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Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

MID-CENTURY MODERN STYLE

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.

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Style: Mid-Century Modern
Mid-Century Rope Hook Coat Adrien Audoux & Frida Minet
Located in Austin, TX
French rope hook coat Audoux Minet, circa 1960. Measures: Height 8 inches , length 8 inches.
Category

1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Materials

Rope

Mid-Century Rope Hand Mirror Adrien Audoux & Frida Minet
Located in Austin, TX
Mid-Century Rope Hand Mirror Adrien Audoux & Frida Minet.
Category

1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Materials

Rope, Mirror

Exceptional Large Heavy Rolling Pin, Bakery Decoration Vintage 1960s Austria
Located in Nuernberg, DE
An amazing wooden rolling pin. This is a heavy bakery decoration item can also be used as a sculpture or center piece. It is in very good condition,...
Category

1980s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Materials

Wood

Walking Stick W/ Faux Burled Wood Handle and Black Enameled Body
Located in New York, NY
This Walking Stick in Faux Walnut and black enamel originates from the United States during the 20th Century. Features a lovely sculptural handle in faux walnut, leading to a brass f...
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Materials

Aluminum, Enamel

Wood Camera Found Art
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Hand carved wood camera. This playful sculpture features a painted body in black and red with the carving "C-1XR2" at the front. Dimensions 6.25" width x ...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Materials

Wood

Rare Mechanical Store Display "MOJUD" Stockings by Louis G. Audette & Company
By Displaymasters
Located in Buffalo, NY
Rare Mechanical Store Display advertising "MOJUD" Stockings by Louis G. Audette & Company ,New York City.. Amazing graphics.. Remarkable that this survived and remained intact,, Mote...
Category

1940s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Materials

Metal

Mid Century Royal Crown Cola Embossed Advertising Thermometer
By Royal Crown Cola Co.
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A metal lithographed Royal Crown Cola advertising thermometer with embossed bottle giving the piece some dimensional interest . An early produc...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Materials

Metal

Mid-Century Rope Pendant Chandelier Adrien Audoux & Frida Minet
Located in Austin, TX
Rope sphere pendant or chandelier Audoux Minet, circa 1960 with white opaline glass. Height / 13" the lamp ,total 25.5" with the rope, diameter / 12 inches. Nautical style.
Category

1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Materials

Rope, Glass

Bronze Head Sculpture
Located in Long Island City, NY
This bronze head sculpture signed by artist O. Ramsburg can be displayed as an elegant table top art piece.
Category

20th Century Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Materials

Bronze

Very Tall Bronze Ndebele Sculpture, Original Mid-Century Modern, 1950s
Located in Vienna, AT
This beautiful sculpture by an unknown artist, depicting a Ndebele. Despite of occasionally mistakenly attributed to Carl Hagenauer is it undoubtedly a masterpiece. In earlier times,...
Category

1950s African Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Materials

Bronze

Vintage Caricature Portrait, watercolor on paper, Italy, 1983
Located in Miklavž Pri Taboru, SI
A caricature portrait of an unknown man, created in Trieste (Italy) in 1983 using black watercolor. Since the author is unknown, it adds an air of ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Materials

Glass, Wood, Paint, Paper

Mid-Century Rope Bottle Carrier Adrien Audoux & Frida Minet
Located in Austin, TX
Rope bottle carrier for two bottles Audoux Minet, circa 1950.
Category

1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Materials

Rope

Children Steiff Large Plush Turtle Toy with Glass Button Eyes 1960s and Wheels
Located in Antwerp, BE
A original Steiff Turtle "sit on" and "pull toy," circa 1950s. Has original pull chord and original rubber wheels with red painted sides; original bar over the top. All original pain...
Category

1950s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Materials

Metal

Mid Century Folk Art Viking Ship in Wood 1960s
Located in Tilburg, NL
Mid Century Folk Art Viking Ship in Wood 1960s. Beautiful folk art viking ship, made by a craftsman at home or maybe as a school project somewhere around the 1960s or 1970s. Wonderf...
Category

Mid-20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Materials

Wood, Pine

Joseph Abraham Bolinsky (American, b. 1917) Untitled Bronze
By Lynn Chadwick
Located in Buffalo, NY
Joseph Abraham Bolinsky (American, b. 1917) Untitled Bronze,, manner of Lynn Chadwick,, Classic modernist form,, Wonderful patina,, Profession: Sculptor, educator Studied: Columbia...
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Materials

