Skip to main content

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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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.

to
2
521
71
4
1
70
525
10
26
1
4
2
3
9
13
596
239
12
4
1
441
154
128
113
82
504
92
596
594
Height
to
Width
to
596
115
297
444
306
297
251
152
Style: Modern
Creator: Venini
Creator: Ghidini 1961
Venini Clessidra Hourglass in Sapphire Cipria Pink 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 real, like time ticking away. In 1...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Murano Glass

Incise Glass Bottle in Blue Iron 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 o...
Category

20th Century Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Glass

Venini Monofiori Acquamarine Glass Vase by Laura de Santillana
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Venini Monofiori glass vase in aquamarine by Laura de Santillana. “Monofiori” blown handmade glass with stoppers in various forms and colors. Item l...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Blown Glass

Venini Tall Tessuti Battuti Vase in Red by Carlo Scarpa
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Tessuti Battuti vases, designed by Carlo Scarpa and manufactured by Venini, feature a blown handmade glass body with bicolored “Filigrana” stripes then...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Blown Glass

Fazzoletto Opalino Large Glass Vase in Red/Opaque Pink by Fulvio Bianconi
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 Small Bolle Glass Vase in White and Red by Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Venini glass vase in white and red 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

Incisi Glass Vase in Bronze by Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A multitude of shapes and colours. Apparently, Paolo Venini had a knack for experimenting with Incisi. They are countless. The vase owes its name to the "Incisione a Freddo" glassmak...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Glass

Venini Monofiori Amethyst Glass Vase by Laura de Santillana
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Venini Monofiori glass vase in amethyst 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

Ghidini 1961 Knotted Cherry Medium Box in Copper-Plated Brass by Nika Zupanc
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
Fiasco. Guilt. Fear of love. A place to hide all the things we secretly desire yet are too scared to utter. The luscious things the perfect lover knows are never to be told. She drea...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Copper

Venini Ando Time Hourglass in Pink and Straw Yellow by Tadao Ando
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Ando time hourglass, designed by Tadao Ando and manufactured by Venini, is a limited edition of 49 art pieces (per color) plus an additional 20 P.d.A. a...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Glass

Venini Deco Sabbiato Glass Vase in Rio Green 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: Ø23xH24,5cm Kg: ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Art Glass

Venini Fazzoletto Large Glass Vase in Gray by Fulvio Bianconi and Paolo Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Fazzoletto glass vase, designed by Fulvio Bianconi and Paolo Venini and manufactured by Venini, is available in three different sizes. Original designed in 1948. Indoor use only. ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Glass

Gemme Vase in Green Balloton Blown Glass by Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
In the expert hands of the blowers, glass turns into precious gemstones of various colours – green, grass green, purple, red, aquamarine, sapphire, tea and gray. Unique and sparkling...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Blown Glass

Venini Deco Glass Vase in Acquamarine 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

Monofiore Balaton Short Glass Vase in Amber with Horizon 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

Monofiore Balloton Glass Vase in Sapphire with Red Thread Rim by Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Venini glass vase with full body and textured surface with hexagonal shaped pattern in cobalt blue designed in 1970. Perfect for indoor home decor as container or strong statement pi...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Art Glass

Venini Deco Glass Vase in Apple Green 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 Monofiore Balloton Small Vase in Grape Red Thread Murano Glass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Monofiore Balloton 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: Balloton, a ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Murano Glass

Venini Fazzoletto Opalino Medium Vase in Red Murano Glass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Fazzoletto Opalino medium vase in Horizon Murano glass by Fulvio Bianconi and Paolo Venini. An exclusive new take on the Opalini technique from the ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Murano Glass

Venini Satin Large Glass Vase in Gray
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

Incise Glass Bottle in Ocean 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 o...
Category

20th Century Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Glass

Labuan Small Glass Vase in Apple Green by Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A classical form inspired by faraway places, magically projected in the contemporary world by the new colours. It draws inspiration from faraway places, halfway between fantasy an...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Blown Glass

