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.
Vintage BOC Silver Soda Syphon, Mid-Century Modern, England, 1960
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage BOC Silver Retro Soda Syphon England 1960's. An original vintage 1960s BOC soda syphon/siphon. This is a fantastic Vintage Metallic silver Metal BO...
Metal
$1,150Sale Price|37% Off
Archimede Seguso for Girolamo Luxardo Alabastro Murano Penguin Bottle
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
Archimede Seguso for Girolamo Luxardo Alabastro Murano penguin bottle.
Art Glass
Large Mid-20th Century, American Modern Studio Stoneware Bottle by Kay Finch
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Monumental stoneware vase/bottle with button stopper in matte dark brown glaze by Kay Finch Ceramics, which operated in Corona Del Mar, California from 1935-...
Stoneware
Mid 20th Century Murano Glass Decanter
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Murano glass decanter composed of a purple hued body, accented with a gold speckled glass bass, figural lion head to the center. Great as a vase...
Murano Glass
Roger Capron - Vintage Ceramic Pastis Decanter with Long Neck
By Roger Capron
Located in Stratford, CT
Vintage Ceramic Pastis Decanter with Long Neck by Roger Capron - Vallauris, France Roger Capron was in influential French ceramicist, known for his tiled tables and his use of recur...
Ceramic
Robert Fournier Bottle Stoneware 1960-1965 White Brown Crusty Textured Glaze
Located in BUNGAY, SUFFOLK
Robert Fournier (1915-2008), stoneware, tall flattened, bottle, circa 1960-1965 This bottle is from the same series as No.2008.658.18 in the Metropoli...
Pottery
$952Sale Price|20% Off
Roger Capron - Slanted Vintage Ceramic Bowl with Yellow and Black Lines
By Roger Capron
Located in Stratford, CT
Slanted Vintage Ceramic Bowl with Yellow and Black Lines by Roger Capron - Vallauris, France Roger Capron was in influential French ceramicist, known fo...
Ceramic
$840Sale Price|20% Off
Green and Blue Vintage Ceramic Pitcher
Located in Milano, IT
Wonderful vintage blue and green ceramic pitcher, designed n he 1950's of fine Italian manufacture. Under the base is its place of origin, Italy. The pitcher has a wider bottom that narrows as it goes towards the spout. There is a sleeve in the center of the body that allows for a firm grip on the pitcher. The spout opens very smoothly, preventing drinks from spilling out. The pitcher is totally made of finely crafted ceramic in white, light blue, blue and green, very quirky and elegant. The jug is suitable as a serving item but also as a beautiful flower vase.
Ceramic
$1,584Sale Price|20% Off
Roger Capron - Vintage Ceramic Fine Decanter
By Roger Capron
Located in Stratford, CT
Vintage ceramic decorative flask signed by Roger Capron - Vallauris, France Roger Capron was in influential French ceramicist, known for his tiled tables and his use of recurring mo...
Ceramic
Marcello Fantoni Vase
Located in Chicago, IL
Glazed ceramic vase.
Ceramic
Roger Capron - Vintage Ceramic Rye Bottle with Goose Neck
By Roger Capron
Located in Stratford, CT
Vintage ceramic decorative flask signed by Roger Capron - Vallauris, France Roger Capron was in influential French ceramicist, known for his tiled tables and his use of recurring mo...
Ceramic
$1,584Sale Price|20% Off
Roger Capron - Vintage Ceramic Decanter with Abstract Motive
By Roger Capron
Located in Stratford, CT
Vintage ceramic decorative flask signed by Roger Capron - Vallauris, France Roger Capron was in influential French ceramicist, known for his tiled tables and his use of recurring mo...
Ceramic
Kjell Engman Kosta Boda Style Blue Crystal Bud Art Vase Scandinavian Modern 1990
Located in Miami, FL
Mid-Century Modern blue long neck bottle, art glass weed vase in the Style of Kjell Engman attributed to Kosta Boda made in Sweden. Lead-free crystal in sky blue color. Great Gift id...
