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Modern Ceramics

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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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
John Calver Multiple Glaze Trailed Studio Pottery Pedestal Dish
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A stylish and well-made studio pottery pedestal dish decorated in multiple glazes by renowned Lancashire based potter John Calver and dating from the 20th or early 21st century. John...
Category

20th Century British Modern Ceramics

Materials

Stoneware

Ceramic Tile INA-CASA Italy 1949-1963
Located in Milan, Italy
In the years of post-war reconstruction, the districts built under the Ina-Casa plan (1949-1963) constitute both in large cities and in provincial centers, the most valuable and sign...
Category

20th Century Italian Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

UCHO Mug / Kobalt by Malwina Konopacka
Located in WARSZAWA, PL
Funny, capacious, and handy – that's what UCHO is all about, the first mug in the OKO Family that begins a new chapter in the brand's history. The mug has a sturdy handle shaped like...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Ceramics

Materials

Clay

UCHO Mug / Denim blue by Malwina Konopacka
Located in WARSZAWA, PL
Funny, capacious, and handy – that's what UCHO is all about, the first mug in the OKO Family that begins a new chapter in the brand's history. The mug has a sturdy handle shaped like...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Ceramics

Materials

Clay

Large Speckled White Moon Jar by Jason Fox
Located in Burbank, CA
Speckled White Moon Jar by Jason Fox. A Southern Californian for over half his life, Contemporary Ceramic Artist Jason Fox draws upon his classical education in Architecture and Art...
Category

2010s American Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic, Clay, Pottery, Stoneware

Ceramic Tile INA-CASA Italy 1949-1963
Located in Milan, Italy
In the years of post-war reconstruction, the districts built under the Ina-Casa plan (1949-1963) constitute both in large cities and in provincial centers, the most valuable and sign...
Category

20th Century Italian Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

UCHO Mug / Plum purple by Malwina Konopacka
Located in WARSZAWA, PL
Funny, capacious, and handy – that's what UCHO is all about, the first mug in the OKO Family that begins a new chapter in the brand's history. The mug has a sturdy handle shaped like...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Ceramics

Materials

Clay

Italian Contemporary Artistic Ceramic Canopo Rabbit Black Green Vase by Amaaro
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Questo vaso in ceramica disegnato e prodotto da Amaaro si ispira direttamente ai vasi canopi egizi; è una reinterpretazione ironica e contemporanea di un oggetto ancestrale, nume tut...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Jason Fox Contemporary Ceramic Shino Glazed Vessel
Located in Burbank, CA
Wheel Thrown Contemporary Ceramic Shino Vessel by Jason Fox. A Southern Californian for over half his life, Jason Fox draws upon his classical education in Architecture and Art Hist...
Category

2010s American Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic, Clay, Pottery, Stoneware

UCHO Mug / White by Malwina Konopacka
Located in WARSZAWA, PL
Funny, capacious, and handy – that's what UCHO is all about, the first mug in the OKO Family that begins a new chapter in the brand's history. The mug has a sturdy handle shaped like...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Ceramics

Materials

Clay

"For Rachel" Tray
Located in Macieira de Sarnes, PT
'For Rachel' tray in cream Hand-sculpted ceramic tray with hand made rectangle shaped elements. This large sized tray is finished with a bespoke cream glaze that reveals the natural...
Category

2010s European Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Mini Aniela / Denim / Circus Incense Holder by Malwina Konopacka
Located in WARSZAWA, PL
Aniela MINI is the answer to the need for a small item - a coaster that can be used to hold jewelry, sweets or burn incense sticks. Denim blue platter Red ball ø 15 cm two holes f...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Ceramics

Materials

Clay

Waylande Gregory rare ceramic/pottery fused glass glaze bowl Pat 2357399, signed
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Amazing pottery bowl by the well known artist Waylaid Gregory , This is a rare patent number piece , as early as 1942 time of the US year patent) , also signed as shown.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Modern Ceramics

Materials

Pottery

Italian Contemporary Artistic Ceramic Canopo Ibis Black and Green Vase by Amaaro
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Questo vaso in ceramica disegnato e prodotto da Amaaro si ispira direttamente ai vasi canopi egizi; è una reinterpretazione ironica e contemporanea di un oggetto atavico, nume tutela...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Italian Contemporary Artistic Ceramic Canopo Taurus Black Green Vase by Amaaro
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Questo vaso in ceramica disegnato e prodotto da Amaaro si ispira direttamente ai vasi canopi egizi; è una reinterpretazione ironica e contemporanea di un oggetto ancestrale, nume tut...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

