Arkana Tulip
A pair. of. Arkana tulip tables by Maurice Burke
By Maurice Burke
Located in London, Lambeth
A pair of orginal 1960s Arkana side table Iconic midcentury design
by Maurice Burke featuring an
Category
Mid-20th Century British Mid-Century Modern Side Tables
Materials
Aluminum
1960s Tulip Dining Table by Maurice Burke for Arkana UK 120
By Maurice Burke, Arkana Furniture
Located in Stow on the Wold, GB
1960s White Tulip Dining Table by Maurice Burke for Arkana UK
White Tulip dining table
Category
Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
Materials
Aluminum
1960s White Tulip Coffee Table by Maurice Burke for Arkana 105cm
By Arkana Furniture, Maurice Burke
Located in Stow on the Wold, GB
White tulip coffee table, manufactured by Arkana, Bath UK and designed by Maurice Burke in the
Category
Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Aluminum
1960s White Tulip Coffee Table by Maurice Burke for Arkana 75
By Maurice Burke, Arkana Furniture
Located in Stow on the Wold, GB
White tulip coffee table, manufactured by Arkana, Bath UK and designed by Maurice Burke in the
Category
Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Aluminum
Mid-Century Tulip Side Chair Model 115 by Maurice Burke for Arkana
By Maurice Burke, Arkana Furniture
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Arkana, are the bedrock of Star Trek. The Burke Tulip chairs are the first cousins of Saarinen’s Tulip
Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Side Chairs
Materials
Steel
Set of 2 'Tulip' Swivel Armchairs by Maurice Burke for Arkana, England, 1960's
By Arkana Furniture, Maurice Burke
Located in Steenwijk, NL
The 'Tulip' dining chair was designed by Maurice Burke for Arkana in England in the early 1960's
Category
Vintage 1960s British Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Metal
H 31.5 in W 22.84 in D 21.66 in
Burke Saarinen Style Tulip Chair, circa 1965
By Maurice Burke, Eero Saarinen, Arkana Furniture
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Modeled after Eero Saarinen's Tulip series, The Arkana shell chair was designed by Maurice Burke in
Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Side Chairs
Materials
Aluminum
Recent Sales
ARKANA Tulip dining table - Maurice Burke - 1960s
By Maurice Burke
Located in London, GB
Maurice Burke for Arkana Tulip White Circular Dining Table With Arkana Branded Stamp Mid Century
Category
Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Pedestals
Materials
Aluminum
Arkana Tulip Table by Maurice Burke with 4 Chairs
By Maurice Burke, Arkana Furniture
Located in London, GB
Tulip table with white laminate top on an aluminum base designed by Maurice Burke.
with four very
Category
Mid-20th Century British Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Sets
Materials
Laminate
Midcentury Rosewood Tulip Dining Table by Maurice Burke for Arkana
By Maurice Burke, Arkana Furniture
Located in Glasgow, GB
This is a super cool midcentury rosewood tulip table designed by Maurice Burke for Arkana in the
Category
Mid-20th Century British Mid-Century Modern Tables
Materials
Rosewood
Pair of Mid-Century Modern 1960s Arkana Tulip Chrome Base Side End Lamp Tables
By Arkana Furniture
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely pair of original 1960s A Arkana Tulip side tables
Category
Vintage 1960s English Mid-Century Modern End Tables
Materials
Chrome
H 15.36 in Dm 17.72 in
Arkana Tulip Dining Table Vintage, 1960’s
By Maurice Burke, Arkana Furniture
Located in London, GB
A stunning and very rare vintage dining table, designed by Maurice Burke for Arkana. This was made
Category
Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
Materials
Wood
Mid 20th Century Rosewood Arkana Tulip Dining Table
By Arkana Furniture
Located in London, GB
Mid 20th century rosewood tulip dining table, designed by Maurice Burke for Arkana in the 1960s
Category
Mid-20th Century Scottish Mid-Century Modern Card Tables and Tea Tables
Materials
Rosewood
Large 1960s Arkana Tulip Dining Table by Maurice Burke
By Maurice Burke, Arkana Furniture
Located in Stow on the Wold, GB
A large 1960s tulip dining table designed by Maurice Burke and manufactured by Arkana, Bath, UK
Category
Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
Materials
Aluminum
Large 1960s Arkana Tulip Dining Table by Maurice Burke
By Maurice Burke, Arkana Furniture
Located in Stow on the Wold, GB
A large 1960s tulip dining table designed by Maurice Burke and manufactured by Arkana, Bath, UK
Category
Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
Materials
Aluminum
1960's Vintage Arkana Tulip Dining Table by Maurice Burke
By Maurice Burke, Arkana Furniture
Located in London, GB
A stunning and very rare vintage circular tulip dining table, designed by Maurice Burke for Arkana
Category
Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
Materials
Steel
1960s Arkana Tulip Side Table by Maurice Burke, Bath UK b
By Maurice Burke, Arkana Furniture
Located in Stow on the Wold, GB
1960s Tulip side table designed by Maurice Burke for Arkana, Bath, UK.
