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Modern Centerpieces

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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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
Color:  Silver
Colosseum II Silver Pleated Metal Centerpiece by Jaime Hayon
Located in Milan, IT
Colosseum II is a silver pleated metal centerpiece, that could be used also as fruit bowl This product is part of the collection New Roman, by Jaime Hayon: inspired by the vessels of the Roman Empire, this collection transforms antique references into a celebration of contemporary craft. New Roman collection also includes Colosseum I (all copper), and Colosseum III (copper and silver plated).
Category

2010s Italian Modern Centerpieces

Materials

Silver Plate

Large Bruno Munari Maldive Tray
Located in Chicago, IL
Large center piece silver tray designed by Bruno Munari in 1960, manufactured by Danese Milan, in the collection of MoMA and the Metropolitan Museum...
Category

1960s Vintage Modern Centerpieces

Materials

Silver

Large Italian Parcel-Gilt, Silver, and Hardstone Centrepiece from Milan, C.1980
By Fabbrica Argenteria Fiorentina
Located in London, GB
Large Italian parcel-gilt, silver, and hardstone centrepiece from Milan, c.1980 Italian, Late 20th Century Weight: 14.064 kg Height 40cm, width 69cm, depth 52cm Bearing the mark of Argenteria Fiorentini & Spertini, of Milan, c.1980, this magnificent centrepiece is a large, extensive, parcel-gilt, silver, and precious stone sculpture demonstrating the quality of Italian and particularly Milanese decorative metalwork from the late twentieth century.   It is mounted on a oval-shaped base which is cast with rocaille, and is raised on eight wide-ribbon scrolled feet. This is turn is centred by a large, bright, immaculately veneered malachite central oval, and it is mounted variously around the side with a series of carved hardstone fruits. The central dish, with further everted ribbon scrolls, is supported by a series of four gilt pegasus sculptures...
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Modern Centerpieces

Materials

Malachite, Silver

Milanese Sterling Silver 20th Century Fountain Centrepiece
Located in London, GB
A Milanese sterling silver 20th century fountain centrepiece Measures: Height: 33cm, width: 47cm, depth: 42cm. This stunning centrepiece is an Italian sterling silver fountain, made in Milan in the twentieth century. The piece, set on fish-shaped legs, and decorated with mythical sea-monsters from whose mouths the water flows, consists of a rectangular shaped basin divided into four shell-shaped quadrants which are adorned with small silver crabs. A smaller basin...
Category

20th Century Italian Modern Centerpieces

Materials

Sterling Silver

Contemporary Oval Hammered Silver Dish
By William & Son
Located in London, GB
Large and elegant contemporary hammered silver table centrepiece of oval form. The silver dish or shallow bowl is hand hammered around the edg...
Category

Early 2000s English Modern Centerpieces

Materials

Sterling Silver

Contemporary Modern, Kubbe Round Bowl, Silver Nickel Plated Varnished Brass
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 Centerpieces

Materials

Brass, Nickel

Centerpiece Dish by Christofle
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Silver plate dish by Christofle made in France. Dish measures 17" wide, 6.75" deep and 1.75" high.
Category

1990s French Modern Centerpieces

Materials

Silver Plate

1980s Modernist Heavy Glass and Silver Plate Square Italian Tray
Located in Aci Castello, IT
An Italian Design square tray, it's marked on a side, silver plated and heavy verde Nilo glass are in perfect conditions, the silver plated detachable part facilitates cleaning the item. This tray is a unique and elegant piece of serveware that is perfect for entertaining or displaying items...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Modern Centerpieces

Materials

Silver Plate

Mexican 925 Sterling Large Swan Bowl Centerpiece
Located in Guaynabo, PR
A silver swan bowl centerpiece that has a long stylized neck and its bowl body is decorated with a garland of repousse scrolls. The centerpiece sits i...
Category

20th Century Mexican Modern Centerpieces

Materials

Sterling Silver

Pair of Buccellati Sterling Silver Octopus Seafood Shell Bowls
Located in New York, NY
Pair of dramatic sterling silver seafood serving bowls. Made by Buccellati in Italy. Each: Two joined scallop-shells bowls on scallop-shell supports. A...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Modern Centerpieces

Materials

Sterling Silver

Mexican Modernist Silver Tray by Antonio Pineda
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Mexican modernist sterling silver tray by well known silversmith Antonio Pineda (1919-2009). The handsome silver tray with a subtle hammered surface was crown marked by the artist's logo circa 1953-1979, made in his studio in Taxco, Mexico. It was further stamped with Eagle 17 and Hecho en Mexico / 930. The oval tray presents itself with an abstract design with a leaf-like handle with a string of beaded...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mexican Modern Centerpieces

