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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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.
$4,236 / item
RD15 3 Arms Black Gunmetal Chandelier by Schwung
Located in Geneve, CH
Black gunmetal 3 arm chandelier by Schwung Dimensions: W 98 x D 98 x H 143 cm Materials: solid brass, hand blown glass globes Lamp: 3 LED 1,...
Metal, Brass
$8,860 / item
RD15 6 Arms Polished Nickel Chandelier by Schwung
Located in Geneve, CH
Polished Nickel 6 arm chandelier by Schwung Dimensions: Diameter 140 x Height 165 cm Materials: Solid brass, hand-blown glass globes Finish: ...
Metal, Nickel
$10,215 / item
RD15 8 Arms Black Gunmetal Chandelier by Schwung
Located in Geneve, CH
RD15 8 Arms Black Gunmetal Chandelier by Schwung Dimensions: Diameter 200 x H 180 cm Materials: Solid brass, hand-blown glass globes Finish: Black Gunmetal. Also available in finis...
Brass
$6,821 / item
RD15 6 Arms Black Gunmetal Chandelier by Schwung
Located in Geneve, CH
RD15 6 Arms Black Gunmetal chandelier by Schwung Dimensions: diameter 140 x height 165 cm Materials: solid brass, hand-blown glass globes Finish: black gunmetal. Also available in ...
Metal, Brass
$14,031 / item
RD15 12 Arms Black Gunmetal Chandelier by Schwung
Located in Geneve, CH
RD15 12 Arms Black Gunmetal Chandelier by Schwung Dimensions: W 140 x D 140 x H 289 cm Materials: Solid brass. Hand blown glass globes Finishes: Black gunmetal. Available also in ...
Brass
$14,031 / item
RD15 12 Arms Chandelier by Schwung
Located in Geneve, CH
RD15 12 Arms Chandelier by Schwung Dimensions: W 140 x D 140 x H 289 Materials: Solid Brass, Hand Blown Glass Globes Schwung is a german word, and loosely defined, means energy or ...
Brass
1970s Sciolari Italy Production Set Two Vintage Space Desk Glass Lamps
Located in Biella, IT
Sciolari Italy production set two vintage space age desk lamps years 70 glass optical structure material is brass and gold metal color with oxi...
Crystal, Brass
Pair of Modern Flowers Sputnik Murano Glass Chandelier
Located in Rome, IT
Large contemporary Sputnik chandelier composed of precious hand blown Murano flowers art glasses with clear and white color. Available also a pair. Chromed steel spherical frame,...
Blown Glass
Maillon 3A Led Pendant Light
Located in Westport, CT
Elegant grouping of 3 oval metal rings with integrated LED diffusing a clean natural light. Soft white 3000K. 31 Watts – 110 lumens / watt Dimmable. Can be customized. Standard finish options available. Dimensions: Adjustable cables length through a push-pin locking...
Stainless Steel
$2,756 / item
Walnut Tetra Floor Light by Hollis & Morris
Located in Geneve, CH
Walnut Tetra floor light by Hollis & Morris Dimensions: 21" x 21" x H 20" Materials: Solid wood, Hardwax Oil. LED lights. Also available in natural oak, black oak, white oak, and...
Walnut
$19,292 / item
Lucilla Lamp by Imperfettolab
Located in Geneve, CH
Lucilla lamp by Imperfettolab 2010 Dimensions : Ø 100 x D 195 cm Materials : Fibreglass Modular lamp system. Imperfetto Lab Who we are ? We are a family. Verter Turroni, ...
Fiberglass
$421 / item
Large Light’In Lantern by Lassen
Located in Geneve, CH
Large Light’In lantern by Lassen Dimensions: D 14 x W 14 x H 28 cm Materials: Metal Also available in different dimensions. Weight: 2.00 Kg With a sharp sense of contemporary Functionalist style, Mogens Lassen designed the iconic Kubus candleholder in 1962, a piece once reserved solely for family and close architect colleagues. In 1983 he reapproached his own geometric candleholders...
Metal
$9,384 / item
Soap 6 Dt Brass Chandelier by Schwung
Located in Geneve, CH
Brass 6 arm sculptural chandelier by Schwung Dimensions: D 117 x W 117 x H 128 cm Materials: Solid brass, hand-blown glass globes Finish: natural brass. Also available in finishes: b...
Brass
$5,694 / item
Universe Black Gunmetal Chandelier by Schwung
Located in Geneve, CH
Black gunmetal 3 arm contemporary chandelier by Schwung. Dimensions: D 25 x W 128.2 x H 178 cm. Materials: solid brass, hand-blown glass globes. Finish: black gunmetal. Also ava...
Metal, Brass
$7,402 / item
Universe Polished Nickel Chandelier by Schwung
Located in Geneve, CH
Polished Nickel 3 arm contemporary chandelier by Schwung Dimensions: D 25 x W 128.2 x H 178 cm Materials: Solid brass, hand-blown glass globes Finish: Polished Nickel. Also availa...
Brass, Nickel
$7,402 / item
Universe Polished Nickel Chandelier by Schwung
Located in Geneve, CH
Polished nickel 3 arm Contemporary chandelier by Schwung Dimensions: D 25 x W 128.2 x H 178 cm Materials: solid brass, hand-blown glass globes. Finish: polished nickel. Also a...
Brass, Nickel
$12,197 / item
Soap 6 DT Chandelier by Schwung
Located in Geneve, CH
Soap 6 DT Chandelier by Schwung Dimensions: W 117 x D 117 x H 128 cm Materials: Metal, hand blown glass globes Finishes: Polished nickel Other finishes available: Black gunmetal, na...
Brass
$2,600 / item
Maillon 3C LED Wall Light
Located in Westport, CT
Elegant grouping of 3 oval metal rings with integrated LED diffusing a clean natural light. Soft white 3000K. 1800 lumens. Dimmable.
Stainless Steel