Mid-Century Modern Wall Sconce, Wood and Brass, Italy, 1960s
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Modern Wall Sconce, Wood and Brass, Italy, 1960s
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Brass
Midcentury Modern Wood Wall Sconce
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Mid-Century Modern Italian Wall Sconces
$4,400 / set
Mid-Century Modern Italian Wall Sconces
Located in Rome, IT
This pair of mid-century modern wall sconces exemplifies the elegance and innovation of 1950s Italian design. Each sconce features a frosted opaline glass shade, elegantly suspended ...
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Metal, Brass
Scandinavian vintage sconces. Mid-century modern Pine wood wall lights
Located in Skarpnäck, SE
Pair of 1970s Scandinavian Wood-Shaving Sconces A rare and beautifully handcrafted matching pair of sconces made from delicate, thin wood shavings. Created in Sweden during the 1970...
Category
Vintage 1970s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Pine
Pair of Mid Century Brass and Wood Danish Sculptural Wall Sconces
Located in Pasadena, TX
These are mid century modern wall sconces . They're made of brass and have wood accents.
Category
Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Brass
Pair, Maison Lancel French Mid-Century Modern Chrome & Wood Wall Sconces 1960
By Maison Lancel
Located in Miami, FL
Very elegant pair of circa 1960 chrome and black wood sconces for Maison Lancel, France. Wired for US and in working condition. Each wall sconce takes 1-light bulb with max. 40 watt...
Category
Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Chrome
Mid-Century Modern Wall Sconces by Maison Arlus, France
By Arlus
Located in Saint-Amans-des-Cots, FR
This pair of mid-century modern wall sconces by Maison Arlus, Paris, dates back to the 1950s and exemplifies the elegance and craftsmanship of French decorative lighting design.
Category
Vintage 1950s French Art Deco Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Brass
Maison Lancel French Mid-Century Modern Pair 2 Light Chrome & Wood Wall Sconces
By Maison Lancel
Located in Miami, FL
Very elegant pair of circa 1960 2 Light chrome and black sconces for Maison Lancel, France. Wired for US and in working condition. Each wall sconce takes 2-light bulb with max. 40 w...
Category
Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Chrome, Steel
Mid-Century Modern Lavender Swirl Italian Murano Glass Wall Sconces - Pair
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a beautiful pair of hand blown Murano glass wall sconces. The glass color is almost a lavender or a blush. The hand blown glass is swirled , and each has three arms. They a...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Blown Glass, Wood
1970s Set of Two Mid-Century Modern Rectangular Italian wall Sconces
By Stilnovo
Located in Aci Castello, IT
Placing these Mid-Century Modern sconces on your walls can create a warm and inviting atmosphere, while their elegant design adds a statement piece to your interior decor They bring ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Metal, Brass
Mid-Century Modern Oak Wall Sconces by Guillerme et Chambron, 1950
By Guillerme et Chambron
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Stunning pair of wooden wall sconces by the iconic French design duo Guillerme & Chambron, renowned for their sculptural craftsmanship and timeless post-war aesthetic. Crafted in...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Oak
Wood Brass & Parchment Mid Century Modern 6-light palette shape sconce
By Oscar Torlasco
Located in Varese, Lombardia
Beautiful and particular wall lamp in the shape of a palette. Produced in Italy between the late 40s and early 50s, it is equipped with 6 lamp holders with E14 attachment (small sock...
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Brass
1950s Set of Two Stilnovo Style Mid-Century Modern Italian Wall Sconces
By Arredoluce, Stilnovo
Located in Aci Castello, IT
Original conditions gives them a lovely vintage look. These wall sconces represent a timeless example of mid-century modern design, showcasing a harmonious blend of materials, attent...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Brass
Mid-century Glass and wood Sconce, 1950's
$560Sale Price|20% Off
Mid-century Glass and wood Sconce, 1950's
Located in Lisboa, PT
For sale is a unique Scandinavian mid-century sconce from the 1950s, featuring a charming combination of brass, wood, and glass. This vintage light exemplifies the minimalist elegan...
Category
Vintage 1950s Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Brass
Pair of Mid-Century Modern Italian Opaline Glass and Wood Sconces, 1960s
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Pair of Italian design wall lamps, made in the 60s. Fascinating with its rare round opal glass shape. The body of the lamp is in beautiful teak wood. The light requires an E27 bulb, ...
