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 Slat Table

George Nelson Slat Bench Coffee Table

Adrian Pearsall Bench

Slatted Wood Coffee Table

Iconic Bench

Mid Century Slat Board Dining Table and Stools

$3,900 / set

Mid Century Slat Board Dining Table and Stools

Located in Pasadena, TX

stools have removable cushions. This table is nicely crafted in a mid century period style. Stool size

Category

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

Materials

Pine

Mid Century Modern Slat Bench Coffee Table

$716Sale Price|20% Off

Mid Century Modern Slat Bench Coffee Table

By Adrian Pearsall

Located in Freehold, NJ

This mid century modern slat bench / coffee table in the style of Adrian Pearsall for Craft

Category

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

Materials

Walnut

Mid-Century Slat Bench or Coffee Table

$1,800

Mid-Century Slat Bench or Coffee Table

Located in Brooklyn, NY

Mid-century modern slat bench in the style of Herman Miller. Blonde top on black tapered legs

Category

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

Materials

Wood

George Nelson styled Slat Wood Mid Century Side Tables

$1,600 / set

George Nelson styled Slat Wood Mid Century Side Tables

By George Nelson

Located in Cincinnati, OH

A pair of heavy well crafted solid maple slat wood side / end tables with satin black legs and

Category

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

Materials

Glass, Wood

Mid-Century Modern Slatted Walnut Side Table By Mel Smilow

$1,800

Mid-Century Modern Slatted Walnut Side Table By Mel Smilow

By Mel Smilow

Located in Brooklyn, NY

This petite walnut side table is designed by American designer Mel Smilow circa 1950s. The table

Category

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

Materials

Walnut

Mid-Century Modern Sculptural Oak Scandanavian Slat Coffee Cocktail Table

$1,120Sale Price|30% Off

Mid-Century Modern Sculptural Oak Scandanavian Slat Coffee Cocktail Table

Located in Dayton, OH

Mid Century Modern coffee table. Features a sculptural oak form with an open slatted base and

Category

Mid-20th Century Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Oak

Mid-Century Modern Italian Slatted Coffee Table, 1950s

$1,687

Mid-Century Modern Italian Slatted Coffee Table, 1950s

Located in Puglia, Puglia

Slatted coffee table, in wood and metal with brass feet, Italian production in the 1950s

Category

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

Materials

Brass, Iron

Mid-Century Modern Deco Brushed Nickel Slat Lucite Glass Top Console Tables Pair

$2,950Sale Price / set|30% Off

Mid-Century Modern Deco Brushed Nickel Slat Lucite Glass Top Console Tables Pair

Located in Roslyn, NY

A wonderful Mid-Century Modern, Art Deco brushed silver nickel slat form pair of Lucite inset half

Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Console Tables

Materials

Nickel

Vintage Mid-Century Modern Slat Bench or Coffee Table

$550

Vintage Mid-Century Modern Slat Bench or Coffee Table

Located in Doylestown, PA

Vintage slat coffee table or bench. Adaptable to many design styles. Great for more defined spaces

Category

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

Materials

Wood

Mid-Century Slatted Bench or Coffee Table, France, 1960s

$3,400

Mid-Century Slatted Bench or Coffee Table, France, 1960s

Located in Antwerp, BE

Timeless 1960s wooden slatted bench, a stunning example of midcentury design. This versatile piece

Category

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

Materials

Wood

French Mid-Century Hourglass Form Iron Slat and Circular Glass Occasional Table

$2,150

French Mid-Century Hourglass Form Iron Slat and Circular Glass Occasional Table

Located in Queens, NY

French Mid-Century (circa 1950) occasional table with an hourglass form base comprised of curved

Category

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

Materials

Glass

Handcrafted Mid-Century Modern Slatted Elmwood Stool or Side Table, France, 1960

$1,490

Handcrafted Mid-Century Modern Slatted Elmwood Stool or Side Table, France, 1960

Located in Almelo, NL

Handcrafted Mid-Century Modern Slatted Elmwood Stool or Side Table, France, 1960s Description: A

