Modern Furniture
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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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
Place of Origin: Japanese
Framed Japanese Woodblock Print Apres La Pluie Tarang Yap by Paul Jacoulet
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Japanese Woodblock print by Paul Jacoulet (French, 1896-1960) entitled Apres Le Pluie. Tarang, Yap (After the rain). Created in 1938, this print was considered to be Jacoulet's fir...
Category
1930s Japanese Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Wood, Paper
Japanese Modernist Painting of a Seaside Village by Torao Ataka Dated 1930
Located in San Francisco, CA
A Modern oil painting of a harbor town with the water and mountains views in the distance.
It is signed on the bottom left hand corner Ataka and dated '30 (1930).
The brushwork is ...
Category
1930s Japanese Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Canvas, Paint
Takeshi Yasuda
Japanese, b.1943
Creamware Studio Pottery Hand Thrown Bottle
Located in Bishop
s Stortford, Hertfordshire
Interesting hand thrown Japanese studio pottery creamware vase with a craquelure glaze by Takeshi Yasuda (Japanese, b.1943) dating from the 1980’s. The ...
Category
1980s Japanese Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Pottery
"Green Tree" Mosaic by Toyoharu Kii, 2023
By Toyoharu Kii
Located in Chicago, IL
Intricate, ethereal and highly textured, the abstract compositions of Japanese mosaic artist Toyoharu Kii reflect a sophisticated approach to the technical art of mosaic making. Clas...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Modern Furniture
Materials
Marble
Kaya Premium Cutlery Set Glossy Purple Stainless Steel Service 4
By Georg Jensen
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Luxury Kaya Premium Cutlery Japan Glossy Purple Stainless Steel
Service for 4 plus 4 serving pieces 20 piece set.
Knife .75 h x 10 w x .75 w Spoon 1 h x ...
Category
2010s Japanese Modern Furniture
Materials
Stainless Steel
Flower Wall Art Norihiko Terayama A3
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Title: Artificial and dried flowers that were arranged
Unique wall art by Norihiko Terayama. Small cut out piece of artificial flowers and dried flowers are stuck with needles in goo...
Category
2010s Japanese Modern Furniture
Materials
Wood
Vintage Japanese Ball Shaped Plastic Tea Caddy Storage Containers, Set of 3
Located in San Carlos, CA
🍵 Elevate Your Storage: Set of 3 Japanese Natsume Tea Caddies! 🍵
Enhance your storage solutions with a touch of elegance and functionality with our wonderful set of three hard pla...
Category
1980s Japanese Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Plastic
$191 Sale Price
20% Off
Ryohei Tanaka Etching Japan c1993
Located in Oakland, CA
Incredibly detailed Ryohei Tanaka etching of a structure on the Japan countryside c1993. Beautifully framed and matted. Signed in pencil by artist.
Ryohei Tanaka (1933-2019) was wor...
Category
1990s Japanese Modern Furniture
Materials
Glass, Wood, Paper
Fragile Structure#18 Norihiko Terayama Kaj Franck
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Green and blue are available. Red is sold.
This series is made up of some glass and some ceramic works. These works are highly unique form and looking. Norihiko Terayama created the...
Category
2010s Japanese Modern Furniture
Materials
Glass
Japanese Ceramic Blue Vases, Pair
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful pair of Modern periwinkle blue Japanese vases with octagonal base, pinched waist, and clover like design at neck/top. Marked underneath/bot...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Modern Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
$1,250 / set
Sculptural Door Handles, Daté Kan Stone Design by Okurayama
Located in Geneve, CH
Sculptural table - Unique Daté Kan stone design by Okurayama
Materiel: Daté Kan Stone and forged iron
Sculpted in the Okurayama's Studio in Miyagi's Prefecture, Japan
Each creatio...
Category
2010s Japanese Modern Furniture
Materials
Stone
Hajimo Kato Hand Built Wood Fired Twin Handled Studio Pottery Vase
Located in Bishop
s Stortford, Hertfordshire
A truly wonderful design piece, and one of my favorite, is this Japanese hand-built wood fired twin handled studio pottery vase of sculptural form by Hajimo Kato (b.1947) dating from...
