History of Design

Styles

Bauhaus
Art Moderne
Mid Century Modern
Space Age
Post Modern
Contemporary
Transitional

Periods

1919-1933 (Bauhaus)
1934-1949 (Art Moderne)
1950-1966 (Mid Century Modern)
1967-1972 (Space Age)
1973-1999 (Post Modern)
2000-2008 (Contemporary)
2009-2014 (Transitional)

stardust retail showroom view 1
showroom view 2

Design History

Looking for History on Design? Browse the different design movements - from Bauhaus (1919-1933) to 2009-2014 (Transitional). Discover a movement in progress! Stardust is proud to offer specialized icons of modern design from the following periods.

Bauhaus (1919-1933)

The activities of the Bauhaus, from the start in 1919 to the closure in 1933, had a profound impact on 20th century design. The highly influential Bauhaus design movement, which embraced architecture, furniture, glass, ceramics, metalwork and textiles and books have left an indelible mark throughout the world including Europe, America, Israel and abroad. Although the styles adopted by the Staatliches Bauhaus were diverse, its leading scholars, artists, architects and craft designers, including Walter Gropius, Bruno Taut, Josef Albers and Max Bill, were united in promoting the superiority of arts & design and minimalist materials in an industrial coming-of-age period. Notable examples of Bauhaus design at Stardust include Marianne Brandt Ashtray (1926), Josef Hartwig Bauhaus Chessmen (1923), Josef Albers Nesting Tables (1926) and Max Bill Ulmer Hocker (although designed in 1954, it displays the structural clarity of the Bauhaus) plus many more.

Principles of the Bauhaus

The Bauhaus strived to bring together all creative effort into one whole, to reunify all the disciplines of practical art-sculpture, painting, handicrafts, and the crafts-as inseparable components of a new architecture. The ultimate, if distant, aim of the Bauhaus was the unified work of art-the great structure-in which there is no distinction between monumental and decorative art. The Bauhaus wanted to educate architects, painters, and sculptors of all levels, according to their capabilities, to become competent craftsmen or independent creative artists and to form a working community of leading and future artist-craftsmen. These men, of kindred spirit, will know how to design buildings harmoniously in their entirety-structure, finishing, ornamentation, and furnishing.

Walter Gropius Bauhaus Manifesto

In 1919, Walter Gropius wrote his Bauhaus Manifesto which stated "Art rises above all methods; in itself it cannot be taught, but the crafts certainly can be. Architects, painters, and sculptors are craftsmen in the true sense of the word; hence, a thorough training in the crafts, acquired in workshops and in experimental and practical sites, is required of all students as the indispensable basis for all artistic production. Our own workshops are to be gradually built up, and apprenticeship agreements with outside workshops will be concluded. The school is the servant of the workshop, and will one day be absorbed in it. Therefore there will be no teachers or pupils in the Bauhaus but masters, journeymen, and apprentices. The manner of teaching arises from the character of the workshop: Organic forms developed from manual skills. Avoidance of all rigidity; priority of creativity; freedom of individuality, but strict study discipline. Master and journeyman examinations, according to the Guild Statutes, held before the Council of Masters of the Bauhaus or before outside masters. Collaboration by the students in the work of the masters. Securing of commissions, also for students. Mutual planning of extensive, Utopian structural designs-public buildings and buildings for worship-aimed at the future. Collaboration of all masters and students-architects, painters, sculptors-on these designs with the object of gradually achieving a harmony of all the component elements and parts that make up architecture. Constant contact with the leaders of the crafts and industries of the country. Contact with public life, with the people, through exhibitions and other activities. New research into the nature of the exhibitions, to solve the problem of displaying visual work and sculpture within the framework of architecture. Encouragement of friendly relations between masters and students outside of work; therefore plays. lectures, poetry, music, costume parties. Establishment of a cheerful ceremonial at these gatherings."

