The International Style, a modernist movement within architecture and furniture design that was given its name by American architect Philip Johnson and historian Henry-Russell Hitchcock, was born during the 1920s and ’30s. It gained steam initially in Europe and then in the United States as a response to the first World War. Building projects associated with the movement, as well as vintage International Style chairs, tables and other furnishings, are minimal and pared back.
Pioneers of the International Style — architect Walter Gropius and his Bauhaus colleagues Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Marcel Breuer, De Stijl advocate and Dutch architect J.J.P. Oud and visionary designer Le Corbusier — stripped away decorative elements and placed considerable value on functionality and clean lines, integrating the use of industrial materials like steel, concrete and large sheets of glass in their work. Quite aptly, this mode of design and architectural style coincided with an era now known as the Machine Age and became a global symbol of modernism. The primary motive of its practitioners was to address the changing needs of a rapidly industrializing society, especially the demand for office complexes and apartments in large cities, through economical, technologically advanced, yet aesthetically pleasing designs for furniture and buildings.
“Space and light and order. Those are the things that men need just as much as they need bread or a place to sleep,” said Le Corbusier of the philosophy behind his practical modernist architecture.
The International Style’s designers and architects were inspired by the advantages afforded them by the era’s new technology and industrial machinery as well as state-of-the-art materials. Le Corbusier was fond of framing his buildings in steel but reinforced concrete made far more economic sense. He is probably most admired for the iconic private homes and commercial buildings that he designed or codesigned with his cousin Pierre Jeanneret, which are spread across the world, from New York City to Paris to Chandigarh, India. Today, Breuer’s Wassily Lounge chair; the elegant LC series created by Le Corbusier, Jeanneret and Charlotte Perriand; and Mies van der Rohe’s Barcelona chair, crafted with his romantic partner, designer Lilly Reich, are emblems of progressive modernist design and all make prominent use of tubular steel. Vintage originals are the prized cornerstone of collections.
“The International Style is probably the first fundamentally original and widely distributed style since the Gothic,” posited Johnson in the book that accompanied “Modern Architecture: International Exhibition,” an architectural show he cocurated with Hitchcock that featured the work of Frank Lloyd Wright, Le Corbusier, Richard Neutra and others. While the term “International Style” had previously been circulating in Europe, when the show opened at the Museum of Modern Art in 1932, it yielded a much broader application of this important style of design.
Find International Style furniture on 1stDibs.
Very Fine Detailed Figural Peruvian Shipibo Conibo Pottery Effigy Pot or Vase
Located in Red Lion, PA
Very Fine Detailed Figural Peruvian Shipibo-Conibo Pottery Effigy Pot or Vase This beautifully detailed figural pottery effigy pot was crafted by the Shipibo-Conibo people of Peru, ...
Terracotta
Dutch Delft Blue Handpainted Vase
By Delft
Located in Waddinxveen, ZH
Nice handpainted Delft blue pottery vase.
Ceramic
Dutch Delft Blue Handpainted Vase
By Delft
Located in Waddinxveen, ZH
Nice Delft blue pottery vase, handprinted by Gewina Delft.
Ceramic
Aureliano Toso vase in Murano glass circa 1970.
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Wonderful attributed Aureliano Toso vase in Murano glass circa 1970. Perfect conditions.
Murano Glass
Alfredo Barbini Murano glass multicolor circa 1950 vase.
By Barbini
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible Alfredo Barbini Murano glass multicolor circa 1950 vase.
Murano Glass
Large Tina Aufiero for Venini circa 1983 "Alboino" Murano glass green vase
By Tina Aufiero
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible and large Tina Aufiero for VENINI circa 1983 "Alboino" green vase. Labeled.
Murano Glass
Dino Martens bicolor Murano glass with venturine vase circa 1950
By Dino Martens
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible Dino Martens Murano glass bicolor with venturine vase circa 1950
Murano Glass
AVeM Murano glass multicolor vase circa 1950 "Bizantino"
By Arte Vetraria Muranese (AVEM)
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible AVeM Murano glass multicolor vase circa 1950 "Bizantino"
Murano Glass
Alessandro Mandruzzato Murano glass red and yellow circa 1950 vase
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible large Alessandro Mandruzzato Murano glass red and yellow circa 1950 vase.
Murano Glass
TINA AUFIERO vase by VENINI in Murano glass "Alboino" circa 1983
By Tina Aufiero
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Wonderful TINA AUFIERO "Alboino" vase by VENINI circa 1983.
Murano Glass
AVeM Murano glass multicolor vase circa 1950
By Arte Vetraria Muranese (AVEM)
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible AVEM Murano glass multicolor vase circa 1950 "Bizantino".
