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Barbini Murano Sommerso Italian Art Glass

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Italian Murano Art Glass Bowl Sommerso Barbini Style
By Murano Glass Sommerso, Alfredo Barbini
Located in New York, NY
A substantial vintage Italian Murano hand blown art glass bowl or ashtray in the style of artist
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Glass

Materials

Art Glass, Murano Glass

Italian Murano Blue and Amythyst Art Glass Bowl Sommerso Barbini
By Murano Glass Sommerso, Alfredo Barbini
Located in New York, NY
A substantial vintage Italian Murano hand blown Sommerso art glass bowl or ashtray in the style of
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Murano Glass, Art Glass

Italian Soft Shaped Tricolor Art Glass Ashtray by Alfredo Barbini for Murano
By Alfredo Barbini, Murano Glass Sommerso
Located in Örebro, SE
This is the heavy, soft shaped Alfredo Barbini ashtray in art glass. It comes in a musty tricolor
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays

Materials

Murano Glass

Alfredo Barbini Murano Sommerso Pink Art Glass Centerpiece Decorative Bowl
By Alfredo Barbini
Located in Barcelona, ES
Barbini Murano Pink Shell Art Glass Centerpiece Eye-catching extra large hand blown Sommerso pink
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Hollywood Regency Centerpieces

Materials

Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Sommerso

Alfredo Barbini Murano Pink Sommerso Ribbed Glass Centerpiece Bowl, 1950s
By Alfredo Barbini
Located in Barcelona, ES
Beautiful large Murano hand blown pink Sommerso art glass ribbed centerpiece bowl with wavy edge
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Centerpieces

Materials

Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Sommerso, Glass

1960s Murano Sommerso Art Glass Apple Pear Bookends Italy
By Alfredo Barbini, Murano Glass Sommerso
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Barbini Murano Sommerso Italy Pear 7 h x 4 diameter Apple 4.25 h x 4.25 diameter Original preowned vintage
Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Art Glass

Barbini Murano Purple Amethyst Gold Flecks Handle Italian Art Glass Pitcher Vase
By Alfredo Barbini, Weil Ceramics and Glass
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown amethyst purple and gold flecks Italian art glass pitcher shape
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Pitchers

Materials

Gold Leaf

Barbini Murano Aqua Blue Gold Fleck Handle Italian Art Glass Pitcher Flower Vase
By Alfredo Barbini, Weil Ceramics and Glass
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown aqua blue and gold flecks Italian art glass pitcher shape
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Pitchers

Materials

Gold Leaf

Murano Art Glass Apple and Pear, Hand Blown, Blue, Purple, Excellent Condition
By Alfredo Barbini, Murano Glass Sommerso
Located in Kansas City, MO
Murano art glass apple and pear Sommerso blue and purple designed by Alfredo Barbini. Both have two
Category

Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Glass

Materials

Art Glass

Alfredo Barbini Murano Sommerso Pink Italian Art Glass Fruit Bowl Centerpiece
By Alfredo Barbini, Weil Ceramics and Glass
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown Sommerso pink Italian art glass ribbed surface decorative bowl
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Glass, Sommerso, Murano Glass, Blown Glass, Art Glass

Barbini Murano Sommerso Blue Orange Italian Art Glass Perfume Cologne Bottle
By Alfredo Barbini
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful large vintage Murano hand blown Sommerso aqua blue over orange Italian art glass perfume
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Bottles

Materials

Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Sommerso

Barbini Murano Label Sommerso Pink Italian Art Glass Decorative Bowl Ashtray
By Alfredo Barbini
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown Sommerso pink Italian art glass sculptural decorative bowl
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Glass, Sommerso, Murano Glass, Blown Glass, Art Glass

Barbini Murano Sommerso Blue Green Iridescent Italian Art Glass Bowl Ashtray
By Alfredo Barbini
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown Sommerso iridescent blue green Italian art glass folded over
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Sommerso, Glass

Barbini Murano Sommerso Pink Iridescent Italian Art Glass Bowl Ashtray Dish
By Alfredo Barbini
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown Sommerso iridescent pink Italian art glass folded over rim bowl
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Sommerso, Glass

Alfredo Barbini Murano Squirrel Figure in Amber and Orange Glass
By Alfredo Barbini
Located in Barcelona, ES
sculpture. Attributed to Alfredo Barbini, Italy, 1950s. This cute Murano glass esquirrel has an eye
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Glass

Materials

Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Sommerso

Murano Barbini Sommerso Baby Blue White Art Glass Bowl
By Alfredo Barbini
Located in Barcelona, ES
Eye-catching baby blue and white handblown Murano Italian art glass bowl or ashtray with folded rim
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Art Glass, Sommerso, Murano Glass, Blown Glass

Barbini Murano Sommerso Red Gold Flecks Italian Art Glass Fish Figure Sculpture
By Alfredo Barbini
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown Sommerso red and gold flecks Italian art glass fish sculpture
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Gold Leaf

Barbini Murano Sommerso Blue Green Gold Flecks Italian Art Glass Fish Sculpture
By Alfredo Barbini
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown Sommerso green to blue, and gold flecks Italian art glass fish
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Gold Leaf

Alfredo Barbini Murano Sommerso Green Orange Ribbed Italian Art Glass Bowl Dish
By Alfredo Barbini
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown Sommerso green and orange Italian art glass round bowl / vide
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Dishes and Vide-P...

