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Modern Decorative Objects

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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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 chaircrafted 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
Creator: Venini
Creator: Ghidini 1961
Venini Oman Vase in Gray, Red & Aquamarine by Ettore Sottsass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Venini Oman glass vase in Gray/red/aquamarine by Ettore Sottsass. Handblown glass. Numbered edition for year Color: Gray/Red/Aquamarine Dimensions: Ø 33.5 cm, H 40 cm Year of ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Blown Glass

Venini Square Occhi Vase in White by Ludovico Diaz de Santillana, Tobia Scarpa
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Venini Occhi glass vase in crystal by Ludovico Diaz de Santillana, Tobia Scarpa. Blown handmade glass vases with the “Murrine” technique. Color: Cryst...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Blown Glass

Venini Opalino Large Black Black Inside Glass Vase
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Satin glass vase, designed and manufactured by Venini, features the same shape of the iconic opalino vase with a frosted finish. Indoor use only. Dimensions: Ø 20 cm, H 42 cm.  
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Glass

Venini Murrine Romane Multi-Color Vase by Carlo Scarpa
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Venini Murrine Romane vase in multi-color by Carlo Scarpa. Numbered Edition. These Murrine are called “roman” due to their graphic signs and because the...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Glass

Venini Murrine Opache Plate in Red with Black Details by Carlo Scarpa
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Murrine Opache plates, designed by Carlo Scarpa and manufactured by Venini, are available in four different versions. Handmade glass with “murrine” technique. Numbered edition per ye...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Glass

Venini Deco Glass Vase in Horizon Blue by Napoleone Martinuzzi
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Venini glass vase in horizon blue designed by Napoleone Martinuzzi in 1930. Perfect for indoor home decor as container or statement piece for any room. Also available in other colors...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Art Glass

Venini Opalino Large Apple Green Milk White Inside Glass Vase
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Satin glass vase, designed and manufactured by Venini, features the same shape of the iconic opalino vase with a frosted finish. Indoor use only. Dimensions: Ø 20 cm, H 42 cm.  
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Glass

Venini Incisi Short Glass Vase in Marine Blue by Paolo Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Incisi glass vase collection, designed by Paolo Venini and manufactured by Venini, feature an engraved surface. Originally designed in 1956. Numbered edition per year, marine blue ve...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Glass

Fazzoletto Opalino Large Glass Vase in Horizon by Fulvio Bianconi and Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Created from the collaboration between Fulvio Bianconi and Paolo Venini, characterized by a soft shape with a graceful wavy lip, always unique, obtained using the free-hand technique...
Category

20th Century Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Glass

Venini Monofiore Balloton Large Vase in Horizon Red Thread Murano Glass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Monofiore Balloton Large Vase in Amber Murano Glass by Venini. It looks soft, but it’s not; it’s glass. The optical illusion of Monofiori by Venini from 1970 lies in its name: Ballot...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Murano Glass

Venini Clessidra Hourglass in Horizon Amber Murano Glass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Clessidra hourglass in amber murano glass by Paolo Venini and Fulvio Bianconi. Little grains of sand, impalpable and unnoticeable as a whole yet so...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Murano Glass

Gemme Short Glass Vase in Grass Green by Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Venini glass vase with shaped body and neck in grass green designed in 2017. Perfect for indoor home decor as container or statement piece for any room. Also available in other color...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Art Glass

Venini, Murano Glass Paperweight / Abstract Sculpture, Signed
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful Venini paperweight / abstract sculpture with a traditional swirl ribbon design. This is signed and is shown with circle marker in last picture, very faded, but is (Venini I...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Glass

Ghidini 1961 Small Rabbit Figurine in Polished Brass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Small rabbit figurine in brass.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

Venini Ossitocina Happy Pills Vase in White & Yellow by Fabio Novembre
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Venini Happy Pills in ossitocina by Fabio Novembre. Numbered edition handmade-blown glass with the “Incalmo” technique. Color: Multi-color Dime...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Blown Glass

Ghidini 1961 Florida Bowl in Brass by Nika Zupanc
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
Bowl in brass. This sublime cast brass mass is all wrapped up, giving rise to an exquisite fruit bowl. Something akin to the treasure found at the end of a rewarding peregrination. T...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

Venini Fazzoletto Bicolore Small Vase in Amber and Horizon Murano Glass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Fazzoletto Bicolore Small Vase in Amber and Horizon Murano Glass by Fulvio Bianconi and Paolo Venini. An exclusive new take on the Opalini technique from the 15th century makes its c...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Murano Glass

Venini Veronese Glass Vase in Red and Crystal by Vittorio Zecchin
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Venini glass vase with cylindrical body and crystal decorative base. Featured in red colored class with crystal designed in 1921. Perfect for indoor home decor as container or strong...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Art Glass

Venini Murrine Romane Multicolor Bowl by Carlo Scarpa
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Venini Murrine Romane bowl in multicolor by Carlo Scarpa. Numbered Edition. These Murrine are called “roman” due to their graphic signs and because they...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Glass

