Skip to main content

Mid-Century Modern Dinner Plates

MID-CENTURY MODERN STYLE

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.

10
273
4
to
13
209
68
277
277
277
231
190
98
92
67
60
44
37
25
12
9
9
8
7
6
6
3
270
4
8
196
55
2
1
74
66
24
15
4
245
106
45
41
15
228
103
87
16
14
75
23
15
14
8
Style: Mid-Century Modern
Minton Mirabeau Dining, Salad, Saucer Plates & Cups 8
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Materials: Bone china Marks: Maker’s Mark Origin: England Pattern: Mirabeau This is a set of 8 dining plates, 8 bread or salad plates, 8 saucers and 8 cups. All of the pieces ...
Category

Late 20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Dinner Plates

Materials

Bone, Paint

Vintage Piero Fornasetti Astrolabe Porcelain Plate, #11 in Astrolabio Pattern
Located in Downingtown, PA
Vintage Piero Fornasetti Porcelain astrolabe plate, #11 in Astrolabio Pattern. 1960's-mid 1970's. The plate depicts an astrolabe, it is number 11 ...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Dinner Plates

Materials

Porcelain

French Majolica Oyster Plate Vallauris, Circa 1950
Located in Austin, TX
French Majolica oyster plate signed Vallauris Circa 1950.
Category

1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Dinner Plates

Materials

Ceramic

French Majolica Oyster Plate Proceram, circa 1950
Located in Austin, TX
French green Majolica oyster plate signed Proceram, circa 1950.
Category

1950s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Dinner Plates

Materials

Ceramic

MCM Piero Fornasetti Rosenthal Themes & Variations Porcelain Plate
Located in Downingtown, PA
Mid-Century Modern Piero Fornasetti Rosenthal Themes & Variations Plate, Motiv 22, With original box, The 1980s From a select group of porcelain plates made by Rosenthal from ...
Category

1980s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Dinner Plates

Materials

Porcelain

French Yellow Majolica Oyster Plate Proceram, circa 1950
Located in Austin, TX
French yellow Majolica oyster plate signed Proceram, circa 1950.
Category

1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Dinner Plates

Materials

Ceramic

French Mid-Century Black & Red Majolica Oyster, circa 1950
Located in Austin, TX
French Mid-Century Black & Red Majolica Oyster, circa 1950.
Category

1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Dinner Plates

Materials

Ceramic

Mid-Century French Black & Pink Majolica Oyster, circa 1950
Located in Austin, TX
French black & pink Majolica oyster, circa 1950.
Category

1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Dinner Plates

Materials

Ceramic

Set of Six Reverse Decoupage Seashell Glass Plates by Pablo Manzoni
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Striking set of six glass plates with an octagon form decorated with seashells in a whimsical reverse decoupage technique. Signed Pablo Manzoni on the bottoms.
Category

Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dinner Plates

Materials

Glass

Set of Eight Reverse Decoupage Seashell Glass Plates by Pablo Manzoni
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Standout set of eight glass plates with an octagon form decorated with seashells in a whimsical reverse decoupage technique. Signed Pablo Manzoni on the backs.
Category

Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dinner Plates

Materials

Glass

Vintage Fornasetti Porcelain Themes & Variation Plate, #15
Located in Downingtown, PA
Vintage Fornasetti porcelain themes & variation plate #15, The Hand, Barnaba Fornasetti, Fornasetti Studio. The Surreal Fornasetti porcelain plate in the Themes & Variation patt...
Category

Early 2000s Italian Mid-Century Modern Dinner Plates

Materials

Porcelain

Mid-Century French Black & Brown Majolica Oyster, circa 1950
Located in Austin, TX
Mid-Century French black & brown Majolica oyster.
Category

1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Dinner Plates

Materials

Ceramic

6 Paul McCobb 6-Piece Contempri Place Settings by Jackson China Co.
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A fine 36-piece midcentury China set with six 6-piece place settings designed by Paul McCobb with dark gray and black graphics produced in 1959-1960. The china is in a restaurant style which means it a heavier form and dish washer safe, retains the ink stamps to the bottom manufactured by the Jackson China...
Category

Mid-20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Dinner Plates

Materials

Porcelain

Mid-Century French Black & Brown Majolica Oyster, circa 1950
Located in Austin, TX
French black & brown Majolica oyster, circa 1950.
Category

1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Dinner Plates

Materials

Ceramic

Mid-Century Modern French MBFA Pornic Pottery Red & Black Graphic Oyster Plate
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A mid-century French hand-painted oyster or seafood plate, made by the MBFA Pornic Pottery Studio, circa 1960s. The MBFA Pornic ceramic company is situate...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Dinner Plates

