New in Modern Furniture
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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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.
1960s Italian Vintage New in Modern Furniture
Linen, Beech
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese New in Modern Furniture
Wood
2010s South African New in Modern Furniture
Copper, Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese New in Modern Furniture
Gold Leaf
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese New in Modern Furniture
Onyx, Marble, Brass, Stainless Steel, Gold Leaf
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese New in Modern Furniture
Natural Fiber, Synthetic, Wool
2010s South African New in Modern Furniture
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese New in Modern Furniture
Onyx, Travertine, Marble, Gold Leaf
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese New in Modern Furniture
Travertine, Marble, Onyx, Gold Leaf
2010s British New in Modern Furniture
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese New in Modern Furniture
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese New in Modern Furniture
Fabric, Velvet, Lacquer, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese New in Modern Furniture
Velvet, Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese New in Modern Furniture
Onyx
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese New in Modern Furniture
Onyx, Granite, Carrara Marble, Brass, Stainless Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese New in Modern Furniture
Marble, Carrara Marble, Stainless Steel
2010s American New in Modern Furniture
Pine, Reclaimed Wood, Scrap Wood, Softwood, Mahogany, Ceramic, Pottery, ...
2010s European New in Modern Furniture
Rattan, Wood, Faux Leather
21st Century and Contemporary Italian New in Modern Furniture
Quartz
21st Century and Contemporary Italian New in Modern Furniture
Aluminum
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese New in Modern Furniture
Velvet, Walnut
2010s South African New in Modern Furniture
Brass, Steel
Late 20th Century American New in Modern Furniture
Goatskin, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary American New in Modern Furniture
Steel
Late 20th Century French New in Modern Furniture
Limestone
2010s Italian New in Modern Furniture
Chrome
Mid-20th Century French New in Modern Furniture
Textile, Paper
Early 2000s French New in Modern Furniture
Metal
Mid-20th Century American New in Modern Furniture
Bronze
1970s Italian Vintage New in Modern Furniture
Velvet
1990s New in Modern Furniture
Mohair
Early 2000s Italian New in Modern Furniture
Wood
1980s Danish Vintage New in Modern Furniture
Aluminum
1980s American Vintage New in Modern Furniture
Chrome
Late 20th Century French New in Modern Furniture
Limestone
2010s Chinese New in Modern Furniture
Marble
21st Century and Contemporary Canadian New in Modern Furniture
Leather, Upholstery, Wood
1990s American New in Modern Furniture
Velvet
1950s Spanish Vintage New in Modern Furniture
Plaster, Wood
1790s Italian Antique New in Modern Furniture
Metal, Iron
1970s French Vintage New in Modern Furniture
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Italian New in Modern Furniture
Pewter, Steel, Aluminum
Late 20th Century Indian New in Modern Furniture
Wool
1940s English Vintage New in Modern Furniture
Fabric, Oak
Late 20th Century American New in Modern Furniture
Chrome
21st Century and Contemporary Belgian New in Modern Furniture
Oak
Mid-20th Century American New in Modern Furniture
Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary French New in Modern Furniture
Steel
1970s Unknown Vintage New in Modern Furniture
Bronze
1970s North American Vintage New in Modern Furniture
Paper
1960s British Vintage New in Modern Furniture
Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century Danish New in Modern Furniture
Bronze
Mid-20th Century American New in Modern Furniture
Steel
2010s Italian New in Modern Furniture
Steel
2010s Italian New in Modern Furniture
Alabaster, Brass
1990s American New in Modern Furniture
Metal
2010s Italian New in Modern Furniture
Alabaster, Brass
2010s Italian New in Modern Furniture
Alabaster, Brass
1950s English Vintage New in Modern Furniture
Wood
2010s Scandinavian New in Modern Furniture
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese New in Modern Furniture
Marble
2010s Chinese New in Modern Furniture
Marble
Mid-20th Century New in Modern Furniture
Upholstery, Wood
2010s Chinese New in Modern Furniture
Marble
2010s Chinese New in Modern Furniture
Marble
2010s Chinese New in Modern Furniture
Stone, Marble, Carrara Marble
Mid-20th Century Danish New in Modern Furniture
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Belgian New in Modern Furniture
Stone
Early 2000s Italian New in Modern Furniture
Metal
Mid-20th Century American New in Modern Furniture
Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary Canadian New in Modern Furniture
Marble, Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary Canadian New in Modern Furniture
Bronze, Steel
Mid-20th Century American New in Modern Furniture
Wood
2010s Italian New in Modern Furniture
Brass
2010s Italian New in Modern Furniture
Alabaster, Brass
2010s Italian New in Modern Furniture
Brass
2010s Italian New in Modern Furniture
Brass
2010s Italian New in Modern Furniture
Alabaster, Brass
Late 20th Century Italian New in Modern Furniture
Silver Plate, Brass
2010s Italian New in Modern Furniture
Alabaster, Brass
2010s Italian New in Modern Furniture
Brass
2010s Italian New in Modern Furniture
Brass
2010s Italian New in Modern Furniture
Brass
2010s Italian New in Modern Furniture
Alabaster, Brass
2010s Italian New in Modern Furniture
Alabaster, Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Belgian New in Modern Furniture
Oak
20th Century Italian New in Modern Furniture
Brass
2010s Italian New in Modern Furniture
Alabaster, Brass
2010s Italian New in Modern Furniture
Alabaster, Brass
2010s Italian New in Modern Furniture
Alabaster, Brass
2010s Spanish New in Modern Furniture
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Belgian New in Modern Furniture
Oak
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian New in Modern Furniture
Leather
1950s Italian Vintage New in Modern Furniture
Terracotta
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian New in Modern Furniture
Leather
1970s Italian Vintage New in Modern Furniture
Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian New in Modern Furniture
Leather
21st Century and Contemporary Italian New in Modern Furniture
Murano Glass
1940s Italian Vintage New in Modern Furniture
Elm
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian New in Modern Furniture
Leather
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian New in Modern Furniture
Leather
21st Century and Contemporary British New in Modern Furniture
Steel
2010s German New in Modern Furniture
Fiberglass
1960s Italian Vintage New in Modern Furniture
Metal
2010s American New in Modern Furniture
Walnut
1960s Danish Vintage New in Modern Furniture
Upholstery, Cherry
2010s Italian New in Modern Furniture
Brass
2010s Asian New in Modern Furniture
Yarn
1990s Swedish New in Modern Furniture
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian New in Modern Furniture
Marble, Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Italian New in Modern Furniture
Onyx, Marble
1990s Swedish New in Modern Furniture
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian New in Modern Furniture
Murano Glass
2010s French New in Modern Furniture
Earthenware
2010s American New in Modern Furniture
Art Glass, Walnut
2010s American New in Modern Furniture
Steel