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Opaline Glass, Wood
Pair Of Mid Century Italian Murano Shell Form Wall Sconces
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Pair of Murano art glass wall sconces with shell form having distinctive gold flecks throughout. The shell is surmounted on a horizontal reeded base. Comes with brass backplate with ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Brass
Set of Two 1950s Mid-Century Modern Brass, Bamboo and Glass Italian Wall Sconces
By Stilnovo
Located in Aci Castello, IT
These are exquisite 1950s Mid-Century Modern Italian wall sconces, a perfect blend of natural materials and sleek design that epitomize the era's aesthetic.
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Brass
Mid-Century Modern Pair of Wall Light, Wood and Opaline, 1970s
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Modern pair of wall light, wood and opaline, 1970s.
Category
Vintage 1970s Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Opaline Glass, Wood
Italian Mid-Century Murano Brass Glass Wall Sconces
Located in Queens, NY
Italian Mid-Century (1940's) brass and ebonized wood 2 arm wall sconce with amber Murano glass bowl shades with scalloped top.
Category
20th Century Italian Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Brass
Mid-Century Modern by Archimede Seguso Couple of Italian Wall Lamps, Sconces
$2,457Sale Price / set|42% Off
Mid-Century Modern by Archimede Seguso Couple of Italian Wall Lamps, Sconces
By Archimede Seguso
Located in Ibiza, Spain
Pair of midcentury Italian wall lights designed and produced by Archimede Seguso in 1940. These midcentury wall lights stand out for their ribbed Murano glass construction on a metal...
Category
Vintage 1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Metal
Original Brass Sculpture Wall Sconces Mid-Century Italian Design
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Original brass sculpture wall sconces Mid-Century Italian design, processing embossed brass, a disarming elegance, bulb holder in lacquered wood.
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Brass
Mid-century White Plexiglass Sconces with Wood Base, 1960s, Germany
Located in Hagenbach, DE
Mid-century White Plexiglass Sconces with Wood Base, 1960s, Germany Very elegant and Minimalist wall lamps Lamps are in very good condition. These lamps works with E14 standard li...
Category
Vintage 1960s German Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Plexiglass, Wood
Mid-Century Italian Wall Sconces with Porcelain Roses, 1955 Pair
Located in Antwerp, BE
A charming pair of mid-century Italian wall sconces with a neoclassical urn form and rare hand-crafted porcelain roses in soft pink tones. Elegant gilt accents, original candle sleev...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Metal
Mid-Century Modern Swedish teak and brass Sconce, a Wall Lamp by Örsjö, Sweden
$315Sale Price|20% Off
Mid-Century Modern Swedish teak and brass Sconce, a Wall Lamp by Örsjö, Sweden
By Örsjö Industri AB
Located in Skarpnäck, SE
Vintage Swedish Mid-Century Modern Brass and Teak Wall Sconce by Örsjö A beautifully understated vintage wall sconce or bedside lamp crafted in Sweden by Örsjö.
Category
Vintage 1950s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Metal, Brass
Set of Three Mid Century Modern Pine Rustic Sconces or Wall Lamps Sweden 1960s
Located in Munich, DE
Set of three lovely and elegant Mid-Century Modern rustic sconces or wall lamps.
Category
Vintage 1960s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Fabric, Pine
Pair of Guillerme et Chambron Wood and Ceramic Wall Sconces with Modern Shades
By Guillerme et Chambron
Located in Saint-Ouen, IDF
A sculptural and uncommon pair of French wall sconces by Guillerme et Chambron, created in France during the 1970s. These expressive fixtures embody the designers’ signature balance ...
Category
Vintage 1970s French Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Ceramic, Wood
1950s Mid-Century Teak and Milk Glass Diabolo Wall Sconce
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Wall sconce features a diabolo-shaped milk glass shade with subtle ribbed surface texture and an adjustable mount that allows the shade to be angled. The crescent-shaped teak backpla...
Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Brass
Mid Century Modern Brass Pair of Sconces with Mirrors, 1960s, Italy
Located in Hagenbach, DE
Mid Century Modern Brass Pair of Sconces with Mirrors, 1960s, Italy Very elegant and Minimalist wall lamps and mirrors together Lamp is in very good condition. These lamps works wi...
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Brass
Tropical Wood Wall Sconce, Tarara, Martillado Collection
By L'Aviva Home
Located in New York, NY
Our Martillado wall sconces are an extension of our Árbol Collection from Bolivia. Crafted in La Chiquitania, the collection pays homage to tropical modernism while drawing from Boli...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Bolivian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights an...
Materials
Hardwood
Mid-century Modern Fabric and Wood Accordion Lamp, 1960s, Germany
Located in Hagenbach, DE
Mid-century Modern Fabric and Wood Accordion Lamp, 1960s, Germany Very elegant and Minimalist wall lamp. Lamps are in very good condition. These lamps works with E27 standard ligh...
