Skip to main content

Modern Boxes

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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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 chaircrafted 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.

to
35
510
268
65
3
265
575
9
62
144
1
3
8
30
63
29
15
1,097
819
624
292
248
209
193
133
129
122
119
118
99
85
67
39
31
368
257
120
123
102
393
317
504
320
96
75
73
Height
to
Width
to
843
553
674
84
65
34
26
17
Style: Modern
Rectangular Orange Shagreen Box
Located in Queens, NY
Rectangular orange shagreen wood box with a black trim and a lift-off cover
Category

20th Century American Modern Boxes

Rectangular Brown Shagreen Box
Located in Queens, NY
Rectangular brown shagreen wood box with a black trim and a lift-off cover
Category

20th Century American Modern Boxes

Samples Vienna Chair
Located in Milan, Lombardy
Samples of wood for chairs. Included in the envelope - 1 piece beech wood natural finishing - 1 piece Cane, straw - 1 piece Beech wood stained Canaletto walnut - 1 piece Colé I...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Boxes

Materials

Wood

Smart Modern American Sterling Silver Desk Box by Tiffany
Located in New York, NY
Smart and Modern sterling silver box. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York. Rectangular with straight sides. Cover flat and hinged with slight overhang. Stylish Midcentury design. Box i...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Modern Boxes

Materials

Sterling Silver

Vintage Umbrella Stand in Briar and Gilded Finish - 1990s
Located in Manzano, IT
An elegant umbrella stand with a refined and timeless design, made in the 1990s. The frame features briarwood panels with warm, natural grain, framed by gold-colored aluminum profile...
Category

18th Century and Earlier Italian Antique Modern Boxes

Materials

Aluminum

Box shaped “spade” playing card suit black fired Art Deco style Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Box shaped like a “spade” playing card suit in 925/1000 silver with black fired enamel in Art Deco style, early 1900s. With internal hinge. Dimensions cm. 9.5 x 10.7 x 1.8. Weight gr...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Modern Boxes

Materials

Gold, Sterling Silver, Enamel

Decorative Ceramic Box Orange and Black Colors by Jean Grison
Located in Neuilly-en- sancerre, FR
Jean Grison Elegant and delicate decorative ceramic box by the French artist. Many ceramic colors effects. Signed under the base, circa 2000. Original good conditions. ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Boxes

Materials

Ceramic

Oscar Tusquets Contemporary Leather Starry Pyramid Limited Edition
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Starry Pyramid by Oscar Tusquets and Pere Ventura for Exhibition-event Homo Faber celebrada en Venezia septiembre 2018. Limited edition of 8 A pyramid shaped tabernacle. Leather covered faces...
Category

2010s Spanish Modern Boxes

Materials

Leather

Orange, Natural Bone Cheveron Box
Located in New York, NY
Cheveron patterned keepsake, letter box made from dyed orange and natural bone. Box has a wood lining.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Boxes

Materials

Bone, Palmwood

Yellow Quartz Brass Box
Located in Milan, IT
Bridging innovative craftsmanship with refined materials, this elegant box is a sculptural object of understated luxury. The square silhouette, made of polished gilt-plated brass, features a distinctive lid in vibrant yellow quartz...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Boxes

Materials

Other

21st Century Leather Eyeglasses Box Cover with Mirror Handcrafed in Italy
Located in Bagnatica, Lombardia
Combining tradition and modern design to provide an unmistakable flair of luxury and elegance. Our glasses box has a wood base and enough space to store up to eight pairs of glass...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Boxes

Materials

Leather, Wood

Hand Blown Murano Glass Box with 24 Karat Gold Flecks and Brass Fittings
Located in West Hollywood, CA
This Murano Glass Jewelry Box in Crystal with 24 Karat Gold Flecks embodies elegance and sophistication with its timeless design and luxurious m...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Boxes

Materials

Brass, Gold Leaf

Agresti Arco Small Armored Chest
Located in New York, NY
Polished white bird’s eye maple or polished walnut matte finish armored chest, 24-karat gold plated accessories. Round handle with biometric opening device and emergency key integrated. Inside pull out necklace...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Boxes

