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Modern Primitives

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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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
Berkel's Model 23 Vintage Flywheel Slicer - Berkel & Parnall's
Berkel's Model 23 Vintage Flywheel Slicer - Berkel & Parnall's

Berkel's Model 23 Vintage Flywheel Slicer - Berkel & Parnall's

Located in Manzano, IT

magnificent and rare vintage Berkel's Model 23 flywheel slicer, a true gem of engineering and design. This model was produced in the historical period between 1928 and 1936, and is p...

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Animal House arte animale
Animal House arte animale

Animal House arte animale

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Animal House arte animale

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Sotto il titolo Animal house, che richiama il famoso film ma con il quale non centra, Naka ha raccolto una serie di opere dove l’animale è protagonista in un contesto antropico. Il p...

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21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Primitives

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Modern primitives for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Modern primitives for sale on 1stDibs. 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.