Venini Clessidra Hourglass in Apple Green Straw Yellow 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 real, like time ticking away. In 1...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Murano Glass

Incisi Glass Vase in Acerbo by Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A multitude of shapes and colours. Apparently, Paolo Venini had a knack for experimenting with Incisi. They are countless. The vase owes its name to the "Incisione a Freddo" glassmak...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Glass

Venini Satin Medium Glass Vase in Tea
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 17 cm, H 36 cm.     
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Glass

Incise Glass Bottle in Raspberry 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 o...
Category

20th Century Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Glass

Deco Small Vase in Rio Green 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

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Glass

Fazzoletto Opalino Large Glass Vase in Milk-White 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

Clessidra Hourglass in Gray and Red Glass by Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Perfectly balanced between two different colours, the sand flows through the sleek glass chambers made using the Incalmo technique, taking on its colour and becoming a part of it. Grains of sand, impalpable and imperceptible as a whole, yet so real, like time passing. Fulvio Bianconi and Paolo Venini sealed it in the Clessidra in 1957 Little grains of sand, impalpable and unnoticeable as a whole yet so real, like time ticking away. Clessidra – designed by Fulvio Bianconi and Paolo Venini in 1957 – evolves in 2015, taking on a more sinuous, feminine appearance. Perfectly balanced between two different colors, sand flows through sleek glass, crafted using the Incalmo technique; as it flows, it gradually colors and becomes an integral part of the glass. Additional Information: Material: Glass, sand Color: Gray/red Dimensions: Ø 15 x H 28 cm Available in other color options: Green river /Powder pink...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Glass

Opalino Glass Vase in Grey Milk White Inside by Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Venini glass vase with slim, oval shaped body and funnel shaped neck. Featured in aquamarine colored glass. Perfect for indoor home decor as container or strong statement piece for a...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Art Glass

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

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Art Glass

Venini Fazzoletto Opalino Small Vase in Black Murano Glass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Fazzoletto Opalino small vase in Amber murano glass by Fulvio Bianconi and Paolo Venini. An exclusive new take on the Opalini technique from the 15t...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Murano Glass

Venini Opalino Small Vase in Grey 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 Opalino technique. This method...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Murano Glass

Monofiore Carnevale Tall Glass Vase in Sapphire by Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Venini glass vase with full body and thin funneled neck with textured hexagonal shaped pattern atop surface of glass in sapphire. Featured in sapphire colored glass and designed in 2...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Art Glass

Venini Monofiore Balloton Small Vase in Apple Green Red Thread Murano Glass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Monofiore Balloton 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: Balloton, a ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Murano Glass

Venini Idria Large Vase in Horizon Milk White inside Murano Glass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Idria large vase in horizon 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 day...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Murano Glass

Anelli Crystal Glass with Marine Blue & Red Bands by Venini Riedizione
Located in Brooklyn, NY
“The master skilfully plays with sheer glass: four red rings alternating with four light blue or blue ones, running its full length. A new glass star is born in 2019: Anelli. Color is hot-applied before blowing the glass, thanks to the exclusive Fasce (bands) technique.” Additional Information: Material: Crystal glass Color: Crystal with marine blue & red bands...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Glass

Monofiore Balaton Sabbiato Glass Vase in Rio Green Ox Blood Thread 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 Opalino Large Vase in Amber Murano Glass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Opalino large vase in amber Murano glass by Venini. The Opalino vase is all about sophisticated and unique colors, thanks to the use of the traditional Opalino technique. This method...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Murano Glass

Monofiore Balloton Glass Vase in Grape Red Thread Rim by Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Venini glass vase with full body and textured surface with hexagonal shaped pattern in cobalt blue designed in 1970. Perfect for indoor home decor as container or strong statement pi...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Art Glass

Venini Fazzoletto Opalino Medium Vase in Amber/ Milk White Murano Glass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Fazzoletto Opalino medium vase in amber Murano glass by Fulvio Bianconi and Paolo Venini. An exclusive new take on the Opalini technique from the 15th century makes its color unique....
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Murano Glass

