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Mid Century Tonalist

Mid Century Tonalist Landscape of California Country Road
Located in Soquel, CA
Beautiful tonalist landscape of California foothills and country road. Signed and dated "CKP" and
Category

1960s American Impressionist Landscape Paintings

Materials

Gouache, Laid Paper

Cattle By Pond At Dusk, Mid-19th Century Tonalist Landscape by William Keith
By William Keith
Located in Soquel, CA
Cattle By Pond At Dusk, Mid-19th Century Tonalist Landscape by William Keith Gorgeous mid-19th
Category

Late 19th Century Tonalist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Cardboard, Oil

Dennis Sheehan, "Mid Fall" 12x12 Tonalist Tree Landscape Oil Painting on Canvas
By Dennis Sheehan
Located in Saratoga Springs, NY
of the great masters of the Barbizon School, in France in the 19th century, and the American Tonalist
Category

2010s Tonalist Landscape Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Chauncey Foster Ryder Landscape with Figures Oil Painting 1868-1949 Tonalist
By Chauncey Foster Ryder
Located in Chesterfield, NJ
May 1949)[1] was an early 20th century American Postimpressionist Tonalist landscape painter known for
Category

20th Century Tonalist Landscape Paintings

Materials

Oil

'Sunset Landscape'
By Carl Warren
Located in Santa Cruz, CA
Signed lower right, 'Carl Warren' (American, 20th century) and painted circa 1975. A lyrical
Category

Mid-20th Century Tonalist Landscape Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Muhammed Ali
By Edmund Ward
Located in New York, NY
very early mid century look / feel to the piece.
Category

1970s Tonalist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Detente
By Edmund Ward
Located in New York, NY
Purchased from Ward Estate after his passing in 1990. Part of a private collection since mid 1990's
Category

Early 20th Century Tonalist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Boys Dancing
By Edmund Ward
Located in New York, NY
Purchased from Ward Estate after his passing in 1990. Part of a private collection since mid 1990's
Category

Early 20th Century Tonalist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Wind River - Wyoming
By Eliot Clark
Located in New York, NY
president in the 1950s. His influence as a landscape and impressionist painter in the mid-twentieth century
Category

20th Century Tonalist Landscape Paintings

Materials

Oil, Linen, Canvas

"Mount Rockwell, Glacier National Park, Montana, " Mountain Lake Landscape View
By Charles Warren Eaton
Located in New York, NY
, usually without any reference to human or animal figures or buildings. These Tonalist paintings, with
Category

1920s Tonalist Landscape Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Paint, Oil

Moonlit Houseboats at Greenbrae Lagoon- Rare Nocturnal L/S, Charles Rollo Peters
By Charles Rollo Peters
Located in Soquel, CA
"Houseboats in Moon Light", a rare early 20th century tonalist nocturnal harbor landscape scene at
Category

1910s Tonalist Landscape Paintings

Materials

Linen, Oil

'Architectural', Exhibited: Buffalo Fine Arts Academy, Albright Art Gallery
Located in Santa Cruz, CA
label verso A substantial, Modernist view of a mid-century apartment building with the detailed
Category

Mid-20th Century American Modern Landscape Paintings

Materials

Casein, Tempera, Board

The Red House, Cornwall, Connecticut
By Charles Warren Eaton
Located in Saratoga Springs, NY
Signed lower left. Born in Albany, New York, Charles Eaton became a Tonalist landscape painter
Category

Mid-20th Century American Impressionist Landscape Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

"Oak in Spring" 1930 American Impressionist oil painting, oak tree landscape
By Henry Cooke White
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
was founded at the age of 14, when he met the famous American Tonalist painter, Dwight William Tyron
Category

Mid-20th Century American Impressionist Landscape Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

'Still Life of Flowers in a Jug', School of Paris, French Post-Impressionist oil
By Frank Gebhart
Located in Santa Cruz, CA
A substantial, mid-century oil showing sunflowers informally arranged in a glass vase. An
Category

1960s Post-Impressionist Still-life Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Gray Brothers
By Charles Harold Davis
Located in Missouri, MO
the more recognized of the Tonalist and Impressionist painters in America. He was also the leading
Category