Materials

Silver

Sterling Silver Double Walled Hand-Hammered Bowl by Graziella Laffi
Located in Stamford, CT
A sterling silver double walled bowl with hand-hammered texture, raised on a circular foot. By Graziella Laffi, Lima Peru, circa 1970.       
Category

1970s Peruvian Vintage Modern Centerpieces

Materials

Sterling Silver

Buccellati Dramatic Sterling Silver Octopus Seafood Shell Bowl
Located in New York, NY
Dramatic sterling silver seafood serving bowl. Made by Buccellati in Italy. Two joined scallop-shells bowls on scallop-shell supports. A traditional fo...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Modern Centerpieces

Materials

Sterling Silver

Silver Plated Riser Adspera I Designed by Chiara Andreatti
Located in Milan, IT
Adspera is a centrepiece in silver plated metal designed by Chiara Andreatti for Paola C. and it is part of the collection Coquille, a col...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Centerpieces

Materials

Metal, Silver Plate

Luis Felipe Perez, 999° Silver Centerpiece Bowl, 20th Century
Located in New York, NY
A very elegant and sophisticated 999° silver centerpiece or bowl decorated with three birds by perimeter, was made by high-end jewelry designer and silversm...
Category

1990s American Modern Centerpieces

Materials

Silver

Temptation I, a Unique Multicolored Glass Sculpture by Enemark & Thompson
Located in London, GB
Temptation I, is a hand-blown glass sculpture by the collaborative artists Hanne Enemark (Danish) and Louis Thompson (British) Incorporating an outer form in clear and pink glass whi...
Category

2010s British Modern Centerpieces

Materials

Sterling Silver

Damian Garrido Candelabra Centrepiece Concave circa 2000 Vase Candlesticks
Located in London, GB
A spectacular modernist Sculptural Centrepiece made by Damian Garrido. This magnificent Centrepiece is made up of four magnificent curved Candlesticks that fit into a central Vase. E...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Centerpieces

Materials

Silver

Temptation III, a Unique Multicolored Glass Sculpture by Enemark & Thompson
Located in London, GB
Temptation III, is a hand-blown glass sculpture by the collaborative artists Hanne Enemark (Danish) and Louis Thompson (British) Incorporating an outer form in clear and pink glass w...
Category

2010s British Modern Centerpieces

Materials

Sterling Silver

Handmade 21st Century Silver Bathed Brass OHO Sculptural Centrepiece
Located in Agrate Brianza (MB), Lombardy
OHO is a brass plate with a retro taste and a futuristic twist: a precious artisan object entirely hand crafted. This creation comes from a research on different possible combinations of tubular elements. Its outline, similar to the sequence...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Centerpieces

Materials

Brass

Modernist Italian Silver Plated Centerpiece Designed by Enrico Baldaro, 1970
Located in Aci Castello, IT
A particular silver plated and smoked glass centerpiece designed by the Sicilian architect Enrico Baldaro for Angelo Schiavon.
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Modern Centerpieces

Materials

Silver Plate

Contemporary Silver Acanthus Leaf & Hand Crafted Glass Footed Centerpiece Bowl
Located in Dayton, OH
Hand crafted glass centerpiece bowl gently rippling texture, standing on a trio of silver painted metal acanthus leaves on a silver and black pedestal base.
Category

Late 20th Century Modern Centerpieces

Materials

Metal

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Lino Sabattini Italian Silver-Plated Centerpiece or Box Bowl 1970s
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
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Located in Aci Castello, IT
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Located in Atlanta, GA
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Temptation II, a Unique Multicolored Glass Sculpture by Enemark & Thompson
Located in London, GB
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Located in Cagliari, IT
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Damien Garrido Sterling Silver Fruit Bowl / Centre Piece 1997
Located in London, GB
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Damien Garrido Sterling Silver Fruit Bowl / Centre Piece 1997
Damien Garrido Sterling Silver Fruit Bowl / Centre Piece 1997
Free Shipping
H 8.27 in W 11.26 in D 13.04 in
Garrido Candlesticks / Candle holders / Centrepiece Post War Modernist c. 2006
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Christopher Lawrence Centrepiece / Rose Bowl / Candle Holder London 1972
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Modern centerpieces for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Modern centerpieces 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 centerpieces created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include serveware, ceramics, silver and glass, decorative objects, more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with ceramic, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Modern centerpieces 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 centerpieces, popular names associated with this style include Mosche Bianche, Ivan Colominas, Andrea Anastasio, and Barberini & Gunnell. 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 centerpieces differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $70 and tops out at $153,375 while the average work can sell for $1,200.

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