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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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
Period: 1930s
French Studio Ceramicist, Unique Vase in Glazed Stoneware, 1930s/40s
Located in Copenhagen, DK
French studio ceramicist. Unique vase in glazed stoneware.
Beautiful double glaze in brown shades. 1930s / 40s.
Measures: 19.5 x 13.5 cm.
In excellent condition.
Unclearly stamped.
Category
1930s French Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Stoneware
Carlo Scarpa, "Mezza Filigrana" Vase, 1934
By Carlo Scarpa
Located in Paris, FR
Carlo Scarpa
'Mezza Filigrana' Vase, c. 1934
Execution: Venini & C. Cased glass, white.
Signed: Venini murano (acid stamp).
Measure : H : 18 cm (...
Category
1930s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Glass
Andries Dirk Copier, Important "Unica" Glass Vase, 1938
Located in Paris, FR
Andries Dirk Copier,
'Unica', Vase, c. 1938
Execution: Blown glass, clear and blue.
Measure: H : 22 cm (8.6")
Overall very goo...
Category
1930s Dutch Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Glass
Asprey Silver Cartridge Butt Marker, circa 1930s
Located in Glasgow, GB
A George V silver butt marker by Asprey. The butt marker is modelled in the form of a gun cartridge. The base is inscribed 'Asprey's Cartridge Place Finder...
Category
1930s British Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Silver
Ercole Barovier, "Trilobe" Vase, 1935
Located in Paris, FR
Ercole Barovier
"Trilobe" vase, c. 1935
Execution: Cased glass, clear brown and dark.
Signed: original label and serial number. (Picture 7)
Measure: H : 34.5 cm (13.4")
Overall...
Category
1930s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Glass
1930s Bentwood Armchairs by Jindrich Halabala, a Pair
Located in High Point, NC
Bentwood upholstered lounge chairs by Czech furniture designer J. Halabala, circa 1930. A Mid-Century Modern silhouette is re-upholstered in natural white fabric. The cushioned seat ...
Category
1930s Czech Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Upholstery, Bentwood
1930s Italian Bench
Located in New York, NY
This 1930s Italian bench is so over-scaled, and monumental in appearance, that it seems to have been made for the large room it was destined, rather than the comfort of a typical sitter. As such, it would function equally well as a low side table or a high cocktail table. We’ll allow the buyer to determine its use.
The designer was Pierluigi Colli, and the fabricator Martinotti, the Turin furniture and interior decorating firm that was established in 1831, and exhibited at the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition and the 1904 St Louis World’s Fair. Colli’s family owned a textile company that supplied Martinotti with upholstery fabrics, suggesting nepotism had something to do with his being hired as the firm's director in 1926. Nevertheless, he proved himself worthy as a designer and a businessman. Having studied in Paris at the Ecole des Arts Decoratifs, he befriended leading French designers, and arranged for Martinotti to retail Lalique glass and Jean Perzel lighting. In addition, the quality of their work, and Colli’s dedication to the modern design movement, prompted Carlo Mollino, Gio Ponti, and Gino Levi-Montalcini, among others, to have Martinotti fabricate some of their furniture. Colli’s claim to fame, however, is his own work as a designer, and his ability to master the vocabularies of every trend from Art Deco to midcentury modern.
During the Great Depression, when nearly every nation floundered economically, fascist Italy...
Category
1930s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Other
Marcel Breuer Tubular-Steel B10 Table
Located in New York, NY
Marcel Breuer tubular-steel B10 table chrome-plated tubular frame table with a black smoked glass top.
Category
1930s German Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Chrome
Sunset over the Sea, Jan de Clerck '1891-1964'
By Jan De Clerck
Located in Leuven , BE
Sunset over the sea, Jan De Clerck (1891 - 1964), oil on canvas, signed.
Category
1930s Belgian Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Canvas
Johannes Hansen for Knabstrup, Large Ceramic Figure of a Boy
Located in Kastrup, DK
Large ceramic figurine.
Designed by Johannes Hansen (1903-1995) and manufactured by Knabstrup ceramic factory in Denmark.
Boy playing harmonica.
The figurine are made of dark cham...
Category
1930s Danish Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Stoneware
Pair of Highback Armchairs by Guglielmo Pecorini
Located in San Francisco, CA
A pair of highback wooden armchairs with burgundy leather seat and back. Brass rivets hold the leather in place. Designed for the VII Triennale di Mon...
Category
1930s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Leather, Wood
Silver Childs Mug with Mythical Scenes, Thomas Bradbury and Sons, Sheffield, 1936
Located in London, GB
Silver childs mug with mythical scenes, Thomas Bradbury and Sons, Sheffield, 1936.
Heavy guage of silver weighing 6.5 troy ounces.
