Mid-Century “Black Lady” Table Lamp by Barsony, Australia, 1950s
By Barsony Ceramics 1
Located in Weesp, NL
Mid-Century “Black Lady” Table Lamp by Barsony, Australia, 1950s Dimensions: H 56 cm x W 23 cm x D 15 cm (H 22.05 in x W 9.06 in x D 5.91 in) Marked: Barsony on reverse A striking...
Brass
Joe 700 Ceiling Lamp minimal, 20th century modern handmade by Wende Reid
By Wende Reid
Located in Chatswood, NSW
This classic, tailored, double ceiling lamp, inspired by old Hollywood and menswear is reminiscent of the 1940s and the early simplicity of Art Deco. Its clean shape is the perfect ...
Brass
Joe 640 Tailored Minimal 20th Century Inspired Pendant Light by Wende Reid
By Wende Reid
Located in Chatswood, NSW
This Classic, tailored pendant light, inspired by the stitching on my father's Mark Cross cuff link box, is reminiscent of mid-century style and the early simplicity of Art Deco. Als...
Brass
Joe 640 Pendant Light Classic Modern Tailored Minimal Handmade by Wende Reid
By Wende Reid
Located in Chatswood, NSW
This classic, minimal, tailored, Joe Pendant Light is inspired by menswear reminiscent of 1940s style and the early simplicity of Art Deco. Available also as a flush mount, the clean...
Brass
Marz Designs, "Terra 0 Pendant - Fabric Flex"
By Marz Designs
Located in BYRON BAY, NSW
Simple cylindrical ceramic forms define the Terra 0 range, which comes in pendant light, long and short wall light formats. The Terra 0 Pendant Light is available in a choice of six ...
Metal, Brass, Nickel
$2,750 / set
Pair of Emil Stejnar Style Sconces
By Emil Stejnar
Located in Miami, FL
Pair sconces from Austria by Emil Stejnar. Backplate: 1.5" W, 3" H. Wired for US and in working condition. Have a look on our impressive collection of French and Italian Mid-Cen...
Crystal, Brass
Marz Designs, "Terra 0.5 Wall Light" Ceramic Wall Light
By Marz Designs
Located in BYRON BAY, NSW
The Terra 0.5 Wall Light celebrates modular design and craftsmanship in a deceptively simple yet architectural form. Its sculptural metal bracket elegantly contrasts the asymmetric s...
Metal, Brass, Nickel
20th Century Australian Aluminium Lighthouse Lamp
Located in Sydney, NSW
A 1950s aluminium lighthouse lamp by White Horse Industries, Blackburn, Victoria.
Aluminum, Iron
Unavailable
H 85.04 in W 11.03 in D 19.3 in
Black Vintage Industrial Movie Spot Light from Manly Theatre-Australia
Located in Cromer, AU
This is an original vintage theatre (Spot) Light from an old manly theatre in Manly. This has been cleaned, fully refurbished and is in good working order. In very good vintage con...
Steel
Mid-Century Atomic Age Lamp by Daydream, 1950s
By Daydream Production
Located in Melbourne, AU
Australian Mid-Century desk lamp by 'Daydream', 1950s.
Australian Midcentury Rite Lite ‘Mayflower' Chandelier, circa 1950s
Located in Melbourne, AU
Australian midcentury rite lite ‘Mayflower‘ chandelier. Made in Melbourne, Australia, 1957. Presents in excellent original condition, minor wear commensurate with age. This is the...
Pair of Mid-Century Hollywood Regency Lamps, 1960s
Located in Melbourne, AU
Rare pair of Mid-Century Hollywood Regency lamps, 1960s. These were commissioned for residence in Melbourne, Australia in the early 1960s. Tall in stature, these are a truly excep...
Barsony, 1950s Tall White Lady Lamp
By Barsony Ceramics 1
Located in Pymble, NSW
Barsony ceramics is an Australian company founded in the 1950s by Husband and Wife team George and Jean Barsony in a factory in Guildford near Sydney. This very large white lady lam...
