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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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: 1940s
Important Wall Unit, Large Curved Sofa and walnut Shelfs by Dassi, 1940
Located in Rome, IT
Important wall unit, a large curved "conversation" sofa by Dassi executed in 1940 attributed to Ico Parisi.
Part of a unique living room designed to commission, L-shaped.
Mahogany, maple wood, brass, white cotton. original key
Measures: H 84 cm, 330 x 150 cm.
Brass plinth base H. 15 cm.
unique room
very large and curved sofa, removable; an hanging shelf, asymmetrical door
fine and elegant details in "grissinato" wood.
Please note this item is sold as single piece but belongs to a complete dining room...
Category
1940s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Brass
James Kirk Merrick (1905-1985), Watercolor on Paper
Located in Morristown, NJ
James Kirk Merrick (American, 1905-1985), Stormy Seascape, watercolor on paper, signed "James Kirk Merrick" at lower right, loose and unframed.
About:
Merrick studied at Philadelphi...
Category
1940s American Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Paint, Paper
Italian Designer, Wall Light, Copper, Fabric, Italy, 1940s
Located in High Point, NC
A copper and white fabric wall light designed and produced in Italy, c. 1940s.
Overall Dimensions (inches): 12” H x 13” W x 7” D
Back Plate Dimensions (inches): 4” H x 4” W x .75”D
...
Category
1940s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Copper
Pair of glasses attributed to Barovier and Toso
Located in Lugo, IT
Pair of glass and bubble vases attributed to Barovier and Toso.
One smaller
Good conditions.
Thank you
Category
1940s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Murano Glass
“Dinosaure” by Le Corbusier
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
Italian Designer, Lounge Chair, Walnut, Velvet, Italy, 1940s
Located in High Point, NC
A walnut and purple velvet lounge chair designed and produced in Italy, c. 1940s.
Seat height: 13”
Category
1940s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Velvet, Walnut
Italian Designer, Stools, Metal, Brass, Velvet, Italy, 1940s
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of brass, black-lacquered metal and green velvet stools designed and produced in Italy, 1940s.
Seat height: 18.25”
Category
1940s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Metal, Brass
Italian Designer, Armchairs, Wood, Fabric, Italy, 1940s
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of wood and white fabric armchairs designed and produced in Italy, c. 1940s.
Seat height: 16”
Category
1940s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Wood
Casa e Giardino, Lounge Chairs, Fabric, Wood, Italy, 1940s
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of brown fabric and dark-stained wood lounge chairs produced by Casa e Giardino, Italy, 1940s.
Seat height: 17.5”
Category
1940s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Wood
Bronze Electric Candelabra Wall Sconce with Girl in Bonnet, Pair
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Pair of vintage circa 1947 solid bronze electric candelabra wall sconces featuring a young girl in bonnet used in the 1947 film Miracle on 34th Street.
Category
1940s American Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Brass
Red Metal Shelf attributed to Mathieu Mategot, France, c. 1940
Located in New York City, NY
Painted, patinated red metal shelf with unique hole pattern, attributed to Mathieu Mategot
Category
1940s French Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Metal
Oak Curule Stool/Ottoman, France, c. 1940
Located in New York City, NY
Carved and upholstered oak curule stool/ottoman.
Category
1940s English Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Oak
Leather Stool with Brass Capped Feet by Jacques Adnet, France, c. 1940
Located in New York City, NY
Gorgeous leather stool with stitched leather legs and patinated brass capped feet. This is a great example of Adnet's work; a real collector's item.
Category
1940s French Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Brass
Elm Desk, France, c. 1940
Located in New York City, NY
Distinctive desk showcasing a single drawer and elegantly rounded, tapered wooden legs.
Category
1940s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Elm
Pair of 1940s Rounded Arm Belgian Armchairs with New Cushions
Located in Toronto, CA
A pair of excellent chairs. The 1940's Belgian wood frames feature swooping round arms and original cotton webbing. Updated and accentuated with new cushions boasting a vanilla-hued ...
