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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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.
Design Corner Cabinet with Integrated Turntable - Unique Vintage Piece
Located in Manzano, IT
Are you looking for a piece of furniture that combines functionality, iconic design, and nostalgia? This corner cabinet is the ideal solution to complete the center of your sofa or t...
Wood
Vivian Beauty Desk, in brass, glass and wood, by Accardi Buccheri for Medulum
By Mauro Accardi & Silvia Buccheri
Located in Meolo, Venezia
Vivian is a contemporary Beauty Desk, it can be a Makeup Table, a Writing Table, and even a mirror. Vivian mirror is a mirror with a jewelry shelf. An eleg...
Brass
Corner console table by Pier Luigi Colli with a base in red Verona marble
By Colli Torino, Pier Luigi Colli, Atelier Borsani Varedo
Located in Lugo, IT
Corner console table by Pier Luigi Colli with a red Verona marble base. Good condition. Thank you.
Marble, Iron
Contemporary Console in Etched Brass with Pivoting Doors and Stone Elm Shelves
By SEM, Giacomo Moor
Located in Brooklyn, NY
SEM Pivot collection corner console, simple and sculptural. The supporting structure is a rigid system of metal tubes to which are added shelves in beautiful stone elmwood combined w...
Metal, Brass
Elegant Pink 115.05 Ash Cabinet With Glass Shelf and Brass Top by Cara Davide
Located in Geneve, CH
Elegant Pink 115.05 Ash Cabinet With Glass Shelf and Brass Top by Cara Davide Dimensions: D 51 x W 153 x H 115 cm Materials: Cabinet in aniline colored and transparent varnished ash...
Brass
Elegant 115.13 Basswood Cabinet With Glass Shelf and Brass Top by Cara Davide
Located in Geneve, CH
Elegant 115.13 Basswood Cabinet With Glass Shelf and Brass Top by Cara Davide Dimensions: D 51 x W 153 x H 115 cm Materials: Cabinet in semi gloss lacquered basswood. 2 doors and 1 ...
Brass
Modern Daniele Papuli Dilmos Round Vertical Cabinet Bar Handmade Glass Shelves
By Daniele Papuli, Dilmos Edizioni
Located in Milan, IT
Cylindrical cabinet that develops vertically. The vertical and geometric rigor of the external inlay in grey tones contrasts with the decoration of the interior. A small black fragme...
Silver Leaf
"PARIS" Contemporary Bar Lacquer
By Vermeil
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
"P.ARIS" contemporary bar lacquer. External in lacquer. Wooden interior with coasters and bottles. Design Lattoog.
Lacquer
Elegant 210.M3 Wood Column With Glass Shelves and Green Interiors by Cara Davide
Located in Geneve, CH
Elegant 210.M3 Wood Column With Glass Shelves and Green Interiors by Cara Davide Dimensions: D 51 x W 51 x H 210 cm Materials: Solid wood on multilayer...
Brass, Stainless Steel
Meridian Modular Credenza, Trio, Modern Steel Corner Cabinet, by Force/Collide
Located in Seattle, WA
The most versatile piece of furniture in Force/Collide's portfolio, the Meridian Modular Credenza is an all-steel, sturdy and modern construction consisting of double-sided paneling with no exposed fasteners. It provides total flexibility; the credenza breaks apart into three individual cabinetry components that can be reconfigured in numerous ways, or rather isolated and used independently. Hyper-dimensional in any arrangement, there is virtually no top or bottom to any one of the three components, lending them to function seamlessly in every 90 degree rotation. The use of geometry and mirrored symmetry in every position is not only aesthetic but maximizes storage capacity. This position features: Corner position The corner position is the crux of flexibility for the Meridian Modular Credenza. Designed to give maximal storage in a minimal amount of space, one side of the right-hand unit has been left open to create an access point to the cabinet. The removable door being a key feature for this configuration, all shelves are fully accessible and surface counter area is equivalent to the horizontal configuration. Features The cabinet comes with a removable, reversible door that accommodates every configuration with more than one option. Key design features making this possible: no hardware is visible, magnets are positioned to hold the door in place when closed, and chains can be added or removed from the frame to act as a stop when the door is open in the horizontal position. This gives three ways to use the cabinet: like a door (see horizontal position), like a writing desk (see below), or completely open (see corner position). Adjustable feet provide a guarantee that surfaces can be made level with one another in circumstances where floors may not be level or weight distribution becomes uneven, and finally, the units bolt together from the inside of the cabinet at hidden anchor points to lock it into its proper position and eliminate gaps once level. Details The surface quality of the hot rolled steel used to make the Meridian is scratch-free and luxe, the mill scale patterning carefully paired and emboldened by the process of oiling, buffing and waxing. The framing is blackened to match, while the silver edges of the sheet metal form highlights that act as a geometric mapping of the mirroring cavities. Other positions include: Horizontal position Spanning almost 8 feet across, and hitting 3 feet high, this is the perfect position for use as a traditional credenza...
Steel
Modern 210 Wood Column with Glass Shelves and Lacquered Interiors by Cara Davide
Located in Geneve, CH
Modern 210 Wood Column with Glass Shelves and Lacquered Interiors by Cara Davide Dimensions: D 51 x W 51 x H 210 cm Materials: Solid wood on multilayer structure, 10mm extra-clear t...
Glass, Wood
Modern Dilmos Edizioni Hand Painted Cabinet Storage Free-Standing Wood Colorful
Located in Milan, IT
Free-standing wooden cabinet with a single door for Dilmos Milano. The exterior is carefully hand painted, depicting a detail of Sybil, the seer, located in the Sistine Chapel...
