Modern Obelisks
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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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 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.
to
2
23
2
23
11
1
42
35
32
13
8
7
4
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
23
12
6
16
1
6
1
12
12
9
9
8
11
9
8
7
5
35
25
25
8
1
1
1
1
Style: Modern
Dark Green Marble Obelisks, Pair
Located in New York, NY
A substantial pair of dark green marble Obelisk sculptures in the modern style, circa late-20th century. Pair/set are dark green marble with black veining, some minor traces of white...
Category
Late 20th Century Modern Obelisks
Materials
Marble
Marblelized Brass Pyramid Obelisk by Maitland Smith
Located in Palm Springs, CA
1970’s marbleized brass pyramid obelisk attributed to Maitland Smith.
In original vintage condition shows minor wear consistent with age(see detail photos).
Category
1970s American Vintage Modern Obelisks
Materials
Brass
Khada Hand Carved Decorative Totem Sculpture Set
By Egg Designs
Located in Bothas Hill, KZN
All our totem sculptures are hand carved in Southern Africa from sustainable alien timber by a group of Zimbabwean artists who set their own prices, th...
Category
2010s African Modern Obelisks
Materials
Wood
Italian Pink White Marble Obelisk
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful and substantial Italian pink and white marble Obelisk, in the modern style, circa mid-20th century, Italy. Marble is predominantly pink and wh...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Modern Obelisks
Materials
Marble
Brass Obelisks, Set/Pair
Located in New York, NY
A pair/set of brass Obelisks with ball feet, in the Modern style, circa late 20th century. Pair have a clear lacquer overlay; brass will maintain its shine. A great set of decorative...
Category
Late 20th Century Modern Obelisks
Materials
Brass
Tessellated Stone Obelisk
Located in Miami, FL
Tessellated grey stone obelisk, circa 1990s.
Category
Late 20th Century Philippine Modern Obelisks
Materials
Stone
Italian Modern Dark Green Marble Obelisk Sculpture, circa 1970s
Located in New York, NY
An Italian '70s modern or Post-Modern period dark green marble obelisk sculpture, circa 1970s, Italy. Obelisk is green with white veining. Very go...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Obelisks
Materials
Marble
Lelapa Hand Carved and Cast Solid Brass Decorative TOTEM Sculpture Set
By Egg Designs
Located in Bothas Hill, KZN
All our TOTEM sculptures are hand carved in Southern Africa from sustainable alien timber by a group of Zimbabwean artists who set their own prices, th...
Category
2010s African Modern Obelisks
Materials
Brass, Steel
Italian Obelisks Pyramids Decorative Objects, Set
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful set of two (2) pyramid Obelisks, in the Modern style, circa mid-20th century, Italy. Pyramids are wood, wrapped in hand designed Italian paper; One is a combination of wh...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Modern Obelisks
Materials
Plaster, Paper, Wood
Lelapa Hand Carved and Cast Solid Brass Decorative HORN TOTEM Sculpture
By Egg Designs
Located in Bothas Hill, KZN
All our TOTEM sculptures are hand carved in Southern Africa from sustainable alien timber by a group of Zimbabwean artists who set their own prices, thus making them fair trade. We t...
Category
2010s African Modern Obelisks
Materials
Brass, Steel
Pair of Rock Crystal Obelisks
Located in Queens, NY
Category
20th Century Unknown Modern Obelisks
Materials
Stone
Lelapa Hand Carved and Cast Solid Brass Decorative RING TOTEM Sculpture
By Egg Designs
Located in Bothas Hill, KZN
All our TOTEM sculptures are hand carved in Southern Africa from sustainable alien timber by a group of Zimbabwean artists who set their own prices, thus making them fair trade. We t...
Category
2010s African Modern Obelisks
Materials
Brass, Steel
Khada Hand Carved Decorative Totem Sculpture #2
By Egg Designs
Located in Bothas Hill, KZN
All our totem sculptures are hand carved in Southern Africa from sustainable alien timber by a group of Zimbabwean artists who set their own prices, thus making them fair trade.
