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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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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
1980s Italian Pop Art Sculpture of a Purse, Museum Mounted
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
1980s Italian Pop Art Sculpture of a Purse, Museum Mounted A striking and possibly one-of-a-kind 1980s Italian Pop Art sculpture, designed as a purse and expertly mounted on a muse...
Category

20th Century Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Iron

Jaeger LeCoultre, Desk Clock, Atmos Prestige, Limited Edition, 1980s
Located in Greven, DE
Atmos Clock - "Prestige" by Jaeger LeCoultre with original box Switzerland Gold-plated brass 1980s Dimensions: H x W x D: 27 x 17 x 16 cm Description: The Atmos Prestige from Jaeg...
Category

1980s Swiss Vintage Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

Hand Blown Murano Glass Box with 24 Karat Gold Flecks and Brass Fittings
Located in West Hollywood, CA
This stunning and angular square shaped, hand-blown Murano glass box is a treasure to behold. Handcrafted on the historic island of Murano, this box exemplifies the artistry and skil...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass, Gold Leaf

Montagnani Firenze Wood Marquetry and Gilt Brass Box, circa 1970
Located in Atlanta, GA
Discover the artistry of renowned designer Montagnani Firenze with this extraordinary box, a rare Italian masterpiece crafted circa 1970. A true testament to Mid-Century modernist fo...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

Rare Set of Four Salvador Dali Limited Edition ‘Xai’
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Set of four "XAI” lambs designed by Salvador Dali manufactured by BD Barcelona and Deyrolle. This are almost the last four pieces available, is a great opportunity to purchase it...
Category

2010s Spanish Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

Set of Two Travertine Marble & Resin Stack Sphere Sculptures by Paola Valle
Located in Ciudad De México, MX
Our stack sphere sculptures can be used as a decorative element on a coffee table, bookshelf, console etc. Their warm hue and curved lines add the right amount of visual interest without overwhelming additional decor. The mix of marble and resin make an incredible combo, a mix that is modern, fun and harmonious. You can place the small sphere on top of the big one or you can separate them and create a new piece. They are sold by set of two in different sizes. Material: travertine marble and traslucid brown with marbled brown resin Measurements: Small: Travertine sphere...
Category

2010s Mexican Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Travertine

Tea Caddy - Elie Bleu Paris
By Elie Bleu
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
A beautiful vintage tea caddy, made by the French brand Elie Bleu Paris. The box is made of beautifully veneered / greened wood with black piping. Th...
Category

Early 2000s French Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Silver Plate

Contemporary Lima Bean Sculpture in Brass by Robert Kuo, Hand Repoussé, Limited
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Lima bean sculpture Brass Hand Repoussé Limited edition Repoussé is the traditional art of hand-hammering decorative relief onto sheet metal. The ...
Category

2010s Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

Oiva Toikka "Crow" Glass Bird, 1982, Handcrafted Finnish Design Icon
Located in Bad Säckingen, DE
Oiva Toikka's "Crow" (Varis) is a stunning glass bird from his renowned "Birds" (Linnut) series, designed in 1982. This handcrafted, mouth-blown piece showcases a rounded shape in bl...
Category

1980s Finnish Vintage Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Blown Glass

"Adam", Glass Sculpture with Standing Male Nude, Nybro, Sweden
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Rare and beautiful, this cast and etched glass sculpture depicts the standing nude figure of Adam, deeply embedded in the glass, who glows when light passes through from above. He i...
Category

1980s Swedish Vintage Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Glass

Bonnie Config 1 Contemporary LED Linear Chandelier, Solid Brass @ 40cm/16"
Located in Torslanda, SE
The Bonnie range is designed around the stylised form of a Saffron flower, known around the world for its valuable beauty, fragrance and essence. Each organic flower-like form is st...
Category

2010s Scandinavian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

Clear Coaster Set, Contemporary Coaster Set with Brass Inlay
Located in NEW YORK, NY
The clear coaster collection celebrates transparency through the use of modern techniques and materials such as resin, while inlaying it with brass elements through the ancient techn...
Category

2010s Lebanese Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

Capodimonte Sculpture Woman Vamp 1970s Italian Design Gold Black
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Porcelain of Capodimonte 1970s years Donna Vamp , totally handcrafted by skilled and skilled hands that have now disappeared, also painted by hand, with 24-karat pure gold dress, sig...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain, Wood

Contemporary Black Copper Bai He Tray by Robert Kuo, Hand Repousse
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Bai He tray Black copper Hand repoussé Limited edition Each piece is individually crafted and is unique. Repoussé is the traditional art of hand-hammering decorative relief o...
Category

