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International Style Building and Garden Elements

INTERNATIONAL STYLE

The International Style, a modernist movement within architecture and furniture design that was given its name by American architect Philip Johnson and historian Henry-Russell Hitchcock, was born during the 1920s and ’30s. It gained steam initially in Europe and then in the United States as a response to the first World War. Building projects associated with the movement, as well as vintage International Style chairs, tables and other furnishings, are minimal and pared back. 

Pioneers of the International Style — architect Walter Gropius and his Bauhaus colleagues Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Marcel Breuer, De Stijl advocate and Dutch architect J.J.P. Oud and visionary designer Le Corbusier — stripped away decorative elements and placed considerable value on functionality and clean lines, integrating the use of industrial materials like steel, concrete and large sheets of glass in their work. Quite aptly, this mode of design and architectural style coincided with an era now known as the Machine Age and became a global symbol of modernism. The primary motive of its practitioners was to address the changing needs of a rapidly industrializing society, especially the demand for office complexes and apartments in large cities, through economical, technologically advanced, yet aesthetically pleasing designs for furniture and buildings. 

“Space and light and order. Those are the things that men need just as much as they need bread or a place to sleep,” said Le Corbusier of the philosophy behind his practical modernist architecture

The International Style’s designers and architects were inspired by the advantages afforded them by the era’s new technology and industrial machinery as well as state-of-the-art materials. Le Corbusier was fond of framing his buildings in steel but reinforced concrete made far more economic sense. He is probably most admired for the iconic private homes and commercial buildings that he designed or codesigned with his cousin Pierre Jeanneret, which are spread across the world, from New York City to Paris to Chandigarh, India. Today, Breuer’s Wassily Lounge chair; the elegant LC series created by Le Corbusier, Jeanneret and Charlotte Perriand; and Mies van der Rohe’s Barcelona chair, crafted with his romantic partner, designer Lilly Reich, are emblems of progressive modernist design and all make prominent use of tubular steel. Vintage originals are the prized cornerstone of collections.

“The International Style is probably the first fundamentally original and widely distributed style since the Gothic,” posited Johnson in the book that accompanied “Modern Architecture: International Exhibition,” an architectural show he cocurated with Hitchcock that featured the work of Frank Lloyd Wright, Le Corbusier, Richard Neutra and others. While the term “International Style” had previously been circulating in Europe, when the show opened at the Museum of Modern Art in 1932, it yielded a much broader application of this important style of design. 

Find International Style furniture on 1stDibs.

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Style: International Style
Luxury Handmade Pull Handle, Various Leather Colors Finishes Belt Shape
Located in Alcoy, Alicante
Door & drawer pull handle belt shape Artisanal architectural elements that privilege the sense of touch. Made bovine leather from European cattle and sub-products from food industry. Leather pieces vegetable tanned using quebracho and mimosa in a traditional Spanish tannery, chrome free tanning process. Our hides pass by a tumbled process that adds a natural grain to the leather and additional soft touch. All our leather parts are manufactured by handbags and leather goods artisans, so yo will finds that reminds to footwear or fashion rather than homewares. With more detailed eye on small subtleties, as the hand painted edges or hand machine stitched...
Category

2010s Spanish International Style Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Brass

Cast Iron Statue of a Hunting Dog Retrieving a Pheasant A very proud Chap
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Cast Iron Statue of a Hunting Dog Retrieving a Pheasant A very proud Chap, he is sitting on a deep plinth he is fully 3 dimensional and looks good from all sides Our faithful hound...
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1960s Vintage International Style Building and Garden Elements

Materials

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Pair of Willy Guhl planters signed ETERNIT circa 1952
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible pair in concrete planters by Willy Guhl signed ETERNIT circa 1952
Category

1950s Brazilian Vintage International Style Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Cement

