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Mid Century Photography

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Fast test Photography - American Vintage Photograph - Mid 20th Century
Located in Roma, IT
realized in the U.S in the mid-20th Century in a series on American life in the 20th Century. With the
Category

Mid-20th Century Modern Figurative Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Leadership in Agricultural Production - Vintage Photography - Mid 20th Century
Located in Roma, IT
photograph realized in the U.S in the Mid-20th Century in a series on American life in the 20th Century
Category

Mid-20th Century Modern Figurative Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Slim Aarons 'Courchevel' - Mid-century Modern Photography
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
that capture the luxury, glamour, and jet-set lifestyle of the mid-20th century. Renowned for his
Category

1970s Modern Landscape Photography

Materials

C Print

Slim Aarons 'Klosters' Mid-century Modern Photography
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
born and raised in New York City and New Jersey and later New Hampshire. He took up photography as a
Category

1960s Modern Figurative Photography

Materials

Lambda

Slim Aarons 'Las Brisas' Mid-century Modern Photography
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
capture the luxury, glamour, and jet-set lifestyle of the mid-20th century. Renowned for his candid
Category

1960s Modern Color Photography

Materials

C Print

Slim Aarons 'Snowmass Gathering' - Mid-century Modern Photography
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
synonymous with images that capture the luxury, glamour, and jet-set lifestyle of the mid-20th century
Category

1960s Modern Color Photography

Materials

C Print

Slim Aarons 'Las Brisas' Mid-century Modern Photography
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
capture the luxury, glamour, and jet-set lifestyle of the mid-20th century. Renowned for his candid
Category

1960s Modern Color Photography

Materials

C Print

Slim Aarons 'Christmas Swim' - Mid-century Modern Photography
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
that capture the luxury, glamour, and jet-set lifestyle of the mid-20th century. Renowned for his
Category

1950s Modern Color Photography

Materials

C Print

Slim Aarons 'Christmas Swim' - Mid-century Modern Photography
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
that capture the luxury, glamour, and jet-set lifestyle of the mid-20th century. Renowned for his
Category

1950s Modern Color Photography

Materials

C Print

Slim Aarons 'Christmas Swim' - Mid-century Modern Photography
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
that capture the luxury, glamour, and jet-set lifestyle of the mid-20th century. Renowned for his
Category

1950s Modern Color Photography

Materials

C Print

Slim Aarons 'Christmas Swim' - Mid-century Modern Photography
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
that capture the luxury, glamour, and jet-set lifestyle of the mid-20th century. Renowned for his
Category

1950s Modern Color Photography

Materials

C Print

Slim Aarons 'Hang Gliding' - Mid-century Modern Photography
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
luxury, glamour, and jet-set lifestyle of the mid-20th century. Renowned for his candid portraits of
Category

1960s Modern Color Photography

Materials

C Print

Slim Aarons 'Zermatt Skiing' Mid-century Modern Photography
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
the luxury, glamour, and jet-set lifestyle of the mid-20th century. Renowned for his candid portraits
Category

1960s Modern Color Photography

Materials

Lambda

Slim Aarons 'Snowmass Village' - Mid-century Modern Photography
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
synonymous with images that capture the luxury, glamour, and jet-set lifestyle of the mid-20th century
Category

1960s Modern Color Photography

Materials

C Print

Slim Aarons 'Zermatt Skiing' - Mid-century Modern Photography
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
images that capture the luxury, glamour, and jet-set lifestyle of the mid-20th century. Renowned for his
Category

1960s Modern Color Photography

Materials

C Print

Slim Aarons 'Culinary Heights' - Mid-century Modern Photography
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
images that capture the luxury, glamour, and jet-set lifestyle of the mid-20th century. Renowned for his
Category

1960s Modern Color Photography

Materials

C Print

Slim Aarons 'Apres Ski' - Mid-century Modern Photography
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
, and jet-set lifestyle of the mid-20th century. Renowned for his candid portraits of celebrities
Category

