Modern More Furniture and Collectibles
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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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.
Late 20th Century Modern More Furniture and Collectibles
Paper
1930s Spanish Vintage Modern More Furniture and Collectibles
Plaster
Early 2000s Central African Modern More Furniture and Collectibles
Resin
2010s Danish Modern More Furniture and Collectibles
Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern More Furniture and Collectibles
Brass, Stainless Steel
Late 20th Century Austrian Modern More Furniture and Collectibles
Steel
2010s Italian Modern More Furniture and Collectibles
Other
2010s Italian Modern More Furniture and Collectibles
Ceramic
1990s Italian Modern More Furniture and Collectibles
Chrome
2010s Asian Modern More Furniture and Collectibles
Concrete, Stainless Steel
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Furniture and Collectibles
Cotton
2010s Brazilian Modern More Furniture and Collectibles
Onyx, Bronze
2010s Asian Modern More Furniture and Collectibles
Brass
2010s Danish Modern More Furniture and Collectibles
Steel
2010s American Modern More Furniture and Collectibles
Velvet
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern More Furniture and Collectibles
Wood, Plastic
21st Century and Contemporary Modern More Furniture and Collectibles
Plywood
Late 20th Century Modern More Furniture and Collectibles
Leather, Plastic
2010s Portuguese Modern More Furniture and Collectibles
Velvet, Wood
2010s Brazilian Modern More Furniture and Collectibles
Bronze
2010s American Modern More Furniture and Collectibles
Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern More Furniture and Collectibles
Porcelain
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern More Furniture and Collectibles
Porcelain
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern More Furniture and Collectibles
Nickel
2010s Italian Modern More Furniture and Collectibles
Wool, Upholstery, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary German Modern More Furniture and Collectibles
Silk
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Furniture and Collectibles
Cotton
1950s Spanish Vintage Modern More Furniture and Collectibles
Plaster
2010s Italian Modern More Furniture and Collectibles
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Furniture and Collectibles
Cotton
1950s Spanish Vintage Modern More Furniture and Collectibles
Plaster
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Furniture and Collectibles
Cotton
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Furniture and Collectibles
Alpaca
2010s Brazilian Modern More Furniture and Collectibles
Onyx, Bronze
Late 20th Century Modern More Furniture and Collectibles
Rubber
20th Century American Modern More Furniture and Collectibles
Silver Plate, Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary German Modern More Furniture and Collectibles
Silk
Late 20th Century Modern More Furniture and Collectibles
Brass
2010s Italian Modern More Furniture and Collectibles
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Furniture and Collectibles
Cotton
2010s German Modern More Furniture and Collectibles
Linen
2010s American Modern More Furniture and Collectibles
Velvet
2010s American Modern More Furniture and Collectibles
Stoneware
2010s Italian Modern More Furniture and Collectibles
Other
2010s Italian Modern More Furniture and Collectibles
Fabric
2010s Dutch Modern More Furniture and Collectibles
Cotton, Linen
2010s Italian Modern More Furniture and Collectibles
Silk, Paint
2010s Italian Modern More Furniture and Collectibles
Steel
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Furniture and Collectibles
Cotton
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern More Furniture and Collectibles
Silk
2010s American Modern More Furniture and Collectibles
Chrome
21st Century and Contemporary German Modern More Furniture and Collectibles
Silk
21st Century and Contemporary Polish Modern More Furniture and Collectibles
Polyester
1970s Italian Vintage Modern More Furniture and Collectibles
Marble
Late 20th Century Modern More Furniture and Collectibles
Fiberglass, Rubber, Paint
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern More Furniture and Collectibles
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern More Furniture and Collectibles
Plastic
2010s Italian Modern More Furniture and Collectibles
Steel