Modern Decorative Objects
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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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 chair — crafted 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.
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects
Gold, Gold Plate
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects
Onyx, Marble
2010s Greek Modern Decorative Objects
Marble
2010s Italian Modern Decorative Objects
Plastic, Fiberglass
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Decorative Objects
Gold, Sterling Silver, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects
Leather, Wood
20th Century Unknown Modern Decorative Objects
Bronze, Iron
1990s French Modern Decorative Objects
Leather, Alligator
2010s Malaysian Modern Decorative Objects
Copper
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects
Murano Glass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects
Glass
21st Century and Contemporary South African Modern Decorative Objects
Ceramic
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects
Ceramic
2010s Spanish Modern Decorative Objects
Brass
Late 20th Century English Modern Decorative Objects
Chrome
2010s Argentine Modern Decorative Objects
Stone, Onyx, Metal
Early 2000s Northern Irish Modern Decorative Objects
Crystal
1960s French Vintage Modern Decorative Objects
Silver
Late 20th Century Modern Decorative Objects
Composition
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Decorative Objects
Porcelain
20th Century American Modern Decorative Objects
Burl
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects
Gold Leaf
2010s American Modern Decorative Objects
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Decorative Objects
Ceramic
2010s British Modern Decorative Objects
Carrara Marble
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Decorative Objects
Ceramic, Clay
20th Century Italian Modern Decorative Objects
Murano Glass
2010s Argentine Modern Decorative Objects
Stone, Onyx, Metal
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Decorative Objects
Murano Glass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects
Murano Glass
Late 20th Century American Modern Decorative Objects
Ceramic
1980s American Vintage Modern Decorative Objects
Bronze, Enamel
1930s American Vintage Modern Decorative Objects
Bronze
1990s English Modern Decorative Objects
Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century English Modern Decorative Objects
Stoneware
21st Century and Contemporary German Modern Decorative Objects
Aluminum, Nickel
1990s French Modern Decorative Objects
Crystal
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects
Plastic
Late 20th Century American Modern Decorative Objects
Marble, Bronze
1990s American Modern Decorative Objects
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects
Birdseye Maple
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects
Maple
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Decorative Objects
Ceramic
2010s American Modern Decorative Objects
Steel, Iron
2010s Italian Modern Decorative Objects
Ceramic, Paint
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects
Glass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects
Plastic
1980s French Vintage Modern Decorative Objects
Glass
21st Century and Contemporary British Modern Decorative Objects
Ceramic, Stoneware
2010s European Modern Decorative Objects
Clay
2010s American Modern Decorative Objects
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects
Brass, Gold Leaf
1980s American Vintage Modern Decorative Objects
Brass
2010s Scandinavian Modern Decorative Objects
Brass
2010s Italian Modern Decorative Objects
Travertine, Marble
20th Century French Modern Decorative Objects
Crystal
2010s American Modern Decorative Objects
Porcelain
2010s American Modern Decorative Objects
Porcelain
20th Century North American Modern Decorative Objects
Chrome
2010s Italian Modern Decorative Objects
Fiberglass
Modern decorative objects for sale on 1stDibs.
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