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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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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 chaircrafted 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: 20th Century
Karl Springer Rare and Exceptional Set of 3 "Free Form Coffee Tables" 1980s
Located in New York, NY
Exceptional and early complete set of 3 "Free Form Coffee Tables" in polished stainless steel on hidden casters by Karl Springer, American early-1980’s. It is rare to see a complete...
Category

1980s American Vintage Modern Furniture

Materials

Stainless Steel

Ceramic plates by Jean Lurçat, Sant-Viçens, France, 1950s
Located in Paris, FR
General characteristics: Type of object: Decorative dish or presentation plate. Artist: Jean Lurçat (1892-1966), French artist known for his tapestries, ceramics and posters. Manufa...
Category

20th Century French Modern Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

Contemporary Corner Sofa Tailored in British Wool Blue Coil Sprung Handmade
Located in Trowbridge, Wiltshire
We want you to meet your perfect partner, the luxurious Enchanté Modular Sofa, with its solid beech frame and finely-tailored, pure wool fabric upholstery. The Enchanté brings back...
Category

20th Century English Modern Furniture

Materials

Fabric, Beech

Italian Murano Art Glass Handbag Purse Vase
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful and rare Italian Murano art glass handbag purse vase in chartreuse green and bright yellow, circa late-20th century, Italy. This Italian Murano art glass handbag purse ha...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Modern Furniture

Materials

Murano Glass

Opaline Palmette Chandelier
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Italian chandelier shown with opaline hand blown Palmette Murano glass leaves arranged in six tiers including a crown at the top, mounted on 24k gold plated metal frame / Made in Ita...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Modern Furniture

Materials

Murano Glass

Amber Resin Fractal in the style of Francois Godebski, ca 1970s
Located in Cathedral City, CA
Amber Resin Fractal in the style of Francois Godebski, ca 1970s Very cool resin sphere in an amber color, unsigned, but certainly has all the hallmarks of Francois Godebski sculptur...
Category

1970s Unknown Vintage Modern Furniture

Materials

Resin

Blue Onyx Sphere Candle Holders - Set of 2
Located in Fairfield, CA
A set of 2 vintage blue onyx stone candle holders. Simple sphere shapes. Beautiful blue and tan coloring and veining to the stone. Felted bottoms. Made to hold standard taper candles.
Category

Late 20th Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Stone

Extraordinary Pierre Jeanneret Library Table
Located in Philadelphia, PA
We are very pleased to present this exceptional and rare Pierre Jeanneret illuminated reading table with provenance from DAV (Dayanand Anglo-Vedic) College Chandigarh which was built...
Category

Mid-20th Century Indian Modern Furniture

Materials

Teak

Koi Glass Repousse Vase in the Style Of Lalique
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A beautiful Vase with Swimming Koi in the style of Lalique. The lavender opalescent glass with three dimensional fish makes a wonderful statement. The vase can stand alone as a de...
Category

20th Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Glass

Pair of Federal Style Mahogany and Tufted Upholstered Wingback Armchairs
Located in Germantown, MD
A Mid Century Pair of Federal Style Mahogany frame, Upholstered and Tufted Wingback Armchairs. Navy blue with fine yellow dots. Measures 25.5" in width, 30" in depth and 37" in hei...
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Furniture

Materials

Upholstery, Wood, Mahogany

Set of 12 Baccarat Harcourt Multi-color Wine Cordial Glasses or Stems
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine set of 12 wine glass cordials. By Baccarat. In the Harcourt pattern. The set of 12 has 6 pairs of cordials the primary and secondary colors (red, blue yellow, green, purple...
Category

20th Century French Modern Furniture

Materials

Glass, Art Glass

Pair of Murano Glass and Brass Palm Tree Floor Lamp, 1970s
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Pair of floor lamps in amber and green Murano blown glass, brass structure, four bulbs. The floor lamp is also a sculpture that reproduces the trunk and leaves of a palm tree with pi...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture

Materials

Brass

Vintage Tessellated Travertine Marble Chest
Located in Houston, TX
Vintage tessellated travertine and marble chest with brass inlay and hardware.
Category

Late 20th Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Travertine, Marble, Brass

