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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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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
Piatto Piano #2, Dining Plate, White by Ivan Colominas
Located in Geneve, CH
Piatto Piano #2 - Dining plate - White by Ivan Colominas Materia e Tavola Collection Dimensions: 29 x 2.1 cm Materials: Bianco Michelangelo / Bianco Carrara Also available: Ner...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Marble

Silver Plated Trivet by Christofle, 1980.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Silver plated trivet by Christofle, 1980. Silver plated trivet from the Maison Christofle in its original case and box, very good condition, 1980....
Category

20th Century French Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Silver Plate

White Marble Elipse Cheese Boards Set
Located in Mexico City, MX
Carved Veneciano white marble cheese boards. Handmade in México by local craftsmen. Dimensions: Small: 34 D x 18 W x 2 H cm Large: 42 D x 22 W x 2 H cm. Production time: 6-8 week...
Category

2010s Mexican Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Marble

Large Vintage Modern Stainless Steel Food Dish Serving Dome Cover
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Large Vintage 15" Round Modern Stainless Steel Food Dish Serving Dome Cover. Item features a large Size, clean modernist lines, very nice vintage item, grea...
Category

Mid-20th Century Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Stainless Steel

Daniela Poletti Vetrofuso Murano Glass Sushi Plates, Silver Leaf Set of 6
Located in Miami, FL
Daniela Poletti Vetrofuso Murano Glass Sushi Plates, Silver Leaf Infused Offered for sale is a set of six (6) Italian Murano glass silver leaf infused sushi plates designed by Danie...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Silver Leaf

RUBAN Set of 2 pieces in Silver Bronze or Gold Bronze
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
RUBAN Set of 2 pieces in silver bronze or gold bronze Set of 2 pieces (table forks/fish, table knife or meat/fish knife) in silver bronze 35/42 microns It is possible to order ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Bronze

Butterfly Golden Wood Lacquered Tray
Located in ROCCAVIVARA CB, IT
There are many trays but very few are as beautiful as this golden lacquered tray elegant with a 40s vibe but at the same time modern and contemporary A unique piece for your table ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Wood

Luxurious Hand-Made Serving Set with Hand-Blown Food-Safe Glass Bowls
Located in Cairo, EG
Luxurious Hand-Made Serving Set with Hand-Blown Food-Safe Glass Bowls. This is how feasts are made! Hosting is not just about the food, but the joy, warmth, scents, colors and overal...
Category

2010s Egyptian Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Acrylic

Italian modern glass and metal ice bucket with pliers by Zani & Zani, 1980s
By Zani
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern glass and metal ice bucket with pliers by Zani & Zani, 1980s Ice bucket with pliers in metal and glass. The bucket is made up of a cylindrical basket made of thick gla...
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Metal

Butterfly Golden Wood Lacquered Tray
Located in ROCCAVIVARA CB, IT
This is a very unique and special piece this Butterfly Golden lacquered tray is the perfect item to lighten up your space elegant with a 40s vibe but at the same time very contemp...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Wood

Io Marble Platter by On.Entropy in Green, 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

Dinner Plates Set Four Charger Plate Table Serving Majolica Ceramic Blue Pink
Located in Recanati, IT
This colorful set of 4 majolica charger plates is handmade and hand-painted in Italy following the original Renaissance painting technique, unchanged over time, which we observe to the letter. The elegant decoration is composed by a halo of blue foliage that resembles four groups of wings surrounding light pink backgrounds: further ornamental elements develop from the center of the plate, projected outwards and giving movement to the entire compositional structure. The beauty of these majolica plates is underlined by the artist's visible brushstrokes that give them a unique style. Further possibility to order a set of 6 or 12 charger...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Ceramic, Majolica

Olivier Set of 2 Pieces in Silver Bronze or Gold Bronze
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Olivier set of 2 pieces in silver bronze or gold bronze Set of 2 pieces (table forks/fish, table knife or meat/fish knife) in silver bronze 35/42 microns It is possible to order all products separately or set of 4 piece Table spoon Table fork Table knife/meat knife...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Bronze