1960s Modern Color Photography

Materials

C Print

Slim Aarons 'Snowmass Gathering' - Mid-century Modern Photography
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
synonymous with images that capture the luxury, glamour, and jet-set lifestyle of the mid-20th century
Category

1960s Modern Color Photography

Materials

C Print

Slim Aarons 'Verbier View' Mid-century Modern Photography
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
photography as a teenager. At the age of eighteen, he enlisted in the U. S. Army and was later appointed
Category

1960s Modern Figurative Photography

Materials

Lambda

Slim Aarons 'Skiing Waiters' Mid-century Modern Photography
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
born and raised in New York City and New Jersey and later New Hampshire. He took up photography as a
Category

1960s Modern Figurative Photography

Materials

Lambda

Slim Aarons 'Skiing Waiters' Mid-century Modern Photography
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
born and raised in New York City and New Jersey and later New Hampshire. He took up photography as a
Category

1960s Modern Figurative Photography

Materials

Lambda

Slim Aarons 'Verbier View' Mid-century Modern Photography
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
photography as a teenager. At the age of eighteen, he enlisted in the U. S. Army and was later appointed
Category

1960s Modern Figurative Photography

Materials

Lambda

Slim Aarons 'Verbier Vacation' Mid-century Modern Photography
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
photography as a teenager. At the age of eighteen, he enlisted in the U. S. Army and was later appointed
Category

1960s Modern Figurative Photography

Materials

Lambda

Slim Aarons 'Skiing Waiters' Mid-century Modern Photography
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
born and raised in New York City and New Jersey and later New Hampshire. He took up photography as a
Category

1960s Modern Figurative Photography

Materials

Lambda

Slim Aarons 'Chalet Costi' Mid-century Modern Photography
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Skiing In Vail 1960 Chromogenic Lambda Print Estate stamped and hand numbered edition of 150 with certificate of authenticity from the estate. A group of skiers stand in line waiti...
Category

1960s Modern Color Photography

Materials

Lambda

Door - Lariat Motel - Mid-century American color photography
By Richard Heeps
Located in Cambridge, GB
or landscape. His distinctive style pushes the limits of lens-based photography without the need for
Category

Early 2000s Contemporary Color Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Silver Gelatin

Slim Aarons 'Skiers At Sugarbush' - Mid-century Modern Photography
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
photographer, is synonymous with images that capture the luxury, glamour, and jet-set lifestyle of the mid-20th
Category

1960s Modern Color Photography

Materials

C Print

Slim Aarons 'Skiers At Gstaad' - Mid-century Modern Photography
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
lifestyle of the mid-20th century. Renowned for his candid portraits of celebrities, socialites, and the
Category

1960s Modern Color Photography

Materials

C Print

Mid Century Mercedes SL, Midnight Modern Series Contemporary Photography
By Tom Blachford
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Palm Springs Mid Century Modern Architecture, Vintage Classic Mercedes SL, Palm Desert, Limited
Category

2010s American Modern Color Photography

Materials

Cotton, Archival Ink, Photographic Paper

Mid Century Steve McQueen Home, Midnight Modern Architecture Photography
By Tom Blachford
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mid Century Modern Palm Springs Architecture. Steve McQueen vintage car photographed for the first
Category

2010s American Modern Color Photography

Materials

Cotton, Archival Ink, Photographic Paper

Slim Aarons 'Skiers At Gstaad' - Mid-century Modern Photography
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
lifestyle of the mid-20th century. Renowned for his candid portraits of celebrities, socialites, and the
Category

1960s Modern Color Photography

Materials

C Print

Slim Aarons 'Skiing In Seefeld' - Mid-century Modern Photography
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
photographer, is synonymous with images that capture the luxury, glamour, and jet-set lifestyle of the mid-20th
Category

