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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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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
Ghidini 1961 Perished Round Tray in Polished Gold Finish
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Part of the Perished collection, this round tray was made entirely in openwork steel and features a round smooth central body surrounded by a lip elaborately adorned with a garland o...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Steel

Ghidini 1961 Axonometry Squared Small Tray in Polished Brass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Tray in brass. Tray in brass. Elegant in living and dining spaces alike, this tray can be used to display objects in the living room and bedroom, store papers in the office or necess...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

Ghidini 1961 Omini the Climber Tall Candlestick in Polished Brass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This delightful polished brass tall candlestick is a creative accent for any modern interior. Designed for taper candles, the streamlined design boasts a rounded bobeches with a wide rim supported by a short column...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

Ghidini 1961 Omini the Thinker Walkman Candlestick in Polished Brass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Marked by a timeless minimalist aesthetic, this sculptural double candlestick is a modern take on a traditional piece of home decor. Made of polished brass, the piece features two ro...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

Ghidini 1961 Omini the Thinker Tall Candlestick in Polished Brass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This delightful polished brass tall candlestick is a creative accent for any modern interior. Embodying classical allure and imaginative flair, this sl...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

Ghidini 1961 Florida Bowl in Rose Gold Finish
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Bowl in brass and available in polished brass or rose gold finish.    
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

Ghidini 1961 Axonometry Set 2 Large Cube Tray in Rose Gold Finish
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Trays in brass. The compositional scheme of this family of small trays is the axonometric isometric projection of two parallelepipeds which creates a three-dimensional optical effect...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Copper

Ghidini 1961 Joe & Ema Medium Vase in Rose Gold Finish
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Vase available in brass or rose gold finish.  
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Copper

Ghidini 1961 Axonometry Rectangular Small Tray in Rose Gold Finish
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Tray in copper with a rose gold finish. Tray in brass. Elegant in living and dining spaces alike, this tray can be used to display objects in the living room and bedroom, store paper...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Copper

Ghidini 1961 Tip Top Large Paper Basket in Polished Gold Finish
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This elegant large paper basket is in stainless steel. It is part of the Tip Top series which consists of hexagonal pieces made of layers of triangles.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Stainless Steel

Ghidini 1961 Omini Pen and Cards Tray in Polished Brass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Made from brass the pen and card tray is suitable for storing pens, pencils and cards and adds a touch of whimsy to your home office.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

Ghidini 1961 Gil & Luc Small Vase in Polished Brass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Vase available in brass or rose gold finish.     
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

Ghidini 1961 Tip Top Large Paper Basket in Rose Gold Finish
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This elegant large paper basket is in stainless steel. It is part of the Tip Top series which consists of hexagonal pieces made of layers of triangles.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Stainless Steel

Ghidini 1961 Omini Tape Mate in Polished Brass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Scotch holder in brass. Ideal for keeping adhesive tape close at hand.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

Ghidini 1961 Axonometry Pen and Cards Desk Trays Set in Rose Gold Finish
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Trays in copper with a rose gold finish. The compositional scheme of this family of small trays is the axonometric isometric projection of two parallelepipeds which creates a three-d...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Copper

Venini by Emmanuel Babled 2004 Women Torso Tall Vase in Cased Art Glass
Located in Miami, FL
Art glass vase designed by Emmanuel Babled (1967-) for Venini. An extremely rare artistic vase, created in the island of Murano by the sculptor Emmanuel Babled, back in the 2004. This sculptural tall vase is part of a limited edition of only 9 piece made by the Venini company from Venice. It is made in the shape of a sublime woman torso, blown in 3 colors of cased glass and finished with a delicate wheel carving. Technique: Blown art glass, triple cased, etched and carved at the wheel. Measures: 450.85 by 196.85 mm (17.75 by 7.75 Inches) Edition: Number 4 of 9. Signatures: Etched at the bottom, "Venini 2004 4/9 EMM. BABLED". with the original Venini decal label. Emmanuel Babled was born in France in 1967. He studied Industrial Design at Istituto Europeo di Design in Milan, graduating in 1989 and founding his own design studio in 1992. In 2010 Emmanuel Babled Studio moved to Amsterdam after many years in Milan. Since the start, he has developed a wide range of unique pieces and limited editions in self-production and for prestigious manufacturers such as Venini, Baccarat, Rosenthal and Covo. These pieces are part of private and public collections around the world. At the same time he has also designed Industrial products, furniture and lighting. His clients include Baccarat, Rosenthal, Venini, Bulgari, Iittala, Dupont de Nemours, Fontana Arte, Oluce, I&I, Laurent Perrier...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass

Ghidini 1961 Axonometry Small Parallelepiped Tray in Copper by Elisa Giovanni
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
The compositional scheme of this family of small trays is the axonometric isometric projection of two parallelepipeds which creates a three-dimensional optical effect implemented by ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Copper

