Modernism was a movement that sprang from the early 20th century (about 1910) as new creative forces began emerging seeking to look forward toward innovation, originality and simplicity in design. There was a desire to eliminate the excessive ornamentation found in Victorian furniture designs and to incorporate new construction technology and materials. The Modernism movement, thus, is loosely defined as breaking with classical forms and continued through the mid 20th century (about 1960). The following chart depicts the evolution of the modern movement. After World War I, Europe saw the first conception of the Modernism movement. This War changed people’s perceptions about cultural values and traditions. They began to challenge the traditional manufacturing methods and materials, embracing the new. This early Modern Movement could be seen throughout the world, but in particular, Germany, France, Denmark and Italy. Each country had its own history and evolution of the style and designs of Modernism, with varying uses of the materials popular within their respective countries. For example, Denmark used wood, Germany and France favored steel, etc. By 1930, Modernism had become a recognized and well-accepted design style. Because they were based on industrial production techniques, modern materials (e.g., chrome, steel and glass) and rectilinear geometry, manufacturers producing these simple and practical forms achieved better economies and efficiency in production and materials. At ModernClassics.com, we focus on making and selling furniture designs from four primary movements of modernism: Bauhuas, Nouveau, Scandinavian and Mid-Century Modern.
