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Mid Century Italian Glazed Ceramic Horse Bust
Mid Century Italian Glazed Ceramic Horse Bust

Mid Century Italian Glazed Ceramic Horse Bust

Located in Los Angeles, CA

echoing the elegance of classical equestrian art. Elegantly crafted in Italy during the mid-20th century

Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic

Italian Vintage Toy for Girl Carriage with Horse
Italian Vintage Toy for Girl Carriage with Horse

Italian Vintage Toy for Girl Carriage with Horse

By Italian school XX ct.

Located in Milano, IT

Nice vintage Italian toy of the 50's for girl, of Italian manufacture. The toy is a pretty carriage

Category

Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Games

Materials

Steel

Pair of Large Mid-Century Italian Travertine Horse Head Bookends
Pair of Large Mid-Century Italian Travertine Horse Head Bookends

Pair of Large Mid-Century Italian Travertine Horse Head Bookends

Located in San Diego, CA

Very stylish pair of large mid-century Italian travertine horse head bookends, circa 1970's. The

Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Travertine

Mid-Century Modern Horse Ceramic Sculpture by Aldo Londi, Italy, 1960
Mid-Century Modern Horse Ceramic Sculpture by Aldo Londi, Italy, 1960

Mid-Century Modern Horse Ceramic Sculpture by Aldo Londi, Italy, 1960

By Aldo Londi

Located in Brussels, BE

Mid-Century Modern Horse Ceramic Sculpture by Aldo Londi, Italy, 1960

Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic

Sculpture Pure Blood Horses Italian Design Ceramic Mid-Century Modern Race
Sculpture Pure Blood Horses Italian Design Ceramic Mid-Century Modern Race

Sculpture Pure Blood Horses Italian Design Ceramic Mid-Century Modern Race

Located in Palermo, Sicily

Sculpture of pure blood horses in Italian Corsa ceramic Mid-Century Modern design race.

Category

Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic

Mid-Century Italian Modern Bamboo and Rattan Rocking Horse Attributed to Albini
Mid-Century Italian Modern Bamboo and Rattan Rocking Horse Attributed to Albini

Mid-Century Italian Modern Bamboo and Rattan Rocking Horse Attributed to Albini

By Franco Albini

Located in Brooklyn, NY

Mid-century rocking horse, often attributed to France Albini, composed of a bamboo frame with woven

Category

Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Children's Furniture

Materials

Bamboo, Rattan

Whimsical Italian Hand Painted Horse Lamp Zaccagnini Marbro Mid-century Modern
Whimsical Italian Hand Painted Horse Lamp Zaccagnini Marbro Mid-century Modern

Whimsical Italian Hand Painted Horse Lamp Zaccagnini Marbro Mid-century Modern

By Marcello Fantoni

Located in Pemberton, NJ

Whimsical 1950's Italian ceramic hand painted horse lamp by Zaccagnini for Marbro Lamp Co. Lovely

Category

Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Ceramic

Pair of Mid-Century Italian Artistan Pottery Abstract Horse Head Table Lamps
Pair of Mid-Century Italian Artistan Pottery Abstract Horse Head Table Lamps

Pair of Mid-Century Italian Artistan Pottery Abstract Horse Head Table Lamps

By Aldo Londi, Raymor, Bitossi

Located in St. Louis, MO

Pair of possibly unique large Mid-Century Modern Artistan studio Italian colorful glazed ceramic

Category

Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Pottery

Mid-20th Century Italian Black Ceramic Rearing Horse Sculpture by Ugo Zaccagnini
Mid-20th Century Italian Black Ceramic Rearing Horse Sculpture by Ugo Zaccagnini

Mid-20th Century Italian Black Ceramic Rearing Horse Sculpture by Ugo Zaccagnini

By Urbano Zaccagnini, Ugo Zaccagnini, Figli E Zaccagnini

Located in North Miami, FL

Mid-20th century Modern italian glazed black ceramic rearing horse sculpture by Ugo Zaccagnini

Category

Vintage 1930s Italian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic, Paint

Mid-Century Italian Modern Bitossi Ceramic Blue Horse Pottery by Aldo Londi
Mid-Century Italian Modern Bitossi Ceramic Blue Horse Pottery by Aldo Londi