2010s Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Copper

Broccoli Fruit Bowl, by Marco Zanini from Memphis Milano
Located in La Morra, Cuneo
Ceramic three-level fruit bowl originally designed by Marco Zanini in 1985 for Memphis Milano. The three geometrical shapes in three colors complete the idea of a trilogy. Marco Zan...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Ceramic

Curtis Jere Artisan House Modern Indoor/Outdoor Floor Sculpture, 2004
Located in Miami, FL
Tall indoor or outdoor modern floor sculpture by Curtis Jere Artisan House.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Steel

Louis Lejeune Norwich Terrier Hood Ornament
Located in Huntington, NY
Louis Lejeune Norwich Terrier Hood Ornament Louis Lejeune Mascots adorn the finest European & American Cars. The British Royal Family have, for many years, displayed mascots on ...
Category

Late 20th Century English Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Steel

Debbie Bowl Black & Silver by Greg Natale
Located in Sydney,, NSW
Channelling the raw and rebellious energy of New York’s post-punk scene, the Debbie collection pays tribute to the legendary Blondie frontwoman with a mix of rock-and-roll audacity a...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Silver

1960s Modern Purple and Black Murano Glass Vase by Fulvio Bianconi for Venini
Located in Aci Castello, IT
This 1960s Murano glass vase designed by Fulvio Bianconi for Venini, is a stunning example of Italian glass artistry, blending modernist aesthetics with traditional craftsmanship. Ha...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Murano Glass

Pair of Handblown Glass Hurricane Lamps or Vases
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful Pair of hand Crafted, Hand Blown Hurricane lamps - simple and yet speak to the artistic with a irregular band of glass around the base of each vessel. A compliment to any ...
Category

20th Century Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Blown Glass

Spiral6 Kenta Hirai Japanese Contemporary Bentwood Sculpture
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Kenta Hirai created it with the technique "Free form lamination." This sculpture mixes free formed wood sculpture and branch. Wood materials are Yoshino Cedar...
Category

2010s Japanese Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Wood

Set of 3 Small Elemental Spinning Tops in Oiled Walnut by Alvaro Uribe for Wooda
Located in Omro, WI
The initial inspiration for the elemental top collection by Alvaro Uribe for Wooda was wooda’s iconic logo of a tree. We felt it captured the company’s synergy for working with wood ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Wood, Hardwood, Walnut

Miniature Italian .800 Silver Boar Figurine by Pietro Sorini
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine vintage Italian miniature figurine. In .800 fine silver. By Pietro Sorini of Arezzo, Italy. In the form of a snaggle-toothed wild boar. The boar's posture and open mouth su...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Silver

ClassiCon Black Usha Umbrella Stand in Steel by Eckart Muthesius
Located in New York, NY
It is a sign of a most mature culture when articles of everyday use also come to catch the aesthetic eye. Coiling upwards like a snake at a snake-charming is Eckart Muthesius‘ spiral...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary German Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Steel

Pair of Valley Form Two Light Candelabras in Stainless Steel by Georg Jensen
Located in New York, NY
This beautifully sculpted Pair of Valley Form Two Light Candelabras in Stainless Steel are designed by esteemed silversmith and manufacturer George Jensen in Denmark during the 20th ...
Category

20th Century Danish Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Stainless Steel

Venini Battuti Canoa in Green by Tobia Scarpa and Ludovico Diaz de Santillana
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Venini Battuti glass series by Tobia Scarpa and Ludovico Diaz de Santillana. Indoor use only. Dimensions: W 60 cm x D 12 cm x H 6 cm.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Glass

Contemporary Modern, Kubbe Minimal Candleholders, Varnished Brass, Set of 2
Located in İstanbul, İstanbul
Kubbe collection was designed with inspiration from the domes of the courtyards, shops and workshops of the Grand Bazaar, which has been the center of silver-smiting in Istanbul for ...
Category

2010s Turkish Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

Large Rhinoceros Sculpture in Resin from the 1990s
Located in Palermo, Sicily
large Rhinoceros sculpture in resin from the 1990s.
Category

1990s Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Resin

Custom Made Leather Garden Trug
Located in Chicago, IL
Elevate your gardening experience with this exquisite custom leather garden trug, designed by RIGHT PROPER, and meticulously crafted by a skilled artisan in England. Crafted from han...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary English Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Copper

