Optical Acrylic Terry Balle
1990s American Post-Modern Decorative Bowls
Acrylic
Vintage 1980s American Post-Modern Vases
Resin, Plastic, Acrylic
Vintage 1980s American Mid-Century Modern Abstract Sculptures
Lucite
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Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Patio and Garden Furniture
Aluminum
Antique Mid-19th Century Unknown Baroque Dining Room Tables
Iron
Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Patio and Garden Furniture
Zinc
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Vases
Pottery
2010s American Modern Benches
Steel
20th Century Patio and Garden Furniture
Metal
Late 20th Century American Post-Modern Floor Lamps
Steel
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Benches
Chrome
Mid-20th Century Vases
Clay
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Patio and Garden Furniture
Wrought Iron, Metal
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Patio and Garden Furniture
Wrought Iron
Late 20th Century French Post-Modern Floor Lamps
Aluminum
Mid-20th Century Vases
Metal
Vintage 1950s Patio and Garden Furniture
Wrought Iron
Vintage 1980s American Post-Modern Floor Lamps
Steel
Mid-20th Century Patio and Garden Furniture
Iron, Wire
Recent Sales
Mid-20th Century American Vases
Acrylic
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Vases
Acrylic
Materials: Plastic Furniture
Arguably the world’s most ubiquitous man-made material, plastic has impacted nearly every industry. In contemporary spaces, new and vintage plastic furniture is quite popular and its use pairs well with a range of design styles.
From the Italian lighting artisans at Fontana Arte to venturesome Scandinavian modernists such as Verner Panton, who created groundbreaking interiors as much as he did seating — see his revolutionary Panton chair — to contemporary multidisciplinary artists like Faye Toogood, furniture designers have been pushing the boundaries of plastic forever.
When The Graduate's Mr. McGuire proclaimed, “There’s a great future in plastics,” it was more than a laugh line. The iconic quote is an allusion both to society’s reliance on and its love affair with plastic. Before the material became an integral part of our lives — used in everything from clothing to storage to beauty and beyond — people relied on earthly elements for manufacturing, a process as time-consuming as it was costly.
Soon after American inventor John Wesley Hyatt created celluloid, which could mimic luxury products like tortoiseshell and ivory, production hit fever pitch, and the floodgates opened for others to explore plastic’s full potential. The material altered the history of design — mid-century modern legends Charles and Ray Eames, Joe Colombo and Eero Saarinen regularly experimented with plastics in the development of tables and chairs, and today plastic furnishings and decorative objects are seen as often indoors as they are outside.
Find vintage plastic lounge chairs, outdoor furniture, lighting and more on 1stDibs.
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.