Modern Design Books
to
20
136
20
104
35
20
62
32
15
2
1
104
55
3
38
53
2
1
1
7
17
13
8
16
137
12
5
4
3
73
61
46
13
9
158
154
157
5
5
3
3
3
Sort By
Hidden-Unveiling Japanese Design, Nippon Design Center
By Nendo
Located in Tivoli, NY
Incredible catalog for a design show in Singapore in 2014 that was funded by JETRO and curated by
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Post-Modern Books
Materials
Paper
book, G.Frattini, Italian design 1988
By Gianfranco Frattini
Located in Felino, IT
Gianfranco Frattini, Italian Design. libro. edizioni Biblioteca dell'immagine 1988. a cura di Pier
Category
Vintage 1980s European Modern Books
Materials
Paper
Gaetano Pesce, Architecture Design Art Book
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Geneva, CH
Gaetano Pesce - Architecture Design Art
Book by France Vanlaethem
In English, 126 pages
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Books
Signed Copy of Patina Modern: a Guide to Designing Warm, Timeless Interiors
By Pilar Guzmán, Chris Mitchell
Located in Brooklyn, NY
achieve this.
It’s a simple formula, one that lies in mixing modern design with timeworn materials—in
Category
2010s Books
Materials
Paper
Reference Book on French 1940s Design "Les Decorateurs des Annees 40"
By Bruno Foucart
Jean-Louis Gaillemin
Located in Winnetka, IL
An excellent reference book on the major French interior designers from the 1940s. Included is work by Jacques Adnet, Andre Arbus, Rene Drouet, Maxime Old, Rene Prou, Jules Leleu, Je...
Category
1990s French Modern Books
Materials
Paper
Mastropietro B&B Italian Limited Edition Book "Un industria per il Design" 1982
By Mario Mastropietro
Located in Mornico al Serio ( BG), Lombardia
Title: "Un industria per il Design"
by Mario Mastropietro.
Edizioni Lybra immagine- Milano (1982
Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Books
Materials
Paper
Vintage 1968 The Machine: As Seen at the End of the Mechanical Age MOMA Book
By K.G. Pontius Hulten
Located in Seguin, TX
The Machine: As Seen At The End Of The Mechanical Age by K. G. Pontus Hulten. Museum of Modern Art
Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Books
Materials
Aluminum
Humanscale 1/2/3 a Portfolio of Information Sizes People Seating Considerations
By Niels Diffrient
Located in Seguin, TX
Requirements for the Handicapped and Elderly. Human Engineering & Design by Niels Diffrient, Alvin R. Tilley
Category
Vintage 1970s American Modern Books
Materials
Paper
1970s Signed Items by American Buckminster Fuller
By Olafur Eliasson, Isamu Noguchi, Buckminster Fuller
Located in Frankfurt, Hessen, DE
exhibition for the Cooper-Hewitt National Museum of Design in New York City in 1976, h 28 / w 21,5 cm
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Books
Materials
Paper, Synthetic
Classical Principles for Modern Design
By Phaidon
Located in New York, NY
still applicable today? In Classical Principles for Modern Design, Jayne argues that Wharton and
Category
2010s Chinese Books
Materials
Paper
$37 / item
"Giovanni Albera
Nicolas Monti – Italian Modern: A Design Heritage" Book
By Nicolas Monti, Giovanni Albera
Located in CA, CA
from one of the leading countries in innovative and stylish design, Italy. Throughout the 20th century
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Books
Timo Sarpaneva / "VISION" / Tampella / 1966
By Timo Sarpaneva, Tampella Design
Located in Shibuya-Ku, JP
and life in Finland through Finnish handicrafts and design products in 1966.
The binding was designed
Category
Vintage 1960s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Books
Materials
Textile, Cotton
Timo Sarpaneva / "VISION" / Tampella / 1966
By Timo Sarpaneva, Tampella Design
Located in Shibuya-Ku, JP
and life in Finland through Finnish handicrafts and design products in 1966.
The binding was designed
Category
Vintage 1960s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Books
Materials
Textile, Cotton
David Hicks Living with Design Coffee Table Book
By David Hicks
Located in Lambertville, NJ
A very nice clean copy of David Hicks now out of print coffee table book, "Living With Color". Known as one of the most influential interior designer/decorators of the 20th century, ...
