Modern Garden Ornaments
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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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 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.
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Style: Modern
1960s Willy Guhl Concrete Pedestal Cone Planter
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Substantial concrete cone planter by Swiss architect Willy Guhl. Thick cement pedestal base for stability. Heavy and substantial. Unusual shape. Made in t...
Category
1960s Swiss Vintage Modern Garden Ornaments
Materials
Concrete
Set of 6 Concrete Mushrooms, 1950s France
Located in Los Angeles, CA
French concrete garden mushrooms, circa 1950s. Great for use as a unique garden feature. Age has given these unique items a gorgeous patina. Substantial and well made, these decorati...
Category
1950s French Vintage Modern Garden Ornaments
Materials
Concrete, Iron
Italy Medium Wrought Iron Cactus in Vase for Garden Decor
Located in Brescia, IT
This is a surprising element to enrich your garden or green space like terraces or bow windows. It can be extremely decorative also in every domestic ambiences.
Between an abstrac...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Garden Ornaments
Materials
Iron
Willy Guhl Concrete Pedestal Planter, 1960s
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Concrete pedestal planter by Swiss architect Willy Guhl. Made in the 1960s in Switzerland. Factory drilled drainage holes in each planter. Different ...
Category
1960s Swiss Vintage Modern Garden Ornaments
Materials
Concrete
Hoodoo Stacks, Sculptural Concrete Planters by OPIARY (H28"-52")
By Robert Remer
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Opiary is a Brooklyn-based biophilic design and production studio. We integrate nature in each of our designs, incorporating live greenery and organic shapes into bespoke furniture, planters, and sculpture. Through the ethos of biophilia, our work reflects the shifting, yet timeless relationship between humans and nature.
These modern, elongated towers are an organic, elegant, and chic way to introduce nature and sculpture into your space. They are named after the geological term for tall thin rock spires protruding from the bottom of an arid drainage basin or badland. Unlike spires, hoodoos have a variable thickness often described as having a "totem pole-shaped body". Hoodoos are common to the Great Plains...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Garden Ornaments
Materials
Cement
Jean Blackened Bronze Lost Wax Cast Butterfly Wall Sculpture by Fred&Juul
By Fred&Juul
Located in Fiesole, Florence
A round swarm of butterflies as delicate as lace in blackened bronze, lost wax cast by master craftsmen in Italy. A wall sculpture for both indoor and outdoor use.
This listing is f...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Garden Ornaments
Materials
Metal, Brass, Bronze
Hoodoo Stacks, Sculptural Concrete Planters by OPIARY (H50"-78")
By Robert Remer
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Opiary is a Brooklyn-based biophilic design and production studio. We integrate nature in each of our designs, incorporating live greenery and organic shapes into bespoke furniture, planters, and sculpture. Through the ethos of biophilia, our work reflects the shifting, yet timeless relationship between humans and nature.
These modern, elongated towers are an organic, elegant, and chic way to introduce nature and sculpture into your space. They are named after the geological term for tall thin rock spires protruding from the bottom of an arid drainage basin or badland. Unlike spires, hoodoos have a variable thickness often described as having a "totem pole-shaped body". Hoodoos are common to the Great Plains...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Garden Ornaments
Materials
Cement
Vintage Iron Black Garden Celestial Astronomical Armillary Sundial
Located in Elkhart, IN
A stunning contemporary black iron garden armillary sundial. This is an astronomical instrument, and each ring represents the various positions of the celestial bodies.
USA, Late 20...
Category
Late 20th Century American Modern Garden Ornaments
Materials
Iron
Faux Bois Concrete Stump Planter, 1970s, France
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Stunning concrete faux-bois planter, circa 1970s. Detailed design including realistic bark and wood grain. Natural lichen and moss growth also lend in giving this planter an uncanny realistic feel without it being too gimmicky. Years of patina and weathering gives these pieces a stunningly unique look. As these are each handmade, the owner will find that each stool varies ever so slightly in Size from the last giving them a great artisanal feel. Extremely substantial and well made, these planters are constructed of solid concrete shell...
Category
1970s French Vintage Modern Garden Ornaments
Materials
Concrete
Vintage Modern Iron Brutalist Sculpture of Divers on Marble Stand
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage Modern cast iron Brutalist style sculpture of divers on rings sculpture on marble stand.
Captured in mid-dive in cast iron, these handsome divers sculpture pay homage to the ...
Category
1990s Modern Garden Ornaments
Materials
Iron
Large Vintage Olmec Terracotta Wall Head, Mexico 1970s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Large (43x36x10 cm) raw terracotta wall mask of an Olmec Warrior. The Olmec's was a pre-culumbian, Mesoamerican civilisation that lived from 1200-400 bc. This particular example is a...
