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Modern Lighting

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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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
Two-Petal Gold Wall Light Fixture by Mammini Candido
Located in Milan, IT
Hailing from the Petal collection, this gorgeous pair of lights composing this contemporary piece are true to their name, as they are shaped like two large petals. This composition w...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Lighting

Materials

Metal

"Il Pezzo 12 Wall Sconce" - satin brass - crystal - LEDs - Made in Italy
Located in Firenze, IT
Il Pezzo 12 is a female figure suspended in the air, carrying in her womb the light. It’s nimble, refined, addictive. The solid clearest crystal, brilliantly illuminated by two LEDs, diffuses ambient light and casts mesmerizing patterns throughout the room. It’s suspended between brass stems and brass casting rings, available in different finishes. The fixture is adorned with two additional LEDs at the ends of the stem to provide a warm direct lighting...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Lighting

Materials

Crystal, Gold Plate, Brass

Natural Brass Contemporary-Modern Decorative Pendant lamp Handcrafted in Italy
Located in Saonara, IT
Handcrafted pendant lamp model "STECCA", made in brass; with its sober and elegant design, this piece perfectly fits into modern-contemporary context. Shown in the first photo in na...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Lighting

Materials

Brass

21st Century VI+M Studio Medium Lamp Murano Glass Tripolino Fringe Various Color
Located in Brembate di Sopra (BG), IT
21st century VI+M Studio medium lamp Murano glass and tripolino fringes various colors. Designed by Studio VI+M, Normanna is a tribute to Sicily, the designer’s homeland, and the richness and fullness of the colors that characterize its art and architecture. Composed of a delicate sphere that makes a diffuser for light and expresses the high chromatic potential of Murano glass – ruby...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Lighting

Materials

Murano Glass

Pair of Murano Glass Organic Lamps “Soffio”
Located in Austin, TX
Pair of Murano glass lamps. The hand-blown glass lamps were crafted in the ”Incamiciato“ technique layering together smoked and white glass. We loved the organic feel of this pair. T...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Lighting

Materials

Murano Glass

Italian lamp Boalum by Livio Castiglioni Gianfranco Frattini for Artemide, 1970s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern lamp Boalum by Livio Castiglioni Gianfranco Frattini for Artemide, 1970s Floor, table or pendant lamp mod. Boalum in translucent flexible PVC with resin terminals. It ...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Modern Lighting

Materials

Plastic

Murano Glass Aqua Textured Sconces
Located in Austin, TX
Pair of Murano glass sconces from the island of Murano, Italy outside of Venice. This pair has three thick panels of glass molded and textured in a beautiful aqua blue color. They ar...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Lighting

Materials

Murano Glass

Murano Glass “Alligatore” Sconces
Located in Austin, TX
Pair of sconces, Italian, from the island of Murano. This pair is made of hand-blown glass with a beautiful “alligatore” texture. They have been newly wired to fit US standards. T...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Lighting

Materials

Murano Glass

Raka Studio, Contemporary, Organic Modern, Flower Table Lamp, Bentwood, 21st C.
Located in Manhasset, NY
Raka Studio, Contemporary, Organic Modern, Flower Table Lamp, Bentwood, 21st C. Limited edition floral table lamp designed and produced by Raka Studio. This work features lacquered, sculpted, and carved ash and bentwood. Greenwich Living Design...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Pakistani Modern Lighting

Materials

Ash

Kozo Person Paper Lanterns By John Gnorksi
Located in San Francisco, CA
John Gnorski Kozo Paper limited edition lanterns are being sold exclusively through Studio AHEAD. ‍These lights are made of Douglas fir, Thai kozo paper, and porcelain electrical el...
Category

2010s American Modern Lighting

Materials

Wood, Paper

21st Century Karim Rashid Suspension Lamp Murano Glass Various Colors
Located in Brembate di Sopra (BG), IT
21st century Karim Rashid Flik suspension lamp Murano glass various colors Karim Rashid has designed Flik for Purho, a lamp which by the designer’s definition is “forged by fire but...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Lighting

Materials

Murano Glass

Laurel Aged Bronze Modern Lamps
Located in New York, NY
Pair of aged bronze sculptural modernist lamps with a slim brutalist profile. Professionally rewired for use in the USA. 100W bulbs max.
Category

20th Century American Modern Lighting

Materials

Bronze

Zero LED Lens Pendant by Jens Fager
Located in Yonkers, NY
Gazing at an architect’s style-set through the Lens pendant, designed by Jens Fager, will make it clear that the classically clean look has got a shot at brilliance. In painted alumi...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Modern Lighting

Materials

Aluminum

Bosphore Wall Sconce in Yellow (Large Size) by Laura Gonzalez
Located in Paris, FR
Glazed ceramic wall lamp with geometric relief made by the Jean Roger workshop in Paris. Available in green, yellow, blue, pink, brown, and matte white colors and in two sizes.
Category

