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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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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
Period: 20th Century
Guido Gambone Rhomboid Ceramic Dish with Abstract Pattern, Italy, c1950s
Located in Leicester, GB
Guido Gambone rhomboid shaped dish with abstract pattern. Signed with Donkey mark, Italy c1950s. A fascinating item. It is decorated in such a way as to give the optical effect of...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic, Earthenware

Rare Emaux de Longwy Ceramic Boule Vase by Garouste and Bonetti Limited 1 of 5
Located in Miami, FL
This Boule vase “Ornament “ is a rare limited edition numbered 1/5 by Elizabeth Garouste was born in 1949 in Paris and Mattia Bonetti in 1952 in Lugano (Switzerland). They pooled their work from 1980 to dedicate themselves to the creation of pieces of furniture and interior decoration. They start with the decoration of the Palace that Fabrice Eamer asks them to design. Then shortly after, the Néotu Gallery publishes them. Their furniture, baroque and barbarian, surprises, made up of heterogeneous and unusual materials, such as rock, hammered bronze, raffia, leather, skin, logs and glass ... They are at the instigation of fashion "barbaric". For their work, they use references such as the Middle Ages, Africa, through the poetry of Cocteau, the Venetian baroque and neoclassicism. They have also been edited by the “Waiting for the Barbarians” galleries, David Gill, Kréo, Lou Fagotin...
Category

20th Century French Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Robin Welch Large Glazed Stoneware Studio Pottery Jug
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A large and impressive British studio pottery handled jug decorated in matted glazes by renowned potter Robin Welch and dating from the 20th century. The stoneware jug is of cylindrical shape with a large loop handle with thumb rest attached to the side and with a large pouring spout moulded to the rim. The jug has a simple incised line pattern with sections decorated in mottled blue and brown glazes with the brown glazes also applied to the inner jug. The lower edge and flat rounded foot have been left unglazed. The jug has an impressed ROBIN WELCH POTTERY...
Category

20th Century English Modern Ceramics

Materials

Stoneware

Colorful Ceramic Glazed Bowl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Ceramic bowl signed by the artist. The playful bowl has a black glazed interior. The exterior showcases different designs, geometric blue and yellow triangles, bright blue and orange...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Ceramic plate by Roger Capron, France, 1960's
Located in Paris, FR
Ceramic plate by Roger Capron, signed, 1960's
Category

1960s French Vintage Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Gabbianelli Walt Disney
Located in Lugo, IT
Three bowls with saucer and pitcher attributed to a Gabbianelli production. Good conditions. Thank you
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Collection of Two Ceramic Glazed Vases by Warren Mackinzie
Located in Atlanta, GA
An assemble of two stemmed cylinder-shape stoneware vases by American studio potter Warren MacKenzie (1924-2018). The two vases have a complementary form and silouette and display ni...
Category

1990s American Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Set of Sylvester And Tweety Bird Salt & Pepper
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This is a Set of Sylvester and Tweety Bird Salt & Pepper. It depicts a glazed hand painted colorful salt and pepper container shaped as the Warner Bros figurines of Sylvester ( heigh...
Category

20th Century Chinese Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Vintage Large Japanese Studio Ceramic Vessel c1960s
Located in Oakland, CA
Absolutely stunning vintage Japanese studio ceramic vessel made by an incredibly talented unknown artisan c1970s. Most likely came in a wood box. Amazing form and glaze work.
Category

1970s Japanese Vintage Modern Ceramics

Materials

Clay

Bruno Gambone, Ceramic Table lamp, Italy, 1980s
Located in Paris, FR
Bruno Gambone (1936-2021) Table lamp A light grey ceramic table lamp, with a cylindrical body decorated with a black line at the rim, surmounted with a trumpet shape stem. With a light grey fabric shade. Signed underneath « Gambone, Italy ». Italy, 1980s. Dimensions Lamp alone Height : 26 cm Diameter : 17,5 cm Lamp with shade Height : 52 cm Diameter : 35 cm Bruno Gambone (1936-2021) Bruno Gambone was born in Vietri sul Mare in 1936. His father, Guido Gambone, a famous ceramist soon trained him in his workshop in Firenze. During the 50s, Bruno went to work with Andrea D’Arienzo...
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Large Unique Janine Janet Ceramics Sculpture of a Rooster, Hand Painted, 1950s
By Janine Janet, Illums Bolighus
Located in Odense, DK
A large unique faience figure in the shape of a rooster. Handmade by the artist Janine Janet in the 1950s. Decorated with cream coloured glaze as well as greyish brown glazed feather...
Category

