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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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.
Wooden Traditional Figure in a Niche of a Saint, circa 1950
Located in Barcelona, ES
Traditional religious signed plaster figure of a saint in a wooden niche. Made in traditional Catalan atelier in Olot, Spain, circa 1950. In original condition, with minor wear...
Wood
Plaster Religious Traditional Artwork, circa 1950
Located in Barcelona, ES
Traditional religious handpainted plaster wall artwork. Made in traditional Catalan atelier in Olot, Spain, circa 1950. In original condition, with minor wear consistent with age a...
Plaster
1980s Ceramic Blue Christian Fish Plate Pisces Decorative Display
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Vintage religious art Christian faith fish symbol Pisces decorative dish display etched ceramic plate in cobalt blue Measures: 5.25" in diameter x 1" hei...
Ceramic
Postmodern Contemporary Menorah in Blue Anodized Aluminum by Luigi Del Monte
Located in Troy, MI
Ultramodern "Flat Arch" menorah by Italian designer Luigi Del Monte 1999 Featured in the MoMa gift catalog and design store Winter 2000 Sleek design in blue anodized aluminum with i...
Aluminum
Cabinet of Curiosities Display Sculptural Artwork, circa 1950
Located in Barcelona, ES
Exquisite cabinet of Curiosities showcasing a stunning collection of plaster figures and pieces, elegantly presented within a wood and glass display case reminiscent of a Classic scu...
Plaster, Wood
Sterling Silver Spice tower box container Besamin , Judaica , Israel .
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful spice tower with blocks decorations on the side. Is a box container. marked st 925 , Israel .
Sterling Silver
Set of Three Traditional Plaster Figures, circa 1950
Located in Barcelona, ES
Set of 3 traditional religious plaster figures. Made in traditional Catalan atelier in Olot, Spain, circa 1950. In original condition, with minor wear consistent with age and...
Plaster
Cabinet of Curiosities Sculptural Artwork on a Wooden Niche, circa 1950
Located in Barcelona, ES
Cabinet of curiosities of plaster figures and pieces in a wooden drawer. Made in traditional Catalan atelier in Olot, Spain, circa 1950. Olot has a long tradition in the produc...
Plaster, Wood
Cabinet of Curiosities Antique Book Sculptural Artwork, circa 1950
Located in Barcelona, ES
Cabinet of curiosities of plaster pieces and antique book artwork. Made in traditional Catalan atelier in Olot, Spain, circa 1950. Olot has a long tradition in the production o...
Plaster
Cabinet of Curiosities Sculptural Artwork, circa 1950
Located in Barcelona, ES
Cabinet of curiosities of plaster figures and pieces in a wooden drawer. Made in traditional Catalan atelier in Olot, Spain, circa 1950. Olot has a long tradition in the produc...
Plaster, Wood
Plaster Religious Traditional Wall Artwork of The Last Supper, circa 1950
Located in Barcelona, ES
Traditional religious plaster wall artwork depicting The Last Supper. Made in traditional Catalan atelier in Olot, Spain, circa 1950. In original condition, with minor wear con...
Plaster
Vintage Modernist Carved Walnut Crucifix / Cross Sculpture
Located in San Diego, CA
Vintage modernist carved walnut crucifix / cross sculpture, circa 1970s. The piece is signed on the underside and measures6.5"W x 2.5"D x 12.5"H. Very nice, well carved sculpture. ...
Wood
Catalan Virgin Wood Sculpture with Glass Eyes, Spain, 1940
Located in Barcelona, ES
Traditional religious wood Sculpture of a virgin. Made in Catalonia Spain, circa 1940. It's a beautiful piece of religious wood with glass eyes. In original condition, with ...
Wood
Cabinet of Curiosities Sculptural Wall Shelving Artwork, circa 1950
Located in Barcelona, ES
Cabinet of curiosities of plaster figures and pieces in a wooden drawer. Made in traditional Catalan atelier in Olot, Spain, circa 1950. Olot has a long tradition in the produc...
Plaster, Wood
Plaster Religious Handpainted Traditional Artwork, circa 1950
Located in Barcelona, ES
Traditional religious plaster handpainted wall artwork. Made in traditional Catalan atelier in Olot, Spain, circa 1950. In original condition, with minor wear consistent with a...
Plaster
Large and Very Rare Silver-Inlaid Antique Judaica Tray
Located in London, GB
A large and very rare silver-inlaid antique Judaica tray Jerusalem, c.1900 Height 2.5cm, diameter 62cm This large and remarkable work is a copper and silver-inlaid antique Jewish tray, featuring meticulous and exceptional metalwork, and was made in Jerusalem around the turn of the twentieth century. It features a twelve-fold repeating pictorial decoration, which is set between two circles, that of the central ring in which a large menorah...
Silver, Brass, Copper
$200Sale Price|20% Off
Modernist Silver Plate Menorah
Located in San Diego, CA
Modernist silver plate menorah, circa 1970s. The menorah is in fair condition with some spotting to the plate and measures 6.5"W x 4.25"D x 6.7...
