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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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.
Roy Lichtenstein "Paper Plate" Original Encased in Heavy Custom Lucite Block
Located in North Miami, FL
Created exclusively for Barneys of New York by the Estate of Roy Lichtenstein, the heavy and custom acrylic display box provides front and rear views of this master work. Stamped wit...
Acrylic, Paper
David Gilhooly (1943-2013) Wall Assemblage
Located in Palm Springs, CA
David Gilhooly (1943 - 2013) assemblage. Assemblage measure 20" wide, 8" deep and 24" high. Mr. Gilhooly is mostly known for his ceramics and assemblages are extremely rare.Signed on the back as follows: Forget the Blues, and dated 5-97. About the artist. He was an American ceramicist, sculptor, painter, printmaker, and professor. He is best known for pioneering the Funk art movement. He made a series of ceramic frogs called FrogWorld, as well as ceramic food, planets, and other creatures. Gilhooly, together with Robert Arneson, Peter Vandenberge, Chris Unterseher, and Margaret Dodd, working together in TB-9 (temporary building 9) were what was later to be called, The Funk Ceramic...
Plastic, Lucite
Monumental LED Shadowbox Art Diorama with Taxidermy Horseshoe Crabs, In Stock
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Drones, 2022, is a techno-futuristic riff on the traditional Victorian shadowbox containing horseshoe crab carapaces collected by hand on a visit t...
Brass
Robert Matheny Glitter Painting
Located in Chicago, IL
Robert E. Matheny Glitter on canvass. Early work 1969, original Lucite shadow box frame. Visual artist starting in circa 1960, two years after graduating from Long Beach state College with an art education Masters Degree, Contemporary of John Baldessari, San Diego Art...
Canvas
Haori Jacket by Greg Copeland
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A Japanese silk haori float-mounted on an acrylic rod to a stretched pink cloth canvas in a custom formed acrylic shadow box by artist Greg Copeland...
Silk, Acrylic
Contemporary Burmese Dolls in Lucite Display Case
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Contemporary Burmese Dolls in Lucite Display Case This display case measures: 69 wide x 5 deep x 34.25 inches high Each piece of Fine Art is care...
Metal
$11,400
H 15.75 in W 35.44 in D 1.5 in
In stock ClockClock 24 Black with Golden Hands by Humans Since 1982
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
ClockClock 24 is both a kinetic sculpture and a functioning wall clock. It has been a signature piece of Humans since 1982 since it was first launched in 2016. The individual clock h...
Composition, Gold Plate
Mid-Century Modern Geometric Shadow Box Wall Shelf
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A dynamic and graphic Mid-Century Modern shadow box wall shelf, featuring an asymmetrical geometric composition and bold color contrast. The outer frame is finished in a warm blonde ...
Wood
$3,600
H 13 in W 12.5 in D 4 in
Vintage Ron Fritts Signed Chrome, Wood, Plexi Pop Art Shadow Box Wall Sculpture
By Ron Fritts
Located in North Miami, FL
This eye-catching and rare vintage Ron Fritts Pop Art shadow box wall sculpture has suspended resin or lucite balls floating in four different window vignettes that change. The background is black Mylar plexiglass and the exterior wood is newly ebonized. The original labels on the back that says RF studios Inc. and a number. The silver interior balls jump around as you pick it up and rotate it and even turn it upside down. The components of the resin have slightly yellowed from age and sun exposure. There is also glue residue from age and coming apart. It is what it is...
Aluminum, Chrome
$350
H 9.06 in W 24.81 in D 2.17 in
Antique Butterfly Collection Glass Shadow Box Wall Decoration, Spain, 1970
Located in Madrid, ES
Shadow box made in wood and glass containing a butterfly collection.
Glass, Wood
$1,815
H 27.56 in W 37.01 in D 1.78 in
19th Century Chinese Silk Embroidered Ceremonial Jacket in Display Picture Frame
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer this very rare 19th century Chinese silk embroidered ceremonial robe in a lovely glass picture frame display case An extremely decorative piece, the qual...
Silk
Painting by Robert Geenens, Belgium
By Robert Geenens
Located in Antwerp, BE
Painting by Robert Hector Geenens. Started with fantastic realism, often surrealism, open to dreams and imagination. Tended afterwards towards lyric abstraction and magic abstracti...
Wood
$822Sale Price|30% Off
H 15.5 in W 21.75 in D 1.75 in
Antique 18th Century French Neoclassical Hera's Chariot Hand Fan Shadowbox
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique 18th century French Louis XVI / Neoclassical painted boudoir hand fan. White sticks pierced with foliate / floral designs as well as trumpets and sheets of music; gilded acce...
Silk, Paint
Taxidermy Wall Decoration Collection of 3 Butterflies, Spain, 1950s
Located in Grythyttan, SE
Taxidermy Wall Decoration Collection of 3 Butterflies, Spain, 1950s This exquisite framed butterfly collection features three beautiful specimens. The bodies antennas are switched to paper dummys, but the wings appears to be real. Vintage butterfly taxidermy...
