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Octopus Paperweight

Gorgeous Murano Italian Art Glass Giant Octopus Paperweight, Italy, 1970s
By Murano Glass Sommerso
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautiful Murano hand blown aquarium Italian art glass paper weight. Showing a giant octopus, on a
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Murano Glass

Gorgeous Murano Italian Art Glass Giant Octopus Paperweight, Italy, 1980s
By Murano Glass Sommerso
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautiful Murano hand blown aquarium Italian art glass paper weight. Showing a giant octopus, on a
Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Murano Glass

Gorgeous Murano Italian Art Glass Giant Octopus Paperweight, Italy, 1970s
By Murano Glass Sommerso
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautiful Murano hand blown aquarium Italian art glass paper weight. Showing a giant octopuses, on
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Murano Glass

Gorgeous Murano Italian Art Glass Giant Octopus Paperweight, Italy, 1980s
By Murano Glass Sommerso
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautiful Murano hand blown aquarium Italian art glass paper weight. Showing a giant octopuses, in
Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Murano Glass

Art Glass Giant Octopus & Jelly Fish Aquarium Paperweight, Italy, 1980s
By Murano Glass Sommerso
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautiful Murano hand blown aquarium Italian art glass paper weight. Showing a giant octopuses on
Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Murano Glass

Beautiful Fish Reef and Octopus Murano Italian Art Glass Aquarium Paperweight
By Murano Glass Sommerso
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautiful Murano hand blown aquarium Italian art glass paper weight. Showing a octopus holding a
Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Murano Glass

Beautiful Fish Reef and Octopus Murano Italian Art Glass Aquarium Paperweight
By Murano Glass Sommerso
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautiful Murano hand blown aquarium Italian art glass paper weight. Showing a octopus holding a
Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Murano Glass

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Murano Vintage Millefiori Murrine Flower Mosaic Italian Art Glass Paperweight
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Beautiful and colorful vintage Murano hand blown rainbow color flower murrines over copper bed Italian art glass paperweight. Documented to the Fratelli Toso company. The paperweight...
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Petite Millefiori Flowers Murano Italian Art Glass Paperweight 1960s
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Beautiful Murano hand blown Italian art glass paper weight. Showing some flowers. Colors are a blue, white, green and clear. A beautiful nice addition to your desktop or as a decorat...
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Murano Blue Red Gold Silver Flecks Italian Art Glass Fish Paperweight Sculpture
By Arte Vetraria Muranese (AVEM)
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Priced per item (only 2 fish available as shown). Large and beautiful vintage Murano hand blown cobalt blue, red stripes, gold lips and silver flecks Italian art glass fish sculpture...
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Octopus Sculpture in Bronze
Located in Rome, IT
Octopus in bronze Octopus sculpture in bronze, used for table base, the sculpture is perfectly original in the smallest details, 20th century. Good condition - used with small signs ...
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Octopus Sculpture in Bronze
Octopus Sculpture in Bronze
H 30.71 in W 29.53 in D 29.53 in
Vintage Double Side Fish Aquarium Sculpture Paperweight, Murano, Italy, 1970s
By Murano Glass Sommerso
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautiful Murano hand blown aquarium Italian art glass paper weight or sculpture. Showing a fish. Colors are a different shades of blue, red, yellow and clear. A beautiful nice addit...
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Vintage Blown Controlled Bubbles Murano Art Glass Transparent Paperweight, Italy
By Murano 5
Located in Miami, FL
Mid-Century Modern Vintage blown controlled bubbles Murano Art Glass Transparent Paperweight made in Italy. Great for a Desk as Paperweight, Sculpture or Office Accessory. Collecto...
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Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

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Gorgeous Large Murano Italian Art Glass Fish Aquarium Paperweight, Italy, 1970s
By Murano Glass Sommerso
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautiful Murano hand blown aquarium Italian art glass paper weight. Showing some multicolored fishes, floating on controlled bubbles. Colors are a blue, orange and clear. A beautifu...
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Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

