A revival in the popularity of authentic Minimalist furniture is rooted in history while reflecting the needs and tastes of the 21st century. Designer Ludwig Mies van der Rohe’s aphorism that “less is more” influenced the evolution of 20th-century interiors with an emphasis on function and order. This was a shift from the 19th century, with its lavish Victorian decorating, and was spread around the world through design styles including Bauhaus and brutalism.
Yet Minimalism was present in furniture design long before the clean lines of modernism, such as in the simple and elegant utility of Shaker furniture. Although the Minimalist art movement of the 1960s and ’70s had little crossover with furniture design, artist Donald Judd was inspired by the Shakers in creating his own spare daybeds and tables from sturdy wood. (Judd, whose advocacy of symmetry also informed his architectural projects, furnished his Manhattan loft with unassuming but poetic works by iconic modernist designers such as Gerrit Rietveld and Alvar Aalto.)
Understatement rather than ornamentation and open space instead of clutter are central themes for a Minimalist living room and bedroom. As opposed to Maximalism, the focus for Minimalist furniture and decor is on simplicity and considering the design and purpose of every object.
Furnishings are usually made in neutral or monochrome colors and pared down to their essentials — think nesting coffee tables, sectional sofas and accent pieces such as ottomans. And Minimalist ceramics can help achieve a decor that is both timeless and of the moment. The organic textures and personalization of handmade craftsmanship associated with these works have served as a sort of anti-Internet to screen-weary decorators. That said, while the thoughtful ergonomics of Scandinavian modern furniture, with its handcrafted teak frames, are at home in Minimalist spaces, so are the quietly striking pieces by Japanese designer Naoto Fukasawa that employ industrial materials like stainless steel, aluminum and plastic.
Minimalist furniture is not for making flashy statements; it boasts subdued appeal and excels at harmonizing with any room. And, as it encompasses many different movements and eras of design, it also never goes out of style, owing to its tasteful refinement.
Find a collection of Minimalist tables, seating, lighting and more furniture on 1stDibs.
Satin White Moon Jar by Jason Fox, Hand-Crafted Stoneware, Los Angeles
Located in Burbank, CA
Satin White 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...
Ceramic, Clay, Pottery, Stoneware
Vintage Original Studio Pottery Octagon Dinner Plates - Set of 6
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This exceptional set of six vintage dinner plates is a masterclass in geometric design and organic texture. Hand-crafted with a refined octagonal silhouette, each plate features a ri...
Pottery
$1,356Sale Price|20% Off
H 15 in Dm 12.2 in
In Stock in Los Angeles, Blue & Gold Pirate Terracotta Vase
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Scroll down and click "view all from Seller" to see more than 500 other unique products. (2) In Stock in Los Angeles The bold Don Filippo Vase is part of a remarkable range of mytho...
Gold Leaf
$2,583Sale Price|30% Off
H 10 in Dm 9 in
Kangxi Blue & White Chinese Porcelain Jar w/ One Hundred Treasures Motif, c 1750
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
A very lovely Kangxi Chinese porcelain ginger jar with hand-painted, blue overglaze decoration with "one hundred treasures" motif. Jar has original p...
Porcelain
Green Stoneware Vase by Gertrud Lönegren, Rörstrand, Sweden, 1930s.
By Gertrud Lönegren, Gunnar Nylund, Rörstrand
Located in Malmö, SE
Stunning and rare stoneware vase with AMAZING glaze. Designed by Gertrud Lönegren. This studio piece was created at Rorstrand in Sweden between 1936-41. Swedish Grace. Great conditi...
Ceramic, Stoneware
$8,900
H 2.25 in Dm 12 in
Peter Voulkos Signed Mid-Century Modern California Studio Pottery Plate Charger
Located in Studio City, CA
A fantastic, freeform, large, heavy plate/ charger by American master potter Peter Voulkos who is known for his abstract expressionist ceramic pottery pieces and sculptures. Very unique and scarce work with rare use of color. Very hard to come by. One of our personal favorites along with the Chawan tea bowl. Signed on base and dated (1961) by Voulkos. This was made during one of his most magical and experimental phases. From of Private Collection, New York. Voulkos is widely considered to be the most important and impactful ceramist of the modern era. He won the Rodin Museum Prize at the first Paris Biennale in 1959 and was the winner of a Guggenheim fellowship in 1984. Voulkos received the College Art Association’s Distinguished Artist Award for Lifetime Achievement in 1997. He was made an honorary member of the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters in 2001. He also received six honorary doctorate degrees as well as three National Endowment for the Arts awards. His work can be found in many prominent collections and museums including: Aichi Prefectural Ceramic Museum, Nagoya, Japan Albany Mall, Albany, New York American Museum of Ceramic Art...