Bread Knife in Silver Bronze
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Silver plated bronze bread knife 35/42 microns Length: 348 mm, weight: 200 gr This knife is the work of French designer Richard Lauret. These pieces ...
Category

2010s French Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Bronze

Pilier Small Tray by Sizar Alexis
Located in Geneve, CH
Pilier small tray by Sizar Alexis Unique Signed Piece Dimensions: Length 23 x width 23 x height 6 cm Materials: Blackened steel, ox leather A series ...
Category

2010s Swedish Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Steel

Leopard spot, Junoth's pattern ceramic mug, hand made in South Africa
By Senzo Duma
Located in North Miami, FL
Sculptor: George Manyathela Painter: Junoth Ncube Dimensions: H 4 in. x L 4 in. x W 4 in. Designed in South Africa in 2024, the Leopard Spot - Junoth's Pattern Mug is a vibrant cele...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary South African Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Ceramic

Jardins De Giverny Set of 2 Pieces in Silver Bronze or Gold Bronze
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
JARDINS DE GIVERNY Set of 2 pieces in silver bronze or gold bronze Set of 2 pieces (table forks/fish, table knife or meat/fish knife) in silver bronze 35/42 microns It is possible to order all products separately or set of 4 piece Table spoon Table fork Table knife/meat knife...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Bronze

Piatto Piano #2, Dining Plate, Black by Ivan Colominas
Located in Geneve, CH
Piatto piano #2 - Dining plate - White by Ivan Colominas Materia e Tavola Collection Dimensions: 29 x 2.1 cm Materials: Bianco Michelangelo / Bianco Carrara Also available: Ner...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Marble

Polish Nickel and Lucite Ice Bucket by Charles Hollis Jones
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A rare hexagonal shape polish nickel and Lucite ice bucket design by Charles Hollis Jones in the 1970s. Newly nickel plated. The ice bucket is signed by CHJ. Dimensions: 10” high, 8...
Category

1970s American Vintage Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Nickel

Ghidini 1961 Axonometry Small Parallelepiped Tray in Copper by Elisa Giovanni
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
The compositional scheme of this family of small trays is the axonometric isometric projection of two parallelepipeds which creates a three-dimensional optical effect implemented by ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Copper

Ghidini 1961 Omini Small Bowl in Stainless Steel by Stefano Giovannoni
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
Small bowl in stainless steel Omini is a family of products that plays on the inclusion and the relationship between the human figure with a series of monolithic objects from geomet...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Stainless Steel

Ghidini 1961 Omini Medium Bowl in Stainless Steel by Stefano Giovannoni
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
Medium bowl in stainless steel Omini is a family of products that plays on the inclusion and the relationship between the human figure with a series of monolithic objects from geome...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Stainless Steel

Ghidini 1961 Tip Top Tray Medium in Gold by Richard Hutten
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
Tray 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 very su...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Steel

Ghidini 1961 Tip Top Limousine Tray in Gold by Richard Hutten
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
Limousine tray in stainless 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...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Stainless Steel

Ghidini 1961 Tip Top Flat Tray in Gold by Richard Hutten
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
Flat tray 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 stret...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Steel

Ghidini 1961 Tip Top Tall Tray in Gold by Richard Hutten
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
Tray 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, ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Steel

Ghidini 1961 Tip Top Small Paper Basket in Rose 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

Ghidini 1961 Tip Top Large Paper Basket in Gold by Richard Hutten
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
Large 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 crea...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Stainless Steel

Ghidini 1961 Axonometry Large Parallelepiped Tray in Brass by Elisa Giovanni
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
The compositional scheme of this family of small trays is the axonometric isometric projection of two parallelepipeds which creates a three-dimensional optical effect implemented by ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Brass

Ghidini 1961 Perished Medium Bowl in Gold Plated Stainless Steel by Studio Job
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
Medium bowl in openwork steel. After having visited the Museum of Natural History in New York, Studio Job created a neo-gothic pattern of dancing human and animal skeletons...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Stainless Steel

Ghidini 1961 Axonometry Small Cube Tray in Copper by Elisa Giovanni
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
The compositional scheme of this family of small trays is the axonometric isometric projection of two parallelepipeds which creates a three-dimensional optical effect implemented by ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Copper

