$4,000 / set
Pair of lattimo Murano glass sconces
By Mazzega
Located in Tarrytown, NY
Pair of sconces composed of tiered clear and lattimo Murano glass "petals" in the style of Mazzega.
Murano Glass
$3,350 / set
Pair of Maison Arlus Sconces, 8 Pairs Available
By Arlus
Located in Miami, FL
Superb pair of Maison Arlus 2 light sconces, exceptional, 8 pairs Available US rewired and in working condition Custom backplate available New shades, identical to the vintage orig...
Brass
Alberto Donà Mid-Century Modern Amber Pair of Murano Glass Wall Sconces, 1985s
By Alberto Donà
Located in Murano, Venezia
A very elegant wall light, which presents eight glass elements bent into the glass but curved with soft and light features, colour amber. Designed by the master Alberto Donà in 198...
Art Glass, Murano Glass
Pair of Modern Murano Glass Leaf Form Sconces Frosted in a Pearl White
Located in Dallas, TX
This listing features a pair of modern Murano glass leaf form sconces, frosted in a pearl white finish.
Murano Glass
2 Pairs French Art Deco / Modern Neoclassical Plaster Horn Sconces, André Arbus
By André Arbus
Located in New York, NY
Two elegant pairs of French Art Deco plaster wall lights in the form of modern neoclassical horns attributed to André Arbus. Priced by the pair Literature: See "Andre Arbus", Yvonne...
Plaster
Alberto Donà Mid-Century Modern Crystal Pair of Murano Glass Wall Sconces, 1990
By Alberto Donà
Located in Murano, Venezia
A very elegant wall light, which presents seven glass elements bent into the glass but curved with soft and light features, colour crystal. Designed by the master Alberto Dona 'in ...
Chrome
$6,200 / set
Pair of Large Italian Bronze Sconces
Located in New York, NY
Pair of large, Italian, bronze sconces. Shades are of a hard plastic material.
Bronze
Pair of Lightolier Scalini Chrome w Stacked Glass Art Deco Post Modern Sconces
By Lightolier
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous pair of high quality wall sconces by Lightolier. Multiple staggered and stacked rounded glass panels with a chromed housing. Very elegant! Pair is in near perfect condition...
Steel, Chrome
Wonderful Set Six Mid Century Modern Palm Leaf Urn Rock Crystal 3 Pair Sconces
By Maison Baguès
Located in Roslyn, NY
A Wonderful set of six Mid-Century Modern palm leaf urn rock crystal sconces in the manner of Maison Baguès 3 Pairs of sconces available Each pair sold separately.
Rock Crystal
Pair of Gaetano Sciolari Sconces, 2 pairs Available
By Gaetano Sciolari
Located in Miami, FL
Pair of one light Gaetano Sciolari sconces, brass and chrome finish US rewire and in working condition One light, 100 watts max bulb Square back plate: 4.3/8 inches x 4.3/8 inches...
Brass
$3,450 / set
Pair of Maison Jansen Sconces, 2 Pairs Available
By Maison Jansen
Located in Miami, FL
Two patinas bronze on a pair of Maison Jansen, French sconces. Measurements with shade: 13 H, 13 W, 7.5 D. 80 W per bulb. 2 pairs available. Priced by pair. US wired and in worki...
Brass, Bronze
$1,500 / set
Pair of french 1970's sconces
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A pair of 1970's french sconces
Metal
Pair of Murano Modernist wall sconces
Located in Nice, FR
Hand-blown glass, then cut and cold-polished to create sharp, angular faces. The facets play with light like prisms, giving a very bright and sculptural effect. • Faceted glass modul...
Murano Glass
Mid-Century Modern Pair of Torch Brass 1 Arm Sconces Maison Arlus, France, 1950
By Arlus
Located in Paris, FR
Beautiful pair of French Mid-century Modern single arm Torc- sconces in the style of Maison Arlus, France 1950 in gilt brass, blackened wrought iron and white opaline.