Ceramic, Wood
Unavailable
H 24.41 in Dm 6.89 in
Ellis Pottery Sgraffito Ceramic and 'Walnut' Table Lamp Base Melbourne, 1950s
By Ellis Ceramics
Located in Melbourne, AU
An Ellis Pottery ceramic lamp with Australian blackwood base and a turned myrtle stem stained to a deep walnut finish. We love these ceramic and timber Ellis lamps for their Classic...
Ceramic, Hardwood
Mid century Barsony Beautiful African Female Figure Table Lamp
By Barsony Ceramics 1
Located in Weesp, NL
Mat black colored ceramic Barsony table lamp with female figure carrying a basket. Made in Australia in the 1950s. This beauty will be shipped insured overseas in a custom made wood...
Ceramic, Nylon
Sold
H 13.39 in W 5.12 in D 3.15 in
Black and Green Modernist Table Lamp from Brown Evans & Co., 1950s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
- Modernist aluminium lamp - Made by Brown Evans and Co. - BECO in Australia - From the 1950s - Aluminum corpus - Black and light green contrasting colors (original) - Sculptura...
Aluminum
Lobmeyr Met Chandelier
By Hans Harald Rath
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Swarovski strass hand cut crystal. Nickel polished rod and canopy. Vienna Austria Designed by Hans Harald Rath in 1963
Crystal, Nickel
A Vintage Pair of Large Chrome and Crystal Kinkeldey Sconces
Located in Astoria, NY
A large vintage pair of Kinkeldey sconces with clear faceted crystals and chrome mounts. Reduced from: $2,850
Chrome
1950's Atomic Flying Saucer Lamp by Esther Lighting Co.
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A petite atomic flying saucer accent lamp from Australia, made by the Esther Lighting Company, circa 1950's. Cone shaped black and metallic red base is topped with an adjustable whit...
Metal
Australian 1960s Replica of Corona Pendant Light by Jo Hammerborg
By Jo Hammerborg
Located in Melbourne, AU
Jo Hammerborg's beautiful cone shaped Corona pendant was produced by Fog and Mørup in Denmark in 1963. Someone at that time in Australia took a liking to the design and had it reprod...
Steel, Aluminum
Sold
H 29.73 in Dm 14.97 in
Pair of Mid-20th Century Bendigo Pottery Table Lamps with Period Textured Shades
By Bendigo Potters
Located in Ettalong Beach, NSW
Extra large, odd couple pair of mid-20th century, water dispenser style table lamps, by renowned Australian potters, Bendigo Pottery, established 1958. Original and amazing, peri...
Pottery
Sold
H 10.63 in W 5.91 in D 4.73 in
'Firefly' Brass and Perforated Metal Wall Sconce by Daydream, Australia, 1950s
By Daydream Production
Located in Melbourne, AU
A restored, collectable Daydream wall light. The 'Firefly' model, as you can see in original advertising included with these images. The light has been professionally stripped and ...
Brass, Sheet Metal
Sold
H 16.93 in Dm 34.26 in
Brown Evans and Co. 'BECO' Copper Chandelier for Anatol Kagan, Melbourne 1950s
By Donald Brown
Located in Melbourne, AU
Cabinet de Luxe salvaged all these lights from the refit of a Mid-Century Modern home in Caulfield, Melbourne. 380 Glen Eira Road Caulfield was designed by Russian emigre architect A...
Copper
Brown Evans and Co. 'BECO' Pull Down Pendant Light, Melbourne, 1950s
By Donald Brown
Located in Melbourne, AU
This fabulous original BECO pull-down makes ideal lighting over a desk, a kitchen bench or any area needing flexible task lighting. BECO pull-downs are rare in any condition - th...
Aluminum
Brown Evans and Co 'BECO' Wall Sconce Melbourne, 1950s
By Donald Brown
Located in Melbourne, AU
They are in superb condition, fully restored and rewired. Australian collectors and Mid-Century home owners will be familiar with the difficulty of finding BECO lighting, let alo...
Aluminum
Brown Evans and Co 'BECO' Wall Lights Melbourne, 1950s
By Donald Brown
Located in Melbourne, AU
Serious Mid-Century Australian home renovators will be interested in these and in further listings of BECO lighting over the coming weeks, some of them extremely rare individual arch...