Bronze

Mid-Century Rattan & Ceramic Tiles Coffee Table Adrien Audoux & Frida Minet
Located in Austin, TX
Rare Mid-Century Rattan & Ceramic Tiles Coffee Table Audoux Minet, Circa 1960. Painting of wild flowers signed. Height / 19 inches. Size / 37 inches by 20.5 inches.
Category

1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Materials

Ceramic, Rattan

Stan Bitters Signed Large Mid-Century Modern California Pottery Sculpture Bowl
Located in Studio City, CA
A wonderful, unique, beautifully and sumptuously glazed sculptural bowl by American California studio pottery master potter/ceramists Stan Bitters whose work was instrumental in shap...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Materials

Earthenware, Pottery

Mixed Media Work by Scott Kerr
Located in Dallas, TX
Scott Kerr is a self-taught Contemporary Abstract Artist. As a young boy, he was exposed to the art world by his father through the works of a local Texas artist, David Brownlow. Ama...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Materials

Paint

Black Carousel Horse, Wood Horse Sculpture on Metal Base, 1960s
Located in Antwerp, BE
Wooden Carousel Horse - Fairground horse - Merry-go-round Horse. Smaller model, so easy to be placed. This Mid-20th century hand carved Animal Sculptu...
Category

Mid-20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Materials

Wood

Mid-Century Spanish Souvenir Model of a late 18 Century Frigate
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
This souvenir model of a late 18 Century Sailing Frigate was crafted in Spain, circa 1950 and sits on an integral wooden base decorated with a small plaque which reads “Fragata Espanola...
Category

Mid-20th Century Spanish Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Materials

Bronze

Mid Century Tiled and Wood Chess Board With Metal Hand Painted Chess Figurines
Located in Pasadena, CA
"Tiled Mid Century and Wood Chess Board With Chess Figurines. Green and White tiles throughout. Each chess piece is placed above a wooden stand. E...
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Materials

Marble, Chrome

Mid-20th Century Hand Painted Double Sided English Fairground Sign
Located in London, GB
Mid-20th Century Hand Painted Double Sided English Fairground Sign A genuine English mid-20th Century double sided hand painted fairground sign. Better Game, Better Sport, Better Tr...
Category

1950s British Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Materials

Plywood

Contemporary African Art Sculpture from the Makonde Tribe of Tanzania
By Makonde People
Located in Miami, FL
Stunning African Art Sculpture of a Tribal Woman by the Makonde Tribe of Tanzania. A fine figurative sculpture is made of ebony. This decorative piece of African art is truly eye-ca...
Category

20th Century Tanzanian Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Materials

Ebony

Bernard Rooke Small Studio Pottery Nature Vase
Located in Norwich, GB
British studio pottery small vase by Bernard Rooke. Featuring leaves and bird decoration. Inscribed BR. Circa 1970. In very good condition, with no damage. Bernard Rooke studied p...
Category

Late 20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Materials

Pottery

Vintage Oil on Board Painting Framed Still Life Modernist MCM Signed 1963 19x20"
Located in Wilton, CT
Vintage still life oil painting on board depicting a pitcher and a bowl of lemons on a checkered towel. Nicely done in confident technique with balanced composition, good color, and ...
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Materials

Paint

Putaway, Vintage Toy Chest in Lacquered Metal, circa 1960
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Putaway, vintage toy chest in lacquered metal, circa 1960.
Category

Mid-20th Century Canadian Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Materials

Metal

1950s French impressionist Painting
Located in DARLINGTON, WA
1950s signed french impressionist painting with thick textured brushstrokes. measures 38cm x 30cm
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Materials

Paint

Barbara Willis Signed Large Mid-Century Modern California Studio Pottery Bowl
Located in Studio City, CA
A beautifully designed and gorgeously glazed large stoneware Mid-century Modern low bowl by California studio pottery artist Barbara Willis (1917-2011). The elongated curved contour...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Materials

Pottery, Stoneware

Parrot Sculpture by Sergio Bustamante
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Copper, brass and aluminium Parrot on a hoop hanging stand by Sergio Bustamante, circa 1960. presents some damage to the head and tail. Sergio Bustamante is a Mexican Artist and scu...
Category

