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Pair Stools by Gio Ponti for Cassina attributed , Chromed Steel Straw and Wood
Located in Vigonza, Padua
) – Gio Ponti, Antonio Fornaroli and Alberto Rosselli – together with Emanuele Ponzi. The construction of
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Stools
Materials
Steel
H 21.26 in W 14.97 in D 14.97 in
Gio Ponti 'Parco dei Principi' Coffee Table
By Gio Ponti, Cassina
Located in Waalwijk, NL
) – Gio Ponti, Antonio Fornaroli and Alberto Rosselli – together with Emanuele Ponzi. The construction of
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Marble, Aluminum
Vintage Folding Chair Ninfea by Gio Ponti for Reguitti, Italy, 1958
By Gio Ponti
Located in Roma, IT
international taste for design for over fifty years.
Around 1933 Ponti joins the engineers Antonio Fornaroli
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Chairs
Materials
Brass
Confidential Alberto Rosselli for Saporiti Set Sofa
By Alberto Rosselli Saporiti, Saporiti
Located in Byron Bay, NSW
Ponti, and Antonio Fornaroli formed the architecture/design firm Studio Ponti Fornaroli Rosselli (P.F.R
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Materials
Leather
Gio Ponti Table in Oak Brass and Red Laminate Italian Manifacture 1950s
By Gio Ponti
Located in Montecatini Terme, IT
architect together with the engineers Antonio Fornaroli and Eugenio Soncini. It was during this period that
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Tables
Materials
Brass
H 31.3 in W 85.44 in D 43.12 in
Alberto Rosselli for Saporiti 'Confidential' Sofa
By Alberto Rosselli Saporiti, Saporiti
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Politecnico di Milano in 1947, he stayed and worked in Milan. In 1950, Rosselli, Gio Ponti, and Antonio
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Materials
Fabric, Wood
Gio Ponti Round Coffee Table in Walnut Wood Italian Manifacture 1940s
By Gio Ponti
Located in Montecatini Terme, IT
completion of the Torre Rasini, he began to work as an architect together with the engineers Antonio
Category
Vintage 1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Brass
Gio Ponti Round Coffee Table in Walnut Wood Italian Manufacture 1950s
By Gio Ponti
Located in Montecatini Terme, IT
completion of the Torre Rasini, he began to work as an architect together with the engineers Antonio
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Metal
1930s Round Coffee Center Table Art Decò by Gio Ponti in Ebonized Walnut
By Meroni & Fossati, Gio Ponti
Located in Vigonza, Padua
teamed up with engineers Antonio Fornaroli and Eugenio Soncini to form Studio Ponti-Fornaroli-Soncini
Category
Vintage 1930s Italian Art Deco Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Walnut
Gio Ponti Set of Two Decorative Bottles in Ceramic by Cooperativa Ceramica Imola
By Gio Ponti
Located in Montecatini Terme, IT
engineers Antonio Fornaroli and Eugenio Soncini. It was during this period that Ponti designed many of his
Category
1990s Italian Mid-Century Modern Porcelain
Materials
Ceramic, Luster
H 14.18 in Dm 1.97 in
Gio Ponti for Casa e Giardino Pair of Lounge Chairs
By Gio Ponti, Casa e Giardino
Located in Waalwijk, NL
worked together with many designers, such as Antonio Fornaroli and Alberto Rosselli, and his work has
Category
Vintage 1930s Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Fabric, Walnut
Alberto Rosselli for Fontana Arte Table Lamp in Crystal Glass
By Alberto Rosselli Saporiti, Fontana Arte
Located in Waalwijk, NL
di Milano in 1947, he stayed and worked in Milan. In 1950, Rosselli, Gio Ponti, and Antonio Fornaroli
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Crystal, Brass