Cast aluminium base and
Category
Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Side Tables
Materials
Aluminum
1960s Arkana Tulip Side Table by Maurice Burke, Bath UK 4 available
By Maurice Burke, Arkana Furniture
Located in Stow on the Wold, GB
1960s Tulip side table designed by Maurice Burke for Arkana, Bath, UK.
Cast aluminium base and
Category
Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Side Tables
Materials
Aluminum
Pair of 1960s Arkana Tulip Side Table by Maurice Burke, Bath UK
By Maurice Burke, Arkana Furniture
Located in Stow on the Wold, GB
Pair of 1960s tulip side table designed by Maurice Burke for Arkana, Bath, UK.
Cast aluminium
Category
Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Side Tables
Materials
Aluminum
Set 4 mid century 1960’s chairs by Maurice Burke for Arkana
By Maurice Burke, Arkana Furniture
Located in London, GB
same as the Arkana ’Tulip’ chair, but there are 4 legs rather than a single stem.
Approved as a
Category
Mid-20th Century British Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Fabric, Fiberglass
Set 4 mid century 1960’s chairs by Maurice Burke for Arkana after Eero Saarinen
By Maurice Burke, Arkana Furniture
Located in London, GB
Arkana ’Tulip’ chair, but there are 4 legs rather than a single stem.
Not being able to find any
Category
Mid-20th Century British Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Steel
H 79 in W 47 in D 54 in
Large Tulip Arkana Dining Table
By Arkana Furniture, Maurice Burke
Located in Den Haag, NL
Large tulip Arkana dining table. Aluminum feet with a laminated top. Design by Maurice Burke for
Category
Vintage 1960s English Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
Materials
Aluminum
1960s Tulip Stool Designed by Maurice Burke for Arkana
By Arkana Furniture
Located in Stow on the Wold, GB
1960s tulip stool designed by Maurice Burke for Arkana, Bath. Dates from the 1960s. Original powder
Category
Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Stools
Materials
Aluminum
Mid-20th Century Arkana Dining Table Tulip Black Top
By Arkana Furniture
Located in London, GB
Mid-20th century Arkana dining table with an aluminium base and rare black ash top.
Category
Mid-20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
Materials
Aluminum
Midcentury 1960s Tulip Dining Table by Maurice Burke for Arkana, UK
By Arkana Furniture
Located in Stow on the Wold, GB
1960s white tulip dining table by Maurice Burke for Arkana, UK
White tulip dining table
Category
Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
Materials
Aluminum
Large Oval White Tulip Dining Table by Maurice Burke for Arkana
By Arkana Furniture
Located in Stow on the Wold, GB
A large Oval Tulip dining table designed by Maruice Burke and manufactured by Arkana, UK
Painted
Category
Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
Materials
Aluminum
Midcentury 1960s Tulip Dining Table by Maurice Burke for Arkana, UK
By Arkana Furniture
Located in Stow on the Wold, GB
1960s white tulip dining table designed by Maurice Burke and manufactured by Arkana, UK. This is
Category
Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
Materials
Aluminum
Pair of Vintage Rosewood Tulip Side Tables by Arkana
By Maurice Burke, Arkana Furniture
Located in London, GB
A stylish and very well made pair of vintage tulip side tables by Arkana. They were designed by
Category
Vintage 1960s British Mid-Century Modern Side Tables
Materials
Metal
1960s Tulip Dining Table by Maurice Burke for Arkana UK
By Maurice Burke, Arkana Furniture
Located in Stow on the Wold, GB
1960s White Tulip Dining Table by Maurice Burke for Arkana UK
White Tulip dining table
Category
Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
Materials
Aluminum
1960s Tulip Dining Table by Maurice Burke for Arkana UK
By Arkana Furniture, Maurice Burke
Located in Stow on the Wold, GB
1960s white Tulip dining table by Maurice Burke for Arkana UK
White Tulip dining table
Category
Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
Materials
Aluminum
Pair of Tulip Side Tables by Maurice Burke for Arkana
By Arkana Furniture, Maurice Burke
Located in Little Burstead, Essex
This pair of Classic tulip side tables are in very nice totally original condition. Designed by
Category
Mid-20th Century British Mid-Century Modern Side Tables
Materials
Aluminum
1960s Tulip Dining Table designed by Maurice Burke for Arkana
By Arkana Furniture, Maurice Burke
Located in Stow on the Wold, GB
1960s Tulip Dining Table designed by Maurice Burke for Arkana, Bath, UK.