Bjørn Wiinblad - Monumental Decorative Ceramic figure, 155 cm
Located in Kastrup, DK
Bjørn Wiinblad, Danish 1919–2006 Unique monumental female figure by Bjørn Wiinblad, created in 1971. The sculpture stands 160 cm tall and is composed of five separate elements in gl...
Category

Late 20th Century Danish Modern Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

Skydro by Artemide Ceiling Light or Sconce
Located in Rome, IT
Skydro wall ceiling lamp by Artemide Skydro by Artemide, designed by Ross Lovegrove, reimagines the ceiling as a dynamic surface. The combination of aluminum, ABS, and steel elements...
Category

1990s Italian Modern Furniture

Materials

Blown Glass

Dark Green Marble Obelisks, Pair
Located in New York, NY
A substantial pair of dark green marble Obelisk sculptures in the modern style, circa late-20th century. Pair/set are dark green marble with black veining, some minor traces of white...
Category

Late 20th Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Marble

Green Atoll Art Glass Bowl by Anna Ehrner for Kosta Boda, 1980s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Thick and heavy conical art glass bowl from Kosta Boda in Sweden. It was designed by Anna Ehrner in the mid 1980s. The bowl is called Atoll and it features swirl-work to the inside o...
Category

1980s Swedish Vintage Modern Furniture

Materials

Glass

Round Vintage Glass Table 1970s Italian Design
Located in None, IT
Round table with chromed tubular metal structure and glass top, 1970s. CONDITION: In good condition, may show light signs of wear. DIMENSIONS: height 71cm...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture

Materials

Metal

Pair of Bombay Company Stained Fruitwood Wall Cabinets
Located in Germantown, MD
Pair of Bombay Company Stained Fruitwood mirrored and glass Wall Cabinets. Measures 20.5"W x 5.75"D x 25"H
Category

Late 20th Century Unknown Modern Furniture

Materials

Glass, Wood

French Modern Carved Rock Crystal Diminutive Organic Bowl
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
French Modern Carved Rock Crystal Diminutive Organic Bowl This exquisite modern French bowl is masterfully hand-carved from a single piece of natural rock crystal, showcasing its st...
Category

20th Century French Modern Furniture

Materials

Rock Crystal

Laurel Aged Bronze Modern Lamps
Located in New York, NY
Pair of aged bronze sculptural modernist lamps with a slim brutalist profile. Professionally rewired for use in the USA. 100W bulbs max.
Category

20th Century American Modern Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Large Serving/Decorative Bowl in Pure Silver & Porcelain by Emilia Castillo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Enhance your dining experience with this exquisite Large Serving Bowl in Pure Silver & Porcelain by renowned Mexican artist Emilia Castillo. Designed and manufactured in Taxco, Mexic...
Category

1980s Vintage Modern Furniture

Materials

Silver

Unknown American Artisan Modern Steel Kinetic Mobile, Circa 1970s
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Unknown American Artisan Modern Steel Kinetic Mobile, Circa 1970s  This striking kinetic mobile, made by an unknown American artisan in the 1970s, embodies the spirit of modern abst...
Category

20th Century American Modern Furniture

Materials

Steel, Wire

Cesa 1882, Italy, Modernist Silver Plate Cocktail Shaker
Located in Atlanta, GA
This modernist three-sectioned cocktail shaker was crafted by the renowned silversmith Cesa 1882 in Italy in the 1960s. The beautiful modernist design showcases a geometric pattern a...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture

Materials

Metal, Silver Plate

French Modern Square Brass & Glass Coffee Table
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A vintage, midcentury modern French brass and glass coffee or cocktail table in the style of legendary firm Maison Jansen. In their typical aesthetic codes, the clear glass top is en...
Category

20th Century French Modern Furniture

Materials

Brass, Steel

Large Vintage Multicolor Murano Glass Vase, Italy, Late 20th Century
Located in Chatham, ON
Large vintage multicolor Murano glass vase - featuring a white glass interior with red rim - clear cased glass to the outside and base - unsigned - Italy - late 20th century. Exce...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Modern Furniture

Materials

Art Glass

Futurist Articulated Floor Lamp from the 1970s
Located in Vigevano, PV
Enrico Tronconi Futurist Articulated Floor Lamp from the 1970s. This floor lamp is composed of three white-plated steel tubes with two light sources each. The modules can rotate 360 ...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture

Materials

Steel

Pair of Vintage Refurbished Kaare Klint Safari Chairs from the 1960s
Located in Søborg, DK
A vintage pair of refurbished Kaare Klint safari chairs from the 1960s by Rud Rasmussen furniture markers in Copenhagen. KK47000 was designed in 1933 as a modern collapsible chair...
Category

1960s Danish Vintage Modern Furniture

Materials

Leather

Sheel living room table Danny Lane for Fiamm 1980 thick crystal
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Coffee table made by Danny lane for Fiamm in the 1980s, made of solid crystal chiseled and shaped as if it were a shell, in fact it is called a Shell table , it has scratches on the ...
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture

Materials

Crystal

The 46th Annual Exhibition of Advertising and Editorial Art and Design Poster
Located in New York, NY
First edition, 4-color offset printed poster of this influential and now iconic Psychedelic-era image, commissioned as a call for entries for the 46th annual Exhibition of Advertising and Editorial Art and Design. Designed by Tom Daly, who also did the body painting with theatrical greasepaint and water-soluble acrylics on model Wandy Embry, and photographed by Kenneth Harris...
Category

1960s American Vintage Modern Furniture

Materials

Paper

Vintage Signed Jere Chrome Raindrops Wall Sculpture 64"
Located in Toledo, OH
Vintage chrome raindrops wall sculpture by Jere. 64" long x 30" tall circa 1970's.
Category

1970s Vintage Modern Furniture

Materials

Chrome

Art Deco Bedside Cabinets in Black Glossy Lacquered Wood and Chromed Steel, 1930
Located in Berlin, DE
Modernist bedside cabinets pair in black glossy lacquered wood and chromium plated tubular steel, circa 1930.
Category

1930s Czech Vintage Modern Furniture

Materials

Metal, Chrome

Embraer 170 Jet Airplane Aircraft Model Brazil
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Scaled model of the Embraer 170 Jet. Made of Wood in the Scale of 1/75. This exquisite Embraer 170 Model is handcrafted by a master craftsmen from the finest Wood. Attention is given...
Category

Late 20th Century Brazilian Modern Furniture

Materials

Metal

Usm Haller sideboard
Located in Athens, Attiki
USM Haller sideboard by Fritz Haller & Paul Schärer. USM takes its initials in 1885 from its founder, Ulrich Schärer, and Münsingen, the Swiss village where he was born. Once the ne...
Category

1980s Swiss Vintage Modern Furniture

Materials

Metal

Pierre Jeanneret Portable Magazine Rack
Located in Philadelphia, PA
We are pleased to present this elusive portable teak magazine rack designed by Pierre Jeanneret. This is a serious collector item that doesn't come appear in the market often. It wa...
Category

20th Century Indian Modern Furniture

Materials

Teak

Charming Pink Amethyst and Gold Amber Murano Chandelier
Located in Rome, IT
Realized in pure pink amethyst color Murano glass consists of 16 delicious hand blown leaves. The structure is gilt-metal. Five E27 lights spread a magical light. Available 3 items....
Category

1990s Italian Modern Furniture

Materials

Glass

VUARNET - Pouilloux .075 - Handmade Polarized Sunglasses - France - Circa 1980's
Located in Chatham, ON
VUARNET - Pouilloux .075 - Vintage polarized handmade sunglasses - classic French-girl style featuring faux tortoiseshell frames - the lens are brown - finest quality workmanship and...
Category

Late 20th Century French Modern Furniture

Materials

Glass, Plastic

Barbara Barry for Baker Diamond Gold Leaf Cabinet
Located in Houston, TX
Beautiful gold leaf 'Diamond' chest, from the Barbara Barry collection for Baker, fitted with two projected pyramidal carved doors, the interior in Chinese red with two adjustable sh...
Category

Late 20th Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Wood

“Dinosaure” by Le Corbusier
Located in Berlin, BE
"Dinosaure" by Le Corbusier. Signed in pencil and numbered 2/100.⁠ ⁠ Charles-Édouard Jeanneret (1887 – 1965), known as Le Corbusier, was a Swiss-French architect, designer, painter, ...
Category