Materials

Ceramic

Mid-Century French Black & Aqua Majolica Oyster, circa 1950
Located in Austin, TX
French black & aqua Majolica oyster, circa 1950.
Category

1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Dinner Plates

Materials

Ceramic

Early 20th Century Indian Traditional Wooden Hand Made Plate
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Traditional hand-made wooden plate. Made by unknown manufacturer in Spain, circa 20th century. In original condition, with minor wear consistent with age and use, preserving a ...
Category

Early 20th Century Indian Mid-Century Modern Dinner Plates

Materials

Wood

French Orange Majolica Oyster Plate Proceram, circa 1950
Located in Austin, TX
French orange Majolica oyster plate signed Proceram, circa 1950.
Category

1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Dinner Plates

Materials

Ceramic

Piero Fornasetti Rosenthal Porcelain Themes & Variations Plate, Motiv 34
Located in Downingtown, PA
Piero Fornasetti Rosenthal Porcelain Themes & Variations Plate, Motiv 34, Soap Bubbles, The 1980s The Rosenthal porcelain plate with the design by Piero Fornasetti is based...
Category

1980s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Dinner Plates

Materials

Porcelain

Piero Fornasetti Porcelain Calandar Plate for 1969
Located in Downingtown, PA
Piero Fornasetti Calendar Plate for the Year 1969, The design of the 1969 Fornasetti porcelain calendar plate depicts a bunch of gr...
Category

1960s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Dinner Plates

Materials

Porcelain

French Green Majolica Oyster Octopus Plate Aetgina Vallauris, circa 1950
Located in Austin, TX
French green Majolica oyster plate signed Aetgina Vallauris, circa 1950. With an octopus pattern.
Category

1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Dinner Plates

Materials

Ceramic

Piero Fornasetti Astrological Zodiac Plate, Cancer, Gli Zodiaci Farmacope
Located in Downingtown, PA
Vintage Piero Fornasetti Astrological Zodiac Porcelain Plate-for the Zodiac sign Cancer, Gli Zodiaci Farmacopei, No 8, Especially made for Crinos By...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Dinner Plates

Materials

Porcelain

Piero Fornasetti Rosenthal Porcelain Plate, Themes & Variations, Motiv 19
Located in Downingtown, PA
Vintage Rosenthal Fornasetti Temi E Variazioni porcelain plate, Themes & Variations, Motiv 19, 1980s. The striking gold-rimmed black and white printed plate depicts a nude fema...
Category

1980s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Dinner Plates

Materials

Porcelain

Barnaba Fornasetti Calendar Plate for 2013 with Piero Fornasetti Self Portrait
Located in Downingtown, PA
Barnaba Fornasetti Calendar Plate for 2013, with Piero Fornasetti Self Portrait, #518 of 700 The plate depicts an image of Piero Fornase...
Category

2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Dinner Plates

Materials

Porcelain

Mid Century 99 Piece Set of Porcelain China Rosenthal Parisian Spring Germany
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous sets of beautiful and elegant china by Rosenthal. 99 PCs which consist of 12 each of the following, dinner plates, salad plates, bread/desert plates, fruit cups, soup bowls, Tea cups, saucers. Coffee pot with lid, 2 sugar bowls with lids, gravy boat with attached underdish, creamer, 3 platters, covered vegetable dish, and a open vegetable dish. 1 extra saucer. In excellent condition. Only damage is a cracked sugar bowl lid...
Category

1950s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Dinner Plates

Materials

Porcelain

Georges Pelletier '1938', Set of four Plates, circa 1970, France
Located in Nice, Cote d' Azur
Georges Pelletier (1938), Set of four plates, Black, gold and red enamelled ceramic with solar decoration, Signed on the back, circa 1970, France. Measure: Depth. 26,8 cm Georges ...
Category

1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Dinner Plates

Materials

Ceramic

Early 20th Century Spanish Three Tier Dessert Stand
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Three tier metal dessert plate from France. Made by unknown manufacturer, early 20th century. In original condition, with minor wear consisten...
Category

Early 20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Dinner Plates

Materials

Metal

Mid-Century Modern Pan Am Airlines Melamine Plates Dinnerware Service, 1960s
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Mid-Century Modern pan Am American Airlines black/charcoal and white 74 piece melamine dinnerware service. Set includes 14 large plates, 24 small p...
Category

1960s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Dinner Plates

Materials

Plastic

Vintage Piero Fornasetti Display Plate, Barney's New York Collection
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A Classic midcentury Italian Designed plate featuring an iconic image from Piero Fornasetti’s work, his muse the opera singer, Lina Cavalieri. Crisp black and white timeless design i...
Category

