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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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.
16
11
1
to
17
11
28
15
16
85
28
27
26
24
12
12
6
4
4
3
2
2
1
1
11
17
1
9
1
2
5
1
Height
to
Width
to
11
6
5
5
4
17
13
11
10
1
7
4
3
2
2
Style: Modern
Recognized Seller Listings
Robert Mapplethorpe Botanical Porcelain Plate, Calla Lily, 1984
Located in Downingtown, PA
Robert Mapplethorpe Botanical Plate,
Calla Lily, 1984
Made By Swid Powell
The Robert Mapplethorpe porcelain plate depicts in black and white a Calla Lily made in 1984. It is lithog...
Category
1980s American Vintage Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Porcelain
Robert Mapplethorpe Botanical Porcelain Plate, Orchid, 1987
Located in Downingtown, PA
Robert Mapplethorpe Botanical Plate,
Orchid, 1987
Made for Swid Powell,
The Robert Mapplethorpe plate depicts an Orchid made in 1987. It is ...
Category
1980s American Vintage Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Porcelain
Contemporary Floral Mixed-Media Panel by Elodie Blanchard
Located in London, GB
Contemporary floral mixed-media panel by Elodie Blanchard
American, 2022
Height 79cm, width 56cm, depth 4cm
The combination of unexpected materials makes this wall painting a unique...
Category
2010s American Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Textile, Plastic, Mylar
Thomas Eriksson Cross Cabinet with Glossy Varnished Finish for Cappellini
Located in New York, NY
Designed to store medicine, the cross cabinet by Thomas Eriksson is wall-hanging, available with a glossy varnished finish, in red, orange, green, blue a...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Metal
Set 12 Porcelain Plates Adamo Black/White/Gold
By Fornasetti
Located in MILANO, IT
This set of twelve hand-decorated porcelain plates, as a whole, forms the figure of Adamo. You can use the ensemble for ornamental purposes ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Porcelain
20th Century Gaetano Pesce for Expansion Decorative Panel Mod. Arcadia, 1970s
By Expansion, Gaetano Pesce
Located in Turin, Turin
Gaetano Pesce's works are generally eccentric, modern and carry a concept of "happening", which is the transformation of the object.
Experimenter of different forms and materials, h...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Fabric, Wood
Set 12 Porcelain Plates Eva Black/White
By Fornasetti
Located in MILANO, IT
This set of twelve hand-decorated porcelain plates, as a whole, forms the figure of Eva. You can use the ensemble for ornamental purposes or...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Porcelain
Thomas Eriksson Cross Cabinet in White Glossy Metal for Cappellini
Located in New York, NY
Designed to store medicine, the cross cabinet by Thomas Eriksson is wall-hanging, available with a glossy varnished finish, in red, orange, green, blue a...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Metal
Set 12 Porcelain Plates Adamo Black/White
By Fornasetti
Located in MILANO, IT
This set of twelve hand-decorated porcelain plates, as a whole, forms the figure of Adamo. You can use the ensemble for ornamental purposes ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Porcelain
Modern Aubusson Wall Tapestry by Guido Maggiori
Located in New York, NY
Modern wall Tapestry Designed by Guido Maggiori (b. 1944) Bold, Colorful Abstract Composition Entitled "Rouge, Vert, Jaune, Noir & Bleu". (Red, Green, Y...
Category
Late 20th Century French Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Tapestry, Wool
Thomas Eriksson Cross Cabinet in Red Glossy Metal for Cappellini
Located in New York, NY
Designed to store medicine, the cross cabinet by Thomas Eriksson is wall-hanging, available with a glossy varnished finish, in red, orange, green, blue a...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Metal
Thomas Eriksson Cross Cabinet in Green Glossy Metal for Cappellini
Located in New York, NY
Designed to store medicine, the cross cabinet by Thomas Eriksson is wall-hanging, available with a glossy varnished finish, in red, orange, green, blue a...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Metal
Vertigo Boiserie by Draga & Aurel Transparent Plexiglass, 21st Century
Located in Como, IT
Crafted from solid acrylic bars with brass latches, this large partition screen is characterized by the transparencies and optical effects it creates with the background. It can be c...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Plexiglass
WWI Model of Horse Head Wearing Gas Mask
Located in New York, NY
WWI model of a molded papier-mache brown horse head wearing a gas mask and goggles. (Can be mounted on back).
