Skip to main content

Minimalist Tribal Art

MINIMALIST STYLE

A revival in the popularity of authentic Minimalist furniture is rooted in history while reflecting the needs and tastes of the 21st century. Designer Ludwig Mies van der Rohe’s aphorism that “less is more” influenced the evolution of 20th-century interiors with an emphasis on function and order. This was a shift from the 19th century, with its lavish Victorian decorating, and was spread around the world through design styles including Bauhaus and brutalism.

Yet Minimalism was present in furniture design long before the clean lines of modernism, such as in the simple and elegant utility of Shaker furniture. Although the Minimalist art movement of the 1960s and ’70s had little crossover with furniture design, artist Donald Judd was inspired by the Shakers in creating his own spare daybeds and tables from sturdy wood. (Judd, whose advocacy of symmetry also informed his architectural projects, furnished his Manhattan loft with unassuming but poetic works by iconic modernist designers such as Gerrit Rietveld and Alvar Aalto.)

Understatement rather than ornamentation and open space instead of clutter are central themes for a Minimalist living room and bedroom. As opposed to Maximalism, the focus for Minimalist furniture and decor is on simplicity and considering the design and purpose of every object.

Furnishings are usually made in neutral or monochrome colors and pared down to their essentials — think nesting coffee tables, sectional sofas and accent pieces such as ottomans. And Minimalist ceramics can help achieve a decor that is both timeless and of the moment. The organic textures and personalization of handmade craftsmanship associated with these works have served as a sort of anti-Internet to screen-weary decorators. That said, while the thoughtful ergonomics of Scandinavian modern furniture, with its handcrafted teak frames, are at home in Minimalist spaces, so are the quietly striking pieces by Japanese designer Naoto Fukasawa that employ industrial materials like stainless steel, aluminum and plastic.

Minimalist furniture is not for making flashy statements; it boasts subdued appeal and excels at harmonizing with any room. And, as it encompasses many different movements and eras of design, it also never goes out of style, owing to its tasteful refinement.

Find a collection of Minimalist tables, seating, lighting and more furniture on 1stDibs.

to
2
1
3
74
12
10
10
1
1
3
2
1
1
2
2
1
1
2
2
1
1
1
3
3
3
Style: Minimalist
African Topoke Iron Currency Blade, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
While shield and spear were central to African combat, this iron sword blade was most likely made to serve as a piece of trade currency. Many pre-colonization African currencies were...
Category

Early 20th Century Congolese Minimalist Tribal Art

Materials

Iron

Yoruba Osanyin Healing Staff, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
To cure mental and physical ailments, Yoruba priests and diviners invoke the aid of Osanyin, the god of herbal medicines. Used in divination rituals to cure the afflicted, this iron ...
Category

Early 20th Century Nigerian Minimalist Tribal Art

Materials

Iron

Vintage Kurdish Polychrome Wool Flat-Weave Rug
Located in Milan, IT
Perdehs were used as tent dividers by the Kurdish tribes of Eastern Anatolia. Each flat-woven wool panel is individually dip-dyed and subsequently hand-stitched to the other panels. ...
Category

1930s Turkish Vintage Minimalist Tribal Art

Materials

Wool

Related Items
Vintage Moroccan Brown Plum Tribal Berber Rug
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage Tribal Moroccan Berber rug, different hues of browns, plum and rust natural organic wo.This carpet is a gorgeous piece of Abstract Modernist Art...
Category

Late 20th Century Moroccan Minimalist Tribal Art

Materials

Wool

Yoruba Nigeria African Red Royal Beaded Headdress Crown on Lucite Stand
Located in North Hollywood, CA
West African hand beaded head dress crown from Yoruba, Nigeria. This artistic beautiful and functional art piece is covered with beads in ivory, red and black colors with faces bird...
Category

Mid-20th Century Nigerian Minimalist Tribal Art

Materials

Metal

Single Yua Wenga Currency from the Early 20th Century
Located in Atlanta, GA
A single Yua Wenga currency from the early 20th century on custom iron stand. This antique tribal currency piece from Papua New Guinea has been carved ...
Category

Early 20th Century Papua New Guinean Minimalist Tribal Art

Materials

Bone

African Tribal Yoruba, Nigeria Rider Figure Offering Bowl Early 20th Century
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Early Yoruba offering bowl in the from of a male figure with a beard riding on horse back surrounded by four small attendants, finely carved with nice patina from native use. Probabl...
Category

