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.
Mid-Century Modern Sculpted Dolphin Style Brass Table Lamp
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Condition: Original Vintage Condition, New Shade, New Brass Harp & Socket Dimensions: 21”H x 7”W x 3”D Shade: 10”H x 15”W x 15”D
Brass
$19,400 / set
Angelo Lelii for Arredoluce Rare Pair of Table Lamps
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Angelo Lelii for Arredoluce, pair of table lamps, model '12398', enameled aluminum, brass, Italy, circa 1952 Arredoluce captures it perfectly: “One of Lelii's many inventions that p...
Aluminum, Brass
German Midcenturry Murano Ice-Glass Wall Sconce by Hillebrand, 1970s
By Hillebrand, Egon Hillebrand
Located in Badajoz, Badajoz
Stunning and beauty Murano Ice-glass Wall Sconce by Hillebrand Leuchten. This fixture was designed and manufactured during the 1970s in Germany. Model 8527-211. This Wall Sconce is c...
Metal
Area 160 Floor Lamp by Mario Bellini for Artemide, Italy, 1970s
Located in Hagenbach, DE
Area 160 floor lamp by Mario Bellini for Artemide, Italy, 1970s. This striking vintage floor lamp features a very slim white stem rising from a flat black square base, supporting a s...
Metal
$2,600 / set
Pair of 1950s Italian Brass Wall Sconces
Located in Rome, IT
A distinctive and subtly playful pair of Italian wall sconces from the 1950s, defined by a sculptural composition in brass with contrasting material details. Each sconce features tw...
Metal, Brass
Hans Agne Jakobsson 'B140' Table Lamp in Brass with Silk Fringe
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Hans-Agne Jakobsson for Hans-Agne Jakobsson AB in Markaryd, Sweden, 'Fringe' table lamp, model 'B-140', brass, silk, Sweden, 1960s An iconic Fringe table lamp designed by Hans-Agne...
Brass
Pair of 1950s Italian Brass and Opaline Glass Wall Sconces
Located in Rome, IT
A refined and subtly playful pair of Italian wall sconces from the 1950s, defined by a clean and understated composition in brass and opaline glass. Each sconce features a slender, ...
Brass
Franco Buzzi for O-Luce Wall Light in Brass and Aluminum
By O-Luce, Franco Buzzi
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Franco Buzzi for O-Luce, wall light, model 'B3', enameled aluminum, enameled steel, brass, Italy, 1949 This exceptional Italian wall-mounted wall light is the B3 model designed by F...
Aluminum, Brass, Steel
Tiffany style adjustable Brass Wall lamp 1960s
Located in Den Haag, NL
Very nice Brass Wall lamp . Adjustable in height ,sliding on a rail. comes with a Tiffany style shade .
Brass
1950s Italian Brass and Opaline Glass Wall Sconce
Located in Rome, IT
Italian wall sconce dating from the 1950s, designed with a refined and compact mid-century composition. The fixture features a round brass wall plate supporting a shaped brass arm wi...
Metal, Brass
Pair of articulated "Cocoon" wall lights, resin and pine, Italy, Circa 1970's
Located in BARCELONA, ES
Beautiful pair of articulated "cocoon" wall lights, Italy, 1970s. Each sconce showcases masterful hand-applied resin threads over a metal frame, creating the iconic cocoon effect — a...
Pine, Resin
$676Sale Price / set|41% Off
Mazzega wall lighting Glass Murano gold incrustation pair , Italy, 1970
By Mazzega
Located in La xara, VC
Superb Mazzega wall lighting glass Murano with structure. The Design and the quality of the glass make this piece the best of the Italian Design. Mazzega is an Italian company that ...
Murano Glass
Pair of Murano Glass Wall Sconces with Gold Dust Inclusions
Located in Puglia, Puglia
An elegant pair of Murano glass wall sconces, handcrafted in Italy, featuring elongated, fluted hand-blown glass shades embellished with delicate gold dust. The softly textured surfa...
