How do you identify mid century lamps?

To identify mid-century lamps, look for a manufacturer's label or stamp on the base or the shade. You can use trusted online resources to determine when the company or artisan was active. Some lamps may also have a date stamp that you can use for identification purposes. Pieces dating from the late 1950s through the early 1970s are mid-century in terms of their age. A mid-century modern lamp will show off hallmarks of the design style, such as curvy hourglass or globe forms. A certified appraiser or experienced antiques dealer may also be able to help with the identification. Find a range of mid-century lamps on 1stDibs.

Mid Century Cork Lamps

Milo Baughman Wood Lamp

Ingo Maurer Cork Lamp

Cork And Chrome Lamp

Three Assorted Midcentury Cork Lamps Of Various Size And Form.

$425 / item

Three Assorted Midcentury Cork Lamps Of Various Size And Form.

Located in Buchanan, MI

Three assorted midcentury cork lamps of various size and form. Priced per lamp. Heights range in 18

Category

Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Cork, Wood

Mid-Century Cork Lamps

$1,200 / set

Mid-Century Cork Lamps

Located in Brooklyn, NY

Pair of mid-century modern table lamps with cork base and rope necks. Great addition to any modern

Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Cork

1960s Laurel Lighting Mid Century Modern Cork/Teak/Metal Table Lamp

$325

1960s Laurel Lighting Mid Century Modern Cork/Teak/Metal Table Lamp

By Laurel Lamp Company

Located in Miami, FL

From the famed Laurel Lamp Company of New Jersey, a stylish cork/teak/black metal Mid Century

Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Metal

Mid 20th Century Mid Century Cork Table Lamps, a Pair

$1,390 / set

Mid 20th Century Mid Century Cork Table Lamps, a Pair

Located in Wheat Ridge, CO

A pair of striking mid-century table lamps that capture the organic warmth and sculptural elegance

Category

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

Materials

Metal

Cork and Ceramic Mid-Century Modern Table Lamp

$550

Cork and Ceramic Mid-Century Modern Table Lamp

Located in Fulton, CA

Unusual combination of cork and ceramic on this 1950's Mid-Century Modern table lamp. Mottled or

Category

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

Materials

Ceramic, Cork

Mid-Century Cork and Ceramic Table Lamp

$650

Mid-Century Cork and Ceramic Table Lamp

Located in Carmel, NY

1970s Cork and wood table lamp in a square pillar shape. Amazing textures with the smooth wood and

Category

Vintage 1970s Table Lamps

Materials

Wood, Cork

Pair of Mid-Century Cork and Table Lamps

$2,722 / set

Pair of Mid-Century Cork and Table Lamps

Located in Antwerp, BE

Pair of Mid-Century cubist shaped cork table lamps (Priced as pair). Total height with the fitting

Category

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

Materials

Cork

Mid Century Modern Pair of Cork table Lamps

$1,800 / set

Mid Century Modern Pair of Cork table Lamps

Located in Philadelphia, PA

Mid Century Modern Pair of Cork table Lamps. 1960's

Category

Vintage 1960s Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Cork

Modernist Cork and Brass Lamps Mid Century Modern

$1,450 / set

Modernist Cork and Brass Lamps Mid Century Modern

Located in Atlanta, GA

Modernist cork and brass table lamps, American, circa 1950s. Rewired and ready to use. The lamp

Category

Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Brass

Mid-Century Cork and Teak Table Lamp, Sculptural Design, Vintage Style

$476Sale Price|20% Off

Mid-Century Cork and Teak Table Lamp, Sculptural Design, Vintage Style

Located in Trenton, NJ

A sophisticated example of mid-century lighting, this table lamp combines a teardrop cork base with

Category

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

Materials

Wood, Cork

Mid-century Modern Craftsman Style Wood, Cork Table Lamps, Pair

$2,800

Mid-century Modern Craftsman Style Wood, Cork Table Lamps, Pair

Located in Miami, FL

Mid-century Modern Craftsman Style Wood, Cork Table Lamps, Pair Offered for sale is s pair of mid

