Perforated Articulating Sconce
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Single delightful perforated articulating Mid-Century Modern reading sconce from 1950s Italy
Aluminum, Brass
Chapman Mid-Century Articulating Swing Arm Chrome Wall Sconce Reading LIght
By Chapman Manufacturing Company
Located in Toledo, OH
Chapman articulating swing arm chrome wall sconce reading light, with a press switch on the socket
Chrome
Large Perzel 1950s Reading Sconce
By Atelier Jean Perzel
Located in New York, NY
Jean Perzel (1892-1986) Rare swing arm reading sconce with enameled metal shade and inner glass
Brass
Mid-Century Modern Desk or Reading Wall Light Movable Chrome Arm and Black Shade
By BAG Turgi
Located in Schöfflisdorf, CH
Mid-Century Modern desk or reading wall light movable chrome arm and movable black shade.
Metal, Chrome
Hand-Woven Rattan & Brass Wall Sconce, Mid-Century Modern, Philippines
Located in Oxford, GB
Where craftmanship meets calm simplicity, the Shpere- Shaped Rattan & Brass Wall Sconce Each piece
Rattan
Mid-Century Modern Sphere Wicker & Brass Wall Sconce, Hand-Woven
Located in Oxford, GB
This exquisite Sphere Shaped Wicker & Brass Wall Sconce—a masterpiece of artisanal craftsmanship
Rattan
$800Sale Price / item|20% Off
Bitola Sculptural Brass Wall Sconce, Mid-Century Modern Lighting Design
Located in İstiklal, TR
BITOLA brass wall sconce, a striking mid-century modern lighting fixture that effortlessly blends
Brass
Rene Mathieu Maison Lunel Articulating Wall Sconces French Mid Century Modern
By Rene Mathieu, Maison Lunel
Located in Atlanta, GA
Elegant Pair of Articulating Wall Sconces, designed by Rene Mathieu for Maison Lunel, France, circa
Metal, Brass
Pair of Articulated Sconce Mid-Century Modern Solid Brass Black and White
By Stilnovo, Arredoluce, Gino Sarfatti
Located in Tavarnelle val di Pesa, Florence
This exquisite sconce is a nod to the timeless pieces crafted by mid-century modern Italian studios
Metal, Aluminum, Brass
$1,514Sale Price|30% Off
Mid Century Modern articulated wallight.
Located in London, GB
arm can be folded back against the wall if required. It makes an excellent reading light or light over
Brass
$313Sale Price|20% Off
Mid-Century Modern Swedish teak and brass Sconce, a Wall Lamp by Örsjö, Sweden
By Örsjö Industri AB
Located in Skarpnäck, SE
Vintage Swedish Mid-Century Modern Brass and Teak Wall Sconce by Örsjö A beautifully understated
Metal, Brass
1960s Danish Walnut & Glass Swing Arm Adjustable Reading Wall Sconce Lamp
By Lyfa, Vitrika, Louis Poulsen
Located in Bensalem, PA
Stunning, solid, walnut and frosted glass adjustable length wall lamp with dimmer switch installed please look at pictures for overall detail and feel free to reach out with any ques...
Blown Glass, Walnut
Mid-century Glass and wood Sconce, 1950's
Located in Lisboa, PT
For sale is a unique Scandinavian mid-century sconce from the 1950s, featuring a charming
Brass
$1,210Sale Price / set|20% Off
1950s Black Bed Reading / Wall Lights Sconces 'Model 8260' By Falkenberg Sweden.
