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International Style Vases and Vessels

INTERNATIONAL STYLE

The International Style, a modernist movement within architecture and furniture design that was given its name by American architect Philip Johnson and historian Henry-Russell Hitchcock, was born during the 1920s and ’30s. It gained steam initially in Europe and then in the United States as a response to the first World War. Building projects associated with the movement, as well as vintage International Style chairs, tables and other furnishings, are minimal and pared back. 

Pioneers of the International Style — architect Walter Gropius and his Bauhaus colleagues Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Marcel Breuer, De Stijl advocate and Dutch architect J.J.P. Oud and visionary designer Le Corbusier — stripped away decorative elements and placed considerable value on functionality and clean lines, integrating the use of industrial materials like steel, concrete and large sheets of glass in their work. Quite aptly, this mode of design and architectural style coincided with an era now known as the Machine Age and became a global symbol of modernism. The primary motive of its practitioners was to address the changing needs of a rapidly industrializing society, especially the demand for office complexes and apartments in large cities, through economical, technologically advanced, yet aesthetically pleasing designs for furniture and buildings. 

“Space and light and order. Those are the things that men need just as much as they need bread or a place to sleep,” said Le Corbusier of the philosophy behind his practical modernist architecture. 

The International Style’s designers and architects were inspired by the advantages afforded them by the era’s new technology and industrial machinery as well as state-of-the-art materials. Le Corbusier was fond of framing his buildings in steel but reinforced concrete made far more economic sense. He is probably most admired for the iconic private homes and commercial buildings that he designed or codesigned with his cousin Pierre Jeanneret, which are spread across the world, from New York City to Paris to Chandigarh, India. Today, Breuer’s Wassily Lounge chair; the elegant LC series created by Le Corbusier, Jeanneret and Charlotte Perriand; and Mies van der Rohe’s Barcelona chair, crafted with his romantic partner, designer Lilly Reich, are emblems of progressive modernist design and all make prominent use of tubular steel. Vintage originals are the prized cornerstone of collections.

“The International Style is probably the first fundamentally original and widely distributed style since the Gothic,” posited Johnson in the book that accompanied “Modern Architecture: International Exhibition,” an architectural show he cocurated with Hitchcock that featured the work of Frank Lloyd Wright, Le Corbusier, Richard Neutra and others. While the term “International Style” had previously been circulating in Europe, when the show opened at the Museum of Modern Art in 1932, it yielded a much broader application of this important style of design. 

Find International Style furniture on 1stDibs.

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Style: International Style
Very Fine Detailed Figural Peruvian Shipibo Conibo Pottery Effigy Pot or Vase
Very Fine Detailed Figural Peruvian Shipibo Conibo Pottery Effigy Pot or Vase

Very Fine Detailed Figural Peruvian Shipibo Conibo Pottery Effigy Pot or Vase

$600

Very Fine Detailed Figural Peruvian Shipibo Conibo Pottery Effigy Pot or Vase

Located in Red Lion, PA

Very Fine Detailed Figural Peruvian Shipibo-Conibo Pottery Effigy Pot or Vase This beautifully detailed figural pottery effigy pot was crafted by the Shipibo-Conibo people of Peru, ...

Category

20th Century Peruvian International Style Vases and Vessels

Materials

Terracotta

Aureliano Toso vase in Murano glass circa 1970.
Aureliano Toso vase in Murano glass circa 1970.

Aureliano Toso vase in Murano glass circa 1970.

$3,500

Aureliano Toso vase in Murano glass circa 1970.

By Aureliano Toso

Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ

Wonderful attributed Aureliano Toso vase in Murano glass circa 1970. Perfect conditions.

Category

1970s Italian Vintage International Style Vases and Vessels

Materials

Murano Glass

Gigantic Antique Indian Brass and Bronze Water Vessel Lota Pot
Gigantic Antique Indian Brass and Bronze Water Vessel Lota Pot

Gigantic Antique Indian Brass and Bronze Water Vessel Lota Pot

$3,200

Gigantic Antique Indian Brass and Bronze Water Vessel Lota Pot

Located in Asheville, NC

India water vessel also called a Lota Pot was used to store water in India and local regions. It was hand-forged of a bronze and brass alloy. It has marked by...

Category

Early 20th Century Indian International Style Vases and Vessels

Materials

Brass

Fratelli Toso vase in 'murrine" glass circa 1970.
Fratelli Toso vase in 'murrine" glass circa 1970.

Fratelli Toso vase in 'murrine" glass circa 1970.

