MCM Handcrafted Wooden Isigo Pervuvian Ebony Jewelery Box by J.Amberg
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Individually crafted in California, this exquisite Midcentury modern jewelry box showcases the
1990s Mid-Century Modern Jewelry Boxes
Ebony
MCM Handcrafted Wooden Isigo Pervuvian Ebony Jewelery Box by J.Amberg
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Individually crafted in California, this exquisite Midcentury modern jewelry box showcases the
Ebony
$1,450 / set
H 0.75 in W 0.75 in D 0.75 in
14k MCM Round Chinese "Longevity" Cufflinks Circle Cut Men's Cufflinks, Pair
Located in Van Nuys, CA
A pair of vintage 14Kt yellow gold circular cuff-links cut out with the Chinese character symbol for longevity. Measurements: .75" Tall X .75" Wide X .75" Deep 6.65g 14K Gold Unit...
Gold
MCM 14K Gold Christian Dior By Bulova Ladies Swiss Mechanical Watch
By Christian Dior
Located in Van Nuys, CA
An elegant expression of timeless design, this vintage Christian Dior by Bulova ladies wristwatch captures the refined sophistication of 1960s luxury. Expertly crafted in solid 14 ka...
Gold
$760Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 7.29 in Dm 4.73 in
Three MCM Italian Alabaster and Brass Claw Dolphin Footed Lidded Jewelry Boxes
Located in Haarlem, NL
the material of these jewellery boxes with hinged lids, brass claw feet, brass dolphin feet and brass
Alabaster, Brass
Vintage MCM 1960s Kenneth Jay Lane Nautical Rope Twist Cuff Bracelet
By Kenneth Jay Lane
Located in New York, NY
Bold, large vintage KJL nautical knot rope twist cuff bracelet. Spring opening Signed KJL From the collection of an East Hampton socialite, daughter of a former Ambassador to the...
Metal
Mexican MCM Brass Brutalist Necklace in the Style of Pal Kepenyes
By Pal Kepenyes
Located in Mexico City, MX
Mexican Mid-Century Modern Brutalist necklace in the style of Pal Kepenyes. The geometric central piece with hanging organic pendant is held by a bone-shaped chain. No marks or signa...
Brass
Sold
H 3.67 in W 1.58 in D 0.2 in
Mexican MCM Los Castillo Sterling Silver and Black Onyx Pendant Cross
By Los Castillo
Located in Mexico City, MX
An important Mexican Mid-Century Modern sterling silver, black onyx, brass and chrysocolla pendant cross by Los Castillo. Taxco, Mexico, circa 1960. The pendant resembles a geometric...
Onyx, Sterling Silver, Brass
Sold
H 2 in W 0.25 in D 3 in
Vtg Lea Stein Gomina Sleeping Cat Tortoiseshell Bakelite Pin Brooch Retro MCM
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage Lea Stein Gomina pin in the shape of a sleeping cat, fashioned of black and tortoiseshell pattern bakelite with striped cream colored eyes and ears.
Bakelite
Sold
H 3.75 in W 0.75 in D 1.75 in
Vintage Lea Stein Renaud Fox Brooch Pin Bakelite Red Mid Century Modern MCM
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage Lea Stein famous Renaud fox pin in swirling red, gold and black bakelite.
Bakelite
Sold
H 2.25 in W 0.75 in D 3.5 in
Lea Stein Renard Fox Purple & Gold Bakelite Pin Brooch Mid-Century Modern MCM
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage Lea Stein famous Renard fox pin in mottled purple, brown and gold bakelite.
Bakelite
Sold
H 2 in W 0.875 in D 4 in
Lea Stein Renard Fox Caramel Brown Bakelite Pin Brooch Mid-Century Modern MCM
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage Lea Stein famous Renard fox shaped pin in subtly striped caramel brown bakelite.
Bakelite
MCM Marble Jewelry Box with Lid
Located in Medina, OH
Unique mid-century modern light brown marble jewelry box with lid. There is a chip inside and some
Marble
19th Century French Green Opaline Glass Box
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
19th Century French Green Opaline Glass Box. In very good vintage condition.
Brass
$2,500 / set
H 15.36 in W 7.09 in D 6.7 in
1960s Mid-Century Italian Pink Cased Empoli Glass Pitchers Vases Apothecary Jars
Located in Haarlem, NL
Very pretty set of seven 1960s Italian Empoli Rossini and Stelvio Opalina Fiorentina cased glass vases, decanters and candy or apothecary jars. In sweet baby pink tone colours. A pre...
Art Glass, Blown Glass, Opaline Glass
$1,500 / set
H 16.93 in Dm 5.91 in
60s MCM Italian Blue Cased Empoli Glass Pitcher and Tent Lidded Apothecary Jars
Located in Haarlem, NL
Very pretty set of three 1960s Italian Empoli Rossini and Stelvio Opalina Fiorentina cased glass vases. A high pitcher, vase or decanter and two candy or apothecary jars. In deep bl...
Art Glass, Blown Glass, Opaline Glass
Fabergé Style Bejewelled and Enamelled Gold Egg by Asprey
By Asprey International Limited, Garrard & Co. Ltd.
Located in London, GB
This exceptional, 18 carat gold Easter egg was crafted by the famous London-based royal jewellers, Asprey & Co. The piece was then retailed by Garrard & Co, who once worked i...
Gold
$720Sale Price / item|20% Off
H 7.09 in Dm 4.73 in
1950s Italian Murano Blue Cased Glass Ormolu Set in Veritable Opaline de Murano
Located in Haarlem, NL
1950s set of three blue opaline glass items. Made in Italy The bright blue milk, opaline or cased glass is heavy and thick, all items have a decorative ormolu brass mount or rim ...
Brass
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.
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