Modern Decorative Art
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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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: 20th Century
Large Brass-Framed Wall Art
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Large brass-framed multi-media wall art on a mirror base.
Signed R. Bushong.
Category
1960s American Vintage Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Brass
Pablo Picasso Large Ceramic Plate, Tormented Face 1956 C117
Located in London, GB
Pablo Picasso Tormented face. Ceramic plate 1956.
Large unglazed light earthenware charger with raised design from the “Tormented Face” series . Produced by Madoura in 1956. Numbered...
Category
1950s French Vintage Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Ceramic
"Black to Color 2" Optical Art
Located in New York, NY
"Black to Color 2" wall-mounted optical art encased in acrylic by Leonard Janklow. Signed. From the private collection of the Coral Springs Museum o...
Category
1980s American Vintage Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Acrylic
Gerard Diaz French Iris Pencil Drawing
By Gérard Diaz
Located in Roma, IT
This drawing is a view of a garden.
In the background, we see a high base topped by a statue of a 19th century figure along with other architectural ruins.
Central to the composition...
Category
1990s French Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Paper
"Dayglo Square Float" Optical Art
Located in New York, NY
"Dayglo Square Float" wall mounted optical sculpture encased in acrylic by Leonard Janklow. Signed.
Category
1990s American Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Acrylic
Bert Stern Marilyn Monroe Silkscreen and Serigraph Custom Framed Vintage
By Bert Stern
Located in North Miami, FL
This signed Bert Stern vintage silkscreen and serigraph of an abstract Marilyn Monroe is from 1962. It is marked Avant Garde Collectors Proof X111 Red.
...
Category
1960s American Vintage Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Wood, Paint, Paper
Robert Patrick Painted Acrylic over Vinyl Textile Fiber Art, 1991
Located in Chattanooga, TN
Signed by Robert Patrick painted acrylic over vinyl textile fiber art, 1991.
Category
1990s American Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Fabric
Pierre Cardin Portrait by Yoshi Takata Black and White Photography
By Yoshi Takata
Located in Roma, IT
Portrait of Pierre Cardin.
Signed and stamped on back (see photo)
The artist’s dedication is on the bottom right.
Yoshi Takata was an artist, born in 19...
Category
1950s French Vintage Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Paper
Composition by Lars Englund, Sweden, 1980s
Located in Stockholm, SE
Composition by Lars Englund, Sweden, 1980s.
Aquarelief.
Measures: H 76 cm/ 2' 6 1/2"
W 33 cm/ 13".
Category
1980s Swedish Vintage Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Plastic
Large Framed Drawing of a Baby Rhino Head
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Captivating large drawing of a baby rhino's bust or head framed in a thick giltwood frame. Appears to be charcoal with pastel signed by artist on right bottom and labeled "For David ...
Category
20th Century American Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Paper, Plexiglass, Giltwood
Contemporary Modern Dance Painting by Margaret Ware
Located in San Francisco, CA
Stunning contemporary painting by listed artist Margaret Tcheng Ware. A modern dance trio bathed in natural light. Absolutely beautiful. Oil on canvas. Dimensions 29" x 39 1/2". Fram...
Category
Late 20th Century American Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Canvas
Paul Slapion 'American, 20th Century' Mixed-Media Abstract Painting, circa 1985
Located in San Francisco, CA
Paul Slapion (American, 20th century) mixed-media abstract painting
Title: In Each of Us...All of Us #9,
circa 1985
A fine mixed-media painting created with many layers of glass, ink and oils.
Visually stunning optical art.
Dimensions: 16 inches x 20 inches.
Frame dimensions: 20.25 inches x 16.25 inches.
Very good vintage condition. Lightly distressed frame.
Signed verso with the original "OK Harris Gallery, NY" label.
The OK Harris Gallery was an art gallery located at 383 West Broadway...
Category
Late 20th Century American Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Glass, Paint
Large Scale Geometric Abstract Painting by Dee Brown
Located in San Francisco, CA
Large scale geometric abstract painting by Dee Brown
Fantastic original acrylic on canvas by Dee Brown.
The painting is in good vintage condition with a few minor scuff marks c...
Category
Late 20th Century American Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Canvas
Modern Framed Snakeskin Shadowbox
Located in New York, NY
Modern monumental custom framed snakeskin in a long shadowbox. The animal is likely a boa constrictor and is in great condition with some age-related wear to the frame.
Category
20th Century Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Animal Skin, Wood
Finely Framed and Matted Lithograph by Barbara Wood Woman with Hat and Flowers
Located in Stamford, CT
A finely framed and matted lithograph by Barbara A. Wood woman with hat flowers.