$1,050

Fratelli Toso vase in 'murrine" glass circa 1970.

By Aureliano Toso

Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ

Wonderful vase in Murano glass attributed to Fratelli Toso circa 1950.

Category

1970s Italian Vintage International Style Vases and Vessels

Materials

Murano Glass

Dino Martens vase in Murano glass circa 1950
Dino Martens vase in Murano glass circa 1950

Dino Martens vase in Murano glass circa 1950

$4,210

Dino Martens vase in Murano glass circa 1950

By Dino Martens

Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ

Wonderful vase in Murano glass attributed to DINO MARTENS in perfect conditions circa 1950.

Category

1950s Italian Vintage International Style Vases and Vessels

Materials

Murano Glass

Dino Martens vase by Aureliano Toso circa 1950
Dino Martens vase by Aureliano Toso circa 1950

Dino Martens vase by Aureliano Toso circa 1950

$6,060

Dino Martens vase by Aureliano Toso circa 1950

By Dino Martens

Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ

Rare vase by Dino Martens for Aureliano Toso circa 1950

Category

1950s Italian Vintage International Style Vases and Vessels

Materials

Murano Glass

Tyra Lungren Murano glass black iridized vase circa 1960
Tyra Lungren Murano glass black iridized vase circa 1960

Tyra Lungren Murano glass black iridized vase circa 1960

$1,300

Tyra Lungren Murano glass black iridized vase circa 1960

By Venini

Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ

Incredible Venini&C by Tyra Lungren Murano glass iridized black vase with two necks circa 1960

Category

1960s Italian Vintage International Style Vases and Vessels

Materials

Murano Glass

Contemporary Minimalist Small Brass and Glass Solitary Vase
Contemporary Minimalist Small Brass and Glass Solitary Vase

Contemporary Minimalist Small Brass and Glass Solitary Vase

$145 / item

Contemporary Minimalist Small Brass and Glass Solitary Vase

By Paulo Goldstein

Located in Sao Paulo, SP

Paulo Goldstein's Piccolo vase, Brazilian contemporary design is part of a series of vases that are inspired in the observation of the natural lines of the flowers and leaves held in...

Category

2010s Brazilian International Style Vases and Vessels

Materials

Brass, Steel, Stainless Steel

Barovier&Toso Murano glass rubi circa 1950 vase.
Barovier&Toso Murano glass rubi circa 1950 vase.

Barovier&Toso Murano glass rubi circa 1950 vase.

$1,040

Barovier&Toso Murano glass rubi circa 1950 vase.

By Barovier&Toso

Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ

Incredible Barovier&Toso Murano glass rubi iridescent circa 1950 vase.

Category

1950s Italian Vintage International Style Vases and Vessels

Materials

Murano Glass

Barovier&Toso "cordonato oro" tall vase circa 1950
Barovier&Toso "cordonato oro" tall vase circa 1950

Barovier&Toso "cordonato oro" tall vase circa 1950

$24,000

Barovier&Toso "cordonato oro" tall vase circa 1950

By Barovier&Toso

Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ

Incredible tall vase by Barovier&Toso "cordonato oro" circa 1950. Beautiful and perfect.

Category

1950s Italian Vintage International Style Vases and Vessels

Materials

Murano Glass

Large Enameled Ceramic Vase by Scheurich, Germany, 1970
Large Enameled Ceramic Vase by Scheurich, Germany, 1970

Large Enameled Ceramic Vase by Scheurich, Germany, 1970

$337

Large Enameled Ceramic Vase by Scheurich, Germany, 1970

By Scheurich Keramik, West German Pottery

Located in London, England

This very large ceramic Sheurich vase is a striking piece that attracts all eyes. With its 42 cm height, it has a black background adorned with ethnic motifs of a bright blood red, a...

Category

1970s German Vintage International Style Vases and Vessels

Materials

Ceramic

Tina Aufiero vase bicolor in Murano glass circa 1970.
Tina Aufiero vase bicolor in Murano glass circa 1970.

Tina Aufiero vase bicolor in Murano glass circa 1970.

$5,600

Tina Aufiero vase bicolor in Murano glass circa 1970.

By Tina Aufiero

Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ

Wonderful vase in Murano glass attributed to Tina Aufiero in perfect conditions circa 1970.