Venini Deco Sabbiato Glass Vase in Red by Napoleone Martinuzzi
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Historical vase designed by Napoleone Martinuzzi in opal glass with round horizontal ribs. The model is proposed with a sandblasted coat. Dimensions available: Ø23 x H24,5cm Kg...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Art Glass

Venini Deco Glass Vase in Aquamarine by Napoleone Martinuzzi
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Venini glass vase in aquamarine designed by Napoleone Martinuzzi in 1930. Perfect for indoor home decor as container or statement piece for any room. Dimensions: 26 cm diameter x...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Art Glass

Coccio Glass Vase in Tea and Ivory by Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Venini glass vase with cylindrical body and fine line drawn pattern across glass surface. Featured in tea and ivory colored class designed in 1984. Perfect for indoor home decor as c...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Art Glass

Venini Veronese Glass Vase in Sapphire and Crystal by Vittorio Zecchin
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Venini glass vase with cylindrical body and crystal decorative base. Featured in apple green colored class with crystal designed in 1921. Perfect for indoor home decor as container o...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Art Glass

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 Decorative Objects

Materials

Glass

Venini Murana Face Glass Vase in Straw by Fabio
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Venini glass vase with oval body and neck and engraved facial expression designed by Fabio in 2016. Featured in straw colored glass. Perfect for indoor home decor as container or str...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Art Glass

Venini Battuto Multicolor Vase in Light Green & Red by Carlo Scarpa
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Venini Battuto bicolor vase in light green/red by Carlo Scarpa. Numbered Edition. Blown handmade glass, realized with the “Incalmo” technique, then cut....
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Blown Glass

Venini Monofiore Balloton Vase in Amber Horizon Thread Murano Glass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Monofiore Balloton small vase in amber Murano glass by Venini. Monofiori breaks with tradition in 1970 and then does it again in 2016. But its essen...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Murano Glass

Labuan Vase in Milk-White with Blown Opal Glass by Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A classical form inspired by faraway places, magically projected in the contemporary world by the new colours. Drawing inspiration from exotic destinations in the Far East, Paolo ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Blown Glass

Fazzoletto Opalino Large Glass Vase in Sapphire by Fulvio Bianconi and Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Created from the collaboration between Fulvio Bianconi and Paolo Venini, characterized by a soft shape with a graceful wavy lip, always unique, obtained using the free-hand technique...
Category

20th Century Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Glass

Monofiore Balaton Short Glass Vase in Straw-Yellow Red Thread Rim by Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Venini glass vase with full body and textured surface with hexagonal shaped pattern in gold designed in 1970. Perfect for indoor home decor as container or strong statement piece for...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Art Glass

Calo Scarpa "Corroso Vase" by Venini Murano Glass, Signed
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This is a very well-known piece by Carlo Scarpa, acid signed four lines underside, Murano Venini made in Italy. Mint condition.Rare piece .
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Glass

Venini Deco Glass Vase in Red by Napoleone Martinuzzi
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Venini glass vase in red designed by Napoleone Martinuzzi in 1930. Perfect for indoor home decor as container or statement piece for any room. Also available in other colors on 1stdi...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Art Glass

Fazzoletto Opaline Large Vase in Rio Green, Fulvio Bianconi and Paolo Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Created from the collaboration between Fulvio Bianconi and Paolo Venini, characterized by a soft shape with a graceful wavy lip, always unique, obtained using the free-hand technique...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Glass

Venini Medium Bolle Glass Vase in White and Green by Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Venini glass vase in white and green designed by Tapio Wirkkala in 1966. Perfect for indoor home decor as container or statement piece for any room...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Art Glass

Deco Medium Vase in Ox Blood Red Glass by Napoleone Martinuzzi
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Historic vase designed by Napoleone Martinuzzi in opalino glass characterized by round horizontal ribs. The model is proposed in three shades of colour and in three sizes. Rhythm"...
Category

20th Century Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Glass

Venini Monofiore Sapphire Blue Glass Vase by Laura de Santillana
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Venini Monofiori glass vase in sapphire by Laura de Santillana. “Monofiori” blown handmade glass with stoppers in various forms and colors. Item lab...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Blown Glass

Venini Monofiore Carnevale Tall Glass Vase in Red
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Monofiore Carnevale glass vase collection, designed and manufactured by Venini, features two different shaped vases. Indoor use only. Dimensi...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Glass

Fazzoletto Sabbiato Large Vase in Apple Green by Fulvio Bianconi and Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Created from the collaboration between Fulvio Bianconi and Paolo Venini, characterized by a soft shape with a graceful wavy lip, always unique, obtained using the free-hand technique. A light summer breeze leads us to discover the iconic Venini collection...
Category

20th Century Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Glass

Venini Opalino Large Grey Milk White Inside Glass Vase
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Satin glass vase, designed and manufactured by Venini, features the same shape of the iconic opalino vase with a frosted finish. Indoor use only. ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Glass

Italian Murano Glass Vase Kelo Model by Timo Sarpeneva for Venini, Italy
Located in Milan, Italy
Murano glass vase designed by Timo Sarpeneva for Venini in 1988. Exhibited at Tingo design gallery in 2008 for the exhibition Murano a go-go. Out production. Original label and signed.
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Murano Glass

