Modern Books
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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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 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.
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Style: Modern
Christies Catalogue Important Latin American Paintings
By Christie
s
Located in Mexico City, MX
Auction catalog with outstanding works of Important Latin American Paintings, Drawings, Sculpture and Prints. Ideal for collectors, galleries and art lovers.
Illustrated editions, re...
Category
1990s American Modern Books
Materials
Paper
Christies Catalogue The Latin American Sale
By Christie
s
Located in Mexico City, MX
Auction catalog with outstanding works of The Latin American Sale New York. Ideal for collectors, galleries and art lovers.
Illustrated editions, reference piece for collectors.
Category
1990s American Modern Books
Materials
Paper
Christies Catalogue Important Latin American Paintings
By Christie
s
Located in Mexico City, MX
Auction catalog with outstanding works of Important Latin American Paintings, Drawings and Sculpture (Part I). Ideal for collectors, galleries and art lovers.
Illustrated editions, r...
Category
1990s American Modern Books
Materials
Paper
Christies Catalogue Important Latin American Paintings
By Christie
s
Located in Mexico City, MX
Auction catalog with outstanding works of Important Latin American Paintings, Drawings, Sculpture and Prints. Ideal for collectors, galleries and art lovers.
Illustrated editions, re...
Category
1990s American Modern Books
Materials
Paper
Christies Catalogue Important Latin American Paintings
By Christie
s
Located in Mexico City, MX
Auction catalog with outstanding works of Important Latin American Paintings, Drawings and Sculpture(Part II) New York. Latin American Art and Haitian Paintings. Ideal for collectors...
Category
1990s American Modern Books
Materials
Paper
Christies Catalogue Important Latin American Paintings
By Christie
s
Located in Mexico City, MX
Auction catalog with outstanding works of Important Latin American Paintings, Drawings and Sculpture (Part II). Ideal for collectors, galleries and art lovers.
Illustrated editions, ...
Category
1990s American Modern Books
Materials
Paper
Niki de Saint Phalle, Shadow and Light, French/English Book by Numa Hambursin
Located in Atlanta, GA
Niki de Saint Phalle, L'ombre et la Lumiere (Shadow and Light) is a French-English book by Numa Hambursin, published in 2019.
This bilingual catalogue presents the works brought toge...
Category
2010s French Modern Books
Materials
Paper
Christies Catalogue Important Latin American Paintings
By Christie
s
Located in Mexico City, MX
Auction catalog with outstanding works of Important Latin American Paintings, Drawings and Sculpture. Ideal for collectors, galleries and art lovers.
Illustrated editions, reference ...
Category
1990s American Modern Books
Materials
Paper
Christies Catalogue Important Latin American Paintings
By Christie
s
Located in Mexico City, MX
Auction catalog with outstanding works of Important Latin American Paintings, Drawings and Sculpture (Part II). Ideal for collectors, galleries and art lovers.
Illustrated editions, ...
Category
1990s American Modern Books
Materials
Paper
Christies Catalogue Important Latin American Paintings
By Christie
s
Located in Mexico City, MX
Auction catalog with outstanding works of Important Latin American Paintings, Drawings and Sculpture (Part I and II). Pre-Columbian and Colonial Works of Art. Ideal for collectors, g...
Category
1990s American Modern Books
Materials
Paper
1994 Romero Britto Book, Signed, Numbered 684/750
Located in Miami, FL
Romero Britto Book, Signed, Numbered 684/750, Dedicated
Offered for sale is a Romero Britto book that is signed by the artist and numbered 684/750. The book is in good condition.
Category
Late 20th Century American Modern Books
Materials
Paper, Plastic
The United States 1898 to 1933, French Book by Y.H. Nouailhat, 1973
Located in Atlanta, GA
Les Etats-Unis 1898 - 1933 L'Avenement d'une Puissance Mondiale (The United States 1898 - 1933 - The Advent of a World Power), by Y. H. Nouailhat, 1973.
The United States, which had ...
Category
1970s French Vintage Modern Books
Materials
Paper
Ryan McGinley Book (Signed)
By Larry Clark
Located in New York, NY
First edition (stated), first printing of Ryan McGinley’s first published collection of photographs, drawn from his series “The Kids are Alright” and published by Index Books in 2002...
