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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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.
Vintage Glazed Studio Pottery Bird Form Pitcher - Unsigned - Late 20th Century
Located in Chatham, ON
Vintage glazed studio pottery bird form pitcher with long beak - wheel thrown - splash glaze decorated - applied "eyes" - unsigned - 20th century. ...
Ceramic
Modern Glass Pitcher, Blue Stripes with Red Rim, USA, 20th Century
Located in Queens, NY
Clear glass pitcher with horizontal blue stripes and a red rim
Glass
Albali Carlo Moretti Contemporary Mouth Blown Murano Clear Glass Decanter
Located in IT
Carlo Moretti Albali contemporary mouth blown Murano clear glass decanter, signed and dated. ...
Murano Glass
21st Century Italian Sterling Silver Modern Pitcher
By Greggio
Located in VALENZA, IT
Sterling silver jug with a modern, essential and minimalist line. Made with a shiny finish, it was worked starting from two 925 silver sheets, obtaining a space between the internal ...
Sterling Silver
Pol Chambost, France. Ceramic pitcher with gray-toned glaze.
Located in København, Copenhagen
Pol Chambost (1906-1983), France. Ceramic pitcher with gray-toned glaze. From the 1960s. In perfect condition. Signed "Languedoc-Toulouse - Pol Chambost - Made in France." Dimensions...
Ceramic
$1,978
English Silver Water Jug
Located in London, GB
An English sterling silver water jug of unusual design. This lovely water jug has a wood handle. Made in London, 1933 by Edward Barnard & Sons.
Silver
Stuart Devlin - Martini Pitcher in Sterling Silver - London 1968
Located in London, London
Hallmarked in London in 1968 by Stuart Devlin, this striking Elizabeth II sterling silver martini pitcher features an elegant, tapered cylindrical form with a stylishly slanted rim a...
Sterling Silver
Japanese Arita Porcelain Carafe 'InVersi L'
Located in Trequanda (SI), Trequanda (SI)
This poetic carafe, designed by GumDesign and handcrafted in Japan by Risogama for Hands on Design, is a fusion of Italian creativity and Japanese tradition. A small blue bird appear...
Porcelain
Carl-Harry Stålhane Stoneware Pitcher, Modern Design, Denmark, 1950s
Located in San Francisco, CA
A cinnamon colored stoneware water jug for Rorstrand. Inscribed on base with makers initials and studio mark.
Stoneware
Joel Edwards Pottery / Ceramic Pitcher/ Carafe, Signed
By Joel Edwards
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful pitcher with an abstract glaze. Edwards studied with very important potters in his time like Peter Voulkos, Marguerite Wildenhain and Soji Hamada.
Pottery
Vintage F. Hingelberg Pitcher by Svend Weihrauch 204
Located in Hellerup, DK
Svend Weihrauch designed this pitcher in 1941 for F. Hingelberg of Aarhus, one of Denmark’s premier silversmiths of the period. Its smooth sterling form is set off by an ivory handle, and the hand craftsmanship is of the highest quality. The handle is not cracked; its markings are natural patina from age. An ebonite ring...
Sterling Silver
Polly Big Carafe in Blown in a Mold Glass Designed by Aldo Cibic
By Aldo Cibic
Located in Milan, IT
Polly large jug in mold-blown glass is one of Paola C.'s icons and one of the favorite pieces created by designer Aldo Cibic, who defines it as "a simple glass jug." Behind this simp...
Glass
Pitcher, Pure Solid Silver, Luxory Wedding Gift, Made in Italy, 2024
By K-OVER
Located in Firenze, IT
The K-OVER Pitcher has been designed to enrich any table and occasion with a touch of luxury tableware, making it perfect for both special occasions and everyday use. Like all our pr...
Silver
Pitcher, Solid Pure Silver, Best Luxory Wedding Gift , Hand Made in Italy, 2026
By K-OVER
Located in Firenze, IT
The K-OVER Pitcher has been designed to enrich our tables for special occasions as well as for everyday life. This particular pitcher belongs to our Crocodile Collection and, like al...
Silver
$1,978
English Silver Water Jug
Located in London, GB
An English sterling silver water jug of unusual design. This lovely water jug has a wood handle. Made in London, 1933 by Edward Barnard & Sons.
