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Modern Sterling Silver

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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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

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Style: Modern
Stratus Set of 2 Pieces in Silver Bronze or Gold Bronze
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Set of 2 pieces in silver bronze or gold bronze Set of 2 pieces (table forks/fish, table knife or meat/fish knife) in silver bronze 35/42 microns It is possible to order all products separately or set of 4 piece Table spoon Table fork Table knife/meat knife...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Sterling Silver

Materials

Bronze

Oryx Set of 2 Pieces in Silver Bronze or Gold Bronze
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
ORYX set of 2 pieces in silver bronze or gold bronze. Set of 2 pieces (table forks/fish, table knife or meat/fish knife) in silver bronze 35/42 microns. It is possible to order...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Sterling Silver

Materials

Bronze

METROPOLIS Set of 2 pieces in Silver Bronze or Gold Bronze
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
METROPOLIS set of 2 pieces in silver bronze or gold bronze Set of 2 pieces (table forks/fish, table knife or meat/fish knife) in silver bronze 35/42 microns It is possible to order all products separately or set of 4 piece Table spoon Table fork Table knife/meat knife...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Sterling Silver

Materials

Bronze

Olivier Set of 2 Pieces in Silver Bronze or Gold Bronze
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Olivier set of 2 pieces in silver bronze or gold bronze Set of 2 pieces (table forks/fish, table knife or meat/fish knife) in silver bronze 35/42 microns It is possible to order all products separately or set of 4 piece Table spoon Table fork Table knife/meat knife...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Sterling Silver

Materials

Bronze

Jardins De Giverny Set of 2 Pieces in Silver Bronze or Gold Bronze
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
JARDINS DE GIVERNY Set of 2 pieces in silver bronze or gold bronze Set of 2 pieces (table forks/fish, table knife or meat/fish knife) in silver bronze 35/42 microns It is possible to order all products separately or set of 4 piece Table spoon Table fork Table knife/meat knife...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Sterling Silver

Materials

Bronze

Large and Stunning Sculptural Silver Vessel Graziella Laffi
Located in Atlanta, GA
A large sterling silver vessel in an asymmetrical hour-glass vase form with a larger upper conical body balanced on a much smaller base. Crafted by Graziella Laffi (1923-2009), Lima, Peru, Circa 1965. Marked on the rim: G. Laffi, PERU. The vessel was designed as a modern rendition of ancient pre-Columbina drinking vessel used in ceremony. The piece projects a regal and substantial aura due to its thick double wall construction with seamless craftmanship. The exterior surface was decorated with high relief roundels with concentric rings, arranged in geometrical pattern in two difference sizes. It is an impressive presence with its unique form and ornamentation that is modern and ancient at the same time. The vessel weights about 2012 grams. Graziella Laffi was born in 1923 in Florence, Italy to Gino Laffi, a silversmith and artist. Following her family tradition, Graziella enrolled in master classes after elementary school, focusing on design and painting. She next attended Escuela de Bellas Artes de Puerta Romana for three years, where Gino taught, and then to the Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze, where she concentrated in architecture until the start of World War II. In 1947, Graziella, then twenty-four, immigrated with her parents to Peru. Gino later created a silversmith studio and showroom called Fabrica Laffi on Avenue Mexico, where Graziella initially learned her Craft. The Pre-Columbian culture in her adopted country inspired Graziella to travel and collect, which ultimately influence her design in the silver pieces. Graziella learned the metalworking techniques of the ancient Peruvian civilizations and rejected the current technology. She mostly used hammering, rolling and creating joints as the ancients do. As an ambassador of Peruvian culture, her work promoted the indigenous Peruvian art and rekindled the interest in its ancient heritage throughout South America, the United States and Europe. She exhibited her growing collection of Peruvian artifacts...
Category

1960s Peruvian Vintage Modern Sterling Silver

Materials

Sterling Silver

English Silver Water Jug
Located in London, GB
An English sterling silver water jug of unusual design. This lovely water jug has a wood handle. Made in London, 1933 by Edward Barnard & Sons.
Category

1930s English Vintage Modern Sterling Silver

Materials

Silver

Vintage English Silver Table Bell Christopher Lawrence Warbler Bird On Bullrush
Located in Norwich, GB
A vintage sterling solid silver and silver-gilt table bell made in London in 1982 by Christopher Nigel Lawrence. Hallmarked. The handle formed with a warbler perched on a bull rush,...
Category

1980s British Vintage Modern Sterling Silver

Materials

Silver, Sterling Silver

An Israeli Mezuzah Case by Noam, Circa 2000. Judaica
Located in New York, NY
A Modern Israeli Mezuzah Case by Noam, Circa 2000. Mezuzah Case is modernly made in a post-modern style evident by its geometrically shaped designs. The case is shaped from a trian...
Category

Early 2000s Israeli Modern Sterling Silver

Materials

Silver

Dish Designed by Verner Panton for Georg Jensen, Denmark, 1990s
Located in Stockholm, SE
Silver dish designed by Verner Panton for Georg Jensen, Denmark. 1990’s. Sterling silver. Dimensions: H: 9,5 cm/ 3 3/4'' L: 56 cm/ 22'' W: 46 cm/ 18'' Among the giants of Danish...
Category