Materials

Gold Plate

Orange and Black Decorative Ceramic Box by Jean Grison French Art
Located in Neuilly-en- sancerre, FR
Jean Grison Original and decorative ceramic box Signed under the base, realized circa 2000 Elegant orange and black ceramic colors effects Original good condition Meas...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Boxes

Materials

Ceramic

Oak Jewelry Box by Konrad Olejnik
Located in Roeselare, BE
This is an amazing jewelry box. Perfect for storing keys or watches. The box is handmade. Turned from old oak wood. The bright, natural oak color will make you enchanted! Dimensions:...
Category

2010s Belgian Modern Boxes

Materials

Oak

American Midcentury Modern Sterling Silver Box
By Becht Hartl
Located in New York, NY
Midcentury Modern sterling silver box. Made by Becht & Hartl, Inc. in Newark. Rectangular with straight sides and beaded rim. Cover hinged and gently curved. Box interior cedar lined...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Modern Boxes

Materials

Sterling Silver

Arco Metal Safe in White
Located in New York, NY
Metal safe varnished only in front for recessed placement in existing furniture. Round handle with biometric opening device and emergency key integrated. Se...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Boxes

Materials

Metal

Waste Bin in Black Shagreen Rhomboid by R&Y Augousti
Located in West Hollywood, CA
The Black Shagreen Rhomboid Waste Bin by R&Y Augousti is a masterpiece of functional design, combining luxurious materials and artisanal craftsmanship. Its exterior is adorned with m...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Modern Boxes

Materials

Wood, Shagreen Stingray

Giant Hand Blown Murano Glass Box in Crystal with 24-Karat Gold Flecks
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Impressive in its scale alone, this exquisite Murano glass box is a masterpiece of luxurious craftsmanship, featuring a pristine crystal body adorned with shimmering 24-karat gold fl...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Boxes

Materials

Brass, Gold Leaf

Van Cleef Arpel Velvet Jewellery Box for a Ring, 1990.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Van Cleef & Arpel velvet jewellery box for a ring, 1990. Velvet jewellery box for a ring by Van Cleef & Arpel, presented in its cardboard box, circa 1990. H: 8.5 cm, W: 10 cm, D: 10...
Category

20th Century French Modern Boxes

Materials

Velvet, Wood, Paper

Two Garouste and Bonetti Bronze Boxes for the Collection of Herbert Blome 2001
Located in Milan, IT
Two Garouste and Bonetti Bronze Boxes for the Collection of Herbert Blome 2001 Both are fully signed
Category

Early 2000s French Modern Boxes

Materials

Bronze

Garrard English Modern Sterling Silver Box, 1947
Located in New York, NY
George VI sterling silver box. Made by Garrard & Co. in London in 1947. Rectangular with straight sides. Cover flat, tabbed, and hinged. Sides have reeded wrapround bands. Cover top ...
Category

1940s British Vintage Modern Boxes

Materials

Sterling Silver

Modernist Bookmatched Walnut Decorative Box with Smoky Quartz Embellishment
Located in New York, NY
This sophisticated modernist box was realized in the United States during the 21st century. It features a cubic body in bookmatched walnut with an embellishment (that doubles as a ha...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Boxes

Materials

Quartz

Large Hand Blown Murano Glass Box in Onyx Black W/24 Karat Gold Flecks
Located in New York, NY
This stunning modernist decorative box was realized in Murano, Italy- the island off the coast of Venice renowned for centuries for its superlative glass production. It features a vo...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Boxes

Materials

Murano Glass

Heart table box Yellow enamel Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Heart-shaped table box in 925/1000 sterling silver with translucent enamel fired on guilloche above and below. Contemporary modern style. Dimensions cm. 9 x 9.5 cm high. 3.Weight gr....
Category

1990s Italian Modern Boxes

Materials

Gold, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel

Modernist Hand-Blown Murano Gray Bullicante Detailed Brass Fitted Glass Box
Located in New York, NY
This sleek and beautifully formed Modernist Hand-Blown Murano Glass Box W/Grey Bullicante Detailing and Brass Fittings originates from Italy during the 21st Century. This box is rect...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Boxes

