1960s Mid Century Table Lamp
Located in Miami, FL
1960s Mid Century Table Lamp, ready for a new home.
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Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
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Pottery
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Mid-Century Table Lamp, 1980s
Located in Praha, CZ
- Mid-Century table lamp in Czechoslovakia, 1980's - made of wood and fabric, - shows signs of wear and age (scratches, etc.), - in good original condition, - bulb: 1 x E27 (E26). U...
Category
Vintage 1980s Czech Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Fabric, Wood
Mid-Century Table Lamp, Czechoslovakia, 1950s
Located in Praha, CZ
- MId-Century Table Lamp, Czechoslovakia, 1950s, - made of metal and bakelitte, - shows signs of wear and age (scratches, etc.), - in good original condition,
Category
Vintage 1950s Czech Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal
Italian Mid-Century Table Lamp in Wood
$1,160Sale Price / set|20% Off
Italian Mid-Century Table Lamp in Wood
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, AR
Italian Mid-Century Table Lamp in Wood
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Brass
Mid-Century Table Lamp, 1960, Denmark
By Adrien Audoux and Frida Minnet, Hans-Agne Jakobsson, Uno Kristiansson
Located in Split, Splitsko-dalmatinska županija
A Mid-century table lamp. In solid Teak, Denmark, 1960. Elegant teak lamps, pleated lampshade. It is in good general condition and works perfectly. The diffused light is very pleas...
Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Rope, Teak
Italian Mid-Century Table Lamp, 1950s
$750Sale Price|20% Off
Italian Mid-Century Table Lamp, 1950s
Located in Lisboa, PT
This Mid-century table lamp was designed and produced in Italy, during the 1950s. It has a light green base where a brass curved rod is attached. With a light green painted lampshade...
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal, Brass
Sputnik Mid Century Table Lamp, 1970, Italy
Located in Split, Splitsko-dalmatinska županija
A Mid-century table lamp, Italy, 1970. Elegant 70s lamp. It is in good general condition and works perfectly. The diffused light is very pleasant and the lamp offers a warm atmos...
Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Brass, Chrome
Mid-Century Table Lamp with Pencil Stand, 1960s
Located in Praha, CZ
- Mid-Century Table Lamp with Pencil Stand, 1960s - made of metal and bakelitte, - shows signs of wear and age (scratches, etc.), - in good original condition,
Category
Vintage 1960s Czech Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal
Mid-century Table Lamp by Lipta, 1960s, Czechoslovakia
Located in Praha, CZ
- Mid-century Table Lamp by Lipta, 1960s, Czechoslovakia, - made of wood and lampshade by fabric - shows signs of wear and age (scratches, etc.), - in good original condition
Category
Vintage 1960s Czech Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Wood
Mid-Century Table Lamp Style Stilnovo Arlus, Italy 1950s
By Arlus, Stilnovo
Located in Saarbruecken, DE
Mid-century table lamp in the style of the manufacturer Stilnovo or Arlus. Italy original 1950s. rewired. Nice brass details.
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal
Mid-century table lamp Italy 1970s
Located in Miklavž Pri Taboru, SI
Mid-century table lamp made in Italy in the 1970s. The lamp is in very good vintage condition, with no damage. Dimensions: Width: 30 cm / 11.8 inches Height: 27 cm / 10.6 inches Cabl...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Chrome
Mid-Century Table Lamp by Stanislav Indra, Czechoslovakia, 1970s
By Stanislav Indra
Located in Praha, CZ
- Mid-Century Table Lamp by Stanislav Indra, Czechoslovakia, 1970s., - made of metal - Adjustable Lampshade, - shows signs of wear and age (scratches, etc.), - in good original condi...
Category
Vintage 1970s Czech Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal, Chrome
Mid-Century Table Lamp by Stanislav Indra, Czechoslovakia, 1970s
By Stanislav Indra
Located in Praha, CZ
- Mid-Century Table Lamp by Stanislav Indra, Czechoslovakia, 1970s., - made of metal - Adjustable Lampshade, and little damage on Lampshade - shows signs of wear and age (scratches, ...
Category
Vintage 1970s Czech Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal, Chrome
Wood and Brass Swedish Mid-century Table Lamp
By ASEA
Located in New York, NY
Beautiful Wood and Brass Swedish Mid-century Table Lamp by unknown maker. Circa 1940/50s it has a wooden lamp arm with carved rings. The base is a brass circle with age appropriate w...
