Cocoon pendant lamp by Goldkant Leuchten, Germany, 1960s
By Goldkant Leuchten
Located in Tokyo, Tokyo
This pendant lamp features a cocoon-style spherical shade made of resin.
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Vintage 1960s German Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Fabric
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Mid-Century Round Cocoon Pendant Lamp, 1960s, Italy
By Achille Castiglioni
Located in Hagenbach, DE
This is a cocoon hanging lamp crafted in Italy during the 1960s, showcasing the elegance and innovation of mid-century Italian design. The lamp features a strikingly beautiful round ...
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Resin
Mid-Century Modern Saucer Cocoon Pendant Lamp, 1960s
By George Nelson
Located in Hagenbach, DE
This saucer-shaped cocoon ceiling lamp from the 1960s exudes timeless elegance and vintage charm. Its cocoon material, characteristic of mid-century modern design, has developed a be...
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Resin
Mid-Century Modern Saucer Cocoon Pendant Lamp, 1960s
By George Nelson
Located in Hagenbach, DE
A cocoon hanging lamp made In the 1960s. The material of the lamp is resin. Dimensions:: height: 22 cm - 40 cm The light requires one E27 light bulb. Works with both 120/220V....
Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Resin
Mid-Century Round Cocoon Pendant Lamp, 1960s, Italy
By Achille Castiglioni
Located in Hagenbach, DE
A cocoon hanging lamp made in Italy in the 1960s. It has a beautiful round design, which is similar to the lamps made by Castiglioni. Measures: Height: 33-55 cm Diameter: 35 cm Th...
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Resin
Mid-Century German Cocoon Pendant Lamp from Goldkant Leuchten
By Goldkant Leuchten
Located in KUTNO, PL
The Cocoon ceiling lamp by Goldkant Leuchten is a masterpiece of modernist design from the 1960s and 1970s, designed by Friedel Wauer. Made of a metal frame surrounded by an innovati...
Category
Vintage 1960s Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Metal
Nylon Cocoon Pendant Lamp, Mid-Century Modern, 1970s Germany
Located in Hannover, DE
This one-of-a-kind pendant lamp is from the 1970s and is made of flexible nylon fabric. The lamp has a lovely look, and its fringes are somewhat reminiscent of Hans Agne Jacobsen's d...
Category
Vintage 1970s German Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Metal
Mid-Century German Cocoon Pendant Lamp from Goldkant Lighting
Located in Hamburg, DE
Rare Mid Century Cocoon pendant light from Goldkant lights. The flat cocoon screen supplies diffused, atmospheric light. At the same time, the symmetrical luminaire body is staged a...
Category
20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Metal
Goldkant Cocoon Pendant Lamp by Friedel Wauer, Germany, 1960s
By Friedel Wauer, Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Located in Niederdorfelden, Hessen
Losange shaped cocoon lamp designed by Friedel Wauer for Goldkant Leuchten, Germany. The lamp is made of a unique polymer sprayed on to a metal frame, to give a cocoon effect. Meas...
Category
Vintage 1960s German Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Resin
Goldkant Bell Shaped Cocoon Pendant Lamp with Colored Fibers 1970s
By Goldkant Leuchten
Located in Nienstädt, DE
Goldkant Cocoon Space Age pendant light Cocoon shade with some reddish-brown fibers Rare model Diameter 51cm Height 40 cm + 80 cm cord 1 x E26 / E27 socket Good condition
Category
Vintage 1970s German Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Metal
Mid-Century German Cocoon Pendant Lamp from Goldkant Leuchten, 1960s
By Goldkant Leuchten
Located in Aachen, NRW
Rare Mid-Century Modern Cocoon Pendant Light by Goldkant Leuchten, Germany, 1960s An exceptional example of mid-century lighting design, this sculptural pendant lamp was produced by...