Late 19th Century American Impressionist Landscape Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Gray Brothers
Gray Brothers
H 35 in W 30.5 in D 1 in
Untitled, Bucolic Landscape
By Charlotte Buell Coman
Located in Lawrence, NY
Oil on canvas Charlotte Buell Coman was a prominent late 19th, early 20th-century landscape artist
Category

1880s Barbizon School Landscape Paintings

Materials

Oil

Bucolic Scene
By Charlotte Buell Coman
Located in Lawrence, NY
Oil on canvas Charlotte Buell Coman was a prominent late 19th, early 20th-century landscape artist
Category

1880s Barbizon School Landscape Paintings

Materials

Oil

"Toluca, Mexico" by Robert Onderdonk (1852-1917)
By Robert Jenkins Onderdonk
Located in San Antonio, TX
was the private pupil of A H Warren, a tonalist painter known as "the Corot of America." In 1878, he
Category

1910s Impressionist Landscape Paintings

Materials

Oil

People Also Browsed

On the Mountain Side
By Chauncey Foster Ryder
Located in New York, NY
Signed lower right: Chauncey F Ryder
Category

19th Century Tonalist Landscape Paintings

Materials

Oil

Antique French Impressionist Signed Oil Dappled Light Woodland Green Pathway
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
French School, signed verso Late 19th century/ early 20th century oil painting on canvas, framed inscribed verso framed: 15 x 18 inches canvas: 9.5 x 13 inches provenance: French co...
Category

Late 19th Century Impressionist Landscape Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

19th Century landscape oil painting of a river glen
By William Mellor
Located in Moreton-In-Marsh, Gloucestershire
William Mellor British, (1851-1931) A River Glen Oil on canvas, signed Image size: 19 inches x 29 inches Size including frame: 27.5 inches x 37.5 inches A lovely landscape painting ...
Category

19th Century Victorian Landscape Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Circumcision Christ Lairesse Flemish Paint Oil on canvas Old master 17th Century
By Gérard de Lairesse (Liège 1641 - Amsterdam 1711)
Located in Riva del Garda, IT
Gérard de Lairesse (Liège 1641 - Amsterdam 1711), attributed Circumcision of Christ Oil on canvas, 120 x 102 cm., In frame 138 x 119 cm. The painting, of excellent quality and cons...
Category

17th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Orientale
By Henri Fantin-Latour
Located in New York, NY
Signed, lower right: Fantin Provenance: Gustave Tempelaere (1840–1904), Paris; possibly by descent to his son: Julien Tempelaere (1876–1961) and with F. & J. Tempelaere, Paris, prob...
Category

1890s Romantic Figurative Paintings

Materials

Paper, Canvas, Oil

“Boston Windmills”
Located in Southampton, NY
Beautiful tonalist oil on canvas painting by the well known American artist, Royal Hill Milleson. Signed lower right. Milleson moved to Boston in 1895 and this painting depicts two o...
Category

1890s Tonalist Landscape Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

19th Century pair of Scottish landscape oil paintings with sheep & cattle
By Robert Gallon
Located in Moreton-In-Marsh, Gloucestershire
**PLEASE NOTE: EACH PAINTING INCLUDING THE FRAME MEASURES 19.5 INCHES X 31.5 INCHES ** Robert Gallon British, (1845-1925) On a Scotch Hillside & On the Cliffs Oil on canvas, pair, b...
Category

19th Century Victorian Landscape Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Large American Impressionist Signed Women Bathers Nude Portrait Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Antique American impressionist painting of two nude bathers in a landscape. Oil on canvas, circa 1900. Signed lower right. Image size, 34L x 27H. Housed in a gitlwood frame.
Category

Early 1900s Impressionist Landscape Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

BACCANALE IN THE FOREST
Located in Los Angeles, CA
ALEXANDER FRENZ "BACCANALE IN THE FOREST" OIL ON CANVAS, SIGNED GERMAN, C.1900 39 X 33 INCHES Alexander Frenz 1861-1941 He was born in 1861 in Rheydt. In 1879 he began to ...
Category

1890s Symbolist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

New York Landscape
Located in Milford, NH
A fine New York landscape with cows by American artist Emile Faure Beaulieu (b. 1828, actively exhibiting in the 1850-1860’s). Beaulieu was known as a designer, wood engraver, and la...
Category

1850s Hudson River School Landscape Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