2010s French Modern Lighting

Materials

Ceramic

Ribbed Salt Glaze Ceramic Lamp by Lee Rosen for Design Technics
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Ribbed Salt Glaze Ceramic Lamp by Lee Rosen for Design Technics. Also in the style of Alberto Giacometti for Jean-Michel Frank. Shade Dimensions: 12...
Category

1940s American Vintage Modern Lighting

Materials

Ceramic, Wood

Pendant lamp by Adolf Loos for VeArt
Located in Lugo, IT
Pendant lamp by Adolf Loos for VeArt Good condition Thanks
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Modern Lighting

Materials

Metal

Handmade Artemis Wall Lamp by Gobo Lights
Located in Geneve, CH
Handmade Artemis Wall Lamp by Gobo Lights Dimensions: D 12 x W 90 x H 120 cm Materials: Brass, Opaline. Weight: 0.35 Kg. This lamp takes the shape of the bow used by Artemis, the go...
Category

2010s Belgian Modern Lighting

Materials

Brass

Modern Fabric Pendant Plain Light Anemone Grande from Studio Mirei
Located in New York, NY
The simple elegance of the Anemone Pendant Lamp provides an eye-catching aesthetic in any home while diffusing ambient light. The elaborate body is crafted entirely of Banaca (banana...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Lighting

Materials

Fabric, Natural Fiber

1960s Iceberg Table Lamp by Carlo Nason for Mazzega
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Wonderful 1960s Iceberg table lamp from Italy by Carlo Nason for Mazzega. Molded glass shade and metal base. Rewired with single E12 candelabra based soc...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Modern Lighting

Materials

Metal

Teal Murano Wall Sconce with Brass Accents
Located in Saint-Ouen, IDF
Teal curved Murano glass wall sconces with hammered brass washers. Two sources of light per sconce
Category

2010s Italian Modern Lighting

Materials

Brass

ALLA Wall Sconce Travertine & Glass, Emily Del Bello x Blueprint Lighting
Located in New York, NY
ALLA WALL SCONCE Featuring a travertine backplate and delicate chain inspired by Christian Dior’s luxurious pearl earrings, the Alla Wall Sconce delivers a harmonious blend of simplicity and sophistication, brilliantly complementing any wall it adorns. (Please specify Natural Brass or Dark Bronze hardware when ordering.) -Part of the Emily Del Bello...
Category

2010s American Modern Lighting

Materials

Travertine, Marble, Brass, Bronze

Vistosi Jube Table Lamp in Light Amethyst Transparent Glass & Matt Steel Finish
Located in Mogliano Veneto, Treviso
The elegant and delicate look of the blown glass finds a new dimension in Jube. Two glass units placed side by side, so perfectly assembled, that they look like a unique piece. A sin...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Lighting

Materials

Glass

Murano Glass Aqua Single Panel Sconces
Located in Austin, TX
Pair of Murano glass sconces; each crafted with a single curved panel of hand-blown aqua glass on a brass frame. We love the modern style and hand-crafted quality of these sconces. T...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Lighting

Materials

Murano Glass

Foscarini Double Wall Lamp in White by Valerio Bottin
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Wall lamp with indirect and diffused light. Hand blown cased glass diffuser achieved using glass blowing procedure without turning the glass in the ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Lighting

Materials

Blown Glass

Modern Fabric Pendant Hand-Painted Light from Studio Mirei, Sirenetta (Set of 3)
Located in New York, NY
Sirenetta Modern Fabric Pendant Hand-Painted Light from Studio Mirei, represented by Costantini Design Sirenetta; inspired by a sea siren. When the sun...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Lighting

Materials

Natural Fiber

'Dice' Alabaster and Brass Wall or Ceiling Lamp by Denis De La Mesiere
Located in Glendale, CA
'Dice' Alabaster and Brass Wall or Ceiling Lamp by Denis De La Mesiere Handcrafted in Los Angeles in the workshop of noted French designer and antiques dealer Denis de le Mesiere, w...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Lighting

Materials

Alabaster, Metal, Brass

SLAMP - Clizia Suspension Large - Mama Non Mama Gold - Transparent Wire
Located in Pomezia, Rome
Clizia Mama Non Mama is a suspension inspired by pure natural beauty, with almost weightless petals that bring balanced allure and a fresh feel to interiors. A hand-folded bouquet of...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Lighting

Materials

Other

Solar Pendant by Atelier George
Located in Geneve, CH
Solar pendant by Atelier George One of a Kind Dimensions: L 100 x l 25 x H 60 cm Stem length : 30 cm Materials: Handblown glass, brass fixture 230/240 Volts 50-60 Hz 9 Watt All our...
Category