1980s Modern Color Photography

Materials

C Print

Slim Aarons 'Cortina d'Ampezzo' - Mid-century Modern Photography
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
synonymous with images that capture the luxury, glamour, and jet-set lifestyle of the mid-20th century
Category

1980s Modern Color Photography

Materials

C Print

Slim Aarons 'North Conway Sleigh' - Mid-century Modern Photography
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
photographer, is synonymous with images that capture the luxury, glamour, and jet-set lifestyle of the mid-20th
Category

1960s Modern Color Photography

Materials

C Print

Slim Aarons 'Skiers At Gstaad' - Mid-century Modern Photography
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
images that capture the luxury, glamour, and jet-set lifestyle of the mid-20th century. Renowned for his
Category

1960s Modern Color Photography

Materials

C Print

Slim Aarons 'Lounging In Gstaad' - Mid-century Modern Photography
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
the mid-20th century. Renowned for his candid portraits of celebrities, socialites, and the global
Category

1960s Modern Landscape Photography

Materials

C Print

Slim Aarons 'Cortina d'Ampezzo' - Mid-century Modern Photography
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
synonymous with images that capture the luxury, glamour, and jet-set lifestyle of the mid-20th century
Category

1960s Modern Color Photography

Materials

C Print

Slim Aarons 'Gasthof Post Pool' - Mid-century Modern Photography
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
lifestyle of the mid-20th century. Renowned for his candid portraits of celebrities, socialites, and the
Category

1960s Modern Color Photography

Materials

C Print

Slim Aarons 'Skiers At Sugarbush' - Mid-century Modern Photography
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
photographer, is synonymous with images that capture the luxury, glamour, and jet-set lifestyle of the mid-20th
Category

1960s Modern Color Photography

Materials

C Print

Slim Aarons 'Drinks At Gstaad' Mid-century Modern Photography
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
photographer, is synonymous with images that capture the luxury, glamour, and jet-set lifestyle of the mid-20th
Category

1980s Modern Color Photography

Materials

Lambda

Slim Aarons 'Relaxing in Lech' - Mid-century Modern Photography
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
, and jet-set lifestyle of the mid-20th century. Renowned for his candid portraits of celebrities
Category

1960s Modern Color Photography

Materials

C Print

Slim Aarons 'Palm Beach Idyll' Mid-century Modern Photography
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
New Jersey and later New Hampshire. He took up photography as a teenager. At the age of eighteen, he
Category

1960s Modern Figurative Photography

Materials

Lambda

Slim Aarons 'Kings of Hollywood' (Mid-Century Modern Photography)
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
a joke at a New Year's cocktail party held at Romanoff's in Beverly Hills. Celebrity photography
Category

1950s Modern Figurative Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Slim Aarons 'Cotton Bay' Mid-century Modern Photography : Poolside
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Bahamas, November 1982. Slim Aarons, an acclaimed fine art photographer, is synonymous with images of mid
Category

1980s Modern Landscape Photography

Materials

Lambda

Slim Aarons 'Kings of Hollywood' (Mid-Century Modern Photography)
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
a joke at a New Year's cocktail party held at Romanoff's in Beverly Hills. Celebrity photography
Category

1950s Modern Figurative Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Slim Aarons 'Palm Beach Idyll' Mid-century Modern Photography
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
New Jersey and later New Hampshire. He took up photography as a teenager. At the age of eighteen, he
Category

1960s Modern Figurative Photography

Materials

Lambda

Slim Aarons 'Skiers At Verbier' Mid-century Modern Photography
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
photography as a teenager. At the age of eighteen, he enlisted in the U. S. Army and was later appointed
Category

1960s Modern Figurative Photography

Materials

Lambda

Slim Aarons 'Lech Ice Bar' Mid-century Modern Photography
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
and later New Hampshire. He took up photography as a teenager. At the age of eighteen, he enlisted in
Category

