1 of 5 Large Murano Ice Glass Chrome Flushmount by Kaiser, Germany, 1960s
By Kaiser Leuchten
Located in Aachen, NRW
Fantastic star shape chandelier by Kaiser, Germany, manufactured, circa 1960-1969. Curved Murano glasses suspended from a fixture and signed by the German maker Kaiser Leuchten.
Murano Glass
1 of 2 Murano Glass Pendant light Designed by Kaiser, Germany, 1960s
By Kaiser Leuchten
Located in Aachen, NRW
A stunning large Murano Glass pendant light designed by Kaiser, Germany manufactured in the 1960s. The chandelier is composed of a thick Murano glass element attached to a metal fra...
Murano Glass
Big Round Murano Ice Glass Flush Mount, Kaiser, Germany, 1970s
By Kaiser Leuchten
Located in Aachen, NRW
A wonderful round ice glass flush mount manufactured by Kaiser Leuchten in Germany, 1970s. Thickly textured ice glass fixture on a white metal base with three chrome holders. Hig...
Glass
Set of 2 Large Murano Ice Glass Vanity Sconces by Kaiser, Germany, 1970s
By Kaiser Leuchten
Located in Aachen, NRW
Gorgeous set of 2 Murano glass sconces by Kaiser Leuchten, Germany, circa 1970s.
Murano Glass
1 'of 4' Kaiser Flush Mount Amber Murano Glass Ceiling Light, 1960s
By Kaiser Leuchten
Located in Niederdorfelden, Hessen
Elegant flush mount ceiling light executed in Murano glass with brass finals on a wooden frame. Manufactured by Kaiser Lighting, Germany in the 1960s. Materials: Murano glass, brass...
Brass
1 of 3 Large Murano Ice Glass Vanity Sconce by Kaiser, Germany, 1970s
By Kaiser Leuchten
Located in Aachen, NRW
Gorgeous Murano glass sconce with chrome holders by Kaiser Leuchten, Germany, circa 1970s.
Murano Glass
Large Square Murano Ice Glass Flushmount in style of Kaiser, Germany, 1970s
By Kaiser Leuchten
Located in Aachen, NRW
A wonderful Large square Murano ice glass flush mount light made in Germany in the 1970s. Thickly textured ice glass fixture on a white metal base with eight chrome holders. Heavy q...
Murano Glass
1 of 2 Big Round Murano Ice Glass Flush Mount, Kaiser, Germany, 1970s
By Kaiser Leuchten
Located in Aachen, NRW
A wonderful round ice glass flush mount manufactured by Kaiser Leuchten in Germany, 1970s. Thickly textured murano glass fixture on a white metal base with three chrome holders.
Murano Glass
1 of 3 Large Murano Glass Flushmount Fixture by Kaiser, Germany, 1960s
By Kaiser Leuchten
Located in Aachen, NRW
Large Fantastic flush mount by Kaiser, Germany, manufactured, circa 1960-1969. Curved Cut glasses plate suspended from a white fixture with chrome holders. Sockets: 6 x E14 small ...
Chrome
1 of 3 Large Round Murano Ice Glass Flush Mount, Kaiser, Germany, 1970s
By Kaiser Leuchten
Located in Aachen, NRW
A wonderful round ice glass flush mount manufactured by Kaiser Leuchten in Germany, 1970s. Thickly textured ice glass fixture on a white metal base with three chrome holders. High q...
Murano Glass
1 'of 2' 1960s Germany Kaiser Flush Mount Ceiling Lamp Murano Glass & Brass
By Kaiser Leuchten
Located in Niederdorfelden, Hessen
Elegant flush mount ceiling fixture made of heavy blown Murano glass on a white metal frame and with floral brass finals. Chandelier illuminates beautifully and offers a lot of light...
Brass
1 of 2 Sets of Large Murano Ice-Glass Vanity Sconces by Kaiser, Germany, 1970s
By Kaiser Leuchten
Located in Aachen, NRW
Gorgeous set of 2 Murano glass sconces by Kaiser Leuchten, Germany, circa 1970s.
Murano Glass
Large Amber Murano Flush Mount Glass & Brass by Kaiser, Germany, 1960
By Kaiser Leuchten
Located in Niederdorfelden, Hessen
Gorgeous flush mount ceiling fixture made of heavy blown amber Murano glass on a brass frame and with brass finals. Manufactured by Kaiser Lighting, Germany in the 1960s. Materials...
