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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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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
Salvador Dali Xai 3/20 Limited Edition Sculptural Table
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
"XAI” lamb designed by Salvador Dali manufactured by BD Barcelona and Deyrolle. Measures: 87 x 26 x H 71 (head) and H 59 (back) approximate Inspired by the painting "Interpret...
Category

2010s Spanish Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Wool

1960s Red Lucite Elephant
Located in Tarrytown, NY
1960s Red Lucite Elephant Very small chip on ear (as shown in picture)
Category

1960s Vintage Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Lucite

Gary DiPasquale Square Top Vase with Bulbous & Encrusted Texture Glaze
Located in Queens, NY
Gary DiPasquale Contemporary Square Top Vase with Bulbous and Encrusted Texture Glaze and Black Interior
Category

20th Century American Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Ceramic

Da Ros for Cenedese Two-Toned Sommerso Fish Bowl
Located in Riverdale, NY
Striking Sommerso glass fish bowl in an orangy-red against a surreal vaseline yellow ground. In the style of Antonio Da Ros for Cenedese. Two bubbles are ca...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Glass

Rare Vintage Chanel Perfume Bottle in Plexiglass, 20th Century.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Rare vintage Chanel perfume bottle in plexiglass, 20th century. Rare vintage Chanel perfume decoration bottle in plexiglass, 20th centur...
Category

20th Century French Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Plexiglass

2 Jellyfish, "Abissi" and "Red Coral", Handmade in Italy, Design, 2024
Located in San Miniato PI, IT
The jellyfish is the main element of the Mosche Bianche's "Medusa" Collection: fluid, delicate but also dangerous and deadly. It represents the water, the circle of life. The speci...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Art Glass

Handmade Spikes White Ceramic Flower Vase V
Located in Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, AR
Beautiful white ceramic flower vase with spikes, perfect for showcasing your cherished blooms. Providing a unique perspective from every angle, this handmade ceramic vase blurs the l...
Category

2010s Argentine Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Ceramic, Clay, Pottery

Handmade Spikes White Ceramic Vase II
Located in Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, AR
Beautiful white ceramic vase, perfect for showcasing your favorite floral arrangements. Providing a unique perspective from every angle, this handmade pottery vase gracefully blurs t...
Category

2010s Argentine Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Ceramic, Pottery, Clay

Seicho Raku Planter Pot Pottery - Smoked Raku - Handmade Ceramic
Located in Petaling Jaya, MY
Seicho (成長) - Growth Our Seicho pot is made to be a conversation starter for your precious indoor plant collection. Its size is perfect to be used for specialty indoor plants. Each ...
Category

2010s Malaysian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Copper

New Modern Bowl in White and Black Marble, Designer Jacopo Simonetti
Located in Milan, IT
Bowl L in White Michelangelo and Black Marquinia marble Available also in the S version, and with a rotating mechanism. The hypnotic black and white stripes of the new Nova collect...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Marble

Rectangular table cigarette case two-tone fire-enamelled stripes Salimbeni.
Located in Firenze, FI
Rectangular table cigarette case with rounded upper long sides, in 925/100 sterling silver and two-tone fire-enamelled stripes in a modern contemp...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Sterling Silver, Enamel

Floating Frames Mantel clock Red
Located in Eindhoven, NL
Kiki van Eijk designed Floating Frames as a collection of handmade objects in anodized aluminium wire. Each piece is meticulously handmade in her workshop; no two items are alike. ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Dutch Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Aluminum

Cartier Must II ballpoint pen silver plated and palladium 1980s
Located in Paris, IDF
This Cartier Must II ballpoint pen from the 1980s is a rare piece made of silver plating and palladium, adorned with a distinctive engraved motif featuring Cartier's iconic "C". It b...
Category

1980s French Vintage Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Silver Plate

Robot 2, Found Object Sculpture With Iconic Children's Toy Parts
Located in Chicago, IL
Self-taught artist John Seubert, AKA John Dolly, uses objects he uncovers as he rehabs older homes in Chicago. This piece is made from found and salvaged objects, including a child's...
Category

2010s American Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Carrara Marble, Metal

Large Blue Ceramic Vessel Italian Contemporary Unique Piece
Located in London, GB
Violante Lodolo D'Oria, Variegated Aqua Blue Rosetta Vessel, 2024, glazed stoneware, multiple glazes, W41cm x H25cm New stunning piece created by ceramic artist Violante Lodolo d' ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary British Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Ceramic, Stoneware

