Skip to main content

Mid-Century Modern Building and Garden Elements

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.

22
2,887
127
32
to
357
2,045
960
3,046
2,958
2,993
2,046
1,425
1,203
870
815
797
791
460
454
431
337
296
283
153
139
137
90
4
8
2,875
159
35
2,192
447
4
3
8
11
79
525
545
324
41
6
Height
to
Width
to
1,945
902
489
399
395
1,357
1,347
1,288
384
340
209
151
119
91
59
Style: Mid-Century Modern
Mid Century Modern Vintage Rattan Patio Garden Chairs Roberto Mango Italy, 1950s
Located in Vienna, AT
Mid Century Modern pair of rattan or wicker vintage garden chairs or club chairs, which was designed by Roberto Mango, Italy, 1950s. Roberto Mango ( 1920...
Category

1950s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Steel

Lagardo Tackett for Architectural Pottery
Located in San Francisco, CA
Mint condition original Lagardo Tackett design bisque planter for Architectural Pottery, U.S.A.
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Ceramic

Set of 13 French 1950s Chairs
Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse
Elegant, wide and comfortable set of seven chairs and six armchairs from the 1950s. Made of sturdy but light tubular metal, painted white. Criss-crossed iron seat bases. The cushions...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Iron

Mid-Century Garden Table
Located in New York, NY
Mid-Century garden table with spiral legs and plate glass top. Beautiful patination throughout. Matching chairs available. Small 3/16" chip on corner of glass top.
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Steel

Monumental Artist Made Ceramic Fountain
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Well made with spectacular presence and color. The fountain stands in a hand-fashioned tiled metal basin. May be used in the garden, on the deck, or in an...
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Ceramic

Donald Deskey Iron and Brass Andirons
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Mid-Century andirons in blackened iron with a polished brass blades. Designed by Donald Deskey for Bennett. Mint restored.
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Brass, Iron

20th Century Gold Asian Pair of Vintage Gilded Pinewood Architectural Elements
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A gold-brown, vintage Asian pair of tall architectural elements made of hand crafted gilded Pinewood, designed and produced by an unknown artist from Myanmar in good condition. The d...
Category

Late 20th Century Burmese Mid-Century Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Wood

Column in Cobalt Blue Ceramic, 1950s
Located in Antwerp, BE
Glazed ceramic column pedestal or flower stand decorated with flower motifs and with a nobleman with his spear. Measures:Height: 77 cm. Diameter: 33 cm.
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Ceramic

Marble Sculptural Chimney
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Marble sculptural chimney by the French artist Jean Frederic Bourdier. Unique handmade crafted piece signed by the artist. Estremoz marble.
Category

2010s French Mid-Century Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Marble

Custom Mid-Century Style Geometric Wood Room Divider by Adesso Imports
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Mid-century geometric wood room divider. Made in Los Angeles by Adesso Imports. Custom sizing and pricing available upon request.
Category

2010s American Mid-Century Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Mahogany

Terracotta Planter by Walter Bosse
Located in Vienna, AT
Designed by Walter Bosse and made in Vienna 1947-1951, terracotta, perforated wall with elephant in relief.
Category

1950s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Terracotta

Iron and steel Bertoia Style Sculpture
Located in Pound Ridge, NY
Mid century weathered steel and iron atomic age sculpture. In the style of Bertoia. Can be used indoor or outdoor.
Category

1960s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Iron

Brass Art Deco Modern torqued Andirons and Fire Tools Set, Deskey Style
Located in St. Louis, MO
Unique designed solid brass in the Art Deco style andirons and fire tool set. in the style of Donald Deskey. The andirons and tools are in a brushed satin brass finish. These tools a...
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Brass, Iron

Patinated Copper Hood
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A large scaled and beautifully constructed custom copper flue or hood made of standing seam tapered panels having a warm patina.
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Copper