UCHO Mug / Ecru by Malwina Konopacka
Located in WARSZAWA, PL
Funny, capacious, and handy – that's what UCHO is all about, the first mug in the OKO Family that begins a new chapter in the brand's history. The mug has a sturdy handle shaped like...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Ceramics

Materials

Clay

Vintage Signed Denby English Ceramic Round Box Tan, Mustard Yellow, Red, Green
Located in North Miami, FL
This lovely vintage signed ceramic round box with a top is marked Denby Made in England. It is a combination of glazed and unglazed colors of wide st...
Category

1970s English Vintage Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Signed Vintage Royal Copenhagen Hand Painted Purple, Blue Ceramic Bowl Or Tray
Located in North Miami, FL
This vintage hallmarked hand painted glazed faience ceramic bowl , dish and or tray is from the 60's and was manufactured by Royal Copenhagen from Denmark. This was a craft known by ...
Category

1960s Danish Vintage Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic, Paint

Vessel 04 in Textured 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 Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic, Clay

Fat Lava Scheurich German Colored And Glazed Ceramic Pitcher With Handle
Located in Prato, Tuscany
We kindly suggest that you read the whole description, as with it we try to give you detailed technical and historical information to guarantee the authenticity of our objects. Parti...
Category

Mid-20th Century German Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Italian Glazed Ceramic Vessel, Bottle Green, Black, Charcoal, Off White
Located in North Miami, FL
This large Italian glazed handsome ceramic bottle or vessel is in the style of Fantoni and and has elements of wide bands of colors and patterns. The colors range from green, black, ...
Category

1990s Italian Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Signed Yuri Zatarian Ceramic Vessel Sketchbook And Equation Diagram Series
Located in North Miami, FL
This contemporary fabulous highly sophisticated ceramic vessel is signed Yuri by the artist. It is off white matte porcelain colored glaze ceramic covered with with charcoal black gr...
Category

1990s Mexican Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Amélie Handcrafted Little Glasses, Handmade in Italy 2021, Choose Size/Colours
Located in San Miniato PI, IT
This wonderful collection encourages to participate in the process of combining small pleasures into a significant whole by regarding details as both minute and essential. Our artist...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Mini Aniela / Black / Circus Incense Holder by Malwina Konopacka
Located in WARSZAWA, PL
Aniela MINI is the answer to the need for a small item - a coaster that can be used to hold jewelry, sweets or burn incense sticks. Black platter Ecru ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Ceramics

Materials

Clay

Garden Green Handmade Ceramic Dinner Plate
Located in ROCCAVIVARA CB, IT
Green as the gardens that give the name to this collection This handmade and hand painted plate reproduces the rattan plates used for picnic and outdoor...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Hutschenreuther, Heinrich Fuchs, MCM Porcelain Vase, Germany, circa 1970's
Located in Chatham, ON
Hutschenreuther (Manufacturer) - Dr. Heinrich Fuchs (Designer) - Mid century porcelain vase - featuring Origami-like folds in the design that play with light and the unique shape - w...
Category

Mid-20th Century German Modern Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Jeff Margolin Ceramic Pot w/Black Decoration
Located in Bloomfield Hills, MI
Jeff Margolin is a self-taught artist who works with a porcelain-type clay that is thrown or sculpted into forms with areas left for carving. They have a hefty yet delicate appearanc...
Category

2010s American Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Alvino Bagni for Bitossi Black Ceramic Bowl and Vase with Gold Studs Vintage
Located in North Miami, FL
Alvino Bagni for Bitossi designed this pair of outstanding rare vintage black Italian ceramics in the 60's for Good Friends which was an American importer and often commissioned Bito...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Modern Ceramics

Materials

Gold

Kaiser - K. Nossek, Vintage Porcelain Urn and Cover, Germany, Mid-20th Century
Located in Chatham, ON
KAISER (manufacturer) - K. Nossek (designer) - Desiree (product line) - vintage fine porcelain urn and cover - featuring shaded enamels and flor...
Category

Mid-20th Century German Modern Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Bode Willumsen, Unike stoneware Bowl
Located in Kastrup, DK
Bode Willumsen, Danish 1895-1987 Unique stoneware bowl finished in brown glaze. Features three relief horses on the inside of the bowl. Signed to the base with monogram. Denmark appr...
Category