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Books
Materials
Paper
Omnibook Volume 2, Italian Industrial Design by Mario Vigiak
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A classic of postmodern and industrial design! Omnibook 2 was published in 1987 and captures the
Category
Late 20th Century Post-Modern Books
Materials
Paper
Esprit The Comprehensive Design Principle Book by Douglas Tompkins
Located in Brooklyn, NY
design, show rooms and stores, and other memorabilia. Written and edited by Doug Tompkins and published
Category
Late 20th Century Post-Modern Books
Materials
Paper
Esprit The Comprehensive Design Principle Book by Douglas Tompkins
Located in Brooklyn, NY
design, show rooms and stores, and other memorabilia. Written and edited by Doug Tompkins and published
Category
Late 20th Century Post-Modern Books
Materials
Paper
Cartier Design Viewed Book by Ettore Sottsass Hardcover Book
By Jean Cartier, Ettore Sottsass
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
design and material. All designs reproduced here are from the Cartier Paris Archives. Hardcover, 240
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Post-Modern Books
Materials
Paper
"Pastoe, 100 Years of Design Innovation" Hardback Book, 2013
By Gert Staal, Anne Van Der Zwaag
Located in London, GB
Pastoe: 100 Years of Design Innovation was published in 2013 to celebrate the centenary of Dutch
Category
20th Century Dutch Mid-Century Modern Books
Materials
Paper
Modernism: Modernist Design 1880 to 1940 - Alastair Duncan - 1998
By Alastair Duncan
Located in CA, CA
First edition, published by Antique Collectors Club, 1998.
A thorough and scholarly overview of the period concentrating on collecting domestic objects and furniture from the variou...
Category
Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Books
Materials
Paper
Post War
Contemporary Art Design, Barbara Jakobson Collection, 2005 Christie
s
Located in Rochester, NY
Post - War & Contemporary Art and Design: From the Collection of Barbara Jakobson - May 12, 2005
Category
Early 2000s American Mid-Century Modern Books
Materials
Paper
Women of Design, Contemporary American Interiors, Forward by Andree Putnam
By Beverly Russell
Located in CA, CA
Published by Rizzoli first edition, 1992
Women of Design profiles thirty two women who have
Category
1990s American Mid-Century Modern Books
Hawaiiana: The Best of Hawaiian Design Mark Blackburn 1st Edition Hardcover Book
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Mark Blackburn’s Hawaiian: The Best of Hawaiian Design with Values is a captivating exploration of
Category
Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Books
Materials
Paper
1979 Desert Images by David Muench and Edward Abbey Designed by Massimo Vignelli
By Massimo Vignelli
Located in New Windsor, NY
printing, 1979, by Chanticleer Press, Incorporated. Designed by Massimo Vignelli.
The book is in good
Category
Vintage 1970s American Post-Modern Books
Materials
Paper
Vintage Furniture Designs Folio, English, Carpenter
s Reference Book, Patterns
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a Vintage Furniture Designs folio. An English, carpenter's reference book with patterns
Category
Early 20th Century British Mid-Century Modern Books
Materials
Paper
In Stock in Los Angeles, California Designing Freedom, Justin McGuirk
By Phaidon
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
California Designing Freedom by Justin McGuirk & Brendan McGetrick
This book examines
Category
2010s American Modern Books
Materials
Paper
Complete Set of 6 (Six) First Edition David Hicks Design Books
By David Hicks
Located in San Francisco, CA
This is the complete set of all six of David Hicks design books, including the
Book on Decoration
Category
Vintage 1970s English Mid-Century Modern Books
Materials
Paper
Collectible Books "40 Years of Danish Furniture Design", First Edition, 4 volume
By Grete Jalk
Located in Odense, DK
Rare and complete set of “40 years of Danish Furniture Design” first edition book collection — The
Category
Vintage 1980s Danish Scandinavian Modern Books
Materials
Paper
Windsor Smith Homefront Design for Modern Living Design Book
By Rizoli International Publications
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Windsor Smith Homefront: Design for Modern Living by Windsor Smith, Gwyneth Paltrow (Foreword by
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Folk Art Books
Materials
Paper
Móvel Moderno Brasileiro, Brazilian Modern Design, Book
By Marcelo Vasconcellos, Alberto Vicente
Located in Deerfield Beach, FL
The Brazilian modern design book extensively classifies the work of 15 of the most representative
Category
2010s Brazilian Other Books
Materials
Other
Design 1935-1965: What Modern Was, First Edition
Located in valatie, NY
Design 1935-1965: What Modern Was: Selections from the Liliane and David M. Stewart Collection by
Category
1990s American Books
Materials
Paper
Nineteenth Century Modern
The Functional Tradition In Victorian Design
Herwin
Located in valatie, NY
Nineteenth century modern (The Functional Tradition In Victorian Design) by Herwin Schaefer
Category
Vintage 1970s American Books
Materials
Paper
Vintage Danish Language Magazines Modern House Style Design Bo Bedre 1960s
Located in Miami, FL
year of Bo Bedre (Live Better) Danish magazine of Modern Home Style and Design. First published in
Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Books
Materials
Paper
Modern Design in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1890-1990 Hardcover Book
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Modern Design in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1890-1990 Hardcover Book.January 1, 1990 by R
Category
20th Century American Modern Books
Materials
Paper
Introduction to 20th Century Design from the Museum of Modern Art, 1959
Located in CA, CA
First Edition, published by The Museum of Modern Art/ Doubleday & Company, Inc, 1959.
