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What is the difference between mid-century and mid-century modern?
1 Answer
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 ExpertFebruary 27, 2024
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Shop for Mid-Century Modern Furniture on 1stDibs
Italian Midcentury Extra Large Vintage Wall Mirror with Brass Frame, 1970s
Located in Morazzone, Varese
Beautiful and elegant extra large vintage wall mirror with deep solid brass frame and original vintage crystal mirror glass.
Made in Italy in the 1970s.
The brass frame with its orig...
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Mirrors
Materials
Brass
Chairs by Maison Regain
Located in MADRID, ES
Brutalist elm and leather chairs by Maison Regain. The chairs are robust and combine design with Maison Regain's own details.
This set consists of a total of 6 chairs preserved in t...
Category
Vintage 1970s French Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Leather, Elm
Bedside table/Nightstand, pair 1970s
Located in Ljubljana, SI
Pair of nightstands/bedside tables
This pair of italian bedside tables reflects modest but conteporary aesthetic. Practicality and perfect form in one pair of beautiful nightstands. ...
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Night Stands
Materials
Metal
Veneziana 5 tiers chandelier, 41 Opaline glass elements by Piattelli. US wiring
Located in Tavarnelle val di Pesa, Florence
Drawing on decades of experience in lighting, my aim was to fashion a chandelier that seamlessly marries timeless elegance with practicality.
This listing is for the US wired UL com...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and...
Materials
Glass, Opaline Glass
Brass chandelier, 6 arms, Maison Lunel Circa 1960
By Lunel
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
6-light chandelier, consisting of a cylindrical base in gunmetal patina brass, to which are attached 6 rectangular brass arms.
Each arm supports an oval-shaped shade secured by a bla...
Category
20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Brass
Sistema Solare Chandelier, Piattelli Design, Ivory-toned Onyx and Brass, 4-shade
Located in Tavarnelle val di Pesa, Florence
Luxury chandelier, made from thinly-cut pieces of exquisite ivory-toned translucent onyx. Ideal to be hung over a table, with versatile configurations.
Ivory onyx comes from Middle Eastern quarries and has a unique veining. This translucent stone is carefully worked in Italy, and was chosen because of its combination of interesting patterns, high translucency, and the way it makes the light output look warmer.
The 4-shade version is ideal to be hung over a round table.
Our onyx supplier has worked in many high-end architectural projects, and these same materials have been used at the Armani hotel in Milan. When he was shown the chandelier designs, he rose to the challenge and adapted his tooling to make us perfect round discs. He worked hard to find exactly the right thickness that would keep the depth of the texture. It could not be too thick, otherwise it would lose transparency. And too thin, it would look like it was printed.
The result is stunning. The combination of carefully-worked translucent stone and brass works perfectly, and the use of the ingenious Orbitale structure allows the geometry of the chandelier to be played with, and it can be configured in several ways.
There is nothing else like this on the market.
The Sistema collection uses a clever rotating stem structure and features a shallow drum-shaped shade at the end of each arm.
The chandelier arms are designed with two lengths so that each can be staggered at different angles. They work well in any space and suit both regular and low-ceilinged rooms wonderfully.
The chandelier arms are designed with two lengths so that each can be staggered at different angles. They work well in any space and suit both regular and low-ceilinged rooms wonderfully.
Please see the drawing to get an idea of sizes for the different chandeliers. On the upper side of each disc there is a smaller opening to provide ambient light.
Top-quality LEDs with over 80 CRI, meaning that the lighting does not alter the color of food and people.
The LEDs are on a 24V direct current feed, so there is no flickering. The arms can be rotated 180 degrees to configure various combinations. As well as two rows of evenly-spaced lights over a dining table, a regular 8-shade star or 4-shade star (see photos) are possible, as well as creative sculptural shapes. The arms can be rotated even when the chandelier is lit.
The shades can also be rotated on the arm axis to meet any lighting needs in a living room (paintings, bookshelves etc.).
This listing shows the smallest drop. A change of drop is complimentary.
Silvio Piattelli copyright and design.
Specifications (Note: The Sistema chandelier has glass shades, while Sistema Solare...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and...
Materials
Onyx, Brass