Aluminum
Sold
H 13.78 in W 11.82 in L 13.78 in
Brown Evans and Co. 'BECO' Copper Wall Sconces for Anatol Kagan, Melbourne 1950s
By Donald Brown
Located in Melbourne, AU
Cabinet de Luxe salvaged all these lights from the re-fit of a Mid-Century Modern home in Caulfield, Melbourne. 380 Glen Eira Road is featured in Modernist Australia website's featur...
Brass, Copper
Joe Colombo Kartell Mid Century KD27 Table Light
By Kartell, Joe Colombo
Located in Pymble, NSW
A joe Colombo designed Kartell KD27 orange plastic table light with pull switch c.1970. This light was in production from 1967-81. In lovely condition.
Plastic
Custom Listing for Bethany Fortitude Valley Job, QLD, Australia
By Stilnovo
Located in New York, NY
Two sconces composed of curved bottom cone and straight top cone identical in shape to the sample image provided (first photo), attached in the middle with a brass coupling. Straight...
Aluminum, Brass, Enamel
Brown Evans and Co. 'BECO' Ceiling Mounted Reflector, Melbourne, 1950s
By Donald Brown
Located in Melbourne, AU
This feather-light ceiling fixture or reflector is a sweet Mid-Century number with some lovely period details - brass fittings, scalloped edges and a grand scale and proportion. It p...
Aluminum, Brass
Kartell KD29 Desk Light Joe Colombo circa 1970 Purple
By Joe Colombo, Kartell
Located in Pymble, NSW
Classic Space Age designed table lamp by Joe Colombo for Kartell and licensed manufactured by Advance Industries, Australia. The KD29 table lamp is made entirely of plastic and ha...
Plastic
Huge Hand Decorated Ellis Pottery Ceramic Lamp Melbourne, 1960s
By Dagmar and Miloslav Kratochvil
Located in Melbourne, AU
A rare example of Ellis pottery on a grand scale. It has a monumental quality, reminiscent of a lighthouse. Ellis Ceramics was set up in 1953 by Dagma and Miloslav Kratochvil, o...
Earthenware
Andrew Halford Pottery Table Lamp, circa 1975
By Andrew Halford
Located in Pymble, NSW
Andrew Halford (1953) trained with Shigeo Shiga in his Sydney workshop at Terrey Hills from 1968-1969 and with Les Blakebrough at the Sturt Pottery, Mittagong, from 1971-1972. After ...
Pottery
Kartell Joe Colombo KD29 Green Light Italy, circa 1970
By Joe Colombo, Kartell
Located in Pymble, NSW
Classic space age designed green table lamp by Joe Colombo for Kartell and licensed manufacture by Advance Industries Australia. The KD29 table lamp is made entirely of plastic an...
Plastic
French Ceramic Table Lamp, Black Glazed, Organic Form, 1950s Design
By Peter and Denise Orlando, Pol Chambost, Roger Capron, Georges Jouve
Located in SOTTEVILLE-LÈS-ROUEN, FR
Exceptional French ceramic table lamp, circa 1950s, featuring a rare and beautifully sculpted organic form in deep black glazed ceramic. The highly sensual silhouette, articulated b...
Ceramic
$3,405
H 17 in Dm 20 in
Joe 501 Original Tailored Classic Detailed Handmade Ceiling Light by Wende Reid
By Wende Reid
Located in Chatswood, NSW
Joe Ceiling Lights are inspired by my father's mid-century Mark Cross cuff link box. The geometric shape works with any contemporary, mid-century or art deco decor. We use Italian a...
Brass
$5,327 / item
H 39.77 in Dm 20.48 in
Tulip 520 Organic Minimal Belgian LInen & Brass Pendant Light by Wende Reid
By Wende Reid
Located in Chatswood, NSW
Tulip 520 Pendant, handmade to order, is a 21sst century organic modern timeless design. Tulip 520 is inspired by nature with a modern geometric reference to both the Gothic and Art...
