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Mid-Century Folding Desk Magic Box Desk
Located in Baltimore, MD
A desk with incredible form and presence. This attractive original magic box desk, cabinet/desk
Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Teak
Mid Century Teak Foldable Desk
Located in Pasadena, TX
Mid Century foldable desk
This space saving folding desk or office unit from the 1960's was
Category
Late 20th Century British Mid-Century Modern Desks
Materials
Teak
Mid-Century Modern Teak Folding Table, Smart Desk, 1960s
Located in Wiesbaden, DE
Gorgeous circular Elm dining in the manner of Pierre Chapo.
The top features an impressive grain and nice wood-joints connexions.
The table offers two extensions.
Dimensions clo...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Teak
Mid-Century Modern Wood Foldable 6M Desk and Chair, Italy, 1960s
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Modern wood foldable 6M desk and chair, Italy, 1960s
Measures: Chair : 55 x 50 x
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Revolving Folding Mid-Century Modern Desk Writing Table Cabinet Hide Away MINT
By Milo Baughman, George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Revolving Folding Mid-Century Modern Desk Writing Table Cabinet Hide Away MINT.
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Birch
H 29 in W 36 in D 22 in
High Polished American Mid-Century Aluminum Folding Army Desk
Located in New York, NY
WWII Aluminium Military Campaign Desk-Collapsible
This desks was originally painted in a sea foam
Category
Early 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks
Materials
Aluminum
Vintage 1970s Danish Mid Century Modern Teak Wood Lovig Desk
By Peter Løvig Nielsen
Located in Phoenix, AZ
size of this desk is great for modern day work needs. There are cubbies on the back in both
Category
Vintage 1970s Danish Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Teak
Mid-Century Modern Black Vintage Desk Platone Giancarlo Piretti, 1969, Italy
By Giancarlo Piretti
Located in Vienna, AT
Mid-Century Modern black foldable vintage writing desk "Platone" designed by Giancarlo Piretti 1969
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Steel
H 27.17 in W 32.29 in D 25.4 in
Mid-Century Modern Solid Wooden Desk Designed by Arne Vodder Boomerang
By Arne Vodder
Located in Ibiza, Spain
Boomerang desk designed by Arne Vodder. Solid teak wood structure and brass details on the legs
Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
H 29.14 in W 59.06 in D 34.85 in
Mid Century Modern Vintage Metal Glass Desk by Max Sauze France c 1970
By Max Sauze
Located in Vienna, AT
Mid Century Modern vintage dining table, which is a fantastic foldable chromed metal construction
Category
Vintage 1970s Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal
H 27.56 in W 66.93 in D 37.48 in
Tomado Holland Mid-Century-Modern Metal Desk Office Paper Waste Basket
By Tomado
Located in Atlanta, GA
A functional 1960s Mid-Century-Modern desk accessory, office waste-basket designed by Tomado
Category
Vintage 1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Metal
H 10.44 in W 10.25 in D 7.69 in
Jorge Zalszupin Folding Desk by L'atelier Brazil 1959
By Jorge Zalszupin
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Folding desk designed by Jorge Zalszupin and manufactured by his own company L’Atelier, Brazil 1959
Category
Vintage 1950s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Faux Leather, Rosewood
Luigi Caccia Dominioni Folding Desk for Villa Mazzotti, Italy 1946
By Azucena, Luigi Caccia Dominioni
Located in Milan, IT
Architect Luigi Caccia Dominioni Rare oak wood folding desk for Villa Mazzotti, Milan, Italy
Luigi
Category
Vintage 1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Small Folding Desk Cantieri Carugati Gianfranco Frattini 1959 in Italian Walnut
By Gianfranco Frattini
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Small folding desk Cantieri Carugati Gianfranco Frattini 1959 in Italian Walnut, open depth 83 cm
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
H 34.65 in W 31.89 in D 16.15 in
American Walnut Ed Wormley for Dunbar Double Pedestal Desk w/ Folding Return
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Rockaway, NJ
American walnut Ed Wormley for Dunbar double pedestal desk w/ folding return.