Category
Vintage 1960s German Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Fabric, Wood
Mid-century design banci style wall lamp sconce crystal flower bouquet , 1970s
Located in Delft, NL
Mid-century design banci style wall lamp sconce crystal flower bouquet , 1970s
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Crystal, Metal
Pair of Maison Lancel Brass & Wood Wall Sconces
$2,314 / set
Pair of Maison Lancel Brass & Wood Wall Sconces
Located in London, GB
France, C.1950s - 1960s A refined pair of French wall sconces by Maison Lancel, dating from the 1950s to 1960s. Elegant, warm and beautifully proportioned, these wall lights combine...
Category
Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Brass
Italian Mid-Century Amber Murano Glass Wall Sconce by Mazzega, 1970s
By AVMazzega, Mazzega, Mazzega 1946
Located in Badajoz, Badajoz
Unique and beauty Italian Amber Murano glass Wall Sconce from 1970s. This fixture was designed and manufactured during the 1970s in Italy by Mazzega. This Wall Sconce is equipped wit...
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Metal
Pair of Brutalist Wood & Copper Wall Sconces, Italy, 1970s
Located in BARCELONA, ES
Rare and striking pair of Italian Brutalist wall sconces, 1970s. Bold geometric solid wood frames accented with raw hammered copper sheets that catch and reflect warm, metallic light...
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Copper
Pair of French Blue Painted Wood Candle Wall Sconces, Wheat and Acanthus
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Charming pair of wall candle sconces with beautiful detail throughout including acanthus leaves and wheat. The Gustavian blue painted finish on this pair have a very pleasing, classi...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Wood
Large Italian Mid-Century Sconce
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Large single Mid-Century sconce from Italy. Beautiful mélange of wood, blown glass and brass. Fully rewire for use in the US.
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Brass
Italian Mid-Century Amber Clear Murano Wall Sconce by Mazzega, 1970s
By Mazzega 1946, AVMazzega, Mazzega
Located in Badajoz, Badajoz
Pretty and beauty Amber Clear Murano glass Wall Sconce. This fixture was designed and manufactured during the 1970s in Italy by Mazzega. Mazzega lie in the noble Venetian glassworkin...
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Metal
Mid-Century Wood Wall Lamp by Drevo Humpolec, 1970‘s
By Dřevo Humpolec
Located in Praha, CZ
Made in Czechoslovakia Made of glass, wood 1x40W, E27 or E26 socket Re-polished Fully functional Original condition.
Category
Vintage 1970s Czech Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Glass, Wood
Pine sconces, Swedish modern classic Scandinavian wall lights.
By Solbackens Svarveri
Located in Skarpnäck, SE
A pair of modern Scandinavian vintage pine sconces/ wall lighing, which have a orange acrylic cone. The lamps are from to Solbackens svarveri, Sweden. The lamps has a classic shape f...
Category
Vintage 1970s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Acrylic, Wood, Pine
Italian Mid-Century Lilac Murano Glass Wall Sconce by Mazzega, 1970s
By Mazzega 1946, Mazzega, AVMazzega
Located in Badajoz, Badajoz
Unique and beauty Italian Lilac Murano glass Wall Sconce from 1970s. This fixture was designed and manufactured during the 1970s in Italy by Mazzega. This Wall Sconce is equipped wit...
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Metal
Italian Three Arm Candle Gilt Wood Wall Sconce Painted
$360Sale Price|20% Off
Italian Three Arm Candle Gilt Wood Wall Sconce Painted
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Elegant wooden wall candle sconce with beautiful detail throughout, including leaves and ribbons. This hand-painted gold gilt finish sconce has a very pleasing aged look. This classi...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Wood, Giltwood, Paint
Danish Modern Rattan and Brass Adjustable Wall Sconces
Located in Atlanta, GA
Danish modern rattan and brass adjustable sconces, Denmark, circa 1960s. The bottom of the shade to the top of the arm is 17". The cord length is 134.5".
Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Brass
Mid-century Wood Base Metal and Copper Single Wall Lamp, 1960s, Germany
Located in Hagenbach, DE
Mid-century Wood Base Metal and Copper Single Wall Lamp, 1960s, Germany Very elegant and Minimalist wall lamps. Lamp is in very good condition. ( There is a thin crack in the woode...