1960s Modern Figurative Photography

Materials

Lambda

Slim Aarons 'Bahamas Speed Week' (Mid-Century Modern Photography)
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
The Bahamas Speed Week in Nassau, 1963. Chromogenic Lambda print Printed Later Estate stamped and hand numbered edition of 150 with certificate of authenticity from the estate. The ...
Category

1960s Modern Color Photography

Materials

C Print

Slim Aarons, The High Life (Mid-century Modern Photography)
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
The High Life 1968 C print 20 x 24 inches Estate stamped and hand numbered edition of 150 with certificate of authenticity Actor George Hamilton (in blue) takes off in a speedboat w...
Category

1960s Modern Landscape Photography

Materials

Lambda

Slim Aarons, The High Life (Mid-century Modern Photography)
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
The High Life 1968 C print 20 x 24 inches Estate stamped and hand numbered edition of 150 with certificate of authenticity Actor George Hamilton (in blue) takes off in a speedboat w...
Category

1960s Modern Landscape Photography

Materials

Lambda

Slim Aarons, The High Life (Mid-century Modern Photography)
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
The High Life 1968 C print 20 x 24 inches Estate stamped and hand numbered edition of 150 with certificate of authenticity Actor George Hamilton (in blue) takes off in a speedboat w...
Category

1960s Modern Landscape Photography

Materials

Lambda

Slim Aarons 'Bahamas Speed Week' (Mid-Century Modern Photography)
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
The Bahamas Speed Week in Nassau, 1963. Chromogenic Lambda print Printed Later Estate stamped and hand numbered edition of 150 with certificate of authenticity from the estate. The ...
Category

1960s Modern Color Photography

Materials

C Print

Slim Aarons, The High Life (Mid-century Modern Photography)
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
The High Life 1968 C print 20 x 24 inches Estate stamped and hand numbered edition of 150 with certificate of authenticity Actor George Hamilton (in blue) takes off in a speedboat w...
Category

1960s Modern Landscape Photography

Materials

Lambda

Slim Aarons, Tyrolean Churches (Mid-Century Modern Landscape Photography)
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Slim Aarons Natale Rusconi in Venice 1990 (printed later) C print Estate stamped and numbered edition of 150 with Certificate of authenticity The Andreas Kirche and Liebfrauen Kir...
Category

1960s Modern Color Photography

Materials

C Print

Dining Room, Kanab - Mid-century American interior color photography
By Richard Heeps
Located in Cambridge, GB
-based photography without the need for digital manipulation. He runs his own darkrooms in Cambridge (UK
Category

Early 2000s Contemporary Color Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Silver Gelatin

Colony at Dawn, Palm Springs, California - Mid-Century Architecture Photography
By Richard Heeps
Located in Cambridge, GB
piece features the mid-century architecture of Ballantines Movie Colony, California, captured at dawn
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art Color Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Silver Gelatin

Colony at Dawn, Palm Springs, California - Mid-Century Architecture Photography
By Richard Heeps
Located in Cambridge, GB
piece features the mid-century architecture of Ballantines Movie Colony, California, captured at dawn
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art Color Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Silver Gelatin

Mid Century Mercedes Benz SL, Midnight Modern Series Contemporary Photography
By Tom Blachford
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Palm Springs Mid Century Modern Architecture, Vintage Classic Mercedes Benz SL, Palm Desert
Category

2010s American Modern Color Photography

Materials

Cotton, Archival Ink, Photographic Paper

Mid Century Classic Porsche Car Carrera Midnight Modern Contemporary Photography
By Tom Blachford
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Landscape, Classic Red Porsche Carrera, Palm Tree, Mid Century Modern, Limited Series. Archival
Category

2010s American Modern Color Photography

Materials

Cotton, Archival Ink, Photographic Paper

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Mid Century Photography For Sale on 1stDibs