Materials

Brass

French Modern Stitched Leather Rectangular Table Box
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
French Modern Stitched leather Rectangular table box France, later 20th century French modern leather table box, reminiscent of Jacques Adnet works. This stately rectangular box ...
Category

Late 20th Century French Modern Boxes

Materials

Leather, Fabric

Birdie Miller Raised Artisan Jewelry Box
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Birdie Miller Raised Jewelry Box. Looks equally good off of it's raised platform. Made of several woods with rosewood handles. Signed to bottom platform.
Category

1990s American Modern Boxes

Materials

Mahogany, Maple, Rosewood, Walnut

Black, Beige, Brass Striped Box
Located in New York, NY
Modernist keepsake, document box clad in Black, White resin stripes accented with brass inlay stripes.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Modern Boxes

Materials

Brass

Stella Box Irish Green Emperador By Greg Natale
Located in Sydney,, NSW
With a celestial silhouette, the Stella Box evokes the textures and terrains of lunar landscapes in contour and materiality. Carved from marble with a sculptural handle, the Stella B...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Boxes

Materials

Marble

21st Century Coffee Round Paper Bin with Lid Waste Bin Handmade in Italy
Located in Bagnatica, Lombardia
Nothing like a sleek waste bin in calfskin leather to keep your bathroom looking chic. The cylindrical body is entirely covered by hand with fine calfskin leather in a woven pattern....
Category

2010s Italian Modern Boxes

Materials

Leather

Marquetry Inlayed Covered Moderne Box
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Gorgeous marquetry French decorative box with lid. In the French moderne style. Add some "chic" to your design project. Beautiful detail work inside and out.
Category

1960s French Vintage Modern Boxes

Materials

Wood

Black Walnut Sewing Box by Frank Buschmann Handcrafted with Traditional Joinery
Located in Carnota, A Coruña, Galicia
Sewing Box by Frank Buschmann – A Fusion of Craftsmanship and Innovation This handcrafted sewing box transcends its traditional function as a mere storage solution, offering a profo...
Category

2010s Spanish Modern Boxes

Materials

Hardwood

21st Century Atena Leather Closet Box Handcrafted in Italy
Located in Bagnatica, Lombardia
Pure design with a special magnetic closing. The family of three Atena boxes made with eco-friendly and washable regenerated leather is perfect for a modern closet...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Boxes

Materials

Leather

Modernist Translucent Glass Stylized Egyptian Eye of Horus Dish by Rosenthal
Located in New York, NY
This stunning modernist dish was realized by the esteemed German maker Rosenthal. It offers a sinuously curved ellipsoid form with raised sides and a central circular depression. The form suggests the ancient Egyptian symbol of the Eye of Horus...
Category

20th Century German Modern Boxes

Materials

Glass

Hand-Blown Murano Box in Aqua Blue with Silver Flecks and Chrome Fittings
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Hand-Blown Murano Box in Aqua Blue with Silver Flecks and Chrome Fittings captures the essence of Venetian artistry through an exquisite fusion of form, material, and luminosity. Thi...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Boxes

Materials

Chrome, Silver Leaf

Set/2 Pineapple Ceramic Pots, White, Handmade in Portugal by Lusitanus Home
Located in Lisboa, PT
Pineapple Decorative Pots, Lusitanus Home Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Lusitanus Home. This beautiful set includes two wa...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Boxes

Materials

Gold

Natural, Grey Oblong Inlay Box
Located in New York, NY
Handmade natural bone box inlaid with grey bone oblong segments, lined in wood. A great storage solution for your desk or coffee table.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Boxes

Materials

Bone

Vintage Red Marble Stone Jewelry or Trinket Box
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Elegant rectangular vintage box is meticulously handcrafted from red marble stone, featuring a stunning mix of deep coral, russet, and sienna tones veined with natural dark lines. Th...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Modern Boxes

Materials

Stone

A Box by J. Muckey
By J. Muckey
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
A rare walnut box by J.Muckey-a craftsman active in the 1970's.
Category