A small
Category
Mid-20th Century Books
Brittanica
s Great Books of the Western World 1952 Book Set of 53
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful set of 53 volumes of Brittanica Great Books of the Western World. This set is a classic
Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Books
Materials
Paper
Designing Detroit: Wirt Rowland and the Rise of Modern American Architecture
Located in valatie, NY
Designing Detroit: Wirt Rowland and the Rise of Modern American Architecture, by Michael G. Smith
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Books
Materials
Paper
Design Impact, A History of Art Center College of Design Alumni Vision Culture
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Design Impact - A History of Art Center College of Design Alumni Vision culture.
A History of Art
Category
20th Century American Modern Books
Materials
Paper
Advertising Design in Japan, Volume 23
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
89 Annual of Ad Productions in Japan - Advertising Design in Japan Vol. 23
Published by Rikuyo-Sha
Category
1990s Japanese Modern Books
Materials
Paper
David Hicks Living With Design Book 1979
By David Hicks
Located in CA, CA
Published By William Morrow & Co, first edition, 1979
For the first time David Hicks writes in this book not only about the ideas and principals which guide his work - whether he ...
Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Books
Materials
Paper
Directional Cityscape Collection Designed by Paul Evans Catalog
By Paul Evans
Located in San Diego, CA
Catalog for the Directional Cityscape collection Designed by Paul Evans. Excellent condition, with
Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Books
Materials
Paper
In Stock in Los Angeles, Blooms Contemporary Floral Design
By Phaidon
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Blooms: Contemporary Floral Design: Phaidon Editors with various contributors
In stock in Los
Category
2010s American Modern Books
Materials
Paper
Jean Prouvé, Vitra Design Museum, 1st Edition, Skira, 2007
By Jean Prouvé
Located in CA, CA
First Edition, published by Skira Editore, Geneva & Milan, and Vitra Design Museum. Text in English
Category
Early 2000s Italian Mid-Century Modern Books
Materials
Paper
Set of 7-20th Century Art
Design Catalogs Doyle
s New York
Located in valatie, NY
Set of 7-20th century Art & Design Catalogs from Doyle New York. 1st Ed softcovers. 11/17/1998--11
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Books
Materials
Paper
In Stock in Los Angeles, Lisa Perry Fashion Homes Design, Assouline
By Assouline Publishing
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Courrèges and Cardin, is now showcasing her longtime passion: the home. Her love for design is infectious
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Books
Materials
Paper
Vladimir Kagan: A Lifetime of Avant-Garde Design, Signed by Kagan
By Vladimir Kagan
Located in Brooklyn, NY
"The Complete Kagan: Vladimir Kagan: A Lifetime of Avant-Garde Design." Pointed Leaf Press, 2004
Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Books
Materials
Paper
IMPORTANT DESIGN the life of PIERO FORNASETTI - 1998 Christie
s, Los Angeles
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Rochester, NY
IMPORTANT DESIGN the life of PIERO FORNASETTI - May 16, 1998 Christie's, Los Angeles - 1st Edition
Category
1990s American Mid-Century Modern Books
Materials
Paper
1966 Year Bo Bedre / Live Better Danish Language Home
Design Vintage Magazine
Located in Miami, FL
Ten issues of the year 1966 Bo Bedre (Live Better) Danish language vintage magazines of Modern
Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Books
Materials
Paper
1964 Bo Bedre Danish Language Magazine Scandinavian Home Style Design 12 issues
Located in Miami, FL
Style and Design. First published in March 1961. The magazines are in the Danish language but pictures
Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Books
Materials
Paper
House Design By Ray Kappe: Architects/Planners, Themes And Variations # 3 Book
By Ray Kappe
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
House Design By Ray Kappe: Architects/Planners (Themes And Variations 3)
By Michael Webb.