Famous Bauhaus Persons


Herbert Bayer
Max Bill
Laszlo Moholy-Nagy
Marianne Brandt
Marcel Breuer
Hin Bredendieck
Emil Bartoschek
Heinrich Brocksieper
Alma Buscher
Christian Dell
Friedl Dicker-Brandeis
Alfred Ehrhardt
T. Lux Feininger
Emil Bert Hartwig
Otto Hofmann
Wassily Kandinsky
Paul Klee
Kurt Kranz
Jean Leppien
Adolf Meyer
Farkas Molnár
Heinrich Neuy
Gyula Pap (Maler)
Margaretha Reichardt
Paul Renner
Karl Peter Röhl
Bernhard Rotterdam
Carl Schneiders
Thilo Schoder
Ré Soupault
Wilhelm Wagenfeld
Fritz Winter

From our family to yours, thank you for supporting us. We wouldn't be here without you!

Our Retail Store

Stardust is the largest retailer of modern furniture & lighting in the US. Our retail store offers modern design from Europe, Asia, Australia and the USA. You will discover a diverse selection of unique, hand picked modern design gems. Discover unique products from faraway places like Brazil, Japan, Italy, Spain, Portugal, etc. Our legendary reputation for customer service will guarantee a pleasant shopping experience. Give us a try and experience the best in personalized shopping with our knowledgeable experts.

Our store features expansive street-side windows facing to the southwest which offer high visibility. Custom designed acrylite light boxes and high gloss mirror topped fiberglass display cubes show the best of everything on display.

The space we occupy is in a historic Art Deco (Art Moderne) building from the 1940's featuring unique modernist touches, adding to the artistic appeal of the location. Yes, our building even has its own Gateway Arch similar like the one designed by Eero Saarinen (just a bit smaller). Our location is right across from the Sonoma Whole Foods Market and within a two-minute walking distance of the historic downtown Plaza. From our prime location in this picturesque and affluent wine country, we are serving a market of 582,893 residents within a 20-mile radius. Daily traffic count is on average 21,600 cars, passing by our showroom, everyday.

Sonoma is called the Wine Country for good reason. With 450 small and family owned wineries who call Sonoma County home, Sonoma is a great place to visit. We always tell our customers: "come for design - stay for wine".

Modern Design Contemporary
Modern Design Contemporary
Modern Design Interior

Stardust Website

https://www.stardust.com is the online web presence of our retail showroom located in Sonoma, California.
Many of the items we offer on our website can also be viewed in our showroom.
Please contact us to schedule a private consultation.

Design Furniture, Lighting and Modern Home Accessories

Shop Stardust for authentic fully authorized modern design classics and the best in modern lighting, modern furniture and home accessories. We don't sell fakes but only the original authorized product bearing the designer's name. Offering the finest selection of contemporary modern lighting, pendant lamps, chandeliers, floor lamps, table- and desk lamps from top brands like Artemide, FontanaArte, Flos, Kartell, Louis Poulsen and Moooi. Update your interior and exterior with our modern and contemporary designer lamps from top designers such as the George Nelson Bubble Lamps, Ingo Maurer Lighting such as the Campari Light, Floatation Lamp and ZettelZ, Philippe Starck Design, Artemide Tolomeo Lamps by Michele de Lucchi, Poul Henningsen PH Lamps, Artemide Tizio by Richard Sapper and Moooi Random Lights. Check out our modern furniture and contemporary lighting floor sample sale, new items added weekly! Contemporary, modern and mid-century modern design lighting and modern furniture by Artek, Artemide, Artifort, Carl Hansen, Eames Design, Flos, FontanaArte, Fritz Hansen, George Nelson, Kundalini, Leucos, Louis Poulsen, Luceplan, Moooi, Philippe Starck, Saarinen, Panton, Vitra and more. Shop Stardust for the best in modern design and lighting for the home and the office and receive FREE Shipping, Lowest Prices and Friendly Service from our modern lighting specialists and knowledgeable interior design experts. Modern lighting and design furniture for any space and budget from Stardust, the best modern design shop in town™!

Stardust is synonymous with beauty, quality, style and innovation.

Our collection features outstanding contemporary design collections from all over the world.

We offer exceptional pieces in a stimulating shopping environment, both in our brick and mortar retail showroom and through our online presence.

Beautiful Design

Beauty is not an afterthought at Stardust, it is the center of our universe, like the earth circling the sun.

