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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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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
1995 Kenneth Lane Caterpillar Brooch
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
1995 Kenneth Lane Caterpillar Brooch Signed, KHL 3" in (76.2 mm) Amusing faux cabochon lapis turquoise caterpillar brooch pin, gold tone mounting. Come in it's original dust bag a...
Category

1990s American Modern Furniture

Materials

Metal

1980s Art Pottery Modern Ceramics Gainey Planter Pot Metallic Bronze
Located in Chula Vista, CA
1980s Art Pottery Modern Ceramics Large Planter Pot in Metallic Bronze Finish Unmarked attribution Gainey Pottery 23.5 diameter x 18.75 h Preowned u...
Category

Late 20th Century North American Modern Furniture

Materials

Pottery

Modernist Two-Tier Transparent Triedre Murano Camer Glass Rectangular Chandelier
Located in New York, NY
This stunning and dramatic modernist triedre chandelier was realized in Murano, Italy- the island off the coast of Venice renowned for centuries for its superlative glass production....
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Modern Furniture

Materials

Brass

Pair of 'Benjamin' Stools by Lisa Norinder for IKEA, 1990's
By IKEA
Located in Bern, CH
Pair of IKEA Benjamin plywood stools designed by Lisa Noringer, 1990's. Made of plywood. Stackable and can be used either as a stool or side table. Modern iconic designs from Ikea. ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Modern Furniture

Materials

Plywood

Rare Willy Daro Brass and Seashell Table Lamps, circa 1970
Located in Atlanta, GA
Willy Daro designed these stunning modernist table lamps. The pieces were crafted in France circa 1970. These rare lamps boast giant seashells mounted on a large square polished bras...
Category

1970s Belgian Vintage Modern Furniture

Materials

Metal, Brass

Vintage Herman Miller Aeron Classic Stool Armless Chair
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, a classic Herman Miller Aeron Armless Chair Adjustable Stool Stool Black Mesh Adjustable No Arms Ergonomic with Wheels DIme...
Category

Late 20th Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Metal, Steel

Modernist Pressed Lucite Table Lamp in Fractured Gold and Amber
Located in New York, NY
This beautiful modernist pressed lucite table lamp was realized in the United States during the latter half of the 20th century. It features a volumetric rectangular form with an int...
Category

20th Century American Modern Furniture

Materials

Lucite

Bronze Sculpture of a Polo Player
Located in London, GB
Lovely Bronze Sculpture of a Polo Player This Bronze Captures the Movement Perfectly Bronze Sat on Marble Base
Category

Early 20th Century Unknown Modern Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Large Staff "Cross Oyster" Flush or Wall Mount Lamp
Located in Vienna, AT
Ceiling or wall light model oyster, German design by Rolf Kru¨ger for staff. Design, circa 1968. Construction made of white lacquered steel sheet, covers white-lacquered, equipped wi...
Category

1960s German Vintage Modern Furniture

Materials

Steel

1986 Jaru Metallic Gold Sphere Orb Ceramic Pottery California
By Jaru
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Jaru 1986 Gold Sphere Orb Ball Ceramic Pottery California maker stamped 4 diameter x 3.5 h Original preowned vintage condition See all images for details
Category

Late 20th Century American Modern Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

Vintage 1970's Burt Groedel Edward Fields Sculptured Wool Carpet, Tapestry
Located in New York, NY
Edward Fields vintage wall tapestry/carpet, sculptured wool, artist signed, Burt Groedel, 1970’s Pollenaise is the title of this fabulous work o...
Category

20th Century American Modern Furniture

Materials

Wool

Chaise-longue model LC4, Manufacturer Cassina, Designer Le Corbusier
Located in Busnago, IT
The LC4 chaise lounge is a Bauhaus classic and is included in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Each piece is signed, numbered and manufactured by Cas...
Category

1990s Italian Modern Furniture

Materials

Steel

Valenti Desk Lamp in Burgundy Leather, Spain 1960's
Located in New York, NY
A Stitched leather covered desk lamp by Valenti, steel construction with brass swivel.
Category