Ray
Category
20th Century Australian Organic Modern Books
Materials
Paper
July 1961 Playboy Magazine f/t Masters of Midcentury Design Eames Saarinen
By Harry Bertoia, Charles Eames, Eero Saarinen
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
beauty is the spread on the masters of midcentury design — Eero Saarinen, Harry Bertoia, Charles Eames
Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Books
Materials
Paper
Kelly Hoppen Home From Concept to Reality Book by Helen Chislet Design Book
By Kelly Hoppen
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
ultimate decorating book, offering the chance to learn from the world-renowned designer's chic, modern
Category
Early 2000s English Modern Books
Materials
Paper
Vanitas - Designs - Gianni Versace 1994
By Gianni Versace
Located in CA, CA
Vanitas: Designs
Gianni Versace
Published by Abbeville Press, New York 1994. 1st English Language
Category
1990s American Post-Modern Books
Materials
Paper
July 1961 Playboy Magazine f/t Masters of Mid-Century Design Eames Saarinen
By Charles Eames, Harry Bertoia, Eero Saarinen
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
beauty is the spread on the masters of midcentury design — Eero Saarinen, Harry Bertoia, Charles Eames
Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Books
July 1961 Playboy F/T Masters of Mid-Century Design, Eames Bertoia Saarinen
By Charles Eames, Playboy, Eero Saarinen
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
beauty is the spread on the masters of Midcentury design, Eero Saarinen, Harry Bertoia, Charles Eames
Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Books
In Stock in Los Angeles, Chair 500 Designs That Matter, Phaidon
By Phaidon
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
serve a practical purpose. Chair: 500 Designs that Matter celebrates the humble chair as never before
Category
2010s American Modern Books
Materials
Paper
Lino Sabattini Book Suggestione e funzione Intimations and Craftsmanship Signed
By Lino Sabattini
Located in San Diego, CA
designs. Text is in English and Italian. 64 p
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Post-Modern Books
Materials
Paper
- 1
Get Updated with New Arrivals
Save "Modern Design Books", and we’ll notify you when there are new listings in this category.
Modern Design Books For Sale on 1stDibs
At 1stDibs, there are several options of modern design books available for sale. Frequently made of paper, metal and other, all modern design books available were constructed with great care. There are 36 antique and vintage modern design books for sale at 1stDibs, while we also have 2 modern editions to choose from as well. Modern design books have been made for many years, and versions that date back to the 20th Century alongside those produced as recently as the 21st Century. Modern design books are generally popular furniture pieces, but Mid-Century Modern and Modern styles are often sought at 1stDibs. Many modern design books are appealing in their simplicity, but David Hicks, Charles Eames and Eero Saarinen produced popular modern design books that are worth a look.
Finding the Right Books for You
Antique and vintage books add a sense of culture and style to any room. Displaying these types of books in your living room or reading nook can warm a space with a distinguished feel.
Several factors make antique books highly desirable. Original jackets, ornate binding, illustrations and quality of the print all contribute to making a vintage book special. Rare books are of great interest to collectors in the know and can command high prices at auction. In 2021, an important early artist book by Andy Warhol sold at auction for more than $106,000. Somewhere between all the commercial work he did as an ambitious young graphic designer in the early 1950s and his first real debut as a Pop artist a decade later, Warhol produced a trove of incredibly charming drawings. His illustrated self-published artist books from the 1950s are very rare.
Many collectors seek the first edition of certain books. Fewer copies of a book and higher demand make it a rare find. A book that contains the author’s signature also makes it much more prized than other examples of the same title.
Collectors and designers decorate rooms with vintage books for a cozy feeling in a home. Coffee-table books, such as those featuring photography and design, serve as conversation pieces or offer a relaxing moment when leafed through.
Interior designers look for vintage books when they want to add color or detail. For instance, leather-bound books can create a scholarly air while mid-century titles offer a modern edge. Vintage international books or first editions can provide a sense of history.
No matter the genre, there is a book for you. You can find rare, one-of-a-kind antique books on 1stDibs. Browse by authors, like celebrated architect and designer Frank Lloyd Wright and Edgar Rice Burroughs, as well as by period, including mid-century modern, Art Deco and Victorian.