Gucci Horsebit Fireplace Tools, Gold Tone Brass and Silver Chrome, Signed
Located in New York, NY
Gucci Horsebit fireplace tools, gold tone brass and silver chrome, signed. Extremely rare four piece fire tool set with equestrian themed brush, shovel, poker and stand. Signed Gucci Italy with silver tone crest logo. "Quality is remembered long after price is forgotten" - Aldo Gucci...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Brass, Steel

Monumental Modernist "Butterfly Chair" Iron Sculpture, Jorge Ferrari-Hardoy
Located in Buffalo, NY
Wonderful standing Modernist sculpture made of Classic "Hardoy" iron chair frames, cut and welded, indoor /outdoor, purchased from high end Mid-Century estate, artist unknown.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Iron

Mid-Century Modern Sculptural Brass Fire Tool Andiron Set
Located in St. Louis, MO
Circa 1950s sculptural brass fire tool set, with original patina. Can be polish polished for additional cost. Set Includes Fire tools , Andirons and log holder. Tools 35.5 h x 1...
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Brass, Iron

Fire Place Tools, Midcentury Lucite, Italy, Lucite and Polished Chrome, C 1960
Located in New York, NY
Decorative mid-century fire place tools, circa 1960. Made of polished chrome and lucite. Made in Italy.
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Chrome

Skylights in Graved and Etched Glass, Dated 1947
By Roger Broeckaert
Located in Brussels, BE
Very rare and extraordinary skylights, made of 25 engraved glass tile. Subject constellation an Greek Gods. One of a kind, signed by the artist "Roger Broeckaert, Ateliers Broeckaert...
Category

1940s Belgian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Glass

Modernist Copper Sculpture, Indoor or Outdoor
Located in Buffalo, NY
Modernist copper sculpture, indoor or outdoor. Can be hung or placed as stationary element, amazing design made with one continuous copper strip.
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Copper

Pair of Carved Wood Doors by Phillip Powell
Located in Atlanta, GA
These two doors were commissioned directly from the artist and were made for a specific site . The front of the doors are wonderfully contoured and are highly sculptural. The design ...
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Mirror, Walnut, Giltwood, Lacquer

Modernist Wall Mount Fireplace Attributed to Seymor
Located in New York, NY
Hard to find wall mount fireplace tool set with black shafts, and hardware, and brushed steel handles. Set includes three tools, and the original ...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Steel, Iron

French 1950s Dining Table
Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse
A French, circa midcentury round dining table of nice design, made of painted iron, and fitted with a safety glass top.
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Iron

Jumbo Modernist Chairs, France, circa 1950s
Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse
Absolutely amazing and one-of-a-kind pair of very large sun lounger chairs, with a cantilered iron structure, with original red, blue and yellow pai...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Building and Garden Elements

Deskey Wall Mount Fireplace Tool Set
Located in New York, NY
Hard to find wall mount version Donald Deskey fireplace tool set. Wrought iron tools, with brass knife blade handles.
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Brass, Wrought Iron

XXL Wooden Crankshaft Molds
Located in Weesp, NL
Pair of early 20th century crankshaft molds tagged with part numbers. An impressive pair of large-scale sculptural art / Industrial pieces. Measurements: H 140 x W 57 x D 16 cm. Th...
Category

Early 20th Century Dutch Mid-Century Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Wood

Pair of Mid-Century Reclining Patio Lounge Arm Chairs w/ Extendable Foot-Rests
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of American Mid-Century reclining patio chairs. This pair of vintage iron patio chairs from the mid-20th century feature simple lines ...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Iron

Stylish French Gilt-Metal and Glass Fire-Tool Set, Manner of Jacques Adnet
Located in San Francisco, CA
A stylish French 1960s gilt-metal and glass fire-tool set in the manner of Jacques Adnet, the upright glass stand raised on cylindrical rods, with protruding knobs suspending two tools.
Category

1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Building and Garden Elements

Arthur Court Aluminum Torso Bust
Located in Westport, CT
Arthur court aluminum men's torso bust.
Category

Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Aluminum

Donald Deskey Style Andirons, Geometric, Brass Buckles
Located in New York, NY
Donald Deskey style andirons, geometric, brass buckles. Handsome pair of andirons with square brass buckle decorative fronts and wrought iron shanks.
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Brass, Wrought Iron

Large Verdigris Copper Cattails and Driftwood Fountain
Located in New York, NY
Interesting copper and driftwood fountain. Large and impressive item, sculptural and decorative presence. Can be used as working fountain, but also fine just as sculpture.
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Copper

Petite French 1950s Green Painted Aluminium and Iron Chair
Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse
Very lovely folding iron chair with a gorgeous green patina. The seat and backrest are made of perforated aluminium sheet.
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Aluminum, Iron

Monumental Four-Piece Studio Pottery Fountain, Manner of Raymor, Italy
Located in Buffalo, NY
Monumental four-piece studio pottery Fountain, manner of Raymor, Italy. Wonderful scale and proportion. Glazed ceramic, incised geometric designs, Versatile: can be separated and used as two jardiniers...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Clay, Pottery

Aluminum Paper Mixing Blade Sculpture Model II
Located in Oakville, CT
Aluminum Paper Mixing Blade Sculpture Model II. Complete set of three available. Aluminum on steel base. Measures: 52" in height, 19" in width, 14" in depth. Base is 14" x 14".
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Metal, Aluminum, Steel

French Colonial 1930s Magazine Basket
Located in New York, NY
Elegant and timeless French indochine basket for magazines, firewood or objects. The piece is composed of solid teak that has been tongue and groo...
Category

Mid-20th Century Vietnamese Mid-Century Modern Building and Garden Elements

Whimsical Set Brass Iron Stylized Dog Fire Tools Mid-Century Modern
Located in Pemberton, NJ
Whimsical set of stylized brass dog handled fire tools from the Mid-Century.
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Brass, Iron

Wyeth Original Modernist Christmas Tree Stand
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A beautifully designed and sturdy, heavy tree stand made solid steel with a black patina. This stand can accommodate a tree of up to 20 feet in height.
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Steel

Mid Century Modern Max Fellerer Eugen Wörle Vintage Garden Chair Steel 1948
By Max Fellerer & Eugen Wörle
Located in Vienna, AT
Mid century modern vintage garden chair from green lacquered tubular steel. Designed for the public bathing beach "Gänsehäufel" in Vienna, circa 1...
Category

1940s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Steel

Set of Chrome Fire Tool Set with Lucite Handles
Located in Bridgehampton, NY
Set of chrome fire tool set with Lucite handles.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Chrome

Mid Century Modern Vintage Metal Chairs Max Fellerer Eugen Wörle Austria
By Max Fellerer & Eugen Wörle
Located in Vienna, AT
Mid century modern vintage set of five garden chairs for indoor and outdoor designed attributed to the famed architects Max Fellerer and Eugen Wörle circa 1948, Austria. Four red co...
Category

1940s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Steel

Chromed Steel Andirons Attributed to Francois Monnet
Located in Stamford, CT
An interesting pair of chromed steel andirons attributed to Francois Monnet. Unique backing.
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Chrome, Steel

Fireplace Surround and Fire Tools
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An unusual, architectural, well scaled and finely rendered fireplace surround in lacquered brass and iron having discrete slots from which the accompanying fire tools are suspended.
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Brass, Iron

Jacques Charles Fireplace Tools, Brass, Nickel Chrome
Located in New York, NY
Jacques Charles fireplace tools, brass and chrome. Art Nouveau inspired fire tools with a brass plated steel stand and 3 nickeled chrome tools: poker, tongs and shovel.
Category

1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Brass, Steel

Set of 4 Outdoor American Art Moderne Lyre Side Chairs
Located in New York, NY
Set of 4 Outdoor American Art Moderne black and gold trim painted metal side chairs with lyre form backs and upholstered seat
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Metal