Brass, Wrought Iron
$2,950 / set
Maison Lancel Pair of Sconces, 4 pairs available
By Maison Lancel
Located in Miami, FL
Superb pair of Maison Lancel sconces two-light, 60 watt max per light. US rewired and in working condition. Back plate dimension: 3 7/8 diameter 4 pair available. Priced by pair
Brass
$1,020Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair 1960's Mid Century Modern Cut Crystal Gilt Metal Wall Sconces attrib. Palwa
By Palwa
Located in Opa Locka, FL
Pair of 1960's Austrian Mid Century Modern Cut Crystal Sconces attributed to Palwa.
Crystal
Pair of Murano Glass Leaf Sconces
Located in New York, NY
Inspired by organic forms and Venetian craftsmanship, this exquisite pair of Murano glass sconces captures the soft elegance of nature in illuminated form. Each sconce features a han...
Murano Glass
Pair of Fontana Arte Style Mid-century Modern Aqua Green Murano Glass Sconces
By Fontana Arte
Located in Puglia, Puglia
This wall light is composed of three organic elements in curved satin-finish Murano glass, shaped like an aquamarine leaf, in the style of Fontana Arte. The elongated parts are conca...
Metal, Brass
$9,612 / set
Pair of Hexagonal “Lumière” Wall Sconces
Located in Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine, IDF
Architectural pair of 1970s French wall sconces marked Lumière, featuring a bold and sculptural hexagonal design. Each sconce presents a striking honeycomb arrangement of six hex-sha...
Metal
$2,740 / set
Wall Sconces Pair Empire Style
Located in BUNGAY, SUFFOLK
A PAIR OF VINTAGE, EMPIRE STYLE, GILDED & BLACK METAL WALL SCONCES, WITH TWO ARMS - Striking, simple form accentuated by the contrast between the gilding and the black palette - ...
Metal
$2,145 / set
Pair of Maison Arlus Sconces, 2 pairs available
By Arlus
Located in Miami, FL
Superb pair of Maison Arlus sconces, made in perpex and brass One light, 60, watt max US rewired and in working condition Custom back plate available, two pair available Meas...
Brass
ASEA Scandia Vintage Bubble Wall Sconces - Pair
By ASEA
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This pair of vintage ASEA Scandia wall sconces blends metal and glass in a distinctive mid-century modern design.
Metal
$4,600 / set
Pair of "scavo" Murano glass sconces
Located in Tarrytown, NY
Pair of acid etched "scavo" Murano glass sconces with brass hardware.
Brass
$856 / set
Pair of sconces attributed to Reggiani
By Goffredo Reggiani, Artemide, Reggiani, Flos
Located in Lugo, IT
Pair of sconces attributed to Reggiani. Magnet for diffuser. Good condition. Thanks
Steel
$2,400Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair of Bollicine Cups Sconces, 3 Pairs Available
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Italian wall lights with clear Murano glass cups hand blown with bubbles inside the glass using Bollicine technique, mounted on brass frames / Made in Italy, circa 1950s Meas...
Brass
Pair of Dutch Mid-Century Modern Steel Wall Sconces by RAAK for Artifort
By RAAK, Artifort
Located in New York, NY
A pair of elegant modern wall lights with the steel bobeche / reflector being cantilevered over the support structure. Documentation: Artifort Label is on interior of the reflector.
Steel
$2,213Sale Price / set|24% Off
Pair of Maison Jansen Sconces, 6 pairs Available
By Maison Jansen
Located in Miami, FL
Pair of very elegant French sconces, circa 1950s, two patinas. Brass and original white opaline glass shades or white paper shades. Maximum wattage: 40 W per bulb. Two pairs availabl...
Metal, Brass
One of the Three Pairs Modern Glass Rod Wall Sconces of Sciolari for Lightoliers
By Gaetano Sciolari
Located in Rijssen, NL
Clean lines to complement all decors. A wonderful pair of high-end wall lights for Lightolier. With brass detail and hanging waterfall glass giving each piece an elegant appearance w...
Brass
Pair of French Mid-Century Modern Wall Sconces by Jacques Biny, circa 1950
By Jacques Biny
Located in New York, NY
Rare Pair of French Mid-Century Modern metal wall lights by Jacques Biny. Similar to model 134 B by Jacques Biny Lacquered metal and brass details. Luminalite edition France, c. 19...
Aluminum, Metal, Brass
Mid-Century Modern pair of brass and thick smoked glass sconces. Italy 1970s
Located in Catania, CT
Good vintage condition with normal trace of age and use for this pair of wall lamps made from brass and thick smoked glass. Produced in Ity during the 70s. Full working with EU stand...