Category
1970s Mexican Vintage Modern Garden Ornaments
Materials
Terracotta
Hosta Leaf, Small Scale Cast Bronze Botanical Sculpture with Subtle Patina
Located in Chicago, IL
This small bronze sculpture is a maquette for a large scale sculpture at the Olbrich Gardens in Madison, Wisconsin. Made with the ancient lost wax method, a process dating back to th...
Category
2010s American Modern Garden Ornaments
Materials
Bronze
Modernist Enameled Steel Architectural Sculpture "Senalizar" Patrick O'Brien
By O'Brien Metal Inc.
Located in Buffalo, NY
Modernist Enameled Steel Architectural Sculpture titled "Senalizar" hand crafted by Patrick O'Brien , self taught painter / sculpture Texas / Indiana c.1965 .Amazing Sculpture ... ...
Category
2010s American Modern Garden Ornaments
Materials
Steel
Nymphenburg majolica parrot on pedestal handmade, hand painted in Germany
Located in München, Bavaria
This majolica parrot and pedestal is the perfect accent for any garden, swimming pool area or sauna space. It has been handcrafted of Nymphenburg majolica in the Nymphenburg studios ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary German Modern Garden Ornaments
Materials
Majolica
English Country Garden Zinc Plant Identification Labels
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A set of English country garden plant markers depicting various interesting names and titles.
You can just imagine these 46 plant markers in a quaint English country style garden sh...
Category
Early 20th Century English Modern Garden Ornaments
Materials
Metal, Zinc
"Perlage" Organic Sofa Outdoor in Bouclé Aluminum and Hand Braided Nautical Rope
Located in Centro, RS
Perlage, French word: Pearl.
The organic Perlage sofa has a backrest completely woven by hand in nautical rope, favoring a surprising look in every new detail discovered. Captivatin...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Garden Ornaments
Materials
Aluminum
Pair of Concrete Lions with Ball
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A wonderful and very heavy pair of Lions (37 Pounds ea>)in Black with a ball under foot. The pair are wonderful flanking a fireplace, outdoor garden area or perhaps in the den. They ...
Category
20th Century Modern Garden Ornaments
Materials
Concrete
1980's Modernists Marble Sculpture
Located in Denton, TX
Beautifully carved out of one piece of beige marble it seems to have curved steps to a higher level, with some sharp angles plunging into the abyss. Unknown artist 1985.
Category
20th Century North American Modern Garden Ornaments
Materials
Marble
Set of 3 Large Concrete Mushrooms, 1970s USA
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Concrete garden mushrooms, circa 2000s. Great for use as a unique garden feature. Paint / stain has great coloring. Subtle texture to brown caps and beige stems. Substantial and well...
Category
Early 2000s American Modern Garden Ornaments
Materials
Concrete
Italian modern prototype flowerpot Angelo Mangiarotti Fratelli Brambilla, 1970s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern prototype flowerpot Angelo Mangiarotti Fratelli Brambilla, 1970s
Prototype of a round-based flowerpot in blue and white glazed ceramic. The upper part is composed of a...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Garden Ornaments
Materials
Ceramic
Willy Ghul planter
By Willy Guhl
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Willy Guhl planter extra large size edited by Eternit
Called Diabolo.
Category
20th Century French Modern Garden Ornaments
Materials
Concrete
Blue Important Abstract Ceramic Sculpture by F Michel Garden Decorative Design
Located in Neuilly-en- sancerre, FR
Francine Michel
Large and elegant blue ceramic sculpture by Belgian artist
Realised in France in La Borne, circa 2010
Ceramic sculpture for indoors and outdoors
Sculpture...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Garden Ornaments
Materials
Ceramic
Gold Minimalist Watering Can
Located in Geneve, CH
Gold Minimalist watering can
Dimensions: D 37.2 x W 17 x H 23.1 cm
Materials: Steel.
Also available in black.
The opening of the globe watering can is elegantly off-centered...
Category
2010s Danish Modern Garden Ornaments
Materials
Steel
Italian Minimalist White Carrara Marble Benches or Stools by Massimo Mangiardi
Located in New York, NY
Italian white Carrara marble benches or stools in a Minimalist aesthetic. Ideal for bath room and shower or garden. The benches are constructed with 6 pieces...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Garden Ornaments
Materials
Marble
Jean White Bronze Lost Wax Cast Butterfly Wall Sculpture by Fred&Juul
By Fred&Juul
Located in Fiesole, Florence
A round swarm of butterflies as delicate as lace in white bronze, lost wax cast by master craftsmen in Italy. A wall sculpture for both indoor and outdoor use.