Contemporary Gaetano Pesce Clear Special Vase L Resin Yellow, Lime, Turquoise
Located in barasso, IT
Clear special extra color vase - Clear yellow, matt lime, matt turquoise. Vase in soft resin designed by Gaetano Pesce in 1995 for Fish Design collection. Measures: L - Ø 22cm x H 3...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Resin

Vessel 07 in Smooth Stoneware Clay. Handmade by Jade Paton for Lemon
Located in Amsterdam, NL
For the La Terra collection, Lemon collaborated with renowned artist Jade Paton. Jade creates contemporary sculptures out of clay. Her main source of inspir...
Category

2010s South African Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Clay, Ceramic

Cartier Sterling Silver Picture Frame
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful, French handmade sterling silver rectangular picture frame from luxury Maison, Cartier, in the Modern design style, circa mid-20th century, France. Frame can sit horizont...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Sterling Silver

Luxury Vase #33 "Gold Pain". Porcelain, Gold Leaf. Handmade design in Italy.
Located in San Miniato PI, IT
The heart collection is the result of the extravagant creativity of two innovative designers, who are inspired especially by the human body. The heart collection is inspired by the N...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Gold Leaf

1980s Art Pottery Modern Ceramics Gainey Planter Pot Metallic Bronze
Located in Chula Vista, CA
1980s Art Pottery Modern Ceramics Large Planter Pot in Metallic Bronze Finish Unmarked attribution Gainey Pottery 23.5 diameter x 18.75 h Preowned u...
Category

Late 20th Century North American Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Pottery

"Thorny" Luxury Vases Set of 3 Pieces, Handmade in Italy, 2021, Hand Painted
Located in San Miniato PI, IT
The heart collection is the result of the extravagant creativity of two innovative designers, who are inspired especially by the human body. This collection is made by 4 beautiful...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Gold Leaf

Long Glass Multi-Color Barcode Centrepiece by Orfeo Quagliata
Located in Naucalpan, Edo de Mex
Standing out for its curvilinear shape and range of colors, this linear long centrepiece designed by Orfeo Quagliata transmits an atmosphere that attracts. A fused and thermoformed g...
Category

2010s Mexican Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Glass

Sterling Silver Gold-Plated Square Photo Frame with Translucent Enamel Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Square photo frame in 9251000 sterling silver gold-plated with translucent fired enamel on guilloché. Modern contemporary style. Cut glass. Blue velvet panel. External dimensions 10...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel

Modernist Smoked Amber Hand-Blown Murano Glass Vase
Located in New York, NY
This striking Modernist Hand-Blown Murano Glass Vase in Smoked Amber originates from Italy during the 21st Century. It features a minimal rounded form with slight tapering at a great...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Murano Glass

Rigel Glass Bowl, by Marco Zanini for Memphis Milano Collection
Located in La Morra, Cuneo
The Rigel Glass Bowl was originally designed by Marco Zanini in 1982. The piece features blue, black, green, red and clear glass with lid and ste...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Glass

Ettore Sottsass Y Limited Edition Vase in Wood and Murano Glass for Flowers
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Y vase made for the collection of twenty-seven woods for Chinese artificial flowers vase by Ettore Sottsass, Edited by Design Gallery Milano, 1995. Limited edition of 12 numbered pi...
Category

1990s European Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Glass, Wood

Feliciano Béjar Glass, Steel and Brass Magiscope Sculpture
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Small Signed Vintage Feliciano Béjar Table Magiscope objec d'art. The Mexican artist and sculpture Feliciano Béjar has handcrafted beautiful decorative pieces of industrial glass, ...
Category

Early 2000s Mexican Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass, Steel

21st Pet Bed Large in Walnut Wood & Calf Leather
Located in Bagnatica, Lombardia
Pamper your furry friends with our new Pet bed. A wooden structure masterfully handcrafted covered in leather with precious canaletto walnut wood base and so...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Leather, Wood, Foam, Walnut

Christian Dior Sterling Silver Picture Frame
Located in Atlanta, GA
This stunning Christian Dior Paris sterling silver picture frame boasts an oval shape featuring the iconic CD logo stylized form. The piece was crafted in France circa 1980. The back...
Category

1980s French Vintage Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Metal, Sterling Silver

Contemporary Deer Hand-Blown Glass Liquor Bottle Trophy Horn Animal Wild Whisky
Located in Camisano Vicentino, IT
"Contemporary Deer Hand-Blown Glass Liquor Bottle" by Simone Crestani Introducing the Deer Bottle, a magnificent testament to the wonders of nature meticulously crafted by the acclaimed glass artist Simone Crestani. As a cherished addition to the prestigious Trophy Bottles...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Glass

