Frank Lloyd Wright for Henredon Taliesin Mid Century Mahogany King Headboard
By Frank Lloyd Wright, Henredon
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Frank Lloyd Wright for Henredon Taliesin Mid Century Mahogany King Headboard This headboard measures: 79 wide x 1.5 deep x 39 inches high Good Vintage Condition - Small Areas of Mi...
Mahogany
Pierre Chapo Single Bed 'L01H' in Elm
Located in Waalwijk, NL
In his designs, he was inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright's balanced lines, Corbusier's research on proportions and the ideas of Bauhaus.
Elm
Early Pierre Chapo 'Godot' Queen Bed in Solid Elm
By Pierre Chapo
Located in Waalwijk, NL
In his designs, he was inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright's balanced lines, Corbusier's research on proportions and the ideas of Bauhaus.
Elm
Charlotte Perriand LC35 Maison Du Brésil Daybed by Cassina
By Cassina, Charlotte Perriand
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
About the manufacturer: In a continuing dialogue between past, present, and future, Cassina has created the I Maestri collection, revisiting furnishing designs by the 20th century’s ...
Wood
Charlotte Perriand LC35 Maison Du Brésil Daybed by Cassina
By Cassina, Charlotte Perriand
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
About the manufacturer: In a continuing dialogue between past, present, and future, Cassina has created the I Maestri collection, revisiting furnishing designs by the 20th century’s...
Wood
Charlotte Perriand MId-Century Modern LC35 Maison Du Brésil Daybed by Cassina
By Charlotte Perriand, Cassina
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
About the manufacturer: In a continuing dialogue between past, present, and future, Cassina has created the I Maestri collection, revisiting furnishing designs by the 20th century’s...
Wood
Charlotte Perriand LC35 Maison Du Brésil Daybed by Cassina
By Cassina, Charlotte Perriand
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
About the manufacturer: In a continuing dialogue between past, present, and future, Cassina has created the I Maestri collection, revisiting furnishing designs by the 20th century’s...
Wood
Early Pierre Chapo 'Godot' L 01 I Daybed in Solid Elm
By Pierre Chapo
Located in Waalwijk, NL
In his designs, he was inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright's balanced lines, Corbusier's research on proportions and the ideas of Bauhaus.
Fabric, Elm
Rodolfo Dordoni ''Sail Out' Outdoor Sofa, Water-Repellent Fabric by Cassina
By Rodolfo Dordoni, Cassina
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
About the manufacturer: In a continuing dialogue between past, present, and future, Cassina has created the I Maestri collection, revisiting furnishing designs by the 20th century’s ...
Metal
$11,220 / item
Woven Rush Daybed in Walnut by Mel Smilow
By Mel Smilow
Located in New York, NY
Judy Smilow (1958-2018), designer and founder of Smilow Design LLC, grew up “modern” in a Frank Lloyd Wright cooperative Community surrounded by her father’s artwork and furniture.
Rush, Walnut
Patricia Urquiola ''Trampoline' Outdoor Sofa, Steel, Rope and Fabric by Cassina
By Patricia Urquiola, Cassina
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
About the manufacturer: In a continuing dialogue between past, present, and future, Cassina has created the I Maestri collection, revisiting furnishing designs by the 20th century’s...
Steel
$20,139 / item
Patricia Urquiola ''Trampoline' Outdoor Sofa by Cassina
By Cassina, Patricia Urquiola
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
About the manufacturer: In a continuing dialogue between past, present, and future, Cassina has created the I Maestri collection, revisiting furnishing designs by the 20th century’s...
Steel
$11,178 / item
Charlotte Perriand Indochine Chaise Lounge by Cassina
By Charlotte Perriand
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
About the manufacturer: In a continuing dialogue between past, present, and future, Cassina has created the I Maestri collection, revisiting furnishing designs by the twentieth centu...
Metal
$24,164 / item
Rodolfo Dordoni ''Sail Out' Outdoor Sofa by Cassina
By Rodolfo Dordoni, Cassina
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
About the manufacturer: In a continuing dialogue between past, present, and future, Cassina has created the I Maestri collection, revisiting furnishing designs by the 20th century’s...
Metal
$25,434 / item
Rodolfo Dordoni ''Sail Out' Outdoor Sofa, by Cassina
By Rodolfo Dordoni, Cassina
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
About the manufacturer: In a continuing dialogue between past, present, and future, Cassina has created the I Maestri collection, revisiting furnishing designs by the 20th century’s...