By Falkenbergs Belysning
Located in Silvolde, Gelderland
Beautiful pair tubular reading lamps / wall lights 'model 8260' in hammered black combined with
Metal, Brass
Mid-Century Modernist Hansen Retractable Brass & Metal Sconce by Metalarte
By Metalarte, Hansen
Located in New York, NY
This Mid-Century Modernist retractable sconce, designed circa 1970 by Metalarte and attributed to
Brass
Walnut Mid-Century Danish Modern Gruvewood Wall Light
Located in Charleston, SC
Vintage Double Wall Sconce in Walnut and Metal With Fiberglass Shades. Great for a reading nook
Metal
$2,500 / set
Elska Wall Mount Reading Lamps
By Blueprint Lighting
Located in Westport, CT
Scandinavian, Danish, and Italian Mid-Century Modernism. Its walnut backplate and architectural brass fittings
Brass, Enamel
$2,700 / set
Elska Wall Mount Reading Lamps
By Blueprint Lighting
Located in Westport, CT
Scandinavian, Danish, and Italian Mid-Century Modernism. Its walnut backplate and architectural brass fittings
Brass, Enamel
Pair of Mid-Century Articulating Wall Sconces by George Hansen for Metarlarte
By George W. Hansen, Metalarte Spain
Located in New York, NY
This brilliant pair of Mid-Century Modernist Articulating Wall Sconces in Polished Brass by George
Brass
20th Century Gold Italian Brass Adjustable Reading Wall Lamp, Light by Stilnovo
By Stilnovo
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A gold-black, vintage Mid-Century Modern Italian reading wall lamp, light made of handcrafted
Metal, Aluminum, Brass
Stilnovo Wall Lights Italian mid century modern polished chrome shade
By Stilnovo
Located in Dronten, NL
practical lamp for reading or lighting up a piece of art. Marked with Stilnovo Milano label. Priced
Steel, Chrome
Mid-Century Modern Brass Wall Light with Painted Shade, Valinte, Finland, 1960s
By Valinte Oy
Located in Karis, Nyland
A Finnish mid-century wall light produced by Valinte Oy, featuring a long, wall-mounted brass arm
Aluminum, Brass
Italian mid-century modern metal wall lamp with directional arm, 1960s
Located in MIlano, IT
small corners or to create atmosphere, perfect for a reading corner or to place above a desk but it can
Metal
Pale Yellow Dutch Modern Wall Sconce / Table Lamp by Philips
By Philips
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Versatile adjustable Dutch reading / table lamp or wall sconce by Philips (ca. 1950s, Netherlands
Metal
'Monolith' Italian Reading Lamp Brass & Bright Blue Enamel Blueprint Lighting
By Stilnovo, Gino Sarfatti, Blueprint Lighting
Located in New York, NY
The Monolith sconce or wall-mount reading light with articulating arm and moveable head shown in
Brass, Bronze, Copper, Enamel, Chrome, Nickel, Aluminum
$1,650 / item
ShiLU Sconce
By Lumfardo Luminaires
Located in Los Angeles, CA
reading sconce crafted from patinated brass and steel hardware and fabric shade. Classic European Mid
Steel, Brass
Articulated Sconce Midcentury Modern Stilnovo Style Solid Brass Hand Gilt Shades
By Arredoluce, Stilnovo, Gino Sarfatti
Located in Tavarnelle val di Pesa, Florence
finish with a Mid-Century Modern shape. This beautiful sconce has three moving joints. On the
Metal, Aluminum, Brass, Gold Leaf
$1,480 / item
LURL Sconce
By Lumfardo Luminaires
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The versatile and elegant LURL Sconce by Lumfardo Luminaires is a mid-century Italian inspired wall
Aluminum, Brass
$1,420 / item
LUpipa Sconce
By Lumfardo Luminaires
Located in Los Angeles, CA
directional reading sconce in a patina brass finish. A smaller version of our LUbular sconce it is wired with
Brass
$1,400 / item
LUbular Sconce
By Lumfardo Luminaires
Located in Los Angeles, CA
directional reading sconce in a patina brass finish. Single E26 based socket per sconce. Maximum wattage 75
Brass
Pair of Brass Plated Adjustable Reading Wall Lights with Swing Arm, Italy 70s
By F. Fabbian, Florian Schulz
Located in Roma, IT
as wall sconces by the bed, but also to highlight by illuminating it, a painting or a sculpture. The
Metal
$1,460 / item
LUrman Sconce AS
By Lumfardo Luminaires
Located in Los Angeles, CA