Th...
Category
2010s South African Modern Obelisks
Materials
Wood
Large Ama Totem by Ana Tron
Located in Geneve, CH
Large Ama Totem by Ana Tron.
Limited Edition of 5
Dimensions: D 25 x H 159 cm
Materials: Recycled paper with paste, paint chalk, and matt water-based varnish.
Ana Tron is an interio...
Category
2010s Mexican Modern Obelisks
Materials
Epoxy Resin, Paper
Khada Hand Carved Decorative Totem Sculpture #1
By Egg Designs
Located in Bothas Hill, KZN
All our totem sculptures are hand carved in Southern Africa from sustainable alien timber by a group of Zimbabwean artists who set their own prices, thus making them fair trade.
Th...
Category
2010s African Modern Obelisks
Materials
Wood
Khada Hand Carved Decorative Totem Sculpture #3
By Egg Designs
Located in Bothas Hill, KZN
All our totem sculptures are hand carved in Southern Africa from sustainable alien timber by a group of Zimbabwean artists who set their own prices, thus making them fair trade.
Th...
Category
2010s South African Modern Obelisks
Materials
Wood
Gorgeous Pair of Multi Sommerso Art Glass Obelisks by Luigi Onesto for Murano
By Luigi Onesto
Located in San Diego, CA
Gorgeous pair of multi sommerso art glass obelisks by Luigi Onesto for Murano Glass, circa 1996. The pair are in very good vintage condition with one small scratch on the backside o...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Obelisks
Materials
Murano Glass
Marble Obelisks, Pair
Located in New York, NY
A substantial pair of marble Obelisks, in the Modern style, circa mid-20th century. Pair are a very dark green, forest green, with white and light-green veining. Very good condition ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Modern Obelisks
Materials
Marble
Italian Marble Obelisks, Pair
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful pair of red burgundy Italian modern marble Obelisks, circa 1970s, Italy. Solid red burgundy marble with grey veining. Marked on bottom, 'Made in Italy', as shown in last ...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Obelisks
Materials
Marble
Jaru Lucite and 24-Karat Gold Leaf Sculpture
By Jaru
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A two-piece Jaru cast Lucite sculpture with embedded 24-karat gold leaf flakes this ball placed on a pedestal sparkles and shimmers playing off any light source giving it a element o...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Modern Obelisks
Materials
Gold Leaf
Black and White Marble Pyramid Obelisk Style Decorative Object
Located in New York, NY
A black, charcoal and white marble pyramid 'Obelisk style', circa 1970s, 20th century. Dimensions: 2.63" square base x 7.88" height.
Other items shown in images also available, search 1stDibs ref. #s:
Lucite & 1970s Pennies paperweight...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Obelisks
Materials
Marble
English Burl Wood Obelisk
Located in New York, NY
One brown burl wood obelisk, in the Modern style, circa mid-20th century, England. Obelisk is hand-crafted in a rich brown burl. A beautiful decorative obje...
Category
Mid-20th Century English Modern Obelisks
Materials
Burl
Brass Obelisks, Pair
Located in New York, NY
A pair of brass and wood Obelisks, in the Modern style, circa mid to late-20th century. A great set of decorative objects, statement pieces on a mantel, sideboard, bookshelf, cocktai...
Category
Late 20th Century Modern Obelisks
Materials
Brass
Marble Obelisk, Small
Located in New York, NY
A small, neutral, marble obelisk, in the Modern style, circa mid to late-20th century, 1960s, 1970s. Marble is a neutral marble stone similar to the hue of travertine marble. Piece m...