Early 20th Century European Modern Ceramics

Materials

Stoneware

Vintage Decorative Umbrella Stand, English, Blue & White, Ceramic, Hall, Planter
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a vintage decorative umbrella stand. An English, blue and white ceramic hallway rack or planter pot, dating to the late 20th century, circa 1970. Vibrant colour from the t...
Category

Late 20th Century British Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Vessel 02 in Textured 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 Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic, Clay

Ceramic Lusterware Bowl with Metallic Glaze by Beatrice Wood
Located in Atlanta, GA
A large ceramic lusterware bowl by American artist and studio potter Beatrice Wood (1893-1998). The piece, circa 1980s, is of an upright deep form typical of a rice bowl, supported b...
Category

Late 20th Century American Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Michael Cardew Wenford Bridge Large Combed Pattern Studio Pottery Dish
By Michael Cardew
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A large and impressive studio pottery stoneware dish decorated with a combed design by Michael Cardew (British, 1901-1983) and made at Wenford Bridge ar...
Category

1970s English Vintage Modern Ceramics

Materials

Stoneware

Vessel 06 in Textured 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 Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic, Clay

Porcelain Sculpture by Monika Patuszyńska
Located in Geneve, CH
Porcelain sculpture by Monika Patuszynska. 01A. Dimensions: W 19 x D 13 x H 11 cm. Materials: porcelain. Monika Patuszynska bio Born: 1973, Warsaw, Poland. 1993- 1994 Den D...
Category

2010s Polish Modern Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

UCHO Mug / Candy by Malwina Konopacka
Located in WARSZAWA, PL
Funny, capacious, and handy – that's what UCHO is all about, the first mug in the OKO Family that begins a new chapter in the brand's history. The mug has a sturdy handle shaped like...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Ceramics

Materials

Clay

Hand-made Contemporary 8 Large Ceramic Egg Plates Majolica Serve-ware Platter
Located in Queretaro, Queretaro
Ceramic 8 plate in modern egg design by artist Lorenzo Lorenzzo. Lorenzo's work alludes to his favourite meal, breakfast, creating a contemporary design for this plate collection.
Category

2010s Mexican Modern Ceramics

Materials

Majolica

Plate Centerpiece, Tray Decorated Bowl, Wall Dish Majolica Aquamarine, In Stock
Located in Recanati, IT
This exclusive ceramic plate is handmade and hand-painted in Italy following the original Renaissance painting technique, unchanged over time, which we observe to the letter: it is d...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic, Majolica

Lucie Rie, Uranium Yellow Flaring Porcelain Bowl, signed
Located in Wargrave, Berkshire
Lucie Rie (British/Austrian 1902-1995), a porcelain bowl of flaring form, uranium yellow glaze with craquelure and running manganese band to rim, impressed seal mark, 14.7cm diameter...
Category

20th Century British Modern Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

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 Ceramics

Materials

Clay, Ceramic

Vessel 01 in Natural Smooth 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 Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic, Clay

Rosenthal Vintage Wirkkala Ceramic Sculptural Do Not Litter Paper Bags Set of 3
Located in North Miami, FL
This vintage set of 3 complete ceramic crushed bags of white porcelain were manufactured by Rosenthal and designed by Tapio Wirkkala in the 1970s. They are called " The do not litter...
Category

1970s German Vintage Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Vessel 05 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 Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic, Clay

Wheel Thrown Moon Jar by Jason Fox
Located in Burbank, CA
Wheel Thrown Moon Jar by Jason Fox. Largely influenced by Korean Pottery, Jason pays respect to the rich history of Moon Jars with this piece. "Moon Jar...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic, Clay, Stoneware

Vintage Hallmarked Bitossi Incised Off White Ceramic Textural Vase Italian
Located in North Miami, FL
This vintage off white incised textural hallmarked vase or vessel is signed on the bottom Flavia Montelupo Italy and was the sister company of Bitossi all under the parent corporatio...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Flat Vase Project by 213A
Located in Macieira de Sarnes, PT
Flat vase in Shiny Black. Designed by Project 213A in 2021. Handmade Stoneware. Creation demands destruction, taking the old and the typical to conceive th...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic, Stoneware

Irregular Chunky Tray Unique Cloud Ceramic Plate Modern Ring Dish Trinket
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, AR
Introducing our Organic Irregular Ceramic Tray - a unique and modern addition to your home decor. This oval-shaped tray is perfect for holding jewelry, rings, or small trinkets. Its ...
Category