Brass, Copper
$4,585Sale Price|20% Off
H 29.73 in Dm 10.24 in
Rare Max Ingrand Mod. 0556/B ceiling lamp for Fontana Arte, Italy 1960's
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in Milan, IT
Rare Max Ingrand Mod. 0556/B ceiling lamp for Fontana Arte
Brass
Scandinavian Flushmount Ceiling Lamp, 1950s
Located in Oslo, NO
Wonderful and sublime ceiling lamp with a shade in opaline glass and frame in brass. Designed and made in Norway, from circa 1950s first half by Sønnico. The lamp is fully working an...
Brass
$5,050 / item
H 14.18 in W 47.25 in D 8.67 in
Horizon Pendant by Wende Reid original minimal large handmade flush or suspended
By Wende Reid
Located in Chatswood, NSW
Horizon Pendant is a minimal, elegant, versatile, flush mount or suspended 3 light pendant. This subtle minimal statement light is designed and handcrafted one piece at a time in Aus...
Brass
$3,840 / item
H 18.51 in Dm 25.2 in
Joe 640 Classic Linen, Brass, 20th Century Modern Ceiling Light by Wende Reid
By Wende Reid
Located in Chatswood, NSW
This classic, tailored, double ceiling lamp, is inspired by old Hollywood and menswear, reminiscent of the 1940s and the early simplicity of Art Deco and 20th Century Modern. Its cle...
Brass
Finnish Mid-Century Flush Mount Ceiling Light with Brass Detail, 1960s
Located in Kangasala, FI
Elegant Finnish flush mount ceiling light dating from the 1960s, featuring a beautifully sculptural shade with a delicate radiating texture and a central brass detail. The shade cre...
Brass
Lumen Milano Midcentury Italian Pendant Lamp
By Lumen
Located in CA, CA
Lumen Milano midcentury Italian pendant lamp, circa 1950. Lacquered metal pendant light with a suspended dish indented with inserted brass circles and semi opaque glass lenses that d...
Metal
Black Mid Century Ceramic Table Lamp
Located in Saint-Ouen, IDF
Mid century table lamp made of painted ceramic, with a twisted motif circling the base.
Ceramic
Fabio Lenci Pendant Lamp
By Fabio Lenci, Guzzini
Located in South Charleston, WV
Italy 1960's signed made in Italy. An uncommon model from Fabio Lenci for Guzzini. Provides an unexpected glow of illumination above the center line of the sphere through refraction ...
Steel
$4,126
H 21.66 in W 14.97 in D 11.82 in
Sculptural Black Ceramic Table Lamp in the Manner of Georges Jouve, France, 1950
By Georges Jouve
Located in Antwerp, Antwerp
Sculptural French table lamp from the 1950s, featuring an abstract ceramic base in a deep matte black finish. The freely modeled form is characteristic of the artistic ceramic moveme...
Ceramic, Linen
Honsel German 1970 Flush Ceiling Lamp Space Age Mid Century
By Honsel
Located in New York, NY
A great 1970s space age dark satin brass flush ceiling lamp by a German lighting maker, Honsel. Original label. Excellent condition never used, vintage dead stock. 11 candelabra e12 ...
Brass
Large Hans-Agne Jakobsson Fringes Ceiling Lamp Model T615, 1960s
By Hans-Agne Jakobsson
Located in Stockholm, SE
Large and rare model with white/ivory colored fringes, produced by Hans-Agne Jakobsson, Markaryd, Sweden, 1960s.
Metal
Stilnovo Mid-Century Modern Pendant
By Stilnovo
Located in Weesp, NL
Mid-Century Modern Stilnovo pendant. Late 1960s white enameled pendant designed by Joe Colombo for Stilnovo. The pendant is in perfect working order and in great condition with minor...
Metal
Model 2364 Pendant Light by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Model 2364 Pendant Light by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte, Italy, 1960s This pendant, model 2364 by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte, reflects the designer's gift for pairing architectur...
Aluminum, Brass
$974 / item
H 8.67 in W 7.88 in D 9.45 in
Italian Sconces Stilnovo Style, Brass and 20 cm Diam Glass, Mid-Century Design
By Stilnovo, Gino Sarfatti
Located in Bochum, NRW
Mid-century design wall lights in the style of Stilnovo. A stylish combination of brass & opaline glass! These wall lights look amazing when lit and are a superb example of the f...