Category
Vintage 1960s German Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Metal
Mid-Century German Cocoon Pendant Lamp from Goldkant Leuchten, 1960s
By Goldkant Leuchten
Located in Aachen, NRW
Rare Mid-Century Modern Cocoon Pendant Light by Goldkant Leuchten, Germany, 1960s An exceptional example of mid-century lighting design, this sculptural pendant lamp was produced by...
Category
Vintage 1960s German Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Metal
Vintage Cocoon Pendant Lamp by Achille Castiglioni, Italy ca. 1960s
By Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Located in Geneva, CH
Beautiful resin and metal lamp This ceiling lamp was designed and produced by Castiglioni, Italy in 1960. It features a dandelion or cocoon shade shape. The lamp remains in a good vi...
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Metal
Mid-Century German Cocoon Pendant Lamp from Goldkant Leuchten, 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Rare Mid Century Cocoon pendant light from Goldkant shine. An impressive light object with a cubic basic shape and soft turns. The cocoon umbrella delivers diffuse, atmospheric li...
Category
20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Metal
Mid-Century German Cocoon Pendant Lamp from Goldkant Leuchten, Wuppertal
By Goldkant Leuchten
Located in Hamburg, DE
Very rare Mid Century Cocoon pendant light from Goldkant lights. An imposing light object that convinces with its clear geometry. This geometric design is rarely under the prevailin...
Category
Vintage 1960s German Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Metal
Mid-Century Modern Cocoon Pendant Lamp by Goldkant, 1960s, Germany
By Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Located in Hagenbach, DE
A cocoon hanging lamp made by the german brand Goldkant in the 1960s. It has a beautiful cylinder shape, which gives an extraordinary light. The light requires one E27 light bulb....
Category
Vintage 1960s German Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Synthetic
Mid-Century Modern Wooden Cocoon Pendant Lamp, Europe, 1960s Design
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-century wooden pendulum. The lamp body forms a finely executed rib structure, which is covered from the inside with a translucent material. Parallel rings in the middle are nail...
Category
20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Wood
Cocoon Pendant Lamp by Friedel Wauer for Goldkant Leuchten, Germany 1960s
By Goldkant Leuchten
Located in Miklavž Pri Taboru, SI
The Cocoon Ceiling Lamp, designed by Friedel Wauer for Goldkant Leuchten in Germany in the 1960s, is a significant example of lighting design from that era. The history of Cocoon lam...
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Plastic
Mid-Century Modern German Cocoon Pendant Lamp Friedel Wauer Goldkant 1960s
By Goldkant Leuchten, Friedel Wauer
Located in Hamburg, DE
Rare mid-century Cocoon pendant light by Goldkant Leuchten, based on a design by Friedel Wauer from the 1960s.
Category
Vintage 1960s German Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Metal
Cocoon Pendant Lamp in the style of Tobia Scarpa, Italy 1960s
By Tobia Scarpa
Located in New York, NY
A substantial Cocoon hanging lamp in the style of Tobia Scarpa. The lamp is comprised of a curved wire frame and is enveloped in a translucent layer of resin, casting a warm and invi...
Category
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Metal
German Mid Century Double Swirl Cocoon Pendant Lamp Friedel Wauer Goldkant 1960s
By Goldkant Leuchten, Friedel Wauer
Located in Nienstädt, DE
German mid-century Cocoon pendant light by Friedel Wauer for Goldkant 1960s Elegant design Double Twisted design Beautiful cocoon structure diameter 42cm height 36cm cable length 10...
Category
Vintage 1960s German Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Metal
Mid-Century German Cocoon Pendant Lamp by Friedel Wauer for Goldkant, 1960s
By Friedel Wauer
Located in Hamburg, DE
Rare mid-century cocoon pendant light from goldkant after a design by friedel wauer from the 1960s.
Category
20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Metal
German mid-century Swirl Cocoon pendant lamp by Friedel Wauer for Goldkant 1960s
By Goldkant Leuchten, Friedel Wauer
Located in Nienstädt, DE
German mid-century Cocoon pendant light by Friedel Wauer for Goldkant 1960s Elegant design Twisted design Beautiful cocoon structure diameter 42cm height 36cm cable length 100cm E26...