Category
1930s English Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Sterling Silver
French Adjustable Chaise Longue in Black Metal and Wood
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Chaise longue, metal, wood, France, 1930s
This functional, adjustable daybed features a frame in black metal and a seat of spiral metal webbing. The backrest is adjustable in differ...
Category
1930s French Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Iron
Luxurious Modern Design Vintage Rug in Shades of Blue, Turquoise, Teal and Green
Located in Atlanta, GA
Shades of Turquoise, blue, teal and green modern design vintage rug, Rug/ D-0604 Type/ Modern
This vintage rug is one-of-a-kind with a distressed finish that emphasizes a modern. ...
Category
1930s Persian Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Wool
Folding Wooden Tray Table from Austria, 1930's, in Burnt Orange Colour
Located in Vienna, Austria
A folding, wooden tray table in burnt orange colour, from the 1930's. The tray uses a simple mechanical mechanism composed of a
Leaf spring and pin lock....
Category
1930s Austrian Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Wood
Modernist Landscape Painting by Nikolai Timkov
Located in Wiscasset, ME
Oil on board, signed and dated 38' in lower right. Measures 6.75" x 15.5" including the frame, also inscribed and signed on reverse.
Nikolai Timkov is one of the best known Russi...
Category
1930s Russian Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Paint
Gio Ponti White Sofa from Casa & Giardino, circa 1938
By Gio Ponti
Located in Rome, IT
A Gio Ponti Casa & Giardino white sofa, circa 1938
walnut and fabric; white cotton and walnut feet
fully rest orated and newly upholstered
Measure: height 79, cm 152 x 82cm, high ...
Category
1930s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Cotton, Walnut
Side Table, Glass, Enrico Paulucci, circa 1936
Located in Berlin, DE
This elegant and minimal side table by Enrico Paolucci is made of two glass plates in original condition and solid wooden legs with brass applications.
Enrico Paulucci (Genova, 1...
Category
1930s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Brass
Original Vintage Poster, 'Calder Crags and Critters' 1975 Galerie Maeght
Located in Melbourne, Victoria
Original vintage poster, 'Calder Crags and Critters' 1975 Galerie Maeght
"Alexander Calder was an American sculptor known both for his innovative mobiles that embrace chance in th...
Category
1930s French Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Paper
Louis Dage, French Ceramist, Unique Vase in Glazed Ceramics, 1930s
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Louis Dage (1885-1961), French ceramist. Unique vase in glazed ceramics.
Beautiful glaze in brown and light earth tones. 1930s.
Measures: 15 x 11.5 cm.
In excellent condition.
S...
Category
1930s French Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
Walnut, Glass, and Brass Console Table Designed by Gio Ponti
By Gio Ponti
Located in Stamford, CT
A walnut console table designed by Gio Ponti. Having a grid etched into the glass top with ribbed legs terminating in brass sabot. Designed for the "F.A. home" in Palermo. Produced i...
Category
1930s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Walnut
1930s Architectural Salvage Distressed Wood Columns Set of Four
Located in Chula Vista, CA
1930s Vintage Architectural Modern Wood Columns set of 4
Distressed condition includes original paint and patina.
Tall: 88.5 H x 7.5 diameter, Base 18 diameter,
Short: 53 x 5.75 dia...
Category
1930s American Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Wood
Pair of Brown Suede Armchairs, Guglielmo Ulrich, 1936
Located in Berlin, DE
These rare armchairs by Guglielmo Ulrich have a solid and intimate feel. Covered with a brown suede, possibly reupholstered some time ago. Feet made of walnut.
Guglielmo Ulrich wa...
Category
1930s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Suede, Walnut
Bowed Walnut and Parchment Commode Attributed to Guglielmo Ulrich
Located in Stamford, CT
A unique bowed and carved commode attributed to Guglielmo Ulrich. The doors are carved laminated Walnut with brass hinges. The interior of the cabinet is burledwood with brass hardwa...
Category
1930s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Brass
Italian Art Deco Firewood Bucket in Hammered Brass, Attributed to Gio Ponti
By Gio Ponti
Located in Milan, IT
Italian Art Deco firewood bucket in hammered brass, attributed to Gio Ponti.
Category
1930s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Brass
Post Box, from the 1930s, Bakelite, Dark Brown with Mottled Color Door
Located in Vienna, Austria
An unusual post box from the 1930s in dark brown bakelite with mottled color on the door. Included is a key.
This item is in very good condition.
Category
1930s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Bakelite
Alvar Aalto 31 Lounge Chair for the Paimio Sanitorium, Finland, 1931
By Alvar Aalto
Located in London, GB
Huonekalu-ja Rakennustyötehdas
As an architect and designer, Alvar Aalto (1898-1976) should be celebrated for bringing Scandinavian modernism to global prominence. His sensitivity t...