Gio Ponti 546 Table Lamp in Aluminum and Opaline Glass by Ugo Pollice 1940s
By Gio Ponti, Pollice Illuminazione
Located in Montecatini Terme, IT
architect together with the engineers Antonio Fornaroli and Eugenio Soncini. It was during this period that
Category
Vintage 1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Iron, Brass, Aluminum
Alberto Rosselli Set for Saporiti 'Confidential', Italy, 1970s
By Alberto Rosselli Saporiti
Located in Paris, ON
Antonio Fornaroli formed the architecture/design firm Studio Ponti Fornaroli Rosselli (P.F.R) where he
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Modern Sofas
Materials
Steel
Gio Ponti Set of Two Stools in Black Lacquered Wood and Fabric 1950s Italy
By Gio Ponti
Located in Montecatini Terme, IT
with the engineers Antonio Fornaroli and Eugenio Soncini. It was during this period that Ponti designed
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Stools
Materials
Fabric, Wood
Gio Ponti Coffee Table in Wood and Glass by Figli di Amedeo Cassina 1950s
By Gio Ponti, Figli di Amadeo Cassina
Located in Montecatini Terme, IT
completion of the Torre Rasini, he began to work as an architect together with the engineers Antonio
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Metal
H 19.69 in W 35.44 in D 17.72 in
Gio Ponti for Poltrona Frau Set of Four Lounge Chairs in Light Blue Leather
By Gio Ponti, Poltrona Frau
Located in Waalwijk, NL
worked together with many designers, such as Antonio Fornaroli and Alberto Rosselli, and his work has
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Metal
H 36.03 in W 31.5 in D 33.47 in
Gio Ponti for Poltrona Frau Lounge Chairs in Light Blue Leather
By Poltrona Frau, Gio Ponti
Located in Waalwijk, NL
worked together with many designers, such as Antonio Fornaroli and Alberto Rosselli, and his work has
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Metal
Alberto Rosselli for Saporiti 'Maxijumbo' Lounge Chairs
By Alberto Rosselli Saporiti, Saporiti
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Ponti, and Antonio Fornaroli formed the architecture/design firm Studio Ponti Fornaroli Rosselli (P.F.R
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Club Chairs
Materials
Suede
Alberto Rosselli for Saporiti 'Confidential' Sofa
By Alberto Rosselli Saporiti, Saporiti
Located in Waalwijk, NL
, Rosselli, Gio Ponti, and Antonio Fornaroli formed the architecture/design firm Studio Ponti Fornaroli
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Materials
Fabric
Rare Gio Ponti Writing Desk in Walnut and Grissinato Mahogany
By Gio Ponti
Located in Waalwijk, NL
designers, such as Antonio Fornaroli and Alberto Rosselli, and his work has been of great inspiration for
Category
Vintage 1940s Italian Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Glass, Mahogany, Walnut
Gio Ponti Silver Cutlery Set for Twelve by Krupp Italy 1950s
By Arthur Krupp, Gio Ponti
Located in Montecatini Terme, IT
engineers Antonio Fornaroli and Eugenio Soncini. It was during this period that Ponti designed many of his
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Tableware
Materials
Nickel, Stainless Steel
Gio Ponti Cutlery Set for Six in Nickel Silver by Krupp Italy 1950s
By Arthur Krupp, Gio Ponti
Located in Montecatini Terme, IT
with the engineers Antonio Fornaroli and Eugenio Soncini. It was during this period that Ponti designed
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Tableware
Materials
Nickel, Stainless Steel
Gio Ponti for Cassina Pair of Armchairs in Cherry
By Gio Ponti, Cassina
Located in Waalwijk, NL
worked together with many designers, such as Antonio Fornaroli and Alberto Rosselli, and his work has
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Fabric, Cherry
