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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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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
Wooden Serving Tray – EDGE
Located in Karabağlar/Izmir, TR
The EDGE Series Solid Oak Serving Tray is a refined fusion of natural elegance and durable craftsmanship, designed entirely from natural oak wood. Its sleek rectangular form features...
Category

2010s Turkish Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Wood, Oak

Wooden Serving Tray – EDGE
Located in Karabağlar/Izmir, TR
The EDGE Series Premium Solid Oak Serving Tray is a refined fusion of natural elegance and durable craftsmanship, designed entirely from natural oak wood. Its sleek rectangular form ...
Category

2010s Turkish Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Wood, Oak

Wooden Serving Tray – EDGE
Located in Karabağlar/Izmir, TR
The EDGE Series Solid Oak Serving Tray is a refined fusion of natural elegance and durable craftsmanship, designed entirely from natural oak wood. Its sleek rectangular form features...
Category

2010s Turkish Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Wood, Oak

Walnut Serving Tray – EDGE
Located in Karabağlar/Izmir, TR
The EDGE Series Walnut Serving Tray is thoughtfully designed to offer a natural and elegant presentation experience. Featuring solid walnut wood side panels and a top-quality MDF bas...
Category

2010s Turkish Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Wood, Walnut

Wood & Marble Serving Tray Set – EDGE
Located in Karabağlar/Izmir, TR
Crafted from 100% natural travertine marble and solid oak, the EDGE Series Serving Tray Set perfectly balances aesthetic elegance with everyday functionality. The combination of natu...
Category

2010s Turkish Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Marble

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

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

Full Moon Small Copper and Carrara Marble Tray by Elisa Ossino
Located in Milan, IT
Full Moon is a small copper tray with a Carrara marble top and it is part of the Lunar Landscape collection designed by Elisa Ossino, who conceived for Paola C. a tableware collectio...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Carrara Marble, Copper

Full Moon Medium Copper and Carrara Marble Tray by Elisa Ossino
Located in Milan, IT
Full moon is a circular copper tray with a Carrara marble top and it is part of the Lunar Landscape collection designed by Elisa Ossino, who conceived for Paola C. a tableware collec...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Carrara Marble, Copper

Oryx Set of 2 Pieces in Silver Bronze or Gold Bronze
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
ORYX 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

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 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 Limousine Tray in Rose 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 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 Center Bowl in Rose Gold by Richard Hutten
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
Center bowl 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 a ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Stainless 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 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 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 Tip Top Tray Medium in Rose 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 Tall Tray in Rose 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 Flat Tray in Rose 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 Omini Large Bowl in Stainless Steel by Stefano Giovannoni
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
Large 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

Set of 2 Ghidini 1961 Axonometry Trays 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 Squared Small Tray in Brass by Elisa Giovanni
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
Axonometry squared small tray in brass by Elisa Giovanni. Materials: Brass Net weight: 0.55 kg Dimensions: W 20 x D 20 x 2 H cm.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Brass

Ghidini 1961 Perished Large Bowl in Gold-Plated Stainless Steel by Studio Job
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
Large 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 Large 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

Ghidini 1961 Axonometry Office Set 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

'Set of 2' Ghidini 1961 Axonometry Trays 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 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

Set of 3, Ghidini 1961 Axonometry Trays 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 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 Perished Small Bowl in Gold-Plated Stainless Steel by Studio Job
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
Small 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

Lacquer and Resin Wood Serving Tray with Handles and Butterfly Design
Located in Greenwich, CT
Handmade lacquered maple serving tray lined with Osborne & Little butterfly wall cover and finished with a resin top coat. Made for real use, not just decorative. The paint color is ...
Category

2010s American Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Resin, Hardwood

Io Marble Platter by On.Entropy in White, 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. Io...
Category

2010s Greek Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Marble

Ava Bar Tray by Fakasaka Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Ava bar tray by Fakasaka Design Dimensions: W 52.5 cm D 52.5 cm H 1.2 cm Materials: polished bronze. AVA BAR TRAY / CENTERPIECE / CANDLE TRAY FAKA...
Category

2010s Brazilian Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Bronze

Stratus 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

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

Hand Painted Ceramic Smiley Spoon 8 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 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 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 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 3 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 Smiley Spoon 2 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 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

Italian modern metal irregular bowl or container cup by La Rinascente, 1990s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern metal irregular bowl or container cup by La Rinascente, 1990s. Bowl or container cup, small in size, made of metal and with an irregular shape, with a pointed end and ...
Category

1990s Italian Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Metal

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

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

Modern Virginia Black Walnut Thick Bread Board
Located in Middleburg, VA
Modern Bread Board made from one large piece of Virginia Black Walnut. Use it for its original purpose, as a charcuterie board during parties or just hang on the kitchen wall for a r...
Category

20th Century American Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Walnut

White Round Perforated Metal Tray by Mathieu Mategot, France, c. 1950
Located in New York City, NY
Exquisite white round perforated metal tray by Mathieu Matégot, France, circa 1950s.
Category

20th Century French Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Metal

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

Nickel-plated brass rectangular serving tray - Elegance and marine design
Located in Spilimbergo, IT
Refined and functional, this rectangular serving tray combines essential design and nautical-inspired details. Created by designer Nino Basso, it is made of nickel-plated brass with...
Category

Early 2000s Italian Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Brass

Shared Identity by Theodora Alfredsdottii
Located in Geneve, CH
Shared Identity by Theodora Alfredsdottir Unique piece Materials: Mdf, lacquer, glass top Dimensions: 140 x 250 x 105 mm Theodora Alfredsdottir is a product design studio based...
Category

2010s English Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Glass, Lacquer

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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