Category
Early 2000s American Modern Books
Materials
Paper
Pablo Neruda 20 poemas de amor y una cancion desesperada
Located in Henley-on Thames, Oxfordshire
Pablo Neruda’s “20 love poems and a desperate song” Santiago, Chile: Editorial Lord Cochrane, 1970. Hardcover. Very Good. Limited numbered edition. number 2218 from a total edition of 5,120 copies. Mario Toral (1934) is a Chilean painter and photographer, winner of a medal of honour from the Pablo Neruda Foundation in 2007 for his contributions to Chilean art...
Category
20th Century Chilean Modern Books
Materials
Paper
Cesar, Graphic Experiences, French Book by Frederic Ballester and Jean Ferrero
By Cesar
Located in Atlanta, GA
César, Experiences Graphiques (César, Graphic Experiences) is a French book by Fredreic Ballester and Jean Ferrero, published in 2015, from the Jean Ferrero Inedits Collection.
This ...
Category
2010s French Modern Books
Materials
Paper
The Dada Painters and Poets
Located in New York, NY
First edition of The Documents of Modern Art, Vol. 8, edited and with an introduction by Robert Motherwell. Cover and typography by Paul Rand. Published in 1951 by Wittenborn, Schultz Inc. With texts by Richard Huelsenbeck, Hugo Ball, Kurt Schwitters, Jacques Vache, Tristan Tzara, Georges Ribemont-Dessaignes, George Hugnet, Andre Breton, Jean Arp, Paul Eluard, Louis Aragon, Gabrielle Buffet-Picabia, and Hans Richter. Illustrations by (or after) Jean Arp, Marcel Duchamp, Max Ernst, Raoul Hausmann, Paul Klee, Marcel Janco, Man Ray, Francis Picabia, Tristan Tzara, Kurt Schwitters, Kasimir Malevich, Pablo Picasso, Sophie Tauber...
Category
1950s American Vintage Modern Books
Materials
Paper
Great America, French Book by PML Editions, 1988
Located in Atlanta, GA
Geniale Amerique (Great America), French book by Editions PML, 1988.
America is a rich and immense land of incredible beauty, sometimes still primitive; a complex continent in comple...
Category
1980s French Vintage Modern Books
Materials
Paper
Arman 1928-2005, French Book by Frederic Ballester and Jean Ferrero, 2006
By Arman
Located in Atlanta, GA
Arman, 1928-2005 is a French book by Frederic Ballester and Jean Ferrero, published in 2006, as part of the Jean Ferrero Inédits Collection.
This book presents the sculptures, painti...
Category
Early 2000s French Modern Books
Materials
Paper
The Art of Richard Diebenkorn at the Whitney Museum of American Art
Located in Bradenton, FL
The Art of Richard Diebenkorn at the Whitney Museum of American Art. Softcover book, published in conjunction with the exhibition at the Whitney Museum of American Art, October 9, 19...
Category
1990s American Modern Books
Materials
Paper
History of The American People, French Book in 2 Volumes by André Maurois, 1955
Located in Atlanta, GA
Histoire du Peuple Americain (History of the American People). French book in two volumes by André Maurois from the French Academy, 1955/56.
Volume I: Europe discovers America - At t...
Category
1950s French Vintage Modern Books
Materials
Parchment Paper
Cesar, The Bronze Work, French Book by Frederic Ballester 2002 Cannes Exhibition
By Cesar
Located in Atlanta, GA
César, L'Oeuvre de Bronze, du Silence à l'Eternité (Cesar, The Bronze Work - from the Silence to Eternity) is a French book by Frederic Ballester, published in 2002.
This book is the...
Category
Early 2000s French Modern Books
Materials
Paper
The Industrial Heritage of The United States, French Book by Louis Bergeron 2000
Located in Atlanta, GA
Le Patrimoine Industriel des Etats-Unis (The Industrial Heritage of the United States), French book by Louis Bergeron and Maria Teresa Maiullari-Pontois, 2000.
Since the creation of ...
Category
Early 2000s French Modern Books
Materials
Paper
New York, Humanity by Cubic Foot, French Book by David Lachterman, 1966
Located in Atlanta, GA
New York, L'Humanite au Metre Cube (New York, Humanity by Cubic Foot), French book by David Lachterman, 1966.
About this book, the author said: "Anything that can be written about Ne...
Category
1960s French Vintage Modern Books
Materials
Paper
Eadweard Muybridge and the San Francisco Photo Panorama 1850-1880, French Book
Located in Atlanta, GA
Eadweard Muybridge et le Panorama Photographique de San Francisco, 1850-1880 (Eadweard Muybridge and the Photographic Panorama of San Francisco), Limited Edition, French book by Cent...