Category
Vintage 1960s German Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Metal
Set of 2 Mid-Century German Cocoon Pendant Lamps by Friedel Wauer, Goldkant
By Friedel Wauer
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-century cocoon pendant lights from goldkant after a design by friedel wauer from the 1960s.
Category
20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Metal
1 of 2 Space Age Cocoon pendant lamp in the style of Castiglioni, Italy, 1970s
$2,194Sale Price / item|20% Off
1 of 2 Space Age Cocoon pendant lamp in the style of Castiglioni, Italy, 1970s
By Friedel Wauer, Achille Castiglioni, George Nelson, Tobia Scarpa, Estiluz Lighting
Located in SANT ADRIÀ DE BESÒS, ES
Very much in the style also of Tobia Scarpa’s iconic “Nuvola” pendant lamp for Flos. Collectible item. The Cocoon material was invented after World War II to protect unarmed warshi...
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Metal
Midcentury Cocoon Losange Pendant Light, 1960s, Italy
By Achille Castiglioni
Located in Hagenbach, DE
A losange cocoon pendant lamp made in Italy in the 1960s. The hanging lamp has a design similar to the lightings made by Achille Castiglioni.
Category
Vintage 1960s European Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Synthetic
Mid-Century Modern Cocoon Pendant Light, 1960s, Italy
By Achille Castiglioni
Located in Hagenbach, DE
A cocoon pendant lamp made in Italy in the 1960s. The hanging lamp has been manufactured in the design of the lamps made by Achille Castiglioni.
Category
Vintage 1960s European Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Resin
Midcentury Cocoon Losange Shape Pendant Light, 1960s, Italy
By Friedel Wauer
Located in Hagenbach, DE
A cocoon pendant lamp made Friedel Wauer in Germany in the 1960s.
Category
Vintage 1960s German Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Resin
Cocoon Flower Pendant Lamp Attributed To Goldkant Friedel Brauer
By Charlotte Wawer, Goldkant Leuchten
Located in Hannover, DE
This Cocoon pendant lamp is uniquely beautiful in its elegant and timeless design.
Category
Vintage 1960s German Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Metal
Mid-Century Modern Cocoon Pendant Light Orsa from Goldkant, Germany 1960s
By Goldkant Leuchten
Located in München, BY
A cocoon pendant lamp made by Goldkant, model "Orsa", Germany in the 1960s.
Category
Vintage 1960s German Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Metal
Italian "Cocoon" Table lamp, resin and pine wood, 1970's
Located in BARCELONA, ES
We specialize in vintage lighting, with particular expertise in rare mid-century cocoon wall lights, cocoon pendant lamps, and the iconic cocoon technique designs.
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Resin, Pine
Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni for Flos Cocoon Pendant Light
By Flos, Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Located in Byron Bay, NSW
One of their standout creations is the Cocoon Pendant lamp, which exemplifies mid-century modern design aesthetics.
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Metal
"Cocoon" suspension, resin and pine, Italy, 1970
Located in BARCELONA, ES
We specialize in vintage lighting, with particular expertise in rare mid-century cocoon wall lights, cocoon pendant lamps, and the iconic cocoon technique designs.
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Resin, Pine
Mid-century Round Cocoon Globe Pendant Light with Brass Detail, 1960s
Located in Steinheim am Albuch, BW
Gorgeous and timeless mid-century modern 'Cocoon' pendant lamp from the 1960s. The lamp features a round shade made of soft resin that envelops a metal frame and has a beautiful vint...
Category
Mid-20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Metal, Brass
Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni Flos Cocoon Pendant Light with Linen Fabric
Located in Byron Bay, NSW
One of their standout creations is the Cocoon Pendant lamp, which exemplifies mid-century modern design aesthetics.