1950s French Vintage Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic, Faience

Portafoto in ceramica attribuito a Tommaso Barbi
Located in Lugo, IT
Portafoto in ceramica attribuito a Tommaso Barbi Buone condizioni Grazie
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Blue Stoneware Open Bowl By Dansk
Located in Costa Mesa, CA
Blue Stoneware Open Bowl By Dansk
Category

1990s Japanese Modern Ceramics

Materials

Stoneware

Ruth Duckworth Stoneweare Ceramic Large Monumemtal Vessel
By Ruth Duckworth
Located in Chicago, IL
Ruth Duckworth was an innovative Chicago sculptor, deeply engaged in the natural world and responding to artistic developments in the 1960s. Working in clay, she called herself a scu...
Category

1960s American Vintage Modern Ceramics

Materials

Stoneware

Spherical Vase by Eva Stæhr Nielsen for Saxbo
Located in San Francisco, CA
A footed spherical vase with an aquamarine hares fur glaze by Eva Stæhr Nielsen for Saxbo. Stamped with the Saxbo crown symbol, model number 85, and “SAXBO COPENHAGEN”.
Category

1950s European Vintage Modern Ceramics

Materials

Stoneware

Pablo Picasso, Bull, Turned round dish, 1957, edition of 250 copies.
Located in Nice, Cote d' Azur
Pablo Picasso Taureau 1957. 22 janvier Plat rond tourné D. 38 cm R.A terre de faience rouge, décor à l'engobe, gravé au couteau, couverte partielle au pinceau Noir Tiré à 250 exemp...
Category

1950s French Vintage Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Nantucket Home Royal Blue Hand Painted Vase Urn
By Nantucket Home
Located in Germantown, MD
Royal blue hand painted vase urn. Fine porcelain by Nantucket Home. Suitable for flowers or ice bucket. Two handy handles. Measures 7.5" in diameter and 6.5" tall. Excellent condition.
Category

Late 20th Century Chinese Modern Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain, Paint

Lucie Rie, Austrian-born British potter. Unique large modernist vase
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Lucie Rie (b. 1902, 1995), Austrian-born British potter. Unique large modernist vase in glazed ceramics / stoneware. Museum quality. Beautiful glaze in pink and purple shades. Trumpe...
Category

1970s British Vintage Modern Ceramics

Materials

Stoneware

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

Vintage Modernist Ceramic Centerpiece Geometric Bowl, Signed
Located in Miami, FL
Vintage Modernist Ceramic Centerpiece Geometric Bowl, Signed Offered for sale is a large ceramic centerpiece bowl with glazed patterns and incised borders. The blow is gray, blue, ...
Category

Late 20th Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Large Sangre-de-toro fruit bowl by Gustav and Ulla Kraitz, Sweden
Located in Klintehamn, SE
Beautiful fruit bowl in a sangre-de-toro glaze by Swedish ceramist couple Gustav and Ulla Kraitz. Normal signs of use. No chips or cracks. Gustav Kraitz f...
Category

1980s Swedish Vintage 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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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

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

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

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

Bjorn Wiinblad For Rosenthal Mat White Bisque Porcelain Monumental Face Bowl
Located in North Miami, FL
This fabulous monumental vintage hallmarked porcelain white mat bisque bowl was designed by Bjorn Wiinblad for Rosenthal Studio LInie from Germany. It is t...
Category

1960s German Vintage Modern Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

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

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

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

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

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

Ceramic Bowl with Flanged Rim by John Ward
Located in Atlanta, GA
A stoneware glazed bowl by British studio potter John Ward (1938-2023) circa 1980-1990s of the last quarter of the 20th century. The bowl features a distinct form with a wide flanged...
Category

Late 20th Century English Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Janet Leach Studio Pottery Brush Work Studio Pottery Lidded Container
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A stylish stoneware studio pottery lidded container with brushed designs by renowned studio potter Janet Leach (British, 1918-1997) dating from around 1965. The container is of squat...
Category

