$1,400Sale Price|75% Off
H 3 in W 12.88 in D 5 in
1960s Iron Bonsai Ikebana Tripod Japan MCM Planter Dish Mid-Century
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Interesting variation on the most popular ikebana form form the Mid-Century Era. Procured from a Washington DC estate.
Metal
$340Sale Price|20% Off
H 7.5 in Dm 14.5 in
Large Italian Pencil Reed Bamboo Basket Bowl / Planter with Liner
Located in San Diego, CA
large fruit bowl or a MCM planter. Includes thick plastic liner that fits the bowl. #3030
Bamboo, Reed
MCM Footed Ceramic Planter by Haeger
By Haeger
Located in San Diego, CA
A very nice MCM footed ceramic planter by Haeger, circa 1960s. The planter is in very good vintage
Ceramic
Vintage MCM Glazed Ceramic Flamingo Planter
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
delightful vintage flamingo planter. Crafted from glazed ceramic, this piece captures the iconic tropical
Ceramic
Large California Design MCM Ceramic Planter by Gainey
By Gainey Pottery
Located in San Diego, CA
A very nice large California design 17" ceramic planter by Gainey of LaVerne, California, circa
Ceramic
1970s MCM Walnut Wood Planter Box Jardiniere or Trashcan Basket
By Maison Lancel
Located in Chula Vista, CA
as planter ( it doesn't have a metal tin box), Maybe a faux plant can be used. Polyester finish. No
Walnut
Pair of Mid-Size California Design MCM Ceramic Planters by Gainey
By Gainey Pottery
Located in San Diego, CA
Pair of mid-size California design MCM ceramic planters by Gainey of LaVerne, California, circa
Ceramic
$850
H 10 in W 10.5 in D 9.25 in
Large MCM Blue and Cream Ceramic Studio Pottery French Jardiniere Planter
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A large earthenware ceramic jardiniere or planter. This piece is decorated with a creamy white and
Ceramic, Earthenware
Extra Large Vintage Gainey Planters Satin Black Glaze
By Gainey Pottery
Located in Los Angeles, CA
, minimalist outdoor decor, black ceramic planter, MCM plant pot, mid-century garden design, vintage pottery
Ceramic
MCM Van Briggle Conch Shell in Pumpkin
Located in Louisville, KY
Lovers of pottery will find this piece to be of great interest. Created by Van Riggle in the mid 20th century, this unique conch shell design is done in a rich pumpkin color with a b...
Pottery
1960s Hand Painted Blue Scalloped Planter Portugal
Located in Chula Vista, CA
MCM Portugal Planter Pot Scalloped Hand painted Blue and White 11 h x 12 diameter Preowned vintage
Pottery, Paint
MCM Drip Glaze Vase in the Style of David Cressey
By David Cressey
Located in San Diego, CA
A nice MCM drip glaze vase in the style of David Cressey, circa 1970s. The piece is in very good
Ceramic
$295
H 10.5 in W 3.5 in D 4.75 in
Large 10" MCM Ceramic Hand Painted Flamingo Flower Table Planter, California
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Large 10" Tall Mid-century pink and green ceramic flamingo tabletop California planter. The planter
Ceramic
$240Sale Price|20% Off
H 5.75 in W 5 in D 3 in
MCM Pop Art "Schilling Black Pepper" Ceramic Vase/Planter by Lynn of California
Located in San Diego, CA
A very fun MCM pop art "Schilling Black Pepper" ceramic vase or planter by Lynn of California
Ceramic
Sold
H 10 in W 6 in D 5 in
MCM California Pottery Hawaiian Hula Leilani & Maui Ceramic Planter Set by Delee
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Original Mid-century matching Hawaiian Hula Leilani & Maui ceramic planter set by the Delee pottery
Ceramic
MCM California Pottery Hawaiian Hula Leilani Girl Planter Set by Delee
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Original Mid-century matching Hawaiian Hula girl ceramic planter set by the Delee pottery company
Ceramic
1970s Modern Walnut Wood Planter Box or Waste Basket
By Peter Pepper Products
Located in Chula Vista, CA
1970s MCM Walnut Wood Planter Box or Waste Basket 11.75 h x 15.5 w x 10 d Wood box with metal
Walnut
1960s Gainey Ceramics Architectural Pottery Planter Set La Verne, Calif
By Gainey Pottery
Located in Chula Vista, CA
1960s Gainey Ceramics MCM Architectural Modern Pottery Planters La Verne Calif Set includes two
Ceramic, Pottery