Crystal
French Art Deco Lalique for Gurelain Perfume Bottle
Located in Queens, NY
French Art Deco octagonal frosted glass perfume bottle with painted pink floral band around the middle & matching octagonal faceted frosted glass stopper "Bouquet de faunes...
Glass
Vintage Milk Glass Bottle
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This elegant Mid-Century Modern vessel is a masterclass in minimalist design, featuring a graceful, elongated silhouette crafted from luminous opaque white milk glass. The sleek, bot...
Milk Glass
Roger Capron - Vintage Ceramic Whisky Decanter with Long Neck
By Roger Capron
Located in Stratford, CT
Vintage ceramic decorative flask signed by Roger Capron - Vallauris, France Roger Capron was in influential French ceramicist, known for his tiled tables and his use of recurring mo...
Ceramic
$1,485Sale Price|25% Off
Roger Capron - Vintage Ceramic Whisky Decanter with Long Neck
By Roger Capron
Located in Stratford, CT
Vintage ceramic decorative flask signed by Roger Capron - Vallauris, France Roger Capron was in influential French ceramicist, known for his tiled tables and his use of recurring mo...
Ceramic
$1,584Sale Price|20% Off
Roger Capron - Vintage Ceramic Gin Flask
By Roger Capron
Located in Stratford, CT
Vintage ceramic decorative flask signed by Roger Capron - Vallauris, France Roger Capron was in influential French ceramicist, known for his tiled tables and his use of recurring mo...
Ceramic
Polychrome glass cane bottle attributed to Gio Ponti for Venini
By Gio Ponti
Located in Montreal, QC
Polychrome glass cane bottle attributed to Gio Ponti for Venini. underneath showing original Venini paper label. Italy: circa 1950
Glass
$476Sale Price|19% Off
Ceramic Colored Italian Design Bottle, 1960
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Ceramic colored Italian design bottle 1960, similar design to the great Ettore Sottsass.
Ceramic
$1,533Sale Price|30% Off
Roger Capron - Vintage Ceramic Fine Flask
By Roger Capron
Located in Stratford, CT
Vintage ceramic decorative flask signed by Roger Capron - Vallauris, France Roger Capron was in influential French ceramicist, known for his tiled tables and his use of recurring mo...
Ceramic
$650Sale Price|31% Off
Large Empoli Italian Glass Green Ewer Pitcher Vase
By Empoli
Located in Chicago, IL
Large Empoli Italian glass green Ewer pitcher vase.
Art Glass
$1,584Sale Price|20% Off
Roger Capron - Vintage Ceramic Gin Flask
By Roger Capron
Located in Stratford, CT
Vintage ceramic decorative flask signed by Roger Capron - Vallauris, France Roger Capron was in influential French ceramicist, known for his tiled tables and his use of recurring mo...
Ceramic
$636Sale Price|20% Off
1950s John Power Son Whiskey Dublin Liquor Store Display Bottle Jeroboam
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Rare 1950s still pot whiskey bottle produced in the Lane Distillery, which was closed in 1975 . It is a about the size of a Jeroboam wine bottle or Double Magnum. Approx. 3 Liters (...
Glass
Venini Sommerso Inciso Green Glass Bottle and Stopper
By Paolo Venini
Located in Doraville, GA
A beautiful bottle with stopper by Paolo Venini for Venini from the 1950's. The bottle is "sommerso" which in English literally means "submerged". This technique is used to create several layers of glass (usually with different contrasting colors) inside a single object. This bottle appears to be clear glass incased in green glass. The stopper is layered with clear, rose and green glass. The surface of the bottle and stopper is "inciso" which in English means engraved or incised, this process is done by hand on a grinding wheel...
Blown Glass
Vintage Clear Glass Apothecary Bottle with Ground Stopper
Located in Seattle, WA
A vintage clear glass apothecary bottle featuring a rounded cylindrical form and fitted ground glass stopper. The bottle showcases clean lines and a minimal silhouette, typical of m...