Category
1930s Finnish Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Birch
Surrealist Portrait of Androgynous Figure by William Hugh Ferguson, 1935
Located in Lambertville, NJ
An exceptional museum quality portrait of incredibly unusual subject matter. The unidentified androgynous figure with a full length facial scar rest...
Category
1930s American Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Paint, Canvas
Three Caged White Glass Italian Pendants
Located in Houston, TX
Three caged white glass Italian pendants, (circa 1930-1950). White glass turns a cool opal-like color when pendant is lit. Newly wired for use within the USA using all UL approved pa...
Category
1930s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Iron
Venini Mirror by Carlo Scarpa
By Carlo Scarpa
Located in San Francisco, CA
An arched top mirror with brass inner frame and braided Venini glass pattern.
Marked Murano.
Category
1930s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Murano Glass
Female Nude Glass Sculpture by Venini & Co.
Located in New York, NY
Female nude glass sculpture made by Venini & Co. deep purple glass, iridescent.
Marked: Venini Murano, Alma Angelo 1939 (acid stamp).
Category
1930s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Art Glass
Gio Ponti Fontana Arte 0024 Suspension Lamp in Glass and Brass, Designed in 1932
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Designed by Gio Ponti and manufactured by Fontana Arte, the 0024 suspension lamp was designed in 1932 and made from transparent tempered glass discs, tubular sandblasted glass diffuser and a chrome-plated brass frame with canopy and all frame trim in chromed.
The lamp features a series of horizontal discs in clear tempered glass for a true light...
Category
1930s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Brass
Svend Engelund, Denmark. Oil on Canvas, Landscape from Vendsyssel
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Svend Engelund (1908-2007), Denmark. Oil on canvas. Early work. Landscape from Vendsyssel, 1930s-1940s.
The canvas measures: 86 x 67 cm.
The frame mea...
Category
1930s Danish Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Canvas
Immanuel Ibsen, Still Life Painting
By Immanuel Ibsen
Located in Kastrup, DK
Immanuel Ibsen (1887-1944), Danish painter.
Still life with pitcher, jar and fruits.
Oil on plywood. Signed: Ib.30. (1930).
Category
1930s Danish Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Plywood, Paint
Eileen Gray 1878-1976, Chromed Iron Desk Lamp, Gray Lacquered, 1930s
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Eileen Gray 1878-1976. Chromed iron desk lamp, gray lacquered. Adjustable arm and screen. Produced by Jumo, France in the 1930s.
Measures: Height 35 cm...
Category
1930s French Vintage Modern Furniture
Modernist Streamlined Ceiling Light, 1930s
Located in New York, NY
Modernist nickeled brass ceiling light. Three light fixture with glass diffusers and
Incredible patina.
Six sockets in total.
Category
1930s Czech Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Brass
Early Sterling Silver Pendant William Spratling
Located in Atlanta, GA
A lovely necklace pendant in 980 sterling silver from Taxco, Mexico. Designed and made by the studio of William Spratling, an American designer and entrepreneur who established his s...
Category
1930s Mexican Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Silver
Austrian Table Lamp from the 1930s with Bakelite Base and Glass Ball
Located in Vienna, Austria
Austrian table lamp from the 1930s, is composed of a Bakelite base with a glass ball.
The pattern on the ball is made up of erratic lines that cr...
Category
1930s Austrian Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Glass, Bakelite
Steel Frame Chair Model 201 by Gispen in Bicolor Upholstery
Located in Doornspijk, NL
This Classic of Dutch design was designed in 1931 by W.H. Gispen and has ever since a much beloved chair due to its timeless looks and high comfort. It is made of a chrome frame and ...
Category
1930s Dutch Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Chrome
Coffee Table in Walnut from the 1930s, Designed by Josef Frank
By Josef Frank
Located in Vienna, Austria
Solid walnut table with two levels designed by Josef Frank in the 1930s.
It is visually beautiful and touching it with the hand one feels the subtleness of craftsmanship.
Table is ...
Category
1930s Austrian Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Walnut
English Silver Water Jug
Located in London, GB
An English sterling silver water jug of unusual design.
This lovely water jug has a wood handle.
Made in London, 1933 by Edward Barnard & Sons.
Category
1930s English Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Silver
French Hammered Iron Desk/ Sofa Table Base, Giacometti & Jean-Michel Frank, 1930
Located in New York, NY
Sober, elegant French Mid-Century Modern neoclassical handwrought iron writing table bases or console bases in the manner of Alberto and Diego Giacometti for Jean-Michel Frank. The pair of bases...