Brass
$888 / item
H 11.03 in W 5.91 in D 33.86 in
Pair of Articulated Sconce Mid-Century Modern Solid Brass Black and White
By Stilnovo, Arredoluce, Gino Sarfatti
Located in Tavarnelle val di Pesa, Florence
This exquisite sconce is a nod to the timeless pieces crafted by mid-century modern Italian studios Arteluce and Stilnovo in the 1950s, but with a unique and distinctive design that ...
Metal, Aluminum, Brass
Finnish Design Chandelier in Brass, Teak and Glass, Finland 1970s
By Valinte Oy
Located in Helsinki, FI
A beautiful and delicate Finnish mid-century ceiling lamp attributed to Valinte, circa the 1970s. As one of the leading lighting manufacturers in Finland, Valinte was known for its h...
Brass, Metal
LUread FS Sconces 'Black' by Lumfardo Luminaires
By Lumfardo Luminaires
Located in Inglewood, CA
A foldable and swing version of our original Lumfardo Luminaires LUread Sconces with a foldable and swingable articulated arm to allow for more variance in light direction. Made from...
Aluminum, Brass
$320 / item
H 2.75 in W 6.29 in D 2.36 in
Ardium Mini Shell Mid Century Style Brass Casting Wall Sconce
Located in İstiklal, TR
ARDIUM Mini Brass Wall Sconce, a timeless lighting fixture designed to add elegance and sophistication to any space. Crafted from heavy brass, this sconce features a G9 socket that i...
Brass
$550 / item
H 5.52 in W 4.73 in D 6.3 in
Italian Sconces Stilnovo Style, Brass and 12 cm Diam Glass, Mid-Century Design
By Gino Sarfatti, Stilnovo
Located in Bochum, NRW
Mid-century design wall lights in the style of Stilnovo. Dimensions: 12 cm width Backplate: 7.5 cm diameter (on request 10 cm available) A stylish combination of brass & opaline...
Brass
$3,209 / item
H 31.5 in Dm 47.25 in
Orbitale Brass Chandelier 3 Rotating Balanced Arms, 120 cm 48 inches diameter
By Silvio Piattelli, Stilnovo
Located in Tavarnelle val di Pesa, Florence
This superb bespoke brass chandelier features three rotating arms skillfully balanced on a heavy cast brass sphere that rotate in an orbital movement along the stem. To achieve perfe...
Metal, Brass
2-head Green Brass Single Small Wall Lamp, 1950s, Italy
Located in Hagenbach, DE
2-head Green Brass Single Small Wall Lamp, 1950s, Italy Lampshade is in very good vintage condition. This lamp works with 2x E14 light bulbs. Wired and suitable to use with 220V a...
Brass, Metal
Stilnovo Brass And Glass Chandelier, 1950s
By Stilnovo
Located in Vienna, AT
Large Stilnovo chandelier from the 1950s. Polished brass structure (partially patinated in a darker hue) with large satin glass diffusers and brass finials Very nice original conditi...
Brass
LU Tailpipe Sconce
By Lumfardo Luminaires
Located in Inglewood, CA
LU Tailpipe sconce is a classic all brass sconce in aged patina brass by Lumfardo Luminiares. Inspired by 1950s Italian midcentury design, this sconce is ideal for vanity mirrors or ...
Brass
Italian Brass Colored Wall Lights
By Pier Giulio Magistretti
Located in Buzzò, Emilia-Romagna
Made in exclusive for an hotel in Salsomaggiore, is all in brass, very elegant and perfect proportion, the quality is top level for thickness of the brass and way of construction, lo...
Brass
$3,349 / item
H 12.6 in W 28.35 in D 36.23 in
Nido, Flush Mount Brass and Glass Chandelier 8 Arms, Low Ceiling Best, Free Ship
By Silvio Piattelli, Stilnovo
Located in Tavarnelle val di Pesa, Florence
This chandelier is specifically designed for low ceilings, with a height of only 13 inches (32 cm). The arms and shade holders are made of brass, while the central part is made of me...