Category

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

Materials

Elm

7 Foot Mid-Century Slat Wood Bench

$1,200

7 Foot Mid-Century Slat Wood Bench

By George Nelson

Located in Brooklyn, NY

. Mid-Century table makes a stylish addition to any interior as an occasional bench or slat coffee table

Category

Vintage 1970s Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Wood

Wonderful Mid-Century Modern Wood Slat Polished Brass Coffee Cocktail Table

$3,450

Wonderful Mid-Century Modern Wood Slat Polished Brass Coffee Cocktail Table

By Lorin Marsh

Located in Roslyn, NY

A wonderful Mid-Century Modern wood slat and polished brass coffee or cocktail table Purchased

Category

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

Materials

Brass

George Nelson styled Slat Wood / Glass Mid Century Coffee Table

$1,775

George Nelson styled Slat Wood / Glass Mid Century Coffee Table

By George Nelson

Located in Cincinnati, OH

A solid maple slat wood coffee table which is heavy and well constructed having two drawers to each

Category

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

Materials

Glass, Wood

Mid-Century Apeldoorn Style Slatted Top, Square Framed Pine Dining Table

$1,850

Mid-Century Apeldoorn Style Slatted Top, Square Framed Pine Dining Table

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Ate van Apeldoorn style pine dining table with slatted top and square frame. It's in original

Category

Vintage 1970s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables

Materials

Pine

Walnut Slatted Side Tables

$1,200

Walnut Slatted Side Tables

Located in Denton, TX

Walnut Slatted Side Tables. These tables would look great with a glass or smoked glass top. Top

Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Side Tables

Materials

Walnut

Mid-Century Bertoia Slat Bench by Knoll

$1,800

Mid-Century Bertoia Slat Bench by Knoll

By Harry Bertoia

Located in Brooklyn, NY

This beautiful slat bench by Harry Bertoia for Knoll measures 72 inches wide, and is a wonderful

Category

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

Materials

Metal

Baker Furniture Mid-Century Modern Teak Slat Expanding Coffee Table, Refinished

$2,395

Baker Furniture Mid-Century Modern Teak Slat Expanding Coffee Table, Refinished

By Baker Furniture Company

Located in South Bend, IN

A sleek and stylish Mid-Century Modern slatted expandable bench or coffee table By Baker

Category

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

Materials

Brass

Mid Century Modern styled HANDMADE Oak Slat Bench Long Coffee Table

$1,450

Mid Century Modern styled HANDMADE Oak Slat Bench Long Coffee Table

Located in Weehawken, NJ

Handmade Mid Century Modern OAK SLAT BENCH / COFFEE TABLE. Crafted from high-quality oak, the bench

Category

2010s Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Oak

Pair of Mid Century Modern Slatted Walnut End Tables by Mel Smilow C1955

$3,595 / set

Pair of Mid Century Modern Slatted Walnut End Tables by Mel Smilow C1955

By Mel Smilow

Located in Port Jervis, NY

Fabulous pair of Mid Century Modern Sculptural slatted end tables with exposed joinery as part of

Category

Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern End Tables

Materials

Walnut, Lacquer

Mid Century Slat Bench Coffee Table Made in Yugoslavia C 1950s

$995

Mid Century Slat Bench Coffee Table Made in Yugoslavia C 1950s

By George Nelson

Located in New York, NY

Iconic slat bench coffee table, bench made in Yugoslavia, after George Nelson, circa 1950/1960's

Category

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

Materials

Wood

Mid Century Modern Sculptural Slatted Teak Cocktail Table style George Nelson

$895

Mid Century Modern Sculptural Slatted Teak Cocktail Table style George Nelson

By George Nelson

Located in Port Jervis, NY

Fantastic slatted cocktail table in teak wood in the style of George Nelsons iconic design. Rare to

Category

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

Materials

Brass

Mid Century Modern Expandable Slatted Coffee Table/Bench by John Keal

$3,550

Mid Century Modern Expandable Slatted Coffee Table/Bench by John Keal

By Brown Saltman, John Keal

Located in Soquel, CA

Beautiful and versatile expandable mid century minimalist walnut slat bench designed by John Keal

