Dining table by Fred Ruf for Wohnbedarf Switzerland 1955
By Wohnbedarf, Fred Ruf
Located in Renens, CH
In 1955, Swiss designer Fred Ruf designed this minimalist dining table for Wohnbedarf Switzerland.
Wood
Wall Unit Bookcase by Knoll International designed by Fred Ruf, 1950s
By Knoll, Fred Ruf
Located in Rosendahl, DE
Wall Unit by Knoll International designed by Fred Ruf, 1950s A rare wall-mounted shelving unit designed by Fred Ruf and produced by Knoll International, Stuttgart, in the 1950s.
Formica, Walnut
Fred Ruf - Knoll International - Storage System 2731
By Fred Ruf
Located in Munich, DE
Fred Ruf (Swiss) Large Wall mounted Storage System produced by Knoll International , Modell 2731.
Aluminum
Sold
H 28.94 in W 59.45 in D 35.44 in
Fred Ruf Extendable Dining Table Model 413 Knoll International Teak
By Fred Ruf, Knoll
Located in Telgte, DE
Fred Ruf extendable dining table model 413 Knoll International teak Dining table with one inlay, large format.
Steel
Fred Ruf Daybed, 1950s
By Fred Ruf
Located in Geneva, CH
1950s daybed by Fred Ruf produced by Wohnbedarf, Switzerland, circa 1950 Birch wood.
Birch
Sold
H 86.62 in W 157.49 in D 17.72 in
Rare Wall Unit by Knoll International designed by Fred Ruf, Walnut, 1950s
By Knoll, Fred Ruf
Located in Rosendahl, DE
Wall Unit by Knoll International designed by Fred Ruf, 1950s Rare shelf designed by Fred Ruf.
Aluminum
Amazing Midcentury Daybed Sofa by Fred Ruf Wohnbedarf, 1950
By Fred Ruf, Wohnbedarf
Located in Morbio Inferiore, CH
Iconic 1950s daybed by Fred Ruf produced by Wohnbedarf Zürich, Switzerland, circa 1950 New mattress and new cushions covered in velvet in blue lagoon color Structure in birch woo...
Metal
Daybed by Fred Ruf, 1951, Swiss Mid-Century Modern Design Sofa
By Fred Ruf
Located in Berlin, DE
An adoreable daybed by Fred Ruf. Black lacquered wood frame construction with applied disk, including strained suspension, legs in chromed steel tube, head and foot made of mapl...
Sold
H 86.62 in W 183.08 in D 16.93 in
Large Wall Unit by Knoll International Designed by Fred Ruf, 1950s
By Knoll, Fred Ruf
Located in Munster, NRW
Wall unit by Fred Ruf. Manufactured by Knoll International, Stuttgart.
Sold
H 15.75 in W 78.75 in D 39.38 in
Amazing Mid-Century Daybed Sofa by Fred Ruf 1950s with Teddy Bear Fur Upholstery
By Dieter Waeckerlin, Fred Ruf, Wohnbedarf
Located in Hamminkeln, DE
Beautiful Swiss made daybed by Fred Ruf, designed in 1951 for Wohnbedarf AG Switzerland.
Metal
Folke Ohlsson Dining Table for DUX
By Folke Ohlsson, Dux of Sweden
Located in Oak Harbor, OH
Designer: Folke Ohlsson. Manufacturer: DUX. Period and model: Mid-Century Modern. Specifications: Teak. Condition: These Folke Ohlsson dining table for DUX is in very good v...
Teak
Italian Wall Unit, 1950s
Located in bruxelles, BE
Modular wall unit with 5 shelves, 2 boxes with 2 doors containing one shelf and one box with 2 drawers and one box with a folding door that contains a drawer and a shelf. Wear due to...
Metal, Brass
$5,484
H 104.34 in W 37.01 in D 17.72 in
Italian Mid Century Wall unit Bookcase with Cabinet Bar, 1960s
Located in Traversetolo, IT
Stylish wall unit bookcase in a pleasant walnut wood with warm tones, great executive quality and attention to detail, the refined line of the lateral black metal supports made up of...
Brass, Iron
Mid Century Dining Table by Robsjohn Gibbings for Widdicomb
By Widdicomb Furniture Co., T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings
Located in New York, NY
Iconic Mid Century dining table designed by Robsjohn Gibbings for Widdicomb. This example is in very good, original condition, showing only light wear consistent with age. Specifical...
Ash
$3,713
H 76.78 in W 74.81 in D 10.24 in
Friso Kramer Modular Shelving System for De Bijenkorf, Asmeta, 1953
By Friso Kramer, Asmeta
Located in Beerse, VAN
Designed by Friso Kramer in 1953, this modular shelving system was manufactured by Asmeta Holland. It was created for the Dutch department store De Bijenkorf, one of the Netherlands’...