Cast aluminium base and
Category
Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
Materials
Aluminum
1960s White Tulip Dining Table by Maurice Burke for Arkana, UK
By Maurice Burke, Arkana Furniture
Located in Stow on the Wold, GB
White tulip dining table, manufactured by Arkana, Bath UK and designed by Maurice Burke in the
Category
Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
Materials
Aluminum
1960s White Tulip Coffee Table by Maurice Burke for Arkana A
By Arkana Furniture, Maurice Burke
Located in Stow on the Wold, GB
White tulip coffee table, manufactured by Arkana, Bath UK and designed by Maurice Burke in the
Category
Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Aluminum
1960s White Tulip Dining Table by Maurice Burke for Arkana UK
By Maurice Burke, Arkana Furniture
Located in Stow on the Wold, GB
White tulip dining table, manufactured by Arkana, Bath UK and designed by Maurice Burke in the
Category
Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
Materials
Aluminum
1960s White Tulip Coffee Table by Maurice Burke for Arkana B
By Maurice Burke, Arkana Furniture
Located in Stow on the Wold, GB
White tulip coffee table, manufactured by Arkana, Bath UK and designed by Maurice Burke in the
Category
Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Aluminum
Tulip Coffee Table by Maurice Burke for Arkana, United Kingdom 1970s
By Arkana Furniture, Maurice Burke
Located in Hellouw, NL
Tulip Coffee Table by Maurice Burke for Arkana from the UK, the 1970s. This table has a true space
Category
Vintage 1970s British Post-Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Aluminum
1960s White Tulip Dining Table by Maurice Burke for Arkana, UK
By Arkana Furniture, Maurice Burke
Located in Stow on the Wold, GB
White tulip dining table, manufactured by Arkana, Bath UK and designed by Maurice Burke in the
Category
Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
Materials
Aluminum
1960s Tulip Side Table designed by Maurice Burke for Arkana, Bath, UK
By Arkana Furniture, Maurice Burke
Located in Stow on the Wold, GB
1960s tulip side table designed by Maurice Burke for Arkana, Bath, UK.
Cast aluminium base and
Category
Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Side Tables
Materials
Aluminum
H 20.08 in W 17.72 in D 17.72 in
Pair of 1960s Tulip Side Tables Designed by Maurice Burke for Arkana
By Arkana Furniture, Maurice Burke
Located in Stow on the Wold, GB
Pair of 1960s tulip side tables designed by Maurice Burke for Arkana, bath, UK.
Cast aluminium
Category
Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Side Tables
Materials
Aluminum
Rare Version of 1960s Tulip Side Table by Maurice Burke for Arkana, UK
By Arkana Furniture, Maurice Burke
Located in Stow on the Wold, GB
1960s white tulip side table by Maurice Burke for Arkana, UK
White tulip table, manufactured by
Category
Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Side Tables
Materials
Aluminum
1960s White Tulip Side Table Designed by Maurice Burke for Arkana, Bath, UK
By Arkana Furniture, Maurice Burke
Located in Stow on the Wold, GB
1960s white Tulip side table designed by Maurice Burke for Arkana, Bath, UK.
Cast aluminium base
Category
Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Tables
Materials
Metal
1960s Tulip Side Table Designed By Maurice Burke For Arkana, Bath, Uk. B
By Arkana Furniture, Maurice Burke
Located in Stow on the Wold, GB
1960s Tulip Side Table designed by Maurice Burke for Arkana, Bath, UK.
Cast aluminium base and
Category
Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Side Tables
Materials
Aluminum
1960s White Tulip Side Table Designed by Maurice Burke for Arkana, Bath, UK
By Arkana Furniture, Maurice Burke
Located in Stow on the Wold, GB
1960s white Tulip side table designed by Maurice Burke for Arkana, Bath, UK.