Category
Vintage 1960s German Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Metal, Copper
1980s Modernist Glass, Wood and Brass Italian Wall Sconce
By Gaetano Sciolari
Located in Aci Castello, IT
A rare single wall sconce designed and manufactured in Italy in the Eighties. It's in perfect conditions, it works both 110-240 volts and needs two regular bulbs.
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Brass
Italian Mid-Century Lilac Murano Pair of Wall Sconces by Mazzega, 1970s
By Mazzega, AVMazzega
Located in Badajoz, Badajoz
Pretty, beautiful and long Pair of Italian Lilac Murano glass Wall Sconces. These Wall Sconces were designed and manufactured during the 1970s in Italy for the Venice Company “Mazzeg...
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Metal
Mid-Century Cocoon Swivel Mounted Cantilever Wall Lamp from Teak Wood, 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Elegant mid-century teak wall lamp with cocoon shade. the light can be swiveled and tilted. A special detail is the manual adjustment of the arm of the lamp. This is functional and ...
Category
20th Century Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Metal
Pair of French Mid-Century Modern Handwrought Brass Sconces, circa 1950s
Located in Merida, Yucatan
Pair of Mid-Century Modern sconces, handwrought in solid brass and carved wood bulb-holders. These Sconces originally had a screen attached to the bulb which can be replaced easily...
Category
Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Brass
Mid-Century Modern Floral Translucent Murano Glass Pair Of Italian Sconces
Located in Madrid, ES
Pair of wall sconces handcrafted in Murano glass, Italy. Each sconce is composed of a vertical superimposition of organic volumes in hand-blown and hand-worked glass, featuring a rib...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and...
Materials
Brass
Pair Scandinavian Pine Wood Opaline Glass Wall Sconces, Denmark, 1960s
Located in Frankfurt am Main, DE
A lovely pair of Danish designer glazed pine wood wall sconces, Denmark, 1960s. Very elegant design with opaline glass shades. These wall lights can be mounted with the glass shade f...
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Pine, Opaline Glass, Wood
Italian Mid-Century Pair of Amber Clear Murano Glass Wall Sconces, 1970s
Located in Badajoz, Badajoz
Beauty beauty Amber Clear Pair of Italian Murano Wall Sconces. These fixtures were designed and manufactured during the 1970s in Italy. Each Wall Sconce is composed by metal structu...
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Metal
Mid-Century Wall Lamp in Brass and Wood with Black Shade, 1950s
Located in Benalmadena, ES
Mid-century wall lamp from the 1950s featuring an elegant solid wood handle, finely turned into a stylized drop shape. The design combines a brass swing arm with a black metal shade ...
Category
Vintage 1950s European Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Metal, Brass
Mid-Century and Farmhouse decorative hand-carved wood wall lights, Spain, 1950s
By Ferrocolor, Maison Baguès, Maison Jansen, Maison Charles, Ferro Art
Located in SANT ADRIÀ DE BESÒS, ES
Tudor Revival and Mid-Century Modern style hand-carved sconces, Spain, 1950s.
Category
Vintage 1950s Spanish Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Iron, Wrought Iron, Gold Leaf
Italian Mid-Century White Clear Murano Glass Wall Sconce by Mazzega, 1970s
By Mazzega 1946, Mazzega, AVMazzega
Located in Badajoz, Badajoz
Beauty Italian White Clear Murano glass Wall Sconce from 1970s. This fixture was designed and manufactured during the 1970s in Italy by Mazzega. The Wall Sconce is equipped with 2 l...
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Metal
Mid-Century Modern Murano Coloured Glass Italian Sconces With Floral Motifs
By Flavio Poli, Barovier Seguso & Ferro
Located in Madrid, ES
This exquisite pair of sconces, designed by Flavio Poli for Seguso in the 1970s, epitomizes the artistic style and vision of both the designer and the renowned Murano glass craftsman...
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Brass
Mid-Century Modern Murano Glass Sconces with Brass, Rostrati Technique, Italy
Located in Madrid, ES
Pair of beautiful Italian glass sconces handmade in "rostrati" technique and fixed with brass fittings. Made of clear Murano Glass. This pair of Italian wall sconces is handcrafted ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and...
Materials
Brass
Vintage Italian Carved Wood Monkey Wall Sconces, Hand-Painted
Located in Bradenton, FL
Pair of charming and whimsical Italian Vintage Monkey Wall Sconces. Each sconce features a sculptural seated monkey perched beneath an exotic palm tree, flanked by two scrolling can...
Category
20th Century Italian Hollywood Regency Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Wood
Mid-Century Modern Pair of Brass and Opaline Glass Barrel Sconces, Italy, 1950s
Located in SAINT-OUEN, FR
Mid-Century Modern pair of brass, wood detail and opaline glass barrel wall lights lamps sconces.