Glass
Kjell Engman for Kosta Boda Pitcher Jug , 1980s
By Kjell Engman
Located in Delft, NL
Kjell Engman for Kosta Boda Pitcher Jug , 1980s Dimension: 35 cm Height , 20 cm Width , 10,5cm Depth Condition: Good Material: Glass Color: Blue , ...
Art Glass
Beautiful Italian Mid Century Glass Bottle, 1970s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful tall glass bottle vintage made in Italy, 1970s.
Silver
Vintage Rare Black and Red Glass Liqueur Drinking Set by Moretti & Nason, Italy
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1930s. This is a very rare Moretti & Nason liqueur set, exhibited at the Glass Museum in Venice on the occasion of the company's centenary commemorative exhibition. Th...
Marble, Metal
Barovier & Toso Opal Turquoise Glass Bottle Flacone with Stopper, 1950
Located in Paris, IDF
Rare Barovier & toso opal glass bottle designed in the 1950s. This beautiful flaconne Murano piece has a really eye-catching colour and presence, with turquoise opal glass with milky white opal...
Murano Glass, Opaline Glass
Mid-Century Modern Bitossi Italian Ceramic Water Jug, 1960s
By Bitossi
Located in Byron Bay, NSW
Italian orange ceramic water jar by Bitossi 1960s. Glazed technique used by Aldo Londi, serial number and signature on the bottom of the jar.
Ceramic
Vintage Handcrafted Deep Amethyst Art Glass Perfume Bottle
Located in Marinha Grande, PT
An elegant, artistic glass perfume bottle crafted from amethyst glass, deeply embellished with spiraling clear cuts, offering a stunning visual contrast. Its refined, organic silhoue...
Crystal, Metal
New Murano Glass XL Dark Green Battuto Perfume Bottle
Located in Troy, MI
New and made in Italy by an unknown Murano glass maker, this perfume bottle is 18” tall with the stopper on and 5.5” diameter. Heavy, dark bottle ...
Murano Glass
Vintage Red Blown Glass Ring Carafe, Mid-Century Modern 1970s
Located in Linkebeek, BE
Vintage Red blown glass "Ring" carafe Pitcher - Soliflor - Glass decoration Measures : 17x10.5cm H:23cm
Art Glass
Cased Glass White Floor Vase
Located in Ferndale, MI
Tall cased glass floor vase in matte finish with gloss design.
Glass
Set of 3 Mid-Century Modern Style Large Red, Blue and Green Murano Glass Bottles
Located in London, GB
Set of 3 red, blue and green Murano glass bottles, Italy, 2000s Red one is 75x12cm Blue one is 56x15cm green one is 43x23cm.
Murano Glass
$467Sale Price|20% Off
Mid-Century Modern Brass Ice Holder by DDD Design, Italy, Circa 1968
By DDD Design
Located in bari, IT
Ice container in brass and amber plexiglass, internal glass container. Production ddd design from the 1960s.
Brass
White Ceramic Bottles by Nanni Valentini for Laboratorio Pesaro, Italy, 1960s
By Nanni Valentini, Franco Bucci
Located in Milan, IT
Remarkable set of three vases by Nanni Valentini for Franco Bucci/Laboratorio Pesaro. Different sizes and colors for this unique decorative set.
Ceramic
Bruno Gambone Ceramic Vase or Bottle, Italy, 1970s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in New York, NY
Bruno Gambone light black glazed ceramic bottle or vase with a flattened circular body and elongated tapering neck, Italy 1970s. The body is incise...
Ceramic
1960s Bertel Vallien Large Swedish Art Glass Vase by Kosta Boda
Located in Knebel, DK
Early large and rare are art glass vase / bottle in very good condition with almost no signs of age and use designed by Bertel Vallien for Kosta Boda in the 1960s. The free-blown sw...
Blown Glass
West German Glazed Pottery Vase
Located in Houston, TX
West German Glazed pottery vase. Stunning West German glazed pottery vase. This great shaped vase is the most gorgeous shade of blue.
Pottery
Italian Whiskey Bottle And Two Tumblers All With Fish Grindings
Located in Prato, Tuscany
Before describing the object under consideration we must make an important clarification, the artifact, one of many that we will publish over time, is part of the collection museum o...