2010s French Modern Lighting

Materials

Brass

Lumina Flo Floor Lamp in Black by Foster+Partners
Located in New York, NY
LED lights for floor, in varnish coated aluminum and steel. Its head rotates by 300° for direct lighting, the arm pivots on the base by 120°. 6W-LED which you can switch on with one ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Lighting

Materials

Aluminum

“Pagodina” Wireless Contemporary TableLamp, rose, laquered, Silvered Crystal
Located in Pietrasanta, IT
PAGODINA The calm of resonating with your inner peace For 20 years, we have been committed to offering you unique collections in terms of design and quality. Today we honor the han...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Lighting

Materials

Crystal, Brass

Brazilian contemporary minimalist prewashed linen pendant - oval
Located in Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo
This pendant is named Acítara. It has two layers, one longer than the other, and it is made in prewashed white linen. The structure of the product is made of white alumnium. The li...
Category

2010s Brazilian Modern Lighting

Materials

Aluminum

Modernist Brass Sconces with Hand Blown Murano 24-Karat Gold Glass with Murines
Located in New York, NY
This beautiful pair of modernist sconces were realized in Murano, Italy- the island off the coast of Venice renowned for centuries for its superlative glass production. In dialogue w...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary European Modern Lighting

Materials

Gold

Jill wall lamp by P. King, S. Miranda & G. Arnaldi for Arteluce
Located in modena, Emilia-Romagna
Jill ceiling light by Perry King, Santiago Miranda and Gianluigi Arnaldi for Arteluce. The design is clearly a postmodern nod to the Art Deco period of the 1920s. In full eighties Me...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Modern Lighting

Materials

Aluminum

Modernist Steel and Zinc Hanging Lamps by Ron Rezek c.1980
Located in New York, NY
Ronald John Rezek (born October 31, 1946, Oakland, California, USA) is a design entrepreneur who started five successful companies and has designed hundreds of contemporary light fix...
Category

20th Century American Modern Lighting

Materials

Zinc

Grégoire de Lafforest 'Armen' Table Lamp for DCW éditions Paris
Located in Tilburg, NL
Grégoire de Lafforest 'Armen' Table Lamp for DCW éditions Paris, France. Inspired by geometric shapes and mathematical objects, Armen is a game of imbrication and balance between tw...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Lighting

Materials

Aluminum

1396 15-Lights Chandelier
Located in Milan, IT
Designed to represent a spectacular hanging vase, this stunning 15 Lights Chandelier is crafted in hand-decorated metal and features amber colored murano glass. The striking Murano g...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Lighting

Materials

Metal

Natural Maple and Brass Modern Edmund Sconce
Located in Philadelphia, PA
The Edmund sconce adopts the charismatic details from our beloved Edmund Pendant with its distinctive and charming shape. The hand-turned shade and overs...
Category

2010s American Modern Lighting

Materials

Brass

Milk 13, Blown Glass Pendant Foyer Chandelier by Shakuff
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Hand blown glass pendants fixtures. 13 glass pendants on 24" round canopy with LED MR16 7W bulbs. Fixture dimmable. 2 additional ft. are added to every wire. UL listed. Glass pendant...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Lighting

Materials

Glass

Casa Wall Light No3
Located in Macieira de Sarnes, PT
CASA WALL LIGHT No3, designed in 2023. Artisanal ceramic light with textured finish, made in Project 213A's own ceramic workshop. Each piece is unique due to its handmade nature, sh...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Lighting

Materials

Ceramic

Contemporary Handmade Ceramic Graham Lamp
Located in Brooklyn, NY
One of a kind ceramic lamp, hand built and assembled by hand. The lamp base is made with speckled clay manufactured regionally to the East Coast with custom made matte finish white g...
Category

2010s American Modern Lighting

Materials

Brass

Tulle Wall Lamp in Brass and Gray Enamel Mesh by Blueprint Lighting, 2021
Located in New York, NY
The Tulle wall lamp is an architectural piece that works well in both modern and transitional interiors. Shown here in our 'Charcoal' gray enamel and b...
Category

2010s American Modern Lighting

Materials

Bronze, Brass, Nickel, Enamel

Atelier George Lighting Fixture Solaire
Located in Paris, FR
Solar pendant light by Atelier George is a unique piece made of blown glass with a brass stem. It is composed of a white with amber veins glass globe, and three glass planets of blue...
Category

2010s French Modern Lighting

Materials

Brass

Pin Up Wall Sconce by Research.Lighting, Black, 3in Glass, Made to Order
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This listing is for 1x Pin Up Sconce in black manufactured by Research.Lighting. It can be used facing up or down. Materials: Brass, Steel & Glass Finis...
Category