Ghidini 1961 Axonometry Large Parallelepiped Tray in Copper by Elisa Giovanni
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
The compositional scheme of this family of small trays is the axonometric isometric projection of two parallelepipeds which creates a three-dimensional optical effect implemented by ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Copper

Ghidini 1961 Axonometry Small Cube Tray in Brass by Elisa Giovanni
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
The compositional scheme of this family of small trays is the axonometric isometric projection of two parallelepipeds which creates a three-dimensional optical effect implemented by ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Brass

Solid Oak Serving Tray – EDGE
Located in Orlando, FL
The EDGE Series Square Solid Oak Serving Tray brings together the elegance of natural oak wood and the practicality of modern design, offering a versatile and refined solution for se...
Category

2010s Turkish Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Wood, Oak

Lunar Cycle Multi-Layered Stand in gray marble and copper by Elisa Ossino
Located in Milan, IT
Lunar Cycle is a multi-layered stand made of two circular levels in Grigio Versilia – an Italian gray variety of marble – and a copper bowl, joined up by a thin copper elements. This...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Marble, Copper

New Moon Small Glass Bell with Copper and Carrara Marble Tray by Elisa Ossino
Located in Milan, IT
New Moon is a blown glass bell with a tray in Carrara marble and copper. This object is part of the Lunar Landscape collection designed by Elisa Ossino, who created a collection of t...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Carrara Marble, Copper

Mid-Century Horseshoe-Shaped Brush Hanger
Located in Lisboa, Lisboa
Horseshoe-shaped brush hanger. A rustic and functional piece, ideal for vintage or country environments. It has a horseshoe-shaped base made of varnished wood, which gives it a decor...
Category

Mid-20th Century Portuguese Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Metal

Parure II Large Glass Bowl with Brass Base by Cristina Celstino
Located in Milan, IT
Large glass bowl with brass base, available in two colors versions: blue or light blue. Parure II, designed by Cristina Celestino, is part of Dolce Vita, a collection that celebrates...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Brass

fferrone Contemporary Abstract Large Black Serving Tray Decorative Sculpture
Located in Chicago, IL
Lift - large size Simple. Elegant. Minimalist. The abstract contemporary black serving tray titled lift will redefine the landscape of your table s...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Steel

fferrone Pair of Contemporary Copper Serving Trays Decorative Sculpture
Located in Chicago, IL
Lift and lift, too - set of two. Simple. Elegant. Minimalist. The contemporary copper serving trays titled Lift collection will redefine the land...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Copper

Solid Oak Serving Tray – EDGE
Located in Orlando, FL
The EDGE Series Square Solid Oak Serving Tray brings together the elegance of natural oak wood and the practicality of modern design, offering a versatile and refined solution for se...
Category

2010s Turkish Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Wood, Oak

Hand Painted Ceramic Smiley Spoon 7 Unique Edition
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Part of the surrealist-inspired show the dinner guests, each ceramic smiley spoon is hand painted with anthropomorphic shapes and playful, brightly-colored patterns. 1 of 9. Handm...
Category

2010s American Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Ceramic

Hand Painted Ceramic Smiley Spoon 5 Unique Edition
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Part of the surrealist-inspired show the dinner guests, each ceramic smiley spoon is hand painted with anthropomorphic shapes and playful, brightly-colored patterns. 1 of 9. Handm...
Category

2010s American Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Ceramic

Hand Painted Ceramic Smiley Spoon 4 Unique Edition
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Part of the Surrealist-inspired show The Dinner Guests, each ceramic Smiley spoon is hand painted with anthropomorphic shapes and playful, brightly-colored patterns. 1 of 9. Handm...
Category

2010s American Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Ceramic

Hand Painted Ceramic Smiley Spoon 6 Unique Edition
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Part of the surrealist-inspired show the dinner guests, each ceramic smiley spoon is hand painted with anthropomorphic shapes and playful, brightly-colored patterns. 1 of 9. Handm...
Category

2010s American Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Ceramic

Hand Painted Ceramic Smiley Spoon 1 Unique Edition
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Part of the surrealist-inspired show the dinner guests, each ceramic smiley spoon is hand painted with anthropomorphic shapes and playful, brightly-colored patterns. 1 of 9. Handm...
Category