Brass
Scandinavian Mid-Century Flush Mount Ceiling Light, 1950s
Located in Oslo, NO
Wonderful and decorative flush mount ceiling fixture from the early 1950s. Designed and made in Sweden from cirka 1950s first half. The lamp is fully working and in good vintage co...
Chrome
Cocoon resin. Large Brutalist pendant light by Friedel Wauer, Germany, 1970s
By Friedel Wauer, Goldkant Leuchten, George Nelson, Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Tobia Scarpa
Located in SANT ADRIÀ DE BESÒS, ES
Compatible with US/EU standards. Large Space Age and Brutalist style pendant lamp by Friedel Wauer for Goldkant Leuchten, Germany, 1970s. Composed of a large metal frame in the shap...
Metal, Brass, Chrome
Large Three-Tier Murano Glass Tube Chandelier, Pink Albaster
By Mazzega
Located in Gaiarine Frazione Francenigo (TV), IT
Italian vintage chandelier in Murano glass and nickel-plated metal structure. The armor polished nickel supports 48 large glass tubes in a star shape. The alabaster technique create...
Blown Glass
Travertine Table Lamp Attributed to Fratelli Mannelli, Italian Design c.1970
Located in Camblanes et Meynac, FR
A minimalist Italian mid-century modern table lamp, circa 1970. The piece features a brutalist architectural base crafted from porous raw travertine stone with vertical fluting, topp...
Travertine
Austrian Mid-Century Pair of "Citrus" Clear Murano Wall Sconces by Kalmar, 1970s
By J.T. Kalmar, Kalmar Lighting
Located in Badajoz, Badajoz
Beauty and stunning Austrian Mid-Century "Kalmar" Wall Sconces, model "Citrus" 4663/2. These Sconces were designed and manufactured during the 1970s in Austria by Kalmar Franken KG. ...
Metal, Brass
French Mid-Century Pendant Chandelier, Glass & Brass, 1950s, France
Located in Saint-Amans-des-Cots, FR
This elegant French Mid-Century pendant chandelier, crafted in France during the 1950s, beautifully captures the refined simplicity and timeless sophistication of postwar European de...
Brass
Amber Bubble Glas Pendant by Helena Tynell for Limburg, 1960s
By Glashütte Limburg, Helena Tynell and Heinrich Gantenbrink
Located in NUEMBRECHT, NRW
This Mid-Century Modern Space Age pendant light was designed during the 1960s by Helena Tynell and Heinrich Gantenbrink and was produced by Glashütte Limburg in Germany. It is made o...
Brass
beautiful Murano Glass Flush Mount Ceiling Light, Italy, 1970s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
An elegant 1970s Murano glass flush mount handcrafted in Italy. The fixture features beautifully textured, hand-blown Murano glass resting on a white lacquered metal base, creating a...
Metal
French Designer, Wall Lights, Wood, France, 1950s
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of wood wall lights likely designed and produced in France, c. 1950s. Wear consistent with age and use. Overall Dimensions (Inches): 16.0"H x 6.75"W x 5.65"D Back Plate Dim...
Wood
Gaetano Sciolari 5-Tier chandelier, brass & crystal, Italy, 1970s
Located in BARCELONA, ES
Magnificent 5-tier Gaetano Sciolari chandelier, Italy, 1970s. This iconic mid-century masterpiece showcases cascading tiers of hand-cut crystal prisms suspended from a polished brass...
Crystal, Brass
Hans-Agne Jakobsson 'Tratten' Wall Lights in Patinated Copper
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Hans-Agne Jakobsson for Hans-Agne Jakobsson AB in Markaryd, wall lights ‘Tratten’, copper, Sweden, 1950s Hans-Agne Jakobsson designed this wall light 'Tratten', which is crafted fro...
Copper
Swedish Designer, Chandelier, Brass, Fabric, Sweden, 1950s
Located in High Point, NC
A brass and white fabric chandelier designed and produced in Sweden, c. 1950s. Dramatic patina on brass consistent with age and use. Overall Dimensions (inches): 30.0"H x 28.0"D S...