1940s French Vintage Modern Furniture

Materials

Paper

3 Piece Place Setting Coffee Cup, Saucer, Plate Hutschenreuther Blue Onion
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A beautiful setting of three china porcelain Hutschenreuther blue onion pieces, made in Germany, in the 1960s. All items are in very good co...
Category

1960s German Vintage Modern Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Floor lamp model Aggregato, designer Enzo Mari, production Artemide
Located in Busnago, IT
Adjustable floor lamp Aggregate model. Artemide Production, Designer Enzo Mari and Giancarlo Fassina lamp produced in the 1970s has a burn on the plastic tube due to the heating of ...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture

Materials

Metal

Majestic Line Rosenthal Porcelain Dinnerware Service for 12
Located in New York, NY
This striking Majestic Line Rosenthal Porcelain Dinner Wear Service for 12 originates from Germany, Circa 1980. Each piece features remarkable gilt textural detailing circumscribing ...
Category

1980s German Vintage Modern Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Great Paolo Piva B&B Italian Table Coffee Alanda Design Minimalist 1980 Black
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Great Paolo Piva B&B Italian table coffee Alanda Design Minimalist 1980 Black.
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture

Materials

Metal

Set of Two Red Leather Chester Sofa by Poltrona Frau, 1993
Located in Traversetolo, IT
The Chester sofa features a spring system made with hand-placed conical steel springs, secured to jute straps on a seasoned beech frame. The seat padding is made of rubberized horseh...
Category

1990s Italian Modern Furniture

Materials

Steel

Daum by De Belroy Tall Crystal Vase, circa 1970
By De Belroy, Daum
Located in Atlanta, GA
Compagnie Francaise du Cristal De Belroy designed this modernist crystal vase for Daum. The piece was crafted in France circa 1970. Its slim design boasts a thick base and tumbler sh...
Category

1970s French Vintage Modern Furniture

Materials

Crystal

Wedgwood Black Basalt Plates, Set of 6
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful set of six (6) English black basalt plates by Wedgwood, circa early to mid-20th century, England. Plates could be used a myriad of ways ...
Category

20th Century English Modern Furniture

Materials

Pottery, Stoneware

Po Shun Leong Handcrafted Koa Wood Box, USA, 1986
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Po Shun Leong Handcrafted Koa Wood Box, USA, 1986. Signed to the bottom.
Category

20th Century American Modern Furniture

Materials

Wood

Pierre Jeanneret Set of Two Office Chairs from Chandigarh
Located in Bonita Springs, FL
A beautiful set of 2 Pierre Jeanneret office chairs in solid teak from Chandigarh. Stenciled markings to reverse of each example. Set includes black cushions. The simplicity of the d...
Category

1950s Indian Vintage Modern Furniture

Materials

Upholstery, Cane, Teak

1980s 30 Brass Plated Wall Sconces, USA
Located in St- Leonard, Quebec
Elegant brass plated wall sconces that where dismantle from a chic hotel. See picture with fixture mounted on mirror Well made with prime quality ...
Category

1980s American Vintage Modern Furniture

Materials

Metal, Aluminum, Brass

1980s 30 Brass Plated Wall Sconces, USA
1980s 30 Brass Plated Wall Sconces, USA
$495 Sale Price / item
67% Off
1980s Gorgeous Red Vase "Hsing" Designed by Ettore Sottsass. Made in Italy
Located in Milano, IT
1980s Gorgeous vase "Hsing" in red glazed ceramic designes by Ettore Sottsass for Alessio Sarri, Sesto Fiorentino. This vase is in excellent condition. Made in Italy. It's marked at ...
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

Vintage Krosno Crystal Bowl, Poland 1980s
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Vintage Krosno Crystal Bowl, Poland 1980s
Category

1980s Polish Vintage Modern Furniture

Materials

Crystal

Pair of Asko 'Classio' Leather Chairs, Model 8283
By Asko
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Stunning pair of 'Classio, model 8283' chrome and black leather chairs by Asko, Finland, designed in 1982, cubic design similar to Le Corbusier's LC2 lounge chairs, marked.
Category