1970s American Vintage Modern Boxes

Materials

Walnut

Cigarette Case Fired Enamel on a Fine Hand-Engraved Mountain Landscape Sterling
Located in Firenze, FI
Rounded rectangular snuffbox in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with beautiful fire enamelled miniature hand painted by the painter Simone Dainelli inspired by the paintings of Boris Vallejo, in fantastic contemporary style, with hand-engraved frame. Designed by Franco Salimbeni in 1967 and manufactured in Florence in numerous specimens with various subjects and different colors, in the headquarters of the Salimbeni company with completely manual execution by artisan artists with thick slab and large reinforcements suitable for withstanding numerous high-fire enamelled firings at about 800° C. Miniature is a very ancient technique which consists of painting works in small proportions. It was born for the decoration of the first letter of the paragraph of the books. Over the years, however, this technique is refined and enriched, then moving on to precious personal items. hand painted miniatures can be done with multiple different techniques. The most important that we use on our articles are of three kinds: 1) Fire enamel. 2) Water tempera on an ivory plate. 3) Painted on mother-of-pearl. Fire enameled miniatures: On a first layer of enamel generally white or very clear or even transparent suitably liquefied at a temperature of about 750 ° C, the chosen subject is painted using miniature colors which are as many colored crystals, ground and reduced to a very fine, almost impalpable powder washed and purified in distilled water with the addition of small quantities of deoxidizing acids which, diluted with essential oils (usually essential oil of solder), can be mixed to form a palette of colors. With very fine sable hair brushes you draw the subject starting from the perimeter and then gradually adding various layers of color. It is necessary to carry out various firings very often so that the colors harden and are not absorbed by the underlying glaze as, during the subsequent firings at 750 ° C, during liquefaction, it would spread irremediably. Hence the need to form the painting a little at a time, cooking it numerous times. Therefore it is necessary to proceed with numerous retouching, often overlapping different colors that only the painter's experience knows. A beautiful miniature needs from 20 to over 50 firings and is finished when the painter deems he does not have to further intervene. Some colors must have darker tones than others because then, by superimposing the transparent enamel placed at the end of the miniature, they fade. This transparent layer, called “fondant” in jargon, must be smoothed and polished like all other translucent enamel colors. The miniatures with water tempera colors are painted on real ivory...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Modern Boxes

Materials

Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel

Hand Blown Murano Glass Box in Onyx Black with Murine Detailing
Located in New York, NY
This sophisticated modernist decorative box was realized in Murano, Italy- the island off the coast of Venice renowned for centuries for its superlative glass production. It features...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Boxes

Materials

Murano Glass

Vintage Italian Silver Plate and Burgundy Crocodile Buckle Hinged Box
Located in North Miami, FL
This stunning and gorgeous Italian vintage hinged silver plate buckle box has a burgundy crocodile leather buckle part. It was professionally polished and t...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Modern Boxes

Materials

Silver Plate

Round Beige Tessellated Box
Located in Queens, NY
Round patterned bone tessellated box with lift-off cover.
Category

20th Century American Modern Boxes

Materials

Bone

Decorative Faux Bone Intarsia Box
Located in Queens, NY
Contemporary faux bone woven design rectangular lidded box
Category

20th Century American Modern Boxes

Materials

Bone

2000s Mosaic Marquetry Exotic Wood Box signed
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, a mosaic marquetry mixed wood decorative box. Inlaid marquetry with hardwoods. Handmade piece symmetrical center star design. Signed J G White 04 Dimensions...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Boxes

Materials

Wood

Contemporary Decorative Box Handmade Crystal and Boise De Rose by Ghirò Studio
Located in Pieve Emanuele, Milano
2023 Collection of Decorative boxes by Ghiró Studio. The type of craftsmanship and the materials used for the production make this box a unique object, in fact it is impossible to...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Boxes

Materials

Glass, Rosewood

Asprey Sterling Silver and Rose Gold Compact, circa 1960
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
An elegant compact poudrier by Asprey in sterling silver and rose gold. Exquisite craftsmanship, finished on all sides. Weighs 125 grams.
Category

