Objects of Desire: Where Great Design Begins

One of the lessons I’ve learned after decades of buying, selling, and living with exceptional furniture is that the beginning of a design movement is often its finest moment. The images here celebrate the early years of Modernism, a period when designers embraced simplicity, honest materials, and purposeful design. Whether Georgian, Empire, Art Deco, or, as shown here, early Modernism, the earliest examples tend to express a new idea with remarkable clarity. As a style gains popularity, it is often repeated, embellished, and eventually exaggerated until the originality that first defined it begins to fade.

The first photograph features an early Modern museum display cabinet from Paris, now showcasing a collection of pottery that spans centuries. The second highlights early Modern furniture and lighting, where clean lines, beautifully figured wood, and honest craftsmanship take precedence over ornament. Although the ceramics themselves represent much earlier traditions, they feel perfectly at home within this restrained Modern setting, proving that exceptional design transcends both period and geography.

What continues to draw me to these early Modern pieces is their quiet confidence. They were created at a time when designers were exploring new ideas rather than following established conventions. Their beauty lies not in decoration, but in proportion, material, and purpose. Decades later, they remain as fresh and relevant as when they were first conceived.

Perhaps that is why I am always drawn to the beginning of a movement. It is there, before imitation replaces innovation, that we witness the purest expression of an idea.