Murano Glass
Dino Martens Aureliano Toso pigmentati iridium tall vase circa 1950
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible tall and rare Aureliano Toso iridium pigmentati vase circa 1950
Murano Glass
Seguso Vetri dArte Murano glass vase circa 1950.
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Seguso Vetri dArte vase in Murano glass circa 1950.
Murano Glass
Barovier&Toso Murano glass rubi circa 1950 vase.
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible Barovier&Toso Murano glass rubi iridescent circa 1950 vase.
Murano Glass
Seguso Vetri dArte Murano glass green circa 1950 "corroso" vase.
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible Seguso Vetri dArte Murano glass circa 1950 "corroso"green vase.
Murano Glass
Archimede Seguso Murano glass bicolor with applications and gold 1950 vase.
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible Archimede Seguso Murano glass bicolor with applications circa 1950 vase.
Murano Glass
AVeM Murano glass multicolor vase circa 1950 "Bizantino"
By Arte Vetraria Muranese (AVEM)
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible AVeM murano multicolor vase "Bizantine" serie circa 1950
Murano Glass
Tyra Lungren Murano glass black iridized vase circa 1960
By Venini
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible Venini&C by Tyra Lungren Murano glass iridized black vase with two necks circa 1960
Murano Glass
Aureliano Toso vase in Murano glass emerald circa 1950.
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Wonderful vase in Murano glass emerald attributed to Aureliano Toso circa 1950.
Murano Glass
Napoleone Martinuzzi Murano glass circa 1930 Art deco vase.
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible Napoleone Martinuzzi circa 1930 Murano glass vase Art deco.
Murano Glass
Seguso Vetri dArte Murano glass green "corroso" circa 1950 vase.
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible Seguso Vetri dArte Murano glass green "corroso" vase circa 1950
Murano Glass
Carlo Scarpa Murano glass blue with gold circa 1950 vase.
By Carlo Scarpa
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible, in the style of Carlo Scarpa Murano glass blue with gold circa 1930 vase.
Murano Glass
Barovier & Toso Murano glass vase bicolor with applied glass circa 1950.
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Wonderful Barovier&Toso vase in Murano glass bicolor circa 1950.
Murano Glass
Dino Martens vase in Murano glass circa 1950
By Dino Martens
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Wonderful vase in Murano glass attributed to DINO MARTENS in perfect conditions circa 1950.
Murano Glass
Archimede Seguso Murano glass gold vase "Cartoccio" circa 1950
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible Archimede Seguso Murano glass vase caroccio" circa 1950.
Murano Glass
Large Fratelli Toso Murano glass bicolor vase
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible Fratelli Toso Murano glass bicolor vase circa 1950. Big.
Murano Glass
Barovier&Toso "cordonato oro" tall vase circa 1950
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible tall vase by Barovier&Toso "cordonato oro" circa 1950. Beautiful and perfect.
Murano Glass
Barovier&Toso Murano glass with silver and gold center piece circa 1950
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible Barovier &Toso Murano glass center piece with silver and gold circa 1950
Murano Glass
PAULI&C Murano glass black and white circa 1990 vase
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible attributed PAULI&C. Murano black and white vase circa 1990.
Murano Glass
Silver and gold center piece with two Mermen circa 1850.
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible and large silver and gold center piece attributed to FABERGE with two mermen. Fantastic.
Gold, Silver
Archimede Seguso Murano glass "Cartoccio oro" circa 1950 vase.
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible Archimede Seguso Murano glass "Cartoccio oro" vase circa 1950.
Murano Glass
Large Dino Martens Murano glass green "pulegoso" vase circa 1950 model 2298.
By Dino Martens
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible Dino Martens for Aureliano Toso Murano glass green "pulegoso" vase circa 1950 model 2298 (Dino Martens Marc Heiremans.)
Murano Glass
Alessandro Mandruzzato Murano glass blue and yellow circa 1950 vase
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible Alessandro Mandruzzato Murano glass blue and yellow circa 1950 vase.
Murano Glass
A.Tagliapietra Murano glass black woman vase circa 1970
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
A. Tagliapietra vase in Murano glass circa 1970.
Murano Glass
$211Sale Price|20% Off
Large Enameled Ceramic Vase by Scheurich, Germany, 1970
By West German Pottery, Scheurich Keramik
Located in London, England
This very large ceramic Sheurich vase is a striking piece that attracts all eyes. With its 42 cm height, it has a black background adorned with ethnic motifs of a bright blood red, a...