Pair of French 1950s Modernist Cast Iron Andirons
Located in New York, NY
Pair of modernist cast iron andirons. France, 1950s. Dimensions: 10 W x 16 H x 17 D.
Category

1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Iron

Jan Snoeck "Snake" Art Object for the Porceleyne Fles Delft Holland
By Jan Snoeck
Located in Den Haag, NL
Jan Snoeck "Snake" art object for the Porceleyne Fles Delft Holland. Jan Snoeck 5-3-1927 -Den Haag 31-3 2018 Jan Snoeck usually worked with stone, conc...
Category

1960s Dutch Vintage Mid-Century Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Ceramic

1940s English Brass Medallion Andirons
Located in New York, NY
1940s English brass medallion andirons.
Category

20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Brass, Iron

Pair of Heavy Brass or Bronze Andirons
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Pair of very nice scroll details heavy brass or bronze andirons. Measures: 27" Tall.
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Building and Garden Elements

Pair of Exceptional Decorative Andirons in Polished Brass
Located in New York, NY
Pair of large and exceptional decorative andirons in polished brass, American, 1970s. These are very high quality.     
Category

1970s North American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Brass

A Pair Of Sea Horse Andirons by Oscar Bach
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
A pair of stylized, sea-horse andirons by Oscar Bach.
Category

1940s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Bronze, Wrought Iron

Pair of Wrought Iron Climbing Vine Wall Planters, Possibly by Woodard
Located in Ferndale, MI
Pair of wrought iron climbing vine wall planters possibly by Woodard. Nicely restored in forest green powder coat.
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Steel

Pair of Post-War Brass Cylinder Andirons
Located in New York, NY
Pair of French Post-War Design brass andirons with a center tall cylinder surrounded by 2 smaller cylinders. (PRICED AS Pair)
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Brass

Viennese Iron Flower Stand with a Fish Catcher
Located in Wien, AT
viennese Iron flower stand with a fish catcher very heavy
Category

1960s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Iron

Collection of Approximately 40 Steel Letters
Located in New York, NY
Heavy hand cut steel numbers, and letters salvaged from a defunct resort in the Poconos ca 1950. Great to use as a graphic element, or rearrange to spell what ever is possible. The...
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Iron

Large Double-Sided Sunflower Shape Door Handle by Chrystiane Charles
Located in Henley-on Thames, Oxfordshire
Fabulous quality cast bronze double sided sunflower shaped door handle designed by Chrystiane Charles - silvered and ormolu finish, beautiful crisp casting, circa 1970, France. Pr...
Category

1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Brass

"The Anteater, " Brutalist Sculpture
Located in New York, NY
Studio-made, figural sculpture of heavy gauge sheet metal. Created by using a number of sculptural techniques, this piece has been torched, pierced, sliced, and has a lot of texture ...
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Building and Garden Elements

Set of Four Cubist Style Stools, France, circa 1960s
Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse
Set of four iron stools of unusual design. The tripod base is painted glossy white and the seats are covered in hard-wearing outdoor canvas, orange with white piping.
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Building and Garden Elements

Large French 1950s Palette-Shaped Wrought Iron Dining Table
Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse
Unique and unusual dining table attributed to Mathieu Matégot. The top is shaped to resemble a painter's palette (or a heart) and is made made of sturdy-quality cloverleaf-patterned...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Building and Garden Elements

Mid-century Modern building and garden elements for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Mid-Century Modern building and garden elements 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 building and garden elements created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include building and garden elements, seating, tables and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, iron and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Mid-Century Modern building and garden elements made in a specific country, there are North America, Europe, and United States pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original building and garden elements, popular names associated with this style include Willy Guhl, Russell Woodard, Eternit, and Woodard Furniture Co.. 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 building and garden elements differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $55 and tops out at $1,078,195 while the average work can sell for $1,887.

Recently Viewed

View All