Category

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

Materials

Walnut

1960s Mid Century French Modernist Slatted Oak Desk

$4,412

1960s Mid Century French Modernist Slatted Oak Desk

Located in London, GB

A modernist desk or lamp/console table constructed from substantial slats of patinated solid oak

Category

Mid-20th Century French Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak

Danish Designer, Mid-Century Modern, Small Coffee Table, Brown Slat Bench, 1970s

$1,260

Danish Designer, Mid-Century Modern, Small Coffee Table, Brown Slat Bench, 1970s

By Herman Miller

Located in Manhasset, NY

This Herman Miller style, Danish coffee table is the perfect Mid-Century piece to bring into your

Category

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

Materials

Wood

Expandable Slat Bench / Table

$1,400

Expandable Slat Bench / Table

Located in Brooklyn, NY

Mid-century modern slat table that extends with two sides. Can be used as a coffee table or entry

Category

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

Materials

Walnut

Percival Lafer Mid-Century Brazilian Wooden Spiral and Slat Lamp

$4,800

Percival Lafer Mid-Century Brazilian Wooden Spiral and Slat Lamp

By Percival Lafer

Located in Queens, NY

Mid-Century Brazilian table lamp comprised of a spiral form base constructed from wooden pieces

Category

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

Materials

Wood

Danish Mid-Century Modern Teak Slats Triangular Base Glass Top Coffee Table Mint

$4,200

Danish Mid-Century Modern Teak Slats Triangular Base Glass Top Coffee Table Mint

By Hans J. Wegner, Isamu Noguchi

Located in Rockaway, NJ

Danish Mid Century Modern teak slats triangular base glass top coffee table mint.

Category

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

Materials

Glass, Teak

Mel Smilow Slat Bench/End Table in Walnut

$799

Mel Smilow Slat Bench/End Table in Walnut

By Mel Smilow

Located in Brooklyn, NY

Beautiful Mel Smilow walnut slat bench. Elegant silhouette with simple lines and just the right

Category

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

Materials

Walnut

Mid Century Modern Slatted Walnut Cocktail Table in the Manner of George Nelson

$975

Mid Century Modern Slatted Walnut Cocktail Table in the Manner of George Nelson

By George Nelson

Located in Port Jervis, NY

Simple yet elegant design with 12 walnut slats from one side to the other. Makes either a fantastic

Category

Vintage 1960s Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Walnut

Mid-Century Modern Walnut Slatted Cocktail Table or Bench style of George Nelson

$975

Mid-Century Modern Walnut Slatted Cocktail Table or Bench style of George Nelson

By George Nelson

Located in Port Jervis, NY

Simple yet elegant design with generous walnut slats creating either a cocktail table or a bench

Category

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

Materials

Walnut

Mid Century Modern Walnut Slat Bench Styled After Adrian Pearsall

$942Sale Price|35% Off

Mid Century Modern Walnut Slat Bench Styled After Adrian Pearsall

By Adrian Pearsall

Located in Freehold, NJ

This mid century modern slat bench coffee table features hardwood construction, original walnut

Category

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

Materials

Walnut

Mel Smilow Slat Walnut Side Tables

$2,500

Mel Smilow Slat Walnut Side Tables

By Mel Smilow

Located in Middlesex, NJ

Mel Smilow slat walnut side tables.

Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Side Tables

1960s Czechoslovak Oak Side Table with Slatted Shelf

$318Sale Price|20% Off

1960s Czechoslovak Oak Side Table with Slatted Shelf

Located in Praha, CZ

-Mid-century oak side table produced in Czechoslovakia in the 1960s. The design includes a

Category

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

Materials

Oak

Wengé Slatted Bench by Walter Antonis, Mid-Century Modern, 1960s

$3,978

Wengé Slatted Bench by Walter Antonis, Mid-Century Modern, 1960s

By Walter Antonis

Located in Antwerp, BE

table and bench. Beautiful joints. Would fit as well in a Minimalist modern decor as in a more wabi

Category

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

Materials

Wenge

Pair of Slatted Side Tables with Glass Tops

$3,200 / set

Pair of Slatted Side Tables with Glass Tops

By Ward Bennett

Located in St.Petersburg, FL

A pair of very unusual slat and reed side tables or pedestals with glass tops. Ca' 1970's, drum