Category
1940s Belgian Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Cotton, Wood
Italian Designer, Lounge Chairs, Wood, Velvet, Italy, 1940s
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of wood and green velvet lounge chairs designed and produced in Italy, 1940s.
Seat height: 14.18"
Category
1940s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Velvet, Wood
Italian Designer, Wall Lights, Brass, Glass, Italy, 1940s
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of brass and opaline glass wall lights designed and procuced in Italy, 1940s.
Overall Dimensions (inches): 9.75” H x 4.25” W x 7.25” D
Back Plate Dimensions (inches): 3.5” H ...
Category
1940s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Brass
Italian nickeled metal and glass coffee table attributed to Fontana Arte c 1945
By Fontana Arte
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Italian nickeled metal and glass coffee table attributed to Fontana Arte circa 1945
Category
1940s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Metal
Vintage French Design Kidney Shape Carved Walnut Office Library Desk
Located in Chicago, IL
Vintage French Design Kidney Shape Carved Walnut Office Library Desk
Featuring a charming mahogany & walnut French design small office or library desk in the classic kidney shape. ...
Category
1940s French Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Brass
Original Vintage War Home Front Recycling Poster Bones Make Explosives WWII
Located in London, GB
Original vintage World War Two Home Front recycling poster - Bones Make Explosives Put Out All Bones For Salvage - featuring a great modernist graphic design by Reginald Mount (1906-...
Category
1940s British Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Paper
Fine Guglielmo Ulrich coffee table, verde alpi marble top, brass feet, 1940
Located in Rome, IT
fine and original low table, coffe table with brass feet and verde alpi marble top, walnut, designed by Guglielmo Ulrich, 1940
verde alpi marble, walnut finished rosewood and brass ...
Category
1940s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Marble, Brass
Albert Skira Print of bird, Ceramic Plate, "Céramiques De Picasso"
Located in Stockholm, SE
An exquisite shiny polychrome print of Picasso Vallauris ceramic plate depicting a bird. The color print is attached to a thick, high quality paper with decorative lines.
The print...
Category
1940s Swiss Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Paper
Italian Designer, Coat Hanger, Brass, Italy, 1940s
Located in High Point, NC
A pair brass coat hanger designed and produced in Italy, 1940s
Category
1940s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Brass
Pink Murano Glass Rope Frame Pendant Light by Barovier
Located in San Francisco, CA
An elegant, modern, Murano glass, pendant light by Barovier & Toso circa 1940-1950. A simple, linear design: translucent pink, twisted-rope stem and frame holding a flora bowl up-lig...
Category
1940s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Brass
Humorous Vintage Porcelain Ashtray or Catchall
Located in East Quogue, NY
Charming, kitsch comical post-war porcelain ashtray or catchall, vide-poche.
Made in Japan during the late 1940s or early 1950s. The original "Japan" label is affixed to the back. ...
Category
1940s Japanese Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
Pair of 1940s Stools in the manner of Charlotte Perriand
Located in New York, NY
Presenting a pair of captivating and mysterious French tripod stools.
This pair represents an extremely rare and perhaps unique discovery.
Sourced from a sophisticated home in th...
Category
1940s French Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Hardwood
Jena-Glas, Schott & Gen/Mainz, Germany. Creamer and sugar bowl on a tray.
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Jena-Glas, Schott & Gen/Mainz, Germany.
Creamer and sugar bowl on a tray.
Circa 1940s.
Creamer and sugar bowl are marked.
In excellent condition with some signs of use.
Creamer: Dia...
Category
1940s German Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Glass
Gilbert Rohde, Armchairs, Cherry, Velvet, USA, 1940s
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of cherrywood and purple velvet armchairs designed by Gilbert Rohde and produced by Herman Miller, Zeeland, Michigan, 1940s.
Seat height 17.5”.
Category
1940s American Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Cherry, Velvet
Jena-Glas, Schott & Gen/Mainz, Germany. Three coffee cups with saucers.
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Jena-Glas, Schott & Gen/Mainz, Germany. Three coffee cups with saucers.