Category
Vintage 1950s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Brass
Swedish Mid Century Table Lamp by Falkenbergs
By Falkenbergs Belysning
Located in Karlstad, SE
Elegant Swedish mid-century table lamp by Falkenbergs Belysning. The lamp features a gently curved brass shade paired with a slender turned teak stem and a weighted brass base. The c...
Category
20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Brass
Mid-Century Table Lamp in Metal
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid Century table lamp with large screen. Striking is the big, red screen in a particularly flat design.
Category
20th Century Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal
Pair of Art Deco style Italian Mid Century Table Lamps
Located in Montréal, QC
Art Deco style Mid Century table lamps made in Italy in the 1950’s. Etched glass on brass body. 20 to 40 watt E-14 (European bulb) or higher if LED/CFL.
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Brass
Mid-Century Table Lamp in Murano Glass By Carlo Nason, Italy, 1960s
By Carlo Nason
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Table Lamp in Murano Glass By Carlo Nason, Italy, 1960s
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Murano Glass
Mid-Century Table Lamp by Stilnovo, Brass, Aluminium and Plexiglass, Italy, 1950
By Stilnovo
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Table Lamp by Stilnovo, Brass, Aluminium and Plexiglass, Italy, 1950s
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Aluminum
Mid-Century Table Lamp Model 600 by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce - 1966
By Gino Sarfatti
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Table Lamp Model 600 by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce - 1966
Category
Vintage 1960s European Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal
Pair of Swedish Brass Mid-Century Table Lamps
$1,101 / set
Pair of Swedish Brass Mid-Century Table Lamps
Located in London, GB
A pair of adjustable mid-century table lamps. Brass and painted metal shades. Sweden, c1960s. Good condition, some wear commensurate with age. The shades and base could b...
Category
Vintage 1960s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal, Brass
Mid-Century Table Lamp Italian Design Cristal Concave Cobalt Blue Brass Part
$1,238Sale Price|58% Off
Mid-Century Table Lamp Italian Design Cristal Concave Cobalt Blue Brass Part
By Fontana Arte
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Mid-century table lamp Italian Design Cristal concave cobalt blue brass part.
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Crystal, Brass
Mid century table lamp by Carlo Nason for Mazzega, 1960s
By Carlo Nason, Mazzega
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Mid century table lamp by Carlo Nason for Mazzega with white and orange opaline glass and chrome. Beautiful mid century lamp which emits a soft dim light. Good condition, tested an...
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Opaline Glass
Mid-Century Table Lamp by Deknudt Lighting, Belgium, 1970s
$361Sale Price|52% Off
Mid-Century Table Lamp by Deknudt Lighting, Belgium, 1970s
By Deknudt
Located in Herentals, BE
Mid-century table lamp by Deknudt lighting, Belgium 1970 Large table lamp in brass with leaf motif and cream-colored original lampshade. This lamp was manufactured by Deknudt, Belg...
Category
Vintage 1970s Belgian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Brass
Walnut Mid Century Table Lamps after Frank Lloyd Wright
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Very well made and finished Mid Century Walnut Lamps with an Architectural presentation reminiscent of the wood work seen in the designs of Frank Lloyd Wright. Pair of Walnut Mid Ce...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Walnut
Pair of Angelo Brotto Esperia Bronze 1970 Italian Mid Century Table Lamps
$2,400Sale Price / set|50% Off
Pair of Angelo Brotto Esperia Bronze 1970 Italian Mid Century Table Lamps
By Esperia, Angelo Brotto
Located in New York, NY
An original pair of Italian 1970s Mid Century table lamps composed of decorative bronze and walnut bodies . Designed by Angelo Brotto for Esperia. Newly rewired with brass sockets an...
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Bronze
Large Mid-Century Table Lamp, Chrome & Brushed Aluminum, France, 1960s
Located in Saint-Amans-des-Cots, FR
Large Mid-Century Table Lamp, France, 1960s Chrome, Brushed Aluminum & Original Fabric Shade.
Category
Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Aluminum, Chrome
Pair of mid century table lamps by Einar Backstrom
By Einar Backstrom
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Good quality pair mid century table lamps by Einar Backstrom know as model 5952. Well known for their use of metalwork, this pair have been finely crafted in brass, 4 bulb holders l...