Mid-Century Italian Modern Bitossi Ceramic Blue Horse Pottery by Aldo Londi

By Aldo Londi, Bitossi

Located in Philadelphia, PA

A large and chic horse sculpture circa 1960s Aldo Londi for Bitossi. This piece features all glazed

Category

Vintage 1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic

Mid-Century Modern Italian Brass Horses and Marble bases Console Table, 1970s
Mid-Century Modern Italian Brass Horses and Marble bases Console Table, 1970s

Mid-Century Modern Italian Brass Horses and Marble bases Console Table, 1970s

Located in Puglia, Puglia

Beautiful console table depicting sculptures of a pair of rampant horses in solid brass, the bases

Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Console Tables

Materials

Marble, Brass

Mid-19th Century Handmade Rocking Horse Papier-Mâché Metal and Wood Italy 1840s
Mid-19th Century Handmade Rocking Horse Papier-Mâché Metal and Wood Italy 1840s

Mid-19th Century Handmade Rocking Horse Papier-Mâché Metal and Wood Italy 1840s

Located in Palermo, IT

Beautiful handmade rocking horse with metal rod frame covered with a painted and hand-decorated

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Italian Louis Philippe Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Metal

Giant italian rocking horse
Giant italian rocking horse

Giant italian rocking horse

Located in PAU, FR

Giant rocking horse from an italian sculptor of the 70’s Made With pine and rosewood, really Nice

Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Toys

Materials

Pine

Mid-Century Modern Industrial Vaulting Horse Bench, Green Metal & Black Leather
Mid-Century Modern Industrial Vaulting Horse Bench, Green Metal & Black Leather

Mid-Century Modern Industrial Vaulting Horse Bench, Green Metal & Black Leather

Located in Ceglie Messapica, IT

Mid-Century Modern Vaulting Horse Bench in Green Metal and Black Leatherette, Italy, 1970s Refined

Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sports Equipment and Memorabilia

Materials

Iron

Mid-Century Murano Glass Horse By Seguso With Silver Foil Label
Mid-Century Murano Glass Horse By Seguso With Silver Foil Label

Mid-Century Murano Glass Horse By Seguso With Silver Foil Label

By Archimede Seguso

Located in Torquay, GB

Mid-Century Murano glass horse with original silver foil label attributed to Archimede Seguso circa

Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Murano Glass

Vintage Italian Bronze Horse Sculpture
Vintage Italian Bronze Horse Sculpture

Vintage Italian Bronze Horse Sculpture

Located in London, GB

A stunning vintage Italian bronze horse sculpture, mounted on a marble base. This dates from around

Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Mid-century Culver "Wild Horses" or "Ming" pattern Ice Bucket Cooler
Mid-century Culver "Wild Horses" or "Ming" pattern Ice Bucket Cooler

Mid-century Culver "Wild Horses" or "Ming" pattern Ice Bucket Cooler

Located in Palm Springs, CA

Mid-century modern Culver "Wild Horses" or "Ming" pattern ice bucket. The glass features a smokey

Category

Vintage 1950s Italian Platters and Serveware

Materials

Brass

Vintage Mid-Century Modern Glazed Ceramic Prancing Horse Lamps - a Pair
Vintage Mid-Century Modern Glazed Ceramic Prancing Horse Lamps - a Pair

Vintage Mid-Century Modern Glazed Ceramic Prancing Horse Lamps - a Pair

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

A fantastic pair of vintage MCM table lamps. A chic period relief prancing horse in a fabulous hand

Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Ceramic

Wrought Iron Horse Andirons, Italian circa 1950
Wrought Iron Horse Andirons, Italian circa 1950

Wrought Iron Horse Andirons, Italian circa 1950

Located in CA, CA

A beautiful pair of Italian wrought Iron andirons in the form of horses.

Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Andirons

Materials

Brocade

Large Mid Century modern Figurune, Horses in porcelain by Aldo Tura , Milan
Large Mid Century modern Figurune, Horses in porcelain by Aldo Tura , Milan

Large Mid Century modern Figurune, Horses in porcelain by Aldo Tura , Milan

By Aldo Tura

Located in Vigonza, Padua

yellow. Tura is one of the Italian talents of the Mid-Century. In the post-war years, while many

Category

Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic

Italian Travertine Marble Horse Sculpture, Fratelli Mannelli, Italy, 1970s
Italian Travertine Marble Horse Sculpture, Fratelli Mannelli, Italy, 1970s

Italian Travertine Marble Horse Sculpture, Fratelli Mannelli, Italy, 1970s

By Fratelli Mannelli

Located in Roma, IT

Mid-century horse sculpture made in Italy in Travertine Marble, by Fratelli Mannelli. marvelous

Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Travertine, Marble

Vincenzo Nason Italian Murano Horse Head
Vincenzo Nason Italian Murano Horse Head

Vincenzo Nason Italian Murano Horse Head

By Vincenzo Nason & Cie

Located in Westport, CT

Vincenzo Nason Extra large Murano Glass horse head on black glass base circa 1989,worked for Venini

Category

Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Glass

Matching Pair of Handcarved Italian Alabaster Horses
Matching Pair of Handcarved Italian Alabaster Horses

Matching Pair of Handcarved Italian Alabaster Horses

Located in Dallas, TX

Presenting a lovely matching pair of handcarved Italian Alabaster horses. Mid 20th century circa

Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Classical Roman Animal Sculptures

Materials

Alabaster

Marcello Fantoni Leather Ceramic Vase with Horse Design Vintage Italian MCM
Marcello Fantoni Leather Ceramic Vase with Horse Design Vintage Italian MCM

Marcello Fantoni Leather Ceramic Vase with Horse Design Vintage Italian MCM

By Marcello Fantoni

Located in Keego Harbor, MI

An iconic mid-century modern vase or vessel by Italian artist Marcello Fantoni. Leather encased

Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Ceramic, Leather

Italian White Perl Ceramic Horse, 1970s
Italian White Perl Ceramic Horse, 1970s

Italian White Perl Ceramic Horse, 1970s

Located in Byron Bay, NSW

Beautiful white perl hand crafted ceramic horse sculpture Italian animal sculptures are a popular

Category

Vintage 1970s Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic

Midcentury Leather and Wood Italian Gymnastics Horse, 1960
Midcentury Leather and Wood Italian Gymnastics Horse, 1960

Midcentury Leather and Wood Italian Gymnastics Horse, 1960

Located in Roma, Lazio

1960s gym horse. Upper part covered in leather, well-kept and from the period. Classic gym horse

Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sports Equipment and Memorabilia

Materials

Leather, Wood

Wooden Horse Sculpture by Luciano Bertolotto, Italy, 1990s
Wooden Horse Sculpture by Luciano Bertolotto, Italy, 1990s

Wooden Horse Sculpture by Luciano Bertolotto, Italy, 1990s

Located in Brussels, BE

Wooden Horse Sculpture by Luciano Bertolotto, Italy, 1990s This wooden horse sculpture by Italian

Category

1990s Italian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Bruno Gambone Glazed Ceramic Horse Sculpture, Italy, 1970s
Bruno Gambone Glazed Ceramic Horse Sculpture, Italy, 1970s

Bruno Gambone Glazed Ceramic Horse Sculpture, Italy, 1970s

By Bruno Gambone

Located in New York, NY

Bruno Gambone large glazed ceramic horse sculpture with flattened hollow body, Italy, 1970s. This

Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Italian Artist Aligi Sassu Horse Painted Wall Plate
Italian Artist Aligi Sassu Horse Painted Wall Plate

Italian Artist Aligi Sassu Horse Painted Wall Plate

By Aligi Sassu

Located in Milan, IT

A rare wall plate depicting a running horse by Italian artist Aligi Sassu. Signed and dated

Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Hand Carved Alabaster Horse Centrepiece Sculpture, Italy, 1970s
Hand Carved Alabaster Horse Centrepiece Sculpture, Italy, 1970s

Hand Carved Alabaster Horse Centrepiece Sculpture, Italy, 1970s

Located in Rome, IT

Centerpiece in the shape of a horse in hand carved alabaster. Made in Italy, 1970s.

Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Centerpieces

Materials

Alabaster

Vintage Hand Painted Alabaster Rocking Horse Figurine, Italy
Vintage Hand Painted Alabaster Rocking Horse Figurine, Italy

Vintage Hand Painted Alabaster Rocking Horse Figurine, Italy

Located in Clifton Springs, NY

Charming vintage rocking horse figurine features hand-painted decor on alabaster body. Modernist

Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Stone, Alabaster

Italian Modernist Raymor Ceramic "Horse" Ashtray/Vide Poche
Italian Modernist Raymor Ceramic "Horse" Ashtray/Vide Poche

Italian Modernist Raymor Ceramic "Horse" Ashtray/Vide Poche

By Raymor

Located in Brooklyn, NY

Oblong Raymor ceramic ashtray/vide poche with hand-painted abstract horse motif (ca. 1960s, Italy

Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays

Materials

Ceramic

Hanger with Galloping Horses Brass Italian Design 1950
Hanger with Galloping Horses Brass Italian Design 1950

Hanger with Galloping Horses Brass Italian Design 1950

Located in Palermo, Sicily

Hanger with galloping horses Brass Italian Design 1950s.

Category

Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Coat Racks and Stands

Materials

Brass

Brown Leather and Varnished Iron Italian Exercise Horse
Brown Leather and Varnished Iron Italian Exercise Horse

Brown Leather and Varnished Iron Italian Exercise Horse

Located in Milano, IT

Small Italian Gymnastic Horse of FONTI production with beautiful 1950s patina in excellent vintage

Category

Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Games

Materials

Iron

Aldo Londi Bitossi Horse Sculpture, Ceramic, Italy, 1969
Aldo Londi Bitossi Horse Sculpture, Ceramic, Italy, 1969

Aldo Londi Bitossi Horse Sculpture, Ceramic, Italy, 1969

By Aldo Londi, Bitossi

Located in New York, NY

Aldo Londi Bitossi horse, ceramic, brown and white. Medium scale horse with white glaze over a

Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic

Italian Brutalist Travertine Horses by Enzo Mari for Frateli Mannelli, Italy 70s
Italian Brutalist Travertine Horses by Enzo Mari for Frateli Mannelli, Italy 70s

Italian Brutalist Travertine Horses by Enzo Mari for Frateli Mannelli, Italy 70s

By Fratelli Mannelli, Enzo Mari

Located in Lucija, SI

Nice set of three tavertine horses designed by Enzo Mari and prodused by Fratelli Mannelli in Italy

Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Travertine

1970 Giovanni Gentiletti Italian Artist Horse Embossed Copper Sculpture
1970 Giovanni Gentiletti Italian Artist Horse Embossed Copper Sculpture

1970 Giovanni Gentiletti Italian Artist Horse Embossed Copper Sculpture

Located in Brescia, IT

Horse Sculpture Giovanni Gentiletti Pesaro, Italy, 1970 Embossed copper and rustic wood base

Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Copper

Fratelli Fanciullacci Majolica Vase Horse Decor, Italy 1950s-1960s
Fratelli Fanciullacci Majolica Vase Horse Decor, Italy 1950s-1960s

Fratelli Fanciullacci Majolica Vase Horse Decor, Italy 1950s-1960s

By Aldo Londi, Bitossi, Fratelli Fanciullacci

Located in Clifton Springs, NY

importers in mid 20th century. Striking vase with elegant form, high quality craftsmanship, and statement

Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Gold

A Pair of Onyx Bookends – Horse Heads – Italy - 1970s
A Pair of Onyx Bookends – Horse Heads – Italy - 1970s

A Pair of Onyx Bookends – Horse Heads – Italy - 1970s

Located in SOTTEVILLE-LÈS-ROUEN, FR

An elegant pair of sculpted onyx bookends, featuring finely crafted horse heads. Dating from the

Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Onyx

Monumental Hollywood Regency Italian Terracotta Horse Figurine - 38 Inches
Monumental Hollywood Regency Italian Terracotta Horse Figurine - 38 Inches

Monumental Hollywood Regency Italian Terracotta Horse Figurine - 38 Inches

Located in Kennesaw, GA

This is an amazing piece! It is a Hollywood Regency Era Italian terracotta horse figurine. It

Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Hollywood Regency Animal Sculptures

Materials

Terracotta

Bitossi Aldo Londi Rimini Blu Horse, Italy, circa 1968
Bitossi Aldo Londi Rimini Blu Horse, Italy, circa 1968

