1930s Antique Hotel Page Automaton
Located in Berghuelen, DE
1930s Antique Hotel Page Automaton An antique hotel page automaton manufactured by P. Stokvis, Den
Category
Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Metal
Automaton Modern
Vintage French Musical Automaton Clown Doll, Porcelain Head & Hands, 1950s
$725
H 13.5 in W 5.88 in D 5.75 in
Vintage French Musical Automaton Clown Doll, Porcelain Head & Hands, 1950s
Located in Miami, FL
Vintage French Musical Automaton Clown Doll, Porcelain Head & Hands, 1950s, French 1950s Musical
Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Toys and Dolls
Materials
Porcelain, Textile
Recent Sales
Michel Marcu Mid-20th Century Tightrope Walker Automaton Figure
Located in London, GB
Michel Marcu Mid-20th Century Tightrope Walker Automaton Figure An unworking automaton example by
Category
Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Toys and Dolls
Materials
Metal
Mid-20th Century Charles Dickens Museum Automaton Figure
Located in London, GB
Mid-20th century Charles Dickens Museum Automaton figure Recently obtained from the Charles
Category
Vintage 1960s British Mid-Century Modern Mobiles and Kinetic Sculptures
Materials
Silk, Rubber
Mid-20th Century trio of fairground automaton amusement cat figures
Located in London, GB
Mid-20th Century trio of fairground automaton amusement cat figures A set of 3 unusual mid-20th
Category
Vintage 1950s British Mid-Century Modern Carnival Art
Materials
Metal
Custom Restored Tandem Sling by Eames for Herman Miller, Red Edelman Leather
Sold
H 34 in W 47 in D 25 in
Custom Restored Tandem Sling by Eames for Herman Miller, Red Edelman Leather
By Herman Miller, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Los Angeles, CA
forces with Automaton Furnishings Co to breath new life unto these classics by refurbishing the original
Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Benches
Materials
Aluminum
Adorable and Therapeutic Musical Clown Automaton Figure/Toy
Located in Miami, FL
A fine quality therapeutic musical automaton clown toy in wonderful vintage condition. Features
Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Toys and Dolls
Materials
Metal
Coke Drinking Tin Plate and Plush Automaton Teddy Bear
Located in Little Burstead, Essex
A beautiful early Japanese battery operated tin plate and plush bear. The tin plate base is in the form of half a log seat with images of squirrels on each end, and battery compartm...
Category
Vintage 1960s Japanese Mid-Century Modern More Furniture and Collectibles
Materials
Tin
Automaton, Hand Cranked Miniature Signed Stage Model, Opera Aida, Hand-Painted
Sold
H 9.5 in W 13.25 in D 3 in
Automaton, Hand Cranked Miniature Signed Stage Model, Opera Aida, Hand-Painted
By Frank Pancho Gates
Located in Vero Beach, FL
Vintage very rare and unique artistic animated opera stage model. Opera lovers are in for a rare treat. This is an artistically crafted wooden model of a set for Act II of AIDA (per...
Category
Late 20th Century American Modern Models and Miniatures
Materials
Wood, Paint
Eames for Herman Miller Tandem Sling Bench in Red Edelman Leather
By Herman Miller, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Los Angeles, CA
chair is iconic and has never before been redone with such luxury in mind. Automaton Iconic Furniture
Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Materials
Aluminum
Rare Shield Back Armchairs by Vladimir Kagan for Kagan-Dreyfuss, c. 1959, Signed
Sold
H 36.5 in W 24.5 in D 23.5 in
Rare Shield Back Armchairs by Vladimir Kagan for Kagan-Dreyfuss, c. 1959, Signed
By Vladimir Kagan, Kagan-Dreyfuss, Inc.
