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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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.
20th Century French Modern Furniture
Ceramic
20th Century American Modern Furniture
Zebra Hide
20th Century Italian Modern Furniture
Upholstery
20th Century French Modern Furniture
Plaster
1970s Vintage Modern Furniture
Brass
Mid-20th Century Italian Modern Furniture
Murano Glass
1990s European Modern Furniture
Glass, Wood
Late 20th Century Mexican Modern Furniture
Silver Plate, Brass
1980s American Vintage Modern Furniture
Wicker
1930s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture
Nickel
Mid-20th Century Swiss Modern Furniture
Leather
1970s Australian Vintage Modern Furniture
Silver
20th Century French Modern Furniture
Paper
Late 20th Century American Modern Furniture
Chrome
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Furniture
Blown Glass
20th Century Modern Furniture
Metal, Iron
20th Century American Modern Furniture
Metal, Brass, Copper, Chrome
20th Century French Modern Furniture
Leather, Upholstery
Mid-20th Century German Modern Furniture
Porcelain
Late 20th Century Belgian Modern Furniture
Crystal
1970s Dutch Vintage Modern Furniture
Enamel, Steel
1970s American Vintage Modern Furniture
Sterling Silver
20th Century Modern Furniture
Blown Glass
1960s Turkish Vintage Modern Furniture
Wool, Cotton
1990s French Modern Furniture
Glass
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Furniture
Steel, Chrome
20th Century American Modern Furniture
Wood
20th Century English Modern Furniture
Porcelain
1990s Italian Modern Furniture
Fiberglass
20th Century Modern Furniture
Teak, Wood
20th Century French Modern Furniture
Glass
20th Century French Modern Furniture
Metal
1990s American Modern Furniture
Silver Plate
1960s Romanian Vintage Modern Furniture
Cane, Bentwood
1960s Danish Vintage Modern Furniture
Leather
20th Century American Modern Furniture
Steel, Wire
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Furniture
Murano Glass
1980s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture
Cotton, Wood, Beech
Mid-20th Century French Modern Furniture
Sterling Silver
20th Century American Modern Furniture
Ceramic
1950s Spanish Vintage Modern Furniture
Plaster
1990s Swiss Modern Furniture
Brass
1940s French Vintage Modern Furniture
Mirror, Wood
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture
Metal
1980s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture
Wood
20th Century American Modern Furniture
Chrome
20th Century Turkish Modern Furniture
Wool, Cotton
20th Century American Modern Furniture
Burl
20th Century Italian Modern Furniture
Slate
Late 20th Century English Modern Furniture
Stoneware
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture
Chrome
Late 20th Century Mexican Modern Furniture
Silver Plate, Metal
Late 20th Century American Modern Furniture
Walnut
1980s Cuban Vintage Modern Furniture
Paper
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture
Metal, Chrome
1970s French Vintage Modern Furniture
Lucite, Acrylic
1970s American Vintage Modern Furniture
Brass
1950s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture
Fabric, Wood
Late 20th Century Modern Furniture
Wood
1960s Turkish Vintage Modern Furniture
Wool, Cotton
Late 20th Century French Modern Furniture
Linen, Silk
20th Century American Modern Furniture
Stone, Bronze
20th Century American Modern Furniture
Mirror, Wood
20th Century Danish Modern Furniture
Rush, Wood
1980s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture
Ceramic
1980s American Vintage Modern Furniture
Goatskin, Wood, Lacquer
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Furniture
Glass
20th Century French Modern Furniture
Metal
20th Century German Modern Furniture
Porcelain
20th Century French Modern Furniture
Wool
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Furniture
Chrome
1930s British Vintage Modern Furniture
Linen, Paper
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Furniture
Metal, Aluminum