Questions About Modern Design Books
- What is modern furniture design?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertAugust 8, 2024Modern furniture design is an overarching term for the new approach that designers began taking in the early 20th century. Many experts cite the Bauhaus movement as the start of the modern era. Its style was defined by the instructors and students at a progressive German art and design school founded by the architect Walter Gropius that operated from 1919 to 1933. In Bauhaus-style furniture, the school’s followers married industrial and natural materials in simple, geometric forms. The goal of the Bauhaus was to erase the distinction between art and craft while embracing the use of new technologies and materials. As the Bauhaus movement was emerging, so too was Art Deco. This iconic movement made an indelible mark on all fields of design throughout the 1920s and ’30s, celebrating society’s growing industrialization with refined elegance and stunning craftsmanship. Art Deco furniture makers respected the dark woods and modern metals with which they worked; they frequently incorporated decorative embellishments such as exotic animal hides as well as veneers in their seating, case pieces, living room sets and bedroom furniture. After World War II, modern design continued with the mid-century modern movement. The style is characterized by pieces that were conceived and made in an energetic, optimistic spirit by creators who believed that good design was an essential part of good living. Historians typically say that the modern approach to furniture design ended in the mid-1960s or early 1970s. Pieces made after that time may be called postmodern or contemporary. Shop a large collection of modern furniture on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertSeptember 25, 2019
Some of the most famous mid-century modern furniture designers were Alvar Aalto, Charles and Ray Eames, Paul Evans, Poul Kjærholm, Florence Knoll, George Nakashima, Giò Ponti, Hans Wegner, Charlotte Perriand, Sergio Rodrigues and Eero Saarinen.
- 1stDibs ExpertSeptember 25, 2019The defining characteristics of mid-century modern furniture design include simplicity, an emphasis on organic forms, clean lines and a mix of both natural and man-made materials. The mid-century modern style, which emerged primarily in the years following World War II, is used to describe the work of furniture designers who believed that good design was an essential part of good living. Both neutral tones and bold Pop art colors can typically be found in mid-century modern interiors, which usually include light-filled spaces. An integration of floor-to-ceiling windows and abundant access to the outdoors renders prominent a connection with nature, which owes in part to the ideas of celebrated architect Frank Lloyd Wright, an inspiration for mid-century furniture designers. Popular mid-century modern designers include Ray and Charles Eames, Florence Knoll, Harry Bertoia and others. Find vintage mid-century modern furniture on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Marcel Breuer introduced the material of tubular steel to modern furniture design. He employed it in many of his chairs, tables and sofas, prizing the material because it minimized the weight of pieces without sacrificing their strength. Shop a range of Marcel Breuer furniture on 1stDibs.
Read More
Dickens Fan on Your List? This First Edition of ‘A Christmas Carol’ Is a Treasure
Produced in 1843, the well-preserved volume is evidence of the author's exacting specifications.
Patchwork Quilts Are the Latest Nostalgic Design Trend
New or old, the coverlets add old-time charm to any space.
Medal-Worthy Memorabilia from Epic Past Olympic Games
Get into the games! These items celebrate the events, athletes, host countries and sporting spirit.
Ahoy! You’ve Never Seen a Collection of Sailor Art and Kitsch Quite Like This
French trendsetter and serial collector Daniel Rozensztroch tells us about his obsession with objects related to seafaring men.
39 Incredible Swimming Pools
It's hard to resist the allure of a beautiful pool. So, go ahead and daydream about whiling away your summer in paradise.
Pamela Shamshiri Shares the Secrets behind Her First-Ever Book and Its Effortlessly Cool Interiors
The sought-after designer worked with the team at Hoffman Creative to produce a monograph that beautifully showcases some of Studio Shamshiri's most inspiring projects.
Moroccan Artworks and Objects Take Center Stage in an Extraordinary Villa in Tangier
Italian writer and collector Umberto Pasti opens the doors to his remarkable cave of wonders in North Africa.
Montecito Has Drawn Royalty and Celebrities, and These Homes Are Proof of Its Allure
Hollywood A-listers, ex-pat aristocrats and art collectors and style setters of all stripes appreciate the allure of the coastal California hamlet — much on our minds after recent winter floods.
More Ways To Browse
Jane Birkin
Versace Vanitas
F Gordon
Fashion Coffee Table Books
Vintage American Dinnerware
Dolph Lundgren
Vintage Headboard Lamps
Jean Dunand His Life And Works
Marilyn Monroe Chair
Sergio Rodrigues Book
Donald Wright
Clarence P Hornung
Bla Eld
Black Animal Skull
Black Forest Goat
Black Forest Music Box
Black Human Sculpture
Black Lacquer Mother Of Pearl Wall Art