Category
1990s Canadian Modern Books
Materials
Paper
Telephone from Yesterday and Today, French Book by Claude Perardel, 1992
Located in Atlanta, GA
Telephone d'hier et d'aujourd'hui (Telephone from Yesterday and Today), French book by Christian Altier et Claude Perardel, 1992.
An illustrated retrospective of telephones in France...
Category
1990s French Modern Books
Materials
Paper
Yves Thomas, Waves and Storms, French Artist-Painter Book, by Yves Thomas, 2011
Located in Atlanta, GA
Yves Thomas, Vagues et Tempetes (Waves and Storms), French-English book by Yves Thomas, 2011.
Yves Thomas is a recognized French artist born in Normandy, France, in 1937.
The most b...
Category
2010s French Modern Books
Materials
Paper
Royal Diana and Charles
s Wedding Philatelic Panels Collection 125 Stamps
Located in Plainview, NY
The Royal Wedding Philatelic Panels Collection was published by the Postal Commemorative Society in 1983. The album collection of historic Royal Wedding Commemorative Stamps also features full color photographs of the wedding as well as photos of official visitation with stamps of many countries: Bahamas, Antigua & Barbuda, British Antarctic Territory, Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Tuvalu, Barbados, Belize, Mauritius, Swaziland, Falkland Islands, Nevis, Tristan da Cunha, Turks & Caicos Islands, St. Helena, Pitcairn Islands, Maldives, Ascension, Sierra Leone, Kiribati, Falkland Islands Dependencies, Montserrat, St. Vincent, Dominica, Fiji, Great Britain, St. Kitts, British Virgin Islands...
Category
Late 20th Century Modern Books
Materials
Paper
$440 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Life Our Century in Pictures Large Hardcover
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Life: Our Century In Pictures Hardcover Large Heavy Book.
More than five hundred images, selected from the photographic archives of "Life" and other collections, portray the people a...
Category
20th Century American Modern Books
Materials
Paper
Edith Wharton The House of Mirth, First Edition, 1905
Located in CA, CA
Edith Wharton. The House of Mirth. Published by Charles Scribner's Sons, New York, 1905. First edition, first issue
This is the book that launched Whart...
Category
Early 20th Century American Modern Books
Materials
Paper
Chanel High Jewelry Thames
Hudson Sealed Hardcover Coffee Table Book
Located in Aramits, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Hardcover volume Chanel High Jewelry, English-language edition, published by Thames & Hudson. The book documents CHANEL Fine Jewellery from the inaugural “Bijoux de Diamants” collect...
Category
2010s British Modern Books
Materials
Paper
Pablo Picasso: A Retrospective, MoMA 50th Anniversary Exhibition, 1980
Located in New York, NY
In celebration of its 50th Anniversary, The Museum of Modern Art presented the most comprehensive exhibition of Picasso's art ever shown in the United States. PABLO PICASSO: A RETROS...
Category
20th Century American Modern Books
Materials
Paper
The Pleasure of His Company by Paul B. Fay Jr. Book
Located in Stamford, CT
The Pleasure of His Company by Paul B. Fay Jr. 1st edition hardcover printed in 1963. Protective Mylar dust jacket has been added.
Category
1960s American Vintage Modern Books
Materials
Paper
Surrealism
Modernism From the Collection of Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art
Located in Bradenton, FL
Surrealism & Modernism from the Collection of the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art. Hardcover book with dustjacket, published in 2005 by Yale University Press. Printed in Singapore, ...
Category
Early 2000s Singaporean Modern Books
Materials
Paper
Christies Catalogue Important paintings by Fernando Botero
By Christie
s
Located in Mexico City, MX
Auction catalog with outstanding works of Latin American Art. Ideal for collectors, galleries and art lovers.
Illustrated editions, reference piece for collectors.
Category
1990s American Modern Books
Materials
Paper
Tom Wesselmann: New Metal Paintings (Signed)
Located in New York, NY
Catalog accompanying an exhibition of Tom Wesselmann paintings held at New York’s Sidney Janis Gallery from October 15th to November 14th, 1992. Horizontal 8vo (10.25” x 8.25”), prin...