Mid-20th Century Spanish Modern Furniture

Materials

Brass, Steel

Charles Hollis Jones Lucite Brass/ Lectern Podium/ Hostess Stand
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A very sculptural Lucite and brass lectern podium or hostess stand, this high end piece has three graduating uprights with a work surface having a stop ...
Category

Late 20th Century American Modern Furniture

Materials

Lucite

Mid-Century Modern Decorative Cabinet with Drawers Designed in the, 1970s
Located in Antwerpen, Antwerp
Decorative cabinet in designed in the 1970s. The cabinet has six light grey lacquered shelves with wooden knobs. The interior is spacious and ideal to store clothing or other compone...
Category

1970s Belgian Vintage Modern Furniture

Materials

Wood

Baker Left & Right Castle Corner Chairs
Located in Southampton, NJ
Sophisticated, sculptural & symmetrical pair of Baker Castle corner chairs; left & right, ready for use. Seats 18" H/ Highest arm 29" H.
Category

20th Century American Modern Furniture

Materials

Walnut, Upholstery

Pedro Friedeberg Hands & Feet Table. Gold Leaf. Original and Rare
Located in Kansas City, MO
Pedro Friedeberg surrealist table. Glass with gold leafed hand carved wood. An exceptional example of the artists work. Could be used as a coffee table, occasional table, side tab...
Category

1960s Mexican Vintage Modern Furniture

Materials

Gold Leaf

DS-2011 Sofa by De Sede, Dark brown leather lounge
Located in Ranst, VAN
Super comfortable two-seater sofa from De Sede, model DS-2011. The sofa has a steel base and is made of dark brown leather. The sofa is in very good and original condition. Two piece...
Category

Mid-20th Century Swiss Modern Furniture

Materials

Leather

Damien Hirst Copper "Pharmacy" Fragment
Located in New York, NY
Damien Hirst wallpaper fragment from the famed Pharmacy restaurant in London. Fragment shows variuos pills and bottles all printed on copper metalli...
Category

20th Century English Modern Furniture

Materials

Paper

Pair of White Adjustable Wall Lights by Martinelli Luce, Italy 1980s
Located in Hannover, DE
An exclusive and hard-to-find pair of wall lights from the Italian lighting manufacturer Martinelli Luce. This pair of white wall lights dates back to the early 1980s. Thanks to the ...
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture

Materials

Brass, Chrome

Giant, Large Champage perfume Bottle, Yves Saint Laurent, XXth Century.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Giant, large Champage perfume bottle, Yves Saint Laurent, XXth century. Giant, giant Champagne perfume bottle, Yves Saint Laurent, XXth century, without perfume. H: 17cm, D: 17cm
Category

20th Century French Modern Furniture

Materials

Glass

Midcentury Pendant Lamp in Brass from Rupert Nikoll, Austria with 6 Silk Shades
Located in Vienna, Austria
Large pendant lamp with brass arms and blackened corpus. Six silk shades positioned on three levels giving the lamp a dynamic form. Minimalistic design with harmony and elegance. ...
Category

1960s Austrian Vintage Modern Furniture

Materials

Brass

Murano Glass Chandelier in Opaline and Gold, circa 1950s
Located in Villaverla, IT
Exquisite Murano Glass Chandelier in Opaline and Gold, circa 1950s This enchanting Murano glass chandelier, crafted in the 1950s, is a testament to the unparalleled artistry of Venet...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture

Materials

Gold Leaf

Stanley Landsman Infinity Mirror 1970
Located in Chicago, IL
Stanley Landsman Infinity Mirror 1970 Painted matte black wood and mirrored glass Dimensions: 84¼ h × 25 w × 24 d in Stanley Landsman was a pioneering sculptor best known for his “In...
Category

1970s American Vintage Modern Furniture

Materials

Mirror, Wood

Stanley Landsman Infinity Mirror 1970
Stanley Landsman Infinity Mirror 1970
$11,200 Sale Price
20% Off
Swid Powell for Calvin Klein Silver Plate Caviar Bowl Dish Chiller, circa 1980
Located in Atlanta, GA
Indulge in the ultimate expression of refined luxury with this rare modernist caviar bowl, a masterpiece designed by Swid Powell and exclusively distributed through the Calvin Klein ...
Category