Early 20th Century Nigerian Minimalist Tribal Art

Materials

Wool

Poto African Iron Sword, Congo Africa on Stand
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Poto African sword, Congo Africa on stand. A forged iron sword with fine incised design, inlaid brass dots, overlaid brass strips, finely carved wood ha...
Category

Early 20th Century Congolese Minimalist Tribal Art

Materials

Wrought Iron

Adire Eleko Yoruba Textile
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Adire Eleko Woman's Wrapper Yoruba People Nigeria Circa 1960s-1970s Cotton) (2 panels), starch-resist and stencil dyed with indigo 74 x 67 3/4 ins (188 x 172 cm) "IRANA RDLEN " w...
Category

1960s Nigerian Vintage Minimalist Tribal Art

Materials

Cotton

Adire Eleko Yoruba Textile
Adire Eleko Yoruba Textile
$1,830
H 67 in W 74 in D 0.07 in
A colourful beaded Yoruba 'crown'
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Yoruba People, Nigeria, 20th century Provenance: - Collection Rinck Hollnberger, Munich (purchased in the 1980s or 1990s)
Category

20th Century Nigerian Minimalist Tribal Art

Materials

Beads

A colourful beaded Yoruba 'crown'
A colourful beaded Yoruba 'crown'
$1,430
H 9.85 in Dm 6.3 in
19th Century Balinese Temple Offering Tray / Bowl 'Dulang' with Polychrome
Located in Jimbaran, Bali
Balinese offering tray; "Dulangs" served two main purpose, one purpose was to carry offerings atop woman’s heads during ceremonies. The present "Dulang" was used exclusively in temples to display offerings and features hints of turquoise polychrome at its base. This "Dulang" has faded polychrome and chipped...
Category

Mid-19th Century Balinese Antique Minimalist Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

Yoruba Nigeria African Royal Beaded Headdress Crown on Lucite Stand
Located in North Hollywood, CA
West African hand beaded head dress crown from Yoruba, Nigeria. This artistic beautiful and functional art piece is covered with beads in turquoise, orange, green, yellow red, blue ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Nigerian Minimalist Tribal Art

Materials

Metal

African Topoke Sword Currency on Custom Stand
Located in Atlanta, GA
An African iron currency blade or sword currency from the Nkutshu, Topoke & Songo Meno peoples, Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaire) which is nicely presented upon a custom metal stand. Such blades were used by various tribal groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo as a form of currency. They were used to close a variety of important transactions such as land deals or the proposal of marriage. This African sword...
Category

19th Century Congolese Antique Minimalist Tribal Art

Materials

Iron

African Topoke Sword Currency on Custom Stand
African Topoke Sword Currency on Custom Stand
$1,680
H 63.75 in W 12 in D 6 in
Late 19th-Early 20th Century Hand-Forged Iron Currency, Southern Chad, Africa
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Late 19th-early 20th century iron currency, kurr, Sara-Madjingaye peoples, Southern Chad. These rare currencies have a wonderfully minimalist anthropomorphic form, but were inspired...
Category

Early 20th Century Chadian Minimalist Tribal Art

Materials

Iron

Bronze Head of an Oba, Yoruba People, 1950s
Located in Aramits, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
A Benin bronze of an Oba. Oba means ruler in the Yoruba language. Wearing a lattice-pattern cap with strands of beads suspended around the head. The neck is bound with a lattice-patt...
Category

1950s Beninese Vintage Minimalist Tribal Art

Materials

Bronze

Bronze Head of an Oba, Yoruba People, 1950s
Bronze Head of an Oba, Yoruba People, 1950s
$1,482
H 11.03 in W 3.94 in D 4.73 in
Previously Available Items
Pair of African Topoke Currency Blades, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
While shield and spear were central to African combat, these iron sword blades were most likely made to serve as pieces of trade currency. Many pre-colonization African currencies we...
Category

Early 20th Century Congolese Minimalist Tribal Art

Materials

Iron

Vintage Anatolian Minimalist Angora Wool Flat-Weave Rug, 1930's
Located in Milan, IT
Woven in soft angora wool, flat-weaves such as this one are attributed to the eastern Anatolian village of Siirt, an area populated by Kurdish people. Typically in a small. Squarish ...
Category

1930s Turkish Vintage Minimalist Tribal Art

Materials

Angora

Minimalist tribal art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Minimalist tribal art for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Mid-20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage tribal art created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include folk art, rugs and carpets and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with fabric, wool and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Minimalist tribal art made in a specific country, there are Asia, Caucasus, and Turkey pieces 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. Prices for tribal art differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $2,460 and tops out at $2,460 while the average work can sell for $2,460.

Recently Viewed

View All