Category

Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Side Tables

Materials

Walnut

Tony Paul Circular Wooden Slat Top and Iron Leg End / Side Table

$3,900

Tony Paul Circular Wooden Slat Top and Iron Leg End / Side Table

By Tony Paul

Located in Queens, NY

American Mid-Century circular end / side table with a wooden slat top resting on three angled black

Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Side Tables

Materials

Metal, Iron

Pair of Danish Modern Teak Slat End Tables

$2,200 / set

Pair of Danish Modern Teak Slat End Tables

Located in Atlanta, GA

Pair of Danish modern teak slat end tables, Denmark, circa 1960s. They are a versatile size and can

Category

Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern End Tables

Materials

Teak

Mid Century Modern Walnut Slat Bench Coffee Table

$438Sale Price|55% Off

Mid Century Modern Walnut Slat Bench Coffee Table

By Adrian Pearsall

Located in Freehold, NJ

This mid century modern slat bench / coffee table features hardwood construction, original walnut

Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Benches

Materials

Walnut

Iron/Wood Slat Circle Dining Table by Arthur Umanoff

$3,400

Iron/Wood Slat Circle Dining Table by Arthur Umanoff

By Arthur Umanoff

Located in Chicago, IL

c. 1950s. USA. Iron base with removeable wood slat top.

Category

Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables

Materials

Iron

Italian Travertine + Slatted Wood Console Table with Brass Stretcher, 1970s

$6,400

Italian Travertine + Slatted Wood Console Table with Brass Stretcher, 1970s

Located in Chicago, IL

An Italian console table from the 1970s, defined by clean architectural lines and a refined

Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Console Tables

Materials

Travertine

Midcentury Modern Slat Bench or Coffee Table Refinished in Medium Walnut Tone

$1,499

Midcentury Modern Slat Bench or Coffee Table Refinished in Medium Walnut Tone

Located in Brooklyn, NY

Beautiful solid wood slat bench in classic Midcentury Modern style. Perfect to use as a coffee

Category

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

Materials

Wood

Vintage Wooden Slatted Coffee Table – Sculptural Design, 1970s Style

$1,989

Vintage Wooden Slatted Coffee Table – Sculptural Design, 1970s Style

Located in Boom, Vlaams Gewest

Beautiful vintage coffee table featuring a striking slatted wood construction with a sculptural

Category

Antique 19th Century French Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Wood

California Modern Slatted Bench / Coffee Table by John Keal

$3,250

California Modern Slatted Bench / Coffee Table by John Keal

By Brown Saltman, John Keal

Located in Los Angeles, CA

California Modern Slatted Bench / Coffee Table by John Keal

Category

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

Materials

Fabric, Foam, Wood, Walnut

Mid-Century Slat Bench or Coffee Table after Arthur Umanoff

$640Sale Price|20% Off

Mid-Century Slat Bench or Coffee Table after Arthur Umanoff

By Arthur Umanoff

Located in Trenton, NJ

An emblem of timeless modern design, this mid-century slat bench captures the refined architectural

Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern Benches

Materials

Wood

Mid-Century Slat Bench Coffee Table George Nelson Style

$1,395

Mid-Century Slat Bench Coffee Table George Nelson Style

By George Nelson

Located in Baltimore, MD

Amazing Mid-Century Modern George Nelson style slat bench coffee table. Classic slat wood coffee

Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Benches

Materials

Wood

Slatted Coffee table by Sergio Rodrigues and Jorge Jabour

$5,800

Slatted Coffee table by Sergio Rodrigues and Jorge Jabour

By Jorge Jabour, Sergio Rodrigues

Located in New York, NY

years. While some pieces became part of regular furniture lines, this slatted table is unique.

Category

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

Materials

Rosewood

Pair Square Mel Smilow Slatted Solid Walnut Modern Benches Side Tables MINT!

$4,400 / set

Pair Square Mel Smilow Slatted Solid Walnut Modern Benches Side Tables MINT!