Glass, Wood
$25,500
H 21 in W 30.8 in D 1.5 in
Roy Lichtenstein Signed Limited Edition Lithograph Screenprint Haystack #6, 1969
Located in Studio City, CA
An iconic image by Pop Art master artist Roy Lichtenstein titled "Haystack #6" from his critically acclaimed, somewhat rare, and now hard-to-find Haystack series. Lichtenstein, inspired by his trip to Paris and viewing of Claude Monet's impressionistic paintings of haystacks, the work, and series is a pop art homage to the French painter. The series of seven "Haystack" prints runs from morning (yellow) to midnight (black, with embossing) each reflecting Monet's changing light effects. This work is a limited edition lithograph with screen printing on Rives BFK white wove paper. It was published by Gemini G.E.L., Los Angeles (with their blind stamps to the lower right margin). The work was done in a limited numbered edition of 100. The work is hand-signed in pencil, dated (1969), and numbered (90/100) by Lichtenstein. This particular work can be found in The Tate Museum, London, UK, The Philadelphia Art Museum...
Paper
$650Sale Price|33% Off
H 28 in W 15 in D 2 in
Antique Sea Life Diorama Shadow Box, Walnut Frame, Shells, 1950
Located in Douglas Manor, NY
3-715 Beautiful sea life diorama including sea shells various crustaceans ,seahorse starfish encased in a walnut frame under glass. Brass hanging ring
Shell
$727
H 16.93 in W 13 in D 1.19 in
Victorian Pressed Flower Oddity, Botanical Art in Gilt Oval Frame, 19th Century
Located in ROUEN, Normandie
Victorian Pressed Flower Oddity, Botanical Art in Gilt Oval Frame, 19th Century Antique botanical composition featuring a delicate array of hand-pressed flowers and foliage, artfull...
Fabric, Glass, Organic Material, Giltwood
$900Sale Price|50% Off
H 37 in W 39 in D 0.75 in
Roy Lichtenstein Pop Art Kiss Poster 1964 Original Ltd. #562
Located in Miami, FL
Roy Lichtenstein Pop Art Kiss Poster 1964 Original Ltd. #562 Offered for sale is a Roy Lichtenstein pop art poster from 1964 Original Ltd. #562 published...
Plexiglass, Wood, Paper
David Gilhooly (1943-2013) Wall Assemblage
Located in Palm Springs, CA
David Gilhooly (1943 - 2013) assemblage. Assemblage measure 30.5" wide, 9" deep and 34.25" high. This is probably one of the largest assemblages that David made. Signed on the bac...
Plastic
Sold
H 13.25 in W 13.25 in D 3 in
Roy Lichtenstein "Paper Plate" Original Encased in Heavy Custom Lucite Block
Located in North Miami, FL
Created exclusively for Barneys of New York by the Estate of Roy Lichtenstein, the heavy and custom acrylic display box provides front and rear views of this master work. Stamped wit...
Acrylic, Paper
Single Bathroom Series by artist Darryl Norem (1986)
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Signed cut paper painting of a bathroom scene by artist Darryl Norem (1949-2011). Beautifully framed in a thick shadow box. Clever Subject and exec...
Paper
Sold
H 34.26 in W 26.38 in D 2.76 in
Wall Object Organizer Designed by Dorothee Becker for Design M Ingo Maurer, 1969
By Dorothee Maurer-Becker, M Design
Located in MIlano, IT
Black plastic wall object organizer designed by Dorothee Becker for Design M Ingo Maurer, 1969 Wall object holder in glossy black abs and hooks in nic...
Metal
Becky Davis Botanicals Nutgrass Cyperus Esculentus Floral Wheat 61"
Located in Dayton, OH
"From flowers and grasses to ferns and leaves, each stem is hand picked by Becky, who wades into alligator infested waters in South Carolina's lowcountry to find the perfect specimen...
Organic Material
2 Becky Davis Botanicals Fragrant Water Lily Leaf Nymphaea Odorata Floral
Located in Dayton, OH
From flowers and grasses to ferns and leaves, each stem is hand picked by Becky, who wades into alligator infested waters in South Carolina's lowcountry to find the perfect specimen ...
Organic Material
Abstract String Wall Art In Square Lucite Shadow Box
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Square abstract wall art in square Lucite shadow box. The strings are artfully strung around brass nails on a light gray linen background.
Linen, String, Lucite
1960s Sculptural Collage by William Sildar
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A blackened sculptural relief collage by William Sildar with dark pink matte backdrop and white painted wood frame.
Ceramic, Wood
Painting by Cuban American artist Jose-Maria Mijares
By José María Mijares
Located in North Miami, FL
Beautiful painting by Cuban American artist Jose Maria Mijares (Havana 1921- Miami 2004). Mijares had a long career which began in Cuba where be had...
Canvas, Wood
Op Art Butterfly Box
Located in Chireno, TX
Op art butterfly box: vintage (circa 1960-1979) Op Art handcut into butterfly shapes and pinned within a shadow box as specimen. Framed in unfinished maple. Two more similar pieces a...
Glass, Maple, Paper
Op Art Butterfly Box
Located in Chireno, TX
Op art butterfly box: vintage (circa 1960-1979) Op art handcut into butterfly shapes and pinned within a shadow box as specimen. Framed in unfinished map...
Glass, Maple, Paper
Op Art Butterfly Box
Located in Chireno, TX
Op art butterfly box: vintage (circa 1960-1979) Op art handcut into butterfly shapes and pinned within a shadow box as specimen. Framed in unfinished map...
Glass, Maple, Paper