Is a tulip table mid century modern?

Yes, the tulip table is considered a mid-century modern design. This table shape has become an iconic statement of the era with a simple sculptural attitude and a practical nature. The first tulip table was created by Eero Saarinen, a noted Finnish designer who was a leader in mid-century modern home decor. Shop a collection of Saarinen furniture from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.

Mid Century Modern Octagon Table

Mid Century Glass And Chrome Table

Glass And Brass Coffee Table Octagonal

Octagonal Lamp

Mid Century X Base Table

Octagonal Pedestal

Harvey Probber Octagon Table

Octagon Wood Coffee Table

Octagon Furniture

Chrome and Clear Lucite Mid-Century Modern Octagonal Table Lamp, 1970s

$895

Chrome and Clear Lucite Mid-Century Modern Octagonal Table Lamp, 1970s

Located in Miami, FL

American Mid-Century Modern transparent Lucite / Acrylic table lamp with chrome details. Octagonal

Category

Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Metal, Brass

Scandinavian Design Octagonal Clock by Arne Bjerke

$280Sale Price|20% Off

Scandinavian Design Octagonal Clock by Arne Bjerke

Located in Skien, NO

Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern Octagonal Table Clock by Arne Bjerke Circa 1970s-1980s This

Category

Vintage 1970s Norwegian Scandinavian Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Oak

Table

$4,875

Table

Located in Los Angeles, CA

This mid-century modern octagonal table from Spain, combines functionality with a unique aesthetic

Category

Vintage 1940s Spanish Tables

Materials

Walnut

Mid-Century Modern Octagonal Coffee Table

$1,600

Mid-Century Modern Octagonal Coffee Table

Located in Brooklyn, NY

Nice mid-century table with a large octagonal top with plenty of room to kick up your feet and

Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Wood

Mid Century Modern Tomlinson Furniture Octagonal Side Table

$950

Mid Century Modern Tomlinson Furniture Octagonal Side Table

By Tomlinson

Located in Bridgeport, CT

A 1960's hexagonal side or end table by Tomlinson Furniture comprised of pecan with mahogany inlay

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Side Tables

Materials

Wood

1960s Mid-Century Modern Wood Octagonal Italian Side Table

$948

1960s Mid-Century Modern Wood Octagonal Italian Side Table

By Scandinavian Authentic Furniture ( SAF ), Ico Parisi

Located in Aci Castello, IT

-century modern furniture is known for its craftsmanship and elegant designs. The coffee table tabletop

Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Side Tables

Materials

Wood, Teak

Elegant Octagonal Brass End Table Mid Century Modern

$1,250

Elegant Octagonal Brass End Table Mid Century Modern

Located in Atlanta, GA

Elegant Brass and Glass End or Side Table, American, circa 1980s. Would be perfect as a drinks

Category

Vintage 1980s American Mid-Century Modern End Tables

Materials

Brass, Metal

Mid-Century Modern Octagonal Chrome and Glass Coffee Table

$1,600

Mid-Century Modern Octagonal Chrome and Glass Coffee Table

Located in Brooklyn, NY

Unusual Mid-Century Modern octagonal coffee table with a chrome frame and glass tabletop

Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Chrome

Vintage Mid Century Modern Sculpted Clear Lucite Octagonal Table Lamp

$850

Vintage Mid Century Modern Sculpted Clear Lucite Octagonal Table Lamp

Located in Philadelphia, PA

Vintage Mid Century Modern Sculpted Clear Lucite Table Lamp with Etched Detail, Scrolling Base, and

Category

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

Materials

Lucite

Mid-Century Modern Italian Octagonal Dining Table with Vienna Straw Base

$2,608

Mid-Century Modern Italian Octagonal Dining Table with Vienna Straw Base

Located in Prato, IT

Mid-Century Modern Italian octagonal top glass dining table with Vienna straw and brass base from

Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Tables

Materials

Brass

Vintage Lane Mid Century Modern Walnut Octagonal Stretcher Base Coffee Table

$750

Vintage Lane Mid Century Modern Walnut Octagonal Stretcher Base Coffee Table

Located in Philadelphia, PA

. Vintage Lane Mid Century Modern Walnut Octagonal Stretcher Base Coffee Table. Item features cross

Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Walnut

Stunning Chinoisiere Olivewood Octagon End Table, Mid-Century Modern

$1,750

Stunning Chinoisiere Olivewood Octagon End Table, Mid-Century Modern

By Milo Baughman

Located in Pemberton, NJ

Stunning Chinoisiere style olivewood octagon shaped end table cabinet. You will love the quality

Category

Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern End Tables

Materials

Brass

Mid-Century Cerused Oak Octagonal Center Table

$9,000

Mid-Century Cerused Oak Octagonal Center Table

Located in Queens, NY

Mid-century cerused oak pedestal base center / dining table having a round octagonal top with a

Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Center Tables

Materials

Metal

Newly Refinished - Pair of Mid-Century Modern Octagonal Walnut Side Tables

$1,750 / set

Newly Refinished - Pair of Mid-Century Modern Octagonal Walnut Side Tables

By Lane Furniture

Located in Los Angeles, CA

seamlessly be incorporated with many interior decors. Enjoy! 😁 This pair of mid-century walnut side tables

Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Side Tables

Materials

Walnut

Spanish Mid Century Modern Octagonal Side or Center Table in Walnut

$4,875

Spanish Mid Century Modern Octagonal Side or Center Table in Walnut

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Spanish mid-century modern octagonal side or center table in walnut. The design features two

Category

Vintage 1940s Spanish Mid-Century Modern Center Tables

Materials

Wood, Walnut

Mid-Century Modern Chrome Stacked Octagon Glass Coffee Table

$1,280Sale Price|47% Off

Mid-Century Modern Chrome Stacked Octagon Glass Coffee Table

Located in Esperance, NY

Mid-Century Modern chrome stacked octagon glass coffee table.

Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Stainless Steel

Round Octagon Glass Chrome Base Mid-Century Modern Dining Table

$2,800

Round Octagon Glass Chrome Base Mid-Century Modern Dining Table

By Milo Baughman

Located in Rockaway, NJ

Octagon glass chrome base Mid-Century Modern dining table.

Category

20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables

Materials

Chrome

Vintage Mid Century Modern Polished Chrome Metal Octagon Accent Side Table Base

$325

Vintage Mid Century Modern Polished Chrome Metal Octagon Accent Side Table Base

Located in Philadelphia, PA

Vintage Mid Century Modern Polished Chrome Metal Octagonal Accent Side Table Base (base only). Item

Category

Late 20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern Side Tables

Materials

Chrome

Mid-Century Octagonal Neo-Regency Chrome Cocktail Table

$1,800

Mid-Century Octagonal Neo-Regency Chrome Cocktail Table

Located in Brooklyn, NY

Bring bold vintage style and architectural elegance to your living space with this Mid-Century

Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Glass

Italian Florentine Black Gilt Octagon Coffee Table, Mid-Century Modern

$1,150

Italian Florentine Black Gilt Octagon Coffee Table, Mid-Century Modern

Located in Haddonfield, NJ

Fantastic octagonal black gilt Florentine coffee table. Perfect table for any classic or modern

Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Gold

Octagonal Lucite Base Glass Top Mid-Century Modern Round Coffee Table Mint

$2,600

Octagonal Lucite Base Glass Top Mid-Century Modern Round Coffee Table Mint

By Charles Hollis Jones

Located in Rockaway, NJ

Octagonal Lucite base glass top Mid-Century Modern round coffee table mint!

Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Center Tables

Materials

Brass

Brass Clad Octagon Shape Mid-Century Modern Pedestal

$1,600

Brass Clad Octagon Shape Mid-Century Modern Pedestal

By Mastercraft

Located in Rockaway, NJ

Mid-Century Modern brass-clad octagon shape custom made pedestal.

Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Pedestals

Materials

Brass

Mid Century Octagonal Travertine Coffee Table

$3,895

Mid Century Octagonal Travertine Coffee Table

Located in Franklin Park, IL

Mid Century Octagonal Travertine Coffee Table This coffee table measures: 60 wide x 36 deep x 16

Category

Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Travertine

Mid-Century Octagonal Travertine Dining Table Italy

$4,266

Mid-Century Octagonal Travertine Dining Table Italy

By Up&Up, Massimo and Lella Vignelli, Artedi, Angelo Mangiarotti

Located in DE MEERN, NL

- the Mid-Century Octagonal Travertine Dining Table from Italy, circa 1980s. This stunning piece exudes

Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables

Materials

Travertine

Mid-Century Modern Octagonal Slate Coffee Table, 1960s Paul Kingma Style

$1,754

Mid-Century Modern Octagonal Slate Coffee Table, 1960s Paul Kingma Style

By Paul Kingma

Located in Bochum, NRW

Mid-Century Modern slate stone coffee table. A rare Brutalist octagonal shaped slate coffee table

Category

Vintage 1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Slate

Mid Century Italian Modern Mixed Wood Octagonal Center Table or Dining Table

$3,900

Mid Century Italian Modern Mixed Wood Octagonal Center Table or Dining Table

Located in Philadelphia, PA

A gorgeous well made table with many possible uses. The table features a geometric design with

Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables

Materials

Wood

Mid-Century Modern Octagonal Two Tiered Side End Table Adrian Pearsall for Lane

$562Sale Price|25% Off

Mid-Century Modern Octagonal Two Tiered Side End Table Adrian Pearsall for Lane

By Lane Furniture, Adrian Pearsall

Located in Lambertville, NJ

Sculptural Mid-Century Modern octagonal side, end or drinks table by Lane Furniture. Sleek and

Category

Vintage 1970s Mid-Century Modern Side Tables

Materials

Wood

Handsome Pair Harvey Probber style Octagon Drum Side Tables Mid-Century Modern

$2,760Sale Price / set|20% Off

Handsome Pair Harvey Probber style Octagon Drum Side Tables Mid-Century Modern

By Harvey Probber

Located in Pemberton, NJ

Handsome pair of Harvey Probber style octagon-shaped drum tables with hidden storage inside

Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern End Tables

Materials

Marble, Brass

Mid-Century Italian octagonal Travertine Dining Table, 1980s

$3,317

Mid-Century Italian octagonal Travertine Dining Table, 1980s

Located in Meulebeke, BE

Italy / 1980 / Dining Table / Travertin / Mid-century This refined dining table from Italy

Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables

Materials

Travertine

Mid Century Modern Heavy "Stacked" Chrome Base Octagonal Glass Top Coffee Table

$2,600

Mid Century Modern Heavy "Stacked" Chrome Base Octagonal Glass Top Coffee Table

By Milo Baughman, Roger Sprunger, Gavina

Located in Rockaway, NJ

Mid century modern chrome and glass round octagon coffee table. Thick 3/4 inch glass top. Heavy

Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Chrome

Mid Century Modern Walnut X Base Inlayed Octagon Shape Coffee Table MINT!

$3,400

Mid Century Modern Walnut X Base Inlayed Octagon Shape Coffee Table MINT!

By Dunbar Furniture, Baker Furniture Company, Edward Wormley, Drexel, Henredon

Located in Rockaway, NJ

Mid Century Modern Walnut X Base Inlayed Octagon Shape Coffee Table MINT!

Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Brass

Wonderful Pair of Lane Octagon Glass Walnut Side End Tables Mid-Century Modern

$1,960Sale Price / set|20% Off

Wonderful Pair of Lane Octagon Glass Walnut Side End Tables Mid-Century Modern

By Lane Furniture

Located in Pemberton, NJ

Wonderful pair of Lane octagon shaped glass and walnut side end tables. This pair is in very nice

Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern End Tables

Materials

Glass, Walnut

Mid-Century Modern Sculptural Octagonal Marble Table Lamp T H Robsjohn Gibbings

$2,950

Mid-Century Modern Sculptural Octagonal Marble Table Lamp T H Robsjohn Gibbings

By Hansen Lighting Co., T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings

Located in Port Jervis, NY

Fabulous octagonal marble table attributed to T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings by Hansen Lighting Co. 3 way

Category

Vintage 1960s Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Carrara Marble, Brass

Mid Century Modern Chrome and Brass Faux Bamboo Octagonal Glass Top Coffee Table

$2,500

Mid Century Modern Chrome and Brass Faux Bamboo Octagonal Glass Top Coffee Table

Located in Philadelphia, PA

Mid Century Modern Chrome and Brass Faux Bamboo Octagonal Glass Top Coffee Table. Item features a

Category

Late 20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Brass, Copper

Mid-Century Octagonal Harvey Probber Travertine and Ebonized Wood Table

$2,500

Mid-Century Octagonal Harvey Probber Travertine and Ebonized Wood Table

By Harvey Probber

Located in Chicago, IL

Bold, geometric table designed and manufactured by Harvey Probber. It has a cross-hatch pedestal

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Center Tables

Materials

Travertine

Mid Century Pietra Dura Octagonal Coffee Cocktail Table

$1,275

Mid Century Pietra Dura Octagonal Coffee Cocktail Table

Located in W Allenhurst, NJ

Unique octagonal lacquer coffee or cocktail table wit Pietra Dura insert. Wonderful colors and

Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Marble

Pace Octagonal Mid-Century Modern Glass & Brass Coffee Table Heavy Glass Top

$2,500

Pace Octagonal Mid-Century Modern Glass & Brass Coffee Table Heavy Glass Top

By Pace Collection

Located in Miami, FL

Original Pace Collection Mid-Century Modern large elegant and very heavy cocktail table in brass

Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Brass

Mid Century Modern Octagonal Brass Base Glass Top Round Coffee Center Table MINT

$1,800

Mid Century Modern Octagonal Brass Base Glass Top Round Coffee Center Table MINT

By Design Institute America, Milo Baughman, Mastercraft, Dunbar Furniture

Located in Rockaway, NJ

Mid Century Modern Octagonal Brass Base Glass Top Round Coffee Center Table MINT

Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Brass

Mid Century Modern 60" Octagon 3/4" bevel Glass Top Brass Base Dining Table MINT

$6,100

Mid Century Modern 60" Octagon 3/4" bevel Glass Top Brass Base Dining Table MINT

By Mastercraft

Located in Rockaway, NJ

Mid Century Modern 60" Octagon 3/4" bevel Glass Top Brass Base Dining Table MINT

Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables

Materials

Brass

Mid-Century Modern Harvey Probber Card/Dining Table

$3,890

Mid-Century Modern Harvey Probber Card/Dining Table

By Harvey Probber

Located in Philadelphia, PA

Mid-Century Modern Harvey Probber walnut & travertine marble card / dining table. A beautiful

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Tables

Materials

Travertine

Mid-Century Octagonal Cipollino Ondulato Marble Coffee Table Italy

$3,553

Mid-Century Octagonal Cipollino Ondulato Marble Coffee Table Italy

Located in DE MEERN, NL

Elevate Your Space with a Mid-Century Octagonal Cipollino Ondulato Marble Coffee Table Introducing

Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Stone, Travertine, Marble

Octagonal Teak Side Table

$1,800

Octagonal Teak Side Table

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Octagonal teak side table with rosewood inlay and pedestal base. Dimensions 19.5” width x 19.5

Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Scandinavian Modern Side Tables

Materials

Rosewood, Teak

Beautiful Contemporary Modern Custom-Made Octagonal End Table

$1,200

Beautiful Contemporary Modern Custom-Made Octagonal End Table

Located in Brooklyn, NY

." This table makes the perfect addition to any modern interior. Please confirm item location (NY or NJ).

Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Side Tables

Materials

Wood

Mid-Century Outdoor Iron Woodard Sculptura Octagonal Low Profile Dining Table

$1,695

Mid-Century Outdoor Iron Woodard Sculptura Octagonal Low Profile Dining Table

By Woodard Furniture Co.

Located in Wilmington, DE

Mid-Century outdoor iron woodard sculptura octagonal dining table Offered is a mid-century outdoor

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables

Materials

Metal

Handsome French Octagonal Brass Rolling Bar Cart Mid-Century Modern

$1,400Sale Price|20% Off

Handsome French Octagonal Brass Rolling Bar Cart Mid-Century Modern

By Billy Baldwin

Located in Pemberton, NJ

Handsome French octagonal shaped two tiered bar cart in brass with acrylic wheels. This piece

Category

Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Carts and Bar Carts

Materials

Brass

Fabulous Pair Tomlinson Sophisticate style Octagon Drum End Table Mid-century

$3,080Sale Price / set|20% Off

Fabulous Pair Tomlinson Sophisticate style Octagon Drum End Table Mid-century

By Tomlinson

Located in Pemberton, NJ

Fabulous pair of Tomlinson Sophisticate style drum end tables. These are beyond fabulous with

Category

Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern End Tables

Materials

Marble

Vintage Mid Century Lucite Lamp Octagonal Brutalist

$2,200

Vintage Mid Century Lucite Lamp Octagonal Brutalist

Located in W Allenhurst, NJ

Classic mid century lucite lamp. Four octagonal columns suspended off of center column topped with

Category

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

Materials

Lucite

Italian Mid-Century Modern Carlo Ratti Attributed Angular Table

$3,300

Italian Mid-Century Modern Carlo Ratti Attributed Angular Table

By Carlo Ratti

Located in Forney, TX

A Mid-Century Modern dining / center table, Italy, circa 1960s, having a laminate octagonal

Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables

Materials

Iron

Sublime Mid Century Italian Octagonal Coffee / Cocktail Table *Free Delivery

$3,260

Sublime Mid Century Italian Octagonal Coffee / Cocktail Table *Free Delivery

By Midcentury Italian school

Located in Portlaoise, IE

A stunning original octagonal mid century Italian coffee/cocktail table dating from the 1950's and

Category

Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Hardwood, Paint

Mid-Century Modern Lucite Pedestal Side Table

$3,400

Mid-Century Modern Lucite Pedestal Side Table

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Striking mid-century modern pedestal table crafted entirely from clear Lucite, featuring a faceted

Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Modern Pedestals

Materials

Lucite

Rare Italian Mid Century Octagonal Bertoncello Rigon Table Lamp Vintage 1960s

$924

Rare Italian Mid Century Octagonal Bertoncello Rigon Table Lamp Vintage 1960s

By Bertoncello, Roberto Rigon

Located in Steinheim am Albuch, BW

Rare octagon shaped Roberto Rigon Bertoncello table light (probably based on the shape of a sea

Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Ceramic

American Modern Octagonal Chrome and Glass Coffee Table

$2,400

American Modern Octagonal Chrome and Glass Coffee Table

Located in Queens, NY

American Modern design coffee table with a three-tiered chrome base with a stretcher supporting and

Category

20th Century American Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Glass

Mid-Century Modern Iroko Topped Side Table with Cast Aluminium Base

$922

Mid-Century Modern Iroko Topped Side Table with Cast Aluminium Base

Located in London, England

Octagonal reclaimed iroko top paired with cast aluminium base. Once part of the Eames La Fonda

Category

Mid-20th Century Minimalist Side Tables

Materials

Aluminum

Midcentury Octagonal Side Table

$500Sale Price|20% Off

Midcentury Octagonal Side Table

Located in Baltimore, MD

A midcentury octagonal, chrome accent, side table / cabinet. This piece features an octagonal black

Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Side Tables

Materials

Smoked Glass, Walnut

Octagonal Coffee Table

$7,800

Octagonal Coffee Table

Located in New York, NY

Octagonal, stainless steel and brass coffee table with cross base and glass top.

Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Brass, Nickel

Vintage Round Carrara Marble Dining Table, Mid-Century Modern, Italy

$2,074

Vintage Round Carrara Marble Dining Table, Mid-Century Modern, Italy

Located in Linkebeek, BE

Vintage Round Marble Dining Table, 1970s - Ø113cm Carrara marble - octagonal table base Slightly

Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables

Materials

Marble

Midcentury Walnut Octagon Side / End Table

$975

Midcentury Walnut Octagon Side / End Table

By Harvey Probber

Located in Cincinnati, OH

A nice sized walnut octagon side / end table with arched legs and a white laminate top. The perfect

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Side Tables

Materials

Laminate, Walnut

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Mid Century Modern Octagon Table For Sale on 1stDibs

Find many varieties of an authentic mid century modern octagon table available at 1stDibs. A mid century modern octagon table — often made from wood, metal and glass — can elevate any home. Find 230 options for an antique or vintage mid century modern octagon table now, or shop our selection of 2 modern versions for a more contemporary example of this long-cherished piece. Your living room may not be complete without a mid century modern octagon table — find older editions for sale from the 19th Century and newer versions made as recently as the 21st Century. A mid century modern octagon table, designed in the Mid-Century Modern, Hollywood Regency or Modern style, is generally a popular piece of furniture. Many designers have produced at least one well-made mid century modern octagon table over the years, but those crafted by Harvey Probber, Baker Furniture Company and Foster-McDavid are often thought to be among the most beautiful.

How Much is a Mid Century Modern Octagon Table?

The average selling price for a mid century modern octagon table at 1stDibs is $2,500, while they’re typically $338 on the low end and $17,500 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

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 Tables for You

The right vintage, new or antique tables can help make any space in your home stand out.

Over the years, the variety of tables available to us, as well as our specific needs for said tables, has broadened. Today, with all manner of these must-have furnishings differing in shape, material and style, any dining room table can shine just as brightly as the guests who gather around it.

Remember, when shopping for a dining table, it must fit your dining area, and you need to account for space around the table too — think outside the box, as an oval dining table may work for tighter spaces. Alternatively, if you’ve got the room, a Regency-style dining table can elevate any formal occasion at mealtime.

Innovative furniture makers and designers have also redefined what a table can be. Whether it’s an unconventional Ping-Pong table, a brass side table to display your treasured collectibles or a Louis Vuitton steamer trunk to add an air of nostalgia to your loft, your table can say a lot about you.

The visionary work of French designer Xavier Lavergne, for example, includes tables that draw on the forms of celestial bodies as often as they do aquatic creatures or fossils. Elsewhere, Italian architect Gae Aulenti, who looked to Roman architecture in crafting her stately Jumbo coffee table, created clever glass-topped mobile coffee tables that move on bicycle tires or sculpted wood wheels for Fontana Arte.

Coffee and cocktail tables can serve as a room’s centerpiece with attention-grabbing details and colors. Glass varieties will keep your hardwood flooring and dazzling area rugs on display, while a marble or stone coffee table in a modern interior can showcase your prized art books and decorative objects. A unique vintage desk or writing table can bring sophistication and even a bit of spice to your work life.

No matter your desired form or function, a quality table for your living space is a sound investment. On 1stDibs, browse a collection of vintage, new and antique bedside tables, mid-century end tables and more .

Questions About Mid Century Modern Octagon Table

Is a tulip table mid century modern?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
Yes, the tulip table is considered a mid-century modern design. This table shape has become an iconic statement of the era with a simple sculptural attitude and a practical nature. The first tulip table was created by Eero Saarinen, a noted Finnish designer who was a leader in mid-century modern home decor. Shop a collection of Saarinen furniture from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.

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