Metal
$1,542
H 59.06 in W 33.86 in D 13.78 in
Danish Vintage Reol Shelve Wall Unit by Kai Kristiansen for Fm Møbler, 1960s
By Kai Kristiansen, FM Møbler
Located in Breda, Netherlands
Meet a true icon of Danish modern: the reol (shelving) system by Kai Kristiansen. Clean lines, clever proportions, and that effortless Scandinavian cool—this modular system is everyt...
Rosewood
Mid-Century Modern Wall Unit by Vittorio Dassi, Italy, 1960s
By Vittorio Dassi
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Modern wall unit by Vittorio Dassi, Italy, 1960s.
Wood
Wall System by Kai Kristiansen for FM Møbler, 1960s, Set of 9
By FM Møbler, Kai Kristiansen
Located in Rødekro, DK
A commanding and complete three-bay teak wall shelving system by Kai Kristiansen, produced by Feldballes Møbelfabrik (FM Møbler), Denmark, in the 1960s — one of the most sought-after...
Teak
$11,198
H 118.12 in W 98.43 in D 11.82 in
rare bookcase designed "css" model by george nelson for herman miller 1060
By George Nelson
Located in taranto, IT
Rare Sky/Earth modular bookcase model "CSS", designed by George Nelson for Herman Miller, 1960 composed of five height-adjustable aluminium uprights, 10 shelves, two wooden upper com...
Aluminum
Kai Kristiansen Wall Unit for FM Møbler, 1960s
By Kai Kristiansen, FM Møbler
Located in Puslinch, ON
Condition: Great Vintage Condition Dimensions: 68.75” L x 11” D x 79.5” H Description: A vintage oak wall unit by Kai Kristiansen for FM Møbler. Freshly imported from Denmark. Comp...
Metal
$2,320Sale Price|20% Off
H 28.5 in W 101 in D 39.5 in
Arne Vodder George Tanier Siebart Mobler Extendable Dining Table
By George Tanier, Arne Vodder
Located in Pasadena, TX
Arne Vodder for George Tanier Siebart Mobler extendable dining table. Early production teak Arne Vodder dining table, manufactured by SIbast, Denmark and distributed by George Tanie...
Teak
$6,741
H 78.75 in W 141.74 in D 15.75 in
Large Olof Pira wall unit with cupboards, desk and shelves, 1970s
By Olof Pira
Located in Zevenaar, NL
Large Olof Pira wall unit with secretaire desk and 2 cupboard units with sliding doors together with 16 shelves. This system was made in the 1970s for Plan Mobel. All units have a ...
Steel
Umberto Mascagni Dining Table
By Umberto Mascagni
Located in Hanover, MA
Handsome Italian modern dining table produced in Italy mid-1950's. by Umberto Mascagni of Bologna and imported to the UK by I. Barget Ltd. then retailed through Harrods among other s...
Aluminum, Brass
$1,371
H 28.35 in W 61.03 in D 41.34 in
Extendable TB05 dining table by Cees Braakman for Pastoe, The Netherlands 1950's
By Cees Braakman, Pastoe
Located in Steenwijk, NL
This dining table, model TB05, was designed by Cees Braakman for Pastoe in the 1950's. It is a table for 4 that can be extended to seat 6 persons. The table has a birch veneered ...
Birch, Plywood
$4,600
H 72.75 in W 11.75 in D 17.5 in
Umbo Modular Shelving Unit by Kay LeRoy Ruggles for Directional
By Kay Leroy Ruggles, Directional
Located in Chicago, IL
c. 1970s. USA. Modular shelving unit with gorgeous sun fading.
Plastic
$95,550Sale Price|25% Off
H 114.18 in W 157.49 in D 17.72 in
Bookshelf by Joaquim Tenreiro, Brazilian Midcentury, 1960s
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in New York, NY
A prolific and gifted designer, Joaquim Tenreiro (1906–1992) masterfully laid the groundwork for modern living in Brazil through his furniture and interiors. Born in Portugal and tra...
Wood, Hardwood
$4,900 / item
H 34 in W 86 in D 42 in
Custom Made Modern English Arm Sofa in Performance Linen Velvet - 86"
By Bloom Home Inc
Located in Old Town Orange, CA
This beautiful english arm sofa has a modern twist, with its single bench cushion, and beautiful curved apron sides. It’s upholstered in a Linen Velvet Performance fabric. Shown in...
Linen, Velvet
Rosso Glass Wall Mirror
By Specchi Veneziani
Located in Milan, IT
Crafted in the finest Murano tradition, this exquisite Venetian mirror is a true work of art. Assembled with crystal and gold elements, and adorned with red glass flowers, each piece...
Glass
$3,000
H 91.5 in W 26.5 in D 13 in
1970s B&B Italia Olinto Lacquered Cabinet w/ Glass Shelving by Kazuhide Takahama
By B&B Italia, Kazuhide Takahama
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a tall, lacquered wood Olinto cabinet with glass doors, designed in the 1970s by Japanese architect Kazuhide Takahama for B&B Italia. Takahama's collection featured a series ...
