Abstract Oak Lamp, France 1950’s
Located in New York, NY
Carved Oak table lamp in abstract forms.
Category
Mid-20th Century French Brutalist Table Lamps
Materials
Brass
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Tormos Abstract Ovoid Lamp, France 1960's
By A. Tormos
Located in New York, NY
Abstractly carved oval table lamp in Pierre du Gard. Base Only 8x6
Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Stone
Pair of Abstract Ceramic and Wood Lamps
$2,600 / set
Pair of Abstract Ceramic and Wood Lamps
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Pair of abstract ceramic and wood lamps. Lamps measure 7" wide, 4" deep and 22.5" high from base to the bottom of socket. Base measures 5.25" wide, 4" deep and 3.5" high. We repai...
Category
Vintage 1940s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Ceramic, Wood
Art deco white 20th century abstract ceramic table lamp style Jean Besnard 1930
By Jean Besnard
Located in Neuilly-en- sancerre, FR
In the style of Jean Besnard Large art deco white and grey ceramic table lamp Abstract white ceramic glaze decoration Original perfect condition Electrical system is new Cerami...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Table Lamps
Materials
Ceramic
Space Age Atomic Chrome Abstract Table Lamp
Located in Gladstone, NJ
Space Age Atomic Chrome Abstract Table Lamp
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Chrome
Abstract 20th Century Ceramic Table Lamp by André Bodin La Borne 1950 Design
By La Borne Potters
Located in Neuilly-en- sancerre, FR
André Bodin Original ceramic table lamp with abstract glazes colors Elegant grey and green ceramic glazes colors Signed under the base Original perfect conditions Elec...
Category
20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Ceramic
Bindel La Borne Abstract Blue and Grey Ceramic Table Lamp XXth Century Lighting
By La Borne Potters
Located in Neuilly-en- sancerre, FR
Bindel - La Borne XXth century ceramic table lamp by BINDEL Signed under the base Realised in La Borne circa 1990 Original perfect condition Electrical system is ok ...
Category
Late 20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Ceramic
Pair of Black and Pink Abstract Ceramic Table Lamp, circa 1950, 20th Century
Located in Neuilly-en- sancerre, FR
Pair of table lamp. Original ceramic pair of table lamp from the 50's. Black and pink ceramic glazes colors. Original electrical system. one of the sockets is a little bent...
Category
20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Ceramic
Abstract Copper Table Lamp, France 1960's
Located in New York, NY
Heavy hammered copper table lamp with an abstract decor. Base size only 16x10x4. 18x26 as shown.
Category
Mid-20th Century French Brutalist Table Lamps
Materials
Brass, Copper
Pair of Cerused Wood Abstract Table Lamps
$1,900 / set
Pair of Cerused Wood Abstract Table Lamps
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Pair of green cerused wood abstract table lamps. Each lamp measure 4.5" wide, 6.75" wide and 20" high from base to the bottom of socket. Base measures 4.5" deep, 6.75" wide and 1.7...
Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Brass
Abstract Sun Limestone Table Lamp, France 1950's
Located in New York, NY
Carved limestone base with an abstract sun pattern raised on the front 25x18 Base Only 12x6x3 Shade Not Included
Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Limestone
Vintage Gloss Black Abstract Figural Ceramic Table / Desk Lamp
By Ettore Sottsass, Bitossi, Raymor
Located in Chicago, IL
Vintage gloss black ceramic table lamp. Dating to the late mid century. No markings or signature. Possibly made in Italy, or Italian Inspired
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Ceramic
20th century design brown and black abstract ceramic table lamp circa 1970 38 cm
Located in Neuilly-en- sancerre, FR
In the style of Jean Payen Signed at the base Unique handmade piece Large 20th century design ceramic table lamp Black and brown ceramic glazes colors Ceramic height 38 cm Heigh...
Category
20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Ceramic
Vintage MCM Abstract Glazed Ceramic Lamps - A Pair
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Presenting a stunning pair of vintage Mid-Century Modern table lamps, each a testament to abstract artistry and exceptional craftsmanship.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Hollywood Regency Table Lamps
Materials
Brass
Vintage MCM Abstract Glazed Ceramic Lamps - A Pair
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Elevate your interior with this striking pair of Mid-Century Modern abstract table lamps, boasting a distinctive sculptural form crafted from glazed ceramic.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Art Deco Table Lamps
Materials
Brass
Abstract Ceramic Table Lamp for American Studio
By American Studio Workshop
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A sculpted studio ceramic table lamp with an incised "X". Measures: Base height 20".
Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Brass
Yasha Heifetz Style, Ceramic, Abstract Table Lamps, USA, 1960s
By Yasha Heifetz
Located in Stamford, CT
Yasha Heifetz Style, American Mid-Century Modern, Ceramic, Abstract Table Lamps, USA, 1960s Pair of organic modern freeform ceramic table lamps, similar in form to work by Yasha Hei...
Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Ceramic
Pair of Abstract, Sculptural Walnut Wood Table Lamps
Located in Tarrytown, NY
Pair of abstract, sculptural walnut wood table lamps with brass hardware. Please note color difference between the two.
Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Walnut
Lamp, Table, Sculpture, Steel, Abstract Expressionist, circa 1950
Located in BUNGAY, SUFFOLK
Abstract expressionist, steel, sculpture, Upcycled Into A 16” high table lamp- metal and welder sculptors rose to prominence after WWII, following Julio González and Pablo Picasso an...
Category
Vintage 1940s English Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Steel
Midcentury Abstract Black Glazed Ceramic Boudoir Lamps - A Pair
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A fabulous pair of Mid-Century Modern boudoir lamps featuring striking sculptural ceramic bodies with graceful openwork cutouts and flowing abstract forms.
Category
Mid-20th Century North American Table Lamps
Materials
Ceramic
Tall Architectural Table Lamp, Ceramic, Incised, Abstract, Geometric, 1950s
By Design Technics
Located in New York, NY
Tall Architectural Table Lamp, Ceramic, Incised, Abstract, Geometric. A tall, architectural ceramic lamp with a flared neck, squared shoulders, elongated rectangular body with incis...
Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Ceramic, Terracotta
Bronze Abstract Table Lamp, New Lampshade by R. Houben, 1960
Located in Rijssen, NL
Beautiful ceramic table lamp, UK 1960s. This lamp base brings refined elegance and rich visual appeal to any interior. With its abstract shape, it offers a unique presence. This ...
Category
Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Ceramic
RIMA 1940s Cubist Abstract Plaster Musician Lamp, Henry Moore Influenced
By RIMA, Henry Moore
Located in Miami, FL
RIMA 1940s Cubist Abstract Plaster Musician Lamp, Henry Moore Influenced Offered for sale is a rare 1940s plaster table lamp by RIMA of New York. The lamp base is an abstract sculp...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal
Guido Gambone Ceramic Table Lamp, Abstract Red Chartreuse, Signed
By Guido Gambone
Located in New York, NY
Guido Gambone Ceramic Table Lamp, Abstract Red Chartreuse, Signed. A large-scale ceramic table lamp by Florentine master Guido Gambone (1909–1969), decorated on both front and back w...
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Ceramic, Stoneware
1950s Italian Hand Carved Abstract Alabaster and Marble Table Lamp
Located in Oakland, CA
1950s era hand carved alabaster and marble table lamp from Italy. The translucent alabaster body glows when illuminated with the shade its 18" diameter and 30.75" Tall. The shade its...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Alabaster, Marble, Brass
Abstract Polished Metal Chrome Table Lamp in Style of Picasso
By Pablo Picasso
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Mid-Century Modern quality craftsmanship abstract polished metal sculpture table lamp on a square marble base.
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Chrome
Black Abstract Stoneware Ceramic Table Lamp 1980 Lighting Signed
By La Borne Potters
Located in Neuilly-en- sancerre, FR
French handmade table lamp Elegant 20th century stoneware ceramic table lamp Circa 1980 Shiny black ceramic glaze color Original parfect condition Signed at the base Electrical...
Category
Late 20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Ceramic
Marianna von Allesch Abstract Design Lamp with Original Shade
By Marianna von Allesch
Located in Asbury Park, NJ
Wonderful abstract designed lamp from Marianna von Allesch. This lamp retains is original green/brown shade. This piece is stunning in person. Shade is 21.75 x 16 x 16 Overall heig...
Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Ceramic
Vintage Hand-Painted Studio Pottery Ceramic Table Lamp with Abstract Motif
Located in W Allenhurst, NJ
A charming vintage ceramic table lamp featuring a softly tapered bell-form body finished in a warm ivory glaze. Hand-painted floral decoration in shades of green and pink lends a han...
Category
Mid-20th Century Table Lamps
Materials
Pottery
Pair of Freeform Marble and Brass Abstract Sculptural Table Lamps
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Pair of mid-century marble and brass abstract "S" shape sculptural table lamps.
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Brass
1970s Artistic Table Lamp Abstract Modern Leather Wrapped Metal
$520Sale Price|20% Off
1970s Artistic Table Lamp Abstract Modern Leather Wrapped Metal
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Chula Vista, CA
1970s Artistic Table Lamp Modern Design Leather Wrapped with Top Stitching Approximately 19.75H to socket x 8 x 8 One of a kind table lamp with metal shape frame wrapped in leather...
Category
Vintage 1970s Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal
Contemporary Abstract Wooden Standing Sculpture Floor Lamp by Flowlight Design
By Flowlight Design Ltd, Karson Wu
Located in Lawrenceville, GA
This is a Made to Order item! The solid wood half-arc carvings are intricately hollowed and meticulously hand-polished, revealing fine natural grain and evoking the presence of a sa...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary English Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
Materials
Brass
Raymor Italian Hand Glazed Colorful Abstract Ceramic Table Lamp
$1,687Sale Price|25% Off
Raymor Italian Hand Glazed Colorful Abstract Ceramic Table Lamp
By Raymor
Located in Chicago, IL
Colorful Italian hand thrown and glazed bottle form table lamp by Raymor. Beautifully and vibrantly colored in turquoise, saffron yellow, and persimmon orange over earthen tones. Sig...
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Brass
1970s Desk Lamp Brown & Brass Abstract Mesh Layers, by Fase, Spain.
By Fase
Located in Andernach, DE
Mid-Century desk lamp – made in Spain, attributed to Fase. A genuine funky 1970s lamp, in original, beautiful condition. Made from dark brown plastic with a 'rugged' mesh finish & b...
Category
Mid-20th Century Spanish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Chrome
Black & Red Lacquer Abstract Clam Table Lamp, France 1960's
Located in New York, NY
Playful form. Original raffia shade available for $400. Inquire for images.
Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Lacquer
1960s Abstract Standard Lamp Sculpture by David Graves Figurative Handcrafted
Located in Sherborne, Dorset
This extraordinary and unique abstract standard lamp in copper, wood and cotton cloth is by renowned British artist David Graves, who was a sculptor, paper restorer and assistant to ...
Category
Mid-20th Century British Expressionist Floor Lamps
Materials
Copper, Wire
Abstract Orange Table Lamps Set of 2 Shaped Metal Sixties
$279Sale Price / set|50% Off
Abstract Orange Table Lamps Set of 2 Shaped Metal Sixties
Located in Poperinge, BE
Set of 2 abstract orange table lamps completely in space age style, night lights with a sleek design, made of orange lacquered bent metal, 60s, France. This set of lights is most li...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Space Age Table Lamps
Materials
Metal
Alain Blanchard circa 1970 Brown Abstract Stoneware Ceramic Table Lamp 20th
By La Borne Potters
Located in Neuilly-en- sancerre, FR
Alain Blanchard Original stoneware ceramic table lamp with abstract ceramic glaze decoration Perfect condition Signed under the base Height 44 cm Height with electrical ...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Ceramic
White and Colored Tubular Abstract Ceramic Table Lamp Midcentury Design, 1970
Located in Neuilly-en- sancerre, FR
White and colored ceramic table lamp Abstract ceramic freeform, circa 1970 Original perfect condition Electrical system is ok Measures: Height 39 cm, large 7cm.
Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Ceramic
Marian Zawadzki Abstract Sgraffito Floor Lamp 'The all-seeing Eye', 1966
By Marian Zawadzki
Located in Esbjerg, DK
A uniquely decorated ceramic floor lamp by the Polish immigrant, professor, artist and ceramist Marian Zawadzki (1933-2012). The motifs are one of a kind and some of the bases of the...