Silver Plate
20th Century Oil Painting of Madonna and Child by Arnedo Linares, Spain
Located in Miami, FL
20th Century Oil Painting of Madonna and Child by Arnedo Linares, Spain (1925-2011) This oil depicting the "Desamparados Verge" patron saint of Valencia...
Bier judaica hammered silver Tzedakah Charity box , marked
By Bier
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Jizchak Bier founded in 1950's the Bier Judaica studio, to produce high quality silver judaica .
Silver
Cabinet of Curiosities Sculptural Artwork, circa 1950
Located in Barcelona, ES
Exquisite cabinet of Curiosities showcasing a stunning collection of plaster figures and pieces, reminiscent of a Classic sculpture museum. Olot has been a hub for sculpture and rel...
Plaster, Wood
Early 20th Century Antique Brass Judaica Menorah by the Bezalel Academy
Located in London, GB
An early 20th century antique brass Judaica Menorah by the Bezalel Academy, Jerusalem Israel, c.1930 Measures: 28cm high x 20cm wide x 5.5cm deep Ma...
Brass
$340Sale Price|20% Off
Modernist Stainless Steel & Brass Menorah by Shelly Turner for Alef Judaica
Located in San Diego, CA
Modernist chrome & brass menorah by Shelly Turner for Alef Judaica, circa 1990s. The menorah measures 9"W x 2"D x 4.5"H and is signed on the front side. I cannot make out the name; i...
Stainless Steel, Brass
Sterling Silver heavy Judaica Kiddish cup by Hazorfim , Israel
By Hazorfim
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful sterling silver Kiddish cup by Hazorfim , has a written pass raised in Hebrew wrapped around used normally in Sabbath .Looks like has a very light gold wash inside in pictu...
Sterling Silver
Cabinet of Curiosities Sculptural Artwork, circa 1950
Located in Barcelona, ES
Exquisite cabinet of Curiosities showcasing a stunning collection of plaster figures and pieces, reminiscent of a Classic sculpture museum. Olot has been a hub for sculpture and rel...
Plaster, Wood
Cabinet of Curiosities Drawer Sculptural Artwork, circa 1950
Located in Barcelona, ES
Cabinet of curiosities of plaster figures and pieces in a wooden niche. Made in traditional Catalan atelier in Olot, Spain, circa 1950. Olot has a long tradition in the product...
Plaster, Wood
Traditional Plaster Virgin Figure, Modern Style, Olot, Spain, 1950
Located in Barcelona, ES
Traditional religious plaster figure of a virgin. Made in traditional Catalan atelier in Olot, Spain, circa 1950. In original condition, with minor wear consistent with age and use...
Plaster
Cabinet of Curiosities Sculptural Artwork, circa 1950
Located in Barcelona, ES
Exquisite cabinet of Curiosities showcasing a stunning collection of plaster figures and pieces, reminiscent of a Classic sculpture museum. Olot has been a hub for sculpture and rel...
Plaster, Wood
Cabinet of Curiosities Drawer Sculptural Artwork, circa 1950
Located in Barcelona, ES
Cabinet of curiosities of plaster figures and pieces in a wooden niche. Made in traditional Catalan atelier in Olot, Spain, circa 1950. Olot has a long tradition in the product...
Plaster, Wood
Cabinet of Curiosities Antique Book Sculptural Artwork, circa 1950
Located in Barcelona, ES
Cabinet of curiosities of plaster pieces and antique book artwork. Made in traditional Catalan atelier in Olot, Spain, circa 1950. Olot has a long tradition in the production o...
Plaster, Wood
Modernist Cast Bronze Crucifix on Walnut Cross, French or Belgian, Circa 1960s
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Modernist Cast Bronze Crucifix on Walnut Cross, French or Belgian, circa 1960s A striking mid-20th century Modernist crucifix, featuring a cast bronze corpus of Christ mounted on a ...
Metal, Bronze
Cabinet of Curiosities Drawer Sculptural Artwork, circa 1950
Located in Barcelona, ES
Cabinet of curiosities of plaster figures and pieces in a wooden niche. Made in traditional Catalan atelier in Olot, Spain, circa 1950. Olot has a long tradition in the product...
Plaster, Wood
Cabinet of Curiosities Drawer Sculptural Artwork, circa 1950
Located in Barcelona, ES
Cabinet of curiosities of plaster figures and pieces in a wooden niche. Made in traditional Catalan atelier in Olot, Spain, circa 1950. Olot has a long tradition in the product...
Plaster, Wood
Postmodern 2000s Menorah Seven Arm Blue Fused Art Glass Bronze signed
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, a contemporary Jewish 7 Arm Menorah Jerusalem Sea blue fused art glass and bronze. The seven lamps allude to the branches of human knowledge, represented by ...
