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Modern Serving Pieces

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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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
Hand-Painted Decorative Iron Tray - Sardines
Located in ROCCAVIVARA CB, IT
Make a bold statement with our hand-painted iron decorative tray, featuring sardines on a blue background. Perfect for display, this tray adds a touch of the seaside to any space. In...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Iron

Hand-Painted Decorative Iron Tray - Seashell
Located in ROCCAVIVARA CB, IT
Make a bold statement with our hand-painted iron decorative tray, featuring a seashell on a bright pink background. Perfect for display, this tray adds a touch of the beach to any sp...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Iron

Lacquered Wooden Tray with Handles – Turtle
Located in ROCCAVIVARA CB, IT
Bold and playful, this lacquered wooden tray features a vibrant yellow background adorned with a turtle motif. Finished with a smooth, glossy surface and practical cut-out handles, i...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Wood

Hand-Painted Decorative Iron Tray - Fish
Located in ROCCAVIVARA CB, IT
Make a bold statement with our hand-painted iron decorative tray, featuring fish on a dark background. Perfect for display, this tray adds a touch of the beach to any space. Intended...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Iron

Gold Lacquered Wooden Tray with Handles – Coral
Located in ROCCAVIVARA CB, IT
Bold and playful, this lacquered wooden tray features a gold background adorned with a red coral motif. Finished with a smooth, glossy surface and practical cut-out handles, it’s per...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Wood

Whimsical French Fish Serving Tray
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This is a striking and whimsical fish-shaped serving piece, crafted in France, as indicated by the hallmark stamped into the metal. The platter itself is a combination of richly tone...
Category

20th Century French Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Stainless Steel

Stunning Silver Plated Serving Tray by Emilia Castillo, Mexico 1980's
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Elevate your dining experience with this exquisite Stunning Silver Plated Serving Tray designed and manufactured in Taxco, Mexico by Emilia Castillo, crafted in Mexico in the 1980's....
Category

1980s Mexican Vintage Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Silver, Copper

Contemporary Silver Plated Perla Cup White Handcrafted Italy by Natalia Criado
Located in Milan, IT
Elevate your daily tea or coffee ritual with our exquisite Perla cup. Handcrafted with plated brass, its geometric silhouette narrows at the base for a sleek and minimal aesthetic. T...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Gold Plate, Brass

Hand-Painted Decorative Iron Tray - Beach
Located in ROCCAVIVARA CB, IT
Make a bold statement with our hand-painted iron decorative tray, featuring parasoles on a blue sky. Perfect for display, this tray adds a touch of the seaside to any space. Intended...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Iron

Contemporary Cutlery Silver Plated Set Handcrafted in Italy by Natalia Criado
Located in Milan, IT
Elevate your dining experience with our Artefacto cutlery set. A fork, spoon, and knife – meticulously crafted from plated brass. Inspired by geometric forms and ornamental symbolism...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Brass

Porteño Large Black/Cream Hand Painted Wood and Alpaca Silver Tray
Located in Buenos Aires, AR
The urban and cosmopolitan Porteño family carries the spirit of the ones born in Buenos Aires city or “Porteño”, as they are commonly known. Its boxes, trays and flower vases have a ...
Category

2010s Argentine Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Wood

Valle Set, Bar Champagne Bucket, Tray & Pitcher, Silver Alpaca & Horn
Located in Buenos Aires, AR
This family is inspired by the forms and figures shaped by the wind of the Moon Valley (in the province of San Juan, in the North of Argentina). It comes from this magical and inspir...
Category

2010s Argentine Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Stone, Onyx, Metal

Lacquered Wooden Tray with Handles – Seashell
Located in ROCCAVIVARA CB, IT
Bold and playful, this lacquered wooden tray features a vibrant green background adorned with a striking seashell motif. Finished with a smooth, glossy surface and practical cut-out ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Wood

Dish in Black Marquinia Marble by Ivan Colominas, Italy, Stock
Located in Milan, IT
Sculptural, bright white, well-defined and multi-fold. Colominas has created a table service inspired by Angelo Mangiarotti’s soft lines, exalting the shape and structure of objects ...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Marble

New Modern Tray in Black Marquina Marble, creator Ivan Colominas
Located in Milan, IT
An essential, Minimalist tray that easily lends itself to multiple uses. At the table, in the kitchen, in the dining room. In simlicity is beauty. Size: 40 x 2.2 cm, smooth finishing, stain treatment compatible with food. Commercial name: Nysiros, Materia e Tavola Collection by Ivan Colominas, Spanish Designer. Also available in White Michelangelo Marble. Made in Italy, hand finished. Mmairo loves wining and dining, good food and entertaining...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Marble

