Mid-Century Modern Architectural Chrome 4 Light Chrome Table Lamp
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Mid-Century Modern architectural chrome 4 light chrome table lamp.
Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Chrome
Mid Century Modern Lamp Shade
to
3,051
20,434
17,934
37,089
1,805
393
35,857
1,673
392
141
118
54
19
13
8
5
4
3
2
1
1
1
34
75
36,971
2,200
129
27,714
6,975
5
3
36
262
855
8,514
10,074
5,582
559
173
26,977
14,741
8,445
6,164
6,115
28,734
9,557
7,931
7,522
6,793
39,179
38,047
38,526
594
575
458
345
345
Sort By
Vintage Mid-Century Modern Red Majolica Pottery Double Gourd Lamp, 1990s
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Vintage Red Majolica Pottery Double Gourd Lamp Additional information: Materials: Lights, Pottery Color: Red Period: 1990s Styles: Mid-Century Modern Lamp Shade: Not Included...
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Pottery
Mid-Century Modern Josef Pravec Modernist Cut Austrian Crystal Table Lamp
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Period: 1950s. Styles: Art Deco, Mid-Century Modern. Lamp Shade: not Included.
Category
20th Century Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Crystal
Mid-Century Modern Tommi Parzinger Bronze and Marble Table Lamp
By Tommi Parzinger
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Period: 1960s. Styles: Mid-Century Modern. Lamp shade: Not included.
Category
20th Century Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Bronze
Vintage Mid Century Modern Designer Laurel Lamp Company Pair of Table Lamps.
By Laurel Lamp Company, Laurel Lamp Company
Located in Saddle River, NJ
Illuminate your space with these exquisite vintage mid-century modern table lamps from the prestigious Laurel Lamp Company.
Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Brass
Pair of White Pottery Table Lamps with Custom Made Linen Shades, 1960's
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Period: 1960s. Styles: Mid-Century Modern. Lamp shade: included. Item Type: vintage, antique or pre-owned.
Category
20th Century Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Linen
Art Deco Machine Age Steampunk Table Lamp
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Color: silver. Period: Early 20th century. Styles: Art Deco, Mid-Century Modern. Lamp Shade: included.
Category
Early 20th Century Steampunk Table Lamps
Materials
Brass, Steel
MCM Laurel Lamp Company "Brady Bunch" Brass Textured Sculptural Lamps, Pair
$2,894Sale Price / set|20% Off
MCM Laurel Lamp Company "Brady Bunch" Brass Textured Sculptural Lamps, Pair
By Laurel Lamp Company
Located in Basel, BS
Details: Dimensions: 7.5"W × 7.5"D × 37"L Styles: Hollywood Regency, Mid-Century Modern Lamp Shade: Not Included Does it have imperfections?
Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Brass
Vintage Mid Century Modern Table Lamps in Chrome Atomic Style - A Pair
Located in Saddle River, NJ
Specifications: Material: Chrome, Wood Color: Chrome Dimensions: 7.5ʺW × 7.5ʺD × 32.5ʺL Style: Mid-Century Modern Lamp Shade: Not Included Power Sources: Up to 120V (US Standard), Co...
Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Chrome
Mid-Century Modern Style Brass Floor Lamp "Quoluna" with Fabric Shade Re Edition
By Woka Lamps
Located in Vienna, AT
Tripodal floor lamp with fabric-shade in several colors available. Most components according to the UL regulations, with an additional charge we will UL-list and label our fixtures.
Category
2010s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
Materials
Brass
Mid-Century Tulip Lamp with Red Shade
By Majestic Lamp Company
Located in Dekalb, IL
c. 1950s; (likely) Majestic Lamp Co. - Los Angeles Atomic-era table lamp. This sculptural table lamp, attributed to Majestic, features a dramatic atomic design characteristic of po...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Brass, Enamel
1950s Authentic Mid-Century Modern Double Shade Table Lamp by Majestic Lamp Comp
By Majestic Lamp Company
Located in Monrovia, CA
1950 Majestic double shade table lamp. Authentic Mid-Century Modern majestic table lamp by Majestic Lamp Co.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Brass
Mid-Century Standing Lamp with Milk Glass Shade
By Majestic Lamp Company
Located in Dekalb, IL
c. 1950s; (likely) Majestic Lamp Co. - Los Angeles Mid-century modern floor lamp with tiered fiberglass shade.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
Materials
Brass, Enamel
Rare Moss Triple Shade Acrylic / Lucite Floor Lamp, classic mid century modern
By Moss Lamp Co. 1
Located in Buffalo, NY
Rare Moss Triple Shade Acrylic / Lucite Floor Lamp, classic mid century modern, Almost oriental in design (pagoda shades) Amazing original condition,, a true survivor..
Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
Materials
Acrylic, Fiberglass, Lucite
Mid Century Rembrandt Lamp
$880Sale Price|20% Off
Mid Century Rembrandt Lamp
By Rembrandt Lamp Company
Located in Pasadena, TX
Mid century lamp by Rembrandt Light Company Uniquely sculptural lamp in composite and brass. Original drum shade. Wired and working. Measures: 32 Width x 8.5 Depth x 22.5 Height.
Category
Vintage 1960s North American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Acrylic, Bakelite
Lucite Ceramic Mid-Century Lamp by Moss with Original Shade
$1,120Sale Price|20% Off
Lucite Ceramic Mid-Century Lamp by Moss with Original Shade
By Moss Lamp Co. 1
Located in New York, NY
Classic Moss lamp of California, having a lucite base, with a ceramic figure ( Figure by DeLee Art ). The lamp is in very good estate condition, still having its original furry fabri...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Fabric, Lucite
Elegant Mid-Century Modern Brass Table Lamp with Shade
$559Sale Price|20% Off
Elegant Mid-Century Modern Brass Table Lamp with Shade
By Stiffel
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Elegant brass table lamp with recent shade, includes harp, finial, and accommodates modern bulbs. Tested and working with original wiring. In good condition with minimal wear.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Brass
Vintage Mid Century Modern Brass "Tulip" Table Lamp by Laurel Lamp Co.
By Laurel Lamp Company
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Mid Century Modern Brass "Tulip" Table Lamp by Laurel Lamp Co. with White Glass Shade.
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Brass
Mid-Century Modern Atomic Lamp With Pleated Shade
Located in Charleston, SC
A fabulous colorful Quartzite lamp with a textured body, on a brass base. The lamp and shade are cream colored and the shade is still in the plastic with no flaws as far as I can t...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Ceramic, Fabric, Paint
Mid-Century Modern Sculpted Wood & Brass Table Lamp by Lighthouse Co.
By Lighthouse Light and Shade Co.
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Illuminate your space with timeless elegance using this Mid-Century Modern table lamp by Lighthouse Light & Shade Co., crafted in the 1960s.
Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Brass
Mid-Century Modern Tripod Table Lamp with Laced Parchment Shade
By Stilnovo, Tony Paul
Located in W Allenhurst, NJ
A sculptural mid-century modern tripod table lamp, featuring a slender blackened iron base accented with warm brass details, newly paired with a custom laced parchment shade.
Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Iron
Vintage Mid Century Modern Taupe Triennial Greek Key Shade Floor Lamp
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Please message us with your zip code to request a more reasonable domestic U.S. shipping quote. Vintage Mid Century Modern Taupe Triennial Greek Key Shade Floor Lamp.
Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
Materials
Metal
Fabric Shade Mid-Century Modern Table Lamp, 1960s, Germany
Located in Hagenbach, DE
A German mid-century modern table lamp from the 1960s, featuring a fabric shade and a clean, understated silhouette typical of postwar modernist lighting.
Category
Vintage 1960s German Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal, Brass
Mid-Century Modern Glass Table Lamp, Art Glass, Geometric Shade, 1960s
Located in CABA, AR
This exquisite mid-century modern glass lamp epitomizes the era's fascination with sleek, functional design and the innovative use of materials. Crafted from high-quality glass, its ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Art Glass
Mid-Century Modern Brutalist Table Lamp by Laurel
By Laurel Lamp Company
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Materials Patinated Metal, Faux Wood, New Custom Linen Shade _________________________ Transforming a piece of Mid-Century Modern furniture is like bringing history back to life, and...
Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal
Laurel Lamp Company Mid-Century Modern Tripod Floor Lamp, 1968
By Laurel Lamp Company
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Laurel Lamp Company Display Floor Lamp. Two glass shelves that can be adjusted and moved up and down to allow for display of large or small items. In-Line Switch on cord. Glass B...
Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
Materials
Metal
Mid Century Modern Style Table Lamp with Custom Shade
$240Sale Price|26% Off
Mid Century Modern Style Table Lamp with Custom Shade
Located in Plainview, NY
A Simple and chic Mid Century Modern style table lamp. The silver tone lamp features a ribbed design and embellished with a custom shade having leopard pattern interior.
Category
1990s Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal
Mid-Century Modern Lamp by Mutual Sunset Lamp Company
By Mutual Sunset Lamp Co.
Located in Dallas, TX
A Mid-Century Modern lamp with round, black base and a zigzag chrome support and a chrome eye-ball light shade.
Category
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Chrome
Mid-Century Modern Brass Table Lamp by Rembrandt, 1960
By Rembrandt Lamp Company
Located in Miami, FL
Mid-century table lamp by Rembrandt Lamp Company. Shade included. Élégant intemporel design.
Category
Mid-20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal, Brass
Mid-Century Modern IKEA Table Lamp with Glass Shade and Chrome Base
By IKEA
Located in W Allenhurst, NJ
Stylish midcentury, Ikea design-Classic table lamp. Both figuratively and literally, this mid century fixture is perfect for bringing light to your Mid-Century Modern interior.
Category
Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal, Chrome
Mid Century Modern Glass Bauer Table Lamps with Lucite.
By Bauer Lamp Company
Located in Delray Beach, FL
Fantastic pair of Mid century modern Bauer table lamps. Beautifully made from swirling glass with pinks, whites, blues and clear glass.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Chrome
Mid-Century Modern Table Lamp, Metal with Turquoise Shade, Italy
Located in Hamburg, DE
Small Mid Century table lamp from Italy. Elegant table lamp with turquoise screen. The screen is sitting at a brass shank that ends down in a black plate foot. The screen can be ali...
Category
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal
Mid-Century Modern Frosted Glass Table Lamp by Laurel
By Laurel Lamp Company
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Mid-Century Modern frosted glass table Lamp by Laurel.
Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Chrome
Mid-Century Modern Gilt Metal Lotus Table Lamp with New Shade, Italy
Located in Southampton, NJ
Ambient metal Lotus flower table lamp with gold finish, mid 20th Century production; Italy. Original wiring; new shade is included. Dimensions: 7" round x 30" H. to top of finial. S...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal
Mid-Century Brass and Painted Metal Twin Shade Table Lamp Attributed to Laurel
By Laurel Lamp Company
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Elegant table lamp featuring two adjustable shades in brass with white painted metal finals supported by a sculptural brass frame with white cylindrical metal feet attributed to Laur...
Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal, Brass
Mid-Century Modern Ceramic Table Lamp with Green Shade
Located in Antwerp, BE
Table lamp brutalist ceramic in grey spiral tones made in Denmark original green shade. Dimensions shade 40-27 cm, Vase 53-10 cm. Height 59 cm.
Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Ceramic
1970s Mid Century Modern Accolay Pottery Lamp W Resin Shade
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
1970s Mid Century Modern Accolay Pottery Lamp With Resin Shade.
Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Pottery, Resin
Mid Century Modern Louis Poulsen Floor Lamp with Acrylic Shade
By Louis Poulsen
Located in Nantucket, MA
A Mid Century Modern floor lamp by Louis Poulsen, a Danish lighting manufacturer.
Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
Materials
Iron
Vintage Mid Century Modern Glass Shade Walnut Tulip Leaf Tall Table Lamp
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Mid Century Modern Glass Shade Walnut Tulip Leaf Tall Table Lamp with Various Illumination Options.
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Glass
Mid Century Floor Lamp
$1,200
Mid Century Floor Lamp
By Majestic Lamp Company
Located in New York, NY
Exceptional Mid Century floor lamp having two exaggerated arms, each with a shaded light at the top. This example is in good, clean, work The sockets accept a standard size screw in ...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
Materials
Brass
Mid-Century Modern Dome Table Lamp with Adjustable Shade, 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Rare Mid Century table lamp. A minimalist design. The large shade shows a simple hemispherical shape and is finished in white.