Category

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

Materials

Brass

Vintage Mid Century Modern Chrome & Cork Round Sculpted Table Lamps - a Pair

$950 / set

Vintage Mid Century Modern Chrome & Cork Round Sculpted Table Lamps - a Pair

Located in Philadelphia, PA

Vintage Mid Century Modern Chrome & Cork Round Sculpted Table Lamps - a Pair. Circa Mid 20th

Category

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

Materials

Chrome

Vintage Mid Century Modern Bulbous Cork & Wood Sculptural Table Lamps - a Pair

$795 / set

Vintage Mid Century Modern Bulbous Cork & Wood Sculptural Table Lamps - a Pair

Located in Philadelphia, PA

Vintage Mid Century Modern Bulbous Cork & Wood Sculptural Table Lamps - a Pair. Circa Mid 20th

Category

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

Materials

Metal

Vintage Mid Century Modern Small Chrome & Cork Space Age Retro Table Lamp

$210

Vintage Mid Century Modern Small Chrome & Cork Space Age Retro Table Lamp

Located in Philadelphia, PA

Vintage Mid Century Modern Small Chrome & Cork Space Age Retro Table Lamp. Circa Mid 20th Century

Category

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

Materials

Chrome

Cork Lamp

$2,499

Cork Lamp

Located in London, GB

Sourced in Germany, this table lamp showcases a unique design with its base and shade crafted from

Category

Vintage 1970s German Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Metal

Pair of Mid-Century Modern Plexi with Cork Table Lamps

$1,995 / set

Pair of Mid-Century Modern Plexi with Cork Table Lamps

By Chromalite

Located in Port Jervis, NY

Fabulous pair of late 1960s-early 1970s lamps. Original shades with plexi and cork that match the

Category

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

Materials

Steel

Vintage Mid-Century Modern Cork and Brass Table Lamp, Unique Design

$360Sale Price|20% Off

Vintage Mid-Century Modern Cork and Brass Table Lamp, Unique Design

Located in Trenton, NJ

This vintage cork and brass table lamp combines natural materials with sculptural form in a way

Category

Late 20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Metal

Pair of Mid-Century Modern Cork and Brass Table Lamps

$2,950 / set

Pair of Mid-Century Modern Cork and Brass Table Lamps

Located in New York, NY

Pair of midcentury 1970s Egg shaped brass and cork table lamps. The lamps have been Newly rewired

Category

Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Brass

Pair! Monumental Cork Mid Century Modern Decorative Lamps 1960s Wood Art

$3,600Sale Price / set|20% Off

Pair! Monumental Cork Mid Century Modern Decorative Lamps 1960s Wood Art

By Raymor

Located in Peoria, AZ

SENSATIONAL! PAIR MID CENTURY DECORATIVE CORK TABLE LAMPS In the Manner of Raymor MID CENTURY

Category

Mid-20th Century American Arts and Crafts Table Lamps

Materials

Metal

American Mid-Century Smoked Glass and Cork Table Lamp

$745

American Mid-Century Smoked Glass and Cork Table Lamp

Located in Queens, NY

American Mid-Century table lamp with a square smoked glass base with cork inSets and brass trip and

Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Brass

Mid Century Modern Sculptural Gourd Shaped Cork with Walnut Table Lamps C1960

$2,395 / set

Mid Century Modern Sculptural Gourd Shaped Cork with Walnut Table Lamps C1960

Located in Port Jervis, NY

Spectacular and monumental in size, 36 inch to the top of the socket by 12 inch in diameter. Cork

Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Brass

Pair of Sculptural Mid-Century Modern Polished Brass and Cork Table Lamps

$6,475 / set

Pair of Sculptural Mid-Century Modern Polished Brass and Cork Table Lamps

Located in New York, NY

classic Mid-Century Modern to contemporary. They have been newly rewired to American standards and are in

Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Brass

Mid-Century Modern Cork Look Stone Lamps, 1970s, Set of 2

$3,581 / set

Mid-Century Modern Cork Look Stone Lamps, 1970s, Set of 2

Located in Antwerp, BE

Mid-Century Modern Cork Look Stone Lamps, 1970s, Set of 2 Pair of 1970s Mid-Century Modern table

Category

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

Materials

Cast Stone, Metal

Pair of Mid-Century Modern Cork and Chrome Table Lamps of Bottle Form

$2,250

Pair of Mid-Century Modern Cork and Chrome Table Lamps of Bottle Form

By Laurel

Located in Nantucket, MA

Large pair of MCM cork table lamps of bottle-form, the cork body is set on a circular chrome foot

Category

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

Materials

Chrome, Stainless Steel

Pair of Tall Cork Lamps

$1,400 / set

Pair of Tall Cork Lamps

Located in Brooklyn, NY

Mid-Century Modern cork lamps with original shades and decorative colored ceramics. (Please

Category

Vintage 1960s Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Cork

Cork Floor Lamp from USA

$4,800

Cork Floor Lamp from USA

Located in Sagaponack, NY

A monumental cork floor lamp with brass stem and cork pulls. Vintage shade included. Some

Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Brass

Milo Baughman Style Cork Table Lamp

$1,293Sale Price|31% Off

Milo Baughman Style Cork Table Lamp

By Milo Baughman

Located in Van Nuys, CA

Milo Baughman style cork table lamp, circa 1950, with chromed steel stem and cork pulls. This 14.5

Category

Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Chrome

French Midcentury Cork and Chrome Table Lamp

$1,100

French Midcentury Cork and Chrome Table Lamp

Located in Burton, TX

This French midcentury Cork and Chrome Table Lamp was made in the 1970s. The lamp features a square

Category

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

Materials

Chrome

Bottle Form Cork and Wood Table Lamp

$575

Bottle Form Cork and Wood Table Lamp

By Milo Baughman

Located in New York, NY

Bottle form cork and wood table lamp in good original working condition. Shade not included

Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Walnut, Cork

Bergboms Organic Table Lamp With Cork Shade, Sweden

$2,900

Bergboms Organic Table Lamp With Cork Shade, Sweden

By Bergboms

Located in St.Petersburg, FL

of either Birch or Beech, with exposed cord, leather straps, and a cork shade. Lamp could work in so

Category

Vintage 1960s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Leather, Beech, Cork

Table Lamp in Cork and Brass, Italy, 1970s

$1,355

Table Lamp in Cork and Brass, Italy, 1970s

Located in Rome, IT

Table lamp with a particular base in cork and brass, made in Italy, 1970s.

Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Metal, Brass

1960s Sculptural Table Desk Lamp Cork and Walnut Laurel Lamp Co

$250

1960s Sculptural Table Desk Lamp Cork and Walnut Laurel Lamp Co

By Laurel

Located in Chula Vista, CA

1960s Sculptural Cork and Walnut Table Desk Lamp Brass Base unmarked attributed Laurel Lamp Co 14.5

Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Brass, Steel

Danish Modern Cork Lamp Lynard of California and Septor

$525

Danish Modern Cork Lamp Lynard of California and Septor

Located in W Allenhurst, NJ

Striking Sculptural Danish Modern Lamp in Cork and Walnut Wood base. Manufactures label, LYNARD of

Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Metal

Swedish, Large Table Lamp, Stained Pine, Cork, Sweden, 1950s

$2,600

Swedish, Large Table Lamp, Stained Pine, Cork, Sweden, 1950s

Located in High Point, NC

A very large table lamp designed and produced in Sweden, 1950s. In solid stained pine. Stained cork

Category

Vintage 1970s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Pine, Cork

American Designer, Floor Lamp, Cork, Wood, Brass, Fabric, USA, 1970s

$5,800

American Designer, Floor Lamp, Cork, Wood, Brass, Fabric, USA, 1970s

Located in High Point, NC

A cork, brass, black-painted wood and cream-white fabric floor lamp designed and produced in the US