New York Landscape
New York Landscape
H 20.13 in W 26.13 in D 2.5 in
Early Tonalist Landscape -- California Coastal Live Oaks William Schneider 1915
Located in Soquel, CA
Early Tonalist Landscape -- California Coastal Live Oaks William Schneider 1915 Beautiful early 20th Century tonalist landscape of California by New York artist William G. Schneider ...
Category

1910s Tonalist Landscape Paintings

Materials

Oil, Linen

Sunlight Through The Trees
By Leonard Ochtman
Located in Milford, NH
An impressionist winter landscape with the sun through the trees by Dutch / American artist Leonard Ochtman (1854-1934). Ochtman was born in Zonnemain, Holland and moved to America i...
Category

Early 20th Century American Impressionist Landscape Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

California Oil on Canvas Painting, 19th Century
Located in Cypress, CA
California oil on canvas landscape painting, "Evening Glow" - Otto Robert Gaensslen (1876-1915; American) Late 19th-early 20th century. Artist Bio: (see attached photo) " Gaenss...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century American Paintings

Materials

Canvas

Antinoo Head Sculpture
By Raffaello Romanelli
Located in Milan, IT
Deftly handmade of gypsum rendered with the marbling technique, which dates back to Ancient Roman times especially typical of the Pompeian paintings, this sculpture depicts Antinoo, ...
Category

2010s Italian Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Marble

Antinoo Head Sculpture
Antinoo Head Sculpture
H 17.33 in W 7.09 in D 9.06 in
English Country House Bar Cabinet
Located in Westwood, NJ
A very finely carved flame mahogany veneered architectural bar cabinet of the Althorp House façade, the upper section with a gabled brass galleried roof with 8 dormers, with a Spence...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese George II Dry Bars

Materials

Wood

English Country House Bar Cabinet
English Country House Bar Cabinet
H 82.25 in W 62.75 in D 22.75 in
Late 19th Century Reclining Nude California School
Located in Soquel, CA
Late 19th century California School reclining nude female figure by anonymous 19th Century artist. In the style of William-Adolphe Bouguereau. Presented in a giltwood frame. Image si...
Category

Late 19th Century American Impressionist Nude Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Recent Sales

Seascape, a Tonalist painting by Lars Jonson Haukaness (1862-1929, American)
Located in New York, NY
Seascape, a Tonalist painting by Lars Jonson Haukaness (1862-1929, American) Lars Jonson Haukaness
Category

19th Century Tonalist Landscape Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Sentinel Rock
By Henry Ward Ranger
Located in Cincinnati, OH
Painting depicting a landscape by Henry Ward Ranger. Ranger was important in the tonalist movement.
Category

Mid-19th Century Tonalist Landscape Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Woods, Stream, Rowboat with Oars
By Royal Milleson
Located in Graton, CA
Born in Batavia, Ohio, Royal Milleson became a landscape painter and illustrator who lived in Indianapolis, 1878-1895, Boston, 1895-1900, and Chicago from 1900 to 1923. During hi...
Category

Mid-19th Century Tonalist Landscape Paintings

Materials

Oil

'Anseremme on the Meuse', Belgian Valley Scene by Charles Bisschops
By Charles Bisschops
Located in Charlevoix, MI
painted by well-listed tonalist painter Charles-Louis Bisschops (1894-1975). The wide vista shows the
Category

Mid-20th Century Belgian Paintings

Materials

Paint

Tonalist Landscape by Cincinnati Artist Richard T. Clarke
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Richard T. Clarke (American, mid-nineteenth century) Landscape, 1878 Oil on canvas, 16 x 19 inches
Category

Late 19th Century Tonalist Landscape Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Moonlit Country House
By Kevin Sanders
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
. Working on location near Florence, Italy since the mid-ninety’s, Kevin enjoyed both humbling and rewarding
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Tonalist Landscape Paintings

Materials

Oil, Panel

Fisherman's Home, New Hope School, Impressionist Landscape, Oil on Canvas
By William Langson Lathrop
Located in Doylestown, PA
premier landscape painters in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His style was Tonalist, which
Category

Late 19th Century Tonalist Landscape Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

“Country Twilight”
By William Merritt Post
Located in Southampton, NY
seems to slip quietly into the chasm between academic 19th- century painting and the more spontaneous
Category