Ceramic
Seguso Vetri D'Arte Murano red vase
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Vaso em vidro artistico soprado de Murano sendo peça unica em cor exuberante e perfeito estado de conservação.
Murano Glass
Fratelli Toso Murano glass multicolor circa 1970 vase
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible Fratelli Toso Murano glass multicolor circa 1970 vase.
Murano Glass
Tina Aufiero vase bicolor in Murano glass circa 1970.
By Tina Aufiero
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Wonderful vase in Murano glass attributed to Tina Aufiero in perfect conditions circa 1970.
Murano Glass
$642Sale Price|20% Off
Bertoncello , Vases . Tobacco Glaze
By Bertoncello
Located in Glasgow, GB
This is a beautiful pair of eramic vases by Bertoncello of Italy. Tobacco glaze which was very popular in Europe in the early 1960's 2 pieces One piece 30 cm in height by 17cm wid...
Ceramic
AVeM Murano glass multicolor vase circa 1950 "Bizantino"
By Arte Vetraria Muranese (AVEM)
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible AVeM Murano glass multicolor vase circa 1950 vase "Bizantino"
Murano Glass
Seguso. Vetri dArte Murano Glass white "Corroso" vase circa 1950
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible Seguso Vetri dArte Murano glass circa 1950 white vase with applied glass.
Murano Glass
Large Fratelli Toso Murano glass multicolor circa 1950 vase.
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible Fratelli toso Murano glass multicolor circa 1950 vase.
Murano Glass
Contemporary Minimalist Brass and Glass Solitary Vase V3
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
V3 vase - Monstera by Paulo Goldstein, Brazilian contemporary design is part of a series of vases inspired in the observation of the natural lines of the flowers and leaves held in t...
Brass, Steel
Large Aureliano Toso Murano glass bicolor circa 1950 vase.
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible Aureliano Toso Murano glass bicolor circa 1950 vase.
Murano Glass
Monumental BAROVIER&TOSO vase in Murano glass circa 1970.
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Monumental and wonderful Barovier&Toso vase in Murano glass circa 1970.
Murano Glass
Tall Orrefors scandinavian bicolor 1950 glass vase
By Orrefors
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible Tall Orrefors scandinavian bicolor 1950 glass vase.
Glass
Seguso Vetri dArte vase in Murano glass circa 1950 "corroso".
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Wonderful vase in Murano glass circa 1950 by Seguso Vetri dArte " corroso ".
Murano Glass
Archimede Seguso italian bicolor 1950 Murano Glass 'Coronato oro' vase.
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible and big Archimede Seguso Murano glass circa 1950 "Coronato oro" vase.
Murano Glass
Seguso Vetri dArte Murano glass vase circa 1950
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Seguso Vetri dArte Murano glass vase circa 1950.
Murano Glass
SEGUSO VETRI dARTE vase in Murano glass circa 1950.
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Wonderful SEGUSO VETRI DARTE vase in bicolor Murano glass circa 1950
Murano Glass
Tina Aufiero by Venini circa 1980
By Tina Aufiero
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Wonderful Tina Aufiero vase in Murano glass.
Murano Glass
Dino Martens Italian Multicolor 1950 Murano Glass "Fazzoletto"
By Dino Martens
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible Dino Martens italian Murano glass multicolor circa 1950 "fazzoletto" vase with applied glass.
Murano Glass
Murano glass in blue Cornucopia vase circa 1950
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible Murano glass in intense blue cornucopia vase circa 1950
Murano Glass
Dino Martens vase by Aureliano Toso circa 1950
By Dino Martens
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Rare vase by Dino Martens for Aureliano Toso circa 1950
Murano Glass
Large Barovier&Toso Murano vase circa 1950 coral and black.
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible and large Barovier&Toso (attributed) Murano vase circa 1950 coral and black
Murano Glass
Loetz glass style circa 1950 vase.
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
wonderful vase in Loetz glass style circa 1950. Perfect conditions.
Art Glass
Vase in ceramic signed .Dubois
By Paul Dubois
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Vase in ceramic signed P Dubois and dated 67 in perfect conditions
Ceramic
Fratelli Toso Murano glass multicolor vase circa 1950
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible Fratelli Toso Murano glass multicolor vase circa 1950
Murano Glass
Large Venini Murano glass gray, black and gold circa 1950 vase
By Venini
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible large VENINI Murano glass gray, black and gold circa 1950 vase.
Murano Glass
Contemporary Minimalist Golden / Black and Glass Solitary Vase V3
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
V3 vase - Monstera by Paulo Goldstein, Brazilian contemporary design is part of a series of vases inspired in the observation of the natural lines of the flowers and leaves held in t...
Brass, Steel