There is beauty in all things we take for granted. Naturally, beauty is not limited to objects, exclusively... The intoxicating air of fresh-cut grass after a summer rain. The changing of nature's colors which heralds fall is on its way. The structure and clarity of water, so simple and pure. The beauty of light which has inspired artists throughout the ages. The intense soul-touching quality of sound, which can take us back to places we haven't been in years.

Beauty can be anything, it can also be the simplicity of nothing. Beauty can be a smile, it can be warmth, it can be friendship. True beauty is love, the love for life and everything it provides.
Look for it, cherish and nurture it.
Beauty is you!
Stardust.

Massimo Vignelli Quote

Being a designer is like being a doctor, "Life of a designer is a life of fight, [a] fight against the ugliness that surrounds us just like a doctor fights against disease. For us the visual disease is what we have all around and what we try to do is to cure it... somehow... with design. To me, this is what makes our job so rewarding, I actually feel like I am making a difference."

Share your Passion for Modern Furniture:

If you share our passion for Modern Design, please make sure to feature us on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr or Pin your favorite products on Pinterest:

Follow us

About Modern Design

Styles

Bauhaus
Art Moderne
Mid Century Modern
Space Age
Post Modern
Contemporary
Transitional

Periods

1919-1933 (Bauhaus)
1934-1949 (Art Moderne)
1950-1966 (Mid Century Modern)
1967-1972 (Space Age)
1973-1999 (Post Modern)
2000-2008 (Contemporary)
2009-2014 (Transitional)

stardust retail showroom view 1
showroom view 2

History of Design

Stardust is proud to offer specialized icons of modern design from the following periods.

Bauhaus

The activities of the Bauhaus, from the start in 1919 to the closure in 1933, had a profound impact on 20th century design. The highly influential Bauhaus design movement, which embraced architecture, furniture, glass, ceramics, metalwork and textiles and books have left an indelible mark throughout the world including Europe, America and abroad. Although the styles adopted by the Staatliches Bauhaus were diverse, its leading scholars, artists, architects and craft designers, including Walter Gropius, Bruno Taut, Josef Albers and Max Bill, were united in promoting the superiority of arts & design and minimalist materials in an industrial coming-of-age period. Notable examples of Bauhaus design at Stardust include Marianne Brandt Ashtray (1926), Josef Hartwig Bauhaus Chessmen (1923), Josef Albers Nesting Tables (1926) and Max Bill Ulmer Hocker (although designed in 1954, it displays the structural clarity of the Bauhaus) plus many more.

Bauhaus Aims

According to Walter Gropis, the Bauhaus strived to bring together all creative effort into one whole, to reunify all the disciplines of practical art-sculpture, painting, handicrafts, and the crafts-as inseparable components of a new architecture. The ultimate, if distant, aim of the Bauhaus is the unified work of art-the great structure-in which there is no distinction between monumental and decorative art. The Bauhaus goal was to educate architects, painters, and sculptors of all levels, according to their capabilities, so that they could become competent craftsmen or independent creative artists and to form a working community of leading and future artist-craftsmen. These men, of kindred spirit, will know how to design buildings harmoniously in their entirety-structure, finishing, ornamentation, and furnishing.

Bauhaus Principles

The Bahaus Manifesto which was given to applicants included the following principles. "Art rises above all methods; in itself it cannot be taught, but the crafts certainly can be. Architects, painters, and sculptors are craftsmen in the true sense of the word; hence, a thorough training in the crafts, acquired in workshops and in experimental and practical sites, is required of all students as the indispensable basis for all artistic production. Our own workshops are to be gradually built up, and apprenticeship agreements with outside workshops will be concluded. The school is the servant of the workshop, and will one day be absorbed in it. Therefore there will be no teachers or pupils in the Bauhaus but masters, journeymen, and apprentices. The manner of teaching arises from the character of the workshop: Organic forms developed from manual skills. Avoidance of all rigidity; priority of creativity; freedom of individuality, but strict study discipline. Master and journeyman examinations, according to the Guild Statutes, held before the Council of Masters of the Bauhaus or before outside masters. Collaboration by the students in the work of the masters. Securing of commissions, also for students. Mutual planning of extensive, Utopian structural designs-public buildings and buildings for worship-aimed at the future. Collaboration of all masters and students-architects, painters, sculptors-on these designs with the object of gradually achieving a harmony of all the component elements and parts that make up architecture. Constant contact with the leaders of the crafts and industries of the country. Contact with public life, with the people, through exhibitions and other activities. New research into the nature of the exhibitions, to solve the problem of displaying visual work and sculpture within the framework of architecture. Encouragement of friendly relations between masters and students outside of work; therefore plays. lectures, poetry, music, costume parties. Establishment of a cheerful ceremonial at these gatherings." - Bauhaus Manifesto, Walter Gropius, 1919.