Category
Vintage 1960s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
Materials
Earthenware
Jacqueline and Tim Orr abstract brown ceramic table lamp circa 1970 27 cm
By Tim Orr
Located in Neuilly-en- sancerre, FR
Jacqueline and Tim Orr 20th century design brown ceramic porcelain table lamp Abstract ceramic form original perfect condition signed under the base Total height with electrica...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Ceramic, Porcelain
Rare "Lentille" Glazed Ceramic Lamp by Roset with Abstract Decoration France 70'
Located in ROUEN, FR
Rare "Lentille" glazed ceramic table lamp by Roset, France, circa 1970. The distinctive flattened body is decorated with an abstract composition in ochre, brown, and deep red tones,...
Category
Vintage 1970s French Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Ceramic
Abstract Brown and Blue Ceramic Table Lamp circa 1960 Perrot Vallauris
By Vallauris
Located in Neuilly-en- sancerre, FR
Vieux Moulin, Vallauris, by Perrot Abstract ceramic table, handmade French ceramic. Elegant brown and blue decor. Signed at the base. Mid-20th century design realized, ci...
Category
20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Ceramic
French Abstract Limestone Table Lamp with Yellow Shade by Albert Tormus, 1960s
Located in Chicago, IL
A French abstract limestone table lamp by Albert Tormus, dating to the 1960s. The base is carved from pale limestone, its organic, asymmetrical form punctuated by a central void that...
Category
Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Stone
Kelby Ceramic Table Lamp in Black, Green and Off-White Abstract Pattern
$3,360Sale Price|30% Off
Kelby Ceramic Table Lamp in Black, Green and Off-White Abstract Pattern
By Kelby
Located in Dallas, TX
Add a touch of mid-century modern elegance to your space with the Kelby Ceramic Table Lamp.
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Ceramic
![ITALIAN OVOID GLASS Table Lamps - Raised Gilt & Black Abstract Motifs [PAIR]](https://a.1stdibscdn.com/archivesE/upload/1121189/f_85270031505732757369/8527003_master.jpg?width=240)
![ITALIAN OVOID GLASS Table Lamps - Raised Gilt & Black Abstract Motifs [PAIR]](https://a.1stdibscdn.com/archivesE/upload/f_28963/1505516949683/828_OVOID_BASE_master.jpg?width=240)
ITALIAN OVOID GLASS Table Lamps - Raised Gilt & Black Abstract Motifs [PAIR]
Located in Hawthorne, CA
Pair of Italian Mid-Century Frosted Glass Lamps with Gilt & Black Abstract Motif by MWM DESIGN INTERIORS.
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Glass
Lamp Table Sculpture Pine Abstract Figurative Organic Henry Moore High
Located in BUNGAY, SUFFOLK
A Henry Moore Inspired, pine, figurative, sculpture upcycled into a 17” high, table lamp - Unusual statement and conversation piece; injecting modernism and organic form and textu...
Category
Vintage 1940s English Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Pine
Brutalist Brass Table Lamp with Abstract Nail Applique Relief by Laurel
By Silas Seandel
Located in Chicago, IL
Brutalist brass table lamp with abstract nail applique relief by Laurel Some loss to brass finish towards bottom as shown. some minor pitting and patina aging. Sold sans shade. Styl...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Brutalist Table Lamps
Materials
Brass
Vintage Ceramic Abstract Figural Table, Desk Lamp By TYE Of California 1960's
$1,125Sale Price|25% Off
Vintage Ceramic Abstract Figural Table, Desk Lamp By TYE Of California 1960's
By TYE of California
Located in North Miami, FL
Mid Century Modern 1960's stone ceramic table or desk lamp has figural imagery in surround.
Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Ceramic
Abstract Figurative Solid Wood Floor Lamp Artisanal Hand-Carved Art Light JASTER
By Flowlight Design Ltd, Karson Wu
Located in Lawrenceville, GA
This is a Made to Order item! The piece is crafted from solid wood with geometric joinery, supported by a rotating column; the central surface is hand-sanded to reveal natural grain...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary English Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
Materials
Wood
Rare Yasha Heifetz Modernist Cerused Oak Abstract Dog Table Lamp USA 1950s
By Heifetz, Yasha Heifetz
Located in Troy, MI
A rare table lamp designed by Yasha Heifetz circa 1950s Titled "The Puppy" Abstract form sculpted of silver finished oak on a black base with original fiberglass shade and finial D...
Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Fiberglass, Oak
Brown Abstract Stoneware Ceramic Table Lamp by La Borne Potters circa 1980
By La Borne Potters
Located in Neuilly-en- sancerre, FR
La Borne potters Realised circa 1980 Original large stoneware ceramic table lamp XXth mid century design Brown stoneware color Signed at the base Electrical system...
Category
20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Ceramic
Shinny Red Ceramic Table Lamp Abstract Form by Vallauris circa 1960 Lighting
By Vallauris
Located in Neuilly-en- sancerre, FR
Vallauris French mid-20th century design ceramic table lamp 1950 lighting ceramic design Shinny red ceramic glaze color Original perfect condition Sold without lampsha...
Category
20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Ceramic
Black and Brown Abstract Ceramic Table Lamp by Jc Courjault for Queraluc
By Jean Claude Courjault
Located in Neuilly-en- sancerre, FR
Jean-Claude Courjault for Keraluc Elegant abstract ceramic table lamp by French artist Jean Claude Courjault Realised for Queraluc / unique piece Brown ceramic glaze color ...
Category
20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Ceramic
blue and grey abstract ceramic table lamp lighting design circa 1970 33 cm
Located in Neuilly-en- sancerre, FR
Circa 1970 Stoneware ceramic table lamp signed under the base 20th century lighting design Blue and grey abstract ceramic glazes colors Electrical system is ok Sold without lamp...
Category
20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Ceramic
Mid 20th Century brass sculptural floor lamp, heart shaped shade, bark finish
$2,051Sale Price|20% Off
Mid 20th Century brass sculptural floor lamp, heart shaped shade, bark finish
By Arnaldo Pomodoro
Located in Milano, IT
Offered for sale is a slender vintage floor lamp in solid brass, with finely hand-decorated base and lampshade and extruded body. The main body has a peculiar "gear" section, while t...
Category
Vintage 1950s Art Deco Abstract Sculptures
Materials
Brass
Abstract Modern Musician Sculpture by Austin Productions / Table Lamp Base
By (after) Pablo Picasso, Austin Productions
Located in Chicago, IL
Abstract Modern Musician Sculpture by Austin Productions. Sculpture has a hairline damage weak spot. Needs to be handled carefully as it flexes slightly. It almost seems like the ha...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Modern Abstract Sculptures
Materials
Plaster
Abstract Floor Ceramic Lamp Base in Stoneware Pottery, circa 1970
Located in Neuilly-en- sancerre, FR
French handmade ceramic. Abstract modern form for this lamp base, circa 1970. Electric system is new. Beautiful grey ceramic glaze. Dimensions: 50 x 30 x 30cm with elect...
Category
Late 20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Abstract Sculptures
Materials
Ceramic
Heinz Llienthal, Stained Glass, Abstract work, Unique Piece 1990
By Heinz Lilienthal
Located in L’ISLE-SUR-LA-SORGUE, FR
Heinz Lilienthal (1927–2006) – Stained Glass, Unique Piece A true master of light, Heinz Lilienthal emerged after 1945 as one of the leading innovators of modern stained glass. His ...
Category
1990s German Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
Materials
Stained Glass
Large 25cm Abstract pattern Ceramic Table Light by Bitossi attrib., Italy, 1970s
By Bitossi
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article: Ceramic table light base Producer: attributed to BITOSSI, Italy Decade: 1970s This original vintage ceramic Pottery light base was produced by BITOSSI (attributed...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Pottery
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Mid Century Abstract Lamp For Sale on 1stDibs
With a vast inventory of beautiful furniture at 1stDibs, we’ve got just the mid century abstract lamp you’re looking for. A mid century abstract lamp — often made from ceramic, metal and brass — can elevate any home. Your living room may not be complete without a mid century abstract lamp — find older editions for sale from the 20th Century and newer versions made as recently as the 20th Century. When you’re browsing for the right mid century abstract lamp, those designed in Mid-Century Modern, Modern and Scandinavian Modern styles are of considerable interest. A well-made mid century abstract lamp has long been a part of the offerings for many furniture designers and manufacturers, but those produced by La Borne Potters, Laurel Lamp Company and Marcello Fantoni are consistently popular.
