Cocoon pendant lamp, 1960
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Cocoon pendant lamp, 1960
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Plastic
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Italian Cocoon Pendant, 1960s
$3,063 / item
Italian Cocoon Pendant, 1960s
By Flos, Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Located in Vienna, AT
Rare Italian cocoon pendant from the 1960s. Custom design for a Hotel in Madonna di Campiglio, which included additional cocoon lamps by Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni.
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Steel
Lovely Cocoon Pendant Lamp
By Achille Castiglioni, George Nelson, Aloys F. Gangkofner, Flos, Kaare Klint
Located in München, DE
Very nice Cocoon pendant lamp from the 1950s. Wonderful and contemporary design.
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Metal
1960s Italian Cocoon Pendant Light
By Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Incredible cocoon pendant light in the style of Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni from Italy, 1960s.
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Brass
Italian Ribbed Cocoon Pendant, 1960s
Located in Chicago, IL
A 1960s Italian cocoon pendant featuring a metal frame and a “cocoon” sprayed resin shade, mimicking the look of goatskin parchment.
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Metal
Hans Bergström Triple Cocoon Pendant, 1950s
By Ateljé Lyktan, Hans Bergström
Located in Vienna, AT
Rare tripple cocoon pendant or chandelier by Hans Bergström from the 1950s.
Category
Vintage 1950s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Brass
Italian Orange Cocoon Pendant, 1960s
Located in Chicago, IL
An Italian cocoon pendant from the 1960s. Suspended from a slender stem, the fixture is constructed around a metal frame enveloped in a sprayed resin shade, forming a softly ribbed s...
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Metal
Cocoon Pendant Lamp by Goldkant, 1960s, Germany
By Goldkant Leuchten
Located in Hagenbach, DE
Cocoon Pendant Lamp by Goldkant, 1960s, Germany Lampshade is in very good vintage condition.
Category
Vintage 1960s German Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Resin
Cocoon Pendant Lamp by Goldkant, 1960s, Germany
By Goldkant Leuchten
Located in Hagenbach, DE
Cocoon pendant lamp by Goldkant, 1960s, Germany Lampshade is in very good vintage condition.
Category
Vintage 1960s German Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Resin
Bamboo and Cocoon Pendant Lamp, 1960s, Germany
Located in Hagenbach, DE
Bamboo and Cocoon Pendant Lamp, 1960s, Germany Minimal and natural design Very high quality.
Category
Vintage 1960s German Space Age Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Bamboo, Resin
Vintage Style Cocoon Pendant Light.
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This evocative vintage style cocoon pendant light features a soft, enveloping silhouette formed by a plastic polymer shade draped over an internal wire frame, creating an organic, co...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers an...
Materials
Wire
Italian Dark Ochre Cocoon Pendant, 1960s
Located in Chicago, IL
An Italian cocoon pendant from the 1960s, defined by its spherical form and softly ribbed surface.
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Metal
Italian Spherical Ochre Cocoon Pendant Light, 1960s
Located in Chicago, IL
A rare 1960s Italian cocoon pendant featuring a metal frame and a 'cocoon' sprayed resin shade, mimicking the look of goatskin parchment in a soft ochre hue.
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Metal
Mid-Century Cocoon Pendant Light by Goldkant, 1980s
By Goldkant Leuchten
Located in Morazzone, Varese
Mid-Century Cocoon Pendant Light by Goldkant, 1980s Modern ball-shaped pendant lamp with trendy cocoon made of resin, manufactured in Germany in the 1980s by Goldkant.
Category
Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Metal
Mid-Century Modern Cocoon Pendant Lamp by Achille Castiglioni, Italy , 1960s
By Achille Castiglioni
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Modern Cocoon Pendant Lamp by Achille Castiglioni,Italy, 1960s
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Resin
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
Flower Design Cocoon Pendant Lamp by Goldkant, 1960s, Germany
By Goldkant Leuchten
Located in Hagenbach, DE
Flower Design Cocoon Pendant Lamp by Goldkant, 1960s, Germany Lampshade is in very good vintage condition.
Category
Vintage 1960s German Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Resin
Trumpet Design Italian Large Cocoon Pendant Lamp, 1960s, Italy
Located in Hagenbach, DE
Trumpet Design Italian Large Cocoon Pendant Lamp, 1960s, Italy Lampshade is in very good vintage condition.
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Resin
Cocoon Pendant Lamp by Tobia Scarpa for Flos, 1960s, Italy
By Tobia Scarpa, Flos
Located in Hagenbach, DE
Cocoon Pendant Lamp by Tobia Scarpa for Flos, 1960s, Italy Lampshade is in very good vintage condition.