Uniquer folding
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
Midcentury Wood, Black Metal and Brass Italian Folding Desk with Drawers, 1960s
Located in Roma, IT
mid-century studio or an industrial living room.
Dimensions - cms (with the foldable countertop
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal, Chrome, Brass
H 29.53 in W 55.12 in D 19.69 in
Mid-Century Modern AT-305 Desk by Hans J. Wegner for Andreas Tuck, 1950s
By CFC Silkeborg, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Elshout, NL
Design desk
Beautiful Mid-Century Modern Danish vintage desk. A classic! This model AT-305 was
Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Desks
Materials
Oak, Teak
H 28.35 in W 55.12 in D 29.93 in
Vintage 1949 Mid-Century Modern Custom L-Shaped Office Desk by George Nelson
By Herman Miller, George Nelson
Located in Lafayette, IN
This remarkable piece is a one-off desk/wardrobe/bar/bookcase/storage cabinet custom-designed by
Category
Vintage 1940s American Mid-Century Modern Desks
Materials
Aluminum
H 79.5 in W 84 in D 108.5 in
Child Beech Writing Table Slant Top Desk and Foldable Chair, France, Mid 20th C
Located in Labrit, Landes
French slant top desk writing table and its chair, circa 1950.
Foldable beech pupitre for child and
Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Ceramic, Beech
H 24.81 in W 18.51 in D 16.54 in
Jaeger LeCoultre Mid Century Green Leather Folding Eight Day Travel Clock
By Jaeger-LeCoultre
Located in London, GB
A beautiful and functional midcentury leather folding eight day travel clock by Jaeger LeCoultre
Category
Vintage 1930s French Mid-Century Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Nickel
French Mid-Century Desk in Black Lacquer with Brass Details by Jean Claude Mahey
By Jean Claude Mahey
Located in Salzburg, AT
entirely of beech wood and is very heavy.
The desk has 3 drawers with folding brass handles.
The top plate
Category
Vintage 1970s French Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
H 29.14 in W 51.19 in D 25.2 in
Danish Modern Teak Peter Lovig Nielsen Flip-Top Writing Desk, 1975
Located in Shippensburg, PA
DANISH MODERN PETER LØVIG NIELSEN TEAKWOOD FLIP-TOP WRITING DESK
With Lovig Dansk brand to
Category
20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Teak
Danish Executive Desk by Peter Lovig Nielson
Located in Brooklyn, NY
desk by Peter Lovig Nielson is a Mid-Century Modern gem. Please confirm item location with seller (NY
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Teak
Jens Risom Wall Mounted Walnut and Brass Dresser with Fold Out Desk
By Jens Risom
Located in Countryside, IL
Jens Risom Wall Mounted Walnut and Brass Dresser with Fold Out Desk
This dresser measures: 54 wide
Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Desks
Materials
Brass
Vintage Modern Rosewood Dresser with Desk Top
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mid-Century Modern dresser with sculpted trim and wood drawer pulls. This piece features a fold
Category
Vintage 1960s Mid-Century Modern Desks
Materials
Rosewood
Augusto Savini for Pozzi Drop Leaf Gate Leg Desk with Matching Pamplona Chair
By Augusto Savini, Pozzi
Located in Chicago, IL
) more pictures available.
The desk space with leaves folded downward position is 47.5" x 23.5"
Then if
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Leather
H 31.88 in W 50 in D 23.5 in
"PLIAVIVA" Folding Console by Marc Berthier Et Alain Chauvel for Magis Italy
By Magis, Marc Berthier, Chauvel
Located in Brussels , BE
"PLIAVIVA" folding console by Marc Berthier et Alain Chauvel for Magis Italy 1970s.
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
H 31.11 in W 50.79 in D 16.74 in
Antique Wooden Plate Folding Photographic Camera with Stand
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Circa 1960. We offer this antique wooden plate folding photographic camera with stand, the camera
Category
Vintage 1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern More Desk Accessories
Materials
Pine
Henrik Tengler, OC 1002 Ezone Desk by One Collection
By Henrik Tengler, Onecollection
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
The Ezone desk was designed in 2004 by Henrik Tengler. Over the years the Ezone desk has proven to
Category
2010s Danish Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Steel
Mid-Century Solid Teakwood Bureau Germany, 1950
Located in Madrid, ES
secreter close by a rounded folding door.
