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Modern Decorative Boxes

MODERN STYLE

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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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 chaircrafted 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.

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Style: Modern
Set/2 Pineapple Ceramic Pots, White, Handmade in Portugal by Lusitanus Home
Located in Lisboa, PT
Pineapple Decorative Pots, Lusitanus Home Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Lusitanus Home. This beautiful set includes two wa...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Gold

Set/5 Ceramic Pots, White, Handmade in Portugal by Lusitanus Home
Located in Lisboa, PT
Hailey & Henry Pots, Lusitanus Home Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Lusitanus Home. This beautiful set includes two waterproof ceramic vases and three pots, perfect ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Ceramic

Set/2 Boxes, White and Light-Blue, Handmade in Portugal by Lusitanus Home
Located in Lisboa, PT
Lanzarote Boxes, Lusitanus Home Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Lusitanus Home. Lanzarote box set includes two wooden boxes, perfect to be displayed together and enr...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Gold Leaf

Set/2 Boxes, Aged Silver, Handmade in Portugal by Lusitanus Home
Located in Lisboa, PT
Madagáscar Boxes, Lusitanus Home Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Lusitanus Home. Madagáscar box set includes two wooden boxes, perfect to be displayed together and e...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass

Maitland Smith Brown Penshell Cube Decorative Box
Located in Stamford, CT
1980s decorative pen shell cube box attributed to Maitland Smith. Medium brown pen shell with dark gray tessellated stone accents. Wood lined box. No ma...
Category

1980s American Vintage Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Shell, Wood

Samples Vienna Chair
Located in Milan, Lombardy
Samples of wood for chairs. Included in the envelope - 1 piece beech wood natural finishing - 1 piece Cane, straw - 1 piece Beech wood stained Canaletto walnut - 1 piece Colé I...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Wood

Set/2 Porcelain Vases, Tang Vases, White, Handmolded & Hand Decorated
Located in Lisboa, PT
Set/2 Tang Porcelain Vases, Lusitanus Home Collection by Lusitanus Home. Real chinese porcelain vase produced by hand with traditional methods. Waterproof. The nacre finish makes ea...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Porcelain

Set/2 Pineapple Ceramic Pots, Black, Handmade in Portugal by Lusitanus Home
Located in Lisboa, PT
Pineapple Decorative Pots, Lusitanus Home Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Lusitanus Home. This beautiful set includes two waterproof ceramic pots with lid, perfect t...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Gold

Set/5 Vases, Ceramic Vases, White, Handmade in Portugal by Lusitanus Home
Located in Lisboa, PT
Steele & Hardy Vases, Lusitanus Home Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Lusitanus Home. This beautiful set includes five waterproof ceramic vases, perfect to be display...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Ceramic

Tronador Square Blue Onyx Stone Box
Located in Buenos Aires, AR
The shape of the inactive Tronador volcano reminded us of the pyramid shaped idea of our boxes that make up this collection. With a rectangular or square base, the box is a reflectio...
Category

2010s Argentine Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Stone, Onyx

21st Century Leather Tilting Lid Waste Bin Handmade in Italy
Located in Bagnatica, Lombardia
A cylindrical and contemporary silhouette with subtle detail. Our round metal bin with tilting lid is perfectly sized for use in the bathroom. More than 30 harmonious shades can be paired with our modern bathroom...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Leather

TRONADOR Rectangular Brown Onyx Stone Box
Located in Buenos Aires, AR
The shape of the inactive Tronador volcano reminded us of the pyramid shaped idea of our boxes that make up this collection. With a rectangular or square base, the box is a reflectio...
Category

2010s Argentine Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Stone, Onyx

Set/5 Ceramic Pots, White & Grey, Handmade in Portugal by Lusitanus Home
Located in Lisboa, PT
Graham pots, Lusitanus Home Collection, handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Lusitanus Home. This beautiful set includes three waterproof ceramic pots with lid, perfect to be displ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Ceramic

Set/2 Boxes, Wooden Boxes, Cream, Handmade in Portugal by Lusitanus Home
Located in Lisboa, PT
Dandara Boxes, Lusitanus Home Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Lusitanus Home. Dandara box set includes two wooden boxes, perfect to be displayed together and enrich ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass, Gold Leaf, Metal