By Mel Smilow, Adrian Pearsall

Located in Rockaway, NJ

Pair of Mel Smilow Solid Walnut Tapered Dowel Legs Square Slatted Solid Walnut Modern Benches

Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern End Tables

Materials

Walnut

Re-issue of IDEA Metal Wood Slat and Marble Table

$5,900 / item

Re-issue of IDEA Metal Wood Slat and Marble Table

Located in Austin, TX

IDEA Metal Wood Slat and Marble table to new heights while preserving its intricate wood appliques, a

Category

2010s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables

Materials

Marble, Metal

Mid-Century Modern Walnut Slat 60" Bench/Coffee Table B

$995

Mid-Century Modern Walnut Slat 60" Bench/Coffee Table B

Located in Wilmington, DE

Mid-Century Danish Modern Walnut Slat Bench/Coffee Table B Offered is a vintage mid-century modern

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Benches

Materials

Walnut

Hugh Acton black slatted cocktail table or bench on brass legs

$2,300

Hugh Acton black slatted cocktail table or bench on brass legs

By Hugh Acton

Located in Ferndale, MI

Slat bench, designed and produced by Hugh Acton studio / Hugh Acton Inc. Kalamazoo, Michigan, c

Category

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

Materials

Brass

Nice and Massive Oregon Pine Dining Table with Wonderful Slat Extension

$1,265Sale Price|44% Off

Nice and Massive Oregon Pine Dining Table with Wonderful Slat Extension

By Bernt Petersen

Located in Munich, DE

By Bernt Petersen. Two extensions 48cm (18.9 inch)/each. Chairs are sold.

Category

20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables

Materials

Pine

Pair of Kauklahti Glassworks table lamps with wooden slat shades, Finland 1940s

$6,932 / set

Pair of Kauklahti Glassworks table lamps with wooden slat shades, Finland 1940s

Located in Turku, Varsinais-Suomi

Discover the exquisite charm of this Pair of Kauklahti Glassworks table lamps from 1940s Finland

Category

Mid-20th Century Finnish Scandinavian Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Glass, Wood

Restored Stacked Slat Rattan Coffee Table W/ Mahogany & Glass Top

$1,560Sale Price|40% Off

Restored Stacked Slat Rattan Coffee Table W/ Mahogany & Glass Top

Located in Van Nuys, CA

Vintage 1940s rattan coffee table with wonderful stacked base, stylized cut-out slat sides and a

Category

Vintage 1940s American Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Rattan

Mid-Century Modern Walnut Slatted Bench or Coffee Table, 1960s, Refinished

$2,560Sale Price|20% Off

Mid-Century Modern Walnut Slatted Bench or Coffee Table, 1960s, Refinished

By Maruni, George Nelson, Herman Miller

Located in Los Angeles, CA

A beautifully refinished Mid-Century Modern slatted wood bench in richly toned walnut, offering the

Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Benches

Materials

Wood

Mid-Century Slatted Wood Benches Side Tables George Nelson Style Pair

$1,895 / set

Mid-Century Slatted Wood Benches Side Tables George Nelson Style Pair

Located in Baltimore, MD

A pair of Amazing Mid-Century Modern George Nelson style slat benches, side tables. Classic slat

Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Benches

Materials

Wood

Tables Under $2,000

Antique and Vintage Tables

Mid-Century Modern Tables

20th Century Tables

Wood Tables

Tables on Sale

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Mid Century Slat Table For Sale on 1stDibs

Choose from an assortment of styles, material and more with respect to the mid century slat table you’re looking for at 1stDibs. Each mid century slat table for sale was constructed with extraordinary care, often using wood, walnut and metal. There are 384 variations of the antique or vintage mid century slat table you’re looking for, while we also have 5 modern editions of this piece to choose from as well. Whether you’re looking for an older or newer mid century slat table, there are earlier versions available from the 18th Century and newer variations made as recently as the 21st Century. A mid century slat table, designed in the mid-century modern, Scandinavian Modern or modern style, is generally a popular piece of furniture. A well-made mid century slat table has long been a part of the offerings for many furniture designers and manufacturers, but those produced by Mel Smilow, George Nelson and Smilow-Thielle are consistently popular.

How Much is a Mid Century Slat Table?

Prices for a mid century slat table can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, they begin at $1 and can go as high as $142,000, while the average can fetch as much as $2,350.

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 Slat 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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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.