Modern Furniture
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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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.
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Style: Modern
Creator: Venini
Creator: Frigerio
Night in Venice Candleholder in Grass Green Balloton Glass by Venini
By Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The warm glow of candles meets glass etched using the special Balloton technique. Its light flickers and dances, casting a multitude of reflections on the refined tea, red, grape or ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Furniture
Materials
Glass
Venini Monofiore Balloton Large Vase in Horizon Red Thread Murano Glass
By Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Monofiore Balloton Large Vase in Amber Murano Glass by Venini. It looks soft, but it’s not; it’s glass. The optical illusion of Monofiori by Venini from 1970 lies in its name: Ballot...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Furniture
Materials
Murano Glass
Venini Clessidra Hourglass in Horizon Amber Murano Glass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Clessidra hourglass in amber murano glass by Paolo Venini and Fulvio Bianconi. Little grains of sand, impalpable and unnoticeable as a whole yet so...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Furniture
Materials
Murano Glass
Venini Opalino Large Vase in Amber Murano Glass
By Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Opalino large vase in amber Murano glass by Venini. The Opalino vase is all about sophisticated and unique colors, thanks to the use of the traditional Opalino technique. This method...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Furniture
Materials
Murano Glass
Venini Monofiori Acquamarine Glass Vase by Laura de Santillana
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Venini Monofiori glass vase in aquamarine by Laura de Santillana. “Monofiori” blown handmade glass with stoppers in various forms and colors. Item l...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Furniture
Materials
Blown Glass
Inciso Glass Bottle with Stopper by Paolo Venini
By Paolo Venini, Venini
Located in New York, NY
Wheel carved glass. Venini label adhered to bottom. Provenance: Private collection, FL.
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Glass, Blown Glass
Pair of "Tessuto" Murano Blown Glass Table Lamps by Ludovico Diaz de Santillana
Located in Firenze, Tuscany
These modern hand blown Murano glass table lamps fit almost any kind of environment or bedroom. The white & transparent Murano glass (resembling fabric cloth) & painted white metal g...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Metal
Fazzoletto Glass Vase in Aquamarine by Fulvio Bianconi & Paolo Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Venini glass vase with pinched rim in aquamarine and mint designed by Fulvio Bianconi and Paolo Venini in 1948. Perfect for indoor home decor as container, vide-poche or statement pi...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Furniture
Materials
Art Glass
Venini Deco Glass Vase in Red by Napoleone Martinuzzi
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Venini glass vase in aquamarine designed by Napoleone Martinuzzi in 1930. Perfect for indoor home decor as container or statement piece for any room.
Dimensions: 26 cm diameter x...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Furniture
Materials
Art Glass
Venini Incisi Short Glass Vase in Steel Blue by Paolo Venini
By Paolo Venini, Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Incisi glass vase collection, designed by Paolo Venini and manufactured by Venini, feature an engraved surface. Originally designed in 1956. Numb...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Furniture
Materials
Glass
Monofiore Balaton Short Glass Vase in Straw-Yellow Red Thread Rim by Venini
By Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Venini glass vase with full body and textured surface with hexagonal shaped pattern in gold designed in 1970. Perfect for indoor home decor as container or strong statement piece for...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Furniture
Materials
Art Glass
Venini Bolle Glass Vase in Pink and White by Tapio Wirkkala
By Tapio Wirkkala, Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Bolle Glass vase series, designed by Tapio Wirkkala and manufactured by Venini, was originally designed in 1966. Iconic masterpieces available in 5 different shapes. Indoor use only....
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Furniture
Materials
Glass
Venini Pavoncella Bird Sculpture by Toni Zuccheri
By Venini, Toni Zuccheri
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Venini Pavoncella sculpture by Toni Zuccheri. Numbered edition for year. Sculpture hand-blown glass.
Technique: Canes and Filigree
Dimensions: Ø 31 cm, H 23 cm
Year of Manufactu...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Furniture
Materials
Blown Glass
Venini Fazzoletto Large Glass Vase in Gray by Fulvio Bianconi and Paolo Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Fazzoletto glass vase, designed by Fulvio Bianconi and Paolo Venini and manufactured by Venini, is available in three different sizes. Original designed in 1948. Indoor use only.
...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Furniture
Materials
Glass
Venini Square Occhi Vase in White by Ludovico Diaz de Santillana, Tobia Scarpa
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Venini Occhi glass vase in crystal by Ludovico Diaz de Santillana, Tobia Scarpa. Blown handmade glass vases with the “Murrine” technique.