From Columbus, Ohio, Barbara Wood is a painter of modernist figures, es...
Category
Late 20th Century American Modern Decorative Art
Large Woodblock Print by Gregory Amenoff
Located in New York, NY
Very large format wood block painting mounted in a carved black and gilt frame. Signed.
Category
1980s American Vintage Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Wood
Abstract Painting Acryl on Canvas in Black-Grey-White by Guillermo Aritza 1991
By Guillermo Arizta
Located in Salzburg, AT
Modern abstract painting in black and white colors signed on backside Guillermo Aritza, black shadow gap frame silvered on front view.
Born 1949 in Mexico, living since 1985 in Paris...
Category
1990s French Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Canvas, Wood
Painting from the 1940s, Red, Blue and Yellow Color, MidCentury Art, New Frame
Located in New York, NY
Decorative painting from the 1940s. Red, blue and yellow. Children playing on a bicycle.
Framed in a beautiful gold frame with a linen liner.
Category
1940s American Vintage Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Acrylic
Modernist Wall Rug, Hand-Hooked, after Mallet-Stevens
Located in New York, NY
A hand-hooked modernist style wall rug, original design after Robert Mallet-Stevens. The initial rug kit was purchased and put together by the original owner with colors of his own c...
Category
Mid-20th Century European Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Wool
Painting by Peter Keil, Mid-Century Modern Art, C 1977, On Canvas, New Frame
By Peter Keil
Located in New York, NY
Peter Robert Keil was born to an artist blacksmith father whom he lost very early in his childhood during the Second World War. During the end phase of the war, Keil's mother, also a...
Category
1970s German Vintage Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Acrylic
Vintage Modern New York Skyline Mirrored Wall Art
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This stylish vintage modern wall art features mixed metal, acrylic, and mirror to create a New York City skyline effect with twin towers, Empir...
Category
1980s Vintage Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Mirror
Unique, Large Decorative Meissen Mural, Wall Decoration by Prof. Heinz Werner
Located in Berlin, DE
Unique. Large decorative Meissen mural, wall decoration by Prof. Heinz Werner.
Painted porcelain plates. Modern design. Signed and dated. Meissen swords stamp. The mural is very hea...
Category
Late 20th Century German Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Porcelain
Tony Sheets “Molokai Dream” 1995, Signed
By Tony Sheets
Located in San Francisco, CA
A pastel over watercolor impressionist ocean landscape titled “Molokai Dream” by American artist John Anthony “Tony” Sheets (b. 1942).
Cool pastels, crosshatched and layered in de...
Category
1990s American Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Paper
'Helsinki' Sign Designed by Jan Svenungsson, Copper, Unique, Sweden, 1991
Located in Stockholm, SE
Sign designed by Jan Svenungsson,
Sweden. 1991.
Copper.
Unique.
Dimensions:
H: 16 cm/ 6 1/4"
W: 40 cm/ 15 3/4"
Category
1990s European Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Copper
Curtis Jere Mixed Metals Pom Pom Starburst Hanging Wall Sculpture Vintage
By Curtis Jeré
Located in North Miami, FL
This Curtis Jere wall sculpture has dangling rods ending with balls as the tips meet a starburst of brass as the pom pom. It is mixed metals with chrome at the bottom and brass at the top. This Curtis Jere vintage...
Category
1970s American Vintage Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Brass, Chrome
Asian Picture "Ever Lasting Happiness"
By Chin-Chai Chang
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
For customers that require professional insured delivery we are proud to have teamed up with a nationwide professional delivery company that will assist with coordinating your delive...
Category
1970s Chinese Vintage Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Paint
Impressionist Decorative Water Color in a Fine Gilt Frame Signed
Located in Stamford, CT
Impressionist decorative water color in a fine gilt frame. The finely matted and wonderfully framed watercolor depicts a young woman on a park bench looking into the distance.
Me...
Category
Late 20th Century Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Paint
Modernist Painting Suggestiveness by Peter Sengl, 1985, Austria
Located in Vienna, AT
Modernist Painting Suggestiveness by Peter Sengl 1985 Austria This painting by Peter Sengl was named suggestiveness. Also the painting is signed and dated.
Peter Sengl was born 1945...
Category
1980s Austrian Vintage Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Canvas
Charcoal Drawing Black-Beige Michel Batlle 1987 Handworked Frame, Museums Glass
Located in Salzburg, AT
Disguise: Charcoal abstract, figurative drawing in black color on beige paper from Michel Batlle, signed 1987
Handworked frame, with wihite-gilded decoration, non-reflecting museums glass...
