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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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.
Silver Plate Desk Easel
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A beautifully crafted desktop easel with an architectural simplicity that’s both elegant and modern. Its clean lines and streamlined form make it a seamless addition to any workspace...
Silver Plate
Large Crystal Platter / Charger Display / Stand
Located in San Diego, CA
Large crystal platter / charger display / stand, circa 1990s. This beautiful piece has a great look and is very well constructed. The piece is in very good condition with no chips or...
Plastic, Laminate, Wood
$3,384 / item
Protopunk Keycabinet 01
By Joost van Bleiswijk, Kiki & Joost
Located in Eindhoven, NL
Protopunk is a collection of furniture and objects designed by Joost Van Bleiswijk. Each piece is handmade with thick cuts of steel roughly cut with a torch, welded together and then...
Cut Steel
$1,999 / item
Mies Easel
Located in New York, NY
Gorgeous easel with a clear acrylic base and available in Brass or Polished Stainless. Custom heights available upon request.
Brass, Stainless Steel
$2,800 / item
Custom Lucite Easel by South Loop Loft
Located in Chicago, IL
Custom made Lucite easel with bronze fittings, fabricated in Chicago exclusively for South Loop Loft. Adjustable Ledge. Dimensions: 24” W x 18” D x...
Bronze
Vintage Stanrite Universal Art Easel Aluminum Tripod
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Vintage Stanrite Universal Art Easel Aluminum Tripod 57 h x 27 d x 29 w Height is adjustable Original vintage, refer to listed images please.
Aluminum
Complete Modern Italian Fireplace Accessories Set with Tools & Holder
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
Modern complete Italian set of fireplace accessories, different from the usual - (See every size at the bottom of the page: it's impossible to wr...
Steel
$5,177 / item
White Happy Hour Trolley by Alfredo Häberli
Located in Geneve, CH
White Happy Hour trolley by Alfredo Häberli Dimensions: D 43 x W 91 x H 73 cm Materials: Chromed iron structure. Heat-shaped ABS+PMMA plastic trays, available painted with polyure...
Iron
$5,177 / item
White Happy Hour Trolley by Alfredo Häberli
Located in Geneve, CH
White happy hour trolley by Alfredo Häberli Dimensions: D 43 x W 91 x H 73 cm Materials: Chromed iron structure. Heat-shaped ABS+PMMA plastic trays, painted with polyurethane micr...
Iron
$4,466 / item
Black Happy Hour Trolley by Alfredo Häberli
Located in Geneve, CH
Black Happy Hour trolley by Alfredo Häberli Dimensions: D 43 x W 91 x H 73 cm Materials: Chromed iron structure. Heat-shaped ABS+PMMA plastic trays, available painted with polyure...
Iron
Stylish Empire Revival 20th Century Floor Easel Artist Display Stand
Located in Douglas Manor, NY
1279 Floor easel artist display stand practical in size, good condition, beautifully designed and great quality materials picture stand. Height...
Hardwood
![Vintage Beech Shop Display Glove Stand circa 1930s [B]](https://a.1stdibscdn.com/vintage-beech-shop-display-glove-stand-circa-1930s-b-for-sale/f_81422/f_437275721740066156632/f_43727572_1740066156931_bg_processed.jpg?width=240)
![Vintage Beech Shop Display Glove Stand circa 1930s [B]](https://a.1stdibscdn.com/vintage-beech-shop-display-glove-stand-circa-1930s-b-for-sale-picture-2/f_81422/f_437275721740066210295/BB9U5823_master.JPG?width=240)
$551Sale Price|20% Off
H 48.43 in W 21.26 in D 7.88 in
Vintage Beech Shop Display Glove Stand circa 1930s [B]
Located in Dereham, GB
Vintage Beech Shop Display Glove Stand circa 1930s Maker : Harris & Sheldoon Ltd B, Ham Mounted on Brass & Copper Telescopic stand Beech Carved Hand for glove Display. Brass & Cop...
Brass, Copper
![Vintage Beech Shop Display Glove Stand circa 1930s [C]](https://a.1stdibscdn.com/vintage-beech-shop-display-glove-stand-circa-1930s-c-for-sale/f_81422/f_437279521740066862343/f_43727952_1740066862875_bg_processed.jpg?width=240)
![Vintage Beech Shop Display Glove Stand circa 1930s [C]](https://a.1stdibscdn.com/vintage-beech-shop-display-glove-stand-circa-1930s-c-for-sale-picture-2/f_81422/f_437279521740066920473/BB9U5828_master.JPG?width=240)
$551Sale Price|20% Off
H 59.06 in W 23.63 in D 9.06 in
Vintage Beech Shop Display Glove Stand circa 1930s [C]
Located in Dereham, GB
Vintage Beech Shop Display Glove Stand circa 1930s Mounted on Brass & Copper Telescopic stand Beech Carved Hand for glove Display. Brass & Copper Columns & Fittings, Base with C...
Brass, Copper
$1,875 / set
H 14.25 in W 7.5 in D 7.5 in
Louis Vuitton Vintage Monogramed Traveling Shoe Bags Shoe Stuffers Set of 2
Located in North Miami, FL
This stellar set of 2 authentic coated canvas monogramed Louis Vuitton traveling shoe carriers with original shoe stuffers inserts are vintage and from the 1970s. These were never ev...