Circular Lucite Sculpture by Shlomi Haziza
Located in Denton, TX
Bullseye Lucite sculpture signed by Shlomi Haziza. Haziza started as a painter and later began to explore new mediums. He ran a small studio in his hometown. Later on he started his...
Category

1990s American Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Acrylic, Lucite

Bronze Owl Sculpture Signed Numbered
Located in W Allenhurst, NJ
Beautiful expression and sense of movement and alertness in this "Gray Owl" sculpture by Elaine Franz Witten, Vermont. Attention to detail abound. Wise one perched on a slab of grani...
Category

20th Century American Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Stone, Bronze

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

Barcelona Premium wall clock
Located in NEW YORK, NY
The modern Barcelona Premium watch incorporates a more glamorous point in its design, and stands out for the brass finish of its double fiberglass ring. Barcelona Premium wall clock ...
Category

2010s Spanish Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

Kioku Small Ceramic Urn, Full Copper Matte, Ceramic Raku Pottery
Located in Petaling Jaya, MY
Kioku - Remembrance The Kioku urn is a small palm sized urn that is formed with an organic spherical shape. This urn is very suitable for the remains of pets, or for shared remem...
Category

2010s Malaysian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Copper

Ghidini 1961 Knotted Cherry Medium Box in 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

Brass

Raaquu Raku Fired Large Globe Vase S/N0000391 Centerpiece Art Series, Malaysia
Located in Petaling Jaya, MY
This Globe Vase is a round, capacious piece produced using the Raku technique, resulting in a beautiful unpredictable finish. This vase would be the perfect centerpiece or an additio...
Category

2010s Malaysian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Copper

Votive Holder in Pink Quartz Large
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Indulge in the captivating allure of Kathryn McCoy's Rock Crystal Collection, a masterpiece that seamlessly blends nature's raw beauty with exquisite craftsmanship. Available in vari...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Quartz, Rock Crystal

Amber Resin Fractal in the style of Francois Godebski, ca 1970s
Located in Cathedral City, CA
Amber Resin Fractal in the style of Francois Godebski, ca 1970s Very cool resin sphere in an amber color, unsigned, but certainly has all the hallmarks of Francois Godebski sculptur...
Category

1970s Unknown Vintage Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Resin

Sculpture of a Roman Emperor in Resin, Very Beautiful Black Bronze Patina.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Sculpture of a Roman Emperor in resin, very beautiful black bronze patina. Sculpture representing a bust of Antoninus the Pious. This fragment comes from an original statue dating f...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Composition

Ettore Sottsass, Shiva Flower Vase, Pink, Glazed Ceramic, Spanish, XXth
Located in Barcelona, ES
The Shiva vase is sculpture and vase. It is a symbol of Ettore Sottsass and an icon. Sottsass designed the Shiva Vase when travelling to Barcelona for love in 1973. He encountered m...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Ceramic

Dolores Porras modern ceramic / terracotta plate .Signed
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Very nice plate with figure of girl in a primitive style of kind Picasso is. Signed in back .
Category

Late 20th Century Mexican Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Terracotta

Branded Series in Ruby, Set of Two Handmade Contemporary Glass Vessels
Located in New York, NY
The Branded series is a set of modern design objects which each feature a hand impressed brand that highlights these wholly handmade vessels. For color, each piece features a transpa...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Blown Glass

Tronador Square Cream Onyx Stone Box
Located in Buenos Aires, AR
The shape of the inactive Tronador volcano reminded us of the pyramid shaped idea of our boxes that make up this collection. With a rectangular or square base, the box is a reflectio...
Category

2010s Argentine Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Stone, Onyx

Mawu Chair in Snow by Laura Gonzalez
Located in Paris, FR
Original chair in golden oak, satin finish. Flared legs, backrest and seat upholstered in a textured cream fabric by Dedar.
Category

2010s French Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Oak, Fabric, Bouclé

Giant Hand Blown Murano Glass Box in Ruby with Brass Fittings
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Discover the epitome of elegance with this exquisite Murano glass box, meticulously crafted in Murano, Italy. Available in both large and giant sizes, this box exudes sophistication ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