reading sconce in an aged silver brass finish. Single E12 based socket. Maximum wattage 75 watts per
Brass
$1,450 / item
LUsneck Sconce
By Lumfardo Luminaires
Located in Los Angeles, CA
1950s Italian midcentury design, this sconce is ideal for reading areas or a bedside. 1 single E-26
Aluminum, Brass
'Solana' Wall Mount Reading Lamp in Walnut, Brass and Enamel, Blueprint Lighting
By Stilnovo, Gino Sarfatti, Arteluce
Located in New York, NY
The "Solana" wall mount sconce or reading light shown in Natural Brass and Perfect White enamel
Brass, Enamel, Aluminum
Scandinavian Mid-Century Wall Lamps
By EAE
Located in Karlstad, SE
, these lamps are ideal for bedside lighting, workspaces, or reading nooks. Their timeless aesthetic and
Brass
$1,450 / item
LUbular Sconce SN
By Lumfardo Luminaires
Located in Los Angeles, CA
reading sconce in a satin nickel finish. Single E26 based socket per sconce. Maximum wattage 75 watts per
Nickel
'Elska' Wall Mount Reading Lamp in Walnut, Brass & Enamel by Blueprint Lighting
By Gino Sarfatti, Stilnovo, George Nelson
Located in New York, NY
available--just ask! The "Elska" wall mount sconce or reading light shown in unlacquered brass and Perfect
Brass, Enamel, Aluminum
Danish Mid-Century Rosewood Scissor Wall Lamp, 1960s.
Located in Asaa, DK
Denmark in the 1960s. This iconic Mid-Century Modern lamp has an arm that extends up to 75 cm from the
Rosewood
Set of Two Articulated Wall Lamps or Reading Lights by Florian Schulz 1970s
By Florian Schulz
Located in Munich, DE
Set of two elegant and articulated brass bedside wall lamps or reading lights. Adjustable height
Brass, Nickel
Set of Two Articulated Wall Lamps or Reading Lights by Florian Schulz 1970s
By Florian Schulz
Located in Munich, DE
Set of two elegant and articulated brass bedside wall lamps or reading lights. Adjustable height
Brass, Nickel
$1,970 / set
Tuxedo Wall Sconces
By Blueprint Lighting
Located in Westport, CT
Introducing the Tuxedo Wall Sconce: a stunning embodiment of French and Italian Mid-Century
Brass, Enamel
$2,500 / set
Solana Wall Sconces
By Blueprint Lighting
Located in Westport, CT
The "Solana" wall mount sconce or reading light is strongly influenced by Scandinavian, Danish
Enamel, Brass
$1,450 / item
LUbular Perforated Sconce
By Lumfardo Luminaires
Located in Los Angeles, CA
is a directional reading sconce in a patina brass finish. Single E26 based socket per sconce. Maximum
Brass
Molto Wall-Mount Reading Lamp in Bronze and Enameled Mesh by Blueprint Lighting
By Stilnovo, Mathieu Matégot, Blueprint Lighting
Located in New York, NY
The Molto wall-mount reading lamp or wall sconce is a fresh take on Italian modernism, featuring a
Brass, Bronze, Enamel, Chrome, Nickel
$1,460 / item
LUrman Sconce LALB
By Lumfardo Luminaires
Located in Los Angeles, CA
reading sconce in a lightly aged lacquered brass finish. Single E12 based socket. Maximum wattage 75 watts
Brass
$1,400
LUbular Sconce 'BLK'
By Lumfardo Luminaires
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Directional reading sconce in a patina brass and painted aluminum finish. Single E26 medium based socket per
Aluminum, Brass
$1,450 / item
LUsneck Sconce BBRZ
By Lumfardo Luminaires
Located in Los Angeles, CA
1950s Italian midcentury design, this sconce is ideal for reading areas or a bedside. 1 single E-26
Aluminum, Bronze
Mid-Century Chrome Swing Arm Wall Lamp, France, 1950s
Located in Hagenbach, DE
, this vintage lamp captures the essence of mid-century modern lighting. A perfect addition to any
Metal
Adjustable Mid-Century Wooden Wall Lamp with Rattan Shade, 1970s
Located in Praha, CZ
This adjustable mid-century wall lamp dates from the 1970s and showcases a harmonious combination
Rattan, Oak
Pair of Scandinavian Mid-Century Wall Lights, Norway, 1950s
Located in Oslo, NO
US). The shades are adjustable, allowing for directional lighting, and are perfect for reading
Metal, Brass
Mid-Century Adjustable Wooden Wall Lamp with Rattan Shade, Lipta, 1970s
Located in Praha, CZ
A refined mid-century adjustable wall lamp designed and produced by Lipta in Czechoslovakia during
Rattan, Oak
$1,450 / item
LUsneck Sconces by Lumfardo Luminiares
By Lumfardo Luminaires