Metal
Rodolfo Dordoni ''Sail Out' Outdoor Sofa, Metal by Cassina
By Rodolfo Dordoni, Cassina
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
About the manufacturer: In a continuing dialogue between past, present, and future, Cassina has created the I Maestri collection, revisiting furnishing designs by the 20th century’s...
Metal
$38,949 / item
Rodolfo Dordoni ''Sail Out' Outdoor Sofa by Cassina
By Rodolfo Dordoni, Cassina
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
About the manufacturer: In a continuing dialogue between past, present, and future, Cassina has created the I Maestri collection, revisiting furnishing designs by the 20th century’s ...
Metal
$17,821 / item
Rodolfo Dordoni ''Sail Out' Outdoor Sofa by Cassina
By Cassina, Rodolfo Dordoni
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
About the manufacturer: In a continuing dialogue between past, present, and future, Cassina has created the I Maestri collection, revisiting furnishing designs by the 20th century’s ...
Metal
Rodolfo Dordoni ''Sail Out' Outdoor Sofa, Water-Repellent Fabric by Cassina
By Rodolfo Dordoni, Cassina
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
About the manufacturer: In a continuing dialogue between past, present, and future, Cassina has created the I Maestri collection, revisiting furnishing designs by the 20th century’s ...
Metal
Charlotte Perriand Indochine Blue Chaise Lounge by Cassina
By Charlotte Perriand
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
About the manufacturer: In a continuing dialogue between past, present, and future, Cassina has created the I Maestri collection, revisiting furnishing designs by the twentieth centu...
Metal
Charles Webb Cherry Day Bed
Located in Hanover, MA
Webb draws on the lean examples of Scandinavian modern, Shaker, and Frank Lloyd Wright, but the plushest piece has local roots: Webb's down-and-feather-stuffed Cambridge sofa was cre...
Cherry
Walnut Art Deco Modernist Day Bed or Sofa, 1920s
Located in Amsterdam, NL
The Haagse School was inspired by the designs of the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The famous Dutch Art Magazine Wendingen published a series of articles on Frank Lloyd Wrigh...
Fabric, Macassar, Walnut
Sold
H 15 in W 75 in D 31 in
Woven Rush Daybed in Walnut with Leather Pillow and Cushion by Mel Smilow
By Mel Smilow
Located in New York, NY
Judy Smilow (1958-2018), designer and founder of Smilow Design LLC, grew up “modern” in a Frank Lloyd Wright cooperative Community surrounded by her father’s artwork and furniture.
Rush, Walnut
Sold
H 9.06 in W 77.17 in D 29.93 in
Pierre Chapo L07 Extendable Daybed, Oak, Mid-Century Modern, France, 1963
By Pierre Chapo
Located in Antwerp, BE
Chapo was inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright's balanced lines, Corbusier's research on proportions and Bauhaus.
Oak
Rodolfo Dordoni ''Sail Out' Outdoor Sofa by Cassina
By Rodolfo Dordoni, Cassina
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
About the manufacturer: In a continuing dialogue between past, present, and future, Cassina has created the I Maestri collection, revisiting furnishing designs by the 20th century’s...
Metal
Rodolfo Dordoni ''Sail Out' Outdoor Sofa by Cassina
By Rodolfo Dordoni, Cassina
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
About the manufacturer: In a continuing dialogue between past, present, and future, Cassina has created the I Maestri collection, revisiting furnishing designs by the 20th century’s...
Metal
Pair of Pierre Chapo S45 Chairs in Solid Elm, France, 1970s
By Pierre Chapo
Located in Utrecht, NL
Among the many places the couple visited was the home and studio of Frank Lloyd Wright in Taliesin West. A visit that had a lasting influence on Chapo's future work and designs.
Leather, Elm
Sold
H 59.45 in W 81.11 in D 70.48 in
Le Corbusier and Charlotte Perriand LC35 Maison du Brésil Set by Cassina
By Cassina, Charlotte Perriand, Le Corbusier
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
About the manufacturer: In a continuing dialogue between past, present, and future, Cassina has created the I Maestri collection, revisiting furnishing designs by the 20th century’s ...
Metal
Sold
H 59.45 in W 81.11 in D 70.48 in
Le Corbusier and Charlotte Perriand LC35 Maison du Brésil Set by Cassina
By Cassina, Charlotte Perriand, Le Corbusier
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
About the manufacturer: In a continuing dialogue between past, present, and future, Cassina has created the I Maestri collection, revisiting furnishing designs by the 20th century’s ...