Brass
1 of 3 Murano Glass Flushmount Fixture in style of Kaiser, Germany, 1960s
By Kaiser Leuchten
Located in Aachen, NRW
Gorgeous two-part drum-shaped flush mount chandelier with one ring outside and a flat disc made of heavy textured clear iced glass on a white metal frame with nickel finals. It was i...
Murano Glass
1 of 3 Pairs of Dark Toned Murano Glass Wall Sconces by Kaiser, Germany, 1970s
By Kaiser Leuchten
Located in Aachen, NRW
Pair of thick blown and textured Murano glass wall sconces made by Kaiser Leuchten, Germany, circa 1970-1979.
Metal
Two Mid-Century Modern Kaiser Leuchten Chandelier with Mazzega Glass, ca 1970
By Kaiser Leuchten, Carlo Nason, Mazzega
Located in Merida, Yucatan
Mid-Century Modern pendant light by Kaiser Leuchten, circa 1970, consisting of two very heavy ´petals´ in clear and smoked blown glass and brass hardware, this model is often attribu...
Brass
Two Mid-Century Modern Kaiser Leuchten Chandelier with Mazzega Glass ca. 1970
By Kaiser Leuchten, Carlo Nason, Mazzega
Located in Merida, Yucatan
Mid-Century Modern pendant light by Kaiser Leuchten, circa 1970, It consists of three heavy ´petals´ in clear and smoked blown glass and brass hardware, this model is often attribute...
Brass
1 of 10 Pairs of Dark Toned Murano Glass Wall Sconces by Kaiser, Germany, 1970s
By Kaiser Leuchten
Located in Aachen, NRW
Pair of thick blown and textured Murano glass wall sconces made by Kaiser Leuchten, Germany, circa 1970-1979.
Brass
1 of 2 Large Square Murano Ice Glass Flushmount - style of Kaiser Germany 1970s
By Kaiser Leuchten
Located in Aachen, NRW
A wonderful Large square Murano ice glass flush mount light made in Germany in the 1970s. Thickly textured ice glass fixture on a white metal base with eight chrome holders. Heavy q...
Murano Glass
Big Round Ice Glass Flushmount, Kaiser, Germany, 1970s
By Kaiser Leuchten
Located in Aachen, NRW
A wonderful round Murano glass flushmount made by Kaiser Leuchten in Germany, 1970s.
Murano Glass
Big Round Ice Glass Flush Mount, Kaiser, Germany, 1970s
By Kaiser Leuchten
Located in Aachen, NRW
A wonderful round Murano glass flush mount made by Kaiser Leuchten in Germany, 1970s.
Murano Glass
Big Round Ice Glass Flush Mount, Kaiser, Germany, 1970s
By Kaiser Leuchten
Located in Aachen, NRW
A wonderful round Murano glass flush mount made by Kaiser Leuchten in Germany, 1970s.
Murano Glass
Extra Large Tulipan Glass Chandelier by Kaiser, Germany, 1960s
By Kaiser Leuchten
Located in Aachen, NRW
Wonderful onion-shaped -Tulipan glass chandelier. 61 hand-blown glasses suspended on a brass metal frame. Best of design from the 1960s by Kaiser Leuchten, Germany. High quality of ...
Brass
Pair of Large Textured Glass Flush Mounts by Kaiser, 1960
By Kaiser Leuchten
Located in Rijssen, NL
Two Mid-Century Modern light fixtures by German manufacturer Kaiser, circa 1960/1965. Size: D 23.62 inch. High-end, simple and clear design. The stylish elegance of this lamp suits ...
Metal, Chrome
1 of 3 Large Ice Glass Chrome Chandelier by Kaiser, Germany, 1960s
By Kaiser Leuchten
Located in Aachen, NRW
Fantastic star shape chandelier by Kaiser, Germany, manufactured, circa 1960 -1969. Curved Murano glasses suspended from a fixture. Sockets: Five x E27 Standard bulbs (max. 60 watt ...
Murano Glass
Pair of mid-century modern 'ice' glass and brass wall lights by Kaiser
By Kaiser Leuchten
Located in London, GB
Chic pair of 1960s wall sconces featuring oversized brass backplates accented with decorative brass buttons. Each backplate holds two adjustable bulb holders and supports a thick, cu...
Brass
1 of 4 Petite Ice Glass Chrome Pendant light by Kaiser, Germany, 1960s
By Kaiser Leuchten
Located in Aachen, NRW
1 of 4 Petite star-shaped Pendant light by Kaiser, Germany, manufactured circa 1960-1969. Curved Murano glasses suspended from a fixture. Sockets: one x E27 standard bulb (max. 100 ...