Bauhaus Manifesto

Walter Gropius wrote down the Bauhaus Manifesto in 1919. In it, he declared that The ultimate aim of all visual arts is the complete building! To embellish buildings was once the noblest function of the fine arts; they were the indispensable components of great architecture. Today the arts exist in isolation, from which they can be rescued only through the conscious, cooperative effort of all craftsmen. Architects, painters, and sculptors must recognize anew and learn to grasp the composite character of a building both as an entity and in its separate parts. Only then will their work be imbued with the architectonic spirit which it has lost as “salon art.” The old schools of art were unable to produce this unity; how could they, since art cannot be taught. They must be merged once more with the workshop. The mere drawing and painting world of the pattern designer and the applied artist must become a world that builds again. When young people who take a joy in artistic creation once more begin their life's work by learning a trade, then the unproductive “artist” will no longer be condemned to deficient artistry, for their skill will now be preserved for the crafts, in which they will be able to achieve excellence. Architects, sculptors, painters, we all must return to the crafts! For art is not a "profession." There is no essential difference between the artist and the craftsman. The artist is an exalted craftsman. In rare moments of inspiration, transcending the consciousness of his will, the grace of heaven may cause his work to blossom into art. But proficiency in a craft is essential to every artist. Therein lies the prime source of creative imagination. Let us then create a new guild of craftsmen without the class distinctions that raise an arrogant barrier between craftsman and artist! Together let us desire, conceive, and create the new structure of the future, which will embrace architecture and sculpture and painting in one unity and which will one day rise toward heaven from the hands of a million workers like the crystal symbol of a new faith.

From our family to yours, thank you for supporting us. We wouldn't be here without you!

Our Retail Store

Stardust is the largest retailer of modern furniture & lighting in the US. Our retail store offers modern design from Europe, Asia, Australia and the USA. You will discover a diverse selection of unique, hand picked modern design gems. Discover unique products from faraway places like Brazil, Japan, Italy, Spain, Portugal, etc. Our legendary reputation for customer service will guarantee a pleasant shopping experience. Give us a try and experience the best in personalized shopping with our knowledgeable experts.

Our store features expansive street-side windows facing to the southwest which offer high visibility. Custom designed acrylite light boxes and high gloss mirror topped fiberglass display cubes show the best of everything on display.

The space we occupy is in a historic Art Deco (Art Moderne) building from the 1940's featuring unique modernist touches, adding to the artistic appeal of the location. Yes, our building even has its own Gateway Arch similar like the one designed by Eero Saarinen (just a bit smaller). Our location is right across from the Sonoma Whole Foods Market and within a two-minute walking distance of the historic downtown Plaza. From our prime location in this picturesque and affluent wine country, we are serving a market of 582,893 residents within a 20-mile radius. Daily traffic count is on average 21,600 cars, passing by our showroom, everyday.

Sonoma is called the Wine Country for good reason. With 450 small and family owned wineries who call Sonoma County home, Sonoma is a great place to visit. We always tell our customers: "come for design - stay for wine".

Modern Design Contemporary
Modern Design Contemporary
Modern Design Interior

Our Retail Store

Stardust is the largest retailer of modern furniture & lighting in the US. Our retail store offers modern design from Europe, Asia, Australia and the USA. You will discover a diverse selection of unique, hand picked modern design gems. Discover unique products from faraway places like Brazil, Japan, Italy, Spain, Portugal, etc. Our legendary reputation for customer service will guarantee a pleasant shopping experience. Give us a try and experience the best in personalized shopping with our knowledgeable experts.