Category

1970s Italian Vintage International Style Vases and Vessels

Materials

Murano Glass

Contemporary Minimalist Golden / Black and Glass Solitary Vase V3
Contemporary Minimalist Golden / Black and Glass Solitary Vase V3

Contemporary Minimalist Golden / Black and Glass Solitary Vase V3

$1,000 / item

Contemporary Minimalist Golden / Black and Glass Solitary Vase V3

By Paulo Goldstein

Located in Sao Paulo, SP

V3 vase - Monstera by Paulo Goldstein, Brazilian contemporary design is part of a series of vases inspired in the observation of the natural lines of the flowers and leaves held in t...

Category

2010s Brazilian International Style Vases and Vessels

Materials

Brass, Steel

Loetz glass style circa 1950 vase.
Loetz glass style circa 1950 vase.

Loetz glass style circa 1950 vase.

$1,720

Loetz glass style circa 1950 vase.

Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ

wonderful vase in Loetz glass style circa 1950. Perfect conditions.

Category

1950s French Vintage International Style Vases and Vessels

Materials

Art Glass

Bertoncello , Vases . Tobacco Glaze
Bertoncello , Vases . Tobacco Glaze

Bertoncello , Vases . Tobacco Glaze

$644Sale Price|20% Off

Bertoncello , Vases . Tobacco Glaze

By Bertoncello

Located in Glasgow, GB

This is a beautiful pair of eramic vases by Bertoncello of Italy. Tobacco glaze which was very popular in Europe in the early 1960's 2 pieces One piece 30 cm in height by 17cm wid...

Category

1960s Italian Vintage International Style Vases and Vessels

Materials

Ceramic

Monumental Old Antique African Urn in Noble Wood
Monumental Old Antique African Urn in Noble Wood

Monumental Old Antique African Urn in Noble Wood

$14,900

Monumental Old Antique African Urn in Noble Wood

Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ

Monumental and impressive facial expressions of the sculpted faces surrounding the base.

Category

19th Century North African Antique International Style Vases and Vessels

Materials

Wood

Dino Martens Italian Multicolor 1950 Murano Glass "Fazzoletto"
Dino Martens Italian Multicolor 1950 Murano Glass "Fazzoletto"

Dino Martens Italian Multicolor 1950 Murano Glass "Fazzoletto"

$4,300

Dino Martens Italian Multicolor 1950 Murano Glass "Fazzoletto"

By Dino Martens

Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ

Incredible Dino Martens italian Murano glass multicolor circa 1950 "fazzoletto" vase with applied glass.

Category

1950s Italian Vintage International Style Vases and Vessels

Materials

Murano Glass

Kralik Bohemian multicolor glass vase circa 1900
Kralik Bohemian multicolor glass vase circa 1900

Kralik Bohemian multicolor glass vase circa 1900

$1,210

Kralik Bohemian multicolor glass vase circa 1900

By Kralik Glassworks

Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ

Incredible KRALIK bohemian multicolor Art Nouveau glass vase circa 1900.

Category

Early 1900s Czech Antique International Style Vases and Vessels

Materials

Murano Glass

Contemporary minimalist steel, brass and glass solitary Vase V1
Contemporary minimalist steel, brass and glass solitary Vase V1

Contemporary minimalist steel, brass and glass solitary Vase V1

$1,000 / item

Contemporary minimalist steel, brass and glass solitary Vase V1

By Paulo Goldstein

Located in Sao Paulo, SP

V1 vase by Paulo Goldstein, Brazilian contemporary design, blown glass and steel is part of a series of vases inspired in the observation of the natural lines of the flowers and leav...

Category

2010s Brazilian International Style Vases and Vessels

Materials

Brass, Stainless Steel, Steel

Contemporary Minimalist Brass and Glass Solitary Vase V3
Contemporary Minimalist Brass and Glass Solitary Vase V3

Contemporary Minimalist Brass and Glass Solitary Vase V3

$1,000 / item

Contemporary Minimalist Brass and Glass Solitary Vase V3

By Paulo Goldstein

Located in Sao Paulo, SP

V3 vase - Monstera by Paulo Goldstein, Brazilian contemporary design is part of a series of vases inspired in the observation of the natural lines of the flowers and leaves held in t...

Category

2010s Brazilian International Style Vases and Vessels

Materials

Brass, Steel

International Style vases and vessels for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique International Style vases and vessels 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 vases and vessels 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 glass, murano glass and other materials. If you’re shopping for used International Style vases and vessels made in a specific country, there are Europe, Italy, and Brazil pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original vases and vessels, popular names associated with this style include Paulo Goldstein, Archimede Seguso, Arte Vetraria Muranese (AVEM), and SoShiro. 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 vases and vessels differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $145 and tops out at $22,000 while the average work can sell for $2,625.

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