Venini Fazzoletto Opalino Small Vase in Horizon Murano Glass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Fazzoletto Opalino small vase in amber Murano glass by Fulvio Bianconi and Paolo Venini. An exclusive new take on the Opalini technique from the 15th century makes its color unique. ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Murano Glass

Venini Occhi Vase in White Glass 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

Monofiore Balloton Glass Vase in Grey Red Thread by Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Venini glass vase with full body and textured surface with hexagonal shaped pattern in cobalt blue designed in 1970. Perfect for indoor home decor as container or strong statement pi...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Art Glass

Venini Monofiore Balloton Small Vase in Grey Ox Blood Thread Murano Glass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Monofiore Balloton 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: Balloton, a ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Murano Glass

Venini Small Black Belt Triangular Glass in Crystal and Tea by Peter Marino
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Venini glass vase in transparent crystal and tea with black decoration designed by Peter Marino in 2017. Perfect for indoor home decor as container or statement piece for any room. A...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Art Glass

Venini Satin Large Vase in Horizon Crystal Murano Glass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Satin large vase in glazed horizon/crystal Murano glass by Venini. Sheer glass is hand blown and crafted by the master glassblowers using the sophisticated Satinatura technique, whic...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Murano Glass

Battuti/Canoe Bowl in Aquamarine Glass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
It reveals itself like a shell gaping open, in tones of crystal, aquamarine and shaded pink Alexandrite. Its translucent appearance is the result of t...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Glass

Monofiore Sapphire Yellow Glass Vase by Laura de Santillana
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Monofiori glass bottle collection, designed by Laura de Santillana and manufactured by Venini, features six different shaped bottles. Indoor use only. Dimensions: Ø 9 cm, H 15 /...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Glass

Incisi Glass Vase in Brass by Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A multitude of shapes and colours. Apparently, Paolo Venini had a knack for experimenting with Incisi. They are countless. The vase owes its name to the "Incisione a Freddo" glassmak...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Glass

Gemme Vase in Grass Grey Balloton Blown Glass by Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
In the expert hands of the blowers, glass turns into precious gemstones of various colours – green, grass green, purple, red, aquamarine, sapphire, tea and gray. Unique and sparkling...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Blown Glass

Night in Venice Candleholder in Grape 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

Ghidini 1961 Omini the Walkman Tall Candlestick in Polished Brass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This delightful polished brass tall candlestick is a creative accent for any modern interior. The streamlined design features a flat base and a long co...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

Gemme Glass Vase in Tea by Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Venini glass vase with shaped body and neck in tea designed in 2017. Perfect for indoor home decor as container or statement piece for any room. Also available in other colors on 1st...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Art Glass

"Incamiciato" Italian Art Glass Vase by Tomaso Buzzi
Located in New York, NY
"Incamiciato" Italian Art glass vase by Tomaso Buzzi for Venini. Clear, white and purple. With original label. Signed: Venini Italia '85.
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Art Glass

Monumental Ruby Red Murano Art Glass Fazzoletto Vase by Venini
Located in Atlanta, GA
This spectacular and beautiful hand-blown Italian Art glass vase was designed by Venini, Murano. The piece was crafted in Italy circa 1970. The extra tall sculptural amphora shape ha...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Glass, Murano Glass

Venini Testosterone Happy Pills Vase in Horizon Blue & Yellow by Fabio Novembre
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Venini Happy pills in testosterone by Fabio Novembre. Numbered Edition handmade-blown glass with the “Incalmo” technique. Color: Testosterone D...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Blown Glass

Red Italian Venini Art Glass Vase, 1981 8.5" Tall
Located in Toledo, OH
Red Venini Italian art glass vase signed and dated 1981. 8.5" tall x 8" in diameter.
Category

1980s European Vintage Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

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.

Recently Viewed

View All