French Cast Iron Figural Flatback Rust Patina Garden Panel
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A cast iron flatback panel originally from a balcony rail in France. Dating to the mid-late 19th century, these decorative objects were used as building or garden elements. Heavy, weighing about 25 pounds, and aged with a beautiful patina, the panel shows a robed figure within an ornate scrolled frame. Imagine it as a piece of outdoor sculpture, used as a fireback, turned into a table base, or framed in a garden gate. Measures: 26.5 inches H x 15.5 inches W x 1.25 inches deep. In very good antique condition with the desired rusted patina.
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1850s French Antique International Style Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Iron

Luxury Pull Handle Various Metal &Leather Color Finishes Tube Shape Nickel Mediu
Located in Alcoy, Alicante
Door & drawer pull handle Artisanal architectural elements that privilege the sense of touch. Made with brass, metal precision pieces cnc turned that are hand finished using unique ...
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2010s Spanish International Style Building and Garden Elements

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Brass

Luxury Pull Handle, Various Metal Leather Color Finishes Classic Shape. Brass
Located in Alcoy, Alicante
Door & Drawer Pull Handle Artisanal architectural elements that privilege the sense of touch. Made with brass, metal precision pieces cnc turned that are hand finished using uniqu...
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2010s Spanish International Style Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Brass

Luxury Pull Handle Various Metal &Leather Color Finishes Tube Shape Nickel Mediu
Located in Alcoy, Alicante
Door & drawer pull handle Artisanal architectural elements that privilege the sense of touch. Made with brass, metal precision pieces cnc turned that are hand finished using uniqu...
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2010s Spanish International Style Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Brass

Luxury Pull Handle, Various Metal Leather Color Finishes Classic Shape Nickel
Located in Alcoy, Alicante
Door & drawer pull handle Artisanal architectural elements that privilege the sense of touch. Made with brass, metal precision pieces cnc turned that are hand finished using unique ...
Category

2010s Spanish International Style Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Brass

Luxury Pull Handle Various Metal Leather Color Finishes Tube Shape Gold Small
Located in Alcoy, Alicante
Door & Drawer Pull Handle Artisanal architectural elements that privilege the sense of touch. Made with brass, metal precision pieces cnc turned that are hand finished using uniqu...
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2010s Spanish International Style Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Brass

Luxury Pull Handle Various Metal Leather Color Finishes Tube Shape Black Large
Located in Alcoy, Alicante
Door & Drawer Pull Handle Artisanal architectural elements that privilege the sense of touch. Made with brass, metal precision pieces cnc turned that are hand finished using uniqu...
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2010s Spanish International Style Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Brass

Luxury Pull Handle Various Metal Leather Color Finishes Classic Shape Old Bras
Located in Alcoy, Alicante
Door & drawer pull handle Artisanal architectural elements that privilege the sense of touch. Made with brass, metal precision pieces cnc turned that are hand finished using uniqu...
Category

2010s Spanish International Style Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Brass

Luxury Pull Handle, Various Metal Leather Color Finishes Half Moon Shape Large
Located in Alcoy, Alicante
Door & drawer pull handle Artisanal architectural elements that privilege the sense of touch. Made with brass, metal precision pieces cnc turned that are hand finished using unique ...
Category

2010s Spanish International Style Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Brass

Luxury Pull Handle, Various Metal Leather Color Finishes Half Moon Shape Small
Located in Alcoy, Alicante
Door & drawer pull handle Artisanal architectural elements that privilege the sense of touch. Made with brass, metal precision pieces cnc turned that are hand finished using uniqu...
Category

2010s Spanish International Style Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Brass

Luxury Pull Handle, Various Metal Leather Color Finishes Band Shape Nickel
Located in Alcoy, Alicante
Door & drawer pull handle Artisanal architectural elements that privilege the sense of touch. Made with brass, metal precision pieces that are hand finished using unique leathers ...
Category

2010s Spanish International Style Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Brass

Luxury Pull Handle, Various Metal Leather Color Finishes Padlock Shape. Black
Located in Alcoy, Alicante
Door & drawer pull handle Artisanal architectural elements that privilege the sense of touch. Made with brass, metal precision pieces cnc turned that are hand finished using uniqu...
Category