Category
20th Century Japanese Modern Furniture
Materials
Stoneware
Cassina Refolo 514 Sofa
Located in Basildon, London
The Cassina Refolo 514 sofa is a refined example of Italian design, created by the renowned brand Cassina. Its sleek silhouette combines a solid wood fr...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Modern Furniture
Materials
Leather, Wood
$16,855
Muji 2 Seater Chair Japanese Contemporary Style Bentwood Chair
By Studio Jig
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Muji 2 seater chair.
Kenta Hirai created it with the technique "Free form lamination." It has characteristic streamlined combined back and seat. Made of ...
Category
2010s Japanese Modern Furniture
Materials
Wood
Flamingo by Blue Tip Atelier
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
Title : Flamingo
Japan / 2024s
Size : w 730 × h 1800 mm
The material is fine French linen.
Hand quilted and decorated using dyed sashiko thread.
Natural dyes are chinese sumac, madd...
Category
2010s Japanese Modern Furniture
Materials
Linen
Leaf Ⅰ by Blue Tip Atelier
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
Title : Leaf Ⅰ
Japan / 2024s
Size : w 580 × h 580 mm
The green leaves of spring are expressed through dyeing, quilting and embroidery.
Also, the embroidery thread is used to express...
Category
2010s Japanese Modern Furniture
Materials
Linen
Porcelain Vase by Kato Tsubasa
By Kato Tsubasa
Located in New York, NY
Pale blue celadon glazed porcelain vase by Kato Tsubusa (b. 1962)
Incised with maker's mark, together with a signed wooden box,
Japan, late 20th century.
Category
Late 20th Century Japanese Modern Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
The sky visible at Honmonji TempleⅣ by Blue Tip Atelier
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
Title : The sky visible at Honmonji TemplⅣ
Japan / 2024s
Size : W 275 H 395mm
A mini series of the sky as seen from Honmonji Temple.
Natural dyes used are Indian madder and oak g...
Category
2010s Japanese Modern Furniture
Materials
Linen
Chiho Aoshima Signed Limited Edition Japanese Art Print Building Head Chameleon
By Chiho Aoshima
Located in Studio City, CA
Limited edition digital Superflat Pop Art print by renowned Japanese pop artist Chiho Aoshima.
Signed, numbered, and dated by the artist.
Chiho Aoshima worked with and was mentored by famed Japanese artist Takashi Murakami.
The fine art print is framed and ready to hang.
Aoshima's work can be found in various collections and museums including:
Ackland Art Museum, Chapel Hill...
Category
Early 2000s Japanese Modern Furniture
Materials
Paper
Blueberry by Blue Tip Atelier
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
Title : Blueberry
Japan / 2024s
Size : w 700 × h 570 mm
Blueberries displayed at home.
The material is fine French linen.
Hand quilted with cotton thread.
Natural dyes are chinese s...
Category
2010s Japanese Modern Furniture
Materials
Linen
Shiro Kuramata style Architectural "Watercolour 02" table by nendo Japan
By Nendo
Located in Philadelphia, PA
nendo painted steel table from watercolour series.
Provenance: Phillips Design: Online Auction 26 July - 2 August 2023
About nendo:
With offices in Tokyo and Milan, Nendo is a de...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Modern Furniture
Materials
Steel
Landscape Ⅲ by Blue Tip Atelier
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
Title : Landscape III
Japan / 2024s
Size : W 560 H 680mm
The night sky and sea are expressed with two-tone dyed colors.
Abstract embroidery of a bird flapping its wings is applied ...
Category
2010s Japanese Modern Furniture
Materials
Linen
Pair of Japanese Bamboo Pattern 950 Sterling Silver Reticulated Napkin Rings
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine pair of Bamboo napkin rings.
In 950 sterling silver.
Likely produced in post-war Japan.
With an openwork pattern of bamboo stalks and leaves around the circumference.
Mar...
Category
20th Century Japanese Modern Furniture
Materials
Sterling Silver
Zabuton Sofa, Handmade Japanese Futon on Modular Maple Frame, Kvadrat
By UMÉ Studio
Located in Oakland, CA
The Zabuton Sofa is available in infinite configurations.