RARE Alberto Rosselli Sofa Two Seater for Saporiti 'Confidential', Italy, 1970s
By Saporiti, Alberto Rosselli Saporiti
Located in Basel, BS
. In 1950, Rosselli, Gio Ponti, and Antonio Fornaroli formed the architecture/design firm Studio Ponti
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Materials
Steel
H 35.44 in W 64.18 in D 35.44 in
Gio Ponti for Cassina '811' Lounge Chair
By Figli di Amadeo Cassina, Gio Ponti
Located in Waalwijk, NL
international markets in the 1950s. Gio Ponti worked together with many designers, such as Antonio Fornaroli and
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Metal
Alberto Rosselli for Saporiti 'Maxijumbo' Lounge Chairs in Brown Suede
By Saporiti, Alberto Rosselli Saporiti
Located in Waalwijk, NL
stayed and worked in Milan. In 1950, Rosselli, Gio Ponti, and Antonio Fornaroli formed the architecture
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Post-Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Suede, Plastic
H 25.99 in W 32.29 in D 38.59 in
Rare Gio Ponti Sofa
By Gio Ponti
Located in Waalwijk, NL
worked together with many designers, such as Antonio Fornaroli and Alberto Rosselli, and his work has
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Materials
Metal
Gio Ponti for Fontana Arte ‘Parco Dei Principi’ Floor Lamp with White Shade
By Fontana Arte, Gio Ponti
Located in Waalwijk, NL
many designers, such as Antonio Fornaroli and Alberto Rosselli, and his work has been of great
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
Materials
Metal, Brass
H 63 in W 31.89 in D 23.63 in
Gio Ponti for Poltrona Frau Lounge Chair 'Dezza' in Light Blue Leather
By Gio Ponti, Poltrona Frau
Located in Waalwijk, NL
worked together with many designers, such as Antonio Fornaroli and Alberto Rosselli, and his work has
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Metal
H 36.03 in W 31.5 in D 33.47 in
Gio Ponti Ninfea Folding Chairs in Wood and White Fabric by Reguitti 1960s Italy
By Gio Ponti, Fratelli Reguitti
Located in Montecatini Terme, IT
with the engineers Antonio Fornaroli and Eugenio Soncini. It was during this period that Ponti designed
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Brass
H 35.44 in W 28.35 in D 19.69 in
Gio Ponti Gabriella Folding Lounge Chair in Black Vynil by Pallucco, 1991, Italy
By Gio Ponti, Pallucco
Located in Montecatini Terme, IT
completion of the Torre Rasini, he began to work as an architect together with the engineers Antonio
Category
1990s Italian Post-Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel
H 42.13 in W 24.02 in D 23.23 in
Gio Ponti for Cleto Munari Modernist Silver Plated Serving Plate Italy, 1980s
By Gio Ponti, Cleto Munari
Located in Roma, IT
was a professor at the Milan Polytechnic, and in 1933 was associated with Antonio Fornaroli and
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Sheffield and Silverplate
Materials
Silver Plate
Italian Writing Desk Attributed to Antonio Fornaroli
By Antonio Fornaroli
Located in Cologne, DE
Ponti, Fornaroli and Rosseli.
Due to the style of the table we attribute it to the hand of Antonio
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Steel
Gio Ponti Black Vitrolite Tempered Glass Occasional Table for Fontana Arte, 1932
By Fontana Arte, Gio Ponti
Located in Firenze, IT
Massimo Campigli began to take on increasing importance.
Begins his association with Antonio Fomaroli
Category
Vintage 1930s Italian Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Brass, Chrome
H 16.15 in Dm 12.21 in
Mid-Century Modern Italian Desk Designed by Studio PFR
By Studio PFR ( Ponti Fornaroli Rosselli )
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
iron frame designed by Studio PFR (Gio Ponti, Antonio Fornaroli and Alberto Roselli), 1955 Milan, Italy.
