICA PAOLI, CASPAL
Located in Milano, Lombardia
This set of 2 handcrafted silver-plated brass candle holders exemplifies refined Italian artistry and sculptural design. Each piece is made by hand in Italy by Federica Paoli, showca...
Silver Plate, Brass
Set of 3 Italian Silver-Plated Candle Holders, Handcrafted Design, in stock
By FEDERICA PAOLI, CASPAL
Located in Milano, Lombardia
This set of 3 handcrafted silver-plated brass candle holders represents the perfect balance between sculptural form and Italian artisanal tradition. Designed by Federica Paoli and ma...
Silver Plate, Brass
Tall Orrefors scandinavian bicolor 1950 glass vase
By Orrefors
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible Tall Orrefors scandinavian bicolor 1950 glass vase.
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
Steel
Archimede Seguso Murano glass gold vase "Cartoccio" circa 1950
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible Archimede Seguso Murano glass vase caroccio" circa 1950.
Murano Glass
Cenedese Murano glass pink circa 1950 basket.
By Cenedese
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible CENEDESE Murano glass pink circa 1950 basket.
Murano Glass
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...
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 ...
Ceramic, Clay, Kaolin
Contemporary vase in white ceramic from the SoShiro Ainu collection
By SoShiro
Located in London, GB
This ceramic table vase from SoShiro’s Ainu collection, a collaboration between award-winning artist Toru Kaizawa and Shiro Muchiri, has an organic incorporated handle for an easy gr...
Ceramic, Clay, Kaolin
Vases in ceramic signed A. MINIATTI Firenze circa 1900.
By Casa Bugatti
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
monumental vase in ceramic emblazoned and signed A. MINIATTI FIRENZE circa 1900.
Ceramic
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...
Brass, Steel
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.
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.
Steel
Cenedese Murano glass green opaline circa 1950 basket.
By Cenedese
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible CENEDESE Murano glass green opaline circa 1950 basket.
Murano Glass
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
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
Murano Glass