Category
20th Century American Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Plastic
"Stonington, Maine" Painting by Janet Sullivan Turner, Oil on Canvas
Located in Downingtown, PA
"Stonington, Maine" Painting by Janet Sullivan Turner,
oil on canvas,
Signed "J Sullivan Turner" lr,
Circa 1965.
The painting from the artist's collection signed and named Stonington, Maine.
Dimensions: Framed 24 3/4 inches x 30 3/4 inches wide, sight 24 inches high x 30 inches wide.
Condition: Good
Provenance: The Estate of the Artist
Commenting on Turner’s work, Philadelphia art critic, Dr. Burton Wasserman...
Category
1960s American Vintage Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Canvas
Joe Eula Watercolor of a Sunflower
By Joe Eula
Located in New York, NY
From the 1950s to the 80s, Joe Eula cut quite a figure on the New York scene as a graphic, costume, fashion, stage-set, and film-set designer, as well as a stylist, party giver, and, briefly, a model agency macher. In addition, he was an artist. You could say that Eula was the art director extempore of Manhattan. And if you’ve never heard of Eula (or hadn’t before David Pittu played him in the recent Netflix Halston series), it’s because he was famous as an eminence grise, to employ a contradiction in terms. That’s why Andy Warhol called him, in typical Warholian hyperbole, “the most important man in New York.”
Eula came from a hardscrabble background in South Norwalk, Connecticut. After serving in World War II, he took classes on the GI Bill at the Art Students League, and formed a partnership with photographer Milton Greene to produce features for Life and Look magazines, and a couple of films, with Greene behind the camera, and Eula painting backdrops and styling. On his own, Eula illustrated Eugenia Sheppard’s famous newspaper fashion column, did illustration work for Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar, designed ballet costumes and sets for Jerome Robbins, an album cover for Miles Davis, and a benefit invitation for Cesar...
Category
1980s American Vintage Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Paper
Leslie Formalik Trompe L'oeil Paintings of Butterflies, Pair, Dated
Located in Downingtown, PA
Leslie Formalik Trompe L'oeil paintings of butterflies,
Pair,
Dated 2013 and 2019
The pair of beautiful tromp l'oeil paintings each depict a different pinned butterfly...
Category
2010s North American Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Wood
Dariel Studio High Blue Candleholders in Laminated Metal for Cappellini
Located in New York, NY
Graceful geometry characterizes this pair of blue candleholders by designer Thomas Dariel. For this project, he defined space with slender curved ste...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Metal
Victor Vasarely Geometric Print with Purple Frame, 1970s
Located in New York, NY
Colorful abstract lithograph with iconic geometric motif by Victor Vasarely, American, 1970s (Signed and numbered 137/250). Vasarely is widely considered to be the father of Op Art.
Category
1970s American Vintage Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Wood, Paper
Jasper Morrison's Morrison Turned Brass Candleholder for Cappellini
Located in New York, NY
Designed by Jasper Morrison, the Morrison candleholder is made of turned brass with a polished silver finish.
Materials: turned brass
Available finishes: polish silver.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Brass
Dariel Studio Low Blue Candleholders in Laminated Metal for Cappellini
Located in New York, NY
Graceful geometry characterizes this pair of blue candleholders by designer Thomas Dariel. For this project, he defined space with slender curved ste...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Metal
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
Anotherview n.14 On the Ganges During Monsoon
Located in Milan, IT
ANOTHERVIEW is an ongoing project that takes place in between interior design and video art. It transforms your home into a nomadic place, where virtual window leads to unexpected la...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Iron
'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
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
Surface Service Obs Wall Piece
By Soft Baroque
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Project surface service sees the sensory manipulation of interior design objects like benches and shelves, and the automated value inscription embedded in everyday objects. The surfa...
Category
2010s English Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Silk, Bubinga
Abacus Screen, Usa
Located in New York, NY
In a career spanning over 30 years, New York City artist Christopher Russell has devoted himself to creating unique works of art, functional design...