1960s Mexican Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Materials

Metal

Blue Ceramic Cross with Abstract Line-Drawn Christ
Located in Chicago, IL
A blue ceramic cross with an abstract line-drawn Christ swathed in a rust-colored fabric. This cross seamlessly merges the profound symbolism of religious iconography with an experim...
Category

1950s European Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Materials

Ceramic

Large Bertoia Studios 10-Rod 'B-2700' Brass, Copper & Silver Sound Sculpture
Located in Glendale, CA
Large Bertoia Studios 10-Rod 'B-2700' Brass, Copper & Silver Sound Sculpture. A lyrical and musical sound sculpture with certificate of authenticity signed b...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Materials

Silver, Brass, Copper

Vintage Gin Sign with bartender and cocktailshaker , Netherlands
Located in Antwerp, BE
Vintage gin sign with bartender and cocktailshaker. An advertising sign - advertising display for Gin De Kuyper , Netherlands. This blue sign with a...
Category

Mid-20th Century Dutch Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Materials

Other, Tin

Mid-Century Wood & Rope Oval Gueridon Adrien Audoux & Frida Minet
Located in Austin, TX
Oval Mid-Century wood & rope gueridon Audoux Minet, Circa 1960. Height / 19 inches. Diameter / 23 inches by 15.5 inches.
Category

1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Materials

Metal

Italian Giant Clamshell Swan by Gabriella Binazzi
Located in Voorburg, NL
This beautiful large clamshell swan is designed and handmade by Gabriella Binazzi. She creates original and unique objects using strange materials such...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Materials

Silver Plate

LaBarge Attr Mid-Century Modern Gilt Wood Frame Shield\Crest Shaped Mirror 1960s
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Attributed to LaBarge, this large mirror features a well-proportioned shield or crest shape with a carved and gilt wooden frame. A handsome accent piece for any modern home or hallwa...
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Materials

Mirror, Wood

1968 'Inflated Dollar' Handmade & Hand Signed Framed Silkscreen by David Weidman
Located in Glendale, CA
1968 'Inflated Dollar' Handmade & Hand Signed Framed Silkscreen by David Weidman. A vintage handmade silkscreen produced by the legendary Los Angeles artist on thick poster paper wit...
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Materials

Glass, Wood, Paper

Pair of 2 Italian Decorative Murano " Fruit" Object 1960
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Behold the captivating duo of exquisite decorative objects crafted from the finest blue Murano glass. This enchanting set features two charming apple figurines and one elegant pear s...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Materials

Murano Glass

Beatrice Wood Signed Midcentury California Studio Pottery Cat Charger Plate
Located in Studio City, CA
A relatively rare and wonderfully hand-painted charger featuring a mischievous cat by famed American/ California ceramist Beatrice Wood. The portrait of the feline features Wood's un...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Materials

Earthenware

Polia Pillin Signed Mid-Century Modern California Studio Pottery Yunomi Tea Cup
Located in Studio City, CA
A wonderful, whimsical diminutive Yunomi tea cup by famed Polish-American master potter/artist Polia Pillin featuring a deep, rich cobalt blue glaze with streaks of green swirling ar...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Materials

Ceramic, Pottery

California Design Stoneware Weed Pot / Vase by Wayne Chapman
Located in San Diego, CA
An absolutely stunning California design stoneware weed pot / vase by noted San Diego, CA potter Wayne Chapman, circa 1970. The pot is in very good vintage condition and measures 4.5...
Category

Mid-20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Materials

Stoneware, Pottery

Madonna della neve Elena Scavini, Lenci Torino 1930s Italy
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
Antique Lenci Ceramic Madonna of the Snows by Elena Scavini. Italy Torino, circa 1930
Category

1930s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Materials

Ceramic

Ceramic Sculptural Wall Plaque by F. Sanchez for Peregnem
Located in Voorburg, NL
Unique 1950s sculptural Perignem ceramic wall plaque made by F. Sanchez (signed). This beauty comes in charcoal black with sophisticated red and green colors. Signed on the backside ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Dutch Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Materials

Ceramic

Marble Chess Set
Located in Denton, TX
Black and white marble chess board. A classic for chess lovers that also looks great as a home decoration.
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Materials

Marble

Tall Brass and Iron Shoehorn Mid-Century Modern
Located in Vienna, AT
For sale is a nice tall shoehorn. It was made from iron which has been painted black, embellished with brass elements and a bright red leather wrapping on the handle. It is represent...
Category

Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Materials

Brass, Iron

Carl Auböck Mid-Century Shoehorn Made from Horn
Located in Vienna, AT
For sale is a beautiful Mid-Century Modern shoehorn. It was manufactured in Vienna in the renowned Austrian workshops of Bauhaus-influenced designer Carl Auböck. This horn shoehorn w...
Category

Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Materials

Horn

Glossy Red Ceramic Cross with Abstract Matte Christ Figure in Earth Tones
Located in Chicago, IL
This evocative piece of mid-century European studio pottery features a ceramic cross with a human figure, presumed to be Jesus Christ, at its center. The figure is modestly adorned, ...
Category

1950s European Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Materials

Ceramic

Doug Ayers Signed California Artist Organic Natural Wood Turned Weed Vase Vessel
Located in Studio City, CA
A very beautifully made and sculpted wood-turned weed pot vase by famed American/California (Mendocino, CA) artist/ sculptor Doug Ayers. The organic wood grain and shifting colors ar...
Category

1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Materials

Wood, Walnut

Mounted Half Block Ship Model of a 1936s America's Cup Sloop the Endeavour II
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Early Mounted Half Block Ship Model of a 1936s America's Cup Sloop This half block miniature boat model is dedicated to Joe and has quiet the provenanc...
Category

Early 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Materials

Cherry, Maple

Vintage Oil Painting
Located in Austin, TX
Oil painting, signed and featuring a downtown cityscape. This piece is multi media on canvas with a gold frame.
Category

1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Materials

Metal

Mid-Century Round Rope Mirror Adrien Audoux & Frida Minet
Located in Austin, TX
Round nautical rope mirror Audoux Minet, circa 1960. Size: 13 inches diameter.
Category

1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Materials

Rope, Mirror

Large Oil on Canvas Painting, Unknown Artist, 1956, Danish Midcentury
Located in Odense, DK
Presenting an enigmatic oil on canvas painting created by an unknown Danish artist made in 1956. This captivating artwork showcases a woman bathing her feet in a bathroom, and it is ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Materials

Canvas

Laurel&Oliver Hardy 2 ritten nach texas/Way Out West Gunther Kieser '60 movie
Located in Biella, IT
Stan Laurel & Oliver Hardy 2 ritten nach texas / Way Out West by Gunther Kieser & Hans Michel years '60, Fsk freigegeben movie the poster has an elegant frame in wood and is in use...
Category

1960s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Materials

Wood, Paper

Mid-Century Round Rope Mirror Adrien Audoux & Frida Minet
Located in Austin, TX
Round nautical rope mirror Audoux Minet, circa 1960. Size: 13 inches diameter.
Category

1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Materials

Rope, Mirror

Mid-Century Round Rope Mirror Adrien Audoux & Frida Minet
Located in Austin, TX
Round nautical rope mirror Audoux Minet, circa 1960. Size: 15 inches diameter.
Category

1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Materials

Rope, Mirror

“Musician Series “ Painting by Lorraine Cohn
Located in Seattle, WA
“Musician Series “ Painting by Lorraine Cohn Dimensions. 16 W ; 1 1/2 D ; 11 H.
Category

1970s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Materials

Wood

Pair of Mirrors, 1960
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Pair of mirror from 1960 From Italy.
Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Materials

Wood

Modern Abstract Constructivist Walnut Wood Sculpture Signed Czeslaw Budny
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This contemporary abstract wooden sculpture is by Czeslaw Budny in constructivist style circa 2022. This unique sculpture is made of recycled walnut. Budny utilizes the simplicity of...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Canadian Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Materials

Wood, Walnut, Reclaimed Wood

Vintage Marble Large Chess Set with Hand Carved Turquoise Onyx Pieces
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage Marble Large Chess Set with hand carved Turquoise Onyx Pieces Vintage mid 20th century Mexican stone marble chess set complete chess board in ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Materials

Onyx, Marble

Mid-century Modern folk art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Mid-Century Modern folk art for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage folk art created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include folk art, decorative objects, wall decorations and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with ceramic, wood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Mid-Century Modern folk art made in a specific country, there are Europe, North America, and United States pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original folk art, popular names associated with this style include Albert Chubac, Adrien Audoux and Frida Minnet, La Borne Potters, and Beatrice Wood. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for folk art differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $41 and tops out at $64,764 while the average work can sell for $1,325.

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