Metal, Brass
1950s Italian Brass and Multicolor Glass Chandelier
Located in Rome, IT
Italian mid-century chandelier from the 1950s defined by a playful and sculptural composition combining brass and multicolored glass elements. The structure is entirely made of brass...
Metal, Brass
UNO SHADE Sconce / Flush Mount by Fabio Ltd
By Fabio Ltd.
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Italian flush mount with Murano glass shade and brass frame / Made in Italy Designed by Fabio Ltd, inspired by Angelo Lelli and Arredoluce styles 1 light / E12 or E14 type / max 40W ...
Brass
$2,340 / item
H 32.6 in W 20 in D 32.6 in
Large Pierre Guariche 'G25' Articulating Wall Lamp for Sammode Studio
By Sammode, Pierre Guariche
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Large Pierre Guariche 'G25' articulating wall lamp for Sammode Studio. Originally designed by Pierre Guariche, this iconic wall lamp is newly produced in an authorized re-edition b...
Brass, Aluminum, Steel
$13,018 / item
H 16.54 in Dm 27.56 in
Cosmic 'Rust Pendant 70' Artisan Handmade Rust Patinated Brass Ceiling Light
By Eva Menz for Atelier001
Located in London, England
Two finely hand-spun brass plates make up this pendant light, finished in a mixed rust patina to create this unique appearance. Light is projected into the shade before reflecting ou...
Brass
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 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.
The right table lamp, outwardly sculptural chandelier or understated wall pendant can work wonders for your home. While we’re indebted to thinkers like Thomas Edison for critically important advancements in lighting and electricity, we’re still finding new ways to customize illumination to fit our personal spaces all these years later. A wide range of antique and vintage lighting can be found on 1stDibs.
Today, lighting designers like the self-taught Bec Brittain have used the flexible structure of LEDs to craft glamorous solutions by working with what is typically considered a harsh lighting source. By integrating glass and mirrors, reflection can be used to soften the glow from LEDs and warmly welcome light into any space.
Although contemporary innovators continue to impress, some of the classics can’t be beat.
Just as gazing at the stars allows you to glimpse the universe’s past, vintage chandeliers like those designed by Gino Sarfatti and J. & L. Lobmeyr, for example, put on a similarly stunning show, each with a rich story to tell.
As dazzling as it is, the Arco lamp, on the other hand, prioritizes functionality — it’s wholly mobile, no drilling required. Designed in 1962 by architect-product designers Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, the piece takes the traditional form of a streetlamp and creates an elegant, arching floor fixture for at-home use.
There is no shortage of modernist lighting similarly prized by collectors and casual enthusiasts alike — there are Art Deco table lamps created in a universally appreciated style, the Tripod floor lamp by T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings, Greta Magnusson Grossman's sleek and minimalist Grasshopper lamps and, of course, the wealth of mid-century experimental lighting that emerged from Italian artisans at Arredoluce, FLOS and many more are hallmarks in illumination innovation.
With decades of design evolution behind it, home lighting is no longer just practical. Crystalline shaping by designers like Gabriel Scott turns every lighting apparatus into a luxury accessory. A new installation doesn’t merely showcase a space; carefully chosen ceiling lights, table lamps and floor lamps can create a mood, spotlight a favorite piece or highlight your unique personality.
The sparkle that your space has been missing is waiting for you amid the growing collection of antique, vintage and contemporary lighting for sale on 1stDibs.
The alluring pendant light exemplifies the designer’s winsome mid-career work.
Patrizio Chiarparini of Brooklyn’s Duplex gallery sheds light on the lasting legacy of Italy’s postwar furniture boom.
There are many lessons to be learned from the lofts, apartments and townhouses of architects and decorators in Manhattan and beyond.
Having created extravagant homes for reality TV’s biggest stars, the designer is stepping into the spotlight with his first book.
The Louisiana-born and -bred architect talks to 1stdibs about the art of making timeless places that matter.
The Palm Springs interior decorator developed a mid-century style that defined the vacation homes of celebrities and other notables, including Bob Hope and Lucille Ball.
The houses from this New York studio cloak modernist tendencies within what are often more traditional trappings.
In the market for a fantastic fixture from the 1940s, ’50s or ’60s? Here are some names to know.