Japanese Tanoa Large Bowl Raku White and Black Ceramic
Located in monza, Monza and Brianza
Tanoa is a large bowl, designed with simplicity and masterful skill of the raku firing technique expressing the master artisan will in its white crackle drippings and black burn clay...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Ceramic

Sons of Brass Candle Holder Hurricane, Army
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Brass and glass put together is a beautiful combination. This small candle holder hurricanes a sculpted glass fop and vibrant marble base which will will bring a glowing cozy atmosph...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Danish Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Marble, Brass

Debbie Vase Sage & 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

Dali Vase Green, Glass Object
Located in İstanbul, İstanbul
"Add an Artistic Touch to Your Space with the Captivating Dali Vase Glass Object Elevate your interior design with the mesmerizing beauty of the Dali Vase Glass Object. Inspired by t...
Category

2010s Turkish Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Glass

Vase Vessel Tulip Sculpture Block Rose Quartz Marble Handmade Collectible Design
Located in Ancona, Marche
Important sculptural vase carved by hand from a solid block of Rose Quartz. Vase dimensions: L 26 x W 20 x H 53 cm. Available in different onyx and marbles. Limited edition of 35. ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Rose Quartz

Small Vintage Blown Glass Float
Located in Chicago, IL
Small vintage blown glass float with clear glass and brown spots.
Category

20th Century Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Blown Glass

Menorah Jewish Candelabrum in Blown Murano Glass, Vintage Murano Gallery 1970s
Located in Villaverla, IT
High-End Menorah Jewish Candelabrum in Blown Murano Glass, Vintage Murano Gallery 1970s. This unique Murano glass masterpiece is one of the most...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

Ruler Selenite with Natural Forming Pearls on a Custom Stand
Located in Dublin, Dalkey
A single selenite log with natural-forming baroque pearls on a custom hammered metal stand. Ruler selenite or "selenite logs" are single, prismatic seleni...
Category

2010s Moroccan Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Rock Crystal, Metal

21st Century Ludovica+Roberto Palomba Laguna Stua Tray Murano Glass Crystal
Located in Brembate di Sopra (BG), IT
Stua is the new tray / centerpiece from the Laguna collection designed by Ludovica+Roberto Palomba for Purho in spring 2023. Characterized by organic shapes inspired by the rounde...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Murano Glass

Decorative Brutalist White Stoneware Ceramic Vase by Hervé Rousseau 21st Century
Located in Neuilly-en- sancerre, FR
Hervé Rousseau Original and elegant stoneware ceramic vase by Hervé Rousseau. Decorative white ceramic glaze color. Original perfect condition....
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Ceramic

Planter Bowl Classic in Clear Quartz
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Indulge in the captivating allure of Kathryn McCoy's Rock Crystal Collection, a masterpiece that seamlessly blends nature's raw beauty with exquisite craftsmanship. Available in vari...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Quartz, Rock Crystal

1990s Alfredo Barbini Modern Black Murano Glass Paperweight depicting an Hand
Located in Aci Castello, IT
This paperweight reflects the elegance and modern artistry of 1990s Murano glass while also carrying the signature style of one of the most renowned Venetian glassmakers of the 20th ...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Murano Glass

Vase Vessel Sculpture Tulip Block Rose Quartz Handmade Collectible Design Italy
Located in Ancona, Marche
Important sculptural vase carved by hand from a solid block of Rose Quartz. Vase dimensions: L 29 x W 20 x H 53 cm. Available in different onyx and marbles. Limited edition of 35. ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Rose Quartz

Luxury Exotic Wood and Bronze Dugout by William Stuart for Costantini Design
Located in New York, NY
Luxury Exotic Wood and Bronze Dugout by William Stuart for Costantini Design 3.75" H x 1.75 W x 0.5" D Costantini founder William Stuart has bough...
Category

2010s Argentine Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Bronze

Large Vintage Demijohn Style Dark Green Blown Glass Wine Bottle, a Pair
Located in Plainview, NY
A large pair of vintage dark green blown glass Demijohn style bottles of wines. The bottles are sturdy and very decorative. Embellish you r...
Category

20th Century Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Blown Glass

1980s Modern Turquoise and White Murano Glass Round Centerpiece
Located in Aci Castello, IT
A 1980s Turquoise and White Murano Glass Centerpiece designed and manufactured in Italy in the style of Venini. This Round Centerpiece i...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Murano Glass

