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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
- Emerged during the mid-20th century
- Informed by European modernism, Bauhaus, International style, Scandinavian modernism and Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture
- A heyday of innovation in postwar America
- Experimentation with new ideas, new materials and new forms flourished in Scandinavia, Italy, the former Czechoslovakia and elsewhere in Europe
CHARACTERISTICS OF MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN
- Simplicity, organic forms, clean lines
- A blend of neutral and bold Pop art colors
- Use of natural and man-made materials — alluring woods such as teak, rosewood and oak; steel, fiberglass and molded plywood
- Light-filled spaces with colorful upholstery
- Glass walls and an emphasis on the outdoors
- Promotion of functionality
MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNERS TO KNOW
- Charles and Ray Eames
- Eero Saarinen
- Milo Baughman
- Florence Knoll
- Harry Bertoia
- Isamu Noguchi
- George Nelson
- Danish modernists Hans Wegner and Arne Jacobsen, whose emphasis on natural materials and craftsmanship influenced American designers and vice versa
ICONIC MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNS
- Eames lounge chair
- Nelson daybed
- Florence Knoll sofa
- Egg chair
- Womb chair
- Noguchi coffee table
- Barcelona chair
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 table-lamps for You
Well-crafted antique and vintage table lamps do more than provide light; the right fixture-and-table combination can add a focal point or creative element to any interior.
Proper table lamps have long been used for lighting our most intimate spaces. Perfect for lighting your nightstand or reading nook, table lamps play an integral role in styling an inviting room. In the years before electricity, lamps used oil. Today, a rewired 19th-century vintage lamp can still provide a touch of elegance for a study.
After industrial milestones such as mass production took hold in the Victorian era, various design movements sought to bring craftsmanship and innovation back to this indispensable household item. Lighting designers affiliated with Art Deco, which originated in the glamorous roaring ’20s, sought to celebrate modern life by fusing modern metals with dark woods and dazzling colors in the fixtures of the era. The geometric shapes and gilded details of vintage Art Deco table lamps provide an air of luxury and sophistication that never goes out of style.
After launching in 1934, Anglepoise lamps soon became a favorite among modernist architects and designers, who interpreted the fixture as “a machine for lighting,” just as Le Corbusier had reimagined the house as “a machine for living in.” The popular task light owed to a collaboration between a vehicle-suspension engineer by the name of George Carwardine and a West Midlands springs manufacturer, Herbert Terry & Sons.
Some mid-century modern table lamps, particularly those created by the likes of Joe Colombo and the legendary lighting artisans at Fontana Arte, bear all the provocative hallmarks associated with Space Age design. Sculptural and versatile, the Louis Poulsen table lamps of that period were revolutionary for their time and still seem innovative today.
If you are looking for something more contemporary, industrial table lamps are demonstrative of a newly chic style that isn’t afraid to pay homage to the past. They look particularly at home in any rustic loft space amid exposed brick and steel beams.
Before you buy a desk lamp or table lamp for your living room, consider your lighting needs. The Snoopy lamp, designed in 1967, or any other “banker’s lamp” (shorthand for the Emeralite desk lamps patented by H.G. McFaddin and Company), provides light at a downward angle that is perfect for writing, while the Fontana table lamp and the beloved Grasshopper lamp by Greta Magnusson-Grossman each yield a soft and even glow. Some table lamps require lampshades to be bought separately.
Whether it’s a classic antique Tiffany table lamp, a Murano glass table lamp or even a bold avant-garde fixture custom-made by a contemporary design firm, the right table lamp can completely transform a room. Find the right one for you on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 21, 2024How high a dining table should be varies. If you already have your dining chairs, look for a table that is 10 to 12 inches taller than the seat height to provide ample legroom. The standard height for dining tables is around 30 inches. However, you can opt for taller pieces, such as 34- to 36-inch counter-height tables or 40- to 42-inch bar-height tables. Shop a large selection of dining tables on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertOctober 5, 2021A dining table with leaf is a dining table that has its middle part as solid and remains in place, but the two sides of the table drop down on a hinge, so they hang at the side. This is where the name 'drop leaf' comes from. Many homeowners have decided to go with leaf tables as they offer a lot of flexibility to their homes. On 1stDibs, you can find a variety of dining table options as well as a range of vintage and antique drop-leaf tables.
- What is an MCM dining table?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022An MCM dining table is a table that reflects the mid-century modern style. Typically these tables are functional and have clean minimalist lines. MCM furniture is made with a variety of materials and colors, but wood is the most common. Find a selection of mid-century modern tables and furniture on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 13, 2024How thick a dining table should be varies. Many tables feature tops that are between 0.75 and 1 inch in thickness. However, some tables may have tops that are up to 2 inches thick. Typically, tables with thicker tops will have a more rustic appearance. Shop a large selection of dining tables on 1stDibs.
