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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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.
Thin Table 2 in Contemporary Blackened Steel with Blue Marble Shelf
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Thin 2 is the embodiment of subtlety with its smooth, bent steel frame and whisper touch to the floor. The hovering shelf adds to the illusion that the piece is in the process of...
Marble, Steel
Gianni Sorgia for Sormani, Extendable Italian Burlwood Dining Table, 1960s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Elegant Italian drop-leaf dining table from the 1960s, showcasing refined craftsmanship and architectural form. The square top features beautifully matched maple veneer with a subtle...
Wood
Winged Console Table in Walnut with Claw Feet in Bronze with Drawers and Wheels
Located in Miami, FL
Mid-20th century winged console table in walnut with claw feet in bronze, two drawers and wheels. Fabulous walnut inlaid console table from the mid-2...
Walnut
$8,800Sale Price|20% Off
Custom Modern Brass Dining Table with Glass Top Fully Expandable by Carrocel
By Carrocel
Located in North York, ON
Custom modern brass dining table with glass top fully expandable by Carrocel. Made with brass and a smoked glass modern sleek design,...
Brass
New Folding Table with Wood Top and Iron Structure
Located in Miami, FL
New folding table with wood top and iron structure For indoor and outdoor.
Iron
$1,200Sale Price|31% Off
H 28 in W 63 in D 31 in
MCM Drop Leaf Dining Table, Walnut Hardwood, Vintage Design, 1960s
Located in Douglas Manor, NY
MCM Walnut folding dinning room table Closed dimensions 31x9x30"
Hardwood
$1,850
H 27.76 in W 83.86 in D 39.77 in
Rainer Daumiller Extendable Drop-Leaf Dining Table in Solid Pine
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Rainer Daumiller, extendable drop-leaf dining table, solid pine, Denmark, 1970s This rectangular dining table by Rainer Daumiller can be configured into a larger version by means of...
Pine
$2,035
H 31.5 in W 21.66 in D 11.03 in
Midcentury Walnut and Brass Italian Work Table with Wheels, 1940s
Located in Roma, IT
Amazing midcentury walnut and brass work table with wheels. This wonderful piece was produced in Italy, during 1940s. This great item is made...
Brass, Copper
$7,200
H 30.5 in W 65.5 in D 37.5 in
1950s Rustic European Craftsman Drop Leaf Dining Table with Sawtooth Legs
Located in Las Vegas, NV
This incredible drop leaf dining table is a Mid Century Rustic European Style Craftsman Masterpiece. The design is truly eye catching. Featuring a pine plank top edged by a geome...
Oak, Pine
$723Sale Price|20% Off
H 32.68 in W 35.44 in D 9.45 in
Console 'Tekno', Bordeaux Iron Structure and wood Top
Located in Milano, Lombardia
"TEKNO console" The console has a bordeaux-colored iron structure with simple and elegant lines. Its rectangular shape and its depth of 24cm, make it i...
Iron
English Pub Table With Wood Top and Cast Iron Base
Located in Austin, TX
An authentic English pub table from the 19th c., featuring a moulded round top of mahogany attached to an under-tier of cast iron with three cabriole legs showing cartouche cameo por...
Metal, Iron
Midcentury Drop-Leaf Dining Table with Rattan Base
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Danish style Mid-Century Modern drop-leaf dining table featuring an unusual gate leg base that has been covered with split rattan, giving the table an or...
Brass
19th Century Country English Oak Drop Leaf Farmhouse Table
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Rustic 19th century country English drop-leaf farmhouse table or console crafted from oak. The table features a rare rectangular shape with drop leaves on each side supported by turn...
Oak
$4,200Sale Price|20% Off
H 29 in W 120 in D 35.4 in
Johannes Andersen Teak Dining Table, Mid-Century Modern, 1960s
Located in Seattle, WA
A dining table in teak designed by Johannes Andersen for with clever hidden drawers on both ends concealing two large leaves. The table can accommodate up to 10 seating with extended...