1990s Danish Modern Sterling Silver

Materials

Silver

Pair Sterling Silver Gerald Benney Entree Dishes Vegetable Serving Dishes 1967
Located in London, GB
A pair of magnificent Gerald Benney Entree Dishes with an elegant, understated rectangular design. The fitted lid can be inverted for use as a serving dish if desired. These Silver V...
Category

Mid-20th Century English Modern Sterling Silver

Materials

Sterling Silver

Silver Plate Sea Lion Wine or Champagne Cooler
Located in London, GB
This stylish modern wine cooler is a charming piece of luxury barware, carefully sculpted in the form of a sea lion and finished in silver. The sea lion is modelled in a sitting pose...
Category

20th Century English Modern Sterling Silver

Materials

Silver Plate

Modern Sterling Silver Olive Spoon
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This sterling silver Olive Spoon is used to serve olives without them drying out. An elegant touch to serving the savory fruit of the Mediterranean, it will elevate any Taking a note from historical dining when each guest would have an individual utensil for olives during an olive course, this update allows you to serve olives in any form. Fabricated in sterling silver and then finished by hand in his Brooklyn, NY studio, this piece is the creation of silversmith and jewelry designer Heath Wagoner...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Sterling Silver

Materials

Silver

.925 Modern Silver Espresso / Demitasse Spoon
Located in Brooklyn, NY
An espresso spoon for the modern coffee connoisseur - crafted with passion and precision by Heath Wagoner of HW. Studio in Brooklyn. Made with high-...
Category

2010s Modern Sterling Silver

Materials

Sterling Silver

A Silver Mezuzah Holder by Arie Ofir, Israel Circa 2000
Located in New York, NY
A Modern Silver Mezuzah Holder by Arie Ofir made in Israel Circa 2000. Mezuzah holder is made in a modern style by the Jewish artist Arie Ofir in Israel at the turn of the 21st cent...
Category

Early 2000s Israeli Modern Sterling Silver

Materials

Silver

Gabriel De Vecchi - Solid Silver Vase Italian Design Xxth
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
Solid silver vase contemporary Italian design dated and signed. Dimensions: height 24 cm - width 10 cm the base 14.5 cm X 9 cm Material: 1st grade silver...
Category

1990s Italian Modern Sterling Silver

Materials

Sterling Silver

Leonore Doskow Two Sterling Silver Knifes, Butter/Chesse and Serving, Modern
By Leonore Doskow
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Great design in these two knifes, both marked Leonore Doskow, and large also marked. Handmade sterling. This shape is a well known design by the artist. The butter/cheese is 6.75 and...
Category

20th Century Modern Sterling Silver

Materials

Sterling Silver

Villa D’este Set of 2 Pieces in Silver Bronze or Gold Bronze
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
VILLA D’ESTE Set of 2 pieces in Silver Bronze or Gold Bronze Set of 2 pieces (table forks/fish, table knife or meat/fish knife) in silver bronze 35/42 microns It is possible to order all products separately or set of 4 piece Table spoon Table fork Table knife/meat knife...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Sterling Silver

Materials

Bronze

UTOPIA Set of 2 pieces in Silver Bronze or Gold Bronze
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
UTOPIA set of 2 pieces in silver bronze or gold bronze Set of 2 pieces (table forks/fish, table knife or meat/fish knife) in silver bronze 35/42 microns It is possible to order all products separately or set of 4 piece Table spoon Table fork Table knife/meat knife...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Sterling Silver

Materials

Bronze

Set of 3 pieces in Silver Bronze or Gold Bronze
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
GWEN Set of 3 pieces in Silver Bronze or Gold Bronze by Richard Lauret Set of 3 pieces (Table spoon, table/fish forks, table knife or meat/fish knife) ...
Category

2010s French Modern Sterling Silver

Materials

Bronze

A Silver Havdalah Compendium Attributed to Peter Ehrenthal Circa 1970 s
Located in New York, NY
This extraordinary silver Havdalah compendium, attributed to the renowned 20th-century silversmith Peter Ehrenthal, is a masterwork of Jewish ceremonial art and craftsmanship. Richly...
Category

1970s North American Vintage Modern Sterling Silver

Materials

Silver

Modernist, Sterling Silver Rocker Blotter, Amethyst Crystal, Peter Casswell
Located in London, London
Hallmarked in Birmingham in 1972 by Peter Casswell, this handsome, Modernist design Sterling Silver Rocker Blotter, is plain in style, and features an u...
Category

1970s English Vintage Modern Sterling Silver

Materials

Amethyst, Sterling Silver

Modern sterling silver for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Modern sterling silver 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 sterling silver created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include serveware, ceramics, silver and glass, decorative objects, more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, silver and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Modern sterling silver made in a specific country, there are Europe, North America, and United Kingdom pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original sterling silver, popular names associated with this style include Tiffany Co., Arval Argenti Valenza, Graziella Laffi, and Missiaglia 1846. 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 sterling silver differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $95 and tops out at $57,336 while the average work can sell for $1,947.

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