Category
2010s American Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Steel
Metropolis Screen
Located in New York, NY
New York City is full of colors. Among the façades of its architecture, within the people walking its streets, here I meander. I came up with this color pallet while spending a day i...
Category
2010s American Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Steel
Related Items
Cover Curtain, a Room Separator/Bookshelf, 4 Lines+18 Rulers by Vantot
By Vantot
Located in Breda, Noord-Brabant
Please note the price is calculated for a set of (4 lines + 18 rulers) as in the images.
Cover curtain, a spatial room divider meets a bookshelf. Showcasing your favorite book covers as a rhythmic mood board in space. Cover curtain works as an instrument with endless possibilities. Created small bookshelf...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Dutch Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Aluminum
H 1.11 in W 13.78 in D 0.08 in
18th Century Needlework Picture
Located in London, GB
A charming petit-point needlework picture of floral design, in its original convex moulding frame.
English, late 18th century.
Category
Late 18th Century English Antique Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Wool
Italian Radiator Cover Midcentury in Perforated Iron Parts in Pure Gold, 1950s
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Italian radiator cover midcentury in perforated iron parts in pure gold 1950s.
Upper surface in mirror, truly original pieces of great elegance.
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Crystal, Metal, Gold Plate
H 38.19 in W 25.2 in D 6.3 in
Mid-Century Modern Freestanding Bookshelf with Cabinet
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This vintage freestanding unit makes a wonderful addition to any home or office. Dual cabinets, including a lower record cabinet, make this ideal for...
Category
1970s Vintage Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Walnut
Mid-Century Rare Ceramic Oyster Plate Robert Picault Vallauris
Located in Austin, TX
Rare Oyster Plate signed Robert Picault.
Robert Picault (1919 - 2000) was born in Vincennes, Paris and studied at the School of Applied Arts in Paris. After the war he spent a short ...
Category
1950s French Vintage Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Ceramic, Faience
Herend Hungary Porcelain "Rotschild" Wall Decoration Plates
By Herend
Located in Delft, NL
Herend Hungary porcelain "Rotschild" wall decoration plates
Three Herend Hungary porcelain plates for as decoration to hang on the wall, wi...
Category
20th Century Hungarian Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Porcelain
Midcentury Octogonal Plate Robert Picault Vallauris
Located in Austin, TX
Midcentury Octogonal Plate Robert Picault Vallauris.
Robert Picault (1919 - 2000) was born in Vincennes, Paris and studied at the School of A...
Category
1950s French Vintage Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Ceramic, Faience
Hutschenreuther Porcelain Wall Plate Sign of the Zodiac Aquarius by Ole Winther
By Ole Winther
Located in Barntrup, DE
Gorgeous wall plate by German porcelain manufacturer Hutschenreuther, limited edition by Ole Winther: 294 / 3000, 1979.
Series " Sign of the Zodiac", sign Aquarius (20.01. - 18.02.)...
Category
1970s German Vintage Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Porcelain
H 1.19 in W 11.42 in D 11.42 in
Set 12 Porcelain Plates Eva Black/White
By Fornasetti
Located in MILANO, IT
This set of twelve hand-decorated porcelain plates, as a whole, forms the figure of Eva. You can use the ensemble for ornamental purposes or...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Porcelain
Mixed Media Ceramic Wall Art
Located in Stoughton, MA
A unique combination of materials adorning a hand painted linen canvas would make a great addition to a wall gallery or hung by itself in small wall...
Category
2010s American Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Metallic Thread
Elie Grekoff Mid-20th Century French Tapestry Decorative Textile Art
By Elie Grekoff
Located in Miami, FL
A beautiful Mid-20th Century French tapestry or wall hanging by Elie Grekoff, circa 1960.
This tapestry is a wonderful statement piece for any modern, contemporary or midcentury interior. Epitomizing artistic skill and creativity, this stunning vintage French tapestry displays a wonderful composition with alluring colors, dramatic textures and strong graphic features. Features a bold collection of stylized motifs and radiant colors.