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Brass
German Mid-Century Pair of bubbles Murano Wall Sconces by Hillebrand, 1970s
By Egon Hillebrand, Hillebrand
Located in Badajoz, Badajoz
Unique and pretty German Pair of Bubbles Murano glass Wall Sconces by Hillebrand. These fixtures were designed and manufactured during the 1970s in Germany. Model: 8774-211. Each Sc...
Category
Vintage 1970s German Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Metal
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Midcentury Modern Wood Wall Sconce For Sale on 1stDibs
Choose from an assortment of styles, material and more with respect to the midcentury modern wood wall sconce you’re looking for at 1stDibs. A midcentury modern wood wall sconce — often made from wood, metal and brass — can elevate any home. You’ve searched high and low for the perfect midcentury modern wood wall sconce — we have versions that date back to the 20th Century alongside those produced as recently as the 20th Century are available. A midcentury modern wood wall sconce is a generally popular piece of furniture, but those created in Mid-Century Modern and Scandinavian Modern styles are sought with frequency. A well-made midcentury modern wood wall sconce has long been a part of the offerings for many furniture designers and manufacturers, but those produced by Maison Lancel, Emilio Lancia and Esperia are consistently popular.
How Much is a Midcentury Modern Wood Wall Sconce?
The average selling price for a midcentury modern wood wall sconce at 1stDibs is $800, while they’re typically $240 on the low end and $16,716 for the highest priced.
A Close Look at Mid-century Modern Furniture
Organically shaped, clean-lined and elegantly simple are three terms that well describe vintage mid-century modern furniture. The style, which emerged primarily in the years following World War II, is characterized by pieces that were conceived and made in an energetic, optimistic spirit by creators who believed that good design was an essential part of good living.
ORIGINS OF MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN
- Emerged during the mid-20th century
- Informed by European modernism, Bauhaus, International style, Scandinavian modernism and Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture
- A heyday of innovation in postwar America
- Experimentation with new ideas, new materials and new forms flourished in Scandinavia, Italy, the former Czechoslovakia and elsewhere in Europe
CHARACTERISTICS OF MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN
- Simplicity, organic forms, clean lines
- A blend of neutral and bold Pop art colors
- Use of natural and man-made materials — alluring woods such as teak, rosewood and oak; steel, fiberglass and molded plywood
- Light-filled spaces with colorful upholstery
- Glass walls and an emphasis on the outdoors
- Promotion of functionality
MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNERS TO KNOW
- Charles and Ray Eames
- Eero Saarinen
- Milo Baughman
- Florence Knoll
- Harry Bertoia
- Isamu Noguchi
- George Nelson
- Danish modernists Hans Wegner and Arne Jacobsen, whose emphasis on natural materials and craftsmanship influenced American designers and vice versa
ICONIC MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNS
- 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 Sconces-wall-lights for You
From the kitchen to the bedroom and everywhere in between, there is one major part of home decor that you definitely want to master: lighting. Carefully selected vintage sconces and wall lights can do wonders in establishing mood and highlighting your distinctive personality.
We’re a long way from the candelabra-inspired chandeliers of the medieval era. Lighting is no longer merely practical, and lighting designers have been creating and reinventing lighting solutions for eons. Because of the advancements crafted by these venturesome makers, we now have the opportunity to bring unique, customizable lighting solutions into our homes.
It’s never been easier to create dramatic bedrooms, cozy kitchen areas and cheerful bars than it is today. Think of an elegant wall sconce as functional and as a work of art, adding both light and style to your hallways, whimsical kids’ rooms and elsewhere.
When choosing a lighting solution, first determine what your needs are: Will you opt for a moody or a bright feel? The room that will serve as your home office will need adequate lighting — think “the brighter, the better” for this particular setting.
For the bedroom, bedside wall lamps with warm-temperature bulbs instead of bedside table lamps could be the way to go to induce a sense of calm or intimacy. Try to match the style of the wall light or sconce that you’re installing to the overall design scheme of your room. It’s never “just a light.” You should approach the lighting of a room with a mindset that is one part practical and one part aesthetics-driven.
Let 1stDibs help you set the mood with the right antique and vintage wall lights and sconces for your home. Our collection includes every kind of fixture, from sculptural works by Austrian craftsman J.T. Kalmar to chic industrial-style wall sconces, from adjustable painted aluminum wall lamps designed by Artemide to a wide variety of minimalist mid-century modern masterpieces.
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