Set/2 Pots, Ceramic Pots, Green, Handmade in Portugal by Lusitanus Home
Located in Lisboa, PT
Chaucer Pots, Lusitanus Home Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Lusitanus Home. This beautiful set includes two waterproof ceramic pots with lid, perfect to be displayed together and enrich your room decor. Each piece has its own elegant silhouette in mint-green glazed ceramic with gloss finish plus hand turned beech wood base and lid lacquered in bronze gold-powder. Set of 2 Ceramic Pots Chaucer...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Gold Leaf, Brass

Contemporary Bronze Incense Box or ashtray, LINES by Reda Amalou, 2020
Located in Paris, FR
The bronze incense box or ashtray is designed with a patterned removable top. The motif used here, a repetition of lines and voids, has been developed by Reda Amalou and is used in s...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass, Bronze

Guilherme Small Agate Box in Black and Gold by CuratedKravet
Located in Woodbury, NY
A small decorative black wooden box featuring a gold plated, natural agate slice. Due to the natural material of the agate slice, size, shape and color will vary.            
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Stone

Harvey Box in Ivory and Brown by Curatedkravet
Located in Woodbury, NY
An ivory and brown decorative bone and resin box featuring contrasting stripe details.        
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Resin

Peoria Box in Natural and Gray Bone by CuratedKravet
Located in Woodbury, NY
A lidded gray and natural bone box with a checkerboard pattern on the lid and stripes on the base of the box.  
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Bone

Winslow Box in Natural and Black Bone by CuratedKravet
Located in Woodbury, NY
A bone box featuring a contrasting dot pattern.  
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Bone

Yuma Box in Natural Bone by CuratedKravet
Located in Woodbury, NY
A bone box with spike bone details on the lid.  
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Bone

James Box in Ivory and Black Bone by CuratedKravet
Located in Woodbury, NY
An ivory and black striped decorative resin and bone box.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Bone

Contemporary Bronze Ashtray, LINES by Reda Amalou, 2015
Located in Paris, FR
The solid bronze ashtray is designed with a patterned removable top. The motif used here, a repetition of lines and voids, has been developed by Reda Amalou and is used in several pieces of the Reda Amalou Collection. The Bronze ashtray is 135 x 135 x 65mm H This design exists also in a tiny incense...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass, Bronze

Ghidini 1961 Small Knotted Cherry Box in Polished Brass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Small box available in brass and rose gold finishes.   
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass

"David" Leather Box Designed by Claude Bouchard for Oscar Maschera
Located in Brooklyn, NY
"David" is a leather box, designed by Claude Bouchard and manufactured by Oscar Maschera, made of genuine Italian leather vegetable tanned. Colors combination to be chosen from the ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Leather

Asprey English Modern Sterling Silver Box, 1928
Located in New York, NY
George V sterling silver box. Made by Asprey in Birmingham in 1928. Rectangular with curved corners. Cover hinged with gently curved top and scrolled tab. Box interior cedar lined. C...
Category

1920s British Vintage Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Sterling Silver

Large Hand Blown Murano Glass Box in Onyx Black W/24 Karat Gold Flecks
Located in New York, NY
This stunning modernist decorative box was realized in Murano, Italy- the island off the coast of Venice renowned for centuries for its superlative glass production. It features a vo...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Murano Glass

Set/8 Ceramic Jars & Pots, White & Pink, Handmade in Portugal by Lusitanus Home
Located in Lisboa, PT
Set/8 Ceramic Jars & Pots, Lusitanus Home Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Lusitanus Home. This beautiful set includes five ceramic jars and three ceramic pots, both ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Ceramic

Set/2 Porcelain Vase & Pot, White, Handmolded & Hand Decorated
Located in Lisboa, PT
Set/Tang Porcelain vase and Sunce pot with lid, Lusitanus Home Collection by Lusitanus Home. Real chinese porcelain waterproof vase and port with li...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Porcelain

Set/ 3 Ceramic Pieces, Pearl Grey, Handmade in Portugal by Lusitanus Home
Located in Lisboa, PT
Serafim, Rocha and Alcobaça Decorative Pieces, Lusitanus Home Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Lusitanus Home. This beautiful set includes one waterproof ceramic pot ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Ceramic