Ghidini 1961 Omini the Walkman Short Candlestick in Brass by Stefano Giovannoni
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
Candleholder in brass. Omini is a family of products that plays on the inclusion and the relationship between the human figure with a series of monolithic objects from geometric and...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

Ghidini 1961 Tip Top Limousine Tray in Rose Gold by Richard Hutten
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
Limousine tray in stainless steel When you look at the top view of the Tip-Top series, all the triangles have the same size. In 3D these triangles have been stretched, which creates...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Stainless Steel

Ghidini 1961 Tip Top Tray Medium in Gold by Richard Hutten
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
Tray in openwork steel. When you look at the top view of the Tip-Top series, all the triangles have the same size. In 3D these triangles have been stretched, which creates a very su...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Steel

Ghidini 1961 Tip Top Center Bowl in Rose Gold by Richard Hutten
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
Center bowl in stainless steel When you look at the top view of the Tip-Top series, all the triangles have the same size. In 3D these triangles have been stretched, which creates a ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Stainless Steel

Ghidini 1961 Omini Round Tea Light in Rose Gold by Stefano Giovannoni
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
Tea light in brass Omini is a family of products that plays on the inclusion and the relationship between the human figure with a series of monolithic objects from geometric and Min...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

Ghidini 1961 Florida Bowl in Copper Plated 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

Copper

Ghidini 1961 Tip Top Limousine Tray in Gold by Richard Hutten
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
Limousine tray in stainless steel When you look at the top view of the Tip-Top series, all the triangles have the same size. In 3D these triangles have been stretched, which creates...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Stainless Steel

Ghidini 1961 Omini Round Tea Light in Polished Brass by Stefano Giovannoni
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
Tea light in brass Omini is a family of products that plays on the inclusion and the relationship between the human figure with a series of monolithic objects from geometric and Min...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

Ghidini 1961 Tip Top Large Paper Basket in Gold by Richard Hutten
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
Large paper basket in openwork steel When you look at the top view of the Tip-Top series, all the triangles have the same size. In 3D these triangles have been stretched, which crea...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Stainless Steel

Ghidini 1961 Tip Top Tray Medium in Rose Gold by Richard Hutten
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
Tray in openwork steel When you look at the top view of the Tip-Top series, all the triangles have the same size. In 3D these triangles have been stretched, ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Steel

Ghidini 1961 Tip Top Tall Tray in Rose Gold by Richard Hutten
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
Tray in openwork steel When you look at the top view of the Tip-Top series, all the triangles have the same size. In 3D these triangles have been stretched, ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Steel

Ghidini 1961 Tip Top Pencil Holder in Rose Gold by Richard Hutten
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
Pencil holder in stainless steel When you look at the top view of the Tip-Top series, all the triangles have the same size. In 3D these triangles have been stretched, which creates ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Stainless Steel

Ghidini 1961 Omini Squared Tea Light in Rose Gold by Stefano Giovannoni
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
Tea light in brass Omini is a family of products that plays on the inclusion and the relationship between the human figure with a series of monolithic objects from geometric and Min...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

Ghidini 1961 Tip Top Flat Tray in Rose Gold by Richard Hutten
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
Flat tray in openwork steel When you look at the top view of the Tip-Top series, all the triangles have the same size. In 3D these triangles have been stret...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Steel

Ghidini 1961 Omini Squared Tea Light in Polished Brass by Stefano Giovannoni
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
Tea light in brass Omini is a family of products that plays on the inclusion and the relationship between the human figure with a series of monolithic objects from geometric and Min...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

Ghidini 1961 Omini the Climber Clips Holder in Brass by Stefano Giovannoni
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
Paper clips holder in brass Omini is a family of products that plays on the inclusion and the relationship between the human figure with a series of...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

Ghidini 1961 Tip Top Pencil Holder in Gold by Richard Hutten
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
Pencil holder in stainless steel When you look at the top view of the Tip-Top series, all the triangles have the same size. In 3D these triangles have been stretched, which creates ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Stainless Steel

Ghidini 1961 Tip Top Tall Tray in Gold by Richard Hutten
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
Tray in openwork steel When you look at the top view of the Tip-Top series, all the triangles have the same size. In 3D these triangles have been stretched, ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Steel

Ghidini 1961 Omini the Diver Short Candlestick in Brass by Stefano Giovannoni
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
Candleholder in brass Omini is a family of products that plays on the insertion and relationship between the human figure and a series of monolithic objects with a geometric and min...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

Set of 2 Ghidini 1961 Axonometry Trays in Copper by Elisa Giovanni
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
The compositional scheme of this family of small trays is the axonometric isometric projection of two parallelepipeds which creates a three-dimensional optical effect implemented by ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Copper

Ghidini 1961 Wide Flirt Collection Vase in Brass by Noè Duchaufour-Lawrence
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
The collection that I designed for Ghidini 1961, Flirt collection is comprised of three vases that can be reversed to offer different functions and a bigger range of use. Joe & Ema E...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