Silver
$7,272 / item
Vaza Yugen Ceramic Jug by Makhno
Located in Geneve, CH
Vaza Yugen Ceramic Jug by Makhno Dimensions: D 59 x W 59 x H 53 cm. Materials: Ceramic. VAZA YUGEN is incredibly skillful and very authentic. It seems that it is many centuries old....
Ceramic
$2,750 / set
Italian Modernist .800 Silver Pitchers
Located in Norwalk, CT
Hallmarked 445 MI and .800. Weight: 55.25 ozt.
Silver
20th Century Blown Glass Jug by Kjell Engman
By Kjell Engman
Located in Firenze, FI
A stunning jug in blown glass by the Swedish glass artist Kjell Engman for Kosta Boda. This unique piece, of beautiful shape and colors is in exellent condition. Second half of the 2...
Glass
$273 / item
21st Century Blown Glass "Dafne Bottle"
By Andrea Barra, [1+2=8]
Located in Milano, IT
Yes, it's true, it's a bottle, a decanter, but it is also an excuse to embellish the table, a even if you only load it with water, the "twisted" processing of the glass, gives ...
Murano Glass, Blown Glass
21st Century Blown Glass "Dafne Bottle with 2 Glasses"
By [1+2=8], Andrea Barra
Located in Milano, IT
Yes, it's true, it's a bottle, a decanter, but it is also an excuse to embellish the table, a even if you only load it with water, the "twisted" processing of the glass, gives ...
Blown Glass, Murano Glass
Vintage Italian Sterling Silver Jug / Pitcher / Ewer circa 1960 Water Cocktail
Located in London, GB
A stylish Vintage Italian Jug with an understated elegant straight sided design displaying the luster of plain polished silver. The Jug has subtle spout which has a straight geometri...
Sterling Silver
Set of 2 Peel Pitchers by Rodrigo Lobato Yáñes
Located in Geneve, CH
Peel pitcher by Rodrigo Lobato Yáñes Dimensions: H 8.1” x W 5.2” x D 5.2" Materials: Slip casting, glazing and single firing process Platalea studio was born out of a passion fo...
Ceramic
Martin Keane - Sterling Silver 'Yin Yang Carafe' - London 2015
Located in London, London
Hallmarked in London in 2015 by Martin Keane this sterling silver wine ewer or water jug is a striking, sculptural form, with a highly polished surface. Documented as the 'Yin Yang C...
Sterling Silver
$6,612 / item
Hlek Tonkyi Ceramic Pitcher Vase by Makhno
Located in Geneve, CH
Hlek Tonkyi Ceramic Pitcher Vase by Makhno Dimensions: D 70 x W 70 x H 90 cm. Materials: Ceramic. HLEK TONKYI is a huge pitcher vase that looks stunning as an independent art object...
Ceramic
Pelota Pitcher in Matte Pink Glazed Ceramic by Eguiarte & Eguiarte
Located in Geneve, CH
Pelota Pitcher in Matte Pink Glazed Ceramic by Eguiarte & Eguiarte Materials: Ceramic. Dimensions: D 23,5 x W 10 x H 25,5 cm. Available in different ceramic color options. The capac...
Ceramic
$1,251 / item
Bumps 2.0 Cobalt Blue Carafe by Arkadiusz Szwed
Located in Geneve, CH
Bumps 2.0 cobalt blue carafe by Arkadiusz Szwed Dimensions: L 14 x W 13 x H 20 cm Materials: Porcelain Arkadiusz Szwed designs and produce ceramic products. He lives in Warsaw ...
Porcelain
$413 / item
Ceramic Milk Jug
Located in Geneve, CH
Ceramic Milk Jug Dimensions: Diameter 15cm x height 21cm Materials: Ceramic. Anthracite stoneware clay. Pigment. Technique: Hand-crafted. Glazed. Bic...
Ceramic
$216 / item
Nocturnal Pitcher by Rodrigo Lobato Yáñes
Located in Geneve, CH
Nocturnal pitcher by Rodrigo Lobato Yáñes Dimensions: H 9.8'' x W 5.6'' x D 5.6 " Materials: Slip casting, glazing, and single firing process Platalea studio was born out of a p...
Ceramic