1880s Tonalist Landscape Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Large Modernist Landscape Painting by California Artist Walter Snellgrove
Located in San Francisco, CA
-leaning landscape, figurative paintings. American, mid-20th Century.
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paintings

Materials

Canvas

Autumn Landscape
By Henry Cooke White
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
career in art was founded at the age of 14, when he met the famous American Tonalist painter, Dwight
Category

Mid-20th Century American Impressionist Landscape Paintings

Materials

Oil

Coronado Heights (Kansas)
By Birger Sandzen
Located in Denver, CO
Impressionism and introduced him to Pointillism. Sandzén used a Pointillist, or Tonalist, approach to painting
Category

Mid-20th Century American Impressionist Landscape Paintings

Materials

Oil

Kansas Farm (Prairie, River, Farm House and Barn)
By Birger Sandzen
Located in Denver, CO
1940 original signed framed watercolor by 20th century Swedish-American artist, Birger Sandzen
Category

Mid-20th Century American Impressionist Landscape Paintings

Materials

Archival Paper, Watercolor

New England Landscape Sunset
Located in Saint Augustine, FL
a student of George H. Smillie who taught landscape painting in a classical, tonalist style
Category

Mid-19th Century Hudson River School Landscape Paintings

Materials

Board, Cotton Canvas, Oil

“The Glow” by Franklin DeHaven
Located in Sheffield, MA
, especially around East Hampton, Long Island, which had by the mid-1880s achieved the status of "The American
Category

Antique 19th Century American Paintings

Materials

Canvas

Two Schooners, Pencil on Paper Drawing, Pennsylvania Impressionist Artist
By William Langson Lathrop
Located in Doylestown, PA
landscape painters in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His style was Tonalist, which coincided with
Category

Early 20th Century American Impressionist Landscape Drawings and Waterco...

Materials

Archival Paper, Pencil

Painting by Hermann Gustave Simon "Summer Landscape w/ Cows" (1883)
Located in Shippensburg, PA
mediums is notable, both in a nearly tonalist manner as they hit the water from the hills and with utmost
Category

Antique 19th Century American Barbizon School Paintings

Materials

Paint, Canvas

'The Islands', LACMA, Whitney Museum, Mid-century tonalist stone lithograph
By Millard Sheets
Located in Santa Cruz, CA
; Oakland Art Gallery, 1932; Century of Progress Exposition (Chicago), 1933; Corcoran Gallery of Art, 1937
Category

1970s American Modern Landscape Prints

Materials

Paper, Lithograph

Mid Century Saratoga Creek Tonalist Landscape
Located in Soquel, CA
Wonderful mid-century tonalist landscape of Saratoga Creek using palette knife for depth and
Category

1960s Tonalist Landscape Paintings

Materials

Oil, Masonite

River with Bridge - Tonalist landscape by Woman Artist Mary Kollock
Located in Philadelphia, PA
the National Academy beginning in the mid-1860s. Mary Kollock is listed in the Lineage Book of the
Category

Late 19th Century Tonalist Landscape Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

'Saddled and Waiting', Tonalist Equestrian Watercolor
By Brice Mack
Located in Santa Cruz, CA
A period equestrian watercolor showing a saddled chestnut grazing beside a stand of trees. Signed lower right, 'Brice Mack' for Brice Harvey Mack and painted circa 1960. In additi...
Category

Mid-20th Century Landscape Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Paper, Watercolor

Evening Sky, Tonalist Landscape Sunset Painting in Barbizon Style
By Robert Crannell Minor
Located in Doylestown, PA
"Evening Sky" is a tonalist landscape of a stunning, golden sunset, painted by American artist
Category

Late 19th Century Barbizon School Landscape Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

19th Century Napa Valley
By Ransome Gillett Holdridge
Located in Soquel, CA
An important and significant mid 19th-century tonalist painting of Napa Valley by famed San
Category

Mid-19th Century Impressionist Landscape Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Sunset at Forest's Edge
By William Merritt Post
Located in New Orleans, LA
sunset and earth tones you so often see in mid-nineteenth century French Barbizon and later, American
Category

1920s Tonalist Landscape Paintings

Materials

Oil

Tuscan Landscape
By Guido Borellini
Located in Santa Cruz, CA
paper, laid down on card. A substantial mid-century watercolor landscape by this notable Italian
Category