Brass
1950s Italian Brass and Red Lacquered Chandelier with Opaline Glass
Located in Rome, IT
Italian mid-century pendant chandelier from the 1950s, characterized by a light and geometric structure that combines slender brass rods with red lacquered metal elements. The fixtur...
Metal, Brass
Beautiful small 1960s Cocoon pendant lamp in very good vintage condition
Located in München, BY
Beautiful small 1960s Cocoon pendant lamp in very good original vintage condition. Great minimalist design. Creates a very pleasant warm light. The shade is undamaged. No holes or ...
Metal
Pair of Accademia Wall Lamp by Cini Boeri for Artemide 1978
By Cini Boeri, Artemide
Located in Barcelona, ES
The Accademia lamp, designed by Cini Boeri in 1978, is a lamp version of the popular table lamp created for Artemide. This lamp is an impressive example of Boeri's minimalist approac...
Iron
Giant Italian Tole Hot Air Balloon Chandelier, circa 1950s
Located in Wiesbaden, Hessen
An amazing, giant, Italian hand - painted hot air balloon chandelier, circa 1950s. Socket: 6 x e14 (Edison) for standard screw bulbs. Diameter: 31.49 inches Height: 61.02 inches Tot...
Metal
1970s Sciolari 'Orbit' 10 arms Silver Plated Chandelier , Italy
By Lightolier, Sciolari Lighting, Gaetano Sciolari
Located in St- Leonard, Quebec
Gaetano Sciolari elegant minimalist 'Orbit' 10 arms silver plated chandelier made in the 70s in Italy . Solid well made components , hardwares and sturdy assembly . Enameled b...
Silver, Chrome
Italian Modern Enamel And Brass Pendant
By Gio Ponti, Gaetano Sciolari, Stilnovo, Sciolari Lighting
Located in Houston, TX
Italian Modern Enamel And Brass Pendant. Offered is stunning Italian mid-century modern brass and red enamel pendant with three new candelabra sockets that has been newly wired for t...
Brass, Enamel
Expertly Restored - John Keal Mosaic Tile Floor Lamp for Modeline of CA
By Modeline Lamp Co., John Keal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Materials: Mosaic Tiles, Korina Wood, New Linen Shade ________________________________________ Transforming a piece of Mid-Century Modern furniture is like bringing history back to ...
Linen, Wood
Italian Murano Glass and Brass Modular Linear Chandelier in Pink and Red
Located in Puglia, Puglia
An elegant, elongated pendant lamp, crafted from a refined brass structure composed of three levels illuminated by integrated light strips along its entire length. The distinctive d...
Brass
$2,320Sale Price|20% Off
Arc Adjustable Chrome Floor Lamp With Large Shade Goffredo Reggiani
Located in Toronto, ON
Spectacular arc floor lamp, made in Italy by Reggiani. It has a chrome frame which is fully adjustable, featuring a large acrylic shade with brass accent on the edges. This lamp is a...
Chrome
Scandinavian Mid-Century Flush Mount Ceiling Light, 1950s
Located in Oslo, NO
Wonderful and decorative flush mount ceiling fixture from the early 1950s. Designed and made in Sweden from cirka 1950s first half. The lamp is fully working and in good vintage co...
Chrome
Pair of Vintage Italian Murano wall lights - 12 "rondini" OPALINO glass
By Mazzega
Located in Gaiarine Frazione Francenigo (TV), IT
Pair of Vintage Italian Murano appliques in the manner of Mazzega. Wall lights have 6 glass petals "rondini" (OPALINO) in a chrome frame. Period: late XX century Dimensions: 13,40 ...
Art Glass
French White Mat Opaline Glass Brass Sconces Wall Lamps
Located in Amsterdam, NL
French brass wall lamp White mat opaline glass. Brass wall piece and arm diameter brass wall mount: 10 cm / 3.93” 3 holes to secure E14 Weight: 0.70 kg / 1.5 lb E14 bulb holder....