Mamasita Jug / Pitcher, Handmade in Portugal
Located in Macieira de Sarnes, PT
Mamasita Jug in White Designed by Project 213A in 2021 Handmade Stoneware Waterproof This elegantly sculpted jug features a continued opening and took inspiration from a collapsed vase...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Ceramic, Stoneware

Hand-Painted Decorative Iron Tray - Monkey
Located in ROCCAVIVARA CB, IT
Add a touch of exotic elegance to your home with this hand-painted iron tray. Set against a sleek black background with gold accents, the design features a tropical palm tree and a m...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Iron

Ceramic Tray with 9 Bowls, Handmade in Italy 2021, Choose Your Pattern
Located in San Miniato PI, IT
For more than 30 years this artist has revolutionized the way of thinking about stone. Their artisan techniques are the result of careful research and deep knowledge of the subject: ...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Lava

Joseph Heinrichs, New York. Pure Copper and Sterling Silver Platters
Located in San Francisco, CA
Joseph Heinrichs, New York, pure copper and sterling silver platters Beautiful matching pair of platters by Jos. Heinrichs. Each platter is stamped...
Category

Late 20th Century American Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Sterling Silver, Copper

Hand-Painted Decorative Iron Tray - Giraffe
Located in ROCCAVIVARA CB, IT
Bring vibrant charm to your decor with our hand-painted iron tray, featuring a giraffe design on a teal blue background. Perfect for adding a playful yet sophisticated touch to coffe...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Iron

Saint Jacques Hand-Painted Ceramic Tray Made in Italy
Located in ROCCAVIVARA CB, IT
Enhance your summer entertaining with the elegant Ceramic Saint Jacques Platter. Expertly handcrafted and beautifully hand-painted in Italy, this platter feature distinctive scallope...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Ceramic

Hand-Painted Decorative Iron Tray - Palm Tree
Located in ROCCAVIVARA CB, IT
Add a tropical touch to your decor with our hand-painted iron tray, featuring a stunning palm tree design on a serene blue background. Perfect for coffee tables, shelves, or wall dis...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Iron

Stainless Steel "Houston" Flatware by Ralph Lauren
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful and hard to find set of "Houston" stainless steel flatware by Ralph Lauren, circa 1990s. The set consists of five pieces and there are six place settings for a total of 30 ...
Category

Late 20th Century Korean Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Stainless Steel

Contemporary Modern, Esnaf Pink Party Platter
Located in İstanbul, İstanbul
Esnaf collection is inspired by the ever-curios carts and tools of street vendors of Istanbul. The collection takes its cues from the colorful and quirky geometric compositions of th...
Category

2010s Turkish Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Sheet Metal

Elephant Pink Handpainted Iron Tray
Located in ROCCAVIVARA CB, IT
Handpainted Elephant iron tray this product is unique and handmade and can be used as a serving tray of just as a decorative item
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Iron

Lacquered Wooden Tray with Handles – Seahorse
Located in ROCCAVIVARA CB, IT
Bold and playful, this lacquered wooden tray features a vibrant green background adorned with a striking seahorse motif. Finished with a smooth, glossy surface and practical cut-out ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Wood

Hand-Painted Decorative Iron Tray - Yellow Zebra
Located in ROCCAVIVARA CB, IT
Bring vibrant charm to your decor with our hand-painted iron tray, featuring a striking zebra design on a bold yellow background. Perfect for adding a playful yet sophisticated touch...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Iron

Riedel Mesa Silver Plate and Crystal Caviar Bowl Dish Chiller, circa 1980
Located in Atlanta, GA
Crafted by the visionary Claus Josef Riedel, this rare, striking Mid-Century modern caviar serving bowl embodies sophistication and elegance. Designed for the esteemed Riedel-Mesa co...
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Crystal, Silver Plate, Metal

Hand-Painted Decorative Iron Tray - Cheetah
Located in ROCCAVIVARA CB, IT
Make a bold statement with our hand-painted iron tray, featuring a striking cheetah design on a sleek black background. Perfect for adding a touch of wild elegance to coffee tables, ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Iron

Hand-Painted Decorative Iron Tray - Pink Crab
Located in ROCCAVIVARA CB, IT
Bring coastal charm to your space with our hand-painted iron tray, featuring a beautifully detailed blue crab design on a soft dusty pink background. Perfect for adding a playful yet...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Iron

Hand-Painted Decorative Iron Tray - Red Zebra
Located in ROCCAVIVARA CB, IT
Bring vibrant charm to your decor with our hand-painted iron tray, featuring a striking zebra design on a bold red background. Perfect for adding a playful yet sophisticated touch to...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Iron

Hand-Painted Decorative Iron Tray - Cactus
Located in ROCCAVIVARA CB, IT
Make a bold statement with our hand-painted iron decorative tray. Perfect for display, this tray adds a touch of wild elegance and artistic flair to any space. Intended for decorativ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Iron