You are likely to find exactly the piece of mid century photography you’re looking for on 1stDibs, as there is a broad range for sale. There are many Contemporary, Modern and Post-War versions of these works for sale. Making the right choice when shopping for an item from our selection of mid century photography may mean carefully reviewing examples of this item dating from different eras — you can find an early iteration of this piece from the 19th Century and a newer version made as recently as the 21st Century. If you’re looking to add a choice in our collection of mid century photography to create new energy in an otherwise neutral space in your home, you can find a work on 1stDibs that features elements of black, gray, beige, blue and more. Creating an object in our assortment of mid century photography has been a part of the legacy of many artists, but those crafted by Mark Shaw, Bob Gruen, Henry Diltz, Barrie Wentzell and Jay Blakesberg are consistently popular. These artworks were handmade with extraordinary care, with artists most often working in pigment print, archival pigment print and silver gelatin print. A large option in this array of mid century photography can prove too dominant for some spaces — a smaller piece of mid century photography, measuring 3.15 high and 1.5 wide, may better suit your needs.

How Much is a Mid Century Photography?

The price for a piece of mid century photography in our collection starts at $18 and tops out at $80,000 with the average selling for $1,125.

Finding the Right Photography for You

Find a broad range of photography on 1stDibs today.

The first permanent image created by a camera — which materialized during the 1820s — is attributed to Joseph Nicéphore Niépce. The French inventor was on to something for sure. Kodak introduced roll film in the 1880s, allowing photography to become more democratic, although cameras wouldn’t be universally accessible until several decades later. 

Digital photographic techniques, software, smartphone cameras and social-networking platforms such as Instagram have made it even easier in the modern era for budding photographers to capture the world around them as well as disseminate their images far and wide. 

What might leading figures of visual art such as Andy Warhol have done with these tools at their disposal?

Today, when we aren’t looking at the digital photos that inundate us on our phones, we look to the past to celebrate the photographers who have broken rules as well as records — provocative and prolific artists like Horst P. Horst, Lillian Bassman and Helmut Newton, who altered the face of fashion and portrait photography; visionary documentary photographers such as Gordon Parks, whose best-known work was guided by social justice; and pioneers of street photography such as Henri Cartier-Bresson, who shot for revolutionary travel magazines like Holiday with the likes of globetrotting society lensman Slim Aarons.

Find photographers you may not know in Introspective and The Study — where you’ll read about Berenice Abbott, who positioned herself atop skyscrapers for the perfect shot, or “conceptual artist-adventurer” Charles Lindsay, whose work combines scientific rigor with artistic expression, or Massimo Listri, known for his epic interiors of opulent Old World libraries. Photographer Jeannette Montgomery Barron was given a Kodak camera as a child. Later, she shot on Polaroid film before buying her first 35mm camera in her teens. Barron's stunning portraits of Jean-Michel Basquiat, Warhol and other artists chronicle a crucial chapter of New York’s cultural history.

Throughout the past two centuries, photographers have used their medium to create expressive work that has resonated for generations. Shop a voluminous collection of this powerful fine photography on 1stDibs. Search by photographer to find the perfect piece for your living room wall, or spend some time with the work organized under various categories, such as landscape photography, nude photography and more. 