Color: Cryst...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Furniture
Materials
Blown Glass
Opalino Glass Vase in Tea and Crystal by Venini
By Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Venini glass vase with slim, oval shaped body and funnel shaped neck. Featured in tea and crystal colored glass. Perfect for indoor home decor as container or strong statement piece ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Furniture
Materials
Art Glass
Venini Muse Glass Sculpture Light in Grass Green by Fabio Novembre
By Venini, Fabio Novembre
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Musa glass sculpture table lamp, designed by Fabio Novembre and manufactured by Venini, features an handmade glass sculpture with a metal cage and a Carrara marble base. Available in...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Furniture
Materials
Glass
Venini Satin Large Glass Vase in Gray
By Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Satin glass vase, designed and manufactured by Venini, features the same shape of the iconic opalino vase with a frosted finish.
Indoor use only.
Dimensions: Ø 20 cm, H 42 cm.
...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Furniture
Materials
Glass
Incisi Glass Vase in Acerbo by Venini
By Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A multitude of shapes and colours. Apparently, Paolo Venini had a knack for experimenting with Incisi. They are countless. The vase owes its name to the "Incisione a Freddo" glassmak...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Furniture
Materials
Glass
Venini Satin Medium Glass Vase in Tea
By Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Satin glass vase, designed and manufactured by Venini, features the same shape of the iconic opalino vase with a frosted finish.
Indoor use only.
Dimensions: Ø 17 cm, H 36 cm.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Furniture
Materials
Glass
Opalino Glass Vase in Grey Milk White Inside by Venini
By Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Venini glass vase with slim, oval shaped body and funnel shaped neck. Featured in aquamarine colored glass. Perfect for indoor home decor as container or strong statement piece for a...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Furniture
Materials
Art Glass
Venini Murrine Romane Multicolor Bowl by Carlo Scarpa
By Carlo Scarpa, Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Venini Murrine Romane bowl in multicolor by Carlo Scarpa. Numbered Edition. These Murrine are called “roman” due to their graphic signs and because they...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Furniture
Materials
Glass
Venini Fazzoletto Opalino Large Vase in Horizon Murano Glass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Fazzoletto Opalino Large Vase in Amber Murano Glass by Fulvio Bianconi and Paolo Venini. An exclusive new take on the Opalini technique from the 15t...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Furniture
Materials
Murano Glass
Venini Fazzoletto Opalino Medium Vase in Amber/ Milk White Murano Glass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Fazzoletto Opalino medium vase in amber Murano glass by Fulvio Bianconi and Paolo Venini. An exclusive new take on the Opalini technique from the 15th century makes its color unique....
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Furniture
Materials
Murano Glass
Venini Battery Lamp in Amber, Rechargeable, Dimmerable, Touch
By Venini
Located in murano, IT
Skillful glasswork gives back this object a slight movement, as if it were suspended in space. Its iconic silhouette comes from an exclusive archival prototype and brings a playful t...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Furniture
Materials
Metal
Venini Ando Time Hourglass in Pink and Straw Yellow by Tadao Ando
By Venini, Tadao Ando
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Ando time hourglass, designed by Tadao Ando and manufactured by Venini, is a limited edition of 49 art pieces (per color) plus an additional 20 P.d.A. a...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Furniture
Materials
Glass
Fazzoletto Opalino Large Glass Vase in Horizon by Fulvio Bianconi and Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Created from the collaboration between Fulvio Bianconi and Paolo Venini, characterized by a soft shape with a graceful wavy lip, always unique, obtained using the free-hand technique...
Category
20th Century Italian Modern Furniture
Materials
Glass
Venini Deco Sabbiato Glass Vase in Red by Napoleone Martinuzzi
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Historical vase designed by Napoleone Martinuzzi in opal glass with round horizontal ribs. The model is proposed with a sandblasted coat.
Dimensions available:
Ø23 x H24,5cm Kg...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Furniture
Materials
Art Glass
Monofiore Sapphire Yellow Glass Vase by Laura de Santillana
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Monofiori glass bottle collection, designed by Laura de Santillana and manufactured by Venini, features six different shaped bottles.
Indoor use only.