2010s Spanish International Style Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Brass

Luxury Pull Handle, Various Metal Leather Color Finishes Padlock Shape
Located in Alcoy, Alicante
Door & drawer pull handle Artisanal architectural elements that privilege the sense of touch. Made with brass, metal precision pieces cnc turned that are hand finished using uniqu...
Category

2010s Spanish International Style Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Brass

Luxury Pull Handle Various Metal &Leather Color Finishes Tube Shape Nickel Small
Located in Alcoy, Alicante
Door & drawer pull handle Artisanal architectural elements that privilege the sense of touch. Made with brass, metal precision pieces cnc turned that are hand finished using uniqu...
Category

2010s Spanish International Style Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Brass

Luxury Pull Handle, Various Metal Leather Color Finishes Square Shape Small
Located in Alcoy, Alicante
Door & drawer pull handle Artisanal architectural elements that privilege the sense of touch. Made with brass, metal precision pieces cnc turned that are hand finished using uniqu...
Category

2010s Spanish International Style Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Brass

Luxury Pull Handle, Various Metal Leather Color Finishes Square Shape Large
Located in Alcoy, Alicante
Door & drawer pull handle Artisanal architectural elements that privilege the sense of touch. Made with brass, metal precision pieces cnc turned that are hand finished using uniqu...
Category

2010s Spanish International Style Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Brass

Exotic Bird Parrot Garden Figure Majolica Handcrafted and Hand Painted
Located in München, Bavaria
This handcrafted majolica figure is perfect for your interior or garden. The material is frost resistant and does not fade in sunlight. The tropical flair makes it a perfect complime...
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20th Century German International Style Building and Garden Elements

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Maiolica

Ancient Italian Door as Wooden Panel
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
M/541 - Little ancient Italian door , coming from the mountains of Northern Italy, from 18th century. Usable for rustic cabinet, for a closet or as little ...
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Late 18th Century Italian Antique International Style Building and Garden Elements