Located in Los Angeles, CA
"Automaton Kagan Shield" to find the other listing on 1stDibs or contact us for a link. These incredible
Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Materials
Leather, Walnut
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Fossilised Skull of Prehistoric Marine Reptile the Mosasaur, 70Million Years Ago
$34,077
H 6.3 in W 15.75 in D 5.91 in
Fossilised Skull of Prehistoric Marine Reptile the Mosasaur, 70Million Years Ago
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Upper Cretaceous, about 70-65 million years ago (Maastrichtian) Morocco The skull is reconstructed in good proportions with fossil pieces found in a phosphate mine in Morocco. I att...
Category
Antique 15th Century and Earlier African Natural Specimens
Materials
Bone
1 BANGA space age micro architecture prefab house bungalow by Carlo Zappa, 1971
$164,512
H 110.24 in W 127.56 in D 127.56 in
1 BANGA space age micro architecture prefab house bungalow by Carlo Zappa, 1971
By Carlo Zappa
Located in Frankfurt am Main, DE
here we offer one of 2 bangas, with black interior. the second one with light grey interior is offered in another listing. a banga shows ways in which we could live more sustainably...
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Space Age Architectural Elements
Materials
Fiberglass
Italian 17th Century Mannequin
Located in Round Top, TX
A very beautiful 17th century articulating Mannequin from the Veneto region of Italy. Beautifully carved from polychromed wood with very handsome features. Mannequins such as this ...
Category
Antique 17th Century Italian Religious Items
Materials
Wood
Portrait of Lady Caroline Price
By George Romney
Located in Miami, FL
DESCRIPTION: Perhaps the best Romney in private hands. If Vogue Magazine existed in the late 18th century, this image of Lady Caroline Price would be on one of its covers. The e...
Category
1970s Old Masters Portrait Paintings
Materials
Oil, Canvas
Bird Cage Jugendstil, Art Nouveau, Liberty, Year: 1900, France
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
Bird Cage, Art Nouveau Year: 1900 Country: French Material: Iron It is an elegant and sophisticated bird cage. We have specialized in the sale of Art Deco and Art Nouveau styles s...
Category
Antique Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Bird Cages
Materials
Iron
L'hymne du Roi David (King David's Dream)
By Marc Chagall
Located in Boca Raton, FL
L'hymne du Roi David (King David's Dream) Oil on wood by Marc Chagall c late 70's Comes with Numbered and Verified Certificate of Authenticity from Comite Chagall in Paris signed and...
Category
1970s Abstract Expressionist Landscape Paintings
Materials
Oil
Exquisite Rotunda Structure Kiosk Copper & Carved Stone Bench Seating Columns
$290,000
H 136 in Dm 108 in
Exquisite Rotunda Structure Kiosk Copper & Carved Stone Bench Seating Columns
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Exquisite Rotunda Structure Kiosk Copper & Carved Stone Bench Seating Columns . Monumental Exquisite refined work King Charles X Period Rotunda rotundus building structure with a...
Category
Antique Early 19th Century French Charles X Architectural Elements
Materials
Stone, Copper
Exceptional 19th Century English Chinoiserie Pagoda Display Cabinet
$187,500
H 102 in W 84.5 in D 22.5 in
Exceptional 19th Century English Chinoiserie Pagoda Display Cabinet
Located in Houston, TX
Large-scale 19th century English display cabinet executed in the Chinoiserie tradition. Constructed in carved mahogany and conceived as a tripartite architectural façade, each glazed...
Category
Antique 19th Century English Chinese Chippendale Vitrines
Materials
Glass, Mahogany
Antique Pharmacy Cabinet, Walnut Bookcases and Glass Doors with Sign, '800 Italy
$61,104Sale Price|20% Off
H 104.34 in W 153.55 in D 19.69 in
Antique Pharmacy Cabinet, Walnut Bookcases and Glass Doors with Sign, '800 Italy
Located in Cuneo, Italy (CN)
Complete antique pharmacy cabinet, with 3 open bookcases on the sides, 1 bookcase with drawers and 2 original doors with glass and enameled mirror sign. Built in the mid-19th century...