Complimentary measurements: height to the desk table 72cm
Category
Vintage 1960s German Mid-Century Modern Desks
Materials
Teak
Willy Van Der Meeren Desk by Tubax Belgium 1955
By Willy Van Der Meeren, Tubax
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
typical fifties Industrial desk has a very nice Industrial look with the black metal folded v structure
Category
Vintage 1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal
Seriously Cool over Engineered Metal & Lucite Folding Office Chair Swing Back
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this very cool over engineered lucite and steel folding chair
Category
20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Materials
Metal
H 29.93 in W 19.49 in D 18.51 in
Rosewood and Mahogany Receptionist Desk by Edward Wormley for Dunbar, circa 1960
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Los Angeles, CA
desk in a mid-century modern home, or it can work great in other styles such as post-modern
Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany, Rosewood
H 46.5 in W 74.75 in D 28 in
Ico Parisi Wood and Laminate toilette desk with mirror, Hotel Lorena, 1960
By Ico Parisi, Bernini
Located in Rome, IT
Ico and Luisa Parisi vanity desk from Hotel Lorena, Grosseto
manufacured by Ditta Bernini
Italy
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mirror, Laminate, Wood
H 29.53 in W 17.72 in D 29.53 in
Desk by A. Bender Madsen and Ejner Larsen for Willy Beck Cabinetmaker
By Ejner Larsen, Aksel Bender Madsen
Located in Pawtucket, RI
Willy Beck. Desk features a 21-inch drop-leaf. Table measures 31 inches when folded. Inset rosewood
Category
Vintage 1940s Danish Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Rosewood, Teak
Dutch Industrial Design Desk by Wim Rietveld for Ahrend De Cirkel, 1960's
By Wim Rietveld
Located in Oud-Turnhout, VAN
Vintage Midcentury Dutch Industrial Design Desk by Wim Rietveld and Friso Kramer for Ahrend De
Category
Vintage 1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal, Steel
H 30.71 in W 47.25 in D 24.41 in
Dutch Industrial Design Desk by Wim Rietveld for Ahrend De Cirkel, 1960's
By Wim Rietveld
Located in Oud-Turnhout, VAN
Vintage Midcentury Dutch Industrial Design Desk by Wim Rietveld and Friso Kramer for Ahrend De
Category
Vintage 1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal, Steel
H 30.71 in W 47.25 in D 24.41 in
Vintage Scandinavian Modern Teak Drop Front Desk Secretary in a Box, 1960-2000
Located in Topeka, KS
Mid-Century Modern Scandinavian desk in a box with a fold down shelf. It is full of storage spaces
Category
Late 20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Desks
Materials
Teak
H 48 in W 36 in D 18.25 in
A British Made Ensign Selfix 16-20 Strut Folding Roll Medium Format Film Camera
Located in High Wycombe, GB
A British Made Ensign Selfix 16-20 Strut Folding 120 Roll Film Camera With An Ensar Anastigmat 75mm
Category
Mid-20th Century British Mid-Century Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Metal
H 4.73 in W 3.55 in D 1.66 in
1960s Italian Art Deco Midcentury Walnut Marble Slant Front Desk Table Secretary
Located in Carimate, Como
Very elegant Italian Art Deco Mid-Century Modern folding slant front desk writing table secretaire
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
H 45.67 in W 34.65 in D 17.33 in
Ico Parisi Rare Large Wood and Laminate Desk with Mirror, Hotel Lorena, 1959.60
By Ico Parisi, Bernini
Located in Rome, IT
produced by Bernini.