Nude Male Sculpture in Solid Lucite
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Introducing our stunning Nude Male Sculpture in Solid Lucite, Circa 1970's. This one-of-a-kind piece of furniture is a true masterpiece, expertly craft...
Category

1960s American Vintage Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Lucite

Mini Organic Modern Ceramic Wave Form Vase in Pool Glaze by Forma Rosa Studio
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Wave collection offers playful geometric shapes rooted in primal forms that appeal universally. Our "Mini" version of our iconic Wave form vases is a perfect size to serve as a mu...
Category

2010s Peruvian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Ceramic, Stoneware

Orinoco Ceramic Vase, by Masanori Umeda from Memphis Milano
Located in La Morra, Cuneo
Orinoco Vase in ceramic, was originally designed in 1983 by Masanori Umeda. Was born in 1941 at Kanagawa in Japan. He obtained his diploma from the Kuwasawa School of Design in Tok...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Ceramic

Pila Bowl Red Travertine, Travertine & Emperador by Greg Natale
Located in Sydney,, NSW
To juxtapose marble’s natural veining, the Pila Bowl references the work of modernist architect Paul Rudolph. Reflecting the tension between built and organic forms in contemporary design, this stacked bowl...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Marble

21st Century Ovo Wood & Magazine Leather Basket with Handle Handmade in Italy
Located in Bagnatica, Lombardia
Fashioned of resistant recycled leather, Pinetti Ovo basket boasts an unstructured silhouette with flared sides supported by a sturdy rectangular base...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Leather

Small Murano Glass Bowl with Gold Inclusions, Archimede Seguso, Italy
Located in Glasgow, GB
A decorative freeform shaped Murano glass bowl by Archimede Seguso, hand-crafted in Italy during the 1980s. The small bowl is crafted from clear Murano glass infused with suspended g...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Gold Leaf

Cast Bronze Snail Sculpture
Located in Jimbaran, Bali
This exquisite brass snail sculpture captures the beauty of nature with remarkable craftsmanship and elegant form. The spiraled shell is adorned with delicate, swirling etchings that...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Indonesian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Bronze

Pair Vallauris France Table Lights Color Turquoise With Rafia Fringed Shades
Located in Hamburg, DE
1 pair of Table lights from Vallauris France, color turquoise, the initials VF for VALLAURIS FRANCE is given on the bottom and a stamp FRANCE , size: 30cm height x 20cm diameter, Han...
Category

1960s French Vintage Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Ceramic

21st Century Penelope Rectangular Laundry Basket in Leather & Canvas Cotton
Located in Bagnatica, Lombardia
A simple and linear shape, where the resistant and waterproof leather is combined with the softness of the ecru cotton layer that give the piece a natural beauty. A rectangular silhouette for our Penelope laundry...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Leather, Cotton

Silver Travertine Cylinder Bowl
Located in Eindhoven, NB
This substantial silver travertine bowl is beautifully handcrafted from a single piece of genuine travertine and honed for a silky mat finish. Expertly crafted and finished by hand, ...
Category

2010s Dutch Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Travertine

21st Century Penelope Round Laundry Basket with Leather & Canvas Cotton
Located in Bagnatica, Lombardia
Part of Penelope's collections, this laundry basket is designed and crafted exclusively by Pinetti. The elegant and practical round silhouette is beautifully finished with an ecru...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Leather, Cotton

Finish Samples by Alessandra Delgado Design
Located in Alto da Lapa, SP
Finishing options for Alessandra Delgado Design products. Choose the samples you want for finishing the product, and check with the store for the cost of sending the chosen samples....
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Steel

Trophy Bottle Set Hand Blown Glass Horn Animal Nature Liquor Whisky Rustic Wild
Located in Camisano Vicentino, IT
'Trophy Bottles Set' Hand-blown Glass bottles. The Trophy Bottles Set by Simone Crestani. Set includes 1 Deer Bottle, 1 Longhorn Bottle, and 1 Bigho...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Glass

21st Century Empty Pocket Woven Regenerated Leather Handmade in Italy
Located in Bagnatica, Lombardia
Lovely Pinetti round wash clothes holder, part of Almeria collection. Four different water resistant sizes fixed at the end with chrome pins. The woven...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Leather

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

Black Buffalo Horn Box
Located in New York, NY
Decorative trinket keepsake box adorned with convex black buffalo heat set tiles. A great addition to any desk or coffee table.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Horn, Wood

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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