Bitossi Aldo Londi Rimini Blu Horse, Italy, circa 1968

By Aldo Londi, Bitossi

Located in Pymble, NSW

A deep 'Rimini Blu' glazed horse by Aldo Londi for Bitossi. Brilliant glaze with streaks of green

Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Pottery

Materials

Pottery

Vintage Aldo Londi for Bitossi Horse, Rimini Blue Sculpture, Italy, 1960s
Vintage Aldo Londi for Bitossi Horse, Rimini Blue Sculpture, Italy, 1960s

Vintage Aldo Londi for Bitossi Horse, Rimini Blue Sculpture, Italy, 1960s

By Aldo Londi, Bitossi

Located in Delray Beach, FL

A sculptural icon of Italian mid century design by Aldo Londi for Bitossi. Executed in classic

Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic

Bitossi rimini blue horse sculpture by Aldo Londi, Italy, signed
Bitossi rimini blue horse sculpture by Aldo Londi, Italy, signed

Bitossi rimini blue horse sculpture by Aldo Londi, Italy, signed

By Bitossi, Aldo Londi

Located in Zevenaar, NL

There’s a certain kind of blue that exists only in Italian ceramics of the 1960s—deep, luminous

Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic

Silver Plated Equestrian Horse Head Letter Opener, Italy, 1960s
Silver Plated Equestrian Horse Head Letter Opener, Italy, 1960s

Silver Plated Equestrian Horse Head Letter Opener, Italy, 1960s

Located in Los Angeles, CA

A silver plated equestrian letter opener with a horse's head handle. This is a must-have on any

Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Letter Openers

Materials

Silver Plate

Vintage Amethyst and Cream Murano Glass Miniature Horse, Italy
Vintage Amethyst and Cream Murano Glass Miniature Horse, Italy

Vintage Amethyst and Cream Murano Glass Miniature Horse, Italy

Located in Bresso, Lombardy

Made in Italy, 1920s - 1930s. This miniature horse is made in hand-modeled Murano glass. It might

Category

Vintage 1930s Italian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Murano Glass

Bitossi Aldo Londi Rimini Blue Horse, Italy, circa 1960s
Bitossi Aldo Londi Rimini Blue Horse, Italy, circa 1960s

Bitossi Aldo Londi Rimini Blue Horse, Italy, circa 1960s

By Bitossi

Located in Nuernberg, DE

A gorgeous character ceramic figural horse statue - Bitossi Aldo Londi. This character statue has

Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic

Gigantic Bronzed Etruscan Horse Sculpture Weinberg Style 1970s, Italy
Gigantic Bronzed Etruscan Horse Sculpture Weinberg Style 1970s, Italy

Gigantic Bronzed Etruscan Horse Sculpture Weinberg Style 1970s, Italy

By Frederic Weinberg, Pepe Mendoza

Located in Nuernberg, DE

. probably Italian-made and great for any Mid-Century Modern interior. This sculptural horse is an iconic Mid

Category

Vintage 1970s German Mid-Century Modern Abstract Sculptures

Materials

Metal

Rattan Bamboo and Wicker Rocking Horse Child's Toy, Italy, 1960
Rattan Bamboo and Wicker Rocking Horse Child's Toy, Italy, 1960

Rattan Bamboo and Wicker Rocking Horse Child's Toy, Italy, 1960

Located in Rome, IT

Rattan, bamboo and wicker child's rocking horse with basketweave seat. Made in Italy in the 1960s.

Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Swivel Chairs

Materials

Bamboo, Wicker, Rattan

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Italian Mid Century Horse For Sale on 1stDibs

With a vast inventory of beautiful furniture at 1stDibs, we’ve got just the Italian mid century horse you’re looking for. Frequently made of ceramic, metal and glass, every Italian mid century horse was constructed with great care. Whether you’re looking for an older or newer Italian mid century horse, there are earlier versions available from the 19th Century and newer variations made as recently as the 21st Century. An Italian mid century horse made by Mid-Century Modern designers — as well as those associated with Art Deco — is very popular. Many designers have produced at least one well-made Italian mid century horse over the years, but those crafted by Aldo Londi, Bitossi and Raymor are often thought to be among the most beautiful.

How Much is an Italian Mid Century Horse?

Prices for an Italian mid century horse can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, they begin at $150 and can go as high as $20,881, while the average can fetch as much as $1,232.

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

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.