1960s English Vintage Modern Ceramics

Materials

Stoneware

Monumental Blue Vase by Carl-Harry Stalhane
Located in San Francisco, CA
A large scale vase with a hare’s fur glaze in shades of blues and greens by Carl-Harry Stalhane for Rorstrand. Incised signature and studio mark to underside: [R Sweden CHS SDA].
Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Modern Ceramics

Materials

Stoneware

Nils Thorsson For Royal Copenhagen Vintage Geometric Glazed Ceramic Bowl
Located in North Miami, FL
This vintage Royal Copenhagen glazed ceramic bowl by the designer Nils Thorsson is a faience method which is the process of adding tin oxide to glaze the earthenware. It is from the ...
Category

1960s Danish Vintage Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Large Ceramic Leaf Bowl with Banded Glaze by John Ward
Located in Atlanta, GA
A large stoneware glazed bowl in a rare leaf form by British studio potter John Ward (1938-2023) circa last quarter of the 20th century. The impressive, oversized bowl features a dis...
Category

Late 20th Century English Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Raku Fired Ceramic Island Bowl by Jerome Heck
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful ceramic bowl by Jerome Heck crafted in the Raku firing technique. This one of a kind piece stands on four legs and develops and opens upwards. The glaze has variations of greens that ondulate in shape around the bowl. Inside the bowl, different designs come forward (turtle figure...
Category

1990s American Modern Ceramics

Materials

Clay

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

Jacob Bang Stoneware Bowl
Located in Kastrup, DK
Jacob Bang, Danish 1932-2011 Bowl in stone wear with grey, blue and black glaze. H: 16 cm. Made in Jacob Bang's own studio during the 1960s-1970. Marked on the base. Jacob Bang wa...
Category

20th Century Danish Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Danish Kähler HAK Ceramic Bowl
Located in Kastrup, DK
Large Kähler bowl in glazed ceramic. Dia. 29 cm. Red and blue shades on a gray base. The bowl has an incised HAK monogram to the base (Herman A. Kähler). Perfect condition. Denmark...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Eddie Curtis Celadon Glazed Large Studio Pottery Bowl
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
An impressive and stylish large Studio Pottery bowl decorated in celadon and shino glazes by renowned British potter Eddie Curtis and made in the 20th cen...
Category

20th Century English Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Raul Coronel ceramic / pottery decorative plate
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful plate by the well known potter Raul Cornell .
Category

Mid-20th Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Pottery

Deep Ceramic Brown Bowl by Eva Staehr-Nielsen
Located in San Francisco, CA
Eva Staehr-Nielsen for SAXBO dark brown glaze, rounded bowl with organic shape. The underside is incised with the artist's initials E.ST.N., stamped Saxbo, Denmark, the ying-yang sym...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

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

Bjørn Wiinblad Rosenthal Studio-Linie Boxed Solitaire Game
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A stylish vintage German Rosenthal Studio-Linie original boxed ‘Keramik-Solitärspiel’ (Solitaire Game) by renowned Danish painter, designer and artist B...
Category

1970s German Vintage Modern Ceramics

Materials

Wood, Porcelain

English Butter Dish by Denby Pottery
Located in Bradenton, FL
A modern earthenware English butter dish made by Denby, a traditional English pottery company in the village of Denby, Derbyshire. A traditional re...
Category

Late 20th Century English Modern Ceramics

Materials

Earthenware

1980s Mangiarotti Style Modernist White Ceramic Round Italian Ashtray
Located in Aci Castello, IT
A two pieces ceramic round ashtray designed and manufactured in Italy in the manner of Angelo Mangiarotti, it has normal signs of use and age, it's marked on the bottom. This Italian...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Fornasetti “Commedia” Ceramic Paperweight and Cup Pair
Located in Brooklyn, NY
“I have thus dressed ceramics, furniture, and things in signs, and in that way I have placed a message in every work — a small story that is sometimes ironic, obviously wordless, but...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage 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

Barbara Brenner Postmodern "Scenario" Bowl for Rosenthal Studio-Linie, 1990's
Located in Costa Mesa, CA
Barbara Brenner Postmodern Memphis Style "Scenario" Bowl for Rosenthal Studio-Linie, 1990's.
Category

20th Century German Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Susan Bennett English Glazed Thrown Studio Pottery Vase
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A stylish thrown and glazed stoneware studio pottery vase with a ribbed body attributed to Susan Bennett (b.1954) and dated 1977. The vase has a bell sha...
Category

1970s English Vintage Modern Ceramics

Materials

Stoneware

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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