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Resin
Exceptional 1970s Cocoon Globe Pendant Lamp Organic Sisal Structure Mid Century
Located in Hannover, DE
A truly exceptional and rare Mid-Century Modern cocoon pendant lamp from the 1970s, most likely manufactured in Germany.
Category
Vintage 1970s German Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Natural Fiber, Resin
Cacoon Pendant
$2,161
Cacoon Pendant
By Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Hille
Located in London, GB
Vintage Cocoon pendant lamp designed by Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni in the 1960s.
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Lanterns
Materials
Leather
Italian "Cocoon" wall light, 1970s
Located in BARCELONA, ES
We specialize in vintage lighting, with particular expertise in rare mid-century cocoon wall lights, cocoon pendant lamps, and the iconic cocoon technique designs.
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Metal
Italian Cocoon wall lamp, resin and pine, Circa 1970's
Located in BARCELONA, ES
We specialize in vintage lighting, with particular expertise in rare mid-century cocoon wall lights, cocoon pendant lamps, and the iconic cocoon technique designs.
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Resin, Pine
Cocoon wall lamp, resin and pine, Italy, Circa 1970's
Located in BARCELONA, ES
We specialize in vintage lighting, with particular expertise in rare mid-century cocoon wall lights, cocoon pendant lamps, and the iconic cocoon technique designs.
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Resin, Pine
Achille Castiglioni Mid-Century Beige Round "Cocoon" Pendant, Italy 1960s
By Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Located in Roma, IT
Stunning large round Mid-Century cocoon pendant lamp with a charming uniform beige patina.
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Metal, Steel
Pair of Italian "Cocoon" wall lights, 1970s
$2,799 / set
Pair of Italian "Cocoon" wall lights, 1970s
Located in BARCELONA, ES
We specialize in vintage lighting, with particular expertise in rare mid-century cocoon wall lights, cocoon pendant lamps, and the iconic cocoon technique designs.
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Metal
Italian "Cocoon" wall light, resin and pine wood, 1970s
Located in BARCELONA, ES
We specialize in vintage lighting, with particular expertise in rare mid-century cocoon wall lights, cocoon pendant lamps, and the iconic cocoon technique designs.
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Metal
Italian "Cocoon" wall light, resin and pine wood, 1970
Located in BARCELONA, ES
We specialize in vintage lighting, with particular expertise in rare mid-century cocoon wall lights, cocoon pendant lamps, and the iconic cocoon technique designs.
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Metal
Italian "Cocoon" wall light, resin and pine wood, 1970s
Located in BARCELONA, ES
We specialize in vintage lighting, with particular expertise in rare mid-century cocoon wall lights, cocoon pendant lamps, and the iconic cocoon technique designs.
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Metal
Italian articulated "Cocoon" wall light, resin and pine, 1970's
Located in BARCELONA, ES
We specialize in vintage lighting, with particular expertise in rare mid-century cocoon wall lights, cocoon pendant lamps, and the iconic cocoon technique designs.
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Metal
Italian "Cocoon" wall light, resin and pine wood, 1970's
Located in BARCELONA, ES
We specialize in vintage lighting, with particular expertise in rare mid-century cocoon wall lights, cocoon pendant lamps, and the iconic cocoon technique designs.
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Metal
"Cocoon" wall light in resin and pine, Italy, Circa 1970's
Located in BARCELONA, ES
We specialize in vintage lighting, with particular expertise in rare mid-century cocoon wall lights, cocoon pendant lamps, and the iconic cocoon technique designs.
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Resin, Pine
Pair of Italian "Cocoon" wall lights, resin and wood, 1970s
Located in BARCELONA, ES
We specialize in vintage lighting, with particular expertise in rare mid-century cocoon wall lights, cocoon pendant lamps, and the iconic cocoon technique designs.