This listing is for t...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Garden Ornaments
Materials
Metal, Brass, Bronze
James de Wulf Custom Concrete Fountain
Located in Paia, HI
James de Wulf's two-tier concrete fountain boasts simplistic beauty with a smooth polished concrete surface, accented with a bronze waterfall. The beauty of bronze, ductile and resis...
Category
2010s North American Modern Garden Ornaments
Materials
Concrete, Bronze
"Perlage" Curved Armchair Outdoor in Bouclê Aluminum, and Nautical Rope
Located in Centro, RS
Perlage, French word: Pearl.
The organic Perlage Armchair has a backrest completely woven by hand in nautical rope, favoring a surprising look in every new detail discovered. Captiv...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Garden Ornaments
Materials
Aluminum
“Encastrure #7, ” by Lucien Petit
By Lucien Petit
Located in New York, NY
Glazed stoneware sculpture. Wood fired.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Garden Ornaments
Materials
Stoneware
Mid Century Modern Set 3 Iron Garden Sculptures a Bird a Butterfly and a Snail
By Ernest Shaw
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Spectacular set of 3 garden sculptures in Iron by Artist Ernest Shaw. A bird a snail and a butterfly make up the trio. Tallest is 57 inches high x 16 x 4. Spikes are mostly straight...
Category
1970s American Vintage Modern Garden Ornaments
Materials
Iron
Abstract Metal Garden Sculpture "Titled", The Flying D
Located in Denton, TX
Sculpted steel garden ornament named the flying D made in 1981 signed but cant read the name.
Category
20th Century American Modern Garden Ornaments
Materials
Cut Steel
Pair of Wall Hanging Sculptures by Rosanne Sniderman
Located in New York, NY
Pair of cast porcelain wall-mounted sculptures in warm and cool colored glaze. Wood fired. Artist-signed and dated on backside.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Garden Ornaments
Materials
Porcelain
Larger Architectural Pottery Marilyn Kay Austin Pot
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A satin black monumental Marilyn Kay Austin wide mouth high fired clay designer pot / planter. These pots came in a wide range of related shapes and sizes often used by designers, landscape architects and architects in the 1960s-1970s. manufactured by the Architectural Pottery Company Los Angeles California. This is the wide mouth pot...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Modern Garden Ornaments
Materials
Pottery
Italy Wrought Iron Red Cactus in Vase for Garden Decor
Located in Brescia, IT
This is a surprising element to enrich your garden or green space like terraces or bow windows. It can be extremely decorative also in every domestic ambiences.
Between an abstrac...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Garden Ornaments
Materials
Iron
2000s Modern Zen Birdhouse Wood Bird Feeder
Located in Chula Vista, CA
2000s Modern Zen Birdhouse Wood Bird Feeder
Signed and dated.
7 tall x 11.5 x 11.5
Preowned original vintage.
Refer to images.
Category
Early 2000s Modern Garden Ornaments
Materials
Wood
Italy Urano Palma Wrought Iron White Cactus in Vase for Garden Decor
By Urano Palma
Located in Brescia, IT
This is a surprising element to enrich your garden or green space like terraces or bow windows. It can be extremely decorative also in every domestic ambiences.
Between an abstrac...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Garden Ornaments
Materials
Iron
Italy Small Wrought Iron Cactus in Vase for Garden Decor
Located in Brescia, IT
This is a surprising element to enrich your garden or green space like terraces or bow windows. It can be extremely decorative also in every domestic ambiences.
Between an abstrac...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Garden Ornaments
Materials
Iron
“Maison #1, ” by Lucien Petit
By Lucien Petit
Located in New York, NY
Glazed stoneware. Wood fired.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Garden Ornaments
Materials
Stoneware
Large Modern White Enameled Forged Steel Kinetic Sculpture '95 M.G. La Mair'
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Large modern white enameled forged steel Kinetic sculpture, visually Kinetic, non moveable sculpture, standing seven feet-eigh...
Category
Late 20th Century American Modern Garden Ornaments
Materials
Iron
Garden figure by Josef Wackerle Nymphenburg majolica hand painted in Germany
Located in München, Bavaria
This figure was designed by Josef Wackerle in 1913 for Porzellan Manufaktur Nymphenburg and is still in production today. It is hand crafted and hand painted of Nymphenburg majolica ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary German Modern Garden Ornaments
Materials
Majolica
Italy Wrought Iron White Cactus in Vase for Garden Decor
Located in Brescia, IT
This is a surprising element to enrich your garden or green space like terraces or bow windows. It can be extremely decorative also in every domestic ambiences.