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Resin
Mid-Century Modern German Cocoon Pendant Lamp Friedel Wauer Goldkant 1960s
By Friedel Wauer, Goldkant Leuchten
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Modern German Cocoon Pendant Lamp by Friedel Wauer for Goldkant Leuchten, 1960s Mid Century Cocoon pendant lamp by Goldkant Leuchten, based on a design by Friedel Wauer ...
Category
Vintage 1960s German Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Metal
Mid-Century Modern German Cocoon Pendant Lamp Friedel Wauer Goldkant 1960s
By Goldkant Leuchten, Friedel Wauer
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Modern German Cocoon Pendant Lamp by Friedel Wauer for Goldkant Leuchten, 1960s Mid Century Cocoon pendant lamp by Goldkant Leuchten, based on a design by Friedel Wauer ...
Category
Vintage 1960s German Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Metal
Large Mid-Century Cocoon Pendant Lamp by Castiglioni for Hille, Italy, 60s
By Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Achille Castiglioni
Located in Lucija, SI
Stunning Large Mid Century round Cocoon Pendant Lamp Designed by Achille Castiglioni and produced by Hille in Italy in the 60s
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Metal
Large Veined Beige Cocoon Pendant Lamp Designed by Castiglioni for Hille, 60s
By Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Hille
Located in Lucija, SI
Stunning Large Mid Century round Cocoon Pendant Lamp Designed by Achille Castiglioni and produced by Hille in Italy in the 60s
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Metal
Mid-Century Modern Rare Pear Shaped Cocoon Pendant Lamp, 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-century modern Cocoon pendant lamp from the 1960s. Here in a rare form.
Category
20th Century Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Metal
Mid Century Modern Cocoon Pendant Lamp, Germany, 1960
Located in München, DE
Large Mid-Century Modern Cocoon Pendant Lamp. Made in Germany. Beautiful minimalist design from the 1950s, shaped like a dome.
Category
Vintage 1960s German Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Metal
Mid-Century Modern Flower Shape 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 Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Resin
Mid-Century "Cocoon" Pendant Light by Friedel Wauer for Goldkant Leuchten, 1960s
Located in Morazzone, Varese
Mid-Century "Cocoon" Pendant Light by Friedel Wauer for Goldkant Leuchten, 1960s Gorgeous German "Cocoon" pendant light.
Category
Vintage 1960s German Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Metal
Pair of Italian Designer Cocoon Pendant lights original from the 1960s
By Achille Castiglioni, Goldkant Leuchten
Located in Morazzone, Varese
Pair of Italian Designer Cocoon Pendant lights original from the 1960s Gorgeous and rare pair of cocoon pendant lights, original back from the 1960s.
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Metal
Mid-Century German Cocoon Pendant Lamp from Goldkant Leuchten, 1960s
By Goldkant Leuchten
Located in Hamburg, DE
Rare mid-century Cocoon pendant lamp by Goldkant Leuchten. The Cocoon shade provides diffuse, atmospheric light.
Category
20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Metal
Cocoon Pendant Lamp by Goldkant with Grey Metal Top, 1960s, Germany
By Goldkant Leuchten
Located in Hagenbach, DE
Cocoon Pendant Lamp by Goldkant with Grey Metal top, 1960s, Germany Lampshade is in very good vintage condition.
Category
Vintage 1960s German Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Resin
Cocoon Pendant Lamp, Fabric with Red Threads, Vintage Lighting, 1970s
Located in Hannover, DE
We are thrilled to introduce a one-of-a-kind Cocoon pendant lamp from the 1960s to 1970s. The design and extra-large fabric border are a rare find.
Category
Vintage 1970s German Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Metal
Cocoon Pendant Lamp with Gold Metal Shade Frame by Goldkant, 1960s, Germany
By Goldkant Leuchten
Located in Hagenbach, DE
Cocoon Pendant Lamp with Gold Metal Shade Frame by Goldkant, 1960s, Germany Lampshade is in very good vintage condition.
Category
Vintage 1960s German Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Metal
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
Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni for Flos Cocoon Pendant Light
By Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Flos
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
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
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.
Category
20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Metal
Mid-Century Modern German Orsa Cocoon Pendant Lamp Friedel Wauer Goldkant
By Goldkant Leuchten, Friedel Wauer
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Cocoon pendant lamp 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
Mid-Century Modern German Cocoon Pendant Lamp Friedel Wauer Goldkant, 1960s
By Friedel Wauer, Goldkant Leuchten
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid Century Cocoon pendant lamp 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
Mid-Century Modern German Cocoon Pendant Lamp Friedel Wauer Goldkant, 1960s
By Goldkant Leuchten, Friedel Wauer
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid Century Cocoon pendant lamp 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
Mid-Century Modern German Cocoon Pendant Lamp Friedel Wauer Goldkant, 1960s
By Goldkant Leuchten, Friedel Wauer
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid Century Cocoon pendant lamp 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
Mid-Century Modern German Cocoon Pendant Lamp Friedel Wauer Goldkant, 1960s
By Goldkant Leuchten, Friedel Wauer
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Cocoon pendant lamp 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 light by Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni for Flos - 1960s
By Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Located in Uccle, Bruxelles
Magnificent Cocoon pendant light designed by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni for Flos in the 1960s.