Our store features expansive street-side windows facing to the southwest which offer high visibility. Custom designed acrylite light boxes and high gloss mirror topped fiberglass display cubes show the best of everything on display.

The space we occupy is in a historic Art Deco (Art Moderne) building from the 1940's featuring unique modernist touches, adding to the artistic appeal of the location. Yes, our building even has its own Gateway Arch similar like the one designed by Eero Saarinen (just a bit smaller). Our location is right across from the Sonoma Whole Foods Market and within a two-minute walking distance of the historic downtown Plaza. From our prime location in this picturesque and affluent wine country, we are serving a market of 582,893 residents within a 20-mile radius. Daily traffic count is on average 21,600 cars, passing by our showroom, everyday.

Sonoma is called the Wine Country for good reason. With 450 small and family owned wineries who call Sonoma County home, Sonoma is a great place to visit. We always tell our customers: "come for design - stay for wine".

Modern Design Contemporary
Modern Design Contemporary
Modern Design Interior

Stardust Website

https://www.stardust.com is the online web presence of our retail showroom located in Sonoma, California.
Many of the items we offer on our website can also be viewed in our showroom.
Please contact us to schedule a private consultation.

Design Furniture, Lighting and Modern Home Accessories

Shop Stardust for authentic fully authorized modern design classics and the best in modern lighting, modern furniture and home accessories. We don't sell fakes but only the original authorized product bearing the designer's name. Offering the finest selection of contemporary modern lighting, pendant lamps, chandeliers, floor lamps, table- and desk lamps from top brands like Artemide, FontanaArte, Flos, Kartell, Louis Poulsen and Moooi. Update your interior and exterior with our modern and contemporary designer lamps from top designers such as the George Nelson Bubble Lamps, Ingo Maurer Lighting such as the Campari Light, Floatation Lamp and ZettelZ, Philippe Starck Design, Artemide Tolomeo Lamps by Michele de Lucchi, Poul Henningsen PH Lamps, Artemide Tizio by Richard Sapper and Moooi Random Lights. Check out our modern furniture and contemporary lighting floor sample sale, new items added weekly! Contemporary, modern and mid-century modern design lighting and modern furniture by Artek, Artemide, Artifort, Carl Hansen, Eames Design, Flos, FontanaArte, Fritz Hansen, George Nelson, Kundalini, Leucos, Louis Poulsen, Luceplan, Moooi, Philippe Starck, Saarinen, Panton, Vitra and more. Shop Stardust for the best in modern design and lighting for the home and the office and receive FREE Shipping, Lowest Prices and Friendly Service from our modern lighting specialists and knowledgeable interior design experts. Modern lighting and design furniture for any space and budget from Stardust, the best modern design shop in town™!

Stardust is synonymous with beauty, quality, style and innovation.

Our collection features outstanding contemporary design collections from all over the world.

We offer exceptional pieces in a stimulating shopping environment, both in our brick and mortar retail showroom and through our online presence.

Beautiful Design

Beauty is not an afterthought at Stardust, it is the center of our universe, like the earth circling the sun.

There is beauty in all things we take for granted. Naturally, beauty is not limited to objects, exclusively... The intoxicating air of fresh-cut grass after a summer rain. The changing of nature's colors which heralds fall is on its way. The structure and clarity of water, so simple and pure. The beauty of light which has inspired artists throughout the ages. The intense soul-touching quality of sound, which can take us back to places we haven't been in years.

Beauty can be anything, it can also be the simplicity of nothing. Beauty can be a smile, it can be warmth, it can be friendship. True beauty is love, the love for life and everything it provides.
Look for it, cherish and nurture it.
Beauty is you!
Stardust.

Massimo Vignelli Quote

Being a designer is like being a doctor, "Life of a designer is a life of fight, [a] fight against the ugliness that surrounds us just like a doctor fights against disease. For us the visual disease is what we have all around and what we try to do is to cure it... somehow... with design. To me, this is what makes our job so rewarding, I actually feel like I am making a difference."

Share your Passion for Modern Furniture:

If you share our passion for Modern Design, please make sure to feature us on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr or Pin your favorite products on Pinterest:

Follow us