Category
1980s French Vintage Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Glass, Wood, Paper
Fantastic Set of Five Fashion Illustrations by Antonio Lopez
By Antonio Lopez 2
Located in Atlanta, GA
A suite of five fashion illustrations of swimming suites by Antonio Lopez (1943-1988). All in pencil and watercolor in the same color and style scheme done in a set. Each with many i...
Category
1980s American Vintage Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Paper
Max Walter Svanberg Painted Ceramic Tile, for Rorstrand, Signed Titled in Bac
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Nice painted tile by the well-known artist, Max Walter Svanberg for Rorstrand.
Category
1970s Swedish Vintage Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Ceramic
Drawing by Manuel Viana, Lithography in Black and White, Limited Edition
By Manuel Viana
Located in Salzburg, AT
Drawing by Manuel Viana, lithography in black and white, limited edition 135/300 signed
Handcrafted wooden frame with white gilt decoration, non-reflecting glass
Biography:
The art...
Category
1970s French Vintage Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Glass, Wood, Crayon
Jama Cement Painting, 1966
Located in Jersey City, NJ
An ebony wood framed cement painting by artist Jama.
Signed by artist and dated 1966.
Measures: Width 29.75cm
length 19.75 cm
depth 2.22 cm.
Category
1960s Vintage Modern Decorative Art
Paper Collage by Knute Stiles, 1961
By Knute Stiles
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
Knute Stiles-painter, art critic and poet was born in Minnesota in 1923 and died in Tuscon, Arizona in 2009. He attended the St. Paul Art School and later...
Category
1960s Vintage Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Paper
Painting from the 1940s, Mid-Century Art, Golden, Blue, Chocolate & White Colors
Located in New York, NY
Decorative painting from the 1940s. Painting has a beautiful gold frame with a linen liner.
Category
1940s American Vintage Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Acrylic
Oil on Canvas by José Herrera
By José Herrera
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Oil on Canvas by José Herrera (Spanish, 1943-).
Signed and dated 1973.
Original stainless steel frame.
A beautiful piece.
Category
1970s Spanish Vintage Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Stainless Steel
Abstract Painting Signed D. Filov
By Dmitry Filov
Located in Denton, TX
Abstract painting signed D. Filov. Very retro abstract piece. Beautiful and unique color scheme. This piece has a wooden frame. Great addition...
Category
Late 20th Century Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Canvas, Paint
Abstract Painting Signed D. Filov
By Dmitry Filov
Located in Denton, TX
Abstract painting signed D. Filov. Very retro abstract piece. Beautiful and unique color scheme. This piece has a wooden frame. Great addition...
Category
Late 20th Century West Asian Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Canvas, Wood, Paint
Laddie John Dill Large Lithograph and Woodcut on Wove Paper, 1985
Located in Downingtown, PA
Laddie John Dill large lithograph and woodcut on wove paper,
Untitled, signed, dated and numbered 25/35, 1985.
Dimensions: 37 inches x 64 1/2 inches wide (sight 28 inches x 55 1.2 inches)
Reference:
From the artist's own bio.
Laddie John Dill, a Los Angeles artist, had his first solo exhibition in New York City with Illeanna Sonnabend Gallery in 1971. He was one of the first Los Angeles artists to exhibit. Light and...
Category
1980s American Vintage Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Paper
Framed Lithograph by Jose Luis Cuevas Small Edition
Located in Atlanta, GA
Artist: Jose Luis Cuevas
Title: The tortured ones
Medium: Lithograph
Edition: 11/20
Date:1965
Sheet size: 22 1/4 x 30 inches
Signed, dated and number...
Category
1960s Mexican Vintage Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Wood, Paper
Modernist Multicolored Abstract Painting, 1990, Austria
Located in Vienna, AT
Abstract painting signed RZM and dated 28.2.1990.
Mixed-media on carton framed with a baroque style frame.
Measures:
Width 25.59 in (65 cm)
Height 31.5 in (80 cm).
all measures are a...
Category
Late 20th Century Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Paper
Colorful Modern Collage Wall Art
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This framed abstract collage features a unique array of textiles, fabrics, and more colored with a wide ranging palette. This mixed-media artwork is framed for hanging in home or off...
Category
Late 20th Century Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Paper
Modern Color Full Glass Sculpture by Theresa
Located in Weiningen, CH
Modern color full glass sculpture by Theresa.