Ghidini 1961 Axonometry Squared Small Tray in Brass by Elisa Giovanni
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
Axonometry squared small tray in brass by Elisa Giovanni. Materials: Brass Net weight: 0.55 kg Dimensions: W 20 x D 20 x 2 H cm.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

Ghidini 1961 Short Flirt Collection Vase in Copper by Noè Duchaufour-Lawrence
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
The collection that I designed for Ghidini 1961, Flirt collection is comprised of three vases that can be reversed to offer different functions and a bigger range of use. Joe & Ema E...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Copper

Ghidini 1961 Perished Large Bowl in Gold-Plated Stainless Steel by Studio Job
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
Large bowl in openwork steel. After having visited the Museum of Natural History in New York, Studio Job created a neo-gothic pattern of dancing human and animal skeletons...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Stainless Steel

Ghidini 1961 Axonometry Large Cube Tray in Brass by Elisa Giovanni
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
The compositional scheme of this family of small trays is the axonometric isometric projection of two parallelepipeds which creates a three-dimensional optical effect implemented by ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

Ghidini 1961 Axonometry Office Set in Copper by Elisa Giovanni
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
The compositional scheme of this family of small trays is the axonometric isometric projection of two parallelepipeds which creates a three-dimensional optical effect implemented by ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Copper

'Set of 2' Ghidini 1961 Axonometry Trays in Brass by Elisa Giovanni
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
The compositional scheme of this family of small trays is the axonometric isometric projection of two parallelepipeds which creates a three-dimensional optical effect implemented by ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

Set of 3, Ghidini 1961 Axonometry Trays in Copper by Elisa Giovanni
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
The compositional scheme of this family of small trays is the axonometric isometric projection of two parallelepipeds which creates a three-dimensional optical effect implemented by ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Copper

Ghidini 1961 Axonometry Small Cube Tray in Brass by Elisa Giovanni
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
The compositional scheme of this family of small trays is the axonometric isometric projection of two parallelepipeds which creates a three-dimensional optical effect implemented by ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

Ghidini 1961 Tall Flirt Collection Vase in Copper by Noè Duchaufour-Lawrence
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
The collection that I designed for Ghidini 1961, Flirt collection is comprised of three vases that can be reversed to offer different functions and a bigger range of use. Joe & Ema E...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Copper

Ghidini 1961 Tall Flirt Collection Vase in Brass by Noè Duchaufour-Lawrence
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
The collection that I designed for Ghidini 1961, Flirt collection is comprised of three vases that can be reversed to offer different functions and a bigger range of use. Joe & Ema E...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

Ghidini 1961 There Push Pin Candleholder in Copper by Studio Job
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
Candlestick in brass. The push pin as a representation of the struggle for achievement day by day, months by months, till we conquer. The push pin sconce is e...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

Ghidini 1961 Short Flirt Collection Vase in Brass by Noè Duchaufour-Lawrence
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
The collection that I designed for Ghidini 1961, Flirt collection is comprised of three vases that can be reversed to offer different functions and a bigger range of use. Joe & Ema E...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

Ghidini 1961 Perished Medium Bowl in Gold Plated Stainless Steel by Studio Job
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
Medium bowl in openwork steel. After having visited the Museum of Natural History in New York, Studio Job created a neo-gothic pattern of dancing human and animal skeletons...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Stainless Steel

Ghidini 1961 Perished Small Bowl in Gold-Plated Stainless Steel by Studio Job
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
Small bowl in openwork steel. After having visited the Museum of Natural History in New York, Studio Job created a neo-Gothic pattern of dancing human and animal skeletons...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Stainless Steel

Ghidini 1961 Wide Flirt Collection Vase in Copper by Noè Duchaufour-Lawrence
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
The collection that I designed for Ghidini 1961, Flirt collection is comprised of three vases that can be reversed to offer different functions and a bigger range of use. Joe & Ema E...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Copper

Ghidini 1961 Axonometry Small Cube Tray in Copper by Elisa Giovanni
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
The compositional scheme of this family of small trays is the axonometric isometric projection of two parallelepipeds which creates a three-dimensional optical effect implemented by ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Copper

Ghidini 1961 There 'Push Pin' Candlestick in Wax by Studio Job
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
There (push pin) candlestick in wax by Studio Job. Materials: Wax Net weight: 0.7 kg Dimensions: Diameter 5 x 39 height cm.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

Ghidini 1961 Axonometry Large Parallelepiped Tray in Copper by Elisa Giovanni
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
The compositional scheme of this family of small trays is the axonometric isometric projection of two parallelepipeds which creates a three-dimensional optical effect implemented by ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Copper

Ghidini 1961 Cestino 1 Medium Bowl in Polished Brass by Andrea Branzi
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
"The dance, intended as an eternal circle and sacred ritual and celebration of the ancient tribal traditions." This is the reference of Andrea Branzi when he thought of this series of three pieces that define these new vase...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

Monofiore Balaton Sabbiato Short 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 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

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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