Bauhaus style.
Circa 1940s.
Marked.
Perfect condition.
Saucer: Diameter 15.5 cm.
Cup: Height 6.0 cm x Diamete...
Category
1940s German Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Glass
Italian Designer, Coat Hanger, Brass, Italy, 1940s
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of brass coat hanger designed and produced in Italy, 1940s
Category
1940s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Brass
Jena-Glas, Schott & Gen/Mainz, Germany. Four coffee cups with saucers.
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Jena-Glas, Schott & Gen/Mainz, Germany.
Four coffee cups with saucers. Bauhaus style.
Circa 1940s.
Marked.
Perfect condition.
Saucer: Diameter 15.5 cm.
Cup: Height 6.0 cm x Diameter...
Category
1940s German Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Glass
Chapman Lighting 1940s Brushed Brass and Ebonized Metal Articulated Desk Lamp
Located in San Francisco, CA
a quality lamp made by Chapman Manufacturing Company, USA, the swivel shade fitted with a standard socket and frosted glass panel raised on adjustable brass arms all over a rectangu...
Category
1940s American Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Metal, Brass
Italian Designer, Coat Hangers, Brass, Italy, 1940s
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of brass coat hangers designed and produced in Italy, 1940s
Category
1940s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Brass
Italian Bronze Cancer Sculpture, 1940s
Located in Montelabbate, PU
Italian sculpture of Cancer in Bronze
Category
1940s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Italian Designer, Coat Hangers, Brass, Italy, 1940s
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of brass coat hangers designed and produced in Italy, 1940s
Category
1940s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Brass
Eight-Arm Patinated Brass Chandelier by Guglielmo Ulrich, Italy, c. 1950
Located in New York City, NY
Elegant, beautifully patinated eight-arm chandelier by Guglielmo Ulrich.
Category
1940s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Brass
Colored Bronze Patinaed Lobster Over Coral Base Statue
Located in Pasadena, CA
Bronze , Colored Patinaed Lobster Over Coral Base Statue. This wonderful full of life lobster statue shows the prowess and strength of the lobster over its reef. The Lobster is king...
Category
1940s American Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Vintage Garden Fountain Of Boy, Koi fish and Goose
Located in Pasadena, CA
Vintage Garden Fountain Of Boy, Koi fish and Goose 46h x 16 w This creative sculpture shows a goose trying to steal the fish of the young man. The seemingly needs/ greedy goose wants...
Category
1940s American Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Italian Designer, Lounge Chairs, Wood, Fabric, Italy, 1940s
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of beige brown bouclé fabric and dark-stained wood lounge chairs designed and produced in Italy, 1940s.
Seat height 17.5”.
Category
1940s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Wood
Pair of Applique Murano Glass Corteccia Model by Venini, Italy
By Venini
Located in Milan, Italy
A pair of Corteccia model wall lamps designed and produced by Venini in 1940.
Category
1940s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Murano Glass
Italian Designer, Slipper Chairs with Ottoman, Walnut, Fabric, Italy, 1940s
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of walnut and white fabric slipper lounge chairs with ottoman designed and produced in Italy c. 1940s.
Seat height 15”.
ottoman dimensions 11.5” H x 24” W x 15.5” D
Category
1940s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Walnut
Italian Designer, Lounge Chair, Fabric, Wood, Italy, 1940s
Located in High Point, NC
A brown and beige fabric and dark stained wood lounge chair designed and produced in Italy, 1940s.
seat height 15”.
Category
1940s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Wood
Bronze Sculpture Woman's Face by Umberto Mastroianni
Located in Milan, Italy
1940s "Face". Lost wax bronze. Signed.
Biography
Sculptor, painter, and printmaker Umberto Mastroianni was born in Fintana Liri, Italy, on September 21, 1910. His formal training be...
Category
1940s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Marble
Italian Designer, Table Mirror, Brass, Italy, 1940s
Located in High Point, NC
A brass table mirror designed and produced in Italy, 1940s.