Materials

Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Sommerso, Glass

Barbini Murano Sommerso Purple Pink Blue Opal Italian Art Glass Decorative Bowl
By Alfredo Barbini
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown Sommerso amethyst purple, pink, blue Italian art glass
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Glass, Art Glass, Murano Glass, Sommerso, Blown Glass, Opaline Glass

Alfredo Barbini Murano Sommerso Green Yellow White Art Glass Bowl
By Alfredo Barbini
Located in Barcelona, ES
Eye-catching and colorful Murano hand blown green, yellow and white Italian art glass bowl or
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Art Glass, Sommerso, Murano Glass, Blown Glass

Barbini Murano Sommerso Purple Blue Italian Art Glass Four Leaf Clover Bowl Dish
By Alfredo Barbini
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown Sommerso purple and blue Italian art glass 4 leaf clover shaped
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Sommerso

1970's Sommerso Murano Glass, Birds, Doves on a Tree, Sculpture
By Alfredo Barbini, Murano Glass Sommerso
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A Murano glass sculpture depicting four birds in white and light pink perched on a clear glass tree
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Art Glass

Murano Sommerso Orange Blue Italian Art Glass Australia Kangaroo Sculpture
By Alfredo Barbini
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown Sommerso light blue over orange Italian art glass kangaroo
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Glass, Sommerso, Murano Glass, Blown Glass, Art Glass

Barbini Murano White Gold Flecks Italian Art Glass Bird Figurine Paperweight
By Alfredo Barbini
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown white and gold flecks Italian art glass bird on base figurine
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Gold Leaf

Barbini Murano Glass Olive Green / Yellow Ochre Heart Shaped Bowl Ash Tray Dish
By Alfredo Barbini
Located in Soquel, CA
"D The Barbini family goes back a long way. Their story in the Murano Glass industry can be
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Glass

Materials

Glass

Barbini Murano 1950s Red Orange Yellow Italian Art Glass Vanity Powder Box
By Alfredo Barbini
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown Sommerso red orange, yellow and clear Italian art glass powder
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Jewelry Boxes

Materials

Sommerso, Glass, Murano Glass, Blown Glass, Art Glass

Alfredo Barbini Murano Red Blue Gold Flecks Italian Art Glass Paperweights
By Alfredo Barbini
Located in Kissimmee, FL
art glass paperweights. Documented to designer Alfredo Barbini. The red and blue paperweights are made
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Gold Leaf

Alfredo Barbini Murano Glass Sea Shell Sculpture in Sommerso Bollicine Glass
By Alfredo Barbini
Located in Ann Arbor, MI
Alfredo Barbini Murano Glass Sea Shell Sculpture in Sommerso Bollicine glass. Very large stand
Category

Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Abstract Sculptures

Materials

Art Glass

Mid-Century Modern Murano Art Glass Blue and Clear Apple Sculpture Paperweight
By Barbini, Murano Glass Sommerso
Located in North Hollywood, CA
decorative art object, paperweight. beautiful Italian Murano blown art glass apple fruit glass paperweight
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Art Glass

Alfredo Barbini Murano Signed Iridescent Fish Italian Art Glass Display Bowl
By Alfredo Barbini
Located in Kissimmee, FL
, Italian art glass double fish centerpiece / display bowl. Documented to designer Alfredo Barbini. The bowl
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Sommerso, Glass

Barbini Murano Abstract Design Scavo Texture Italian Art Glass Flower Vase
By Alfredo Barbini
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful large vintage Murano hand blown "Scavo" Italian art glass cylinder flower vase
Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Sommerso, Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass

Barbini Murano White Gold Flecks Pink Italian Art Glass Bird Figure Paperweight
By Alfredo Barbini
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown white, pink and gold flecks Italian art glass bird on base
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Gold Leaf

Barbini Murano Pulegoso Black Gold Flecks Italian Art Glass Kitty Cat Sculpture
By Alfredo Barbini
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown Pulegoso bubbles, over black core and gold flecks Italian art
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Gold Leaf

Barbini Murano Pulegoso Gray Gold Flecks Italian Art Glass Kitty Cat Sculpture
By Alfredo Barbini
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown Pulegoso bubbles, over black core and gold flecks Italian art
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Gold Leaf