Category
Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Brass
Large Mid Century Table Lamp in Alabaster Spain 1970s
Located in Meer, VAN
Large Mid Century Table Lamp in Alabaster Spain 1970s A wonderful table lamp in carved alabaster. Great neoclassical shape without to much ornamentation - very timeless. The stone...
Category
Mid-20th Century Spanish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Alabaster
Danish Mid-Century Table Lamp in Heavy White Rifled Porcelain, 1960s
Located in Frederiksberg C, DK
Minimalist and imposant Mid-Century table lamp in heavy white rifled porcelain. Made in Denmark and in great condition. The lamp is sold without the shade (here shown with a shade in...
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Porcelain
Mid Century Table Lamps by Rembrandt c. 1950's 2 available
By Rembrandt Lamp Company
Located in New York, NY
Offering two Mid Century table lamps, each having a stylized cactus like form in the center with brass bases and vertical structures. The lamps are in ver good, clean, original and w...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal
Large Mid Century Table Lamp By Hillebrand Circa 1960s
By Hillebrand
Located in Gloucester, GB
Large Mid Century Table Lamp By Hillebrand Circa 1960s - Aluminium shade - Brass bass and stem - Perspex diffuser - On/Off push button switch on the base - Takes 3x E27 fitting bulb...
Category
Vintage 1960s German Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Brass
Stilarmatur, Scandinavian mid century table lamp, teak and textile, Sweden 1960s
By AB Stilarmatur Tranås
Located in Forserum, SE
A Swedish mid-century table lamp, produced by Stilarmatur in the town of Tranås during the 1960s. Crafted from solid teak with an elegant tapered form, it features a lamp holder with...
Category
Vintage 1960s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Textile, Teak
Rougier White Acrylic Lucite Tulip Flower Leaf Mid Century Table Lamps - a Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Rougier White Acrylic Lucite Tulip Flower Leaf Mid Century Table Lamps - a Pair. Circa 1970s. Measurements: 29" H x 10" W x 10" D
Category
Vintage 1970s Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Acrylic, Lucite
Pair Of Mid Century Table Lamps By Louis Klaff For Philips
Located in Tarporley, GB
Pair of mid century table lamps by Louis Klaff for Philips. Netherlands 1960’s. A true design classic. These stylish iconic desk lamps are famously design by architect & design Lo...
Category
Vintage 1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal, Aluminum
Mid Century Table Lamp By Kaiser Leuchten Model 6786 Circa 1950s
By Kaiser Leuchten
Located in Gloucester, GB
Mid Century Table Lamp By Kaiser Leuchten Model 6786 Circa 1950s - Steel shade and base - Chrome arm - Original grey paint - Takes E27 fitting bulbs - On/Off switch on the base - M...
Category
Vintage 1950s German Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Steel
Mid Century Table Lamp By Kaiser Leuchten Model 6786 Circa 1950s
By Kaiser Leuchten
Located in Gloucester, GB
Mid Century Table Lamp By Kaiser Leuchten Model 6786 Circa 1950s - Steel shade and base - Chrome arm - Original grey paint - Takes E27 fitting bulbs - On/Off switch on the base - M...
Category
Vintage 1950s German Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Steel
1970s Mid-Century Table Lamp by Sölken Leuchten, Brass & Black Metal
By Soelken Leuchten
Located in Berlin, DE
Mid-century table lamp by Sölken Leuchten, Germany, 1970s. It features a polished brass base and stem paired with a matte black metal shade that reveals a subtle greenish hue. The sh...
Category
Vintage 1970s German Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal, Brass
Adjustable Mid Century Table Lamp with Perforated Shade 1950s
Located in Meer, VAN
Adjustable Mid Century Table Lamp with Perforated Shade 1950s. A wonderful and very elegant 1950s table lamp with a nice perforated white lacquered shade. Fully adjustable, can be p...
Category
Mid-20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal, Brass
Mid-Century Table Lamps w/ African Hand Carved Kenyan Carvings Sculpture, Pair
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Hand-carved Mid-century table lamp pair, each featuring a geometric modernist block design with hand-carved teak Kenyan figures incorporated into the design. The lamp is reminiscent ...
Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Wood
Original Mid-Century Table Lamp, Colored Glass, Fully Functional, Germany, 1960s
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
Mid-Century Table Lamp. Period: 1960-1969 Source: Czechia Material: Colored glass, fabric Undamaged and fully functional.