Metal
Sold
H 59.45 in W 81.11 in D 70.48 in
Le Corbusier and Charlotte Perriand Lc35 Maison Du Brésil Set by Cassina
By Cassina, Charlotte Perriand, Le Corbusier
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
About the manufacturer: In a continuing dialogue between past, present, and future, Cassina has created the I Maestri collection, revisiting furnishing designs by the 20th century’s...
Metal
Sold
H 59.45 in W 81.11 in D 70.48 in
Le Corbusier and Charlotte Perriand LC35 Maison du Brésil Set by Cassina
By Charlotte Perriand, Le Corbusier, Cassina
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
About the manufacturer: In a continuing dialogue between past, present, and future, Cassina has created the I Maestri collection, revisiting furnishing designs by the 20th century’s ...
Metal
Pierre Chapo L03A Single Bed with Drawers
By Pierre Chapo
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Chapo was inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright's balanced lines, Corbusier's research on proportions and Bauhaus.
Elm
Organically shaped, clean-lined and elegantly simple are three terms that well describe vintage mid-century modern furniture. The style, which emerged primarily in the years following World War II, is characterized by pieces that were conceived and made in an energetic, optimistic spirit by creators who believed that good design was an essential part of good living.
ORIGINS OF MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN
CHARACTERISTICS OF MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN
MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNERS TO KNOW
ICONIC MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNS
VINTAGE MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE ON 1STDIBS
The mid-century modern era saw leagues of postwar American architects and designers animated by new ideas and new technology. The lean, functionalist International-style architecture of Le Corbusier and Bauhaus eminences Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Walter Gropius had been promoted in the United States during the 1930s by Philip Johnson and others. New building techniques, such as “post-and-beam” construction, allowed the International-style schemes to be realized on a small scale in open-plan houses with long walls of glass.
Materials developed for wartime use became available for domestic goods and were incorporated into mid-century modern furniture designs. Charles and Ray Eames and Eero Saarinen, who had experimented extensively with molded plywood, eagerly embraced fiberglass for pieces such as the La Chaise and the Womb chair, respectively.
Architect, writer and designer George Nelson created with his team shades for the Bubble lamp using a new translucent polymer skin and, as design director at Herman Miller, recruited the Eameses, Alexander Girard and others for projects at the legendary Michigan furniture manufacturer.
Harry Bertoia and Isamu Noguchi devised chairs and tables built of wire mesh and wire struts. Materials were repurposed too: The Danish-born designer Jens Risom created a line of chairs using surplus parachute straps for webbed seats and backrests.
The Risom lounge chair was among the first pieces of furniture commissioned and produced by celebrated manufacturer Knoll, a chief influencer in the rise of modern design in the United States, thanks to the work of Florence Knoll, the pioneering architect and designer who made the firm a leader in its field. The seating that Knoll created for office spaces — as well as pieces designed by Florence initially for commercial clients — soon became desirable for the home.
As the demand for casual, uncluttered furnishings grew, more mid-century furniture designers caught the spirit.
Classically oriented creators such as Edward Wormley, house designer for Dunbar Inc., offered such pieces as the sinuous Listen to Me chaise; the British expatriate T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings switched gears, creating items such as the tiered, biomorphic Mesa table. There were Young Turks such as Paul McCobb, who designed holistic groups of sleek, blond wood furniture, and Milo Baughman, who espoused a West Coast aesthetic in minimalist teak dining tables and lushly upholstered chairs and sofas with angular steel frames.
Generations turn over, and mid-century modern remains arguably the most popular style going. As the collection of vintage mid-century modern chairs, dressers, coffee tables and other furniture for the living room, dining room, bedroom and elsewhere on 1stDibs demonstrates, this period saw one of the most delightful and dramatic flowerings of creativity in design history.
Modern icons are showing up in gracefully layered dining nooks, living rooms and lounges — proof that great design only gets better with context.
You know the designs, now get the stories about how they came to be.
The enduring appeal of the Barcelona chair is in the details.
The brand that turned Charles and Ray Eames, Isamu Noguchi and George Nelson into mid-century household names is just as relevant today as it was six decades ago.
Our feed is filled with the world's most beautiful spaces. See the rooms our followers have deemed the best of the best this month.
Our feed is filled with the world's most beautiful spaces. See the 10 our followers have deemed the best of the best this month.
There are many lessons to be learned from the lofts, apartments and townhouses of architects and decorators in Manhattan and beyond.
Having created extravagant homes for reality TV’s biggest stars, the designer is stepping into the spotlight with his first book.