Brass
1950s Italian Chandelier in Brass and Frosted Glass Shades
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Chandelier, brass, glass, Italy, 1950s Elegant Italian chandelier from the 1950s, crafted from beautifully patinated brass and delicate frosted glass shades. The refined brass struc...
Brass
Rare 1970s Italian Hand-Sewn Celadon Green Suede Pendant Lamp Sculptural Flower
Located in Hannover, DE
This exceptional pendant lamp, crafted in Italy in the 1970s, embodies masterful craftsmanship and timeless elegance. The shade is meticulously hand-sewn from delicate light celadon-...
Alabaster
Set of 3 Copper Cylinder Pendant Lights Attributed to Hoogervorst
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Three copper cylinder pendant lights hang from cream cords. Each shade is made from three connected copper tubes, with a black enameled metal band around the center featuring a repea...
Metal, Copper, Enamel
Swedish Designer, Table Lamp in Fabric, Sweden, 1960s.
By Solbackens Svarveri, Aneta, Lamp Gustaf, Markslöjd, Luxus Vittsjö
Located in Malmö, SE
A beautiful table lamp with off-white embroidery fabric on a white lacquered metal frame. Made by an unknown designer in Sweden, c. 1960s. Good original condition. Some dark spots ...
Metal
RESERVED: Vintage Palmette Wall Light, Amber Glasses
By Mazzega
Located in Gaiarine Frazione Francenigo (TV), IT
Luxury and GENUINE Murano Glass applique. 100% HAND MADE IN MURANO. The applique are made by 9 Murano handmade amber palmette glass, for each one, in a Solid metal frame gold painted...
Art Glass
Scandinavian Mid-Century Flush Mount Ceiling Light, 1950s
Located in Oslo, NO
Wonderful and decorative flush mount ceiling fixture from the early 1950s. Designed and made in Sweden from cirka 1950s first half. The lamp is fully working and in good vintage co...
Chrome
French Mid-Century Brass and Black Enamel Wall Sconce with Pleated Shade, 1950s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Petite French wall sconce from the 1950s featuring a round black enameled backplate with a brass center accent and a slender curved brass stem. The stem sweeps upward to cradle a con...
Metal, Brass, Enamel
$2,400Sale Price|20% Off
1960s Poul Cadovius Largest Aluminium Lighted Planter RS 50 Pendant , Denmark
By Poul Cadovius, Cado
Located in St- Leonard, Quebec
1960s Poul Cadovius large RS 50 brushed and lacquered aluminium lighted planter pendant . Contain one E26/27 ceramic socket rated at 40 watt. Actual set up is a plug in with 15...
Aluminum
$2,795Sale Price / item|20% Off
Massive Oversize Scoop Brass Chandelier MCM style
By Stilnovo
Located in St- Leonard, Quebec
Bold , sculptural , playfull stylish huge massive brass chandelier made of 8 fully ajustable oversize scoop. Hand crafted with prime quality brass and hardware . Solid stur...
Brass
Austrian Mid-Century "Citrus" Clear Murano Wall Sconce by Kalmar, 1970s
By J.T. Kalmar, Kalmar Lighting
Located in Badajoz, Badajoz
Beauty and pretty Austrian Mid-Century "Kalmar" Murano Clear Wall Sconce, model "Citrus" 4663/2. This Sconce was designed and manufactured during the 1970s in Austria by Kalmar Frank...
Metal, Brass
Cister Wood Hanging Lamp by José Antonio Coderch, Mid-Century Modern
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Interior lamp designed by Coderech in 1970. A structure of semi-gloss aluminum covered with screens of treated wood. Assembled using transparent plastic coated magnets. The Cister...
Wood
Mid-Century Brass Table Lamp with Adjustable Dome Shade, Norway c. 1950s
Located in Hønefoss, 30
A solid brass table lamp with a wide domed shade on a cylindrical stem and circular base. The shade rotates freely, allowing the light to be directed as needed. Designer unknown, but...