Teak
$1,885
H 29.5 in W 21 in D 30.75 in
English George III Mahogany Pembroke Table in Mahogany with 1 Drawer
Located in Atlanta, GA
English George III Mahogany Pembroke Table in Mahogany with 1 Drawer and Square Tapered legs, Late 18th Century
Mahogany
Queen Anne Drop Leaf Table in Walnut with Pad Feet
Located in Atlanta, GA
Queen Anne Drop Leaf Table in Walnut with Pad Feet, Early 18th Century England
Walnut
$2,450
H 29.14 in W 70.87 in D 35.44 in
Vejle Rosewood Drop-Leaf Dining Table — Danish Mid-Century Modern Elegance
By Vejle Stole & Møbelfabrik, Finn Juhl
Located in Dronten, NL
A quintessential example of Danish mid-century modern design, this Vejle rosewood drop-leaf dining table combines functional versatility with refined craftsmanship. Its elegant, scul...
Rosewood
Extendable dining table of Rossi di Albizzate
Located in Milano, IT
This splendid extendable dining table, designed by Rossi di Albizzate, embodies the elegance and functionality of Italian design. Made entirely of wood, the table exudes a natural wa...
Wood
Rattan and Bamboo Drop Leaf Bar or Lamp Table
Located in Astoria, NY
Rattan and bamboo drop leaf bar or lamp table, rectangular with undertier and drop leaves. 28" H x 21" W x 14" D.
Bamboo
Sold
H 28.35 in Dm 39.38 in
Italian modern Folding dining table Plano by Piretti for Anonima Castelli, 1970s
By Anonima Castelli, Giancarlo Piretti
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern Folding dining table Plano by Giancarlo Piretti for Anonima Castelli, 1970s Fantastic and vintage Folding dining table mod....
Aluminum
Modern Style Gate-Leg Dining Table
Located in Doylestown, PA
A modern gateleg drop-leaf dining table in black ebonized finish, nicely made. Measure: 18.5 inches deep when leaves dropped.
Wood
Glossy Petrol Blue Console Table, Cassina
By Cassina
Located in Tulsa, OK
Antella Glossy Lacquered table by Cassina Japanese architect Kazuhide Takahama designed Antella as a truly multi-functional piece of furniture. Kazuhide Takahama’s Antella...
Wood
Giovanni Battista Bassi Drop-Leaf Desk/Cabinet, Italy 1950s
Located in London, GB
Giovanni Battista Bassi (1926-2013) was an Italian architect, city planner and designer who left his mark on his home city of Pistoia. His admi...
Wood
Danish Teak Drop-Leaf Table Style of Attributed Bruno Mathsson
Located in Toledo, OH
Drop-leaf Danish teak drop-leaf table attributed to Bruno Mathsson. Each leaf is supported by two legs. Cut out oval design in center base. Very good to excellent condition.
Teak
Vintage Acrylic Modern Drop-Leaf Dining Table
Located in North York, ON
Vintage acrylic modern drop-leaf dining table. This modern drop-leaf table is very rare and completely original. Composed of 100% acrylic, all original with fine scratches and wear c...
Brass
New Teak Foldable Dry Bar, Indoor and Outdoor
Located in Miami, FL
New teak foldable dry bar, indoor and outdoor Extendable: 38.58in-70.86in.
Teak
New Teak Round Foldable DIning Table, Indoor and Outdoor
Located in Miami, FL
New teak round foldable dining table, indoor and outdoor.
Teak
Sold
H 21.07 in W 18.9 in D 14.97 in
Stunning Small Side Table with Extending Brown Leather Gold Leaf Embossed Top
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer this lovely small Bevan Funnell vintage mahogany side table with extending top twin drawers and brown leather top A very good looking and versatile piece...
Leather, Mahogany
Sold
H 31.11 in W 43.31 in D 21.86 in
Pair of David Linley Fold Out Console Demi Lune Tea Tables Walnut
By David Linley
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this absolutely sublime pair of RRP £48,000 David Linley demilune fold out tea or games tables in burr walnut with silver plated inlaid metal These are absolutely sublime quality, they are simply the finest tables I have ever handled, the quality is mind blowing These are not off the shelf pieces but custom made to order with a current confirmed price tag of £24,000 per table These were purchased by the then richest women in England, for a rather splendid Chelsea mansion house, the home was set up for visiting friends and family to have somewhere to stay when in London, it was used maybe four times in twenty years, as such the property has now been sold The tables are of course demi lune console tables however with the addition of the fold over top they become occasional tea tables...
Silver Plate