Category
1930s French Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Iron, Wrought Iron
Walnut Bed from 1930 s Made for the Actress Frauke Lauterbach
Located in Vienna, Austria
This elegant bed has an amazing history, it was designed and made in Germany for Frauke Lauterbach and Paul Martin.
Paul Martin was a Hungarian film...
Category
1930s German Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Rare Cocktail Table by Pietro Chiesa for Fontana Arte
Located in New York, NY
An elegant and early Pietro Chiesa designed cocktail table manufactured by Fontana Arte. Rose gold mirrored glass top inset onto wood dish frame above splayed legs. Early Fontana Art...
Category
1930s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Wood
Pair of Venini Torqued Obelisks
By Carlo Scarpa
Located in New York, NY
Around 1930 Gio Ponti gave Paolo Venini some sketches for glass obelisks. Shortly thereafter Carlo Scarpa designed for Venini a torqued obelisk in transparent diamante glass -- so na...
Category
1930s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Glass
Georg Jensen Silver Bowl
By Georg Jensen
Located in London, GB
A lovely silver Georg Jensen Bowl with grape and floral decoration.
This bowl was designed by Gundorph Albertus for the firm of Georg Jensen.
It has an English import mark for 1930.
Category
1930s Danish Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Silver
Unique Necklet in Silver, 1930s, France
Located in Stockholm, SE
Unique necklet in silver, made in France, 1930s.
Apart of the exhibition “Essenzialmente la Mano”/ “Just the Hand”, seen in the catalogue edited by Alfonso Pluchinotta.
Category
1930s French Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Silver
Small Glass Carafe for Liquere from 1930s, in Cabana Style
Located in Vienna, Austria
The glass of the corpus is satined, with hand painted dots in gold and golden stripes on the neck and the bottom.
You can use it for liquor or as a creative alternative for oils
an...
Category
1930s Slovak Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Glass
Armchair with Viennese Can Seat from 1930s
Located in Vienna, Austria
Light weight armchair designed and made in Vienna in the 1930s influenced by Josef Frank.
The frame is constructed of beechwood, the Viennese can seat has bee renewed.
The wood has...
Category
1930s Austrian Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Beech
A Pair of Modern Swedish Lamps Designed by Erik Tidstrand Produced, circa 1932
Located in Stamford, CT
Model no. 27524 lamp designed by Erik Tidstrand manufactured by AB Nordiska Kompaniet, circa 1932. The lamp is nickel-plated metal, painted metal and painted wood. The underside indi...
Category
1930s Swedish Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Nickel
Two Cherry Wood Chairs from 1930s from the Circle of Josef Frank
Located in Vienna, Austria
These two chairs come from a time in Austrian design where craftsmanship and design are combined with the best materials to make beautiful furniture...
Category
1930s Austrian Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Cherry
Pair of Ceramic Bookends with Seals, from 1930s, in Cabana Style
Located in Vienna, Austria
Pair of ceramic bookends from 1930s, produced in Czechoslovakia.
Bases are glazed in light green and yellow, the seals in brown and off white.
Category
1930s Czech Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
Double Sided Carpet from Scandinavia with Ships and Seagulls
Located in Vienna, Austria
A unusual, double sided carpet from Scandinavia, signed a dated: "LST 1934".
The flags on the ships are from the Shetland islands.
A beautiful pi...
Category
1930s Scandinavian Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Wool
Bronze Owl Titled "Grand Duc" by Francois Pompon
Located in Stamford, CT
A large cast bronze Owl by Francois Pompon, titled "Grand Duc" designed in 1928 and cast between 1934-1939. The patinated bronze is marked with a Fonde...
Category
1930s French Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Rare Lajos Kozma Bar Cabinet or Secretary
By Lajos Kozma
Located in Kilmarnock, VA
Stunning and rare 1930s marquetry starburst front bar cabinet or secretary by Hungarian architect Lajos Kozma. The cabinet is in wonderful original condition with very few signs of age.
Category
1930s Hungarian Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Rosewood, Walnut
Ercole Barovier 'Marina Gemmata' Vase for Ferro Toso Barovier, Italy, 1930s
Located in Milan, IT
Ercole Barovier Marina gemmata vase for Ferro Toso Barovier, Italy, 1930s.
Category
1930s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Murano Glass
Sculptureof a Boxer Signed Bertin, France, circa 1930
Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos
Silver plated figure / sculpture of a boxer signed Bertin, France, circa 1930. Mounted over a marble base. Perfect for a boxing, sports wrestling fan.
Category
1930s French Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Silver Plate, Spelter
Rare Custom Robsjohn-Gibbings Wastebasket
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Walnut wastepaper basket with two brass ring handles from a 1938 custom Manhattan NY interior by Robsjohn-Gibbings. This is part of a library suite we ac...
Category
1930s American Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Walnut
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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