Questions About Mid Century Photography
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 27, 2024
    The difference between mid-century and mid-century modern comes down to specificity. When it comes to furniture and architecture, for example, mid-century refers to works that emerged during the middle of the 20th century, usually between 1950 and 1970. The more specific descriptor, mid-century modern, is used to refer to a particular style of design that emphasizes simplicity, organic forms and clean lines. Mid-century modern furniture designers generally drew on the architectural work of Frank Lloyd Wright, Bauhaus design, Scandinavian modernism and more. Any piece of furniture produced during the 1950s and ’60s can be referred to as mid-century, but only those with specific characteristics are mid-century modern. That said, when enthusiasts of furniture and architecture use the shorter of the two phrases, they may indeed be referring to modernist works created during that period in history. On 1stDibs, find a wide variety of mid-century modern furniture.
  • 1stDibs ExpertOctober 26, 2021
    A mid-century sofa is any sofa created during the mid-20th century. Mid-century modern sofas are pieces of seating furniture that embody the venturesome attributes that we associate with mid-century modern furniture — while not all sofas designed in the mid-century modern style are the same, they frequently have a low profile and are characterized by gentle curves, clean lines and an organic shape. Mid-century furniture is a timeless classic due to its elegant simplicity. Shop a collection of antique, vintage, and contemporary mid-century sofas from some of the world’s top dealers on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 17, 2023
    No, the 1970s are generally not considered to fall within the era identified as mid-century. With respect to mid-century modern design, while there is some debate between collectors and design experts about the specific time period that saw the emergence of the style, most furniture enthusiasts agree that by the late 1960s, interest in MCM had largely declined. Writer Cara Greenberg, who coined the term “mid-century modernism,” suggests that “the period from the end of World War II to 1960 – from V-J Day to JFK – was the heyday of innovative furniture design in America.” Mid-century modern furniture is characterized by clean lines and inviting, organic shapes. Furniture makers of the era believed that good design was an essential part of good living. Find a variety of vintage mid-century modern furniture and decorative objects on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Mid-century artwork is any piece of art produced during the middle of the 20th century. It includes paintings, drawings, prints, sculptures, collages, pottery and other media. You'll find a large selection of mid-century artwork from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021
    Mid-century modern decor was popularized during the period of 1933 to 1965 but most would suggest that the style emerged during the years that followed World War II. This style of decor is typically characterized by sleek lines, organic forms, minimal ornamentation and high functionality. Find the finest mid-century modern furnishings and more on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021
    Mid-century furniture is furniture created within the period of 1933 to 1965 but most would argue that the style began to emerge in the postwar years. This style of furniture is known for its sleek lines and organic shapes. The creators most frequently associated with mid-century modern furniture believed that good design meant good living. Mid-century modern is today by far the largest category of furnishings on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Mid-century jewelry is a style of jewelry that rose in popularity along with the mid-century modern design movement. Pieces from this era typically feature bold, geometric designs. Shop a variety of mid-century jewelry and accessories from some of the world’s top dealers on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021
    The mid-century modern style emerged primarily in the years following World War II. This style of decor is characterized by sleek lines, organic forms, minimal ornamentation and high functionality. Creators of mid-century modern furniture believed that good design meant good living, and mid-century modern is today by far the largest category of furnishings on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertOctober 19, 2021
    A mid-century chair is a piece of seating furniture that was designed at any point during the middle of the 20th century. Mid-century modern furniture 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. The mid-century period provided an excellent opportunity to experiment with both functional and decorative forms. Mid-century modern chairs were made with a variety of natural and synthetic materials, combining leather, wood, and cane with chrome, steel, and plastic. Shop a range of vintage mid-century chairs on 1stDibs today.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021
    Mid century modern refers to the middle of the 20th century — specifically 1930s through the mid-1960s. This period represents a design and architecture movement characterized by simple shapes, clean lines, and organic materials. Some of the most famous mid century modern designers include Ray Eames, Charlotte Perriand, Isamu Noguchi and Eero Saarinen.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMay 22, 2019

    Mid-century modernism first appeared in 1945 and merged a minimalist aesthetic with practicality. Mid-century modern furniture is distinguishable by its lack of decoration or extravagance and its use of clean lines, organic curves and variety of natural materials.

    1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021
    Mid century modern furniture refers to pieces designed during the middle of the 20th century — specifically 1930s through the mid-1960s. This period represents a design and architecture movement characterized by simple shapes, clean lines, and organic materials. Some of the most famous mid century modern designers include Ray Eames, Charlotte Perriand, Isamu Noguchi and Eero Saarinen.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 25, 2024
    The years that encompass the mid-century modern period are roughly 1933 until 1965, but most experts argue, however, that the mid-century modern era correlates specifically to the years following World War II. These years in America saw one of the most delightful and dramatic flowerings of creativity in design history. Vintage mid-century modern furniture — including tables, chairs, desks and case pieces — are often organically shaped, clean-lined and elegantly simple. 

