Modern Furniture
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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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.
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Furniture
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Furniture
Ceramic, Clay
1970s French Vintage Modern Furniture
Art Glass
2010s Turkish Modern Furniture
Wool, Cotton
2010s Modern Furniture
Crystal, Stainless Steel
2010s Mexican Modern Furniture
Resin
1960s Turkish Vintage Modern Furniture
Wool, Cotton
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Furniture
Blown Glass
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Furniture
Wood, Plaster
2010s American Modern Furniture
Chrome
2010s Portuguese Modern Furniture
Cotton, Velvet
Late 20th Century Modern Furniture
Suede, Oak
2010s American Modern Furniture
Brass
20th Century Italian Modern Furniture
Marble
Early 2000s Italian Modern Furniture
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Furniture
Stainless Steel
2010s Portuguese Modern Furniture
Velvet, Wood, Walnut
Mid-20th Century Italian Modern Furniture
Glass, Opaline Glass
2010s American Modern Furniture
Maple, Oak, Walnut
2010s Modern Furniture
Stainless Steel
2010s French Modern Furniture
Brass
1930s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture
Nickel
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Furniture
Marble, Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Furniture
Leather, Wood
2010s American Modern Furniture
Oak
1960s Danish Vintage Modern Furniture
Canvas, Paint
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture
Crystal, Metal, Gold Plate, Silver Plate
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Furniture
Wood, Lacquer
2010s American Modern Furniture
Steel, Iron
1990s German Modern Furniture
Aluminum
Mid-20th Century Swedish Modern Furniture
Plywood
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Furniture
Gold
1980s Mexican Vintage Modern Furniture
Multi-gemstone, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Furniture
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Furniture
Brass
2010s American Modern Furniture
Bouclé, Maple
2010s Modern Furniture
Art Glass, Walnut
2010s Greek Modern Furniture
Art Glass, Oak
2010s Modern Furniture
Cotton, Velvet
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Furniture
Other
2010s Portuguese Modern Furniture
Fabric, Upholstery, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Furniture
Brass
Late 20th Century Modern Furniture
Velvet, Faux Bamboo
21st Century and Contemporary European Modern Furniture
Travertine
2010s Italian Modern Furniture
Travertine
2010s French Modern Furniture
Leather, Fabric
2010s American Modern Furniture
Marble, Brass, Steel
1930s Italian Vintage Modern Furniture
Walnut
1980s American Vintage Modern Furniture
Paper
2010s Italian Modern Furniture
Glass, Murano Glass
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Furniture
Mirror, Oak
Late 20th Century French Modern Furniture
Paint
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Furniture
Ceramic
2010s Portuguese Modern Furniture
Ceramic, Clay
21st Century and Contemporary European Modern Furniture
Travertine, Stone
21st Century and Contemporary English Modern Furniture
Oak
2010s American Modern Furniture
Metal
Early 2000s Italian Modern Furniture
Brass
2010s American Modern Furniture
Brass
Late 20th Century American Modern Furniture
Marble, Bronze