Night in Venice Candleholder in Red Balloton Glass by Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The warm glow of candles meets glass etched using the special Balloton technique. Its light flickers and dances, casting a multitude of reflections on the refined Tea, Red, Grape or ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Glass

Venini Monofiore Balloton Medium Vase in Orange Red Thread Murano Glass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Monofiore Balloton medium vase in amber Murano glass by Venini. It looks soft, but it’s not; it’s glass. The optical illusion of Monofiori by Venini...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Murano Glass

Venini Deco Glass Vase in Lattimo by Napoleone Martinuzzi
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Venini glass vase in aquamarine designed by Napoleone Martinuzzi in 1930. Perfect for indoor home decor as container or statement piece for any room. Dimensions: 26 cm diameter x...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Art Glass

Venini Deco Glass Vase in Grey by Napoleone Martinuzzi
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Venini glass vase in grey designed by Napoleone Martinuzzi in 1930. Perfect for indoor home decor as container or statement piece for any room. Also avail...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Art Glass

Venini Pavoncella Bird Sculpture by Toni Zuccheri
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Venini Pavoncella sculpture by Toni Zuccheri. Numbered edition for year. Sculpture hand-blown glass. Technique: Canes and Filigree Dimensions: Ø 31 cm, H 23 cm Year of Manufactu...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Blown Glass

Venini Clessidra Hourglass in Grape and Pink Murano Glass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Clessidra hourglass in grape and pink Murano glass by Paolo Venini and Riedizione. Limited edition in 99 art pieces each. Little grains of sand, impalpable and unnoticeable as a whol...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Murano Glass

Venini Deco Glass Vase in Red by Napoleone Martinuzzi
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Venini glass vase in aquamarine designed by Napoleone Martinuzzi in 1930. Perfect for indoor home decor as container or statement piece for any room. Dimensions: 26 cm diameter x...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Art Glass

Venini 'Where Are My Glasses?' Glass Vase in Aquamarine & Crystal by Ron Arad
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Venini glass vase with round body and glass glasses sculpture. Featured in red colored glass. Perfect for indoor home decor as container or strong statement piece for any room. Di...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Art Glass

Fazzoletto Opalino Large Glass Vase in Apple Green by Fulvio Bianconi and Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Created from the collaboration between Fulvio Bianconi and Paolo Venini, characterized by a soft shape with a graceful wavy lip, always unique, obtained using the free-hand technique...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Glass

Venini Monofiore Apple Green Glass Vase by Laura de Santillana
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Venini Monofiori glass vase in apple green by Laura de Santillana. “Monofiori” blown handmade glass with stoppers in various forms and colors. Item ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Blown Glass

Monofiore Balaton Short Glass Vase in Apple Green Red Thread Rim by Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Venini glass vase with full body and textured surface with hexagonal shaped pattern in gold designed in 1970. Perfect for indoor home decor as container or strong statement piece for...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Art Glass

Venini Incisi Short Glass Vase in Steel Blue by Paolo Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Incisi glass vase collection, designed by Paolo Venini and manufactured by Venini, feature an engraved surface. Originally designed in 1956. Numb...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Glass

Venini Re Vase in Grey Glass by Rodolfo Dordoni
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Venini Re glass vase in gray by Rodolfo Dordoni. Blown handmade glass vases. Upper part, the crown, is covered by metal leaves. The lower part is glazed...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Blown Glass

Fazzoletto Opalino Large Glass Vase in Indigo/Orange by Fulvio Bianconi & Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Created from the collaboration between Fulvio Bianconi and Paolo Venini, characterized by a soft shape with a graceful wavy lip, always unique, obtained using the free-hand technique...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Glass

Idria Large Round Glass Vase in Mint Green by Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Venini glass vase with round body and angular shaped neck in mint green designed in 2016. Perfect for indoor home decor as container or strong statement piece for any room. Also avai...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Art Glass

Venini Opalino Small Vase in Apple Green Milk White Inside Murano Glass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Opalino small vase in Amber Murano glass by Venini. The Opalino vase is all about sophisticated and unique colors, thanks to the use of the traditional Op...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Murano Glass

Incise Glass Bottle in Grass Green by Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A multitude of shapes and colours. Every bottle has its own, chosen with care by Paolo Venini in 1956. Skilfully etched to conceal their imaginary content, they pique the curiosity of the viewers, who just can’t refrain from taking the lid off to peek inside and find out the truth. Additional information: Material: Blown, engraved Color: Grass green...
Category

20th Century Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Glass

Venini Idria Medium Vase in Amber Milk White Murano Glass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Idria medium vase in Amber Murano glass by Venini. The Ancient Greek water vessel sheds its skin, as terracotta gives way to glass, thanks to Venini. Its design speaks of bygone days...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Murano Glass

Modern decorative objects for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Modern 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, asian art and furniture and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, ceramic and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Modern decorative objects 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 decorative objects, popular names associated with this style include Venini, RAAQUU, VG-VGnewtrend, and Mosche Bianche. 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 $15 and tops out at $6,718,000 while the average work can sell for $1,174.

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