1990s Italian Mid-Century Modern Dinner Plates

Materials

Porcelain

Mid-Century French Black & Green Majolica Oyster, circa 1950
Located in Austin, TX
French black & green majolica oyster, circa 1950.
Category

1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Dinner Plates

Materials

Ceramic

French Ceramist, Eight Dinner Plates in Glazed Stoneware, Mid-20th C
Located in Copenhagen, DK
French ceramist. Eight dinner plates in glazed stoneware. Beautiful glaze in azure shades. Unique, high-quality ceramics. Mid-20th century. Measures: 26 x 23 cm. In excellent...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Dinner Plates

Materials

Ceramic

Piero Fornasetti Porcelain Plate with Coats of Armour, the Armature Pattern
Located in Downingtown, PA
This rare Piero Fornasetti porcelain plate from the Armature pattern is number one in the series. The black and white lithographically-decorated and hand painted porcelain plate i...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Dinner Plates

Materials

Porcelain

Majolica Oyster Plate Sarreguemines Circa 1950
Located in Austin, TX
Majolica oyster plate signed Sarreguemines, circa 1950. 4 plates are available.
Category

1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Dinner Plates

Materials

Ceramic, Faience

Piero Fornasetti Porcelain Recipe Cook Plate, Coquille Crocodile, Fleming Joffe
Located in Downingtown, PA
Piero Fornasetti Porcelain recipe Cook plate, Coquille Crocodile, Made for Fleming Joffe- Limited Private Edition, 1970's Piero Fornasetti was commissio...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Dinner Plates

Materials

Porcelain

19th Century Spanish Traditional Metal Plate
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Metal plate from Spain by unknown manufacturer, circa 19th century. In original condition, with minor wear consistent with age and use, preserving a be...
Category

19th Century European Antique Mid-Century Modern Dinner Plates

Materials

Metal

Set of Four Fondue Plates, Gien Pottery, France, 1970s
By Gien
Located in Praha, CZ
- 1970s, France - Maker: Gien - Good original condition.
Category

1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Dinner Plates

Materials

Ceramic

Piero Fornasetti Porcelain Fleming Joffe Plate-Vero Pig Piccadilly
Located in Downingtown, PA
Piero Fornasetti Fleming Joffe Porcelain Recipe Plate, Vero-Pig Piccadilly, With Original "Hide" Box, 1960s. This rare Piero Fornasetti porcelain p...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Dinner Plates

Materials

Porcelain

Roger Capron - Decorative Black Ceramic Plate with Mermaid
Located in Stratford, CT
One of a kind hand-painted ceramic plate by Roger Capron.
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Dinner Plates

Materials

Ceramic

Early 20th Century Indian Traditional Wooden Hand Made Plate
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Traditional Asian style hand-made wooden plate. Made by unknown manufacturer in India, circa 20th century. In original condition, with minor wear consistent with age and use, p...
Category

Early 20th Century Indian Mid-Century Modern Dinner Plates

Materials

Wood

Green Majolica Leaf Plate Gien circa 1950
By Gien
Located in Austin, TX
Green Majolica Leaf Plate signed Gien Primefleur Circa 1950.
Category

1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Dinner Plates

Materials

Ceramic

Fornasetti for Fleming Joffe “Iguana and Chicken Breasts” Recipe Plate, 1960s
Located in San Francisco, CA
A rare 1960s Piero Fornasetti for Fleming Joffe Ltd. “Iguana and Chicken Breasts” recipe hand-decorated and gilt porcelain “Cook Plate”. Wonderfully wry recipe for an absurdly impro...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Dinner Plates

Materials

Porcelain

19th Century Spanish Traditional Metal Plate
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Metal plate from Spain by unknown manufacturer, circa 19th century. In original condition, with minor wear consistent with age and use, preserving a be...
Category

19th Century European Antique Mid-Century Modern Dinner Plates

Materials

Metal

Piero Fornasetti Pottery Plate, Sezioni Di Frutta, #6, 1960s
Located in Downingtown, PA
Piero Fornasetti Pottery Plate, Sezioni Di Frutta, #6 1960s. The stunning Piero Fornasetti Pottery Plate depicts a cut red pepper from the Sezioni Di Frutta series. Mark: Hand and ...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Dinner Plates

Materials

Pottery

Mason's Ironstone Mandarin Bowls, Salad Plates, Saucer Plates and 2 Cups
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Set of 6 soup bowls, 5 salad or bread plates, 10 saucer plates and 2 cups, made in England by Mason's and part of the Mandarin collection. The pieces have beautiful hand-painted des...
Category