Category
1990s American Modern Books
Materials
Paper
Scavullo Women by Francesco Scavullo, Pub, 1982
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Scavullo Women published in 1982 by Harper & Row, New York. Written by Francesco Scavullo, with 46 of his portraits and candid interviews. The black cloth bound book with its origina...
Category
1980s American Vintage Modern Books
Materials
Paper
François-Xavier Lalanne Catalogue Drawings Sculpture
Located in San Diego, CA
François-Xavier Lalanne Catalogue of drawings and sculpture. 36 pages. Limited edition from 1991.
Category
1990s French Modern Books
Materials
Paper
The Lure of the Exotic: Gauguin in New York Collections, The Met, 2002
By Paul Gauguin
Located in New York, NY
Gauguin book by The Metropolitan Museum of art published in conjunction with the 2002 exhibition "Gauguin in New York Collections: The Lure of the Exotic". Softcover. Text in English...
Category
20th Century American Modern Books
Materials
Paper
7 Houses, John Hejduk, First Edition, 1980
Located in Philadelphia, PA
7 Houses - John Hejduk - first edition - 1980.
"a must for any design library".
Book in generally good condition - cover is soiled.
"New York: Institute for Architecture and Urban Studies, 1980. First edition. Softcover. Exhibition catalog for a show that ran January 22 through February 16, 1980. Introduction by Peter Eisenman...
Category
1980s American Vintage Modern Books
Materials
Paper
Artforms: An Introduction to the Visual Arts Duane and Sarah Preble Book
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Artforms: An Introduction to the Visual Arts Duane and Sarah Preble Softcover Book.
5th Edition 1994.
Publisher: Harpercollins College Div, 1994.
For Art Appreciation, Art for Non...
Category
1990s American Modern Books
Materials
Paper
Christies Catalogue Important Latin American Paintings, Drawings and Sculpture
By Christie
s
Located in Mexico City, MX
Auction catalog with outstanding works of Latin American Paintings, Drawings and Sculpture. Ideal for collectors, galleries and art lovers.
Illustrated editions, reference piece for ...
Category
1990s American Modern Books
Materials
Paper
The Modulor, Le Corbusier, third printing, 1954
By Le Corbusier
Located in Philadelphia, PA
The Modulor - Le Corbusier - third printing - 1954
In overall good condition.
A classic for all designers and lovers of design.
Category
1950s Vintage Modern Books
Materials
Paper
Dior - Françoise Giroud - 1st U. S. edition, New York, 1987
Located in CA, CA
Published by Rizzoli, 1st U. S. edition, New York, 1987. Hardback with English text, translated from the original French text.
Monsieur Dior’s ‘New Look...
Category
1980s American Vintage Modern Books
Materials
Paper
Stranger Music by Leonard Cohen, First Edition, 1993, Signed "Paris Again" Print
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Cohen, Leonard. Stranger Music: Selected Poems and Songs. Toronto: McClellan & Stewart, Inc., 1993. First edition. Rebound with full leather boards, gilt tooling, gilt titles, and ra...
Category
1990s Canadian Modern Books
Materials
Leather, Paper
Latin American Colonial Paintings, Silver and Decorative Art
By Christie
s
Located in Mexico City, MX
Auction catalog with outstanding works of Latin American Art. Ideal for collectors, galleries and art lovers.
Illustrated editions, reference piece for collectors.
Category
1990s American Modern Books
Materials
Paper
VALENTINO - André Leon Talley - 1st edition, Milan, 1982
Located in CA, CA
Published by Franco Maria Ricci Editore, 1st edition, Milan, 1982. Hardback with Italian and English text.
This very scarce catalogue is numbered 415 among only 600 copies published in 1982. This beautiful publication is made possible by the concerted effort of Franco Maria Ricci’s directive guidance and Valentino archives’ general offering of rare couture sketches...
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Modern Books
Materials
Paper
The Hermès Scarf: Mystery
Mystique - Nadine Coleno - 1st UK Edition, T&H, 2009
Located in CA, CA
First UK Edition, published by Thames & Hudson, London, 2009. Text in English.
Since the first scarf made its debut in 1937, the House of Hermès has produced more than two thousan...
Category
Early 2000s British Modern Books
Materials
Paper
The Right Stuff signed by Tom Wolfe, First Edition in Original Dust Jacket, 1979
By Tom Wolfe
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Wolfe, Tom. The Right Stuff. New York: Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 1979. First Edition. Signed by the author at the half-title. Octavo. In original cloth boards, titled in red, blue, and...