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Walnut

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The Black Road: Iron, Classical Male Bust, Resin Sculpture with Rust Iron Patina
Located in Chicago, IL
This extraordinary sculptural portrait head takes its beginnings from classical antiquity. Attention to detail and complete understanding of the human figure are evident. The sculpture, which is made of resin and patinaed with a rusted iron can be shown on a base or lying down. Dean Kugler The Black Road: Iron, 2021 Resin and Iron Patina 20h x 16w in 60.96h x 40.64w cm DK0041 Dean Kugler is a seasoned interdisciplinary artist, painter, and figurative sculptor. His 3D work is featured primarily at Gallery Victor Armendariz in Chicago. In the last three years, Dean has also been featured at Abend Gallery in Denver, The Figge Art Museum, and Bereskin Gallery in Iowa. He has shown at SOFA Chicago in 2017, 2018, and 2019 and participated in ArtPrize in 2013, 2014, and 2015. He sees himself primarily as a sculptor due to the challenges he finds and thrives on within the process. In all its beauty, crudeness, and subtleties, the figure offers infinite opportunities to express feelings and emotions. There is also a physicality to sculpture that requires the work to be experienced through movement in order to reveal more about the piece. Dean has always been drawn to the interactive nature of large-scale sculpture that is available to the public - he loves the idea that his work entices the observer to go beyond what they can see and add tactility to the experience. By using both realism and abstraction, he creates a visual that challenges the viewer to resolve what they are seeing. Therefore, providing a greater connection between the artist and the viewer. Education 1993 – AA from Blackhawk College. 1995 – BFA from Western Illinois University. Texts 1995 – “Drawing: Skills, Means, Freedom”. Jan Clough / Ann Mullin. pub. 1995. 1993 – “Images” College publication featuring multiple pieces. 1992 – “Images” College publication featuring multiple pieces. Bibliography Dec 2022 - American Art Collector. “Room to grow”. Pages 48 and 49. 1 Oct 2018 – River Cities Reader. Article discussing a group show titled “Earth, Wind, and Fire” at Bereskin Gallery. 18 Aug 2018 – River Cities Reader. Article by Mike Schulz about my show titled “Relic” at the Quad City Arts. 1 Nov 2017 – Dispatch-Argus and QCOnline, Coverage of my showing at SOFA. 16 Dec 2016 – River Cities Reader. Article by Rick Martin about one-man art show titled “It Figures” at Black Hawk College. 22 June 2016 – Dispatch-Argus. Coverage of my one-man show titled “Animal Farm.” 22 Sept 2015 – Quad-City Times. “Body of work”. Article by David Burke about a one-man art show at Black Hawk College. 30 October 2014 – WVIK radio and online. Coverage of the ribbon-cutting for “Gravity” installation at the Rivercenter in Davenport, IA. 28 Sept 2014 – TV interview on WZZM13 in Grand Rapids covering ARTPRIZE and my sculpture, Gravity at the Gerald Ford...
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17th Century French Capital Fragment
Located in Round Top, TX
An outstanding and exquisite 17th century French capital to a pilaster. Expertly carved from wood with a wonderful cherub stunningly finished in water g...
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Willy Guhl Eternit Cement Planter, 1960s Switzerland
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Sculptural planter designed by Willy Guhl, a famous Swiss designer and then edited by Eternit in 1950. In the 1950s, marked by designers' growing interest in innovative materials, Wi...
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Very Rare 19th Century Cast Iron Jockey Hitching Post
Located in Dublin, IE
A very rare 19th century cast iron equine hitching post in the form of a jock-ey. The jockey is classically dressed in the 19th century riding attire, com-prising of a black riding hat, red jacket and cream jodhpurs. The jockey is poised on a moulded blue plinth...
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Gorgeous Cast Stone Italian Statue
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Well detailed cast Vicenza stone garden statue of a young lady standing in robes and holding a basket of fruit, head slightly turned to the right; naturally weathered finish.
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20th Century Italian International Style Building and Garden Elements

Gorgeous Cast Stone Italian Statue
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Willy Guhl Conical Planter - Eternit AG, Switzerland #6
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Conical concrete flower pot by Swiss architect and designer, Willy Guhl. Solid concrete made in Switzerland 1960 - 1970. Produced by Eternit AG, Switzerland. Tapered structure with d...
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Luxury Solid Brass Handles Italian Design 1970s with Letter R Bright Gold
Located in Palermo, Sicily
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1970s Italian Vintage International Style Building and Garden Elements

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A Pair of Giant Enameled Door Handles by Hagenauer Workshop Austria, circa 1960s
Located in Vienna, AT
Two Giant Enameled Door Handles by Hagenauer Workshop Austria, circa 1960s Original and excellent condition. New oldstock
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Mid-20th Century Austrian International Style Building and Garden Elements

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Set of 4 French Bistro Garden Folding Iron Frame Dining Chairs w Wood Slats 1925
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Simple yet elegant set of 4 French Bistro Cafe dining chairs with folding iron frames and wood slats. Fold mostly flat for great storage. Heavy duty forged iron painted green years a...
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Cast Iron Hunting Dog Door Stops Assembled Pair
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As dependable and as strong as a pair of Irish Setters, this assembled hollow cast iron pair are ready to serve as door sentinels at their next abode. One of the door stops is marked...
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International Style building and garden elements for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique International Style building and garden elements 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 building and garden elements created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include building and garden elements, seating, decorative objects and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, animal skin and other materials. If you’re shopping for used International Style building and garden elements made in a specific country, there are Europe, Spain, and Brazil pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original building and garden elements, popular names associated with this style include Jover + Valls, Willy Guhl, Casa Bella, and Vivai del Sud. 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 building and garden elements differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $99 and tops out at $3,500 while the average work can sell for $237.