Category

Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps

Materials

Brass

Holm Sørensen Large Table Lamp in Cork and Brass, Denmark

$680

Holm Sørensen Large Table Lamp in Cork and Brass, Denmark

By Holm Sørensen

Located in Lège Cap Ferret, FR

Very nice lamp stand from Holm Sørensen from the 1960s. In cork with the top and bottom of the

Category

Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Brass

Cork and Stainless Steel Floor Lamp in the Style of Paul Evans

$1,450

Cork and Stainless Steel Floor Lamp in the Style of Paul Evans

By Paul Evans

Located in Philadelphia, PA

Expertly crafted in the style of renowned designer Paul Evans, this floor lamp combines the warmth

Category

Mid-20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps

Materials

Cork

Cork & Chrome "B-170" Table Lamp by Bergboms, Sweden, 1970s

$2,178

Cork & Chrome "B-170" Table Lamp by Bergboms, Sweden, 1970s

By Bergboms

Located in Barcelona, ES

Rare, clean and amusing design by Bergboms. Model name B-170. The shade made out of natural cork

Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Chrome

Italian Ceramic Table Lamp by Aldo Londi with Cork Lampshade, 1960

$2,299

Italian Ceramic Table Lamp by Aldo Londi with Cork Lampshade, 1960

By Bitossi, Aldo Londi

Located in Morazzone, Varese

Gorgeous tall table lamp handmade of big and heavy ceramic base in dark anthracite - brown color

Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Ceramic, Pottery, Cork

Pair of Laurel Lamps

$1,250 / set

Pair of Laurel Lamps

By Laurel Lamp Company

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Pair of monumental laurel table lamps with cork and brushed aluminum.

Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Aluminum

Mid Century Iron Lamp with Wicker Shade

$5,200

Mid Century Iron Lamp with Wicker Shade

Located in New York, NY

A circa 1950's Italian iron lamp with cork feet and woven wicker shade. Measurements: Height

Category

Vintage 1950s Italian Floor Lamps

Materials

Iron

Paul Frankl, Pair of Ridged Cork Table Lamps, United States, C. 1950

$19,500 / set

Paul Frankl, Pair of Ridged Cork Table Lamps, United States, C. 1950

By Paul Frankl

Located in New York, NY

While best known for his architectural practice—which played integral roles in the restoration of the Statue of Liberty, re-imagining of the Ritz in Paris, and designing the interior...

Category

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

Materials

Metal

Pair of Modernera Cork and Brass Tripod Table Lamps with Fiberglass Shades

$3,200 / set

Pair of Modernera Cork and Brass Tripod Table Lamps with Fiberglass Shades

Located in Brooklyn, NY

Pair of sculptural tables lamps with original fiberglass parchment shades by Modernera (USA, 1950s

Category

Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Brass

Lynard of California Cork Crackled Glass Walnut Atomic Era Modern Egg Table Lamp

$2,500

Lynard of California Cork Crackled Glass Walnut Atomic Era Modern Egg Table Lamp

Located in Philadelphia, PA

Vintage Lynard of California Cork Crackled Glass Walnut Atomic Era Modern Egg Table Lamp. Item

Category

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

Materials

Glass, Acrylic, Walnut

Naturel table lamp travertine base cork shade in the style of Studio CE.

$2,904

Naturel table lamp travertine base cork shade in the style of Studio CE.