How Much is a Mid Century Abstract Lamp?
The average selling price for a mid century abstract lamp at 1stDibs is $1,650, while they’re typically $245 on the low end and $12,500 for the highest priced.
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
- Emerged during the mid-20th century
- Informed by European modernism, Bauhaus, International style, Scandinavian modernism and Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture
- A heyday of innovation in postwar America
- Experimentation with new ideas, new materials and new forms flourished in Scandinavia, Italy, the former Czechoslovakia and elsewhere in Europe
CHARACTERISTICS OF MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN
- Simplicity, organic forms, clean lines
- A blend of neutral and bold Pop art colors
- Use of natural and man-made materials — alluring woods such as teak, rosewood and oak; steel, fiberglass and molded plywood
- Light-filled spaces with colorful upholstery
- Glass walls and an emphasis on the outdoors
- Promotion of functionality
MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNERS TO KNOW
- Charles and Ray Eames
- Eero Saarinen
- Milo Baughman
- Florence Knoll
- Harry Bertoia
- Isamu Noguchi
- George Nelson
- Danish modernists Hans Wegner and Arne Jacobsen, whose emphasis on natural materials and craftsmanship influenced American designers and vice versa
ICONIC MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNS
- Eames lounge chair
- Nelson daybed
- Florence Knoll sofa
- Egg chair
- Womb chair
- Noguchi coffee table
- Barcelona chair
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.
Finding the Right Table-lamps for You
Antique table lamps became a category of their own once electricity moved light off the wall and onto furniture. The form split quickly: task-driven designs like the Anglepoise on one side, decorative ceramic and glass on the other.
Styles to Know
Base material shapes the light as much as the shade does: ceramic and glass diffuse a softer glow, while brass and metal read more directional. Layer the look with a mid-century modern floor lamp for ambient light, or set a pair on a mid-century modern nightstand for a bedroom.
How to Choose the Right Vintage Table Lamp
Buying individually rather than as a pair allows more flexibility when mixing eras across a room. For those shopping by name rather than by shape, the history of the Anglepoise lamp is worth a read. Each piece comes from a vetted 1stDibs seller, with era, designer and condition detailed, and the 1stDibs Promise stands behind every purchase.
Read More
This Paavo Tynell Chandelier Is a Radiant Bouquet
The alluring pendant light exemplifies the designer’s winsome mid-career work.
Why Is Italy Such a Hotbed of Cool Design?
Patrizio Chiarparini of Brooklyn’s Duplex gallery sheds light on the lasting legacy of Italy’s postwar furniture boom.
See How New York City Designers Experiment on Their Own Homes
There are many lessons to be learned from the lofts, apartments and townhouses of architects and decorators in Manhattan and beyond.
Jeff Andrews Captures Old Hollywood Glamour in His Cinematic Spaces
Having created extravagant homes for reality TV’s biggest stars, the designer is stepping into the spotlight with his first book.
New Orleans’ Lee Ledbetter Makes Design Magic by Mixing Past and Present
The Louisiana-born and -bred architect talks to 1stdibs about the art of making timeless places that matter.
Desert Modern Designer Arthur Elrod Finally Gets His Day in the Sun
The Palm Springs interior decorator developed a mid-century style that defined the vacation homes of celebrities and other notables, including Bob Hope and Lucille Ball.
From the Hamptons to Palm Springs, FormArch’s Homes Embody Both Comfort and Cool
The houses from this New York studio cloak modernist tendencies within what are often more traditional trappings.
8 Mid-Century Lighting Makers
In the market for a fantastic fixture from the 1940s, ’50s or ’60s? Here are some names to know.
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Guido Gambone On Sale
Biomorphic Wood Lamp
Haeger Pink Pottery
Henry Moore Plaster
Raymor Pottery Horse
Abstract Stone Dining Table
Quimper Lamp
Berger Table Lamps
Karl Springer Mushroom Lamp
Lamp Vaga
Lars Bessfelt
Lars Gunnar Nordstrom
Latticino Lamps
Laurel Cylinder Lamp
Laurel I Beam Lamp
Ledu Lamp
Ledu Sweden
Leeazanne Lamp