- Is a dining table necessary?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 22, 2024No, a dining table isn't always necessary. People who eat only a few meals at home may not need a dining table, and some people prefer to eat at kitchen counters using counter-height stools. Or, they may choose to sit on the floor in front of a coffee table or to take their meals at a desk or on a TV tray or end table. On 1stDibs, shop a diverse assortment of dining tables.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 25, 2024How wide a dining table should be largely depends on its shape. Most rectangular and oval dining tables are 36 to 40 inches wide. Round table widths or diameters vary and will determine how many people can sit comfortably at one time. Generally, a round table 36 to 44 inches in width is ideal for up to four people, while ones that are 44 to 54 inches in diameter can accommodate four to six. Tables between 54 and 59 inches in width are suitable for six to eight people. On 1stDibs, shop a wide range of dining tables.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 12, 2024The height of a dining table varies from piece to piece. However, standard dining tables are usually 28 to 30 inches tall. Counter-height tables are taller at 34 to 36 inches, and bar-height tables are the highest at 40 to 42 inches high. On 1stDibs, shop a wide range of dining tables from some of the world's top sellers.
- What is the best dining table?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertOctober 12, 2021Dining tables come in a huge variety of styles and are often chosen according to individual preference. The best dining tables are ones that are sturdy, well-made and able to withstand wear and tear. You should also consider your space limitations as well as budget. Find a versatile collection of antique and vintage dining tables on 1stDibs today.
- 1stDibs ExpertOctober 12, 2021The narrowest a dining table can be is 36 inches. This leaves 18 inches of space for each of the guests on the opposite side of the table, as well as room in the center for serving dishes or platters. Find a collection of antique and vintage dining tables on 1stDibs today.
- 1stDibs ExpertOctober 12, 2021A small dining table is also called a dinette. A table and two to four seats are frequently included. Designed for small spaces, dinettes are most often used in kitchens and breakfast nooks. On 1stDibs, find a variety of vintage and antique dinettes.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2023Whether mahogany is good for a dining table is largely a matter of personal preference. Some people may prefer the hardwood for their dining room furniture owing to its natural beauty, durability and stain-resistant qualities. Mahogany also features a striking natural grain that renders it ideal for use in that part of your home, specifically as dinner guests will be able to experience it! Shop a range of mahogany dining tables on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertSeptember 28, 2021A drop-leaf table is a type of table that has a fixed portion in the center and foldable portions on either side joined by hinges. These foldable portions can be dropped and closed to save space when the table is not in use. On 1stDibs, find a variety of antique and vintage drop leaf dining tables.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022To protect your maple dining table, use placemats or a tablecloth to reduce the risk of scratches. Always place a trivet underneath hot serveware to avoid scorching the finish. Set glasses on coasters to keep rings off the wood. Shop a selection of vintage and antique dining tables on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Large dining tables are usually called banquet tables due to their ability to seat a crowd. Normally, banquet tables measure over 10 feet in length. Some standard dining tables convert to banquet tables with removable leaves. On 1stDibs, shop a variety of antique and vintage dining tables.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2023There isn’t a single most durable material for a dining table. Solid hardwood and stainless steel can hold up to wear and tear, but the quality of the craftsmanship also impacts durability. Find a variety of dining tables on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 31, 2023There is no single most durable type of dining table. Materials like solid hardwood, stone and marble can make for long-lasting tables, but other factors like how you care for the piece and how well it's made also help determine durability. On 1stDibs, shop a variety of dining tables from some of the world's top sellers.
- Is onyx good for a dining table?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 7, 2024Yes, onyx can be a good material for a dining table. The mineral is strong, but it is relatively lightweight, making tables easy to move throughout a room as needed. Many people find the color and luster of onyx tabletops to be visually appealing. Since the material can become scratched or damaged by heat, it is important to take steps to protect an onyx dining table by using felt-backed trivets or heat-resistant fabric mats beneath hot dishes. On 1stDibs, explore a collection of onyx dining tables.
- 1stDibs ExpertSeptember 25, 2019
Dining room chairs and dining tables do not necessarily have to match.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2024No, a buffet usually shouldn't be longer than a dining table. Most experts recommend that you choose a buffet that is the same length or slightly shorter than your dining table. Keeping the two pieces in proportion with each other creates balance within a space.
Find vintage and antique dining tables on 1stDibs. - 1stDibs ExpertSeptember 25, 2019
Dining room tables are typically 30 inches high.
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