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Resin, Wood
Pear-shaped "Cocoon" wall sconce, resin and pine wood, Italy, 1970's
Located in BARCELONA, ES
We specialize in vintage lighting, with particular expertise in rare mid-century cocoon wall lights, cocoon pendant lamps, and the iconic cocoon technique designs.
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Metal
Pair of "Cocoon" Wall Lights, Resin and Pine, Italy, 1970
Located in BARCELONA, ES
We specialize in vintage lighting, with particular expertise in rare mid-century cocoon lights, cocoon pendant lamps, and the iconic cocoon technique designs.Discover our curated col...
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Resin, Pine
Pair of Italian "Cocoon" wall lights, resin and pine wood, 1970
Located in BARCELONA, ES
We specialize in vintage lighting, with particular expertise in rare mid-century cocoon wall lights, cocoon pendant lamps, and the iconic cocoon technique designs.
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Metal
Pair of Italian "Cocoon" wall lights, resin and pine wood, 1970s
Located in BARCELONA, ES
We specialize in vintage lighting, with particular expertise in rare mid-century cocoon wall lights, cocoon pendant lamps, and the iconic cocoon technique designs.
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Metal
Italian "Cocoon" wall light, resin and pine wood, Circa 1970's
Located in BARCELONA, ES
We specialize in vintage lighting, with particular expertise in rare mid-century cocoon wall lights, cocoon pendant lamps, and the iconic cocoon technique designs.
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Metal
Pair of Italian "Cocoon" wall lights, resin and pine wood, 1970s
Located in BARCELONA, ES
We specialize in vintage lighting, with particular expertise in rare mid-century cocoon wall lights, cocoon pendant lamps, and the iconic cocoon technique designs.
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Metal
Cocoon hanging / pendant lamp , 1970s Germany
Located in Delft, NL
Cocoon hanging / pendant lamp , 1970s Germany
Category
Vintage 1970s European Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Plastic
Pair of Italian "Cocoon" wall lights, resin and pine wood, Circa 1970
Located in BARCELONA, ES
We specialize in vintage lighting, with particular expertise in rare mid-century cocoon wall lights, cocoon pendant lamps, and the iconic cocoon technique designs.
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Metal
Pair of Italian "Cocoon" wall lights, resin and pine wood, Circa 1970s
Located in BARCELONA, ES
We specialize in vintage lighting, with particular expertise in rare mid-century cocoon wall lights, cocoon pendant lamps, and the iconic cocoon technique designs.
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Metal
Pair of 1960s Cocoon Ceiling Lights or Sconces, Resin & Pine Wood, Italy
Located in BARCELONA, ES
We specialize in vintage lighting, with particular expertise in rare mid-century cocoon wall lights, cocoon pendant lamps, and the iconic cocoon technique designs.
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Flush Mount
Materials
Resin, Pine, Wood
Pair of Cocoon Flush Mount Lights, Resin Threads Over Metal, Italy, 1970s
Located in BARCELONA, ES
We specialize in vintage lighting, with particular expertise in rare mid-century cocoon wall lights, cocoon pendant lamps, and the iconic cocoon technique designs.
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Flush Mount
Materials
Resin, Pine
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Cocoon Pendant Lamp For Sale on 1stDibs
With a vast inventory of beautiful furniture at 1stDibs, we’ve got just the cocoon pendant lamp you’re looking for. Frequently made of organic material, resin and metal, every cocoon pendant lamp was constructed with great care. Whether you’re looking for an older or newer cocoon pendant lamp, there are earlier versions available from the 20th Century and newer variations made as recently as the 20th Century. A cocoon pendant lamp, designed in the Mid-Century Modern or Scandinavian Modern style, is generally a popular piece of furniture. Many designers have produced at least one well-made cocoon pendant lamp over the years, but those crafted by Achille Castiglioni, Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni and Ateljé Lyktan are often thought to be among the most beautiful.
How Much is a Cocoon Pendant Lamp?
Prices for a cocoon pendant lamp start at $258 and top out at $3,925 with the average selling for $1,092.