Dimensions: Ø 9 cm, H 15 /...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Furniture
Materials
Glass
Fazzoletto Sabbiato Large Vase in Apple Green by Fulvio Bianconi and Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Created from the collaboration between Fulvio Bianconi and Paolo Venini, characterized by a soft shape with a graceful wavy lip, always unique, obtained using the free-hand technique.
A light summer breeze leads us to discover the iconic Venini collection...
Category
20th Century Italian Modern Furniture
Materials
Glass
Deco Medium Vase in Ox Blood Red Glass by Napoleone Martinuzzi
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Historic vase designed by Napoleone Martinuzzi in opalino glass characterized by round horizontal ribs. The model is proposed in three shades of colour and in three sizes.
Rhythm"...
Category
20th Century Italian Modern Furniture
Materials
Glass
Venini Vittoriale 12-Light Chandelier in Amber Glass by Napoleone Martinuzzi
By Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Vittoriale chandelier, designed by Napoleone Martinuzzi and manufactured by Venini, features a blown glass body with gold plated metal chain. Originally designed in 1926 is available...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Furniture
Materials
Blown Glass
Venini Albrici 6-Arm Chandelier in Gold and Red
By Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Albrici chandelier, designed and manufactured by Venini, features an handmade and blown glass body and arms. Available in three different versions, with 6 (99.32.01.06), 10 (99.32.01...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Furniture
Materials
Blown Glass
Venini Monofiore Carnevale Tall Glass Vase in Red
By Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Monofiore Carnevale glass vase collection, designed and manufactured by Venini, features two different shaped vases. Indoor use only.
Dimensi...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Furniture
Materials
Glass
Venini Deco Glass Vase in Aquamarine by Napoleone Martinuzzi
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Venini glass vase in aquamarine designed by Napoleone Martinuzzi in 1930. Perfect for indoor home decor as container or statement piece for any room.
Dimensions: 26 cm diameter x...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Furniture
Materials
Art Glass
Coccio Glass Vase in Tea and Ivory by Venini
By Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Venini glass vase with cylindrical body and fine line drawn pattern across glass surface. Featured in tea and ivory colored class designed in 1984. Perfect for indoor home decor as c...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Furniture
Materials
Art Glass
Labuan Vase in Milk-White with Blown Opal Glass by Venini
By Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A classical form inspired by faraway places, magically projected in the contemporary world by the new colours.
Drawing inspiration from exotic destinations in the Far East, Paolo ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Furniture
Materials
Blown Glass
Venini Monofiore Balloton Vase in Amber Horizon Thread Murano Glass
By Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Monofiore Balloton small vase in amber Murano glass by Venini. Monofiori breaks with tradition in 1970 and then does it again in 2016. But its essen...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Furniture
Materials
Murano Glass
Fazzoletto Opalino Large Glass Vase in Apple Green by Fulvio Bianconi and Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Created from the collaboration between Fulvio Bianconi and Paolo Venini, characterized by a soft shape with a graceful wavy lip, always unique, obtained using the free-hand technique...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Furniture
Materials
Glass
Incise Glass Bottle in Grass Green by Venini
By Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A multitude of shapes and colours. Every bottle has its own, chosen with care by Paolo Venini in 1956. Skilfully etched to conceal their imaginary content, they pique the curiosity of the viewers, who just can’t refrain from taking the lid off to peek inside and find out the truth.
Additional information:
Material: Blown, engraved
Color: Grass green...
Category
20th Century Italian Modern Furniture
Materials
Glass
Venini Monofiore Apple Green Glass Vase by Laura de Santillana
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Venini Monofiori glass vase in apple green by Laura de Santillana. “Monofiori” blown handmade glass with stoppers in various forms and colors. Item ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Furniture
Materials
Blown Glass
Venini Battery Lamp in Orange, Rechargeable, Dimmerable, Touch
By Venini
Located in murano, IT
Skillful glasswork gives back this object a slight movement, as if it were suspended in space. Its iconic silhouette comes from an exclusive archival prototype and brings a playful t...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Furniture
Materials
Metal
Venini Re Vase in Grey Glass by Rodolfo Dordoni
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Venini Re glass vase in gray by Rodolfo Dordoni. Blown handmade glass vases. Upper part, the crown, is covered by metal leaves. The lower part is glazed...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Furniture
Materials
Blown Glass
Venini Deco Glass Vase in Lattimo by Napoleone Martinuzzi
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Venini glass vase in aquamarine designed by Napoleone Martinuzzi in 1930. Perfect for indoor home decor as container or statement piece for any room.