Sold
H 15.5 in Dm 39 in
MCM Pair of Pearsall Style Sculptural Base Side and Coffee Tables with Planters
By Adrian Pearsall
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
A mid century modern pair of Pearsall style sculptural base side and coffee tables with planters
Walnut
Sold
H 20 in W 22.5 in D 33.5 in
MCM C.E. Waltman for Tonk Walnut Biomorphic 2 Tier Side End Table with Planter
By C.E. Waltman
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
A mid century modern C.E. Waltman for Tonk walnut biomorphic 2 tier end table with planter. This is
Walnut
Mid 20th Century Vintage Glazed Ceramic Poodle Planters - A Pair
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A fabulous pair of vintage MCM small planters. A charming pair of black poodles in a gloss ceramic
Ceramic
Sold
H 5 in W 4.75 in D 4.75 in
Mid-Century Modern Square Emerald Verdigris Planter or Jardinière, San Carlos
By Haeger
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
Glazed in a rich emerald blue or green, this MCM planter will complement any style. We imagine it
Ceramic, Paint
MCM Pottery Cat Planter
Located in Fairfield, CA
A mid century pottery cat planter. Great design reminiscent of David Stewart pottery. Dark glossy
Pottery
Tall California Design MCM Ceramic Planter in the Style of Gainey
By Gainey Pottery
Located in San Diego, CA
A very nice tall California design 10" ceramic planter in the style of Gainey of LaVerne
Ceramic
Sold
H 13.75 in Dm 12.5 in
1970s ISLA Del SOL Ceramic Planter Hal Lasky Puerto Rico Vintage Caribbean MCM
By Hal Lasky
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Wonderful and rare planter from Puerto Rico. Some small chips from normal uses.
Ceramic
Sold
H 29.5 in W 9 in D 9 in
1950s Zenith Elephant Gray Fiberglass Bullet Planter with Iron Tripod Stand MCM
By Charles Eames
Located in Monrovia, CA
Mid-Century Modern fiberglass bullet planters. Original 1950s vintage elephant gray fiberglass
Metal
18" Pink Ceramic Midcentury Architectural Pottery Planter by Gainey
By Gainey Pottery
Located in McKinney, TX
Vintage MCM large light pink ceramic planter pot by Gainey Measures 18" tall x 18" diameter
Ceramic
MCM Stoneware Studio Pottery Planter
Located in San Diego, CA
MCM stoneware studio pottery planter, circa 1970s. This gorgeous wheel thrown and hand finished
Stoneware
Large Astoria modernist planter by Hungarian manufacture 1965 MCM
Located in Budapest, HU
Large colorful funky Astoria plant holder by Pesthidegkút Ceramic manufacture. A playful, rough, lovable modernist creation from the 1965-70s. Hand-painted, glazed ceramic bowl. Its...
Ceramic
Bertu Counter Stools, White Oak Counter Stool, Chile Stool
By Bertu Furniture
Located in Oak Harbor, OH
Bertu Counter Stools, White Oak Counter Stool, Chile Stool This White Oak Chile Counter Stool is beautifully constructed from solid wood in Ohio, USA. The stool is chunky and modern...
Wood, Oak
Pair of Modern Walnut Side Tables
By Theodore Alexander
Located in Westwood, NJ
A Pacific walnut side table, the square top with rounded corners and a reeded edge above a similar under tier, on bobbin turned legs. Dimensions: 26" W x 26" D x 28.5" H.
Wood
$1,886
H 10.24 in W 78.75 in D 7.88 in
Large Floating Teak Wall Mounted Shelf by Walter Wirtz for Wilhelm Renz, 1960s
By Wilhelm Renz, Walter Wirtz
Located in Antwerp, BE
Beautiful floating wall unit designed by Walter Wirtz for Wilhelm Renz, Germany, 1960s. Very good condition, signed with Wilhelm Renz logo. This U-shaped shelf is made of high-qualit...
Teak
Mathieu Matégot 'Trolley' for GUBI
By Mathieu Matégot, Gubi
Located in Glendale, CA
Mathieu Matégot 'Trolley' for GUBI Originally designed by Mathieu Matégot in 1953, the 'Trolley' is an authorized re-edition by GUBI. Executed using Matégot's Rigitulle method of...
Steel
$9,593
H 13 in W 51.19 in D 24.41 in
Roger Capron Signed Ceramic Coffee Table, Moribana decor, circa 1974, France.
By Roger Capron
Located in Brussels, BE
Beautiful Roger Capron Tk1 coffee table, Moribana decor, circa 1974, France. 4 cylindrical oak feet plywood and enameled white and brown ceramic tiles, leaf and herb decor. Signed R...