Canvas
From $179 / set
H 1.97 in W 1.19 in D 1.19 in
Opinion Ciatti Chiodo Schiaccia Chiodo Set of 4 Clothes Hangers
By Opinion Ciatti, Bruno Rainaldi
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Chiodo Schiaccia Chiodo is more than just a nail, Chiodo Schiaccia Chiodo is a line of nickel-plated wall-mounted clothes hangers. An idea of Bruno Rainaldi's remarkable spirit of ob...
Nickel
ClassiCon Black Usha Umbrella Stand in Steel by Eckart Muthesius
Located in New York, NY
It is a sign of a most mature culture when articles of everyday use also come to catch the aesthetic eye. Coiling upwards like a snake at a snake-charming is Eckart Muthesius‘ spiral...
Steel
$1,734 / item
H 71.6 in W 24.4 in D 24.4 in
Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH Kleiderständer P29 Coat Rack in Black
By Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH, Adolf Loos
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Kleiderständer P29 coat stand is the result of a series of predecessors of different shapes and types that have been continually improved from 1880 onwards. Designed in 1929, it ...
Wood
$1,950 / item
H 64 in Dm 11 in
Freestanding Brass Coat Rack 10-hooks, Marble Base, Coat Tree, Stand, USA
Located in Brooklyn, NY
10-hook Brass Coat Tree by Luft Tanaka Studio Freestanding Coat tree made of solid brass components and brass tubing with a black or white mar...
Marble, Brass, Steel
$1,462 / item
H 98.4 in W 17.7 in D 1.4 in
Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH Large Ladder Clothes Valet in Black
By Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH, Adolf Loos
Located in Brooklyn, NY
With Ladder , Charlie Styrbjörn Nilsson has used the technique of steam bent wood to create a ladder for interior use whose solid wood gives strength to a slender and light structure...
Wood
Antique Mexican Small Wood Artist Easel
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Antique Mexican Small Wood Artist Easel, circa 1950.
Pine
$2,418 / item
H 55.91 in W 40.16 in D 22.45 in
Cartesio TV Stand with Glossy Gold Leaf Frame by Lapo Ciatti
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Cartesio, a steel trestle/stand for multimedia appliances with cable management column and integrated shelf by Lapo Ciatti, is the answer to these reflecti...
Steel
Coat Rack no. 01, Hand-carved Cherry Valet by Henry Merker, USA, 2025
By Henry Merker
Located in Philadelphia, PA
An imposing valet for displaying coats, scarves, hats, or other accessories. Carved in cherry with hand-textured details.
Cherry
Professional Floor Easel by Sennelier, Ebonized Oak, Paris
Located in New York, NY
A superb floor / studio easel, hand-crafted by Sennelier, France's oldest art supplies store. Mid-2000s or earlier. Ebonized oak, with double-adjusting metal mechanism operated by ...
Metal, Bronze
Milo Baughman Attributed Polished Chrome Easel
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very clean and modern Polished Chrome Easel Attributed to Milo Baughman. The ideal easel to show work on as it is very clean, modern and simple. One could also use it to paint on...
Chrome
Steven Sebring American Contemporary Enameled Iron Red Easel
Located in Queens, NY
American Contemporary Enameled Iron Red Easel (STEVEN SEBRING)
Metal
Vintage Chrome Easel Attributed to Milo Baughman
Located in Doylestown, PA
Modern polished chromed steel easel attributed to Milo Baughman. This sturdy easel features a sleek and slim design with a double flat bar stem and a circular base in a lustrous chr...
Chrome, Steel
Handcrafted Mixed Woods Lectern Podium
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Handsome studio design. Appears to be a one-off. Mixed woods. Great to display an open book on or a small painting / drawing.
Wood
Modern Polished Teak Wood Art Easel
Located in Middleburg, VA
Modern Polished Teak Wood Art Easel. Give a favorite painting a place of honor on this contemporary mount. Made in the 21st Century. Measures: 25"H, 12” W, 4...
Teak
Silver-Plate Scroll Easel for Design Art, Book or Small Painting Vintage
Located in North Miami, FL
This lovely 80's silver plate small easel is perfect to display a small work of art be it a painting or a book. It has an elegant scroll design. Great for ...
Silver Plate
19th Century American Artist's Easel
Located in Chicago, IL
A wonderfully charming 19th century American wooden artist's easel, adjustable in pitch and height, and covered in over a hundred years of paint drips. Perfectly functional, but also...
Wood
Custom Lucite Easel by South Loop Loft
Located in Chicago, IL
Custom made Lucite easel with bronze fittings, fabricated in Chicago exclusively for South Loop Loft. Adjustable Ledge. Dimensions: 24” W x 18” D x...
Bronze
Vintage French Artist's Eisel. Languedoc Region
Located in Dallas, TX
Vintage French artist's Eisel. Languedoc region.
Pine
White Oak Adjustable Table Easel from Paris
Located in New York, NY
An elegant table easel in natural finish white oak. From Paris. Fully adjustable. Soft, pristine wood precisely crafted and assembled. An ideal showcase for a special piece of art or...
Oak
Mid-Century Metal Easel, Newly Powder-Coated In Bright Sunshine Yellow
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Mid-Century Modern metal easel, newly powder-coated in bright sunshine yellow.
Metal