Category
1970s American Vintage Modern Books
Materials
Silver Leaf
$1,200 Sale Price
31% Off
Christies Catalogue Tiffany Innovation in American Design
By Christie
s
Located in Mexico City, MX
Auction catalog with outstanding works of Tiffany Innovation in American Design. Ideal for collectors, galleries and art lovers.
Illustrated editions, reference piece for collectors.
Category
1990s American Modern Books
Materials
Paper
Materials Matter Set by Theodora Alfredsdottir
Located in Geneve, CH
Materials matter set by Theodora Alfredsdottir
Unique set
Materials: Granite
Dimensions: 11 x 6 x 18 cm
Theodora Alfredsdottir is a product design studio based in London.
The...
Category
2010s English Modern Books
Materials
Granite, Marble
Christies Catalogue Old Master Pictures
By Christie
s
Located in Mexico City, MX
Auction catalog with Old Master Pictures. Ideal for collectors, galleries and art lovers.
Illustrated editions, reference piece for collectors.
Category
1990s British Modern Books
Materials
Paper
Catalogue Indian, Himalayan, Southeast Asian and Indonesian Art
By Christie
s
Located in Mexico City, MX
Auction catalog with outstanding works of Latin American Art. Ideal for collectors, galleries and art lovers.
Illustrated editions, reference piece for collectors.
Category
1990s Dutch Modern Books
Materials
Paper
World of Cyberpunk 2077 HC De Luxe Collection Comic Book Published Jul 2020 by D
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
World of Cyberpunk 2077 HC (2020 Dark Horse) comic book
Includes Book and CD
1st printing. 1st Edition
Published Jul 2020 by Dark Horse
By Marcin Batylda.
The deluxe edition fea...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Books
Materials
Paper
Catteau, Claire de Pauw Donation, French Book, Exhibition 2001
Located in Atlanta, GA
Catteau Claire de Pauw, Marcl Stal Donation. This special French book was published in conjunction with the 2001 exhibition at the King Baudouin Foundation in Belgium.
The Catteau co...
Category
Early 2000s French Modern Books
Materials
Paper
100 Greatest Trips by Travel and Leisure Hardcover Book
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
100 Greatest Trips by Travel and Leisure Hardcover 2011.
100 Greatest Trips, an invaluable and inspiring compendium of the year's most distinctive destinations. Whether your dream is to escape to a thatched-roof safari camp...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Books
Materials
Paper
MORPHOSIS VOL. 3: BUILDINGS AND PROJECTS, 1993-1997 by Thom Mayne, Design
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
MORPHOSIS VOL. 3: BUILDINGS AND PROJECTS, 1993-1997 Paperback by Thom Mayne, author and Designer, Introduction by Anthony Vidler.
One of the few truly visio...
Category
20th Century North American Modern Books
Materials
Paper
Catalogue Christies Latin American Sale
Located in Mexico City, MX
Auction catalog with outstanding works of Latin American Art. Ideal for collectors, galleries and art lovers.
Illustrated editions, reference piece for collectors.
Category
2010s American Modern Books
Materials
Paper
Buckaroo - Kurt Markus - 1st Edition, Little, Brown
Company, 1987
Located in CA, CA
First Edition, published by Little, Brown
Company, Boston, 1987
The photographs collected in 'Buckaroo: Images From the Sagebrush Basin' show why Kurt Markus's photographs of cowboys...
Category
1980s American Vintage Modern Books
Materials
Paper
Christies Catalogue Latin American Art
By Christie
s
Located in Mexico City, MX
Auction catalog with outstanding works of Latin American Art. Ideal for collectors, galleries and art lovers.
Illustrated editions, reference piece for collectors.
Category
1990s American Modern Books
Materials
Paper
Christies Catalogue Myles Place Salisbury Wiltshire
By Christie
s
Located in Mexico City, MX
Auction catalog Myles Place Salisbury Wiltshire. Ideal for collectors, galleries and art lovers.
Illustrated editions, reference piece for collectors.
Category
1990s British Modern Books
Materials
Paper
Modern books for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Modern books 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 books created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include more furniture and collectibles, case pieces and storage cabinets and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with paper, granite and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Modern books made in a specific country, there are North America, United States, and Europe pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original books, popular names associated with this style include Assouline Publishing, and Phaidon. 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 books differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $24 and tops out at $510 while the average work can sell for $51.
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