Sandstone
Concrete Barchan Planter by OPIARY (L42", W28", H10")
By Robert Remer
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Opiary is a Brooklyn-based biophilic design and production studio. We integrate nature in each of our designs, incorporating live greenery and organic shapes into bespoke furniture, ...
Cement
"Marchand" Scalloped Walnut Dresser by Christiane Lemieux
Located in New York, NY
The Marchand 6-drawer dresser showcases elegantly scalloped edge detailing and textural drawer fronts, making it a distinctive piece in any bedroom. It sits on minimal turned legs, b...
Oak
Unavailable|$22,000
H 100.4 in W 231.5 in D 19.3 in
George Nelson for Herman Miller CSS Modular Wall Unit in Walnut & Aluminum
By Herman Miller, George Nelson
Located in Waalwijk, NL
George Nelson for Herman Miller, modular wall unit model 'CSS', walnut, aluminium, glass, United States, 1959 Herman Miller introduced George Nelson’s Comprehensive Storage System (...
Aluminum
$22,000 / set
H 31.5 in W 127.56 in D 80.91 in
Giuseppe Rivadossi for Officina Rivadossi Bedroom Set in Oak
By Giuseppe Rivadossi, Officina Rivadossi
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Giuseppe Rivadossi for Officina Rivadossi, set consisting of a double bed, headboard and nightstands, oak, Italy, 1980s Giuseppe Rivadossi once again proves his great eye for materi...
Oak
$3,990 / item
H 15.75 in W 74.81 in D 29.14 in
Mustard Velvet Daybed with V-Shaped Beechwood Base, Model V
By Dusty Deco
Located in Los Angeles, CA
DD V daybed is an exclusive daybed made by hand in Bosnia and Herzegovina by skilled craftsmen with long experience in wood and upholstery. Both frame and the characteristic V-shaped...
Fabric, Beech, Velvet
$12,850 / set
H 21 in W 32 in D 15 in
Wall Mounted Cabinets by Finn Juhl for Baker, Walnut and Birch, Great Condition
By Finn Juhl, Baker Furniture Company
Located in Kansas City, MO
Set of six wall mount cabinets / wall unit designed by Finn Juhl and manufactured by Baker, 1950s. The entire set is in very good condition, Beautiful grain pattern in the walnut doo...
Birch, Walnut
Swedish Modern coffee table / side table, 1940s
By Carl-Erik Johansson
Located in Stockholm, SE
This exquisite Swedish coffee table from the 1940s is a true masterpiece of mid-century design, combining elegance with innovative craftsmanship. The table features a raw glass top, ...
Metal
$27,500
H 46.46 in W 101.58 in D 20.28 in
Ernesto Valabrega for Studio Vittorio Valabrega Decorative Fireplace Mantel
By Vittorio Valabrega
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Ernesto Valabrega for Studio Vittorio Valabrega, decorative fireplace mantel, lacquered wood, plaster, glass, iron, Italy, 1930s This striking decorative fireplace mantel, presumabl...
Iron
Small 'Floatation' Japanese Paper Suspension Lamp for Ingo Maurer
By Ingo Maurer
Located in Glendale, CA
Small 'Floatation' Japanese paper suspension lamp for Ingo Maurer. Designed and produced by Ingo Maurer, one of the most celebrated German lighting icons since 1966. With imaginatio...
Metal, Iron
Pale Blue Tall Italian Wingchairs, Italy 1950's
By Paolo Buffa
Located in New York, NY
Pair of light blue cotton upholstered armchairs in the style of Paolo Buffa on cherry legs with brass accents.
Brass
Off White Tree Chandelier SM
By Lumfardo Luminaires
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This organic inspired chandelier is a smaller version of the Off White Tree Chandelier. These fixtures combine geometry with botanical aspects. This smaller inspiration has 4 top ope...
Aluminum, 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.
Modern icons are showing up in gracefully layered dining nooks, living rooms and lounges — proof that great design only gets better with context.
With its grid-like doors and wavy trim, the 1940s design feels as fresh as ever.
The alluring pendant light exemplifies the designer’s winsome mid-career work.
Prehistoric motifs give the mid-century Italian fireplace an elemental feel.
Their charming solid-oak pieces offer homes utility and comfort.
It's hard to resist the allure of a beautiful pool. So, go ahead and daydream about whiling away your summer in paradise.
You know the designs, now get the stories about how they came to be.
Designer Susan Yeley turned to 1stDibs to outfit an Indiana home with standout pieces that complement its modernist style.