Brass
Pair of Mid Century Modern Brass Drape w Hands Hollywood Regency Wall Sconces
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous pair of very elegant and sophisticated brass, glass and chrome wall sconces. Brass swag drapes which are held by chrome hands and decorated with twisted glass rings. High qu...
Brass, Chrome
$904Sale Price / set|33% Off
Pair of sconces attributed to Veca
By VECA, Fontana Arte, Zero Quattro
Located in Lugo, IT
Pair of sconces attributed to Veca Good condition. Thanks
Glass
$1,500Sale Price / set|50% Off
Pair of Graniglia Bow Sconces, 3 Pairs Available
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Italian wall light with a clear Murano glass shade hand blown with granular texture using Graniglia technique and amber glass bow, mounted on gold finish metal frame / made in Italy ...
Murano Glass
$4,040 / set
Pair of Plaster Curved Wall Sconces
Located in Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine, IDF
Pair of Curved wall sconces made of a piece of textured plaster, attached to the structure with two nickeled screws. Two sources of light per sconce.
Plaster
$3,800 / set
Pair of gold leaves Murano glass sconces
By Barovier&Toso
Located in Dallas, TX
Pair of Mid Century Modern Murano glass sconces, in the style of Barovier Italy 1980s.
Brass
Pair of Post Modern Indoor Outdoor Frank Willet Santa Fe Pueblo Wall Sconces
By Frank Willet
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Simple and elegant pair of large well constructed adobe styled wall sconces by Frank Willet the artisan potter, Santa Fe Lights. Pierced shells which allow light to eminate forward w...
Clay
Large Pair French Gold Gilt Rock Crystal Flower Sconces, Maison Baguès Sconces
By Maison Baguès
Located in Miami, FL
Large Pair French Gold Gilt Rock Crystal Flower Maison Baguès Sconces, Large Pair of Maison Bagues Style Gilt Metal Floral Wall Sconces with Rock Crystal, Elegant French Crystal and ...
Rock Crystal, Metal
$10,500 / set
Custom Pair of Plaster Fleur Sconces
Located in New York, NY
Custom pair of handcrafted plaster Fleur Sconces. These sconces are UL listed. Please note these sconces are customizable. Lead time is 8-10 weeks.
Plaster
$1,750 / set
Pair of Italian 1950’s Sconces
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This elegant pair of Italian wall lights, dating from the 1950s, is crafted in gilt brass with refined Bohemian crystal adornments, designed in the distinctive Florentine style. Each...
Crystal, Brass
Pair of Emil Stejnar sconces 1960
By Emil Stejnar
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
Pair of wall sconces by Emil Stejnar in gilded brass and fully restored glass, vintage condition. Austria around 1960. Height 43 cm - 17 po Width 34 cm - 13 po
Gold Plate, Brass
$14,000 / set
Bespoke Pair of Coquillage Plaster Sconces
Located in New York, NY
Bespoke Pair of Coquillage Plaster Sconces. Set of 2. Please note that these are customizable - All our plaster lighting is UL wired. Lead time is 10-12 weeks. One pair is currently ...
Plaster
$2,100Sale Price / set|30% Off
Pair of Uplight Graniglia Sconces, 2 Pairs Available
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Italian wall light with clear Murano glass shades hand blown using graniglia technique, decorated with blue and red glass buttons, mounted on brass frames / Made in Italy in ...
Murano Glass
$1,200Sale Price / set|50% Off
Pair of Frosted Murano Sconces, 5 Pairs Available
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Italian wall light with frosted Murano glass shade decorated with amber details mounted on white metal structure / Made in Italy Measures: Height 11 inches, width 10 inches, depth 5 ...
Murano Glass
$2,995 / set
Pair White Icicle Murano Glass Wall Sconces
Located in Troy, MI
A pair of contemporary Murano glass sconces, each formed of a curved sheet of clear glass worked in the icicle technique, with vertical textured ribbing and a wavy, drip-form edge al...
Brass
Pair of Big Sconces in Modern Plaster in the Style of Giacometti G170
By Diego Giacometti, (after) Jean Michel Frank
Located in Ternay, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Pair of modern French sconces in the style of Jean Michel Franck or Diego Giacometti.