Bowl Vase Vessel Centerpiece White Calacatta Marble Collectible Design Italy
Located in Ancona, Marche
Bowl sculpted by hand from a solid block of Calacatta marble. Polished finishing. Dimensions: Big L 56 x W 27 x H 12 cm. Also available: Small L 35 x W 17 x H 8 cm. and Medium L ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Marble

Brass Gazelle Antelope Sculpture Decorative Object, Tall
Located in New York, NY
A brass animal Gazelle antelope bust sculpture decorative object with tall antlers, circa late-20th century, 1970s. Dimensions: 21.5" Height.
Category

1970s Vintage Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

Ceramic Multicolor Whale Handmade in Italy, Bespoke! New Creation, 2023
Located in San Miniato PI, IT
Mosche Bianche is glad to add those wonderful fishes to its collection. The fishes are all handmade and bespoke: choose the colors and shape you like! Our artisans can make also cust...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Ceramic

Bonnie Large LED Handmade Sculptural Pendant in Solid Brass, 90cm/35".
Located in Torslanda, SE
The Bonnie range is designed around the stylized form of a Saffron flower, known around the world for its valuable beauty, fragrance and essence. Each part is handmade, wether it be cast, milled, fabricated and finished from our Swedish workshop. With a combination of hand-brushed and polished surfaces, this solid brass fixture...
Category

2010s Scandinavian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

Console w/ Singular Mount Peg Modern Levered Waterfall Floating Blackened Steel
Located in Bronx, NY
CONSOLE NO. 4 J.M. Szymanski d. 2020 A sleek table, bent from a seamless piece of 3/8” thick steel. The table appears to float on a single peg. The table is attached to a wall from...
Category

2010s American Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Steel, Cut Steel

A set of 5 gold fish handmade in Italy, Ceramic. Choose those or change colors!
Located in San Miniato PI, IT
Questi artisti toscani riescono con la loro bravura a prendere ispirazione dalle meravigliose colline toscane ma anche dal prezioso mar Tirreno. Un buon bicchiere di vino e il gioco ...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Ceramic

Twenty-Seven Woods for a Chinese Artificial Flower Vase V by Ettore Sottsass
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Twenty-seven woods for a Chinese artificial flower vase V by Ettore Sottsass, edited by Design Gallery Milano, 1995. Limited edition of 12 numered pieces, number 6 / 12. In good or...
Category

1990s Spanish Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Bronze, Chrome

Paradigm Humidor Company Cigar Box Marquetry Wood Inlay
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Paradigm Wood Inlay Marquetry Humidor Cigar Box 5.5 h x 12 w x 9.5 d Preowned vintage Refer to images.
Category

Late 20th Century Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Wood

Rick Owens Swan Neck Cast Bronze Vase Nitrate Patina
Located in Chicago, IL
The now iconic bronze swan neck vase from the Rick Owens bronze relic collection. This is shown in the nitrate patina. Originally designed in 2012. Each ...
Category

2010s French Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Bronze

Palazzo Crystal Bookends Onyx Black by Greg Natale
Located in Sydney,, NSW
The latest pieces in the Palazzo range recast the beautiful set of arches in polished crystal for a mesmerising look that changes with the light. A study in decorative function, Palazzo represents a rich architectural history. Its unique structure gives a nod to the repeated arches of Rome’s Colosseo Quadrato...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Crystal

Two 1960s Modernist Clear and Gold Murano Glass Sculptures of Swans
Located in Aci Castello, IT
Two 1960s Modernist Clear and Gold Murano Glass Sculptures of Swans are a delightful representation of the artistry and craftsmanship associated with...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Murano Glass

1970s Modernist Blue Black and White Murano Glass Figure of a Tropical Fish
Located in Aci Castello, IT
This Murano Glass Figure of a Tropical Fish is a stunning and iconic piece of art that embodies the artistic spirit of the era. Murano glass, hailing from the famous glassblowing isl...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Modern Decorative Objects

Materials

Murano Glass

Murano Glass Fish Sculpture by Alberto Donà
Located in Oud Beijerland, NL
Beautiful Murano Glass sculpture designed and fabricated by Alberto Donà in Italy in the 80's. This fish is hand blown and crafted in very nice colors. Originally signed with "Albe...
Category

1980s Italian Vintage 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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