Desk features a fold down mirror and two drawer.
signed on the verso with red ink
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mirror, Laminate, Mahogany
H 29.93 in W 47.25 in D 19.69 in
Friso Kramer 'Reform' Table or Desk with Reclaimed Rustic Oak Top
By Ahrend de Cirkel, Friso Kramer
Located in bergen op zoom, NL
use folded sheet metal in many of his designs was a small revolution in the Industrial Production of
Category
Vintage 1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Furniture Co. Rosewood and Mahogany Roll Top Desk
By Edward Wormley
Located in New York, NY
American Mid-Century rosewood and mahogany desk with two tambour roll top outer sections with brass
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks
Materials
Wood
Rudy Folding Wall Table by Giorgio Manzali for Bonaldo Italy, 1980s
By Bonaldo
Located in Ixelles, Bruxelles
Designer - Giorgio Manzali
Producer - Bonaldo Italy
Model - Rudy
Design Period - Eighties
Measurements - Width 97 cm x Depth open 62 cm - Closed 5 cm x Height 103 cm
Materials - M...
Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks
Materials
Metal
Custom 1950s Wall Mounted Modernist Writing Desk
Located in San Diego, CA
patinated brass accents and a smooth black laminate desk surface that folds up when not in use. Coiled brass
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks
Mid Century Modern Folding Rope & Walnut Folding Side Chair
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful single desk side chair in solid walnut frame with rope seat and back, the chair is in
Category
20th Century American Scandinavian Modern Chairs
Materials
Rope, Walnut
Standing Desk by Didier Rozaffy for Meubles Oscar, France, 1950's
By Oscar, Didier Rozaffy
Located in Barcelona, ES
oak wood and colored glasses with folding door as a writing desk with storage space inside.
Category
Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Desks
Materials
Glass, Wood, Oak
Guillerme & Chambron, Rare Oak Desk Model "Matignon" for Votre Maison", 1960.
By Guillerme et Chambron, Votre Maison
Located in Paris, FR
. This important executive desk shows an interesting variation of features.
Features such as two folding
Category
Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Desks
Materials
Brass
H 29.14 in W 70.87 in D 31.5 in
German Modern White Telephone Mod. Grillo by Zanuso Sapper for Siemens, 1960s
By Marco Zanuso, Siemens, Richard Sapper
Located in MIlano, IT
German Modern white telephone mod. Grillo by Marco Zanuso and Richard Sapper for Siemens, 1960s
Category
Vintage 1960s German Mid-Century Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Plastic
H 2.37 in W 6.7 in D 3.15 in
Jacques Adnet Inspired Desk in Solid Mahogany and Solid Brass Trim in Any Size
Located in Chicago, IL
desk, was made from solid mahogany that we ebonized. The large quarter round trim is solid brass that
Category
2010s American Mid-Century Modern Desks
Materials
Mahogany
H 32 in W 72.5 in D 30.5 in
Cees Braakman for Pastoe Model EU02 Japanese Series Desk and Chair in Teak, 1950
By Cees Braakman, Pastoe
Located in Pijnacker, Zuid-Holland
Japanese series desk and chair in teak by Cees Braakman for Pastoe, Netherlands, 1950s. Very cool
Category
Vintage 1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Desks
Materials
Metal
H 28.35 in W 61.82 in D 31.11 in
Mid-Century Vintage Inlaid Secretary Desk
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mid-century style vintage secretary desk adorned with a colorful abstract inlay on the front. Fold
Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Friso Kramer Reform Table Small Ahrend de Cirkel, 1963
By Ahrend de Cirkel, Friso Kramer
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Kramer, a Signe d´Or for its functionalism and design in that period! Would look great in any mid-century
Category
Vintage 1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal, Aluminum
Mid-Century Modern Chest/Desk, John Stuart, Paul Frankl Design
By John Stuart, Johnson Furniture Company, Paul Frankl
Located in Stamford, CT
Mid Century Modern Chest/Desk, John Stuart, Paul Frankl Design
A recently white lacquered seven
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Chrome
Murano Vintage Millefiori Flower Mosaic Italian Art Glass Pedestal Paperweight
By Fratelli Toso
Located in Kissimmee, FL
desk, dresser or coffee table. Mid-century era. Measures 8" tall x 3 3/8" wide at the base.