1960s Modern Landscape Paintings

Materials

Archival Paper, Watercolor

Kenneth Green (Australian 1916-1973) Thames Barges
By Kenneth Green
Located in Pymble, AU
Kenneth Green (Australian 1916-1973) was well known for his city and landscape paintings, predominately in Sydney and country NSW. He was influenced by the Australian Tonalism moveme...
Category

Mid-20th Century Tonalist Landscape Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Board

The Hunters - Variations in Brown - Green
By Benjamin Kopman
Located in Rego Park, NY
was a member of the "Introspective" group. Abstract Surrealist Realist Regionalist Impressionist Mid
Category

20th Century Tonalist Landscape Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

'Puerta Del Sol-Toledo' Oil Painting by Charles Bisschops
By Charles Bisschops
Located in Charlevoix, MI
A man walks by two women in the shade overlooking Toledo, Spain in this tonalist painting by
Category

Mid-20th Century Belgian Paintings

'Baeza' Oil Painting by Charles Bisschops
By Charles Bisschops
Located in Charlevoix, MI
Two Andalusians pause in the shade for some idle gossip in the tonalist painting by Belgian artist
Category

Mid-20th Century Belgian Paintings

'Baeza' Oil Painting by Charles Bisschops
'Baeza' Oil Painting by Charles Bisschops
H 18.25 in W 15.25 in D 1.5 in
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Mid Century Tonalist For Sale on 1stDibs

On 1stDibs, you can find the most appropriate mid century tonalist for your needs in our varied inventory. You can easily find an example made in the modern style, while we also have 1 modern versions to choose from as well. If you’re looking for a mid century tonalist from a specific time period, our collection is diverse and broad-ranging, and you’ll find at least one that dates back to the 19th Century while another version may have been produced as recently as the 21st Century. Adding a mid century tonalist to a room that is mostly decorated in warm neutral tones can yield a welcome change — find a piece on 1stDibs that incorporates elements of brown, gray, beige, blue and more. Finding an appealing mid century tonalist — no matter the origin — is easy, but Edmund Ward, Charles Warren Eaton, Charles Rollo Peters, Eliot Clark and Charles Harold Davis each produced popular versions that are worth a look. Frequently made by artists working in paint, oil paint and fabric, these artworks are unique and have attracted attention over the years.

How Much is a Mid Century Tonalist?

The average selling price for a mid century tonalist we offer is $3,750, while they’re typically $1,000 on the low end and $36,000 for the highest priced.

Finding the Right paintings for You

Painting is an art form that has spanned innumerable cultures, with artists using the medium to tell stories, explore and communicate ideas and express themselves. To bring abstract, landscape and still-life paintings into your home is to celebrate and share in the long tradition of this discipline.

When we look at paintings, particularly those that originated in the past, we learn about history, other cultures and countries of the world. Like every other work of art, paintings — whether they are contemporary creations or works that were made during the 19th century — can often help us clearly see and understand the world around us in a meaningful and interesting way.

Cave walls were the canvases for what were arguably the world’s first landscape paintings, which depict natural scenery through art. Portrait paintings and drawings, which, along with sculpture, were how someone’s appearance was recorded prior to the advent of photography, are at least as old as Ancient Egypt. In the Netherlands, landscapes were a major theme for painters as early as the 1500s. Later, artists in Greece, Rome and elsewhere created vast wall paintings to decorate stately homes, churches and tombs. Today, creating a wall of art is a wonderful way to enhance your space, showcase beautiful pieces and tie an interior design together.

No matter your preference, whether you favor Post-Impressionist paintings, animal paintings, Surrealism, Pop art or another movement or specific period, arranging art on a blank wall allows you to evoke emotions in a room while also showing off your tastes and interests. A symmetrical wall arrangement may comprise a grid of four to six pieces or, for an odd number of works, a horizontal row. Asymmetrical arrangements, which may be small clusters of art or large, salon-style gallery walls, have a more collected and eclectic feel. Download the 1stDibs app, which includes a handy “View on Wall” feature that allows you to see how a particular artwork will look on a particular wall, and read about how to arrange wall art. And if you’re searching for the perfect palette for your interior design project, what better place to turn than to the art world’s masters of color?

On 1stDibs, you’ll find an expansive collection of paintings and other fine art for your home or office. Browse abstract paintings, portrait paintings, paintings by popular artists and more today.

