Dennis Sakelson
Mid-20th Century American Modern Paintings
Paint
People Also Browsed
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Paintings
Canvas, Wood
Early 20th Century Japanese Art Deco Prints
Paper
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Teak
Vintage 1960s Italian Post-Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Polyester, Lacquer
Vintage 1960s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays
Aluminum
Mid-20th Century Chinese Vases
Brass
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Aluminum
Antique Mid-19th Century African Moorish Screens and Room Dividers
Bone, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Scandinavian Modern Armchairs
Fabric, Wood
20th Century Mid-Century Modern End Tables
Aluminum
Vintage 1950s Czech Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Steel
Vintage 1970s English Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Aluminum, Brass
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
Aluminum
Mid-20th Century French Modern End Tables
Steel, Zinc
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Chrome
Late 20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Vases
Ceramic, Stoneware, Pottery
A Close Look at modern Furniture
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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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.
Finding the Right decorative-art for You
Antique, new and vintage decorative art is crucial to personalizing your interior.
Bringing art into your home will help you create a warm and welcoming atmosphere, whether you are expecting to regularly host guests for cocktails in your living room or you are inclined to soak up some “me time” on weekends by curling up with a book in your library. After all, a room isn’t quite complete until you hang some art on the walls.
Choosing a piece of art for your interior is a matter of finding something that resonates with you. You should also consider what will work with your current decor. Keep in mind that a wide range of objects counts as decorative art — antique and vintage prints, paintings, wall-mounted sculptures and more. There is so much to choose from! And art can feel as deeply personal with the vintage posters that promoted your favorite classic films as it can with framed photographs of your loved ones.
Decorative art can set the mood for a room and will typically make for great conversation. When you find wall decor and decorations that speak to you, why not introduce them into your space? It will give you and your guests the opportunity to meaningfully engage with the art every time you see it. You can play with different styles, eras and colors. Mix and match pieces to integrate a refreshing pop of color or create a theme by dedicating a room to a color palette or certain time period. A great way to tie your layout together is to choose wall art that complements your decor and color scheme.
Folk art is an interesting category for its wide range of works across various media and the array of textures it can offer. Paper art is another versatile option because it will be easy to find a home for portraits, collages, drawings and other works in your space. With decorative paper art, you can also get creative with how you arrange your wall art. There are plenty of options that include hanging the works salon-style.
On 1stDibs, find a constantly growing collection of antique and vintage decorative art today.