1980s American Vintage Modern Furniture

Materials

Crystal, Silver Plate, Metal

Muller Van Severen Red Wire S #1 rocking chaise Belgium
Located in Skokie, IL
Wire s from a series of objects Muller Van Severen created for Solo House, an architectural holiday home amidst 100 hectares of nature in the North of Spain, designed by OFFICE kgdvs...
Category

20th Century Belgian Modern Furniture

Materials

Stainless Steel

Curtis Jere Artisan House Large Brass Fan Wall Sculpture, 1989
Located in Miami, FL
Large brass wall sculpture in the form of a fan or shell by C. Jere Artisan House. Signed and dates 1989.
Category

Late 20th Century American Modern Furniture

Materials

Metal

Maitland Smith Embossed Leather Stacked Books Trompe-l'œil Coffee Table, Signed
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Impressive trompe-l'œil leather book coffee table by Maitland Smith, circa 1990, that would make a fantastic conversation starter for any spa...
Category

1990s American Modern Furniture

Materials

Leather, Wood

1960s Red Lucite Elephant
Located in Tarrytown, NY
1960s Red Lucite Elephant Very small chip on ear (as shown in picture)
Category

1960s Vintage Modern Furniture

Materials

Lucite

Willy Rizzo Burlwood Chrome Glass Dining Table
Located in Houston, TX
1970s Willy Rizzo dining table featuring burl wood veneer, chrome legs, and glass.
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Modern Furniture

Materials

Chrome

Monumental Serge Roche Style Rock Crystal Stalagmite, Rockwork Silver Leaf Base
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Monumental Rock Crystal Quartz Stalagmite on Carved Silver Leaf Base, in the Style of Serge Roche France, Circa 1960 Two Pieces: The Rock Crystal Quartz Stalagmite and the Carved Sil...
Category

20th Century French Modern Furniture

Materials

Rock Crystal, Silver Leaf

Italian Murano Blue Leaf Palm Chandelier with Brass Globe Base, 1970s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This stunning mid-century Italian chandelier features a dramatic arrangement of vibrant cobalt blue Murano glass leaves, meticulously shaped and textured to resemble palm fronds. Eac...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture

Materials

Brass

John Dickinson Unique Crate Coffee Table from the Firehouse, San Francisco 1970
Located in Chicago, IL
John Dickinson Unique Crate Coffee Table from the Firehouse, San Francisco, 1970 The only known example from the series in a rectangular form—other versions were executed as even cub...
Category

1970s American Vintage Modern Furniture

Materials

Pine

Rosenthal Piero Fornasetti Porcelain Plate, Themes and Variations, Motiv 13
Located in Downingtown, PA
Rosenthal Piero Fornasetti Porcelain Plate, Themes and Variations, Buttons, Motiv 13, 1980s From a collection of Rosenthal Piero Fornasetti plates that we have in stock. Wonderful rare example of the small range of plates made by Rosenthal in the 1980s from Piero Fornasetti designs. This one depicts the face of Lina Cavalieri as buttons on a military-style jacket. These plates are sometimes called Julia plates...
Category

Late 20th Century German Modern Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Italian Halogen Table Lamp , 1970s
Located in St- Leonard, Quebec
Long and sleek designed halogen table lamp from the late 1970s, Italia. First class material, construction and assembly. 50 watts lightbulb ...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture

Materials

Aluminum, Steel

Produced by Seguso Modern Murano Glass Coffee Table for Roche Bobois, 1990s
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Coffee table, designed by Maurice Barilone for Roche Bobois and produced by the Murano glassworks Seguso. Three-legged structure with a transparent glass top in a triangular shape wi...
Category

1990s Italian Modern Furniture

Materials

Glass, Murano Glass

Vintage Pal Kepenyes Bronze/Brass Necklace, 20th Century
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Vintage Pal Kepenyes bronze/brass necklace, 20th century. This Hungarian born artist worked in Mexico for decades, known for free-form sculptural jewelry...
Category