Category
1940s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Brass
Billy Haines Attribution, Slipper Chairs, Wood, Velvet, USA, 1940s
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of beige fabric and wood slipper chairs attributed to Billy Haines, USA, c. 1940s.
17" seat height
Category
1940s American Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Velvet, Wood
Italian Designer, Wall Mirror, Brass, Italy, 1940s
Located in High Point, NC
A brass wall mirror designed and produced in Italy, 1940s.
Category
1940s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Brass
Italian Designer, Slipper Chairs, Velvet, Wood, Italy, 1940s
Located in High Point, NC
A set of 4 green velvet and dark-stained wood slipper lounge chairs designed and produced in Italy, 1940s.
Seat height 13.5”.
Category
1940s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Velvet, Wood
Paolo Buffa Buffet / Sideboard in Walnut and Brass, Mario Quarti, Milan, 1940s
Located in The Hague, NL
This exceptional counter-buffet / sideboard was designed by Paolo Buffa and produced by Mario Quarti in Milan, Italy, in the 1940s.
The sideboard stands on four grooved, turned twis...
Category
1940s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Brass
Italian Designer, Floor Lamp, Brass, Fabric, Italy, 1940s
Located in High Point, NC
An adjustable brass and white fabric floor lamp designed and produced in Italy, 1940s.
Overall Dimensions (inches): 68” H x 18” W x 32” D
Stated dimensions include shade.
Bulb Speci...
Category
1940s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Brass
Neoclassical-Style Patinated Bronze Figure
Located in Pasadena, CA
Neoclassical-Style Patinated Bronze Figure of a woman laying sideways. Bottom portion of body is covered as top of body is exposed. Measures approx -20h x 37w x 11d
Category
1940s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Renzo Zavanella Attribution, Large Sofa, Shearling, Wood, Italy, 1940s.
Located in High Point, NC
A large shearling and stained wood sofa attributed to Renzo Zavanella, Italy, 1940s.
Seat height 18”
Category
1940s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Sheepskin, Wood
Italian Designer, Floor Lamp, Brass, Walnut, Fabric, Italy, 1940s
Located in High Point, NC
A walnut, brass and beige fabric floor lamp designed and produced in Italy,c. 1940s.
Overall Dimensions (inches): 69.5” H x 20.25” W x 15” D
Stated dimensions include shade.
Bulb S...
Category
1940s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Brass
Modernist Copper Desk Lamp by Adnet
Located in Tarrytown, NY
Rare Modernist style diminutive copper desk lamp with adjustable shade by Adnet.
Category
1940s French Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Copper
Tavolo attribuito a Guglielmo Ulrich per Arca
Located in Lugo, IT
Tavolo teca attribuito a Guglielmo Ulrich per Arca.
La parte superiore in vetro si apre ed e possibile inserire fiori o altro all'interno.
Nella parte superiore il legno si e mosso c...
Category
1940s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Glass, Wood
Vintage Turkish Modern Patchwork 10x13 Black Distressed Handmade Area Rug
Located in Houston, TX
Ashly Fine Rugs presents a Vintage Turkish Patchwork 10x13 area rug. This rug a is combination of multiple handmade vintage Turkish rugs that have been...
Category
1940s Turkish Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Wool
Rare Bookcase or Dry Bar by Paul Laszlo for Brown Saltman, c1950
By Paul Laszlo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Bookcase or bar designed for Brown Saltman by "architect to the stars" Paul Laszlo, c1950. The Bookcase is executed in a dark forest green over mahogany and features opposing X-bases...
Category
1940s American Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Wood
Italian Designer, Wall Mirror, Brass, Italy, 1940s
Located in High Point, NC
A brass wall mirror designed and produced in Italy, 1940s.
Category
1940s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Brass
Modern wood table lamp, France circa 1940
Located in Firenze, IT
Modern wood table lamp
France circa 1940s
aluminum, wood
H 57 cm - 44 x 24 cm
Conditions: excellent consistent with age and use
Category
1940s French Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Metal
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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