Questions About Mid Century Tonalist
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 27, 2024
    The difference between mid-century and mid-century modern comes down to specificity. When it comes to furniture and architecture, for example, mid-century refers to works that emerged during the middle of the 20th century, usually between 1950 and 1970. The more specific descriptor, mid-century modern, is used to refer to a particular style of design that emphasizes simplicity, organic forms and clean lines. Mid-century modern furniture designers generally drew on the architectural work of Frank Lloyd Wright, Bauhaus design, Scandinavian modernism and more. Any piece of furniture produced during the 1950s and ’60s can be referred to as mid-century, but only those with specific characteristics are mid-century modern. That said, when enthusiasts of furniture and architecture use the shorter of the two phrases, they may indeed be referring to modernist works created during that period in history. On 1stDibs, find a wide variety of mid-century modern furniture.
  • 1stDibs ExpertOctober 26, 2021
    A mid-century sofa is any sofa created during the mid-20th century. Mid-century modern sofas are pieces of seating furniture that embody the venturesome attributes that we associate with mid-century modern furniture — while not all sofas designed in the mid-century modern style are the same, they frequently have a low profile and are characterized by gentle curves, clean lines and an organic shape. Mid-century furniture is a timeless classic due to its elegant simplicity. Shop a collection of antique, vintage, and contemporary mid-century sofas from some of the world’s top dealers on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 17, 2023
    No, the 1970s are generally not considered to fall within the era identified as mid-century. With respect to mid-century modern design, while there is some debate between collectors and design experts about the specific time period that saw the emergence of the style, most furniture enthusiasts agree that by the late 1960s, interest in MCM had largely declined. Writer Cara Greenberg, who coined the term “mid-century modernism,” suggests that “the period from the end of World War II to 1960 – from V-J Day to JFK – was the heyday of innovative furniture design in America.” Mid-century modern furniture is characterized by clean lines and inviting, organic shapes. Furniture makers of the era believed that good design was an essential part of good living. Find a variety of vintage mid-century modern furniture and decorative objects on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Mid-century artwork is any piece of art produced during the middle of the 20th century. It includes paintings, drawings, prints, sculptures, collages, pottery and other media. You'll find a large selection of mid-century artwork from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021
    Mid-century modern decor was popularized during the period of 1933 to 1965 but most would suggest that the style emerged during the years that followed World War II. This style of decor is typically characterized by sleek lines, organic forms, minimal ornamentation and high functionality. Find the finest mid-century modern furnishings and more on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021
    Mid-century furniture is furniture created within the period of 1933 to 1965 but most would argue that the style began to emerge in the postwar years. This style of furniture is known for its sleek lines and organic shapes. The creators most frequently associated with mid-century modern furniture believed that good design meant good living. Mid-century modern is today by far the largest category of furnishings on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Mid-century jewelry is a style of jewelry that rose in popularity along with the mid-century modern design movement. Pieces from this era typically feature bold, geometric designs. Shop a variety of mid-century jewelry and accessories from some of the world’s top dealers on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021
    The mid-century modern style emerged primarily in the years following World War II. This style of decor is characterized by sleek lines, organic forms, minimal ornamentation and high functionality. Creators of mid-century modern furniture believed that good design meant good living, and mid-century modern is today by far the largest category of furnishings on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertOctober 19, 2021
    A mid-century chair is a piece of seating furniture that was designed at any point during the middle of the 20th century. Mid-century modern furniture 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. The mid-century period provided an excellent opportunity to experiment with both functional and decorative forms. Mid-century modern chairs were made with a variety of natural and synthetic materials, combining leather, wood, and cane with chrome, steel, and plastic. Shop a range of vintage mid-century chairs on 1stDibs today.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2024
    Yes, Eames is mid-century modern. In many ways, Charles Eames and Ray Eames were the embodiment of the inventiveness, energy and optimism at the heart of mid-century modern American design, and they have been recognized as the most influential designers of the 20th century. Some of the couple's most famous mid-century modern designs include the Eames Lounge chair and ottoman, the Eames Molded Plywood chair and the Eames Fiberglass chair. Shop a wide range of Charles and Ray Eames furniture on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021
    Mid century modern refers to the middle of the 20th century — specifically 1930s through the mid-1960s. This period represents a design and architecture movement characterized by simple shapes, clean lines, and organic materials. Some of the most famous mid century modern designers include Ray Eames, Charlotte Perriand, Isamu Noguchi and Eero Saarinen.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMay 22, 2019

    Mid-century modernism first appeared in 1945 and merged a minimalist aesthetic with practicality. Mid-century modern furniture is distinguishable by its lack of decoration or extravagance and its use of clean lines, organic curves and variety of natural materials.