Contemporary Silver Plated Teapot Stone Handles Handcrafted Italy Natalia Criado
Located in Milan, IT
Part of the duality objects collection, OHO, is a harmonious blend of contemporary design's expressive freedom and the profound expertise of silverware workshops. This piece serves a...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Silver Plate, Brass

Saint Jacques Hand-Painted Ceramic Bowl Made in Italy
Located in ROCCAVIVARA CB, IT
Enhance your summer entertaining with the elegant Ceramic Saint Jacques Salad Bowl. Expertly handcrafted and beautifully hand-painted in Italy, this feature distinctive scalloped-edge detailing inspired by the iconic Saint Jacques seashell. The charming design and artisanal craftsmanship make them a perfect choice for stylish outdoor dining or festive indoor gatherings. Ideal for serving fresh seafood, pasta and salads, these plates add a touch of Mediterranean flair and sophistication to your table...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Ceramic

Solid Oak Serving Tray Set – EDGE
Located in İzmir, İzmir
The EDGE Series Wooden Serving Tray Set brings together natural beauty, functionality, and minimalist design in a refined collection made for both serving and decorating. Crafted wit...
Category

2010s Turkish Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Wood, Oak

Sphere 5-Piece Flatware Set in Bronze
Located in Richmond, VA
The re-issued 5 piece Sphere flatware set in bronze by Izabel Lam. Each piece features an undulating handle and hammered textured knob on end. Impressed abo...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Bronze

Sphere 5-Piece Flatware Set in Bronze
Sphere 5-Piece Flatware Set in Bronze
$152 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Hand-Painted Decorative Iron Tray - Flowers
Located in ROCCAVIVARA CB, IT
Add a bold and artistic touch to your decor with our hand-painted iron tray, featuring an intricate flower design. Perfect for display on coffee tables, shelves, or as wall art, this...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Iron

Hand-Painted Decorative Iron Tray - Butterflies
Located in ROCCAVIVARA CB, IT
Make a bold statement with our hand-painted iron decorative tray, featuring butterflies. Perfect for display, this tray adds a touch of the nature to any space. Intended for decorati...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Iron

Hand-Painted Decorative Iron Tray - Beach Lighthouse
Located in ROCCAVIVARA CB, IT
Make a bold statement with our hand-painted iron decorative tray, featuring a lighthouse on a blue sky. Perfect for display, this tray adds a touch of the seaside to any space. Inten...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Iron

Hand-Painted Decorative Iron Tray - Bear
Located in ROCCAVIVARA CB, IT
Add a bold and artistic touch to your decor with our hand-painted iron tray, featuring an intricate bear design. Perfect for display on coffee tables, shelves, or as wall art, this t...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Iron

Saint Jacques Hand-Painted Salad Plates - Set of 4 Made in Italy
Located in ROCCAVIVARA CB, IT
Enhance your summer entertaining with the elegant Ceramic Saint Jacques Plates. Expertly handcrafted and beautifully hand-painted in Italy, these plates feature distinctive scalloped...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Ceramic

Large "Agave" Serving Tray in Silver Plate & Malachite by Emilia Castillo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage serving tray designed and manufactured in Mexico by Emilia Castillo and part of the "Agave" collection. The piece is made in solid copper and silver plated, accented with a ...
Category

1980s Mexican Vintage Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Malachite, Silver Plate, Copper

Saint Jacques Hand-Painted Dinner Plates - Set of 4 Made in Italy
Located in ROCCAVIVARA CB, IT
Enhance your summer entertaining with the elegant Ceramic Saint Jacques Plates. Expertly handcrafted and beautifully hand-painted in Italy, these plates feature distinctive scalloped...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Ceramic

Hand-Painted Iron Trays - Zodiac Set of 2
Located in ROCCAVIVARA CB, IT
Celebrate the cosmos with our set of hand-painted iron trays, each intricately featuring the Zodiac signs. Perfect for decorative use, these trays bring astrological charm and artist...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Iron

Fish Service in Bakelite and Stainless Steel, Maison Guy Degrenne, 20th Century.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Fish service in Bakelite and stainless steel, Maison Guy Degrenne, XXth Century. Fish service in Bakelite and intox, perfect condition, 1980, from the House of Guy Degrenne, Goldsmi...
Category

20th Century French Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Stainless Steel

1985 Iconic Alessi Sugar Bowl + Creamer designed by Michael Graves
Located in Chula Vista, CA
1985 Iconic Alessi sugar bowl and creamer designed by Michael Graves. Made Taiwan Stainless Steel Creamer 5 x 4 w x 2.5 h Sugar 5 x 4 x 3.63 h Original sugar spoon is included. ...
Category