Cast aluminium base
Category
Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Tables
Materials
Aluminum
Oval Tulip Side Table with Wooden Teak Top 1960s by Maurice Burke for Arkana
By Arkana Furniture, Maurice Burke
Located in Stow on the Wold, GB
1960s Tulip side table by Maurice Burke for Arkana, UK
Oval Tulip side table, manufactured by
Category
Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Tables
Materials
Aluminum
H 20.08 in W 22.45 in D 14.57 in
Pair of 1960s Tulip Side Table Designed by Maurice Burke for Arkana, Bath, UK
By Arkana Furniture, Maurice Burke
Located in Stow on the Wold, GB
Pair of 1960s Tulip side tables designed by Maurice Burke for Arkana, Bath, UK.
Cast aluminium
Category
Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Side Tables
Materials
Aluminum
H 20.08 in W 17.72 in D 17.72 in
Maurice Burke Red & White Tulip Base Stool by Arkana, United Kingdom, 1960s
By Arkana Furniture, Maurice Burke, Eero Saarinen
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful space age stool from the 1960s, featuring a white tulip base and vibrant red faux
Category
Mid-20th Century British Mid-Century Modern Stools
Materials
Metal
1960s Teak Vintage Tulip Dining Table by Arkana
By Maurice Burke
Located in London, GB
A stylish and iconic vintage dining table, designed by Maurice Burke for Arkana, dating from the
Category
Vintage 1960s English Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Tables
Materials
Metal
Dining room set by Maurice Burke for Arkana, United Kingdom 1970s
By Maurice Burke, Arkana Furniture
Located in DE MEERN, NL
Manufacturer: Arkana
Model: Tulip table and chairs
Material: Fiberglass, metal, wood
Measurements table
Category
Vintage 1970s British Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Sets
Materials
Upholstery, Fiberglass, Wood
Vintage 1960s Arkana Round Tulip Dining Table by Maurice Burke
By Maurice Burke
Located in London, GB
Arkana commissioning Burke to produce this similar design in the '60s. The table is constructed with a
Category
Mid-20th Century British Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
Materials
Aluminum
Maurice Burke Tulip table with chairs from the 60s "ARKANA" production
By Maurice Burke
Located in Vigevano, PV
Maurice Burke for Arkana, England in the early 1960s. This set consists of a table and four
Category
Mid-20th Century British Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
Materials
Resin, Plywood
1960s White Oval Tulip Coffee Table by Maurice Burke for Arkana UK
By Richard Hornby
Located in Stow on the Wold, GB
White Oval Tulip coffee table, manufactured by Arkana, Bath UK and designed by Maurice Burke in the
Category
Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Aluminum
Midcentury 1960s Tulip 6 seater round Dining Table By Maurice Burke for Arkana
By Maurice Burke
Located in Stow on the Wold, GB
1960s white 6 seater Tulip dining table by Maurice Burke for Arkana UK
White Tulip dining table
Category
Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
Materials
Aluminum
H 28.75 in Dm 47.64 in
Mid-Century Modern Dining Set of Burke Arkana Chairs with Tulip Style Table
By Maurice Burke
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Modeled after Saarinen's Tulip series of tables and chairs, the Arkana chair was designed by
Category
Vintage 1960s English Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Sets
Materials
Aluminum
H 31 in W 20.25 in L 31 in
Set of side tables Model "Tulip", design Eero Saarinen made by Arkana, 1960
By Maurice Burke
Located in Oirlo, LI
Set of side tables Model "Tulip", design Eero Saarinen made by Arkana, 1960
A beautiful set of
Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Side Tables
Materials
Aluminum
H 15.75 in W 17.72 in D 17.72 in
Six Modern Space Age Swivel Tulip chairs by Maurice Burke for Arkana, 1960s
By Joe Colombo, Maurice Burke
Located in Buffalo, NY
Modernist, Space Age dining set consisting of six swivel tulip armchairs designed by Maurice Burke
Category
Vintage 1960s British Space Age Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Fabric, Plastic
H 30 in W 22.5 in D 20 in
Maurice Burke designed Tulip Style Side Chair, Set of Four
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Modeled after Eero Saarinen's Tulip series, The Arkana shell X chair was designed by Maurice Burke
Category
Vintage 1960s British Mid-Century Modern Side Chairs
Materials
Aluminum
Maurice Burke for Arkana Tulip White Circular Dining Table, 1960's
By Maurice Burke
Located in Reading, Berkshire
Maurice Burke For Arkana Tulip White Circular Dining Table With Arkana Branded Stamp Mid Century
Category
Mid-20th Century British Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
Materials
Steel
1960's Vintage Arkana Tulip Dining Table & Chairs
By Maurice Burke, Arkana Furniture
Located in London, GB
An absolutely stunning and rare vintage dining table and chairs by Arkana. They were designed by
Category
Vintage 1960s British Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
Materials
Steel
1960s Arkana Tulip Side Table by Maurice Burke, Bath UK
By Maurice Burke, Arkana Furniture
Located in Stow on the Wold, GB
1960s Tulip side table designed by Maurice Burke for Arkana, Bath, UK.