Bronze
Antique Balinese Hand-Carved Wooden Temple Offering Ornament - Tapel Gebogan
Located in San Diego, CA
Antique Balinese hand-carved wooden temple offering ornament known as a Tapel Gebogan, circa 1930s. Carved in the shape of a crowned female and hand painted, the piece is in good vin...
Wood
Choirboys Singing in Altar by Luque, Spain
Located in Miami, FL
Choirboys singing in altar, Luque, Spain. He was born in 1919. The author belongs to the Spanish expressionism. His most important exhibitions :New York and Chicago; US Embassy in M...
$3,294Sale Price|20% Off
21st Century Italian Sterling Silver Chalice
Located in VALENZA, IT
Solid sterling silver liturgical chalice, completely handmade. The base is hammered and embossed with arched motifs that facilitate its grip. The mi...
Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century Silver Mezuzah Case by Shuki Freiman
Located in New York, NY
Late 20th century silver Mezuzah case handmade by the artist Shuki Freiman. The base of the mezuzah case is adorned with floral engraving throughout, while the cylinder is decorated ...
Silver
Modern Tzedakah Box by Gruss
Located in New York, NY
This tzedakah (charity) box, crafted by Brooklyn-based artists Lorelei and Alex Gruss in the year 2000, is an exquisite example of Judaic artistry. The design features a silhouette of a cityscape, likely evoking Jerusalem, rendered in gold-toned metal with intricate cutouts. The background is inlaid with iridescent mother-of-pearl, lending the piece a luminous, ethereal quality. Beneath the cityscape, the Hebrew word “צדקה” (tzedakah) is prominently displayed, symbolizing the Jewish practice of charitable giving. Two decorative blue gemstones, set into two stars of David, enhance the front, adding a touch of color and sophistication. The box’s wooden structure complements the gold-toned metal and mother-of-pearl inlay, creating a harmonious blend of materials. This beautifully crafted tzedakah box...
Multi-gemstone, Brass
Handmade Sterling Silver and Gold-Plated Mezuzah Case Carmel Shabi Jerusalem
Located in New York, NY
This exquisite handmade Mezuzah case is a unique piece crafted in Jerusalem in 1986 by the renowned Israeli artist Carmel Shabi. Made of sterling silver (...
Silver
$973 / item
Two Brass Cross Ornament
Located in Antwerp, BE
This holy cross is carried in a procession. Brass cross ornament in great condition. The brass on this has great patina from age and use. The Cross has a strong stable base and this ...
Brass
Luigi Del Monte Modern Aluminum Hanukkah Lamp
Located in New York, NY
The Hanukkah Lamp by Luigi Del Monte, created in 1999, is a striking reinterpretation of the traditional Hanukkah menorah. Constructed from brushed aluminum, the lamp embraces minima...
Aluminum
Zelig Segal’s Modernist Aluminum Hanukkah Lamp
Located in New York, NY
This striking Hanukkah lamp, crafted by the renowned Israeli artist Zelig Segal, exemplifies a fusion of tradition and modernist design. Made from aluminum, the lamp features a minim...
Aluminum
AMERICAN EMPIRE STYLE DESKTOP INKWELL Begin 20th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
AMERICAN EMPIRE STYLE DESKTOP INKWELL Begin 20th Century in silver plated metal, mark on base of silversmith 'Reed & Barton' of Massachusetts, dated 1824-1928, decorated with a roya...
Silver, Silver Plate
Contemporary Brass and Aluminum Israeli Purim Noisemaker
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary Brass and Aluminum Israeli Purim Noisemaker This noisemaker features a modern, minimalist design with a combination of metal and colored elements. The central cylindri...
Aluminum, Brass
Painted Aluminum Hannukah Lamp by Luigi Del Monte
Located in New York, NY
This minimalist Hanukkah lamp created in 2002 by the Italian designer Luigi Del Monte, is made of painted aluminum in a striking blue finish. The lamp’s design features a linear arra...
Aluminum
A Purim Grogger by Jacobs late 20th Century
Located in New York, NY
A Purim Grogger by Jacobs in the late 20th Century Grogger (noisemaker) is shaped in the figure of a metallic fish with tan and red fins and attached to the m...
Metal
A Purim Grogger by Jacobs late 20th Century
Located in New York, NY
A Purim Grogger by Jacobs, made in the late 20th Century. Grogger (noisemaker) is shaped in the figure of a red and blue clown with his arms and legs outstretched and connected to t...
Metal
Pair of Silver Gilt Torah Finials or Rimonim by Moses Salkind, London, 1925
Located in London, GB
A pair of silver gilt Torah finials or Rimonim by Moses Salkind London, 1925 Height 41cm, diameter 9cm Moses Salkind & Co., based on Mulberry St. London, were leading makers of ...
Silver
Israeli Hand-Made Silver Spice Box
Located in New York, NY
This late 20th-century Israeli silver spice box showcases a handcrafted aesthetic by a local silversmith, though the maker’s signature on the base is partially illegible. The rectang...
Silver