Steel, Aluminum
$1,676 / item
H 15.75 in Dm 43.31 in
Contemporary Art Deco Mint green and Red powder coated Carousel 5 arms pendant
By Mambo Unlimited Ideas
Located in Lisbon, PT
Carousel suspension lamp has a delicate balance of form and function that produces a quiet, modern light ambiance for all to savour, with its Contemporary Art Deco lines. The struct...
Metal
$3,920Sale Price|20% Off
H 76 in W 59.5 in D 19 in
Mid Century Paul McCobb Calvin Irwin Collection Shelf Bookshelf Room Divider
By Paul McCobb, Calvin Furniture
Located in New York, NY
Rare Mid Century sideboard, shelf unit, room divider, designed by Paul McCobb as part of the sought after Irwin Collection series for Calvin, circa 1950’s. This example features ble...
Brass
Paolo Buffa, Walnut Mid-Century Daybed, Italy 1940s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Argelato, BO
Paolo Buffa (1903-1970) Rare and very elegant wooden daybed Varnished walnut and fabric Model created circa 1940 H 58 × L 205 × W 95 cm Paolo Buffa was an Italian furniture des...
Velvet, Walnut
$88,500
H 56.5 in W 193 in D 45.625 in
Sculptural Wall-Mounted Teak Console in the Style of Ico Parisi, Italy
By Ico Parisi
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An extraordinary and rare Mid-Century wall-mounted teak console, exquisitely crafted and evocative of the visionary work of Italian designer Ico Parisi. Strikingly sculptural and hig...
Steel
$4,457
H 96.86 in W 65.36 in D 18.12 in
Midcentury George Nelson Omni Herman Miller Modular Shelving System Walnut 1950s
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in Sherborne, Dorset
This is a rare American ‘Omni’ modular freestanding shelving system in walnut and aluminium, designed by George Nelson in 1952 and manufactured by Herman Miller, America. The shelvi...
Metal, Aluminum
$3,950 / item
H 28.75 in W 94.89 in D 30.32 in
Carlo Scarpa Orseolo Dining Table for Cassina, Lacquered Aluminum
By Cassina, Carlo Scarpa
Located in Berlin, DE
Price is dependent on the chosen material and size. Available sizes: 241x77 240x92 280x92 FASTENERS: Cast satin finish aluminum. FRAME TOP: MDF boards covered with a coat of mirr...
Aluminum
Ate Van Apeldoorn King Size Pine Platform Bed Frame, 1960s
By Houtwerk Hattem
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Solid pine platform bed frame by Dutch designer Ate Van Apeldoorn, sized for a European king mattress at 68 x 78.5 inches. The frame is built from thick-cut solid pine planks with pr...
Pine
Geometric Mid Century Open Bookcase
Located in Westwood, NJ
Finished in Batavia Black with a Sandbar finish interior, this bookcase showcases rhythmic, crescent-shaped oval cut-outs that form an architectural silhouette—an homage to the sculp...
Wood
$18,500
H 95.5 in W 129.25 in D 18.5 in
Comprehensive Storage System by George Nelson for Herman Miller
By Herman Miller, George Nelson
Located in Dallas, TX
Early production 'CSS" - Comprehensive Storage System designed by George Nelson for Herman Miller, 1959. This system is in excellent condition with the early Herman Miller lable cons...
Aluminum
$5,484
H 118.12 in W 28.75 in D 30.71 in
Osvaldo Borsani E22 Double Sided Freestanding Wall Unit for Tecno, Italy, 1950s
By Osvaldo Borsani, Tecno
Located in Chiavari, Liguria
This double-sided freestanding E22 bookcase is a rare and peculiar example of Borsani's innovative design and the Tecno manufacturing expertise. Its construction of metal, wood, and ...
Metal
$5,942
H 28.35 in W 70.08 in D 38.59 in
Le Bambole sofa in velvet By Mario Bellini For B&B Italia, 1970s
By Mario Bellini, B&B Italia
Located in ABCOUDE, UT
Beautiful Le Bambole sofa in coral/pink coloured velvet designed by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia in the 1970s. This beautiful edition is reupholstered in a high quality cotton velve...
Velvet
$57,135
H 64.57 in W 37.8 in D 15.75 in
Midcentury Modern Unique Cabinet by Axel Einar Hjorth, Sweden, 1930s
By Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
Unique bar cabinet by Axel Einar Hjorth, in a strikingly decorative design with elegant details. Made from mahogany with floral motif inlays in birch and rosewood. Lighting inside. M...
Mahogany
Vintage Dining Table in Italian Wood, 1950s
Located in Milano, IT
Beautiful wooden dining table made in Italy in 1950. The wooden dining table has a nice rectangular top, the legs are slightly curved outwards. The top of the dining table is covere...
Laminate, Wood
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.