Category
Antique 19th Century Italian Apothecary Cabinets
Materials
Glass, Walnut
Large Mid 1800s Zinc Automaton Elephant
Located in Peekskill, NY
175 years ago this was created as a fountain that worked on water and counter weights. The elephant can now be plugged in and runs on dry land using a motor, cables and gears. The he...
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century American Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Metal
Selection of eight restored 19th C Neo-Gothic Stained-Glass Windows
$111,633 / set
H 64.18 in W 28.75 in D 0.79 in
Selection of eight restored 19th C Neo-Gothic Stained-Glass Windows
Located in Leuven , BE
The Color Experience: Stained-glass windows “Color is a power which directly influences the soul” (Wassili Kandinsky, Moskou 1866 – Neuilly-sur-Seine, 1944) “Color! What a deep a...
Category
Antique 19th Century Belgian Gothic Revival Windows
Materials
Art Glass, Stained Glass
Automaton Singing Birds
Located in Norwich, GB
Automaton Singing birds Automaton singing birds housed in a gilded case standing on a stepped gilded base. Three articulated singing birds standing on a green base with l...
Category
Vintage 1950s British Musical Instruments
Materials
Brass
Early 20th Century Folk Art Fairground Elephant
Located in London, GB
Early 20th Century Folk Art Fairground Elephant We share what we love, and we love this charming and naively formed early 20th century hand craved fairground ride figure. With a de...
Category
Vintage 1920s British Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Wood
19th Century French Nautical Musical Automaton, circa 1860
Located in Nantucket, MA
Antique French Nautical Automaton, likely from Marseilles, circa 1860, a glass domed diorama with windmills and cottages on hillside, overlooking harbor with ship rocking on waves to...
Category
Antique 1860s French Folk Art Models and Miniatures
Materials
Clay, Glass, Paper
Large Collection of Carousel Figures, Popeye, Donald Duck, Mickey Mouse...
$1,175,090
H 48.43 in W 48.43 in D 48.43 in
Large Collection of Carousel Figures, Popeye, Donald Duck, Mickey Mouse...
Located in Mortsel, BE
Large private collection of carousel animals, please send message when questions.
Category
Early 20th Century Carnival Art
Materials
Wood
Architectural Models Arms, Armor and Weapons Aviation Objects Books Collectible
$1,300
H 10.63 in Dm 6.5 in
Architectural Models Arms, Armor and Weapons Aviation Objects Books Collectible
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
Antique French cage with singing automaton bird This vintage French songbird mechanical automaton is a beautiful collectible that will add charm to any room. Made in France, it dates...
Category
Antique 19th Century French Belle Époque Toys and Dolls
Materials
Metal
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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.
Read More
How Top Designers Are Using Mid-Century Chairs in Today’s Interiors
Modern icons are showing up in gracefully layered dining nooks, living rooms and lounges — proof that great design only gets better with context.
A Basket-Weave Pattern Adds Country Charm to Paolo Buffa’s Elegant Cabinet
With its grid-like doors and wavy trim, the 1940s design feels as fresh as ever.
This Paavo Tynell Chandelier Is a Radiant Bouquet
The alluring pendant light exemplifies the designer’s winsome mid-career work.
End Your Quest for Fire with This Handmade Majolica Chimney
Prehistoric motifs give the mid-century Italian fireplace an elemental feel.
Who Were Guillerme et Chambron? French Veterans of WWII with a Knack for Clever, Quirky and Livable Furniture
Their charming solid-oak pieces offer homes utility and comfort.
39 Incredible Swimming Pools
It's hard to resist the allure of a beautiful pool. So, go ahead and daydream about whiling away your summer in paradise.
The 21 Most Popular Mid-Century Modern Chairs
You know the designs, now get the stories about how they came to be.
Iconic Furniture Makes This 1958 Midwestern Home a True Mid-Century Gem
Designer Susan Yeley turned to 1stDibs to outfit an Indiana home with standout pieces that complement its modernist style.
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