2010s American Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Ceramic

Hand Painted Ceramic Plate Planets of Face Unique Edition
Located in Brooklyn, NY
For Fortmakers' 2019 Surrealist-inspired show The Dinner Guests, ceramic artist Shino Takeda handcrafted and painted a series of playful, anthropomorphic ...
Category

2010s American Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Ceramic

Hand Painted Ceramic Plate Mr J Unique Edition
Located in Brooklyn, NY
For Fortmakers' 2019 Surrealist-inspired show The Dinner Guests, ceramic artist Shino Takeda handcrafted and painted a series of playful, anthropomorphic ...
Category

2010s American Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Ceramic

Hand Painted Ceramic Plate Pirate Freckle Sprinkle Unique Edition
Located in Brooklyn, NY
For Fortmakers' 2019 Surrealist-inspired show The Dinner Guests, ceramic artist Shino Takeda handcrafted and painted a series of playful, anthropomorphic ...
Category

2010s American Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Ceramic

HEDERA Set of 2 pieces in Silver Bronze or Gold Bronze
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
HEDERA Set of 2 pieces in Silver Bronze or Gold Bronze Set of 2 pieces (table forks/fish, table knife or meat/fish knife) in silver bronze 35/42 microns It is possible to order all...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Bronze

OCEAN Set of 2 pieces in Silver Bronze or Gold Bronze
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Set of 2 pieces in Silver Bronze or Gold Bronze Set of 2 pieces (table forks/fish, table knife or meat/fish knife) in silver bronze 35/42 microns It is possible to order all products separately or set of 4 piece Table spoon Table fork Table knife/meat knife...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Bronze

Etro Home Accessory Paisley Leather & Wood Serving Tray, Italy
Located in Toledo, OH
Faux ostrich leather and wood paisley tray made in Italy by Etro Home Accessories. Very nice condition with original box. Dimensions: 16" depth x 16" W x 1.63" H.
Category

20th Century European Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Leather

Tray in Polished Bronze by Fakasaka Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Tray in polished bronze by FAKASAKA Design Dimensions: W 19 x D 9 x H 2.5 cm Materials: polished bronze.  
Category

2010s Brazilian Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Bronze

"A" Marble Tray, Morfosi
Located in Geneve, CH
"A" marble tray - Morfosi Dimensions: D 30 x W 30 cm Materials: White Carrara marble. Available in custom dimensions and materials. The Morfosi brand has as its guideline the s...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Marble

Lunt Design Works Salt & Pepper Shakers
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of salt and pepper shakers by Lunt Design Works. The pair feature tapered bodies with a horizontal striated pattern in the middle of the body wi...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Stainless Steel

Hammock Marble Platter by on Entropy in Brown, Desk Accessory of Platter
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

French modern orange plastic set Orangeade Jean Pierre Vitrac for Bourbon, 1970s
Located in MIlano, IT
French modern orange plastic set Orangeade Jean Pierre Vitrac for Bourbon, 1970s Set of glasses and jug mod. Orangeade in fluorescent orange plastic. The six glasses fit into the two...
Category

1970s French Vintage Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Plastic

Silent Fire Plate by Daniel Nikolovski
Located in Geneve, CH
Silent fire plate by Daniel Nikolovski Dimensions: ø18 x H 3 cm Materials: Glazed ceramic The concept behind this plate is capturing a chemical phenome...
Category

2010s Macedonian Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Ceramic

Esa Fedrigolli Design Sculpture Center Bronze Enaneled by Esart, Italy Years 1970
Located in Biella, IT
Esa Fedrigolli design vintage sculpture center bronze pocket emptier enameled in refined green, red and bleu by Esart Italy production in years 1970, signe...
Category

1870s Italian Antique Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Bronze

Piatto Piano #3, Side Plate, Black by Ivan Colominas
Located in Geneve, CH
Piatto piano #3 - Side plate - Black by Ivan Colominas Materia e Tavola Collection Dimensions: 19 x 1.2 cm Materials: Nero Marquinia Also available: Bianco Michelangelo / Bianco Carr...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Marble

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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