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Iron
Gio Ponti 1960s Poker Table
By Gio Ponti
Located in Weesp, NL
1933, Ponti ended his relationship with Lancia and teamed with two engineers, Antonio Fornaroli and
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Game Tables
Materials
Wood, Felt
Gio Ponti Set of Five Dining Chairs in Wood and Skai Italian Manufacture 1950s
By Gio Ponti
Located in Montecatini Terme, IT
completion of the Torre Rasini, he began to work as an architect together with the engineers Antonio
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Brass
Free Shipping
H 35.04 in W 17.72 in D 15.75 in
Gio Ponti Round Coffee Table in Walnut and Mahogany Italian Manufacture 1940s
By Gio Ponti
Located in Montecatini Terme, IT
engineers Antonio Fornaroli and Eugenio Soncini. It was during this period that Ponti designed many of his
Category
Vintage 1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Wood, Walnut, Mahogany
Gio Ponti Set of Three Wall Lamps in Lacquered Aluminum and Perspex by Greco 60s
By Gio Ponti, Greco
Located in Montecatini Terme, IT
completion of the Torre Rasini, he began to work as an architect together with the engineers Antonio
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Aluminum
Free Shipping
H 13.78 in W 10.24 in D 11.82 in
Gio Ponti Rectangular Coffee Table in Wood and Glass by Fontana Arte 1940s Italy
By Gio Ponti, Fontana Arte
Located in Montecatini Terme, IT
engineers Antonio Fornaroli and Eugenio Soncini. It was during this period that Ponti designed many of his
Category
Vintage 1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofa Tables
Materials
Glass, Wood
H 18.51 in W 42.52 in D 16.54 in
Gio Ponti Cutlery Silver Service for Six in Nickel Silver by Krupp, Italy, 1950s
By Gio Ponti, Arthur Krupp
Located in Montecatini Terme, IT
engineers Antonio Fornaroli and Eugenio Soncini. It was during this period that Ponti designed many of his
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Tableware
Materials
Alpaca
H 0.2 in W 7.88 in D 1.97 in
Gio Ponti Office Desk in Walnut and Laminate for BNL by Schirolly 1950s Italy
By Gio Ponti, Schirolli
Located in Montecatini Terme, IT
Torre Rasini, he began to work as an architect together with the engineers Antonio Fornaroli and Eugenio
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
H 31.5 in W 47.25 in D 23.63 in
Set of Midcentury Brass and Enamel Metal Italian Sconces, Gio Ponti Style 1950s
By Gio Ponti
Located in Roma, IT
the Milan Polytechnic, and in 1933 was associated with Antonio Fornaroli and Eugenio Soncini, until
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Brass, Metal
H 7.09 in W 5.91 in D 4.73 in
Bookshelf By Alberto Rosselli, Italy, 1970s
By Alberto Rosselli Saporiti
Located in Roma, IT
the engineer Antonio Fornaroli in the Ponti–Fornaroli–Rosselli (PFR) architectural studio based in
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Bookcases
Materials
Steel
Italian Midcentury Desk with Floating Top
By Antonio Fornaroli
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Gorgeous teak desk with Antonio Fornaroli design. Long teak top, floating attached drawers, iron
Category
Vintage 1960s Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Teak
20th Century Italian Studio PFR Teak Writing Desk by Ponti, Fornaroli & Rosselli
By Gio Ponti, Alberto Rosselli Saporiti, Antonio Fornaroli, Studio PFR ( Ponti Fornaroli Rosselli )
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
, designed by Gio Ponti, Antonio Fornaroli & Alberto Rosselli and produced by Studio PFR in good condition
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal, Brass
H 30 in W 63 in D 31.5 in
Confidential Chair by Alberto Rosselli for Saporiti
Located in Alsdorf, NW
, Rosselli, Gio Ponti, and Antonio Fornaroli formed the architecture/design firm Studio Ponti Fornaroli
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Sofas
Materials
Leather
Pair of Gio Ponti Side Tables, circa 1950, Italy
By Gio Ponti
Located in Girona, Spain
engineer Antonio Fornaroli, with whom he formed the Ponti Fornaroli Rosselli (PFR) studio, active until
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Side Tables
Materials
Walnut
Alberto Rosselli for Saporiti 'Speedy' Modular Wall-Unit in Red
By Alberto Rosselli Saporiti
Located in Waalwijk, NL
1947, he stayed and worked in Milan. In 1950, Rosselli, Gio Ponti, and Antonio Fornaroli formed the
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Materials
Metal, Chrome
Large "Confidential" Sofa by Alberto Rosselli for Saporiti, Italy, 1972
By Saporiti, Alberto Rosselli Saporiti
Located in Almelo, NL