Category
Late 20th Century Swiss Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Art Glass
Large Modern French Tapestry by J.L Viard
By J.L. Viard
Located in NYC, NY
A tapestry by French artist J.L Viard for Murmure des Sylves. Tightly woven wool and wool blends.
Signed on the front and again the reverse tag with an edition 21 of 100.
Category
1970s French Vintage Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Wool
Charcoal Drawing Black, Beige, Red and White Michel Batlle 1987 Handworked Frame
Located in Salzburg, AT
Polyphem: Charcoal abstract, figurative drawing in black-red-white color on beige paper from Michel Batlle, signed 1987
Handworked frame, with white-gilded decoration, non-reflecting...
Category
1980s French Vintage Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Glass, Wood, Paper
Modern Color Full Glass Sculpture by Theresa
Located in Weiningen, CH
Modern color full glass sculpture by Theresa.
Category
Late 20th Century Swiss Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Art Glass
Signed Philip Perkins Vintage Cubist Painting
By Philip Perkins
Located in North Miami, FL
This wonderful painting dated 1970 that has great planes of color and field is by the abstract painter, Philip Perkins. His resume is impressive with early studies in Europe with maj...
Category
1970s American Vintage Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Wood, Paint
Anthony John Padovano Metal/Paint Sculpture, Signed, Dated, Numbered
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Great modernism sculpture, by the well-known artist Anthony J. Padovano. Dated 1970 and numbered 2/6.signed.
Category
1970s American Vintage Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Metal
Erwin Walter Burger "Fish" Wall Panel
Located in Milan, IT
A beautiful Erwin Walter Burger "Fish" wall panel
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Glass, Wood
Limited Edition "Baj chez Baj" Multiplicata Internazionale, 1972 by Enrico Baj
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A lovely incomplete folio featuring 6 of 10 plates from Enrico Baj's mixed-media "Baz Chez Baj" printed edition on wove paper; each print from this limited edition has been signed "B...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Paper
The Red Dot - Framed Abstract Silkscreen
Located in New York, NY
THE RED DOT. A framed abstract silkscreen printed on the reverse of a sheet of glass. This process makes the image perfect and seamless.
Category
1970s American Vintage Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Wood, Glass
"Spindle, " 1991 Framed 30" Pastel on Paper by Jim Waid, Companion Available
Located in New York, NY
In "Spindle, 1991" artist Jim Waid through his mastery of pastel on paper, reflects a microcosmic view of nature that would otherwise be purely abstracted without the sporadic inclus...
Category
1990s American Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Other
Russian Oil on Canvas, Weaect X.M 1990 Signed Valdimir Shelest
Located in Stamford, CT
Valdimir Shelest digital artist oil painting of letters in an abstract form. From a home in Greenwich CT.
Category
1990s Russian Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Canvas
Emerson Woelffer Bonze Sculpture, Abstract Face, Signed, Dated, Numbered
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Nice modern abstract Face, by the well known artist, Emerson Woelffer. Signed, numbered 1/4 and dated 1947.
Category
1940s American Vintage Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Bronze
Original Lithograph by James Carter with Southwest Pottery Theme
By James Carter
Located in New York, NY
Original Signed lithograph titled "Shield" by James Carter. It also has a custom burled elm frame. This piece has been floated and features hues of teal, terra cotta, sea foam green,...
Category
1990s American Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Paper
Mirrored Modernist Metal Wall Sculpture by Deidre Selig
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This modernist wall sculpture by D. Selig features mirrored glass mounted on steel.
Please confirm item location (NY or NJ) with dealer.
Category
1970s American Vintage Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Steel
Aspects of Flowers Oil on Canvas by Rebecca Cooperman
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful oil painting of a still life arrangement of flowers simply rendered in oil on canvas by Rebecca Cooperman. Exhibited at Lever House by The Leag...
Category
Late 20th Century American Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Canvas
Painting, Portrait of a Lady, Charcoal, C 1960, Large Scale with Wide Gold Frame
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful, midcentury, large portrait of a lady, circa 1960. Charcoal on paper with a very decorative gold frame.
Category
1960s Unknown Vintage Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Paper
Modern decorative art for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Modern decorative art 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 decorative art created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include wall decorations, decorative objects, mirrors and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with glass, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Modern decorative art 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 decorative art, popular names associated with this style include sicis, Louise Heighes, Atlasproject, and Peter Keil. 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. Prices for decorative art differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $35 and tops out at $191,803 while the average work can sell for $2,184.
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