1960s British Vintage Modern Boxes

Materials

Sterling Silver

Ghidini 1961 Knotted Cherry Small Box in Copper-Plated Brass by Nika Zupanc
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
Fiasco. Guilt. Fear of love. A place to hide all the things we secretly desire yet are too scared to utter. The luscious things the perfect lover knows are never to be told. She drea...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Boxes

Materials

Copper

Hand Blown Murano Glass Box in Grey with 24 Karat Gold Flecks and Brass Fittings
Located in West Hollywood, CA
This is a sophisticated and elegant piece that combines modern design elements with the timeless allure of Murano glass. Handcrafted on the historic Venetian island of Murano, this b...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Boxes

Materials

Brass, Gold Leaf

Agresti Rollo Tube Travel Case for 5 Watches
Located in New York, NY
Travel roll for 4 watches. Capacity for up to 4 watches on the adjustable roll. Available in three finishing options, see information below for details. Brown: Brown leather and mat...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Boxes

Materials

Leather, Wood

American flag in glazed presentation cabinet
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Here we present a traditionally folded American flag in glazed cabinet. Complete with certificate to say that the flag was flown over the capital and presented by the architect of t...
Category

Late 20th Century American Modern Boxes

Materials

Fabric, Glass, Teak

Ceramic Spider Jewelry Box , hand made in South Africa
Located in North Miami, FL
Pomegranate Monkey Jewelry Box The Pomegranate Monkey Jewelry Box is a stunning piece of ceramic decorative art created in South Africa by the talented artisans at Love Art Ceramic. ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary South African Modern Boxes

Materials

Ceramic

French Sculptured Gilt Bronze Box by Line Vautrin
Located in Atlanta, GA
A gilt bronze box or podier by French Jeweler Line Vautrin, in the pattern of "Moise ou la traversee du desert" coric 1940s-1950s. A rare mode in the box, the top surface of the cover illustrates the biblical story of Moses crossing the desert out of Egypt...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Modern Boxes

Materials

Bronze

Black, Grey Striped Bone Keepsake Box
Located in New York, NY
Hand made, large scale document/keepsake box clad in hand dyed black, grey bone tiles in a striped pattern. Hand polished, some with hand etching detail.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Modern Boxes

Materials

Bone, Wood

Vintage Umbrella Stand in Briar and Gilded Finish - 1990s
Located in Manzano, IT
Vintage Umbrella Stand in Burl and Gilded Finish - 1990s An elegant umbrella stand with a refined and timeless design, made in the 1990s. The frame features briarwood panels with wa...
Category

18th Century and Earlier European Antique Modern Boxes

Materials

Aluminum

Agresti Bella Vita Humidor Armoire in Polished Ebony
Located in New York, NY
Ebony polished mahjong with ruthenium brass parts.   
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Boxes

Materials

Leather, Ebony

Chic Modernist Lizard Skin Wrapped Box in Natural Tones
Located in New York, NY
A modernist lizard skin match-wrapped box with removable lid. Its interior is lined in a dark brown ultra-suede with lid supports by means of wooden plinths on two opposing sides of ...
Category

Early 2000s Philippine Modern Boxes

Materials

Animal Skin

Hand Blown Murano Glass Box in Onyx Black with 24 Karat Gold Flecks
Located in West Hollywood, CA
This elegant hand-blown glass box is a striking example of the artistry and sophistication of Murano glassmaking. Handcrafted on the historic Venetian Island of Murano, this oversize...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Boxes

Materials

Brass, Gold Leaf

Ceramic Monkey Jewelry Box , hand made in South Africa
Located in North Miami, FL
This ceramic monkey box is a unique and whimsical creation handcrafted in South Africa. Its clever design features a removable lid that forms half of the mo...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary South African Modern Boxes

Materials

Ceramic

Modern boxes for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Modern boxes 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 boxes created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, case pieces and storage cabinets, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, wood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Modern boxes 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 boxes, popular names associated with this style include Agresti, AIREDELSUR, Lusitanus Home, and Greenapple. 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 boxes differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $27 and tops out at $299,000 while the average work can sell for $1,145.