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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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 chair — crafted 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.
Este Ceramic Large Majolica Onion Tureen Covered Dish Centerpiece, 1960
Located in Atlanta, GA
This original Majolica ceramic soup tureen or centerpiece, shaped like an onion, was designed and manufactured by Este Ceramiche, Italy. The rare piece was crafted in Italy circa 196...
Ceramic
$1,584 / item
136/23 Unique Tureen by Meritxell Duran
Located in Geneve, CH
136/23 Unique Tureen by Meritxell Duran One of a Kind. Dimensions: D 18 x W 38 x H 28 cm. Materials: High temperature clay with interior glaze and porcelaine. Meritxell Duran (Barce...
Clay, Porcelain
Vintage 1970s French Fish Tureen by Mottahedeh
By Mottahedeh
Located in Austin, TX
This vintage French soup tureen from the Lorrain region of France has quite a lot of personality! Doesn't it take you right back to a dinner party you attended in the 1970s? This tu...
Ceramic
22/03 Collection Unique Tureen by Meritxell Duran
Located in Geneve, CH
22/03 Collection Unique Tureen by Meritxell Duran One of a Kind. Dimensions: D 30 x W 24 x H 32 cm. Materials: High temperature clay with glaze Dolomitas stone. Meritxell Duran (Bar...
Clay
Bjørn Wiinblad for Rosenthal. Two Lotus Porcelain Lidded Tureens
Located in København, Copenhagen
Bjørn Wiinblad for Rosenthal. Two Lotus porcelain lidded tureens decorated with light blue lotus leaves. 1980s. Measures: 22 x 19 cm. In excellent co...
Porcelain
Tapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal, Corinth Lidded Tureen in Blue Painted Porcelain
Located in København, Copenhagen
Tapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal. Corinth lidded tureen in blue painted porcelain. Modernist Finnish design. Dated 1979-80. Measures: 22 x 12.5 cm. In excellent condition. Stamped.
Porcelain
165/24 Unique Clay Tureen by Meritxell Duran
Located in Geneve, CH
165/24 Unique Clay Tureen by Meritxell Duran One of a Kind. Dimensions: D 32 x W 20 x H 52 cm. Materials: High temperature clay with interior glaze and porcelaine. Meritxell Duran (...
Clay, Porcelain
164/24 Unique Clay Tureen by Meritxell Duran
Located in Geneve, CH
164/24 Unique Clay Tureen by Meritxell Duran One of a Kind. Dimensions: D 26 x W 20 x H 48 cm. Materials: High temperature clay with interior glaze and porcelaine. Meritxell Duran (...
Clay, Porcelain
22/04 Collection Unique Tureen by Meritxell Duran
Located in Geneve, CH
22/04 Collection Unique Tureen by Meritxell Duran One of a Kind. Dimensions: D 32 x W 26 x H 28 cm. Materials: High temperature clay with glaze Dolomitas stone. Meritxell Duran (Bar...
Clay
22/02 Collection Unique Tureen by Meritxell Duran
Located in Geneve, CH
22/02 Collection Unique Tureen by Meritxell Duran One of a Kind. Dimensions: D 36 x W 28 x H 34 cm. Materials: High temperature clay with glaze Dolomitas stone. Meritxell Duran (Bar...
Clay
22/01 Collection Unique Tureen by Meritxell Duran
Located in Geneve, CH
22/01 Collection Unique Tureen by Meritxell Duran One of a Kind. Dimensions: D 38 x W 26 x H 30 cm. Materials: High temperature clay with glaze Dolomitas stone. Meritxell Duran (Bar...
Clay
03/24 Flowers Family Unique Tureen by Meritxell Duran
Located in Geneve, CH
03/24 Flowers Family Unique Tureen by Meritxell Duran One of a Kind. Dimensions: D 21 x W 21 x H 24 cm. Materials: High temperature clay with interior glaze and cast aluminium. Meri...
Aluminum
02/24 Flowers Family Unique Tureen by Meritxell Duran
Located in Geneve, CH
02/24 Flowers Family Unique Tureen by Meritxell Duran One of a Kind. Dimensions: D 40 x W 29 x H 35 cm. Materials: High temperature clay with interior glaze and cast aluminium. Meri...
Aluminum
Vintage F. Hingelberg Sterling Silver Tureen by Svend Weihrauch
Located in Hellerup, DK
Sterling silver Mid-Century tureen with ivory handles and finial, design Svend Weihrauch from the 1940s. Elegant Mid-Century design, F. Hingelberg was one of the premier silvers make...