Between an abstrac...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Garden Ornaments
Materials
Iron
Gold Minimalist Watering Can
Located in Geneve, CH
Gold Minimalist watering can
Dimensions: D 37.2 x W 17 x H 23.1 cm
Materials: Steel.
Also available in black.
The opening of the globe watering can is elegantly off-centered, mak...
Category
2010s Danish Modern Garden Ornaments
Materials
Steel
Bdlove Outdoor Planter by Ross Lovegrove
Located in Geneve, CH
BDLove outdoor planter by Ross Lovegrove
Dimensions: D 100 x W 136 x H 48 cm
Materials: Rotomolded polyethylene in anthracite gray. 100% recycled a...
Category
2010s Spanish Modern Garden Ornaments
Materials
Polystyrene
Handcrafted Majolica Garden Figure - Monkey on a basket of fruit, handpainted
Located in München, Bavaria
This figure of a monkey sitting on a basket of fruit is a wonderful example of Josef Wackerle´s sculpting skills. The character of the monkey, sitting and ready to throw the fruit, i...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary German Modern Garden Ornaments
Materials
Maiolica, Majolica
Rare Large French Early Modern Iron Sculpture / Eiffel Tower Obelisk, 1920
Located in New York, NY
Stunning, Rare French early modernist wrought iron freestanding sculpture / obelisk in a Modern Industrial style reflecting the late 19th century and early 20th century fascination w...
Category
Early 20th Century French Modern Garden Ornaments
Black Minimalist Watering Can
Located in Geneve, CH
Black minimalist watering can
Dimensions: D 55.3 x W 26 x H 34.1 cm
Materials: Steel.
Also available in gold.
The opening of the GLOBE watering can is elegantly off-centered,...
Category
2010s Danish Modern Garden Ornaments
Materials
Steel
HOLD ON Pot
Located in Giza Governorate, EG
What happens when we let go? When we let go
of each other, of nature, of creativity? We suddenly
become passive, alienate ourselves from our own
abilities. Through 'Hold on' we wa...
Category
2010s Egyptian Modern Garden Ornaments
Materials
Natural Fiber
21st Century by M.Crasset Statuario & Bardiglio Marble Sculpture Vase Garden
Located in massa, IT
Sculpture vase Vaso/Caso in white Statuario marble & Bardiglio Imperiale, Cambio Vaso edition
Size: Cm diameter 20 x height 29
Materials: White Statuario + Bardiglio Imperiale
Desig...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Garden Ornaments
Materials
Carrara Marble
Osis Pentagon Planter by Llot Llov
Located in Geneve, CH
Osis Pentagon Planter by Llot Llov
Edition 5
Dimensions: Ø 35 cm x H 40 cm
Materials: core board birch
With OSIS Edition 5 LLOT LLOV is deepening the understanding of the impact o...
Category
2010s German Modern Garden Ornaments
Materials
Birch
21st Century by E.Babled White Statuario Carrara Marble Sculpture Vase Garden
Located in massa, IT
Sculpture vase Vaso/Vasa in white marble Statuario, Cambio Vaso edition
Size: Cm 32 x 21,7 x H 30
Materials: White Statuario
Designed by Emmanuel Babled
Limited edition.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Garden Ornaments
Materials
Carrara Marble
21st Century by Michele de Lucchi Garden Marble Spinning Top Lamp
Located in massa, IT
Marble lamp designed by Arch. Michele de Lucchi & Philippe Nigro
Materials: Statuario
Size: Diameter 60 x height 70 height outdoor model
Designed by: M. De Lucchi & P. Nigro.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Garden Ornaments
Materials
Marble
21st Century by Michele De Lucchi Marble Ovo Lamp in Statuario & Bardiglio
Located in massa, IT
Marble lamp disigned by Arch. Michele de Lucchi & Philippe NIgro
Materials : Bardiglio Perla, Statuario Up
Size: diameter 32 x 40 height outdoor model
diameter 16 x 40 height I...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Garden Ornaments
Materials
Marble
Modern garden ornaments for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Modern garden ornaments 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 garden ornaments created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include building and garden elements, decorative objects, seating and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, stone and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Modern garden ornaments 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 garden ornaments, popular names associated with this style include Lucien Petit, Willy Guhl, StudioNotte Design, and O'Brien Metal Inc.. 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 garden ornaments differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $195 and tops out at $20,038 while the average work can sell for $2,495.