2010s American Modern Lighting

Materials

Metal

Pair of Decorative Plaster Table Lamps
Located in Saint-Ouen, IDF
Pair of tall plaster table lamp with brass hardware topped with modern lampshades.
Category

2010s French Modern Lighting

Materials

Plaster

Murano Curved Crystal Chandelier by Carlo Nason
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Murano hand blown clear crystal glass chandelier. Fixture in plated chrome. Diameter 60 cm Height of the frame with only glasses is 35 cm Height with the chain 90 cm The height can ...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Modern Lighting

Materials

Chrome

Set/2 Modern Table Lamps, Glass Base, Silk Lampshade, Handmade by Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
Set/2 Modern Table Lamps, Glass Base, Silk Lampshade, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by GF Modern. This is an elegant table lamp and an attractive addition to a modern home. The m...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Lighting

Materials

Stainless Steel

Ballroom the Wall Long Pink Gold Base
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Danish design from Design by Us The spherical Ballroom sconces with translucent hues will create a subtle warm glow in your interior. Material: Mouth blown and hand painted glass w...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Danish Modern Lighting

Materials

Blown Glass, Glass

KONNECT Pendant P10
Located in Renton, WA
Inspired by modernist architecture, the KONNECT series offers a dynamic blend of functional illumination and customizable art decor. Its panel-based LED system allows you to craft a ...
Category

2010s Taiwanese Modern Lighting

Materials

Steel

Crystal Balls Colorful Candleholder, Made in Italy
Located in ROCCAVIVARA CB, IT
A unique piece Crystal candleholder made in Venice Colorful and bright this candleholder will make your table spark.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Lighting

Materials

Crystal

Custom Pair of Two-Arm Plaster Sconces in the Giacometti Manner
Located in New York, NY
Custom pair of two-arm plaster sconces in the Giacometti manner. Please note that the sconces takes E-12 candelabra bulbs, 40 watts. These sconces are customizable in sizes, amount o...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Lighting

Materials

Plaster

FLOS Ariette 3 Large Dimmable Wall Lamp by Tobia Scarpa
Located in Brooklyn, NY
It looks like a stunning wall sculpture: organic, airy, and breathtaking, the Ariette wall lamp is a work of art by Tobia Scarpa. Providing diffused light, it features a synthetic fa...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Lighting

Materials

Fabric, Plastic

Poliedri Chandelier
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Italian modern chandelier with clear polyhedron / polyhedral shaped Murano glass, mounted on white enameled metal frame, in the style of Venini and Carlo Scarpa / Made in Italy by Fa...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Modern Lighting

Materials

Murano Glass

Brass and Parchment Paper Chandelier by Diego Mardegan for Glustin Luminaires
Located in Saint-Ouen, IDF
Impressive chandelier made of white enameled brass arms holding six beautiful parchment paper shades, which can be adjusted thanks to the handle of each socket. Signed by the arti...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Lighting

Materials

Brass

Pair of Tall Coastal Seashell Encrusted Column Lamps
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pair of Tall Coastal Seashell Encrusted Column Lamps USA, Later 20th Century  A stunning pair of tall coastal seashell-encrusted column lamps. Made in the USA during the late 20th c...
Category

Late 20th Century American Modern Lighting

Materials

Metal

1980s Modern Murano Glass and Metal Italian Big Wall Sconces by Leucos
Located in Aci Castello, IT
These sleek and elegant 1980s modern wall sconces by Leucos showcase the exquisite craftsmanship of Murano glass by Renato Toso. The cylindrical forms are crafted from glossy white M...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Modern Lighting

Materials

Metal

Area ceiling lamp design by Mario Bellini for Artemide
Located in Milano, IT
Vintage "Area" ceiling lamp by Mario Bellini Elegant vintage chandelier dating from the 1970s, designed by famous designer Mario Bellini for Artemide. This unique piece represents...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Modern Lighting

Materials

Metal

"Il Pezzo 12 Wall Sconce" - nickel - crystal - LEDs - Made in Italy
Located in Firenze, IT
Il Pezzo 12 is a female figure suspended in the air, carrying in her womb the light. It’s nimble, refined, addictive. The solid clearest crystal, brilliantly illuminated by two LEDs,...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Lighting

Materials

Crystal, Gold Plate, Brass

LAITO Pendant L 'White, Black'
Located in Renton, WA
The LAITO’s vintage shape brings back the silhouette of what lamps use to look like when you walked into a bank or library back in the day. Our specially designed fishbone structure ...
Category

2010s Taiwanese Modern Lighting

Materials

Steel

Modern lighting for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Modern lighting 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 lighting created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include lighting, decorative objects, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, glass and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Modern lighting 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 lighting, popular names associated with this style include Vistosi, Artemide, Flos, and DOOQ. 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.

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