Rare and Stunning Barbini Murano Sommerso Red Gold Flecks Coral Sculpture
By Barbini
Located in Paris, France
Barbini red gold flecks art Murano glass coral sculpture. Intense red coral branch and gold flecks
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Art Glass, Murano Glass

Barbini Murano White Olive Green Gold Flecks Italian Art Glass Birds Sculpture
By Alfredo Barbini
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown white, olive green and gold flecks Italian art glass birds on
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Gold Leaf

Barbini Salviati Murano Gold Flecks Italian Art Glass Clown Sculptural Bowl
By Salviati, Alfredo Barbini
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful and cute, vintage Murano hand blown black and orange with gold flecks accents Italian art
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Gold Leaf

Murano Vintage Sommerso Blue Green Italian Art Glass Flower Shaped Bowl Ashtray
By Alfredo Barbini
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown Sommerso blue green Italian art glass flower shape bowl
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Glass, Sommerso, Murano Glass, Blown Glass, Art Glass

Murano Sommerso Glowing Uranium Green Italian Art Glass Owl Bird Figurine
By Cenedese, Alfredo Barbini
Located in Kissimmee, FL
head, Italian art glass owl figurine sculpture. It has red applies eyes and stands on small attached
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Sommerso, Murrine, Uranium ...

Salviati Barbini Murano Iridescent Gold Flecks Italian Art Glass Bird Bowl
By Alfredo Barbini, Salviati
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful, and very rare Murano handblown orange Ombre fade rim Italian art glass encased bird
Category

Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Gold Leaf

Murano Fratelli Toso and Barbini Murrine Flowers Italian Art Glass Paperweights
By Alfredo Barbini, Fratelli Toso
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Priced per item (2 designs available, as shown). Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown Italian art
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Murano Glass, Sommerso, Murrine, Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass

Barbini Salviati Murano White Ribbons Gold Base Italian Art Glass Bird Sculpture
By Alfredo Barbini, Salviati
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown white ribbons art glass bird sculpture with gold flecks base
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Gold Leaf

Murano Vintage Sommerso Red Orange Italian Art Glass Dachshund Dog Sculpture
By Fratelli Toso, Alfredo Barbini
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful, and large, vintage Murano hand blown Sommerso dark orang and red Italian art glass
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Sommerso, Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass

Murano Sommerso Aqua Blue Gold Leaf Italian Art Glass Bird Figures Paperweight
By Alfredo Barbini, Salviati
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown Sommerso aqua blue and gold flecks Italian art glass bird
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Gold Leaf

Murano Gold Flecks Sommerso Pink Garden Nymph Italian Art Glass Figure Sculpture
By Alfredo Barbini, Cenedese
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown pink Sommerso nude garden nymph Italian art glass sculpture
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Gold Leaf

Murano Sommerso Pink Gold Flecks Italian Art Glass Male Female Farmer Sculptures
By Salviati, Alfredo Barbini, Cenedese
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown Sommerso pink with gold flecks Italian art glass man and woman
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Gold Leaf

Murano Sommerso Orange Green Gold Flecks Italian Art Glass Bird Figure Sculpture
By Archimede Seguso, Alfredo Barbini
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown Summerso orange, green and gold flecks Italian art glass bird
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Gold Leaf

Murano Sommerso Green Yellow Birds Blue Tail Uranium Italian Art Glass Sculpture
By Alfredo Barbini, Livio Seguso, Salviati
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful and large, vintage Murano hand blown Sommerso green yellow, with blue tails Italian art
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Glass, Uranium Glass, Sommerso, Murano Glass, Blown Glass, Art Glass

Mid-Century Modern Sculptural Aqua Blue & Gold Hand blown Murano Glass Bowl
By Alfredo Barbini, Murano Glass Sommerso
Located in North Hollywood, CA
and aventurine flecks Italian art glass bowl. It offers a sculptural body with a aqua blue, clear
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass

Vamsa Barbini Murano Blue Gold Sun Hat Woman Italian Art Glass Figure Sculpture
By Vetri Artistici Muranesi Societá Anonima, Alfredo Barbini
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful early Murano hand blown Sommerso cobalt blue and gold flecks Italian art glass women with
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Glass, Sommerso, Murano Glass, Blown Glass, Art Glass

Murano Alfredo Barbini Red & Black Tear Drop Glass Bowl with Gold Flecks
By Alfredo Barbini
Located in Barcelona, ES
Barbini, Italy, 1950s. This outstanding decorative bowl features a sensual tear drop form with red glass
Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Gold Leaf

Murano Gold Flecks Italian Art Glass Standing Puppy Dog Figurine Sculpture
By Alfredo Barbini
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown Sommerso golden amber and gold flecks Italian art glass puppy
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Gold Leaf

Murano Pink Gray Pulegoso Bubbles Italian Art Glass Mid Century Bowl Vide Poche
By Alfredo Barbini
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown frothy bubbles over pink Italian art glass bowl. Created in the
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Dishes and Vide-P...