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Resin
Mid-Century Modern German Cocoon Pendant Lamp Friedel Wauer Goldkant, 1960s
By Goldkant Leuchten, Friedel Wauer
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Modern Cocoon pendant lamp 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
Mid-Century Modern German Cocoon Pendant Lamp Friedel Wauer Goldkant, 1960s
By Goldkant Leuchten, Friedel Wauer
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Modern Cocoon pendant lamp 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
Mid-Century Modern German Cocoon Pendant Lamp Friedel Wauer Goldkant, 1960s
By Goldkant Leuchten, Friedel Wauer
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Modern Cocoon pendant lamp 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
Beautiful small 1960s Cocoon pendant lamp in very good vintage condition
Located in München, BY
Beautiful small 1960s Cocoon pendant lamp in very good original vintage condition.
Category
Vintage 1960s German Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Metal
Mid-Century Modern German Cocoon Pendant Lamp Friedel Wauer Goldkant, 1960s
By Goldkant Leuchten, Friedel Wauer
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid Century Cocoon pendant lamp 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
Mid-Century Modern German Cocoon Pendant Lamp Friedel Wauer Goldkant, 1960s
By Friedel Wauer, Goldkant Leuchten
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid Century Cocoon pendant lamp 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
Mid-Century Modern German Cocoon Pendant Lamp Friedel Wauer Goldkant, 1960s
By Goldkant Leuchten, Friedel Wauer
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid Century Cocoon pendant lamp 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
Mid-Century Modern German Nybro Cocoon Pendant Lamp Friedel Wauer Goldkant
By Goldkant Leuchten, Friedel Wauer
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-century Cocoon pendant lamp 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
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.
Category
20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Metal
Mid-Century Modern German Cocoon Pendant Lamp Friedel Wauer Goldkant, 1960s
By Friedel Wauer, Goldkant Leuchten
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Modern Cocoon pendant lamp 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
Mid-century cocoon pendant lamp, Achille Castiglioni, Italy 1960s
By Achille Castiglioni
Located in Miklavž Pri Taboru, SI
Rare Cocoon pendant lamp with Teak made in Italy in the 1960s.
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Plastic
Mid-century cocoon pendant lamp, Achille Castiglioni, Italy 1960s
By Achille Castiglioni
Located in Miklavž Pri Taboru, SI
Rare Cocoon pendant lamp with Teak made in Italy in the 1960s.
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Plastic
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.
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
Mid-Century Modern German Cocoon Pendant Lamp by Friedel Wauer for Goldkant
By Goldkant Leuchten, Friedel Wauer
Located in Hamburg, DE
Rare 4-piece Cocoon pendant lamp by Goldkant Leuchten, based on a design by Friedel Wauer from the 1960s.
Category
20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Metal
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Cocoon Pendant For Sale on 1stDibs
At 1stDibs, there are many versions of the ideal cocoon pendant for your home. Each cocoon pendant for sale was constructed with extraordinary care, often using organic material, resin and metal. There are 142 variations of the antique or vintage cocoon pendant you’re looking for, while we also have 8 modern editions of this piece to choose from as well. There are many kinds of the cocoon pendant you’re looking for, from those produced as long ago as the 20th Century to those made as recently as the 21st Century. A cocoon pendant, designed in the Mid-Century Modern, Modern or Scandinavian Modern style, is generally a popular piece of furniture. Many designers have produced at least one well-made cocoon pendant over the years, but those crafted by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Achille Castiglioni and Flos are often thought to be among the most beautiful.
How Much is a Cocoon Pendant?
The average selling price for a cocoon pendant at 1stDibs is $1,472, while they’re typically $258 on the low end and $11,144 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.
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.
Read More
This Paavo Tynell Chandelier Is a Radiant Bouquet
The alluring pendant light exemplifies the designer’s winsome mid-career work.
Why Is Italy Such a Hotbed of Cool Design?
Patrizio Chiarparini of Brooklyn’s Duplex gallery sheds light on the lasting legacy of Italy’s postwar furniture boom.
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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Dior 2002
Vintage Cocoon Coat
Vintage Cazal
Large Round Midcentury Chair
Pig Resin
Scandinavian Wall Tile
Scheurich 284
Scheurich Drip
Sculpture Of Blacksmith
Sculpture Of South Africa
Seagull Sculpture Bronze
Seattle Vintage Furniture
Second Empire Table
Seguso Pheasant
Seguso Ribbed Vase
Sendai Tansu
Servant Bell
Set Of Gold Spoons