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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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.
Dry Bar in Oiled Laser-Cut Steel Frame with White Oak Slats and Leather Top
By Klein Agency
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The Dry Bar is a contemporary and unassuming piece, designed to fit seamlessly into your living space. Whether placed in the gentleman's corner of your apartment or taking center sta...
Cut Steel
Dry Bar in Blackened Laser-Cut Steel Frame with Oak Slats and Leather Top
By Klein Agency
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Be it in the gentleman’s corner of your apartment or centre stage in your living room, this contemporary Dry Bar in its simplicity, serves as a humble vessel for your most precious l...
Cut Steel
Striking British Moderne Leather Dry Bar
Located in Atlanta, GA
A very striking looking leather bar originally from England, circa 1970s. The bar with all glass interior is covered with embossed crocodile pattern skin leather and supported by a s...
Leather, Mirror, Walnut
Charcoal Grey Oak Display Cabinet
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
This charcoal grey oak cabinet is a sophisticated furniture piece designed to display your favorite keepsakes and books with timeless elegance. Expertly crafted from high-quality ven...
Wood, Oak
Model Ship Cherry Glass Display Case Art Gallery Shop Showcase Vitrine Cabinet
Located in Dayton, OH
Large vintage glass paneled curio display case made from maple featuring 360 degrees of viewing. Originally housed a model ship. Opens from top. Great for displaying valuable obje...
Glass, Cherry
Dry Bar in Oiled Laser-Cut Steel Frame with Black Oak Slats and Leather Top
By Klein Agency
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Be it in the gentleman’s corner of your apartment or center stage in your living room, this contemporary Dry Bar in its simplicity, serves as a humble vessel for your most precious l...
Cut Steel
$5,220Sale Price / item|10% Off
Dry Bar in Blackened Laser-Cut Steel Frame with Black Wood Slats and Leather Top
By Klein Agency
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Be it in the gentleman’s corner of your apartment or centre stage in your living room, this contemporary Dry Bar in its simplicity, serves as a humble vessel for your most precious l...
Cut Steel
21st Century Marcantonio Apothecary Cabinet Wood Inlay Scapin Collezioni
By MARCANTONIO
Located in Tezze sul Brenta, IT
First-Aid Box, design by Marcantonio for Scapin Collezioni First-Aid Box is produced in limited edition of eight pieces. The external, exclusively inlaid with ramage pattern, is enriched with an iconic detail such as the blood drop...
Wood
GOOD VIBRATION Gray Oak Low Unit in Solid Wood with vibrations effect
Located in Lentate sul Seveso, Monza e Brianza
Behold the Good Vibrations low unit, a creation designed by the ingenious Ferruccio Laviani that transcends conventional design. This oak wood masterpi...
Oak
$2,980
H 43.75 in W 25.75 in D 20.5 in
Vintage French Oak Flip-Top Confiturier, Cabinet, Cupboard or Dry Sink, or Bar
Located in Highwood, IL
Endless possibilities abound in this special French Confiturier, Small Cupboard. Constructed of solid oak with raised panels, a full door hinge, and a wonderful flip open top, give t...
Oak
Oak And Pine Pharmacy Cabinet, anno 1889
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
The cabinet is made of oak with drawers and back of pine wood. The cabinet consists of 2 parts. In the upper part there are three doors with the original antique glass. Behind each d...
Glass, Oak, Pine
$2,327
H 61.42 in W 26.38 in D 14.97 in
Vintage Dutch Oak Haberdashery Shop Cabinet / Vitrine Drop Down Doors, 1930s
Located in Nijmegen, NL
This haberdashery cabinet was produced during the 1930s in the Netherlands. It features 14 drop down doors in oak with glass fronts and oak handles. It ...
Oak
$5,220Sale Price / item|10% Off
H 35 in W 32 in D 19 in
Dry Bar in Blackened Laser-Cut Steel Frame with Black Wood Slats and Leather Top
By Klein Agency
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Be it in the gentleman’s corner of your apartment or centre stage in your living room, this contemporary Dry Bar in its simplicity, serves as a humble vessel for your most precious l...
Cut Steel
Vintage Dutch Oak Haberdashery Shop Cabinet / Vitrine, 1930s
Located in Nijmegen, NL
This haberdashery cabinet was produced during the 1930s in the Netherlands. It features 30 drawers in oak with glass fronts and brass hardware. It was originally used in a warehouse ...
Oak
Vintage French Oak Apothecary Cabinet, 1930s
Located in Nijmegen, NL
Small French oak cabinet with metal hardware made in the early 20th century. It was very well made and in a good antique restored condition. The interior dimension of the drawers are...
Oak
$4,661
H 35.44 in W 107.49 in D 16.54 in
Large Vintage Dutch Oak Art Deco Shop Cabinet / Sideboard, 1930s
Located in Nijmegen, NL
This cabinet was produced during the 1930s in the Netherlands. It features 12 large functional drawers in oak with brass hardware. The interior dimensions of the drawers are: D 32 x ...
Oak
$6,417
H 96.46 in W 51.97 in D 19.69 in
Rare and Beautiful Architectural Pagode Display Cabinet, China
Located in Antwerp, BE
Made of carved wood with transparent fences and scrollwork panels, two dragons at the front and pagoda roofs on top. A beautiful realization by the Chinese woodcarver and furniture m...
Sapele Wood, Ivory
$2,250
H 42 in W 41.5 in D 20.5 in
Mid Century Modern Arthur Umanoff Slat Dry Bar for Shaver Howard, 1950's
Located in Bedford Hills, NY
Features Umanoff's signature vertical wood slatting and a minimalist black iron base that eliminates "utilitarian bulkiness". Designed for both style and utility, it includes a dura...
Wrought Iron
$4,661
H 57.09 in W 70.48 in D 16.15 in
Vintage Large German Beech Haberdashery Shop Cabinet / Vitrine, 1950s
Located in Nijmegen, NL
This haberdashery cabinet was produced during the 1950s in Germany. It features 30 large drawers in beech with glass fronts and metal handles. It was originally used in a shop for be...
Beech
Vintage Italian Beech Haberdashery Shop Cabinet, 1950s
Located in Nijmegen, NL
This haberdashery cabinet was produced during the 1950s in Italy. This piece features 10 drawers in light beech with glass fronts and metal handles. It was originally used in a shop ...
Beech
Frank Kyle Dry Bar
By Frank Kyle
Located in San Pedro Garza Garcia, Nuevo Leon
For your consideration, spectacular bar from the early 1950s by sculptor and designer Frank B. Kayle. For more detailed photographs of the piece, just request them, it will be a ple...
Brass