Crystal
1950’s Spaghetti Large Amethyst Glass Decanter With Stopper
By (after) Jackson Pollock
Located in Charleston, SC
A fantastic mid-century modern amethyst decanter with a Pollock style spaghetti design. Made in Spain.
Art Glass
Mid-Century Wooden Bottle Stopper/Cork by Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
The item on sale is an original Carl Auböck bottle stopper. It was hand crafted and is made from the finest wood and cork. It has a robust leathe...
Leather, Wood
Mid Century Vintage Bottle Italy 1950s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage tall red bottle made in Italy 1950s
Silver
Vintage Beautiful Italian Mid Century Glass Bottle, 1970s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful tall glass bottle vintage made in Italy, 1970s.
Silver
Pucci Umbertide Hand Painted Olive Oil Ceramic Bottle, 1950s
Located in Byron Bay, NSW
Pucci ceramics is a famous Italian ceramics manufacturer located in the town of Umbertide in the region of Umbria, Italy. The company was founded in 1949 by the Pucci family and has ...
Ceramic
White ceramic pitcher "Calvados" by Roger Capron from the 60's from Vallauris
By Roger Capron
Located in Ternay, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Large pitcher "Calvados" in ceramic of Roger Capron of the Sixties. White enameling on the whole pitcher with a multicolored geometric decoration on the bottom of the vase and the in...
Ceramic
Decorative Italian Bottle Made in Italy 1950s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Decorative silver and crystal bottle 1950s.
Crystal, Silver
Venini Bottle with Stopper
By Venini, Paolo Venini
Located in New York, NY
Venini glass bottle with stopper in composite glass with finely wheel-engraved finish of delicate creases, incised on bottom "Venini Italia". P...
Glass
Two Ceramic Vases, Gitte & Finn Hauptmann, Biot 1952
Located in St Ouen, FR
Two gourd vases with generous and vivid glaze made by four hands by danish Artist Gitte Hauptmann and her brother Finn. Condition is excellent. Measurements (cm) : 19.5 h x 14.5 di...
Ceramic
Vintage Italian Small Bottle, 1950s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful small Vintage Italian bottle with silver details made in Italy, 1950s.
Silver
Pair of 2 Italian Crystal Bottle 1950s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of 2 vintage bottle made in Italy 1950s.
Crystal
Vintage Matted Photograph Abstract Print by Seattle Photographer Bruce Saradow.
Located in Seattle, WA
Vintage Matted photograph of abstract Design. Signed in the Lower Corner. Other Works by this photographer are available. Vintage Condition Consistent with Age as Pictured. Dimensio...
Ceramic
Decorative Crystal and Silver Bottle, 1950s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Decorative Italian bottle decanter made with crystal and silver details ,1950s.
Crystal, Silver
Mid-Century Modern Bar Set Designed by Daum, France, 1960
By Daum
Located in Madrid, ES
Set of tray, bottle and glass of smoke glass designed by Daum in the 60's.
Glass
Art Deco Jean Luce Perfume Bottle
Located in Queens, NY
Art Deco rectangular glass perfume bottle with geometric frosted glass cut outs and square, patinated silver metal top (JEAN LUCE) (SEE ALSO - NIV229)
Glass
$2,450 / item
Art Deco Jean Luce Perfume Bottles
Located in Queens, NY
Art Deco rectangular glass perfume bottles with geometric frosted glass cut outs and square, patinated silver metal top (JEAN LUCE) (2-PRICED EACH) See also item NIV235
Glass
3 Amaizing Muranos , 1940, Italian
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
Logistics and International Shipping We provide a comprehensive export service so that your only concern is enjoying your acquisition. • Door-to-Door Service: Pieces located in our A...
Chrome
$1,485Sale Price|25% Off
Roger Capron - Vintage Ceramic Cognac Flask
By Roger Capron
Located in Stratford, CT
Vintage ceramic decorative flask signed by Roger Capron - Vallauris, France Roger Capron was in influential French ceramicist, known for his tiled tables and his use of recurring mo...
Ceramic