Wood
$9,665 / item
Amazone Console by Plumbum
Located in Geneve, CH
Amazone console by Plumbum Dimensions: L 100/110 x D 25 x H 87 cm Materials: Steel and ebena wood reconstituted veneer. Influenced by French Decorative Arts, Amazone is a sma...
Steel
Modern Leather Trunk Coffee Table, Appliqué Design, China, 1988
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
Unusual corner leather trunk to be used as a side coffee table , or blanket chest - Perfect in a modern sitting room or bedroom-. M/1764 -
Leather
$8,250
H 92 in W 38 in D 27.5 in
English Regency Corner Cabinet in Mahogany with Glass Door Panels, circa 1820
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
An English Regency corner cupboard in mahogany with pediment top, glazed and mullioned upper cabinet over paneled cabinet, and resting on bracket feet. England, circa 1820. Measures:...
Glass, Mahogany
$18,946
H 38.98 in W 96.46 in D 19.69 in
Pier Luigi Colli Oak wood sideboard with carved walnut inlays, Italy, 1940s
Located in Chiavari, Liguria
This sideboard commands the room through its pronounced character. The long, rectangular body is raised on a pair of broad, fluted supports connected by a single stretcher bar, lendi...
Oak
$1,870
H 39.18 in W 31.11 in D 19.1 in
Hand Painted Vintage Corner Pot Cupboard in the French Taste with Marbled Top
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this very decorative and well made hand painted vintage pine pot cupboard A very good looking and well made piece, after the antique French styl...
Marble
19th-C. French Corner Cabinet
Located in Ballard, CA
A single door painted French corner cabinet in the Louis XVI style. Made out of pine wood painted with light gray/blue and cream accents. Feature...
Iron
$10,170 / item
H 33.08 in W 83.08 in D 21.26 in
Morelato Joyce Sideboard, in Ashwood with Straw Doors and brass handless
By Morelato
Located in Salizzole, IT
Contemporary style Joyce sideboard made of ashwood Two central doors with Vienna straw and two side sliding doors with handmade brass handles. The top ...
Brass
$8,965 / item
H 29.53 in W 19.69 in D 47.25 in
Sonia Writing Desk in Cream Shagreen and Bronze-Patina Brass by R&Y Augousti
Located in New York, NY
The Paris based label has distinguished themselves since their launch, with their iconic use of shagreen mixed with brass and other exotic materials. All furniture is handcrafted by skilled artisans, ultimately making each piece unique, designed in Paris and produced in the Philippines. The Sonia writing desk...
Brass
$2,500
H 35.75 in W 23 in D 16.5 in
Antique English Corner Cabinet Carved Oak Hanging Wall Cabinet Storage 19C
Located in Tyler, TX
Beautiful Antique Highly Carved English Oak Hanging Wall or Freestanding Corner Cabinet, Medicine or Spice Cabinet with Interior Shelves Carved double doors with 3 open she...
Oak
$3,837
H 29.14 in W 43.31 in D 19.69 in
1963 Danish Writing Desk and Mirrored Vanity, Wood, Oestergaard
Located in Arosio, IT
A Mid-Century Modern small desk that can also be used as mirrored vanity. It has one tilt mirror (still bearing the original label) and one drawer. Legs are in hardwood and the top i...
Brass
Swedish Gustavian 2 Door Corner Cabinet
Located in Hollywood, FL
This is a unique Swedish Gustavian style 2 door corner cabinet. it was just restored and repainted with Milk Paints "Oyster White" from the back out to the front of each side is 26"...
Wood
$3,252Sale Price|20% Off
H 29.93 in W 43.31 in D 19.69 in
Vintage 1950s Italian Vanity/Desk with Mirror, in Solid Wood, Gio Ponti Style
By Gio Ponti
Located in Milano, IT
Presented here is a rare and beautiful little vanity desk, designed in the style of Giò Ponti and produced in Italy during the 1940s. Skillfully crafted from solid wood, it is a time...
Wood
Brutalist display cabinet corner cabinet 1960s Danish
Located in Lemmer, NL
Brutalist display cabinet corner cabinet 1960s Danish period 1960s design N.O. Andersen Scan Rustic Denmark condition good minor signs of wear size 180 x 93 x 63 cm (H x W...
Glass, Oak
vintage corner cabinet display cabinet 1960s Danish
Located in Lemmer, NL
vintage corner cabinet display cabinet 1960s Danish period 1960s design unknown Denmark condition good light signs of use size 172 x 88 x 61 (hxwxd) details teak; glass; ...
Glass, Teak
Corner Cabinet Designed by Erik Lund, Sweden, 1930s
Located in Stockholm, SE
Outside: Black-lacquered wood. Inside: Blue, green and grey-lacquered wood.
Iron
Sold
H 70.48 in W 37.01 in D 22.05 in
Burr Yew Wood Bradley Furniture Astral Glazed Corner Cupboard Bookcase Cabinet
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to this very good looking Bradley furniture and well-made burr yew wood astral glazed corner cupboard A good looking functional and decorative piece Condition ...
Glass, Yew
Sold
H 31.5 in W 19.69 in D 19.69 in
Fornasetti Corner Cabinet Architettura Celeste Architectural Motif Wood
By Fornasetti
Located in MILANO, IT
The dream-laden fantasy of the Fornasetti furniture turns every nook into a corner of the imagination. Like all Fornasetti pieces of furniture, it is handcrafted using original ar...
Wood