1980s Taiwanese Vintage Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Stainless Steel

Modern Hand Blown "Coral Triple Glass Upstand" Nature Sea Creatures Reef Ocean
Located in Camisano Vicentino, IT
A Hand-Blown Glass Upstand by Simone Crestani Coral Triple Upstand is one of the pieces from the Coral Collection. This remarkable piece is inspired by the intricate beauty of cora...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Glass

Rosenthal Andy Warhol featuring Beethoven Glass Plate
Located in Waddinxveen, ZH
Rosenthal Glass Plate, featuring Beethoven by Andy Warhol, quite possibly the greatest pop art artist of our time. Shortly before his death in 1987, Warhol created a serie of portr...
Category

1980s German Vintage Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Glass, Cut Glass

Small Io Marble Platter by on.Entropy in Brown, Green or W Modern Desk Accessory
Located in Athens, GR
This platter is designed as a homogeneous volume, wishing to engage the senses around the plasticity of marble. It is carved off a single piece of marble without joints or seams. ...
Category

2010s Greek Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Marble

JUJUY Medium Pitcher, Silver Alpaca and Horn
Located in Buenos Aires, AR
This family is created with the inspiration of the beautiful province of Jujuy, in the North of Argentina, and the nature of its fertile valley. It is the first line of our collectio...
Category

2010s South American Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Metal

Sottsass Ettore design for Alessi 5079 containers for condiments in steel
Located in Biella, IT
Sottsass Ettore desihn for Alessi base containers for condiments in steel of years '80 the sell is for one but are to disposition two of this alessi c...
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Stainless Steel

Jujuy Small Round Champagne Bucket, Silver Alpaca and Horn
Located in Buenos Aires, AR
This family is created with the inspiration of the beautiful province of Jujuy, in the North of Argentina, and the nature of its fertile valley. It is the first line of our collectio...
Category

2010s South American Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Metal

Ghidini 1961 Tip Top Small Paper Basket in Gold by Richard Hutten
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
Paper basket in openwork steel. When you look at the top view of the Tip Top series, all the triangles have the same size. In 3D these triangles have been stretched, which creates a...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Stainless Steel

96 Nedda El-Asmar cutlery "Appetize" in Stainless Steel Gense, Sweden
By Gense, Nedda El-asmar
Located in Stockholm, SE
This exclusive cutlery collection, “Appetize”, was designed by award-winning designer Nedda El-Asmar for the renowned Swedish brand Gense. The set includes 96 pieces and is intended ...
Category

Early 2000s Swedish Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Stainless Steel

Full Moon Small Copper Tray by Elisa Ossino
Located in Milan, IT
Full Moon is a small circular copper tray and it is part of the Lunar landscape collection designed by Elisa Ossino, who conceived for Paola C. a tableware collection, revisiting the...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Copper

Pietro Fornasetti Porcelain Centerpiece "Rosone," Italy 2000s
Located in Naples, IT
The art of the table is manifested in this hand-decorated porcelain centerpiece with gold inserts: the unmistakable Fornasetti decorative style makes it a true collector's item.
Category

Early 2000s Italian Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Porcelain

Silver-Plated Serving Utensils by Emilia Castillo, Mexico 1980's
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Elevate your dining experience with these exquisite Silver-Plated Serving Utensils designed and manufactured in Taxco, Mexico by renowned Mexican artisan Emilia Castillo. These stun...
Category

1980s American Vintage Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Silver, Copper

Contemporary Hand Blown Glass "Bonsai Teapot" Tree Nature Elegant Ceremony Calm
Located in Camisano Vicentino, IT
Introducing the Bonsai Teapot, a stunning hand-blown glass creation by the talented Simone Crestani. This exquisite teapot is a distinguished piece from the captivating Nature Collec...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Glass

Valle Large Silver Alpaca & Cream Onyx Stone Bar Champagne Bucket
Located in Buenos Aires, AR
This family is inspired by the forms and figures shaped by the wind of the Moon Valley (in the province of San Juan, in the North of Argentina). It comes from this magical and inspir...
Category

2010s South American Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Stone, Onyx, Metal

Italian modern Chromed metal nutcracker by Paolo Salvi for Mark B, 1970s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern Chromed metal nutcracker by Paolo Salvi for Mark B, 1970s Table nutcracker with round base in chromed metal. The cylindrical structure...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Metal

Modern serving pieces for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Modern serving pieces 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 serving pieces created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include serveware, ceramics, silver and glass, decorative objects, tables and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, stone and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Modern serving pieces 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 serving pieces, popular names associated with this style include Ghidini 1961, Ivan Colominas, Kartell, and Patricia Urquiola. 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 serving pieces differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $40 and tops out at $30,579 while the average work can sell for $428.

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