20th Century Mexican Modern Furniture

Materials

Brass, Bronze

1990s Fontana Arte Table Lamps Model Falena by Alvaro Siza Italy
Located in Chula Vista, CA
1990s Magnificent pair of modern table lamps by Fontana Arte designed by Alvaro Siza Italy circa 1994. Adjustable body to manage light. Chrome metal and glass. Low-voltage table lamp...
Category

1990s Italian Modern Furniture

Materials

Chrome

Ted Jones Dublin Ireland Irish Oil Painting Canvas Music Teacher with Student
Located in Dublin, Ireland
This beautiful Painting titled “The Recital” by Ted Jones (Irish 1952-2017) depicts a young girl in Traditional Irish Costume seated beside her music teacher. Wonderful oil on Canvas...
Category

20th Century Irish Modern Furniture

Materials

Canvas, Giltwood

Large Vintage Demijohn Style Dark Green Blown Glass Wine Bottle, a Pair
Located in Plainview, NY
A large pair of vintage dark green blown glass Demijohn style bottles of wines. The bottles are sturdy and very decorative. Embellish you r...
Category

20th Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Blown Glass

Rosewood and Glass Side Table by Percival Lafer
Located in Dorchester, MA
Designed by Brazilian modernist Percival Lafer, this jacaranda rosewood side table features bold rectangular frames with exposed hardware and glass tops. We have two tables availabl...
Category

1970s Brazilian Vintage Modern Furniture

Materials

Chrome

Pair of Valley Form Two Light Candelabras in Stainless Steel by Georg Jensen
Located in New York, NY
This beautifully sculpted Pair of Valley Form Two Light Candelabras in Stainless Steel are designed by esteemed silversmith and manufacturer George Jensen in Denmark during the 20th ...
Category

20th Century Danish Modern Furniture

Materials

Stainless Steel

Rare 'Karate' Swiveling Fiberglass Shell Chair by Michel Cadestin
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rare 'Karate' swiveling fiberglass shell chair by Michel Cadestin. This iconic chair was designed circa 1970 by Michel Cadestin for French furniture manufacturer Airborne. Referred ...
Category

1970s French Vintage Modern Furniture

Materials

Iron

6.7x9.7 Ft Contemporary Handmade Low Pile Turkish Wool Area Rug in Green Color
Located in Spring Valley, NY
Our over-dyed rugs are all hand-knotted vintage pieces that are recreated in our workshop to cater to a wider range of interior design choices from modern to coastal, from industrial...
Category

1960s Turkish Vintage Modern Furniture

Materials

Wool, Cotton

Silver Plate and Crystal Ice Bucket by PM Italy, circa 1980
Located in Atlanta, GA
Italian silversmith P.M. Italy designed this exquisite modernist barware silver plate and crystal ice bucket circa 1980. The minimalist chic design boasts a neat round shape with a s...
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture

Materials

Crystal, Metal, Silver Plate

Round white dining table Tulip Eero Saarinen Knoll diameter 120 modern 1969
Located in Milano, Lombardia
This is perhaps one of the best-known tables in the history of design, innovative project by Eero Saarinen from the 1950s. Wherever you go to put this table it will be able to create...
Category

1950s American Vintage Modern Furniture

Materials

Metal

United Artists Five Vintage Japanese Pink Panther Figures
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A delightful collection of five vintage United Artists Pink Panther figures of various form produced under license in Japan and dating from around 1982. The figures are licensed by t...
Category

1980s Japanese Vintage Modern Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

"Celestia" ceiling lamp by Tobia Scarpa, made by Flos in the 1980s.
Located in Vigevano, PV
"Celestia" ceiling lamp by Tobia Scarpa for Flos. Designed and made in Italy in 1982. Linen fabric diffuser, powder-coated molded aluminum body. Steel diffuser positioning rods.
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture

Materials

Aluminum, Steel

Monumental Karl Springer “banker“ coffee table in embossed white leather
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This is a large scale “banker” coffee table by Karl Springer .executed in a fine printed cream white leather .extremely well built and large… It is 60“ x 40“ x 17“ tall… Wear is co...
Category

