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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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.
Large Polished Brass Floating Shelve Signed by Chanel Kapitanj
Located in Geneve, CH
Polished brass floating shelves signed by Chanel Kapitanj A Minimalist shelving system. Like floating objects on the wall. These thin and aesth...
Brass
Polished Brass Floating Shelves Signed by Chanel Kapitanj, Small
Located in Geneve, CH
Polished brass floating shelves signed by Chanel Kapitanj A minimalist shelving system. Like floating objects on the wall. These thin and aesth...
Brass
Polished Brass Floating Shelves Signed by Chanel Kapitanj, Medium
Located in Geneve, CH
Polished brass floating shelves signed by Chanel Kapitanj A Minimalist shelving system. Like floating objects on the wall. These thin and aestheti...
Brass
$1,279Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 42 in W 14.5 in D 11 in
1970's Hollywood Regency Brass Etagere Shelves, a Pair
Located in Burbank, CA
Pair of vintage Mid-Century Modern brass shelving units for sale. From the 1970's, and a beautiful Art Deco arching design in brass. Has three shelves each etagere, and can be used a...
Brass
$43,750Sale Price / set|30% Off
H 96 in W 54 in D 27 in
Dessin Fournier, Monumental Chinoiserie Cabinets, Black Lacquer, 20th c.
Located in Stamford, CT
Dessin Fournier, Monumental Chinoiserie 'Girswold' Cabinets, Linen Press or Armoires, Black Crackle Lacquer, Gold Leaf, 20th c. These custom handmade eight foot high chinoiserie han...
Gold Leaf
1970's Hollywood Regency Brass & Glass Etagere Shelves
Located in Bradenton, FL
A Hollywood Regency style etagere. Three smoked glass shelves are set in an arched brass frame, finished with brass ball feet. Brass has some patina consistent with the age of the pi...
Brass
$8,088 / item
H 9.85 in W 70.87 in D 7.88 in
2 Large Floating Shelves with 3 Sculptural Wooden Pebble Sereno by Joel Escalona
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Set of Two Large Floating Shelves with Three Sculptural Wooden Pebble Accents in the Middle, Sereno by Joel Escalona — What happens when the practical becomes art? What happens whe...
Wood, Hardwood, Oak
Pair of Small Giltwood Shelves
Located in London, GB
These lovely shelf units are made from giltwood and shaped in a decorative triangular form design. Each shelf measures 9 ½ in – 24 cm wide, 7 ½ in – 19 cm high and 4 ½ in – 11.5 cm i...
Giltwood
Totem shelve by Valeric Doubroucinskis for Rodier, 1970s
Located in Linkebeek, BE
Totem - 1970s - Vintage Measures : 30x44cm H:208cm Material : Fiberglass Knitwear shelves specially manufactured for the Rodier store interiors in the 1970's. Great display for your ...
Fiberglass
$3,800 / set
H 80 in W 35 in D 13.5 in
Lovely Pair of Floating Aluminum and Glass Shelves Etagere Mid-century Modern
Located in Pemberton, NJ
Lovely pair of chunky aluminum and glass floating shelves-etageres. These are hung directly on the wall and can be used together or separately. The chunky aluminum frames have acqu...
Aluminum
Brushed Steel and Brass Bookshelves Vitrines Shelves
Located in Atlanta, GA
Pair of Brushed Steel and Brass Bookshelves or Vitrines, American, circa 1970s. They measure an impressive 80.25" height x 30.5" width x 14.75" depth. Perfect for displaying your fav...
Brass, Steel
$13,400 / item
H 87 in W 43.25 in D 12.25 in
Tall Custom Brass Etagere with Glass Shelves by Adesso Imports
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Tall custom brass etagere with seven glass shelves. Handmade in solid brass in Los Angeles by Adesso Imports. Can be made in custom size and finish. Pr...
Brass
Wrought Iron & Brass 38” Wide Rounded Shelved Bakers Rack MINT
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Wrought Iron & Brass 38” Wide Rounded Shelved Bakers Rack MINT
Brass
$2,700
H 22 in W 66.75 in D 17.5 in
Mid-Century Custom Polished Steel and Frosted Lucite Illuminated Floating Shelf
By Pace Collection, Brueton, Paul Evans
Located in Miami, FL
Custom polished steel floating wall console or shelf with frosted lucite top circa 1970s. A welded steel bracket on the interior holds a new LED tube lamp that can be hardwired or p...
Steel
$10,912 / item
H 25.6 in W 59.06 in D 7.88 in
4 Floating Shelves with 6 Sculptural Wooden Pebbles, Sereno by Joel Escalona
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Set of Four Floating Shelves with Six Sculptural Wooden Pebble Accents, Sereno by Joel Escalona — What happens when the practical becomes art? What happens when ornamentation gains...
Wood, Hardwood, Oak
Weiman Furniture Burlwood Armoire Wardrobe Linen Press
By Weiman
Located in Germantown, MD
A late 20th Century Weiman Furniture Burlwood Armoire Wardrobe Linen Press in good vintage condition. Measures 37.5" in width, 17" in depth and 75.5" in height. Adjustable Height she...
Burl
Sold
H 3.94 in W 19.69 in D 10.83 in
Polished Brass Floating Shelves Signed by Chanel Kapitanj, Medium
Located in Geneve, CH
Polished brass floating shelves signed by Chanel Kapitanj A Minimalist shelving system. Like floating objects on the wall. These thin and aesth...
Brass
Vintage Burl Wood High-boy Dresser
Located in Denton, TX
Stunning Burl wood front high-boy dresser with two doors over four drawers.
Wood, Burl
Sold
H 90 in W 20 in D 50 in
Restoration Hardware Herringbone Double Door Linen Press China Cabinet Armoire
Located in Dayton, OH
Herringbone's timeless pattern dates to the Roman Empire, where it informed the design of the capital city's brickwork roads, and later to France, where the first patterned wood floo...
Oak
2-Door Ebonized and Cerused Cabinet
Located in Stamford, CT
A cabinet with segmented frosted panels and bronze studded doors. Cabinet is made of veneered oak that has been ebonized and cerused. Interior reveals 3 drawers and a shelf. Back is ...
Oak
Polished Brass Floating Shelves Signed by Chanel Kapitanj, Small
Located in Geneve, CH
Polished brass floating shelves signed by Chanel Kapitanj A minimalist shelving system. Like floating objects on the wall. These thin and aesth...
Brass
Sold
H 3.94 in W 19.69 in D 9.85 in
Set of 3 Polished Brass Floating Shelves Signed by Chanel Kapitanj
Located in Geneve, CH
Polished brass floating shelves signed by Chanel Kapitanj A Minimalist shelving system. Like floating objects on the wall. These thin and aesth...
Brass
Hannes Wettstein "next Basic" Lingerie Chest of Drawers for Pallucco
Located in Hanover, MA
Tall slim chest of drawers designed by the late Swiss architect and Industrial designer, Hannes Wettstein, and produced in the early 2000's by the Ital...
Aluminum, Stainless Steel