Category
20th Century Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal
1950s French Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamp with Yellow Shade
Located in Berlin, DE
French floor lamp featuring a sleek black frame and steel tripod base. The perforated yellow shade enhances warmth and elegance, combining practicality with a minimalist, functional ...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
Materials
Metal, Aluminum
Rare Rembrandt Lamp! Iconic Mid Century Modern "Twilight Zone" Lamp MCM 1950s
$6,000Sale Price|47% Off
Rare Rembrandt Lamp! Iconic Mid Century Modern "Twilight Zone" Lamp MCM 1950s
By Rembrandt Lamp Company
Located in Peoria, AZ
RARE MARVELOUS MODERNISM! REMBRANDT MCM LAMP! "Twilight Zone" " "Third From The Sun" HISTORIC MID CENTURY LIGHTING!
Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal, Enamel
Mid-Century Modern Tripod Table Lamp with Yellow Shade, 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid Century tripod table lamp with shade. Very reserved in terms of shape and color.
Category
20th Century Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal
Mid Century Modern Brass & Naugahyde Table Lamp with Unique Shade
$221Sale Price|77% Off
Mid Century Modern Brass & Naugahyde Table Lamp with Unique Shade
Located in Freehold, NJ
This mid century modern table lamp features brass body with naugahyde interior and a uniquely MCM naugahyde barrel shade.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Brass
Mid-Century Modern Polished Brass Table Lamp by Rembrandt
By Rembrandt Lamp Company
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Condition: Original Vintage Condition Materials: Brass, Original Shade Dimensions: 33.25”H x 6.50”W x 6.50”D Shade: 12.25"H x 20"W x 20"D
Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Brass
Mid-Century Modern Table Lamp, Black Metal, Adjustable Shade, 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century table lamp. A minimalist design. The large shade shows a simple hemispherical shape and is finished in black.
Category
20th Century Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal
Huge Pair Of Orange Drip Glaze Lamps Mid-century Modern Danish
By Sunset Lamps
Located in Pemberton, NJ
Magnificent huge pair of orange drip glaze lamps with light up bottoms. These amazing lamps retain their original huge drum shades with textured wool trim. The lamps make a huge st...
Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Ceramic
Wonderful Hollywood Regency Mid Century Modern Sculpted Lucite Floor Lamp Shade
By Karl Springer
Located in Roslyn, NY
A Wonderful Hollywood Regency Large Mid Century Modern Sculpted Lucite Floor Lamp With Black Painted Tole / Metal Shade And Fitted With 2 Edison Sockets, In The Style / Manor Of Karl...
Category
20th Century Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
Materials
Metal
Mid-Century Modern Table Lamp with Cone Shade, Metal and Plastic
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid Century table lamp. The shade of the lamp is designed in the shape of a cone.
Category
20th Century Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal
Mid-Century Modern Table Lamp, Metal, Adjustable Shade, Germany, 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Additional information: Material: Metal Color: Silver Styles: Mid-Century Modern Country of Origin: Germany Item Type: Vintage, Antique or Pre-owned Diamension: 14.57ʺW × 7.87ʺD × 24...
Category
20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal
Mid-Century Modern Sculptural Zee Lamp by Majestic Lamp Co. C 1955
By Majestic Lamp Company
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Spectacular Zee lamp by the Majestic lamp co. with twin fiberglass tamborine shades. Wood base in black lacquer with brass tubing all in excellent vintage condition from age and use....
Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Brass
Mid-Century Modern Brass Table Lamp with Capiz Shade, Italy
Located in Antwerp, BE
Beautiful vintage table lamp from the 70s with a unique charm. The lamp has a brass base with elegant rose flowers and a shade made of beautiful Capiz shells.
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Brass
Mid-Century Modern Marbro Lamp Co. Painted Orange Ceramic Table Lamp
By The Marbro Lamp Company
Located in Wilmington, DE
Offered is a large vintage Mid-Century Modern table lamp by Marbro. This unique lamp features a painted ceramic or porcelain body that sits on a wooden base.
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Brass
Mid-Century Modern Brass Looped Tube Table Lamp with Shade
Located in Topeka, KS
Bold, brass, and beautiful! This stunning Mid-Century Modern or Scandinavian style brass table lamp is comprised of brass tubes, a painted wooden base, and an off-white lamp shade.
Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Brass
Mid-Century Modern Heavy Chrome Adjustable Cone Shade Table Lamp
$1,056Sale Price|29% Off
Mid-Century Modern Heavy Chrome Adjustable Cone Shade Table Lamp
Located in Miami, FL
A Mid-Century Modern Classic. L-609-335
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Chrome, Metal
1960's Mid-Century Modern Plymouth Harlee Trumpet Floor Lamp
$759Sale Price|20% Off
1960's Mid-Century Modern Plymouth Harlee Trumpet Floor Lamp
By Laurel Lamp Company
Located in Burbank, CA
Beautiful vintage Mid-century Modern floor lamp for sale. Great trumpet design in white with brass accents.
Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
Materials
Metal, Brass
- 1
- ...
Get Updated with New Arrivals
Save "Mid Century Modern Lamp Shade", and we’ll notify you when there are new listings in this category.
Mid Century Modern Lamp Shade For Sale on 1stDibs
Choose from an assortment of styles, material and more with respect to the mid century modern lamp shade you’re looking for at 1stDibs. Frequently made of metal, brass and wood, every mid century modern lamp shade was constructed with great care. Find 965 options for an antique or vintage mid century modern lamp shade now, or shop our selection of 31 modern versions for a more contemporary example of this long-cherished piece. Your living room may not be complete without a mid century modern lamp shade — find older editions for sale from the 18th Century and newer versions made as recently as the 21st Century. A mid century modern lamp shade made by Mid-Century Modern designers — as well as those associated with Scandinavian Modern — is very popular. A well-made mid century modern lamp shade has long been a part of the offerings for many furniture designers and manufacturers, but those produced by Laurel Lamp Company, Lightolier and Gerald Thurston are consistently popular.
How Much is a Mid Century Modern Lamp Shade?
Prices for a mid century modern lamp shade start at $125 and top out at $36,928 with the average selling for $1,599.
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 Lighting for You
The right table lamp, outwardly sculptural chandelier or understated wall pendant can work wonders for your home. While we’re indebted to thinkers like Thomas Edison for critically important advancements in lighting and electricity, we’re still finding new ways to customize illumination to fit our personal spaces all these years later. A wide range of antique and vintage lighting can be found on 1stDibs.
Today, lighting designers like the self-taught Bec Brittain have used the flexible structure of LEDs to craft glamorous solutions by working with what is typically considered a harsh lighting source. By integrating glass and mirrors, reflection can be used to soften the glow from LEDs and warmly welcome light into any space.
Although contemporary innovators continue to impress, some of the classics can’t be beat.
Just as gazing at the stars allows you to glimpse the universe’s past, vintage chandeliers like those designed by Gino Sarfatti and J. & L. Lobmeyr, for example, put on a similarly stunning show, each with a rich story to tell.
As dazzling as it is, the Arco lamp, on the other hand, prioritizes functionality — it’s wholly mobile, no drilling required. Designed in 1962 by architect-product designers Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, the piece takes the traditional form of a streetlamp and creates an elegant, arching floor fixture for at-home use.
There is no shortage of modernist lighting similarly prized by collectors and casual enthusiasts alike — there are Art Deco table lamps created in a universally appreciated style, the Tripod floor lamp by T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings, Greta Magnusson Grossman's sleek and minimalist Grasshopper lamps and, of course, the wealth of mid-century experimental lighting that emerged from Italian artisans at Arredoluce, FLOS and many more are hallmarks in illumination innovation.
With decades of design evolution behind it, home lighting is no longer just practical. Crystalline shaping by designers like Gabriel Scott turns every lighting apparatus into a luxury accessory. A new installation doesn’t merely showcase a space; carefully chosen ceiling lights, table lamps and floor lamps can create a mood, spotlight a favorite piece or highlight your unique personality.
The sparkle that your space has been missing is waiting for you amid the growing collection of antique, vintage and contemporary lighting for sale on 1stDibs.
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.
More Ways To Browse
Midcentury Floor Shelves
Lucite Ribbon Table
Modeline Teak Lamp
Unique Lamp Company
Bent Lucite Lamp
Lighthouse Lamp Shade Co
Marbro Peacock Lamp
Squatty Lamp
Triangle Lamp Shade
Vintage Round Brass Lamp
Dragon Orange Lamp
Red Tulip Table
Sputnik Lamp Shade
Laurel Wishbone Lamp
Laurel Wishbone
Modeline Lamp Shade
Red Gourd Lamp
Wishbone Lamp