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights
Materials
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Sommerso, Murrine
Portable typwriter valentine by Ettore Sottsass / Perry King for Olivetti
By Perry King, Ettore Sottsass, Olivetti
Located in Frankfurt am Main, DE
, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
The case of the travel typewriter is made of the
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Metal
H 4.34 in W 13.39 in D 13.78 in
Martin Eisler for Forma. Mid-Century Modern Folding Center/Dining Table in Wood
By Martin Eisler
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
Beautiful folding center table by Martin Eisler, one of the founders of the company Forma, an
Category
Vintage 1950s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Center Tables
Materials
Formica, Wood
H 29.93 in W 59.45 in D 27.96 in
Rare Articulated Sculptural Italian Desk Lamp, 1980s Mid-Century Modern
Located in Rome, IT
This rare table lamp can be folded or shaped in all the desired ways thanks to its extreme
Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal, Nickel
H 35.44 in W 7.09 in D 7.09 in
"Magic Box" by Mummenthaler & Meier, Switzerland, 1960's
By Mummenthaler and Meier
Located in Oud Beijerland, NL
60's.
It is a foldable and closable writing desk or secretary desk called the "Magic Box".
The
Category
Vintage 1960s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Desks
Materials
Wood
Vintage Mid-Century Modern Mengel Drop Front Secretary Desk by Raymond Loewy
By Raymond Lowey, Mengel Furniture Co.
Located in Topeka, KS
Handsome vintage Mid-Century Modern Mengel drop front secretary desk by Raymond Loewy. Comprised of
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Materials
Metal
H 47.25 in W 36 in D 19.25 in
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Midcentury Modern Folding Desk For Sale on 1stDibs
With a vast inventory of beautiful furniture at 1stDibs, we’ve got just the midcentury modern folding desk you’re looking for. A midcentury modern folding desk — often made from wood, metal and hardwood — can elevate any home. Your living room may not be complete without a midcentury modern folding desk — find older editions for sale from the 20th Century and newer versions made as recently as the 20th Century. A midcentury modern folding desk is a generally popular piece of furniture, but those created in Mid-Century Modern, Scandinavian Modern and Industrial styles are sought with frequency. A well-made midcentury modern folding desk has long been a part of the offerings for many furniture designers and manufacturers, but those produced by Giancarlo Piretti, Mummenthaler and Meier and Anonima Castelli are consistently popular.
How Much is a Midcentury Modern Folding Desk?
Prices for a midcentury modern folding desk can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, they begin at $75 and can go as high as $8,500, while the average can fetch as much as $1,900.
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.
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Iconic Furniture Makes This 1958 Midwestern Home a True Mid-Century Gem
Designer Susan Yeley turned to 1stDibs to outfit an Indiana home with standout pieces that complement its modernist style.
The Ultimate Guide to Types of Tables for the Home
Whether you’re just moving in or ready to give your home a makeover, our guide will give you pointers on tables that are fitting for every room, nook and hallway.
Why Is Italy Such a Hotbed of Cool Design?
Patrizio Chiarparini of Brooklyn’s Duplex gallery sheds light on the lasting legacy of Italy’s postwar furniture boom.
Welcome Back to Designer Russel Wright’s Mid-Century Hudson Valley Home
The industrial designer was known for his sleek, modern dinnerware, but his 1961 house and the landscape around it may be his most astonishing creation.
Cara Greenberg Wrote the Book on Mid-Century Modern Furniture. Here Are Her Auction Finds
The author and design expert was among the first to define the style and coined its alliterative name. She shares her favorite pieces on 1stDibs Auctions — including some steals.
Jochum Rodgers Has Long Brought the Best of 20th-Century Design to Berlin and Beyond
Opened by Hans-Peter Jochum some 40 years ago, the pioneering gallery specializes in mid-century gems but also spotlights contemporary pieces by European artists and makers.
A Guide to Herman Miller’s Most Iconic Furniture
The prolific manufacturer has partnered with many of the world’s top designers since opening its doors in 1923. Here are some of the company’s greatest hits, which helped transform the American home and office.
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