Early 20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Dinner Plates

Materials

Ironstone, Paint

1960s German Flower Porcelain 24-Karat Gold Plates Set of 11 by Rosenthal
Located in Sofia, BG
LIQUIDATION "He who believes he is something has ceased to become something.“ Philip Rosenthal. One large serving plate One medium serving plate Six dessert plates One main course plate Two salad...
Category

20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Dinner Plates

Materials

Porcelain

Ed Langbein Mid-Century Modern Hand Painted Italian Hilltop Village Plate
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Mid-Century Modern pottery plates, designed and hand-painted by the American industrial designer Ed E. Langbein, and manufactured in Italy, circa 1930-1950. Offered individually, ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Dinner Plates

Materials

Pottery

Early 20th Century Indian Traditional Wooden Hand Made Plate
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Traditional asian style hand-made wooden plate. Made by unknown manufacturer in India, circa 20th century. In original condition, with minor wear consistent with age and use, p...
Category

Early 20th Century Indian Mid-Century Modern Dinner Plates

Materials

Wood

Mid-Century Geometrical Pitcher Robert Picault Vallauris
Located in Austin, TX
Robert Picault Geometrical Pitcher or Bottle circa 1950. Robert Picault (1919 - 2000) was born in Vincennes, Paris and studied at the School of Applied Arts in Paris. After the war ...
Category

1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Dinner Plates

Materials

Ceramic, Faience

Set of Three Fondue Plates, Gien Pottery, France, 1970s
By Gien
Located in Praha, CZ
- 1970s, France - Maker: Gien - Good original condition.
Category

1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Dinner Plates

Materials

Ceramic

1960s French Provençal Saint-Pol-de-Léon Floral Seven-Piece Oyster Service
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A French Provençal mid-century oyster service, a master server with six plates, marked St.-Pol-De-Leon, circa 1960s. Saint-Pol-de-Léon is a commune in the Finistère department of Br...
Category

1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Dinner Plates

Materials

Earthenware

Pair of Mid-Century Ceramic Plates with Stylised Horses by Atelier Cerenne
Located in London, GB
Pair of French mid-century ceramic plates with stylised horses by Atelier Cerenne (circa 1950s). The Chabaneix horse designs are incised into the cerami...
Category

1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Dinner Plates

Materials

Ceramic

White Lacquered Ceramic Dessert Plate by Ginori Ascribable to Gio Ponti, Italy
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1928. This is a white lacquered ceramic dessert plate marked by Ginori R. S. C. In that period Gio Ponti was the director of the company and it is likely that he des...
Category

1920s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Dinner Plates

Materials

Ceramic

Piero Fornasetti Eva / Eve Porcelain Plate # 3, Signed
Located in Kansas City, MO
Piero Fornasetti Eva / Eve porcelain dinner plate number 3. Signed. Never used as a dinner plate.
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Dinner Plates

Materials

Porcelain

Mid-Century French Black & Green Majolica Oyster, circa 1950
Located in Austin, TX
French black & green majolica oyster, circa 1950.
Category

1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Dinner Plates

Materials

Ceramic, Faience, Majolica

Piero Fornasetti Eva or Eve Porcelain Plate # 8, Signed, Unused
Located in Kansas City, MO
Piero Fornasetti Eva or Eve porcelain plate number 8. Signed. Appears to be unused.
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Dinner Plates

Materials

Porcelain

Laura de Santillana, Italy, Numeri Murrine Plate
Located in Brussels, BE
Hand welded and ground Murano glass plate with an arrangement of polychrome murrines depicting numbers from zero to nine and nine to zero. Designed in 1975 and awarded during exhi...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Dinner Plates

Materials

Art Glass

French Green Majolica Oyster Plate Proceram, circa 1950
Located in Austin, TX
French green Majolica oyster plate signed Proceram, circa 1950.
Category

1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Dinner Plates

Materials

Majolica, Ceramic, Faience

Piero Fornasetti Sezioni Di Frutta Porcelain Plates of an Eggplant & Apple
Located in Downingtown, PA
Piero Fornasetti Sezioni di Frutta Porcelain plates of an eggplant and an apple, #6 & #7, 1960s The Piero Fornasetti Pottery Plate depicts 2 plates from the Sezioni Di Frutta se...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Dinner Plates

Materials

Ceramic, Pottery

Mid-century Modern dinner plates for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Mid-Century Modern dinner plates for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage dinner plates created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include serveware, ceramics, silver and glass, wall decorations, decorative objects and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with ceramic, porcelain and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Mid-Century Modern dinner plates made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Italy pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original dinner plates, popular names associated with this style include Piero Fornasetti, Robert Picault, Roger Capron, and Fornasetti. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for dinner plates differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $29 and tops out at $14,200 while the average work can sell for $681.

Recently Viewed

View All