Materials

Glass, Sommerso, Art Glass, Murano Glass, Blown Glass

Murano Lavender Stripes Gold Flecks Italian Art Glass Midcentury Flower Vase
By Alfredo Barbini, Salviati
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful and large, vintage Murano hand blown lavender purple and gold flecks Italian art glass
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Gold Leaf

Cenedese Murano Orange White Silver Flecks Italian Art Glass Fish Aquarium Block
By Alfredo Barbini, Cenedese
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown double fish Italian art glass aquarium sculpture. Documented to
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Glass, Sommerso, Murano Glass, Blown Glass, Art Glass

Murano Amber Olive Gold Flecks Italian Art Glass Woman Farmer Figure Sculpture
By Alfredo Barbini, Salviati
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Italian art glass woman farmer / gardener sculpture. The piece is attributed to designer, and Master glass
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Gold Leaf

Murano Glass Sommerso Dish/Ashtray/Bowl w/Gold Polveri, Seguso/Barbini suspected
By Seguso
Located in Warrenton, OR
Murano Glass Sommerso Dish/Ashtray/Bowl w/Gold Polveri, Seguso/Barbini suspected Measures about 7.5
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Dishes and Vide-P...

Materials

Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass

Murano Vintage White Red Bow Italian Art Glass Decorative Kitty Cat Sculpture
By Alfredo Barbini, Salviati
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful and extra large, vintage Murano hand blown clear glass over white Italian art glass kitty
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Glass, Sommerso, Murano Glass, Blown Glass, Art Glass

Murano Large Purple Black Italian Art Glass Double Position Clam Seashell Vase
By Alfredo Barbini, Cenedese
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful, extra large, vintage Murano hand blown black over white and purple Italian art glass
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Glass, Opaline Glass, Sommerso, Murano Glass, Blown Glass, Art Glass

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Barbini Murano Sommerso Italian Art Glass For Sale on 1stDibs

With a vast inventory of beautiful furniture at 1stDibs, we’ve got just the piece of barbini murano sommerso Italian art glass you’re looking for. An item from our selection of barbini murano sommerso Italian art glass — often made from glass, art glass and murano glass — can elevate any home. Whether you’re looking for newer or older items, there are earlier versions available from the 20th Century and newer variations made as recently as the 20th Century. A choice in our collection of barbini murano sommerso Italian art glass made by Mid-Century Modern designers — as well as those associated with Art Deco — is very popular. A well-made object in our assortment of barbini murano sommerso Italian art glass has long been a part of the offerings for many furniture designers and manufacturers, but those produced by Alfredo Barbini, Oggetti and Salviati are consistently popular.

How Much is a Barbini Murano Sommerso Italian Art Glass?

The average selling price for a piece of barbini murano sommerso Italian art glass at 1stDibs is $800, while they’re typically $200 on the low end and $5,000 for the highest priced.

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 decorative-objects for You

Every time you move into a house or an apartment — or endeavor to refresh the home you’ve lived in for years — life for that space begins anew. The right home accent, be it the simple placement of a decorative bowl on a shelf or a ceramic vase for fresh flowers, can transform an area from drab to spectacular. But with so many materials and items to choose from, it’s easy to get lost in the process. The key to styling with decorative objects is to work toward making a happy home that best reflects your personal style. 

Ceramics are a versatile addition to any home. If you’ve amassed an assortment of functional pottery over the years, think of your mugs and salad bowls as decorative objects, ideal for displaying in a glass cabinet. Vintage ceramic serveware can pop along white open shelving in your dining area, while large stoneware pitchers paired with woven baskets or quilts in an open cupboard can introduce a rustic farmhouse-style element to your den.

Translucent decorative boxes or bowls made of an acrylic plastic called Lucite — a game changer in furniture that’s easy to clean and lasts long — are modern accents that are neutral enough to dress up a coffee table or desktop without cluttering it. If you’re showcasing pieces from the past, a vintage jewelry box for displaying your treasures can spark conversation. Where is the jewelry box from? Is there a story behind it?

Abstract sculptures or an antique vessel for your home library can draw attention to your book collection and add narrative charm to the most appropriate of corners. There’s more than one way to style your bookcases, and decorative objects add a provocative dynamic. “I love magnifying glasses,” says Alex Assouline, global vice president of luxury publisher Assouline, of adding one’s cherished objects to a home library. “They are both useful and decorative. Objects really elevate libraries and can also make them more personal.”

To help with personalizing your space and truly making it your own, find an extraordinary collection of decorative objects on 1stDibs.