Category
1970s Vintage Modern Obelisks
Materials
Marble, Stone
Italian Travertine Marble Obelisk
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful Italian travertine marble Obelisk, in the Modern style, circa 1970s, Italy. A great decorative object for a shelf, credenza, office, library, cocktail table, etc. Very go...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Obelisks
Materials
Travertine, Marble
Brass Obelisk, Tall
Located in New York, NY
A single brass and wood Obelisk, in the Modern style, circa late-20th century. A great decorative object, statement piece on a mantel, sideboard, cocktail table, etc. Brass is shown ...
Category
Late 20th Century Modern Obelisks
Materials
Brass
Lucite Obelisk Decorative Object
Located in New York, NY
A Lucite obelisk decorative object, in the Modern style, circa late-20th century. A great decorative object for a deck, office, library, shelf, cocktail table, etc. Obelisk measures: 8" Height.
Other items shown in images also available, search 1stDibs ref. #s:
Black and White marble pyramid, ref. #: LU1314223512602
Lucite & 1970s Pennies Paperweight...
Category
Late 20th Century American Modern Obelisks
Materials
Lucite
Christian Caudron, Contemporary Obelisk Lamp, White Alabaster, Marble Base
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
Contempory white alabaster Obelisk lamp designed and produced by Christian Caudron, Meilleur Ouvrier de France 2015*, in his Parisian workshop.
The Obelisk is made of alabaster, a t...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Obelisks
Materials
Alabaster, Marble
Pair of Large Solid Lucite Obelisks, 1970s
Located in New York, NY
Pair of beautifully made impressive large solid lucite obelisks, American 1970's. These are a stand out in any room.
Category
1970s American Vintage Modern Obelisks
Materials
Lucite
1950s, Venini Glass Spiraling Obelisk
By Venini
Located in Roma, IT
Spiraling clear-glass obelisk with red flame-like intrusions made by Venini. One of the most celebrated models of Venini.
This type of glass is called "Vetro Sommerso", model 4256 fr...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Modern Obelisks
Materials
Glass
Small Ama Totem by Ana Tron
Located in Geneve, CH
Small Ama Totem by Ana Tron.
Limited Edition of 5
Dimensions: D 25 x H 125 cm
Materials: Recycled paper with paste, paint chalk, and matt water-based varnish.
Ana Tron is an interio...
Category
2010s Mexican Modern Obelisks
Materials
Epoxy Resin, Paper
Marilyn Fox, Modernist Ceramic Architectural Column Sculpture, 1980s
Located in Norwalk, CT
Marilyn Fox, American (20th century).
White stoneware ceramic column sculpture, circa 1980s. Signed near base.
A witty feminine take on the age-old male...
Category
Late 20th Century American Modern Obelisks
Materials
Stoneware, Ceramic
Lelapa Hand Carved and Cast Solid Brass Decorative SQUARE TOTEM Sculpture Set
By Egg Designs
Located in Bothas Hill, KZN
All our TOTEM sculptures are hand carved in Southern Africa from sustainable alien timber by a group of Zimbabwean artists who set their own prices, thus making them fair trade. We t...
Category
2010s African Modern Obelisks
Materials
Brass, Steel
Pair of Large Faceted Clear Murano Obelisks
Located in New York, NY
Pair of large faceted clear Murano obelisks.
Category
Early 2000s Italian Modern Obelisks
Materials
Murano Glass
Rock Crystal Points Modern Hi-Polished Quartz Singles Price Each
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Hi-grade quartz crystal points from Brazil. Used for decorations or some believe in good luck and good health. Measures: Various sizes from 4"-7"...
Category
1990s South American Modern Obelisks
Materials
Crystal
Modern obelisks for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Modern obelisks 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 obelisks created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include more furniture and collectibles, decorative objects, lighting and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with stone, marble and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Modern obelisks 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 obelisks, popular names associated with this style include Daniel Nikolovski and Danu Chirinciuc, Egg Designs, Christian Caudron, and Christopher Kreiling Studio. 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 obelisks differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $150 and tops out at $14,052 while the average work can sell for $975.