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Murano Glass

1970s Vintage French Claude Gaillard Desk Designed for Ligne Roset
By Claude Gaillard, Ligne Roset
Located in Burton, TX
Found in the South of France, this beautiful shaped symmetric desk was designed by Claude Gaillard and manufactured by Ligne Roset, France, 1970. The desk has a floating casing with ...
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Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

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Aluminum

Contemporary Ironia Hand Blown Black Glass Sculptured Goblets and Flute Set
By Simone Crestani
Located in Camisano Vicentino, IT
"Contemporary Ironia Hand Blown Black Glass Sculptured Goblets and Flute Set" by Simone Crestani Introducing our exquisite Contemporary Ironia Hand Blown Black Glass Sculptured Gobl...
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Beautiful Fish Murano Italian Art Glass Aquarium Paperweight
By Murano Glass Sommerso
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautiful Murano hand blown aquarium design Italian art glass paper weight. Showing two fish inside, in orange colors. Colors are orange, blue, black and white. A beautiful nice addi...
Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

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Murano Glass

Georgous Big Dolphin and Fish Sea Murano Italian Art Glass Aquarium Paperweight
By Arte Nuova Murano
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautiful Murano hand blown aquarium Italian art glass paper weight. Showing some blue dolphins and fishes with a Coral Reef inside, floating on controlled bubbles. Colors are a blue...
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Murano Blue Octopus Swimming Fish Italian Art Glass Aquarium Block Sculpture
By Cenedese, Arte Vetraria Muranese (AVEM)
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown Italian art glass double fish and octopus aquarium block sculpture. Created in the manner of the Cenedese and A.Ve.M. companies. One of the fish i...
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Beautiful Multicolored Swirl, Murano Glass Paperweight, Italy
By Murano Glass Sommerso
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautiful Murano hand blown Italian art glass paper weight. A beautiful nice addition to your desktop.
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Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

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Murano Glass

Set of Two Millefiori Flowers Murano Italian Art Glass Paperweight 1970s
By Murano Glass Sommerso
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A set of two beautiful Murano hand blown Italian art glass paper weight. Showing some flowers. Colors are a blue, white, red and clear. A beautiful nice addition to your desktop or a...
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Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

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Murano Glass

Vintage Murano Glass Aquarium Paperweight
Located in Niederdorfelden, Hessen
Vintage Murano glass aquarium with nine multicolored fishes.
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20th Century Italian Animal Sculptures

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Murano Glass

Vintage Murano Glass Aquarium Paperweight
Vintage Murano Glass Aquarium Paperweight
H 4.73 in W 5.91 in D 2.17 in
Collection Four Jelly Fish Murano Italian Art Glass Aquarium Paperweights Statue
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautiful set of four Murano hand blown aquarium design Italian art glass paper weights or statues. Showing Jelly Fish inside, in different colors, floating on controlled bubbles. Co...
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Recent Sales

Murano Glass Octopus Sculpture Paperweight
By Murano Due
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful glass sculpture paperweight, circa 1960s, Italy.
Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

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Murano Glass Octopus Sculpture Paperweight
Murano Glass Octopus Sculpture Paperweight
H 5.25 in Dm 9.5 in L 5.25 in
Gorgeous Murano Italian Art Glass giant octopus Paperweight, Italy, 1980s
By Murano Glass Sommerso
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautiful Murano hand blown aquarium Italian art glass paper weight. Showing a giant octopus, on a
Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Murano Glass

Gorgeous Murano Italian Art Glass Giant Octopus Paperweight, Italy, 1980s
By Murano Glass Sommerso
Located in Nuernberg, DE
octopus. Colors are a brown, dark red, blue, black and clear. A beautiful nice addition to your desktop or
Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Murano Glass

Gorgeous Murano Italian Art Glass Giant Octopus Paperweight, Italy, 1980s
By Murano Glass Sommerso
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautiful Murano hand blown Italian art glass paper weight or sculpture. Showing a giant octopus
Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Murano Glass