Located in Mortsel, BE

crowning glory of this piece is its cork shade, a choice that enhances the lamp's innate connection to the

Category

Late 20th Century Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Travertine, Brass

Rare Cork and Row Silk Table Lamp by Ingo Maurer for Design M, 1970s

$5,808 / item

Rare Cork and Row Silk Table Lamp by Ingo Maurer for Design M, 1970s

By Ingo Maurer, M Design

Located in Wiesbaden, Hessen

Rare early cork table lamp by Ingo Maurer for Design M, 1970s, Germany. Executed in cork and raw

Category

Vintage 1970s German Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Cork, Silk

German Cork Table Lamp in the Style of Ingo Maurer, 1960s, Germany

$4,598

German Cork Table Lamp in the Style of Ingo Maurer, 1960s, Germany

By Stilnovo

Located in Hagenbach, DE

the table lamps made by Ingo Maurer. It is made of cork. The light requires one E27 (US E26) light

Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Marble, Metal, Brass

German Glass and Faux Cork Floor or Table Lamp by Ingo Maurer for M Design, 60s

$5,861

German Glass and Faux Cork Floor or Table Lamp by Ingo Maurer for M Design, 60s

By Ingo Maurer

Located in Hamburg, DE

the lamp a factual appearance and creates a special shadow game. The umbrella is covered with a cork

Category

20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps

Materials

Metal

Italian 1950s Amber & Green Sommerso Blown Glass Table Lamp

$1,200

Italian 1950s Amber & Green Sommerso Blown Glass Table Lamp

By Archimede Seguso

Located in Montclair, NY

elegant blown glass and a bronze patina metal base, typical of mid-century design. The summerso style of

Category

Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Bronze

James Harvey Crate T-3-C Lamp

$15,900

James Harvey Crate T-3-C Lamp

By James Harvey

Located in New York, NY

Table Lamp, model T-3-C, in spun aluminum, enameled metal, steel, cork. Designed by James Harvey

Category

Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Aluminum, Steel

Albano Poli for Poliarte Italian Midcentury Lamp

$2,226Sale Price|20% Off

Albano Poli for Poliarte Italian Midcentury Lamp

By Albano Poli, Poliarte

Located in bari, IT

Beautiful table lamp from the 1970s Italian design by Albano Poli for Poliarte. At the end of the

Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Iron

Restored Pair of Vintage Smoked Glass and Chrome Lamps

$4,950 / set

Restored Pair of Vintage Smoked Glass and Chrome Lamps

Located in Atlanta, GA

A stellar pair of vintage modern lamps, circa 1970. Fluted smoked glass with chrome and black

Category

Vintage 1970s Unknown Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Chrome, Nickel

ML3 Table Lamp by Ingo Maurer for M-Design, Germany 1960's

$1,400

ML3 Table Lamp by Ingo Maurer for M-Design, Germany 1960's

By Ingo Maurer

Located in Malibu, CA

ML3 Table Lamp by Ingo Maurer for M-Design with original cork lampshade. Black glass base and

Category

Vintage 1960s German Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Chrome

Large 1960s Italian Purple Murano Glass Table or Floor Lamp

$2,178

Large 1960s Italian Purple Murano Glass Table or Floor Lamp

By Murano 5

Located in bergen op zoom, NL

An impressive purple Murano bubble glass vase has been transformed to a lamp base This Italian

Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Blown Glass, Cork

Cork and Walnut Hanging Lamp from USA

$3,600

Cork and Walnut Hanging Lamp from USA

Located in Sagaponack, NY

A well scaled and unusual hanging pendant lamp having sculptural cork ends capped with turned wood

Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants

Materials

Cork, Wood

Edward Wormley for Dunbar 1947 Cork Surfaced Mahogany Lamp Table

$1,650

Edward Wormley for Dunbar 1947 Cork Surfaced Mahogany Lamp Table

By Edward Wormley

Located in Sharon, CT

Early and important Edward Wormley designed for Dunbar Cork Topped 'Lamp Table', Factory Number

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Tables

Materials

Mahogany

Pair of Cork Table Lamps, Paul Frankl, United States, Circa 1950

$19,500 / set

Pair of Cork Table Lamps, Paul Frankl, United States, Circa 1950

By Paul Frankl

Located in New York, NY

While best known for his architectural practice—which played integral roles in the restoration of the Statue of Liberty, re-imagining of the Ritz in Paris, and designing the interior...