Category
Vintage 1960s German Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Glass, Fabric
Scandinavian mid-century table lamp model 705 with brass spheres, Sweden, 1960s
Located in Forserum, SE
An elegant mid-century table lamp, model GMA 705, crafted from brass with a sculptural design featuring four gracefully arranged brass spheres. It includes a standard E27 lampholder ...
Category
Vintage 1960s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Brass
Jean-Pierre Ryckaert Large Mid-Century Table Lamp 1950
By Jean-Pierre Ryckaert
Located in Saint-Amans-des-Cots, FR
Large Wrought-Iron Table Lamp by Jean-Pierre Ryckaert, Paris, circa 1950 A striking mid-century table lamp by French artisan Jean-Pierre Ryckaert, crafted in wrought iron in Paris a...
Category
Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Wrought Iron
Pr. Mid Century Table Lamps by The Mutual Sunset Lamp Co. 1950's 6 pc available
By Mutual Sunset Lamp Co.
Located in New York, NY
Voguish, chic, architectural Mid Century table lamps by The Mutual Sunset Lamp Manufacturing Company, circa 1950's. The lamps have squared hourglass form bases, we have restored the...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal
Large Adjustable Mid Century Table Lamp in Chrome and Black 1960s
Located in Meer, VAN
Large Adjustable Mid Century Table Lamp in Chrome and Black A very distinct mid century modernist table or desk lamp in chrome and black painted metal. Great design with a hat sha...
Category
Mid-20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal, Chrome
Goffredo Reggiani Large Mid-Century Table Lamp in Brass, Italy 1970s
By Goffredo Reggiani
Located in Roma, IT
Wonderful mid-century table lamp in gilded brass produced by Reggiani in Italy during the 1970s.
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal, Brass
Mid Century Table Lamp by F.A.I.P. c 1950's
By F.A.I.P. 1
Located in New York, NY
Classic Mid Century table lamp having a ceramic ball form body on a round disk plinth base, signed F.A.I.P ( Fine Art In Plaster ). The gray ball features modernist sick figures and...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal
Italian Mid-Modern Table Lamp Bulbo by Barbieri Marianelli for Tronconi, 1980s
By Raul Barbieri and Giorgio Marianelli, Tronconi
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian mid-modern Table lamp Bulbo by Barbieri and Marianelli for Tronconi, 1980s Table lamp model Bulbo with round base in black painted aluminum and opaline glass. The glass lamp...
Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal, Aluminum
Italian Mid Century Table Lamp 'Ministero', Red Enameled Metal, 1960s
Located in San Benedetto Del Tronto, IT
This Italian Mid Century Table Lamp, dating back to the 1950s/1960s, is a prime example of functional yet stylish design. The heavy, red enameled cast iron base ensures stability, wh...
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal
Italian Mid-Century Table Lamp, Pine Wood & Cane, Handcrafted, 1970s
$354Sale Price|40% Off
Italian Mid-Century Table Lamp, Pine Wood & Cane, Handcrafted, 1970s
By Erik Höglund, AB Stilarmatur Tranås
Located in Valencia, VC
Italian Mid-Century Pine Wood & Cane Table Lamp, 1970s A very charming Italian designer Mid-Century table lamp from the 1970s.
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal
Rare Mid Century Table Lamp in Goatskin and Wrought Iron 1950s
Located in Meer, VAN
Mid Century Table Lamp in Goatskin and Wrought Iron, Congo, 1950s. This is a very special and rare table lamp in goatskin and wrought iron made in Congo, Africa. Mid 20th century - ...
Category
Mid-20th Century African Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Wrought Iron
1960s Czech Mid-Century Table Lamp with Sculptural Glass Shade and Metal Tripod
Located in Praha, CZ
A mid-century table lamp produced in 1960s Czechoslovakia, combining a sculptural white glass shade with a modern black metal tripod base.
Category
Mid-20th Century Czech Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal
Mid-Century Table Lamp, 1978
Located in Praha, CZ
- made in Germany - made of metal, brass - re-polished - fully functional - good, original condition.
Category
Vintage 1970s German Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal, Brass
Mid-Century Table Lamp, 1970s
Located in Praha, CZ
- made in Hungary - made of brass, glass, wood - re-polished - fully functional - good, original condition
Category
Vintage 1970s Hungarian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Brass
Scandinavian Mid Century Table Lamp
By ASEA
Located in Karlstad, SE
Swedish Modern table lamp in brass and oak, attributed to ASEA. This elegant lamp combines the natural warmth of an oak base with the sleekness of brass accents, creating a timeless ...