Dimensions: 26 cm diameter x...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Furniture
Materials
Art Glass
Night in Venice Candleholder in Red Balloton Glass by Venini
By Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The warm glow of candles meets glass etched using the special Balloton technique. Its light flickers and dances, casting a multitude of reflections on the refined Tea, Red, Grape or ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Furniture
Materials
Glass
Venini Deco Glass Vase in Red by Napoleone Martinuzzi
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Venini glass vase in red designed by Napoleone Martinuzzi in 1930. Perfect for indoor home decor as container or statement piece for any room. Also available in other colors on 1stdi...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Furniture
Materials
Art Glass
Venini Zoe Large Pendant Light in Gray by Doriana and Massimiliano Fuksas
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Zoe pendant lamp, designed by Doriana and Massimiliano Fuksas and manufactured by Venini, features a lantern shape. Available in two different sizes. Indoor use only.
Dimensions: ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Furniture
Materials
Glass
Venini Monofiore Sapphire Blue Glass Vase by Laura de Santillana
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Venini Monofiori glass vase in sapphire by Laura de Santillana. “Monofiori” blown handmade glass with stoppers in various forms and colors. Item lab...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Furniture
Materials
Blown Glass
Monofiore Balaton Short Glass Vase in Apple Green Red Thread Rim by Venini
By Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Venini glass vase with full body and textured surface with hexagonal shaped pattern in gold designed in 1970. Perfect for indoor home decor as container or strong statement piece for...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Furniture
Materials
Art Glass
Venini Monofiori Amethyst Glass Vase by Laura de Santillana
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Venini Monofiori glass vase in amethyst by Laura de Santillana. “Monofiori” blown handmade glass with stoppers in various forms and colors. Item lab...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Furniture
Materials
Blown Glass
Idria Large Round Glass Vase in Mint Green by Venini
By Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Venini glass vase with round body and angular shaped neck in mint green designed in 2016. Perfect for indoor home decor as container or strong statement piece for any room. Also avai...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Furniture
Materials
Art Glass
Fazzoletto Opaline Large Vase in Rio Green, Fulvio Bianconi and Paolo Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Created from the collaboration between Fulvio Bianconi and Paolo Venini, characterized by a soft shape with a graceful wavy lip, always unique, obtained using the free-hand technique...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Furniture
Materials
Glass
Venini Puzzle Vase in Coral & Gray Glass by Ettore Sottsass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Venini Puzzle glass in coral/Gray by Ettore Sottsass. Numbered edition for year. Hand-blown glass.
Color: Coral/Gray
Technique: Opal
Dimensions: Ø 27 cm, H 40 cm
Year of Manuf...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Furniture
Materials
Blown Glass
Venini Deco Glass Vase in Grey by Napoleone Martinuzzi
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Venini glass vase in grey designed by Napoleone Martinuzzi in 1930. Perfect for indoor home decor as container or statement piece for any room. Also avail...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Furniture
Materials
Art Glass
Incise Glass Bottle in Blue Iron by Venini
By Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A multitude of shapes and colours. Every bottle has its own, chosen with care by Paolo Venini in 1956. Skilfully etched to conceal their imaginary content, they pique the curiosity o...
Category
20th Century Italian Modern Furniture
Materials
Glass
Venini Clessidra Hourglass in Amber Horizon Murano Glass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Clessidra hourglass in amber Murano glass by Paolo Venini and Fulvio Bianconi. Little grains of sand, impalpable and unnoticeable as a whole yet so...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Furniture
Materials
Murano Glass
Venini Martinengo Thirty-two-light Chandelier in Crystal
By Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Majestic chandeliers in handmade-blown glass.
Metal: Chromium Plated
Color: Crystal
32 lights x max 60W E14
Code: 99.50.01.32.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Furniture
Materials
Blown Glass
Venini Idria Medium Vase in Amber Milk White Murano Glass
By Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Idria medium vase in Amber Murano glass by Venini. The Ancient Greek water vessel sheds its skin, as terracotta gives way to glass, thanks to Venini. Its design speaks of bygone days...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Furniture
Materials
Murano Glass
Modern furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Modern furniture 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 furniture created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include seating, lighting, tables and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, fabric and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Modern furniture 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 furniture, popular names associated with this style include Rug & Kilim, Schumacher, Vistosi, and Kartell. 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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