stayed and worked in Milan. In 1950, Rosselli, Gio Ponti, and Antonio Fornaroli formed the architecture
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sectional Sofas
Materials
Wood, Fabric, Velvet
H 26.38 in W 94.49 in D 122.05 in
Gio Ponti Mid-Century Modern Office Chair in Metal and Black Leather 1930s Italy
By Gio Ponti
Located in Montecatini Terme, IT
began to work as an architect together with the engineers Antonio Fornaroli and Eugenio Soncini. It was
Category
Vintage 1930s Italian Mid-Century Modern Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Materials
Metal
H 30.71 in W 15.75 in D 15.75 in
Gio Ponti Office Chair in Beech Wood for BNL Italian Manufacture 1940s
By Gio Ponti
Located in Montecatini Terme, IT
architect together with the engineers Antonio Fornaroli and Eugenio Soncini. It was during this period that
Category
Vintage 1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Metal
H 32.68 in W 18.12 in D 15.75 in
Gio Ponti & Lio Carminati 'Biancamano' Lounge Chair in Cane
By Gio Ponti, Vittorio Bonacina, Lio Carminati
Located in Waalwijk, NL
international markets in the 1950s. Gio Ponti worked together with many designers, such as Antonio Fornaroli and
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Cane
Alberto Rosselli for Saporiti 'Maxijumbo' Pair of Lounge Chairs in Suede
By Saporiti, Alberto Rosselli Saporiti
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Milano in 1947, he stayed and worked in Milan. In 1950, Rosselli, Gio Ponti, and Antonio Fornaroli formed
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Materials
Suede, Plastic
H 25.99 in W 33.08 in D 39.38 in
Deco Ebonized Wood and Glass Round Italian Coffee Table, Gio Ponti Style 1940s
By Gio Ponti
Located in Roma, IT
was associated with Antonio Fornaroli and Eugenio Soncini, until 1945. From this partnership major
Category
Vintage 1940s Italian Art Deco Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Brass
Gio Ponti for Cleto Munari Modernist Silver Plated Serving Plate Italy, 1980s
By Cleto Munari, Gio Ponti
Located in Roma, IT
was associated with Antonio Fornaroli and Eugenio Soncini, until 1945. From this partnership major
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Sheffield and Silverplate
Materials
Silver Plate
'Airone' Chair in Velvet by Studio PFR for Arflex, 1955
By Arflex
Located in Rome, IT
An "Airone" armchair designed by studio "Studio PFR (Gio Ponti Antonio Fornaroli Alberto Rosselli
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Iron
Alberto Rosselli Rosewood Desk, Italian Architect, Circa 1965, *Free Shipping
By Alberto Rosselli Saporiti
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
forming Studio PFR with Giò Ponti and Antonio Fornaroli in 1950... He founded the journal Stile Industria
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks
Materials
Chrome, Steel
H 29.5 in W 63 in D 31.5 in
Midcentury White Lounge Chair "Moby Dick" by Alberto Rosselli for Saporiti, 1969
By Fratelli Saporiti, Alberto Rosselli Saporiti
Located in Milano, IT
follow and study. In the 1950’s, he began to work with him (Gio Ponti), and Antonio Fornaroli in Milan
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Fiberglass, Polyester
H 32.68 in W 24.02 in D 58.27 in
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Antonio Fornaroli For Sale on 1stDibs
With a vast inventory of beautiful furniture at 1stDibs, we’ve got just the antonio fornaroli you’re looking for. Frequently made of wood, metal and fabric, every antonio fornaroli was constructed with great care. Find 31 options for an antique or vintage antonio fornaroli now, or shop our selection of 1 modern versions for a more contemporary example of this long-cherished piece. Your living room may not be complete without a antonio fornaroli — find older editions for sale from the 20th Century and newer versions made as recently as the 21st Century. When you’re browsing for the right antonio fornaroli, those designed in mid-century modern styles are of considerable interest. Gio Ponti, Alberto Rosselli Saporiti and Saporiti Italia each produced at least one beautiful antonio fornaroli that is worth considering.
How Much is a Antonio Fornaroli?
The average selling price for a antonio fornaroli at 1stDibs is $4,350, while they’re typically $757 on the low end and $30,000 for the highest priced.
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
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The Ultimate Guide to Types of Tables for the Home
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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
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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.