Located in Los Angeles, CA
in a custom color. Inspired by 1950s Italian midcentury design, these sconces are ideal for reading
Aluminum, Brass
$1,350 / item
Luread Sconces by Lumfardo Luminaires
By Lumfardo Luminaires
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful custom Lumfardo reading sconces in a contemporary take on Classic midcentury lines. Turn
Aluminum, Brass
$1,100 / item
LU Cylinder Sconces by Lumfardo Luminaires
By Lumfardo Luminaires
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Classic and smart Mid-Century style cylinder reading sconces from Lumfardo. Brass patinated to a
Aluminum, Brass
Mid-Century Finnish Design Wall Lamp in Brass & Wooden Slatted Shades, 1950s
Located in Helsinki, FI
A sculptural mid-century Finnish wall lamp combining warm brass arms, a black painted metal
Brass, Metal
Mid 20th Century Italian Adjustable Wall Lights in Brass & Creamy White Metal
Located in Roma, IT
perfect for reading or sewing. The lampshades have recently been powder-coated in the exact same color as
Aluminum, Brass
1950's Industrial Cantilever Wall Lamp — Mid-Century Factory Salvage
By Elektrosvit
Located in Leicester, Leicestershire
, bedside reading, or illuminating a hallway. Electrically restored with modern components and safety
Aluminum, Steel
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.
From the kitchen to the bedroom and everywhere in between, there is one major part of home decor that you definitely want to master: lighting. Carefully selected vintage sconces and wall lights can do wonders in establishing mood and highlighting your distinctive personality.
We’re a long way from the candelabra-inspired chandeliers of the medieval era. Lighting is no longer merely practical, and lighting designers have been creating and reinventing lighting solutions for eons. Because of the advancements crafted by these venturesome makers, we now have the opportunity to bring unique, customizable lighting solutions into our homes.
It’s never been easier to create dramatic bedrooms, cozy kitchen areas and cheerful bars than it is today. Think of an elegant wall sconce as functional and as a work of art, adding both light and style to your hallways, whimsical kids’ rooms and elsewhere.
When choosing a lighting solution, first determine what your needs are: Will you opt for a moody or a bright feel? The room that will serve as your home office will need adequate lighting — think “the brighter, the better” for this particular setting.
For the bedroom, bedside wall lamps with warm-temperature bulbs instead of bedside table lamps could be the way to go to induce a sense of calm or intimacy. Try to match the style of the wall light or sconce that you’re installing to the overall design scheme of your room. It’s never “just a light.” You should approach the lighting of a room with a mindset that is one part practical and one part aesthetics-driven.
Let 1stDibs help you set the mood with the right antique and vintage wall lights and sconces for your home. Our collection includes every kind of fixture, from sculptural works by Austrian craftsman J.T. Kalmar to chic industrial-style wall sconces, from adjustable painted aluminum wall lamps designed by Artemide to a wide variety of minimalist mid-century modern masterpieces.
The alluring pendant light exemplifies the designer’s winsome mid-career work.
Patrizio Chiarparini of Brooklyn’s Duplex gallery sheds light on the lasting legacy of Italy’s postwar furniture boom.
There are many lessons to be learned from the lofts, apartments and townhouses of architects and decorators in Manhattan and beyond.
Having created extravagant homes for reality TV’s biggest stars, the designer is stepping into the spotlight with his first book.
The Louisiana-born and -bred architect talks to 1stdibs about the art of making timeless places that matter.
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.
The houses from this New York studio cloak modernist tendencies within what are often more traditional trappings.
In the market for a fantastic fixture from the 1940s, ’50s or ’60s? Here are some names to know.