Stoneware
$520Sale Price|20% Off
H 1.25 in Dm 10.75 in
Vtg 1960's Janet Rothwoman California Studio Art Pottery Slab Plate Plaque
Located in San Diego, CA
Very hard to find Janet Rothwoman California studio art pottery plate/plaque dating from the 1960's. Janet was the wife of Jerry Rothman. This plate is...
Pottery
Blue Stoneware Vase by Gertrud Lönegren, Rörstrand, Sweden, 1930s.
By Rörstrand, Gunnar Nylund, Gertrud Lönegren
Located in Malmö, SE
Beautiful stoneware vase with amazing glaze. Designed by Gertrud Lönegren. This studio piece was created at Rorstrand in Sweden between 1936-41. Swedish Grace. Great condition. Impr...
Ceramic, Stoneware
$7,400
H 3.25 in Dm 10.5 in
Peter Voulkos Signed Modern Anagama Fired California Studio Pottery Wall Plate
Located in Studio City, CA
A fantastic, beautifully designed, heavy Anagama wood-fired wall plate/charger by American master potter/artist Peter Voulkos who is universally known for his abstract expressionist ...
Pottery, Stoneware
$19,500
H 3.5 in W 19.75 in D 19.75 in
Peter Voulkos Signed Large California Studio Pottery Stoneware Charger Plate
Located in Studio City, CA
A truly fantastic, large, heavy charger/plate/platter by American master potter/artist Peter Voulkos who is known for his abstract expressionist ceramic pottery pieces and sculptures...
Stoneware
$3,163
H 17.72 in Dm 13.78 in
"Huge Moon" Hand Built Ceramic Moon Jar by Kerry Hastings White Stoneware
Located in London, GB
Based on the tradtional Moon jar, this piece has been hand built by Kerry Hastings using the ancient technique of coiling with ropes of clay. The jar is glazed in a white satin glaz...
Ceramic
Gouda Pottery Vintage Dutch Plate
By Gouda Plateelbakkerij Zuid-Holland
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
Gouda Pottery Vintage Dutch Plate This stunning "Plazuid" earthenware wall plate is a real collector's item! Made by the renowned Plateelbakkerij Zuid-Holland in Gouda, around 1950, ...
Ceramic
Bill Creitz Studio Pottery Cloche
Located in Fairfield, CA
A vintage studio pottery cloche by ceramicist Bill Creitz of Oregon (born 1907). Earth tone glazes with an abstract hand painted accent on one side. Lovely...
Pottery
Studio Pottery Speckled Weed Pot
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Hand-thrown stoneware weed pot with squat shouldered form, speckled cream glaze with iron-oxide spotting, unglazed brown rim and foot, signed on base.
Ceramic
Wheelthrown Ceramic Bud Vase by Jason Fox
Located in Burbank, CA
Ceramic Bud Vase 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 Histor...
Ceramic, Clay, Pottery, Stoneware
Speckled White Ceramic Vessel by Jason Fox
Located in Burbank, CA
Wheel Thrown Speckled White Vessel by Jason Fox. A Southern Californian for over half his life, Contemporary Ceramic Artist Jason Fox draws upon his classical education in Architect...
Ceramic, Clay, Stoneware
Flavia Montelupo Italian Bowl
Located in Ferndale, MI
A timely and classic Flavia Montelupo Italian fruit bowl in parchment white. An unglazed, earthenware terracotta bowl that is porous by nature givin...
Earthenware
White Porcelain Vase Rosenthal Studio-Line
By Rosenthal
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful German designer oval white matte porcelain ceramic pottery vase by Rosenthal 'Studio-Line', Germany, circa late-20th century. With marker's mark and designer signature on...
Ceramic, Pottery, Porcelain