Woven in Aubusson using...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Wool
Set 12 Porcelain Plates Adamo Black/White
By Fornasetti
Located in MILANO, IT
This set of twelve hand-decorated porcelain plates, as a whole, forms the figure of Adamo. You can use the ensemble for ornamental purposes ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Porcelain
Previously Available Items
Modern Aubusson Wall Tapestry by Guido Maggiori
Located in New York, NY
Modern wall Tapestry Designed by Guido Maggiori. Bold Two Toned Color Abstract Composition Entitled "Rouge & Noir". The tapestry was hand woven in Aubus...
Category
Late 20th Century French Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Tapestry
Set 6 Porcelain Handmade Optical Plates Egocentrismo Black White
By Fornasetti
Located in MILANO, IT
This set of six hand-decorated porcelain plates, as a whole, forms the figure of Egocentrismo. You can use the ensemble for ornamental purposes or as wall plates, thanks to the two h...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Porcelain
Fornasetti Decorative Panel Silenzio from the Series Tema e Variazioni
By Fornasetti
Located in MILANO, IT
Fornasetti panels are amongst the best expressions of the mix of functional design and aesthetic exploration.
Like all Fornasetti accessories, this panel is handcrafted using ori...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Wood
H 19.69 in W 39.38 in D 1.19 in
Pair of Large Oval Minimalist Wall Sculptures in Solid Wood
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Pair of oval wall sculptures, solid wood, paint, Europe, 1960s.
This dense set of organic sculptures have a stone like shape. They differ througho...
Category
1960s European Vintage Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Wood
Collage designed by Torsten Hylander, Sweden, 1980s
Located in Stockholm, SE
Collage designed by Torsten Hylander,
Sweden. 1980's.
Collage.
Measurements:
H: 78 cm/ 2' 7 1/4"
W: 66.5 cm/ 2' 2 1/2"
D: 3 cm/ 1 1/4"
Category
1980s Swedish Vintage Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Paper
Collage Designed by Torsten Hylander, Sweden, 1980s
Located in Stockholm, SE
Collage.
Measures: H 70 cm/ 2' 4"
W 54.5 cm/ 21 1/2"
D 2 cm/ 3/4".
Category
1980s European Vintage Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Paper
1950s Color Lithograph by Jean 'Hans' Arp for Guilde de la Gravure
By Jean Arp
Located in Sagaponack, NY
"Configuration" color lithograph on paper. Signature and edition "XX/LX" (20/60) in pencil with embossed "GUILDE DE LA GRAVURE" press marking. Model: Arntz 237.
Category
1950s European Vintage Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Paper
1950s Color Lithograph by Jean 'Hans' Arp
By Jean Arp
Located in Sagaponack, NY
"Composition with Five Forms" color lithograph on rives wove paper, signed in pencil. 23/25.
Category
1950s European Vintage Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Paper
Curtis Jeré Ship Wall Sculpture
By Curtis Jeré
Located in Greenwich, CT
Fine mixed metal wall sculpture by Curtis Jeré depicting a two masted sailing vessel in a harbor with port town behind, very finely detailed and conceived, c...
Category
1970s American Vintage Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Brass, Copper
Wall Relief Made by Arne Åse, Sweden, 2000s
By Arne Åse
Located in Stockholm, SE
Porcelain.
Measures: H 59 cm / 23 1/8"
W 37 cm / 14 1/2"
D 4 cm / 1 1/2".
Category
Early 2000s Swedish Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Porcelain
Anotherview n.14 On the Ganges During Monsoon - 1stdibs New York
Located in Milan, IT
Anotherview is an ongoing project that takes place in between interior design and video art. It transforms your home into a nomadic place, where virtual window leads to unexpected la...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Iron
Contemporary Feather Engravings, Pair, Milan, Italy
Located in Downingtown, PA
Contemporary feather engravings,
Pair,
Milan, Italy.
A pair of fine modern engraved prints of two feathers and beautifully mounted floating within a naturally colored wood frame.
Category
2010s Italian 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.
Recently Viewed
View AllMore Ways To Browse
E Renmark
Emmett Kelly
Hummel Plates
Lighting Agostino
Henri Samouilov
Thomas DeDecker On Sale
Original Enameled London Underground Subway Sign
Patria Watch
Schumacher Madame
Une Femme Douce
Tile Mural Peacock
Mac Duggal
Bedlington Terrier
Andre Ducuing
A Keany
Alfred Renoleau On Sale
Adolfo Arenas
Sexton Metal Wall