Kleenera Travertine Marble Tissue Holder
Located in Mexico City, MX
Indulge in the epitome of opulence with the Kleenera Tissue Holder, a creation meticulously hand carved from pure, pristine marble. Crafted with artisanal expertise, this objet trans...
Category

2010s Mexican Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Marble

1990s Modern Design Silver Plated French Jewelry Box by Christofle
Located in Aci Castello, IT
A stylish three-level round silver-plated box, designed by KT Studio for Christofle in 1998 with input from Thomas Keller and Adam Tihany, is a remarkable piece of modernist craftsma...
Category

Late 20th Century French Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Silver Plate

Bitossi Italian Piume Feather Bird Box
Located in Indianapolis, IN
A box in the Piume pattern produced by Bitossi. Made in Italy, this box is in the shape of a bird with a rainbow feather design throughout. The lower part of the box is teardrop-shap...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Ceramic

Set/3 Porcelain Vases, DiaoChan Vases, White, Handmolded & Hand Decorated
Located in Lisboa, PT
Set/3 DiaoChan Porcelain Vases, Lusitanus Home Collection by Lusitanus Home. Real chinese porcelain vase produced by hand with traditional methods. Waterproof. The nacre finish make...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Porcelain

Lacquered Solid Wood Modern Minimal Modular Drawers from Costantini, Baccello
Located in New York, NY
Baccello lacquered solid wood Modern minimal modular drawers from Costantini. Each unit measures 20" x 20" x 5" high. 6 units as shown. Each one...
Category

2010s Argentine Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Wood

Contemporary Handmade Square Box "Elaphos" in Marble and Brass Handle by Anaktae
Located in Athens, GR
Contemporary, handcrafted, square jewelry box, model "Elaphos" in marble with a deer-shaped handle in cast oxidized brass. Interior suede lining. Va...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Greek Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Marble, Brass

Contemporary Handmade Rectangular Box "Elaphos" Marble - Brass Handle by Anaktae
Located in Athens, GR
Contemporary, handcrafted, rectangular jewelry box, model "Elaphos" in marble with a deer-shaped handle in cast oxidized brass. Interior suede lining. Variations are available in cus...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Greek Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Marble, Brass

Ghidini 1961 Small Knotted Cherry Box in Rose Gold Finish
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Small box available in brass and rose gold finishes.  
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass

Cartier American Modern Sterling Silver Box
Located in New York, NY
Modern sterling silver box, ca 1920. Retailed by Cartier in New York. Rectangular with straight sides. Cover hinged with curved top and overhanging rim. Interior cedar lined. Fully m...
Category

Early 20th Century American Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Sterling Silver

Hand-made ceramic Beetle Box by South African artist
Located in North Miami, FL
This Beetle Box was hand sculpted by the renowned artisan Sbusiso Ndaba and beautifully painted by Sabelo Nene both from South Africa. This exquisite cerami...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary African Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Ceramic

Two Garouste and Bonetti Bronze Boxes for the Collection of Herbert Blome 2001
Located in Milan, IT
Two Garouste and Bonetti Bronze Boxes for the Collection of Herbert Blome 2001 Both are fully signed
Category

Early 2000s French Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Bronze

Tiffany American Modern Sterling Silver Box
Located in New York, NY
Modern sterling silver box. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York, ca 1913. Rectangular with straight sides. Cover hinged with gently curved top and molded rim. Box interior cedar lined....
Category

Early 20th Century American Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Sterling Silver

Modernist Hand-Blown Amber Murano Glass Box with Brass Fittings
Located in New York, NY
This warm and elegant Modernist Hand-Blown Murano Glass Box in Amber W/ Brass Fittings originates from Italy during the 21st Century. A sleek and minimal piece with incredible hues a...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass

Modernist Hand-Blown Murano Octagonal Glass Box in Emerald w/ Brass Fittings
Located in New York, NY
This beautifully colored and elegant Modernist Hand-Blown Murano Octagonal Glass Box in Emerald W/Brass Fittings originates from Italy during the 21st Century. Features an octagonal ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass

Gabriella Crespi Small Brass Container Box, Italy 1970s
Located in Milan, IT
Gabriella Crespi Small Brass Container Box. Italy 1970s Carries the Initials E.L. Signed at the base Gabriella Crespi.
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass

Modernist Hand-Blown Murano Gray Bullicante Detailed & Brass Fitted Glass Box
Located in New York, NY
This sleek and beautifully formed Modernist Hand-Blown Murano Glass Box W/Grey Bullicante Detailing and Brass Fittings originates from Italy during the 21st Century. This box is rect...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass

Modernist Hand-Blown Murano Spotted Jet Black & Clear Glass Box w/ Brass Fitting
Located in New York, NY
This chic and sophisticated Modernist Hand-Blown Murano Glass Box in Spotted Jet Black & Clear Glass W/Brass Fittings originates from Italy during the 21st Century. Features a rectil...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass

Modernist Hand-Blown Murano Glass Box in Lavender with Nickel Fittings
Located in New York, NY
This sleek and highly elegant Modernist Hand-Blown Murano Glass Box in Lavender with Nickel Fittings originates from Italy during the 21st Century. This particular box has transparen...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Nickel

Japanese Kazaribako Glass Box Kyohei Fujita
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Kazaribako "Ornamented Box" made of glass by Japanese artist Kyohei Fujita (1921-2004) circa 1980s. The hand-blown glass box with fitting lid is of an oval shape, slightly irregula...
Category

1980s Japanese Vintage Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Silver

Bone, Horn Patchwork Box
Located in New York, NY
Decorative keepsake, jewelry box clad in geometric horn and bone tiles, some with hand engraving, lined in wood. A great addition to any desk or coffee table.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Bone, Horn, Wood

Modernist Hand-Blown Murano Glass Box in Aquamarine w/ 24 Karat Gold Flecks
Located in New York, NY
This serenely gorgeous Modernist Hand-Blown Murano Glass Box in Aquamarine W/24 Karat Gold Flecks & Brass Fittings originates from Italy during the 21st Century. Features a rounded t...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass

Fornasetti Wooden and Metal Box Serratura Black/White
Located in MILANO, IT
Like all Fornasetti accessories, the boxes turn an everyday action into an aesthetic experience. The Fornasetti boxes are a whimsical place to keep your most precious items. This ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Metal

Modernist Black Mirror Box w/ Beveled & Sliced Gilt Geode Detailing
Located in New York, NY
This sleek and well adorned Modernist Black Mirror Box with Beveled & Sliced Gilt Geode Detailing originates from the United States during the latter half of the 20th Century. Featur...
Category

20th Century American Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Mirror

Mid 20th Century Brass & Ceramic Scaredy Cat Box
Located in Seguin, TX
Ceramic box glazed to look like copper verdigris. Top is brass with small highly detailed cast brass cat. Signed Paoly on bottom, wear to botton, overall patina to brass. Dimensio...
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass

Contemporary American Modern Large Seashell Box
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary American Modern rectangular box, with an applied seashell veneer and green, teal and blue patterned interior.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Coral

Maison Lancel Paris Chrome Decorative Lidded Box
Located in Atlanta, GA
Maison Lancel Paris designed and crafted this stylish decorative lidded box in the 1980s. The minimalist rectangular shape has a sleek design with polished chromed metal complemented...
Category

1980s French Vintage Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Metal, Chrome

Vintage Porcelain Capodimonte Trinket Box with Flower Detail
Located in East Quogue, NY
Exquisite vintage white Capodimonte square porcelain trinket box with floral detail lid. Simple and elegant, the box lid is adorned with sculpted white flowers with painted 24k Gold ...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Ceramic, Porcelain

1980s Modernist White and Pink Lucite and Silver Italian Rectangular Vanity Box
Located in Aci Castello, IT
This italian Vanity Box encapsulates the exuberance and style of its era, offering a compelling synthesis of form, function, and aesthetic appeal. It serves as both a practical stora...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Silver

Modern decorative boxes for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Modern decorative boxes for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage decorative boxes created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass, more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, wood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Modern decorative boxes made in a specific country, there are Europe, Italy, and North America pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original decorative boxes, popular names associated with this style include AIREDELSUR, Lusitanus Home, Greenapple, and Paola Valle. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for decorative boxes differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $27 and tops out at $82,000 while the average work can sell for $989.

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