    1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021
    Mid century modern furniture refers to pieces designed during the middle of the 20th century — specifically 1930s through the mid-1960s. This period represents a design and architecture movement characterized by simple shapes, clean lines, and organic materials. Some of the most famous mid century modern designers include Ray Eames, Charlotte Perriand, Isamu Noguchi and Eero Saarinen.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMay 3, 2024
    The years between 1950 and 1960 are typically considered mid-century. Some people also include the 1970s in the definition. Remember that the term mid-century furniture refers to pieces produced during the middle of the 20th century. It is different from mid-century modern, the name for a furniture style that emerged primarily in the years following World War II and 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. On 1stDibs, shop a variety of mid-century furniture.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 25, 2024
    The years that encompass the mid-century modern period are roughly 1933 until 1965, but most experts argue, however, that the mid-century modern era correlates specifically to the years following World War II. These years in America saw one of the most delightful and dramatic flowerings of creativity in design history. Vintage mid-century modern furniture — including tables, chairs, desks and case pieces — are often organically shaped, clean-lined and elegantly simple. 

    Postwar architects and designers in the United States were animated by new ideas and new technology during the era of mid-century modernism. Materials developed for wartime use became available for domestic goods and were incorporated into mid-century furniture designs manufactured by the likes of Knoll and Herman Miller

    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. 

    Knoll became 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 soon became desirable for the home. Similarly, Michigan’s Herman Miller is best known for its iconic mid-century modern furniture, and while the company focused on the office, people loved its designs for their homes, too.

    Find vintage mid-century modern furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMay 5, 2023
    To tell if a chair is mid-century, look for labels and markings that indicate its maker. Then, use trusted online resources to determine when the company was active. A certified appraiser or experienced antiques dealer can be of assistance when dating chairs. Iconic mid-century modern furniture designers include Charles and Ray Eames, Eero Saarinen, Milo Baughman, Florence Knoll, Harry Bertoia and Isamu Noguchi. Find a variety of mid-century modern chairs on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMay 5, 2023
    To tell if furniture is mid-century modern, examine the piece, looking for labels and markings that indicate who produced it. Then, consult trusted online resources to determine when the maker was active and what styles of furniture they made. Iconic mid-century modern furniture designers include Charles and Ray Eames, Eero Saarinen, Milo Baughman, Florence Knoll, Harry Bertoia and Isamu Noguchi. A knowledgeable dealer or certified appraiser can help you determine if a particular piece is genuine mid-century modern or a reproduction. Shop a range of mid-century modern furniture on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Yes, Mondrian’s art is believed to be one of the great inspirations for the mid-century modern approach to minimalism. His artworks were not just a departure from figurative works, but a new look at abstract art as well. On 1stDibs, find a variety of original artwork from top artists.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2023
    To identify mid-century lamps, look for a manufacturer's label or stamp on the base or the shade. You can use trusted online resources to determine when the company or artisan was active. Some lamps may also have a date stamp that you can use for identification purposes. Pieces dating from the late 1950s through the early 1970s are mid-century in terms of their age. A mid-century modern lamp will show off hallmarks of the design style, such as curvy hourglass or globe forms. A certified appraiser or experienced antiques dealer may also be able to help with the identification. Find a range of mid-century lamps on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Mid-century is considered the middle of the century, however as it pertains to furniture and design, mid-century is an American design movement known for its modern style, construction and the Modernist movement. It is typically simple and clean lines without embellishments. Shop a range of mid-century modern designs on 1stDIbs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021
    Most experts agree that mid-century modern correlates specifically to the years following World War II. It has grown in popularity in the decades since, particularly due to the media and cultural institutions that have promoted the truly innovative era of design. Not only did the MoMA promote modern furniture, but pieces are prominently visible on the set of very popular television shows such as Mad Men. Shop a wide and beautiful range of mid-century modern furniture on 1stDibs.

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