It is customizable through modular system of wood partitions, futon, Zabuton, and bolsters. Star...
Category
2010s Japanese Modern Furniture
Materials
Maple
Muramasa Kudo Signed Limited Edition Japanese Serigraph Print Lilies in Stream
Located in Studio City, CA
A beautiful and engaging large limited edition serigraph print by Japanese artist/print master Muramasa Kudo (1948-) titled "Lilies in Stream".
The wor...
Category
1980s Japanese Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Paper
Vintage Japanese Modern Bronze Sandal Sculpture c1960s
Located in Oakland, CA
Fantastic modernist, solid bronze flip-flop/sandal by unknown Japanese artist c 1960s. Acquired in Japan. Signed by artist, amazing patina throughout. Incredible detail.
Category
1960s Japanese Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Bronze
"Reconstructed Landscape, " Mixed Media Mosaic, 2022
By Toyoharu Kii
Located in Chicago, IL
Intricate, ethereal and highly textured, the abstract compositions of Japanese mosaic artist Toyoharu Kii reflect a sophisticated approach to the technical art of mosaic making. Clas...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Modern Furniture
Materials
Marble
Mushroom Lamp h220430 Satoshi Itasaka
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Mushroom lamp designed by h220430, Satoshi Itasaka.
This work's theme is nuclear. We human being treats this difficult materials for electric energy or weapon. This woks tell us su...
Category
2010s Japanese Modern Furniture
Materials
Plastic
$7,500 / item
one leaf by Blue Tip Atelier
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
Title : one leaf
Japan / 2023s
Size : w790 x h1200 mm
A work that has been unevenly dyed after hand-painting.
This quilt is made with linen viyella, which has a natural sheen.
Han...
Category
2010s Japanese Modern Furniture
Materials
Linen
Tree by Blue Tip Atelier
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
Title : Tree
Japan / 2021s
Size : W 1100 H 1400 mm
This quilt is a traditional technique called nine patches,
which skillfully uses the shades of cloth to create a mosaic effec...
Category
2010s Japanese Modern Furniture
Materials
Linen
$3,000
Flower Wall Art Norihiko Terayama A2
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Title: Artificial and dried flowers that were arranged
Unique wall art by Norihiko Terayama. Small cut out piece of artificial flowers and dried flowers are stuck with needles in goo...
Category
2010s Japanese Modern Furniture
Materials
Wood
The sky visible at Honmonji Temple Ⅱ by Blue Tip Atelier
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
Title : The sky visible at Honmonji Temple Ⅱ
Japan / 2024s
Size : w1805 x h1805 mm
The sky can be seen from Honmonji Temple, which the artist passes while running, a hobby of hers....
Category
2010s Japanese Modern Furniture
Materials
Linen
Masami Kodama Modernist Carrera Marble Granite Steel Sculpture Signed, 1970s MCM
By Masami Kodama
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This beautiful sculpture is made of polished Carrera marble set on a turned granite base by a solid steel post. It strikes a sophisticated balance between elegance, utilitarianism, a...
Category
1970s Japanese Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Granite, Carrara Marble
Fragile Structure#11 Norihiko Terayama Gertrud Lonegren
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
This series is made up of some glass and some ceramic works. These works are highly unique form and looking. Norihiko Terayama created them from damaged vases, coffee cups and so on....
Category
2010s Japanese Modern Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
Big Tree by Blue Tip Atelier
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
Title : Big Tree
Japan / 2024s
Size : w 820 × h 1950 mm
The large tree is expressed through dyeing, quilting and embroidery.
The material is fine Croatian Linen.
Hand quilted with c...
Category
2010s Japanese Modern Furniture
Materials
Linen
Bronze vase by Nakajima Yasumi II
Located in Long Island City, NY
Bronze vase by Nakajima Yasumi II (1905-1986) Japan, from the period 1960-1970s.
Stamped with the artist's seal.
Height: 25.6 cm. (10").
Diameter: 9.2 cm. (3.6").