1980s Vintage Modern Furniture

Materials

Leather, Glass

5.3x8.3 Ft Green Color Handmade Turkish Wool Area Rug for Modern Interiors
Located in Spring Valley, NY
Our over-dyed rugs are all hand-knotted vintage pieces that are recreated in our workshop to cater to a wider range of interior design choices from modern to coastal, from industrial...
Category

1960s Turkish Vintage Modern Furniture

Materials

Wool, Cotton

Modern Woodard Pinecrest Style Wrought Iron Garden Patio Dining Chair - Set of 4
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Modern Woodard Pinecrest Style Wrought Iron Garden Patio Dining Chairs - Set of 4. Item features stacking frames, wrought iron construction, clean modernist lines, sleek sculptural f...
Category

Late 20th Century Unknown Modern Furniture

Materials

Wrought Iron

Hermes, Paris - Silver & Gold Plated Vase / Beaker / Desk Cup
Located in Bath, GB
A rare find, this stunning small vase / beaker / cup is perfect for a small bouquet, pens on a desk-top or perhaps cosmetic brushes on a dressing table; or simply enjoy it's modernis...
Category

1980s French Vintage Modern Furniture

Materials

Gold Plate, Silver Plate

Vintage Danish Ceramic Bowl with Blue Glaze, Signed, 1970s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Danish ceramic fruit bowl or centerpiece featuring a 'sky-like' blue glaze highlighted with diagonal white lines and edge. Anonymous Danish designer/maker TVK ca 1980. Measurements: ...
Category

1970s Danish Vintage Modern Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

Isla Del Sol Puerto Rican Stoneware Round Planter
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This is an Isla del Sol Puerto Rican Stoneware Planter. It depicts a round pearl color planter decorated with five rows of big circles alternated with four rows of small circles. It ...
Category

20th Century American Modern Furniture

Materials

Stoneware

"Jazz" adjustable leather recliner and ottoman set by Ekornes
Located in Tarrytown, NY
Iconic "Jazz" adjustable leather recliner and ottoman set by Ekornes. Signed. ottoman: 12"w x 19"d x 18"h
Category

1980s Norwegian Vintage Modern Furniture

Materials

Steel

DWR Cubitec Modular Shelving System by Doron Lachisch
Located in Philadelphia, PA
DWR Cubitec Modular Shelving System by Doron Lachisch. 15 Cube Structure with doors. Can be set up in many configurations, with or without doors. Overall in pretty nice shape. Ha...
Category

1990s Chinese Modern Furniture

Materials

Plastic

Barcelona Style Brown Leather and Chrome Contemporary Modern Accent Lounge Chair
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
A brown leather Mies Van Der Rohe Barcelona Style accent lounge chair. A beautiful contemporary version of the iconic Barcelona chair design. This lounge chair features a tufted brow...
Category

Late 20th Century American Modern Furniture

Materials

Chrome

1999 Modern Overscale Modified Tuxedo Sofa with Fantasy Eggplant Fabric
Located in Topeka, KS
Marvelous vintage Modern to Hollywood Regency overscale modified tuxedo style sofa wearing “Fantasy Eggplant” fabric on loose zippered poly/foam filled seat & back cushions, arm cove...
Category

Late 20th Century American Modern Furniture

Materials

Fabric, Foam, Polyester, Wood

Limited Edition Elton John Signature Series Red Piano Yamaha
Located in London, GB
Limited Edition Elton John Signature Series Red Piano Yamaha Japanese, 2005 Piano: Height 102cm, width 155cm, depth 213cm Stool: Height 52cm, width 61cm, depth 41cm A striking ...
Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Modern Furniture

Materials

Metal

20th Century Louis Vuitton Keepall Bag Classic Monogram Canvas '80s
Located in Turin, Turin
An icon since 1930, the Keepall represents the spirit of the modern traveler. Lightweight, soft, and always ready for an impromptu departure, the bag lives up to its name. Timeless K...
Category

1980s French Vintage Modern Furniture

Materials

Leather

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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