Gorgeous Murano Italian Art Glass Giant Octopus Paperweight, Italy, 1980s
By Murano Glass Sommerso
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautiful Murano hand blown aquarium Italian art glass paper weight. Showing a giant octopus, on a
Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Murano Glass

Gorgeous Murano Italian Art Glass Giant Octopus Paperweight, Italy, 1970s
By Murano Glass Sommerso
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautiful Murano hand blown aquarium Italian art glass paper weight. Showing a giant octopus, on a
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Murano Glass

Gorgeous Murano Italian Art Glass Giant Octopuses Paperweight, Italy, 1980s
By Murano Glass Sommerso
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautiful Murano hand blown aquarium Italian art glass paper weight. Showing a giant octopuses, on
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Murano Glass

Gorgeous Murano Italian Art Glass Giant Octopuses Paperweight, Italy, 1970s
By Murano Glass Sommerso
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautiful Murano hand blown aquarium Italian art glass paper weight. Showing a giant octopuses, on
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Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Murano Glass

Gorgeous Murano Italian Art Glass Giant Octopuses Paperweight, Italy, 1970s
By Murano Glass Sommerso
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautiful Murano hand blown aquarium Italian art glass paper weight. Showing a giant octopuses, on
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Murano Glass

Gorgeous Murano Italian Art Glass Giant Octopus Paperweight, Italy, 1970s
By Murano Glass Sommerso
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautiful Murano hand blown aquarium Italian art glass paper weight. Showing a giant octopuses, on
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Murano Glass

Gorgeous Murano Italian Art Glass Giant Octopus Paperweight, Italy, 1970s
By Murano Glass Sommerso
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautiful Murano hand blown aquarium Italian art glass paper weight. Showing a giant octopuses, on
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Murano Glass

Murano Paperweight Aquarium Octopus Signed by Sergio Rossi, Murano, 1970s
By Sergio Rossi, Rossi Murano
Located in Morazzone, Varese
Gorgeous and high art glass paperweight made and signed from Sergio Rossi, Murano (please see the
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Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

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Beautiful Jelly Fish and Octopus Murano Italian Art Glass Aquarium Paperweight
By Murano Glass Sommerso
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautiful Murano hand blown aquarium Italian art glass paper weight. Showing a octopus holding a
Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Murano Glass

Beautiful Jelly Fish and Octopus Murano Italian Art Glass Aquarium Paperweight
By Murano Glass Sommerso
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautiful Murano hand blown aquarium Italian art glass paper weight. Showing a octopus holding a
Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Murano Glass

Gorgeous Murano Italian Art Glass Giant Octopus Aquarium Sculpture, Italy, 1980s
By Murano Glass Sommerso
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautiful Murano hand blown aquarium Italian art glass paper weight. Showing a giant octopus, in a
Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Murano Glass

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A Close Look at mid-century-modern Furniture

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 legendary 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.

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.

Finding the Right paperweights for You

While any heavy object can be used to hold loose papers, there’s nothing as ornate yet perfectly functional as a paperweight. Antique, new and vintage paperweights can unobtrusively enhance the ambience of a room or act as a colorful conversation starter. On a desk or writing table, it can contribute a subtle sense of style.

Glass paperweights emerged in Europe in the mid-19th century. Early paperweight artisans like Venetian glassmaker Pietro Bigaglia often crafted them with a design on the inside. By the early 1900s, paperweight objects became even more popular through innovative iterations by artists like Louis Comfort Tiffany.

As the paperweight became both a luxury and utilitarian object, creators used a variety of materials to set their wares apart. Today, in addition to the classic glass versions, paperweights are made of metal, wood, ceramic and stone.

A vast selection of paperweights as well as a whole range of other desk accessories can be found on 1stDibs — browse by type, price, period, material or style, from Art Deco and Hollywood Regency to metal and glass. Reflecting their widespread appeal, paperweights are available in a diverse array from across the globe, including Italy, France and North America, as well as examples by leading designers and brands such as Fratelli Toso, William Guillon and René Lalique. Whether an office or a study needs a touch of something vintage or a mid-century modern twist, there are paperweights to suit every taste.