Category

Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Metal

Lighting Under $1,000

Antique and Vintage Lighting

Mid-Century Modern Lighting

20th Century Lighting

Wood Lighting

Lighting on Sale

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Mid Century Cork Lamps For Sale on 1stDibs

There is a range of mid century cork lamps for sale on 1stDibs. Each of these unique mid century cork lamps was constructed with extraordinary care, often using wood, cork and metal. Mid century cork lamps have long been popular, with older editions for sale from the 19th Century and newer versions made as recently as the 21st Century. There are many kinds of mid century cork lamps to choose from, but at 1stDibs, Mid-Century Modern and Scandinavian Modern mid century cork lamps are of considerable interest. There have been many well-made mid century cork lamps over the years, but those made by Ingo Maurer, Laurel Lamp Company and Wilhelm Zannoth are often thought to be among the most beautiful.

How Much are Mid Century Cork Lamps?

The average selling price for at 1stDibs is $1,200, while they’re typically $125 on the low end and $6,475 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

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

Well-crafted antique and vintage table lamps do more than provide light; the right fixture-and-table combination can add a focal point or creative element to any interior.

Proper table lamps have long been used for lighting our most intimate spaces. Perfect for lighting your nightstand or reading nook, table lamps play an integral role in styling an inviting room. In the years before electricity, lamps used oil. Today, a rewired 19th-century vintage lamp can still provide a touch of elegance for a study.

After industrial milestones such as mass production took hold in the Victorian era, various design movements sought to bring craftsmanship and innovation back to this indispensable household item. Lighting designers affiliated with Art Deco, which originated in the glamorous roaring ’20s, sought to celebrate modern life by fusing modern metals with dark woods and dazzling colors in the fixtures of the era. The geometric shapes and gilded details of vintage Art Deco table lamps provide an air of luxury and sophistication that never goes out of style.

After launching in 1934, Anglepoise lamps soon became a favorite among modernist architects and designers, who interpreted the fixture as “a machine for lighting,” just as Le Corbusier had reimagined the house as “a machine for living in.” The popular task light owed to a collaboration between a vehicle-suspension engineer by the name of George Carwardine and a West Midlands springs manufacturer, Herbert Terry & Sons.

Some mid-century modern table lamps, particularly those created by the likes of Joe Colombo and the legendary lighting artisans at Fontana Arte, bear all the provocative hallmarks associated with Space Age design. Sculptural and versatile, the Louis Poulsen table lamps of that period were revolutionary for their time and still seem innovative today.

If you are looking for something more contemporary, industrial table lamps are demonstrative of a newly chic style that isn’t afraid to pay homage to the past. They look particularly at home in any rustic loft space amid exposed brick and steel beams.

Before you buy a desk lamp or table lamp for your living room, consider your lighting needs. The Snoopy lamp, designed in 1967, or any other “banker’s lamp” (shorthand for the Emeralite desk lamps patented by H.G. McFaddin and Company), provides light at a downward angle that is perfect for writing, while the Fontana table lamp and the beloved Grasshopper lamp by Greta Magnusson-Grossman each yield a soft and even glow. Some table lamps require lampshades to be bought separately.

Whether it’s a classic antique Tiffany table lamp, a Murano glass table lamp or even a bold avant-garde fixture custom-made by a contemporary design firm, the right table lamp can completely transform a room. Find the right one for you on 1stDibs.

Questions About Mid Century Cork Lamps

How do you identify mid century lamps?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2023
To identify mid-century lamps, look for a manufacturer's label or stamp on the base or the shade. You can use trusted online resources to determine when the company or artisan was active. Some lamps may also have a date stamp that you can use for identification purposes. Pieces dating from the late 1950s through the early 1970s are mid-century in terms of their age. A mid-century modern lamp will show off hallmarks of the design style, such as curvy hourglass or globe forms. A certified appraiser or experienced antiques dealer may also be able to help with the identification. Find a range of mid-century lamps on 1stDibs.

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