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.
Finding the Right Chandeliers-pendant-lights for You
Chandeliers — simple in form, inspired by candelabras and originally made of wood or iron — first made an appearance in early churches. For those wealthy enough to afford them for their homes in the medieval period, a chandelier's suspended lights likely exuded imminent danger, as lit candles served as the light source for fixtures of the era. Things have thankfully changed since then, and antique chandeliers and pendant lights are popular in many interiors today.
While gas lighting during the late 18th century represented an upgrade for chandeliers — and gas lamps would long inspire Danish architect and pioneering modernist lighting designer Poul Henningsen — it would eventually be replaced with the familiar electric lighting of today.
The key difference between a pendant light and a chandelier is that a pendant incorporates only a single bulb into its design. Don’t mistake this for simplicity, however. An Art Deco–styled homage to Sputnik from Murano glass artisans Giovanni Dalla Fina, with handcrafted decorative elements supported by a chrome frame, is just one stunning example of the elaborate engineering that can be incorporated into every component of a chandelier. (Note: there is more than one lighting fixture that shares its name with the iconic mid-century-era satellite — see Gino Sarfatti’s design too.)
Chandeliers have evolved over time, but their classic elegance has remained unchanged.
Not only will the right chandelier prove impressive in a given room, but it can also offer a certain sense of practicality. These fixtures can easily illuminate an entire space, while their elevated position prevents them from creating glare or straining one’s eyes.
Certain materials, like glass, can complement naturally lit settings without stealing the show. Brass, on the other hand, can introduce an alluring, warm glow. While LEDs have earned a bad reputation for their perceived harsh bluish lights and a loss of brightness over their life span, the right design choices can help harness their lighting potential and create the perfect mood. A careful approach to lighting can transform your room into a peaceful and cozy nook, ideal for napping, reading or working.
For midsize spaces, a wall light or sconce can pull the room together and get the lighting job done. Perforated steel rings underneath five bands of handspun aluminum support a rich diffusion of light within Alvar Aalto's Beehive pendant light, but if you’re looking to brighten a more modest room, perhaps a minimalist solution is what you’re after. The mid-century modern furniture designer Charlotte Perriand devised her CP-1 wall lamps in the 1960s, in which a repositioning of sheet-metal plates can redirect light as needed.
The versatility and variability of these lighting staples mean that, when it comes to finding something like the perfect chandelier, you’ll never be left hanging. From the natural world-inspired designs of the Art Nouveau era to the classic beauty of Paul Ferrante's fixtures, there is a style for every room.
With designs for pendant lights and chandeliers across eras, colors and materials, you’ll never run out of options to explore on 1stDibs — shop a collection today that includes antique Art Deco chandeliers, Stilnovo chandeliers, Baccarat chandeliers and more.
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The alluring pendant light exemplifies the designer’s winsome mid-career work.
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Patrizio Chiarparini of Brooklyn’s Duplex gallery sheds light on the lasting legacy of Italy’s postwar furniture boom.
See How New York City Designers Experiment on Their Own Homes
There are many lessons to be learned from the lofts, apartments and townhouses of architects and decorators in Manhattan and beyond.
Jeff Andrews Captures Old Hollywood Glamour in His Cinematic Spaces
Having created extravagant homes for reality TV’s biggest stars, the designer is stepping into the spotlight with his first book.
New Orleans’ Lee Ledbetter Makes Design Magic by Mixing Past and Present
The Louisiana-born and -bred architect talks to 1stdibs about the art of making timeless places that matter.
Desert Modern Designer Arthur Elrod Finally Gets His Day in the Sun
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.
From the Hamptons to Palm Springs, FormArch’s Homes Embody Both Comfort and Cool
The houses from this New York studio cloak modernist tendencies within what are often more traditional trappings.
8 Mid-Century Lighting Makers
In the market for a fantastic fixture from the 1940s, ’50s or ’60s? Here are some names to know.
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