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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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.
21st Century and Contemporary Nepalese Modern Furniture
Yarn
Early 2000s Italian Modern Furniture
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Furniture
Abalone
2010s American Modern Furniture
Leather, Mirror
2010s American Modern Furniture
Maple
2010s American Modern Furniture
Leather, Maple, Oak, Walnut
1960s Romanian Vintage Modern Furniture
Cane, Bentwood
2010s Brazilian Modern Furniture
Upholstery, Teak, Fabric
2010s American Modern Furniture
Brass
2010s North American Modern Furniture
Brass
2010s American Modern Furniture
Ceramic, Bone, Porcelain
Late 20th Century American Modern Furniture
Brass
2010s American Modern Furniture
Steel
2010s American Modern Furniture
Metal, Wire, Stainless Steel, Bronze, Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Furniture
Velvet
21st Century and Contemporary British Modern Furniture
Glass
1980s Swedish Vintage Modern Furniture
Aluminum
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Furniture
Wood, Plaster
2010s American Modern Furniture
Aluminum, Copper, Steel
Late 20th Century Belgian Modern Furniture
Crystal
2010s American Modern Furniture
Brass, Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Furniture
Resin, Fiberglass, Lacquer
1970s Dutch Vintage Modern Furniture
Chrome
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Furniture
Lucite, Wood
2010s American Modern Furniture
Brass, Steel
2010s American Modern Furniture
Steel, Iron
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Furniture
Wood, Upholstery, Velvet
2010s American Modern Furniture
Steel
2010s American Modern Furniture
Ceramic
2010s American Modern Furniture
Walnut
2010s Italian Modern Furniture
Metal
2010s American Modern Furniture
Leather, Zebra Hide, Canvas
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Furniture
Trimming, Wood, Velvet, Silk
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Furniture
Bouclé
2010s American Modern Furniture
Steel, Iron
2010s Taiwanese Modern Furniture
Steel
2010s American Modern Furniture
Ceramic
2010s American Modern Furniture
Ceramic, Mirror, Hardwood, Oak
2010s American Modern Furniture
Concrete, Cement
2010s American Modern Furniture
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Furniture
Cotton
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Furniture
Steel
2010s Portuguese Modern Furniture
Stainless Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Furniture
Cotton
2010s Greek Modern Furniture
Metal
2010s Chinese Modern Furniture
Walnut
2010s American Modern Furniture
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary German Modern Furniture
Blown Glass
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Furniture
Upholstery, Velvet, Wood
2010s American Modern Furniture
Steel
20th Century English Modern Furniture
Pottery, Stoneware
20th Century British Modern Furniture
Porcelain
2010s Italian Modern Furniture
Birch, Oak, Plywood
2010s Greek Modern Furniture
Wood, Lacquer
2010s Greek Modern Furniture
Wood, Lacquer, Ceramic
Early 2000s Italian Modern Furniture
Metal
2010s American Modern Furniture
Brass
2010s African Modern Furniture
Zebra Hide