Sterling Silver
$1,848 / item
137/23 Unique Tureen by Meritxell Duran
Located in Geneve, CH
137/23 Unique Tureen by Meritxell Duran One of a Kind. Dimensions: D 26 x W 34 x H 34 cm. Materials: High temperature clay with interior glaze and porcelaine. Meritxell Duran (Barce...
Clay, Porcelain
Italian Porcelain Arthichoke Bowl, 1970s
Located in Munich, DE
Extra-large Purple Porcelain Artichoke terrine with lid. This piece is directly from Mancioli, Italy.
Ceramic, Porcelain
$1,584 / item
138/23 Unique Tureen by Meritxell Duran
Located in Geneve, CH
138/23 Unique Tureen by Meritxell Duran One of a Kind. Dimensions: D 22 x W 30 x H 20 cm. Materials: High temperature clay with interior glaze and porcelaine. Meritxell Duran (Barce...
Clay, Porcelain
Majolica French Ceramic Cow Tureen Caugant
Located in Austin, TX
French Majolica cow tureen circa 1940 signed Caugant.
Ceramic, Faience
Majolica Brown Rabbit Tureen Caugant
Located in Austin, TX
French Majolica rabbit tureen signed Caugant, circa 1940.
Ceramic, Faience, Majolica
1970s Individual Hand Painted Porcelain Tureen with Inscription
Located in Marbella, ES
1970s Individual Hand-Painted Porcelain Tureen with Inscription.
Porcelain
Majolica Brown Rabbit Tureen Caugant
Located in Austin, TX
French Majolica rabbit tureen signed Caugant, circa 1940.
Ceramic, Faience, Majolica
1970s Individual Hand Painted Porcelain Tureen with Inscription
Located in Marbella, ES
1970s Individual hand painted Porcelain Tureen with Inscription.
Porcelain
1970s Individual Hand Painted Porcelain Tureen with Inscription
Located in Marbella, ES
1970s Individual Hand-Painted Porcelain Tureen with Inscription.
Porcelain
1970s Individual Hand-Painted Porcelain Tureen with Inscription
Located in Marbella, ES
1970s Individual Hand-Painted Porcelain Tureen with Inscription.
Porcelain
$3,600Sale Price|20% Off
H 12 in W 14 in D 8 in
Meissen Lidded Tureen, Hand Painted with Birds, Hard Paste Porcelain, circa 1934
Located in Houston, TX
Beautiful and in pristine condition. Very fine quality with a figure of a putto On the crest holding a cornucopia filled with raised flowers and fruits spilling Forward on the top ...
Porcelain
Rosenthal Porcelain Tureen Serving Dish Cobalt and Gold
By Rosenthal
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Very nice vintage Rosenthal tureen.
Pair of Silver Plated Tureens
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
This exquisite pair of silver-plated vegetable tureens showcases classic elegance and refined craftsmanship. Featuring oval bodies with delicately cur...
Silver Plate
$4,500 / set
H 10 in Dm 10.13 in
Mid-Century Romanze Porcelain Dinner Service by Bjorn Wiinblad for Rosenthal
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine, near complete Mid-Century modern porcelain dinner service. By Bjorn Wiinblad for Rosenthal. In the Romanze form and Medley pattern. Consisting of: 10 Large Dinner Plates ...
Porcelain
1970s French Ceramic Cauliflower Soup Tureen with Lid and Matching Base
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
1970s French Ceramic Cauliflower Soup Tureen with Lid and Matching Base – Realistic & Decorative Description: This charming and original French ceramic soup tureen, crafted in the 1...
Ceramic
138/23 Unique Tureen by Meritxell Duran
Located in Geneve, CH
138/23 Unique Tureen by Meritxell Duran One of a Kind. Dimensions: D 22 x W 30 x H 20 cm. Materials: High temperature clay with interior glaze and porcelaine. Meritxell Duran (Barce...
Clay, Porcelain
Sold
H 9.85 in W 16.54 in D 13.78 in
Modernist Silver Plated Octagonal Italian Soup Tureen, circa 1970
Located in Aci Castello, IT
A Petruzzi e Branca silver plated centerpiece made in Italy in the 1970s in very good conditions.
Silver Plate
French Copper Flounder Pot with Superb Fitted Grate, Tinned
Located in San Francisco, CA
A large and fine flounder pot with fitted grate.
Copper
Charming Arthur Court Aluminium Tortoise Server or Tureen, 1970s
By Arthur Court
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Arthur Court tortoise server or tureen in aluminium, 1970s. Made for turtle soup (?!) two-piece. Signed. No ladle.
Arthur Court "Rabbit" Lidded Tureen
By Arthur Court
Located in North Miami, FL
A whimsical lidded dish depicting a rabbit by Arthur Court.This piece has great detail down to the small beaded red eyes and fur like strokes of the metal
Metal