Brass
Mid-Century Rattan and Brass Wall Lights, Austria, 1950s 1960s
By Rupert Nikoll, J.T. Kalmar, Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in NUEMBRECHT, NRW
These Mid-Century wall lights were designed and manufactured in Austria in the 1950s to 1960s. The sconces feature a pair of woven rattan shades in a warm natural tone, shaped in wi...
Brass
Pair of Petite Murano Glass Wall Sconce in style of Barovier & Toso, Italy, 70s
Located in Aachen, NRW
Pair of petit Murano wall lights att. to Barovier & Toso, Italy, circa 1970-1979. High quality and in very good condition. Cleaned, well-wired. Each sconce requires 1 x E27 small b...
Brass
Modern MCM Style 5 Arms Oversize Scoop Chandelier in Raw Brass
By Stilnovo
Located in St- Leonard, Quebec
Bold oversize scoop chandelier handmade with prime quality material and rigorous craftmanship. Light bounce inside the brass scoop giving out a warm cosy light in any given spac...
Brass
Stilnovo Original Black Opal Glass Pendant Lights (4x), Italy, 1950
By Stilnovo, Bruno Gatta
Located in Vienna, AT
Rare Stilnovo pendant lights (marked) Italy, 1950; Applied manufacturer's label to outer shade. Two pairs (2x2) priced as such. Early vintage original lights. We have 4 pieces avail...
Aluminum, Brass
Clear Glass Vintage European Brass Top Pendant Lights
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Large round clear glass pendant 2 meter black cotton wire brass top Weight: 1.20 kg / 2.6 lb Priced per individual item. All lamps have been made suitable by international standard...
Brass
Mid-century table lamp Cocoon, Italy 1960s
Located in Miklavž Pri Taboru, SI
Beautiful vintage table lamp made in Italy in the 1960s. The frame is metal covered in Cocoon spray-on plastic. In the United States, after World War II, a new type of fiberglass-rei...
Plastic
Alessandro Mendini "Cubosfera" Glass Table Lamo for Fidenza Vetraria, Italy 1960
By Alessandro Mendini, Fidenza Vetraria
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Italian midcentury modern design table lamp, Cubosfera model, designed by Alessandro Mendini and produced by Fidenza Vetraria, made of 2 interlocking elements screwed together in thi...
Metal
Large Barovier Murano Rostrato Glass and Brass Table Lamp, Italy, 1940s
By Barovier
Located in Roma, IT
Wonderful large table lamp in "rostrato" mouth-blown Murano glass and brass, completed by an ivory cotton lampshade. This incredibly charming table lamp was designed by Ercole Barovi...
Brass
A Rare Josef Frank Cream Silk Pendant Lamp from 1950s
Located in Vienna, AT
Rare pendant lamp with a silk shade, designed by Josef Frank for Firma Svenskt Tenn, Sweden, 1930s-1940s. new silk shade
Brass
Rare Angelo Lelii for Arredoluce '12607' Chandelier
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Angelo Lelii for Arredoluce, chandelier, model '12607', polished brass, coated aluminum, coated brass, duplex white opal glass, Italy, 1957 Angelo Lelii designed this beautiful and...
Aluminum, Brass
Antique Holophane Prismatic Glass Church Kitchen Island Brass Wall Light Sconce
By Holophane
Located in Stockbridge, GB
Antique Decorative Acorn Holophane Brass Wall Light – B An elegant antique Holophane brass wall light. The light has a brass gallery and cast wall bracket which has some nice aged p...
Aluminum, Brass
The alluring pendant light exemplifies the designer’s winsome mid-career work.
Patrizio Chiarparini of Brooklyn’s Duplex gallery sheds light on the lasting legacy of Italy’s postwar furniture boom.
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.
The Louisiana-born and -bred architect talks to 1stdibs about the art of making timeless places that matter.
The Palm Springs interior decorator developed a mid-century style that defined the vacation homes of celebrities and other notables, including Bob Hope and Lucille Ball.
The houses from this New York studio cloak modernist tendencies within what are often more traditional trappings.
In the market for a fantastic fixture from the 1940s, ’50s or ’60s? Here are some names to know.