Category
1960s Japanese Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Bronze
$2,880 Sale Price
20% Off
Lumière douce (à Paris) by Blue Tip Atelier
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
Title : Lumière douce (à Paris)
Japan / 2024s
Size : w1500 x h1490 mm
The soft light that shines through the cloudy skies of Paris, where the artist once lived, is replaced with ...
Category
2010s Japanese Modern Furniture
Materials
Linen
Fukurou(fuyu) by Blue Tip Atelier
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
Title : Fukurou (fuyu)
Japan / 2024s
Size : h 490 × w 1720 mm
An owl flapping through the winter trees is expressed through hand-painted, dyeing, quilting, and embroidery.
The mater...
Category
2010s Japanese Modern Furniture
Materials
Linen
Komorebi(Ohara, Kyoto) by Blue Tip Atelier
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
Title : Komorebi(Ohara, Kyoto)
Japan / 2024s
Size : w970 x h960 mm
A landscape seen in Ohara, Kyoto.
The sunlight filtering through the trees is expressed using a variety of techni...
Category
2010s Japanese Modern Furniture
Materials
Linen
Vintage Japanese Geometric Iron Catch-All Tray c1960s
Located in Oakland, CA
Fantastic geometric vintage Japanese iron catch-all tray with beautiful enameled accents c1960s. Acquired in Japan.
Category
1960s Japanese Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Iron
Fragile Structure #16 Norihiko Terayama Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
This series is made up of some glass and some ceramic works. These works are highly unique form and looking. Norihiko Terayama created them from damaged vases,coffee cups and so on. ...
Category
2010s Japanese Modern Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
Japanese Post War Aluminum Riveted Trunk on Iron Stand with Glass Top, Restored
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Japanese post war aluminum riveted trunk on iron stand with glass top, restored
Stamped TS Tokyo on the lock, at the time of posting we have another trunk and stand LU2592316549342
...
Category
20th Century Japanese Modern Furniture
Materials
Iron, Aluminum
$1,421 Sale Price / set
25% Off
Fragile Structure#4 Norihiko Terayama Berndt Friberg
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
This series is made up of some glass and some ceramic works. These works are highly unique form and looking. Norihiko Terayama created them from damaged vases,coffee cups and so on. ...
Category
2010s Japanese Modern Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
$1,875 Sale Price
25% Off
Flower Wall Art Norihiko Terayama B1
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Title: Artificial and dried flowers that were arranged
Unique wall art by Norihiko Terayama. Small cut out piece of artificial flowers and dried flowers are stuck with needles in goo...
Category
2010s Japanese Modern Furniture
Materials
Wood
Shell Sculpture Paperweight by Mikasa
By Mikasa
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Intricate hand blown glass shell sculpture with silver specks / Made in Japan by Kurata for retailer Mikasa, circa 1980s
Original sticker on the base
...
Category
Late 20th Century Japanese Modern Furniture
Materials
Blown Glass
$225 Sale Price
40% Off
"Diary (2301)" Mosaic by Toyoharu Kii, 2023
By Toyoharu Kii
Located in Chicago, IL
Intricate, ethereal and highly textured, the abstract compositions of Japanese mosaic artist Toyoharu Kii reflect a sophisticated approach to the technical art of mosaic making. Clas...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Modern Furniture
Materials
Marble
Japanese Oribe Glazed Stoneware Dish by Kitaoji Rosanjin
Located in Atlanta, GA
An oribe stoneware square dish with four notched corners and up-turned edges made by Kitaoji Rosanjin (1883-1959) circa 1950s. The Mingei style dish h...
Category
20th Century Japanese Modern Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
Japanese Lacquer Padded Teapot Caddy
Located in Savannah, GA
Antique Japanese hand-painted lacquer teapot caddy.
Interior is padded and fitted for blue and white porcelain teapot.
The teapot stands 4¼ inches tall and features a fish on one si...
Category
Mid-20th Century Japanese Modern Furniture
Materials
Porcelain, Lacquer
Fragile Structure #2 Norihiko Terayama Erik Hoglund
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
This series is made up of some glass and some ceramic works. These works are highly unique form and looking. Norihiko Terayama created them from damaged vases, coffee cups and so on....