2010s Argentine Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic, Clay, Pottery

Contemporary Handcrafted Clay Vessel by Onka Allmayer-Beck
Located in London, GB
Contemporary handcrafted clay vessel by Onka Allmayer-Beck Austrian, 2023 Height 18.5cm, width 20.5cm, depth 13cm This hand-glazed and hand-formed clay vessel is titled ‘Mini No. 26...
Category

2010s Austrian Modern Ceramics

Materials

Clay

Vessel 03 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 Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic, Clay

Irregular Chunky Tray Unique Oval Ceramic Plate Modern Ring Dish Trinket
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, AR
Introducing our Organic Irregular Ceramic Tray - a unique and modern addition to your home decor. This oval-shaped tray is perfect for holding jewelry, rings, or small trinkets. Its ...
Category

2010s Argentine Modern Ceramics

Materials

Clay, Pottery, Ceramic

Big Handmade Ceramic Vase Neutral Style Minimal Decor Wabi Sabi Stunning Vessel
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, AR
Presenting our organic big handmade ceramic vase, showcasing a neutral style with a touch of wabi-sabi. This minimalist decor piece is a stunning flower vessel, adding an elegant and...
Category

2010s Argentine Modern Ceramics

Materials

Pottery, Ceramic, Clay

Maria Vessel, Handmade in Portugal
Located in Macieira de Sarnes, PT
Maria Vessel in Oat Designed by Project 213A in 2020 Handmade Stoneware This vase is inspired by the Greco-Roman period, having a timeless appearance and finished with a contemp...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Ceramics

Materials

Stoneware

23-Piece Italian Bugatti Coffee Set
By Casa Bugatti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Italian coffee porcelain set hand decorated with gold and platinum lines / Made in Italy by Bugatti in 2000s 2 gold and 3 platinum espresso cups, width 3.25 inches, depth 2.25 inches, height 2.5 inches 3 gold and 3 platinum espresso saucers, width 5 inches 2 gold and 2 platinum cappuccino cups, width 4 inches, depth 3 inches, height 2.75 inches 3 gold and 3 platinum cappuccino saucers, width 6 inches 1 gold sugar...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Decorative Buncheong Bowl by Jason Fox
Located in Burbank, CA
Wheel Thrown Flower Stamped Buncheong bowl by Jason Fox 2 1/8" x 5 1/2" Largely influenced by Korean Pottery, Jason pays respect to the rich history of Buncheong Ware with thi...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic, Stoneware, Pottery, Clay

Silent Teapot
Located in Helsinki, FI
Silent teapot is a porcelain handmade teapot made by the designer in Helsinki,Finland.
Category

2010s Finnish Modern Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Lapislazzuli Model Teapot by Ettore Sottsass for Alessio Sarri Editions
Located in Milan, Italy
Lapislazzuli is one of the teapots from the "The Indian Memory" collection designed by Ettore Sottsass in 1987 and now re-edited by Alessio Sarri. All the pieces in the collection a...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Ceramic Vase Royal Doulton Chang Ware
Located in Atlanta, GA
A glazed ceramic vase in slender spindle form from the Chang Ware series by Royal Doulton (England, founded 1815) circa 1920-30s. The vase was decorated with thick and dripping glaze in rich mottled polychrome colors. The glaze shows overall irregular crackles, a signature characteristic of Chang Ware. The base is hand-marked "NOKE", Royal Doulton in rectangle and initial HN (for Harry Nixon). Developed by Charles J. Noke (1858-1941), Doulton's Art Director, as part of his experimentation into Chinese flambé glazes during the 1920s. Fired at very high temperatures, they were introduced commercially by Doulton in 1925 in response to popular demand for eastern style ceramics. They were applied primarily by Harry Nixon (1886-1955). The name Chang Ware was used by Doulton in reference to the possibly mythical Song potter, Chang the Elder, although it bears little relationship to Song ceramics.
Category

1920s English Vintage Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Modern ceramics for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Modern ceramics 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 ceramics created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include serveware, ceramics, silver and glass, decorative objects, folk art and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with ceramic, stoneware and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Modern ceramics made in a specific country, there are Europe, North America, and Italy pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original ceramics, popular names associated with this style include Monika Patuszynska, Mosche Bianche, Richard A. Hirsch, and LAAB Milano. 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 ceramics differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $20 and tops out at $50,348 while the average work can sell for $614.

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