1980s Finnish Vintage Modern Furniture

Materials

Chrome

The Encounter, 1944 Lithograph by Maurits Cornelis Escher
Located in Point Richmond, CA
The Encounter, 1944 Maurits Cornelis Escher (Dutch, 1898-1972) Print size: 13.5 by 18.5 inches (34.2 by 47 cm) Frame size: 23.25 x 27.5 inches (59 by 70 cm) From the catalogue raison...
Category

Mid-20th Century Dutch Modern Furniture

Materials

Paper

USM Haller mobile pedestal with drawers by Fritz Haller & Paul Schärer.
Located in Athens, Attiki
USM Haller mobile pedestals with file cabinets by Fritz Haller & Paul Schärer. USM takes its initials in 1885 from its founder, Ulrich Schärer, and Münsingen, the Swiss village wher...
Category

1980s Swiss Vintage Modern Furniture

Materials

Metal

"Leopoldo" coffee table by A.Citterio & G.O. Löw for Kartell - Italy - 1990s
Located in Milano, IT
The Leopoldo coffee table, designed in the 1990s by Antonio Citterio and Glen Löw for Kartell, is a perfect combination of minimalism and technical innovation. Characterized by an es...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Modern Furniture

Materials

Aluminum

Rare Vintage Large Fragrance Factice The Dreamer by Versace 1990s
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful and striking incredibly large fragrance factice by Versace. This sculptural piece is commanding and striking. A balance of lines and codes of the Versace fashion empire. T...
Category

1990s French Modern Furniture

Materials

Glass

Vintage Michael Nourot Blown Glass Bud Vase
Located in Fairfield, CA
A beautiful blown glass bud vase by master glass maker Michael Nourot who founded the Nourot Glass Studio of Benicia California. Nourot art glass has be...
Category

Late 20th Century American Modern Furniture

Materials

Blown Glass

Jean Despres Champagne Bucket, 1950
Located in Saint-Amans-des-Cots, FR
This stunning champagne bucket by Jean Després, crafted in France around 1950, is an exquisite example of his masterful silver-plating technique. The design features a cylindrical body with hammered detailing, a hallmark of Després' signature style, and is adorned with two scrolled handles that are accentuated by spherical accents. At the top of the bucket, you'll find a delicate Jean Després flat-link chain decoration, adding a refined touch. The piece is signed with "J.Després" etched under the base, verifying its authenticity and craftsmanship (see photo). A similar model can be found in the book Jean Després, Jeweler and Goldsmith Between Art Deco and Modernity by Melissa Gabardi, specifically on page 151, published by Editions Norma (refer to accompanying photos). Jean Després (1889-1980) was a renowned French goldsmith known for his distinctive approach to Art Deco jewelry and functional objects. His legacy includes creating innovative silver, gold, and pewter pieces, breaking away from traditional designs by using bold, geometric forms and hammered textures. Després' works were highly regarded in avant-garde circles, and he enjoyed a close friendship with notable artists like Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque. This champagne bucket is not only a stunning decorative object but also a symbol of Després' groundbreaking contributions to the Art Deco movement. Perfect for collectors and admirers of modernist French craftsmanship. Exhibitions 1925: Museum of Decorative Arts in Paris, with Rose Adler and the painter Étienne Cournault 1925: International Exhibition of Decorative Arts 1926: Salon des indépendants 1928: Salon of the Societe Nationale des Beaux-Arts 1928: Salon des Artistes-Decorateurs 1930: Union des Artistes Modernes, at the Pavillon de Marsan, he exhibits surrealist jewelry...
Category

1950s French Vintage Modern Furniture

Materials

Metal

Rosewood and Suede MP-091 Sofa by Percival Lafer for Lafer MP
Located in Dorchester, MA
Designed by Brazilian modernist Percival Lafer, this bold sofa, model MP-091, is deeply inviting. The comfortable tufted cushion sits on sturdy straps, attac...
Category

1970s Brazilian Vintage Modern Furniture

Materials

Suede, Rosewood

1970s Brass Tabouret Stool or Side Table
Located in Stamford, CT
1970s brass tabouret stool or side table. Overall as found, unpolished patina.
Category

1970s American Vintage Modern Furniture

Materials

Brass

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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