Cast aluminium base and
Category
Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Side Tables
Materials
Aluminum
"Mushroom" tulip side table by Arkana 1960s
By Maurice Burke, Arkana Furniture
Located in Stow on the Wold, GB
“Mushroom” side table produced by Arkana in the 1970s.
Resin base with formica top. In very good
Category
Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Side Tables
Materials
Aluminum
Tulip Side Table by Maurice Burke for Arkana, UK 1960's
By Maurice Burke, Arkana Furniture
Located in Steenwijk, NL
This stunning side table is a design by Maurice Burke for Arkana in Engeland in the early 1960's
Category
Vintage 1960s British Mid-Century Modern Side Tables
Materials
Metal
Mid-Century Tulip Side Table by Maurice Burke for Arkana, 1960’s
By Maurice Burke, Arkana Furniture
Located in Oud Beijerland, NL
Nice coffee table edited by Arkana and designated by Maurice Burke.
Elegant tulip leg, a must
Category
Vintage 1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Steel
Maurice Burke Tulip Dining Table in Dark Wood and Aluminum for Arkana Furniture
By Maurice Burke, Arkana Furniture, Knoll, Eero Saarinen
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Elegant dining table designed by Maurice Burke for Arkana Furniture United Kingdom. The table has a
Category
Vintage 1960s British Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
Materials
Aluminum
H 28.35 in Dm 47.64 in
Midcentury 1960s Tulip Dining Table By Maurice Burke for Arkana Uk
By Maurice Burke
Located in Stow on the Wold, GB
1960s white Tulip dining table by Maurice Burke for Arkana UK
White Tulip dining table
Category
Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
Materials
Aluminum
Vintage Walnut Tulip Coffee Table by Maurice Burke
By Maurice Burke, Arkana Furniture
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage walnut tulip coffee table by Maurice Burke for Arkana.
Category
Vintage 1960s English Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Aluminum
XL Oval Tulip Dining Table Space Age Jetsons Vintage Mid-Century Burke Arkana
By Maurice Burke
Located in Hyattsville, MD
A massive Super Fun Space Age copy of the Eero Saarinen Knoll Tulip dining table. It is designed by
Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
Materials
Aluminum
H 29 in W 66 in D 34 in
People Also Browsed
Tulip Dining Table by Eero Saarinen for Knoll International, 1960s
By Knoll, Eero Saarinen
Located in bruxelles, BE
Round Table (137 cm diameter) with marble top and aluminium base designed by Eero Saarinen and produced by Knoll International. Stamped Knoll International under the leg. Wear due to...
Category
Vintage 1960s Central American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
Materials
Marble, Aluminum
Knoll Saarinen Dining Table
Located in Pasadena, TX
This is a Pedestal Dining Table, originally designed in 1956 by Eero Saarinen for Knoll. This particular piece was produced in the USA in the 1960s. The base is formed of cast iron w...
Category
Vintage 1950s Dining Room Tables
Materials
Ceramic
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Arkana Tulip For Sale on 1stDibs
Find many varieties of an authentic arkana tulip available at 1stDibs. Frequently made of metal, aluminum and laminate, every arkana tulip was constructed with great care. There are many kinds of the arkana tulip you’re looking for, from those produced as long ago as the 20th Century to those made as recently as the 20th Century. A arkana tulip, designed in the Mid-Century Modern or Scandinavian Modern style, is generally a popular piece of furniture. Arkana Furniture and Maurice Burke each produced at least one beautiful arkana tulip that is worth considering.
How Much is a Arkana Tulip?
The average selling price for a arkana tulip at 1stDibs is $1,139, while they’re typically $201 on the low end and $11,500 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 celebrated 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.
Generations turn over, and mid-century modern remains arguably the most popular style going. 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.