Category
2010s Japanese Modern Furniture
Materials
Glass
Fragile Structure#3 Norihiko Terayama Berndt Friberg
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
This series is made up of some glass and some ceramic works. These works are highly unique form and looking. Norihiko Terayama created them from damaged vases,coffee cups and so on. ...
Category
2010s Japanese Modern Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
$1,875 Sale Price
25% Off
Framed Woodblock Print Retour de la Jungle Tondana Celebes by Paul Jacoulet
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Japanese Woodblock print by Paul Jacoulet (French, 1896-1960) entitled Retour de la Jungle Tondana Celebes (Return from the jungles Tondana Celebes). Created in 1948, this print wa...
Category
1940s Japanese Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Wood, Paper
"Pansy (New Flower)" Mosaic by Toyoharu Kii
By Toyoharu Kii
Located in Chicago, IL
Intricate, ethereal and highly textured, the abstract compositions of Japanese mosaic artist Toyoharu Kii reflect a sophisticated approach to the technical art of mosaic making. Clas...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Modern Furniture
Materials
Marble
Schwarzwald Stool Satoshi Itasaka
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Stool coated with rust.
This work expresses the warning about environmental threats.
Artist tells that
"There once existed a dense forest with abundant trees in Schwarzwald, Germ...
Category
2010s Japanese Modern Furniture
Materials
Cut Steel
Suiren by Blue Tip Atelier
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
Title : SUIREN
Japan / 2022s
Size : W 610 H 810 mm
Expressing delicate color changes by dyeing many times.
This quilt is made with french linen and cotton.
Hand-quilted with Japanese sashiko...
Category
2010s Japanese Modern Furniture
Materials
Linen
Japanese Echizen Ceramic Tsubo Fujita Jurouemon VIII
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Japanese storage jar (tsubo) made in the ancient Echizen ware tradition by Fujita Jurouemon VIII. Echizen is one of the six ancient kilns in Japan, directly influenced by the Sue ware...
Category
20th Century Japanese Modern Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
Shingo Honda
To White Space
Series Abstract Expressionist Watercolor
Located in Sharon, CT
An early work (1981-1986) by the Japanese/American artist Shingo Honda (1981-1986) who resided in Hawaii. until his untimely death.
Category
Late 20th Century Japanese Modern Furniture
Materials
Paint
$1,000 Sale Price
20% Off
Kenji Fujita for Tackett Associates, Porcelain Teapot with a Bamboo Handle
Located in København, Copenhagen
Kenji Fujita for Tackett Associates. Porcelain teapot with a bamboo handle.
Beautiful orange glaze. Dated 1953-56.
Measures: 23 ...
Category
1950s Japanese Vintage Modern Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
"Rampage" Mosaic by Toyoharu Kii, 2021
By Toyoharu Kii
Located in Chicago, IL
Intricate, ethereal and highly textured, the abstract compositions of Japanese mosaic artist Toyoharu Kii reflect a sophisticated approach to the technical art of mosaic making. Clas...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Modern Furniture
Materials
Marble
Lumière Ⅰ by Blue Tip Atelier
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
Title : lumière ?
Japan / 2022s
Size : W 990 H 770 mm
A work inspired by light.
This quilt is made with Woven fresh linen and french linen.
Hand-quilted with Japanese sashiko...
Category
2010s Japanese Modern Furniture
Materials
Linen
Vintage Noritake Clear Arbor wine
tea Glasses-Crystal Glasses
By Noritake
Located in Birmingham, AL
Vintage Noritake Clear Arbor Tea and wine glasses set of 17 Glasses-glass Embossed Grape and Leaf- great gift for special occasions . It is in very good condition with no chip, crac...
Category
Late 20th Century Japanese Modern Furniture
Materials
Glass
Modern furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Modern furniture 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 furniture created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include seating, lighting, tables and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, fabric and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Modern furniture 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 furniture, popular names associated with this style include Rug
Kilim, Schumacher, Vistosi, and Kartell. 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.
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