    Postwar architects and designers in the United States were animated by new ideas and new technology during the era of mid-century modernism. Materials developed for wartime use became available for domestic goods and were incorporated into mid-century furniture designs manufactured by the likes of Knoll and Herman Miller

    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. 

    Knoll became 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 soon became desirable for the home. Similarly, Michigan’s Herman Miller is best known for its iconic mid-century modern furniture, and while the company focused on the office, people loved its designs for their homes, too.

    Find vintage mid-century modern furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2024
    Yes, Eames is mid-century modern. In many ways, Charles Eames and Ray Eames were the embodiment of the inventiveness, energy and optimism at the heart of mid-century modern American design, and they have been recognized as the most influential designers of the 20th century. Some of the couple's most famous mid-century modern designs include the Eames Lounge chair and ottoman, the Eames Molded Plywood chair and the Eames Fiberglass chair. Shop a wide range of Charles and Ray Eames furniture on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMay 3, 2024
    The years between 1950 and 1960 are typically considered mid-century. Some people also include the 1970s in the definition. Remember that the term mid-century furniture refers to pieces produced during the middle of the 20th century. It is different from mid-century modern, the name for a furniture style that emerged primarily in the years following World War II and 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. On 1stDibs, shop a variety of mid-century furniture.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMay 5, 2023
    To tell if a chair is mid-century, look for labels and markings that indicate its maker. Then, use trusted online resources to determine when the company was active. A certified appraiser or experienced antiques dealer can be of assistance when dating chairs. Iconic mid-century modern furniture designers include Charles and Ray Eames, Eero Saarinen, Milo Baughman, Florence Knoll, Harry Bertoia and Isamu Noguchi. Find a variety of mid-century modern chairs on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMay 5, 2023
    To tell if furniture is mid-century modern, examine the piece, looking for labels and markings that indicate who produced it. Then, consult trusted online resources to determine when the maker was active and what styles of furniture they made. Iconic mid-century modern furniture designers include Charles and Ray Eames, Eero Saarinen, Milo Baughman, Florence Knoll, Harry Bertoia and Isamu Noguchi. A knowledgeable dealer or certified appraiser can help you determine if a particular piece is genuine mid-century modern or a reproduction. Shop a range of mid-century modern furniture on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Yes, Mondrian’s art is believed to be one of the great inspirations for the mid-century modern approach to minimalism. His artworks were not just a departure from figurative works, but a new look at abstract art as well. On 1stDibs, find a variety of original artwork from top artists.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2023
    To identify mid-century lamps, look for a manufacturer's label or stamp on the base or the shade. You can use trusted online resources to determine when the company or artisan was active. Some lamps may also have a date stamp that you can use for identification purposes. Pieces dating from the late 1950s through the early 1970s are mid-century in terms of their age. A mid-century modern lamp will show off hallmarks of the design style, such as curvy hourglass or globe forms. A certified appraiser or experienced antiques dealer may also be able to help with the identification. Find a range of mid-century lamps on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Mid-century is considered the middle of the century, however as it pertains to furniture and design, mid-century is an American design movement known for its modern style, construction and the Modernist movement. It is typically simple and clean lines without embellishments. Shop a range of mid-century modern designs on 1stDIbs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021
    Most experts agree that mid-century modern correlates specifically to the years following World War II. It has grown in popularity in the decades since, particularly due to the media and cultural institutions that have promoted the truly innovative era of design. Not only did the MoMA promote modern furniture, but pieces are prominently visible on the set of very popular television shows such as Mad Men. Shop a wide and beautiful range of mid-century modern furniture on 1stDibs.