Category
20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Brass
Pair of 1970s Lidokov Mid-Century Table Lamps with Sculpted Pressed Glass Shades
By Lidokov
Located in Praha, CZ
A vintage pair of mid-century table lamps manufactured by Lidokov in 1970s Czechoslovakia. These lamps feature thick, pressed-glass shades with an ornate sculptural relief that creat...
Category
Vintage 1970s Czech Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal, Brass
Josef Hůrka for Lidokov Midcentury Modern Table Lamp in Green Metal and Chrome
By Lidokov, Josef Hurka
Located in Praha, CZ
This midcentury modern table lamp was designed by Josef Hůrka for Lidokov and manufactured in Czechoslovakia during the 1970s. The design combines a clean metal structure with chrome...
Category
Vintage 1970s Czech Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Metal, Chrome
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Midcentury Modern Table Lamps For Sale on 1stDibs
There is a range of midcentury modern table lamps for sale on 1stDibs. The range of distinct midcentury modern table lamps — often made from metal, brass and glass — can elevate any home. We have 2443 antique and vintage midcentury modern table lamps in-stock, while there are 7 modern editions to choose from as well. Midcentury modern table lamps have been made for many years, and versions that date back to the 18th Century alongside those produced as recently as the 21st Century. Midcentury modern table lamps bearing Mid-Century Modern or Scandinavian Modern hallmarks are very popular at 1stDibs. Many midcentury modern table lamps are appealing in their simplicity, but Josef Hurka, Kamenicky Senov and Laurel Lamp Company produced popular midcentury modern table lamps that are worth a look.
How Much are Midcentury Modern Table Lamps?
Prices for midcentury modern table lamps can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, midcentury modern table lamps begin at $125 and can go as high as $16,000, while the average can fetch as much as $1,347.
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 Table-lamps for You
Well-crafted antique and vintage table lamps do more than provide light; the right fixture-and-table combination can add a focal point or creative element to any interior.
Proper table lamps have long been used for lighting our most intimate spaces. Perfect for lighting your nightstand or reading nook, table lamps play an integral role in styling an inviting room. In the years before electricity, lamps used oil. Today, a rewired 19th-century vintage lamp can still provide a touch of elegance for a study.
After industrial milestones such as mass production took hold in the Victorian era, various design movements sought to bring craftsmanship and innovation back to this indispensable household item. Lighting designers affiliated with Art Deco, which originated in the glamorous roaring ’20s, sought to celebrate modern life by fusing modern metals with dark woods and dazzling colors in the fixtures of the era. The geometric shapes and gilded details of vintage Art Deco table lamps provide an air of luxury and sophistication that never goes out of style.
After launching in 1934, Anglepoise lamps soon became a favorite among modernist architects and designers, who interpreted the fixture as “a machine for lighting,” just as Le Corbusier had reimagined the house as “a machine for living in.” The popular task light owed to a collaboration between a vehicle-suspension engineer by the name of George Carwardine and a West Midlands springs manufacturer, Herbert Terry & Sons.
Some mid-century modern table lamps, particularly those created by the likes of Joe Colombo and the legendary lighting artisans at Fontana Arte, bear all the provocative hallmarks associated with Space Age design. Sculptural and versatile, the Louis Poulsen table lamps of that period were revolutionary for their time and still seem innovative today.
If you are looking for something more contemporary, industrial table lamps are demonstrative of a newly chic style that isn’t afraid to pay homage to the past. They look particularly at home in any rustic loft space amid exposed brick and steel beams.
Before you buy a desk lamp or table lamp for your living room, consider your lighting needs. The Snoopy lamp, designed in 1967, or any other “banker’s lamp” (shorthand for the Emeralite desk lamps patented by H.G. McFaddin and Company), provides light at a downward angle that is perfect for writing, while the Fontana table lamp and the beloved Grasshopper lamp by Greta Magnusson-Grossman each yield a soft and even glow. Some table lamps require lampshades to be bought separately.
Whether it’s a classic antique Tiffany table lamp, a Murano glass table lamp or even a bold avant-garde fixture custom-made by a contemporary design firm, the right table lamp can completely transform a room. Find the right one for you on 1stDibs.
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