Murano Glass
1 of 3 Large Ice Glass Chrome Flushmount Fixture by Kaiser, Germany, 1960s
By Kaiser Leuchten
Located in Aachen, NRW
Fantastic star shape flush mount light by Kaiser, Germany, manufactured circa 1960-1969. Curved Murano glasses suspended from a fixture. Sockets: Five x E14 candelabras bulbs (max. ...
Murano Glass
1 of 2 Flush Mount Lights by Kaiser Leuchten Textured Glass Chrome Nickel, 1960s
By J.T. Kalmar, Orrefors, Kaiser Leuchten
Located in Hausmannstätten, AT
One of two large textured ice glass flushmount light fixtures by Kaiser Leuchten, Germany, manufactured in midcentury, circa 1960. A golden painted metal backplate holds an outer gla...
Nickel, Chrome, Metal
1 of 2 Murano Ball Pendant Light by Toni Zuccheri for Kaiser, Germany, 1970s
By Kaiser Leuchten, Toni Zuccheri
Located in Aachen, NRW
The "Membrane" pendant light, designed by Toni Zuccheri, features a beautiful mix of blue and yellow Murano glass in a rounded shape encased in a polished chrome frame. A high qualit...
Chrome
1 'of 3' 1960 Germany Modernist Wall Sconce Aventurine Murano Glass & Wood
By Kaiser Leuchten
Located in Niederdorfelden, Hessen
Elegant wall sconce with handblown aventurine Murano glass with gold dust on a wooden wall mount. This Murano light radiate warm, indirect light into your modern home. Manufactured b...
Murano Glass, Wood, Oak
Massive Murano Glass Flush Mount, Germany, 1960s
By Kaiser Leuchten
Located in Rijssen, NL
Clean lines to complement all decors. Wonderful high-end Kaiser flush mount with brass detail and thick textured brown/gray blown flaked glass, filling a room with a soft, warm glow....
Brass
1 of the 2 Square Domed Murano Flush Mount Wall lights, Smokey Glass Brass
By Kaiser Leuchten
Located in Rijssen, NL
1 of the 2 impressive square light fixtures with domed Murano glass shades , Germany. Can work as flush mounts or as impressive wall lights. An lovely light fixture with hand blown...
Brass, Steel
1 of the 2 Square Domed Flush Mount with Smokey Glass Brass, 1970s
By Kaiser Leuchten
Located in Rijssen, NL
A large impressive square flush mount with domed glass shade by Kaiser Leuchten, Germany. An lovely light fixture with hand blown clear glass shade with lots of bubbles and organic ...
Brass, Steel
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.
The right table lamp, outwardly sculptural chandelier or understated wall pendant can work wonders for your home. While we’re indebted to thinkers like Thomas Edison for critically important advancements in lighting and electricity, we’re still finding new ways to customize illumination to fit our personal spaces all these years later. A wide range of antique and vintage lighting can be found on 1stDibs.
Today, lighting designers like the self-taught Bec Brittain have used the flexible structure of LEDs to craft glamorous solutions by working with what is typically considered a harsh lighting source. By integrating glass and mirrors, reflection can be used to soften the glow from LEDs and warmly welcome light into any space.
Although contemporary innovators continue to impress, some of the classics can’t be beat.
Just as gazing at the stars allows you to glimpse the universe’s past, vintage chandeliers like those designed by Gino Sarfatti and J. & L. Lobmeyr, for example, put on a similarly stunning show, each with a rich story to tell.
As dazzling as it is, the Arco lamp, on the other hand, prioritizes functionality — it’s wholly mobile, no drilling required. Designed in 1962 by architect-product designers Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, the piece takes the traditional form of a streetlamp and creates an elegant, arching floor fixture for at-home use.
There is no shortage of modernist lighting similarly prized by collectors and casual enthusiasts alike — there are Art Deco table lamps created in a universally appreciated style, the Tripod floor lamp by T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings, Greta Magnusson Grossman's sleek and minimalist Grasshopper lamps and, of course, the wealth of mid-century experimental lighting that emerged from Italian artisans at Arredoluce, FLOS and many more are hallmarks in illumination innovation.
With decades of design evolution behind it, home lighting is no longer just practical. Crystalline shaping by designers like Gabriel Scott turns every lighting apparatus into a luxury accessory. A new installation doesn’t merely showcase a space; carefully chosen ceiling lights, table lamps and floor lamps can create a mood, spotlight a favorite piece or highlight your unique personality.
The sparkle that your space has been missing is waiting for you amid the growing collection of antique, vintage and contemporary lighting for sale on 1stDibs.