Plaster
Pair of Lobmeyr Sputnik Cylinder Sconces
Located in New York, NY
A pair of Lobmeyr 'Sputnik' cylinder sconces, Innsbruck 1966 Large "Sputnik" cylinder sconces from Lobmeyr, which were developed by Erich Boltenstern and Hans Rath for the foyer of t...
Nickel
$1,890 / set
Pair of tall Neoclassical Brass Sconces
Located in Miami, FL
Pair of tall Neoclassical Brass Sconces.
Brass
$3,655 / set
Pair of Brass and Murano Glass Sconces
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Pair of brass and Murano glass sconces.
Brass
$2,400 / set
Pair of Mid-Century Murano Sconces
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Italian wall light with curved Murano glass shade in yellow, orange and red colors, mounted on white metal frame / Made in Italy, circa 1970s Measures: height 16 inches / wid...
Murano Glass
$3,850 / set
Pair Of Murano Glass Sconces By Mazzega
By Carlo Nason, Mazzega
Located in Houston, TX
Pair Of Murano Glass Sconces By Mazzega. Offered is a lovely pair of Post-Modern Murano glass sconces designed by Carlo Nason for Mazzega, and retain their original label.
Murano Glass
$265Sale Price / set|30% Off
Modern Deco Pair of Half Moon Verdigris Metal and Brass Sconces Late 1970s
Located in Miami, FL
Pair of modern deco metal half moon sconces from the late 1970s, when Modern Art Deco was used in a Miami Vice revival in decoration.
Metal
$3,840Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair of Sconces by Haga Belysning
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A Pair of Sconces by Haga Belysning. Designed and manufactured in Swedish, circa the 1970s. All polished brass shield sconces. A concave panel plate paired along with a perforated ha...
Brass
$2,500 / set
PAIR White Plaster Sconces Serge Roche
By Serge Roche
Located in Jersey City, NJ
These stunning sconces are from 1940's when designers started to use plaster to build chandeliers, sconces, columns. Plaster was the iconic material of this period. Serge Roche and J...
Plaster
$2,750 / set
Elegant large pair of Murano sconces
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A beautiful and elegant pair of 1970's sconces with hands blown Murano glass, the glass is much nicer in person
Metal
Pair of Handblown Glass Candle Sconces
Located in Chicago, IL
A chic pair of Belgian handblown glass candle sconces with wide bobeches, curved arms, and mounted to a modern oak wall mounts.
Blown Glass, Oak
$2,450 / set
Pair of 1970s Philips Sconces, 2 Pairs Available
By Philips
Located in Miami, FL
Orientable sconces made by Philips, Holland. 1 socket, e27 base 100 watts max. Aluminum head, brass and steel body.
Aluminum, Brass, Steel
$2,600 / set
Pair of Murano glass leaf sconces
By Barovier
Located in Tarrytown, NY
Pair of brass wall sconces with textured Murano glass leaf shades.
Brass
$2,800 / set
Pair of Geometrical Curved Glass Sconces
Located in New York, NY
Pair of stunning curved glass sconces with geometrical decorative work and brass hardware. Made in Italy, 1960's.
Brass
$825Sale Price / set|50% Off
Pair of Shield Sconces / Flushmounts, 2 Pairs Available
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage midcentury Italian wall lights or flushmounts with plexiglass shields decorated with multicolored chevron pattern, mounted on black metal frames / Made in Italy, circa 1960s....
Metal
$16,000 / set
Pair of Custom Coquillage Plaster Sconces
Located in New York, NY
Pair of custom coquillage plaster sconces. All our plaster lighting is UL wired. Please note that these are customizable. Lead Time is 8-10 weeks NOTE: We highly recommend that our ...
Plaster
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
CHARACTERISTICS OF MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN
MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNERS TO KNOW
ICONIC MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNS
VINTAGE MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE ON 1STDIBS
The mid-century modern era saw leagues of postwar American architects and designers animated by new ideas and new technology. The lean, functionalist International-style architecture of Le Corbusier and Bauhaus eminences Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Walter Gropius had been promoted in the United States during the 1930s by Philip Johnson and others. New building techniques, such as “post-and-beam” construction, allowed the International-style schemes to be realized on a small scale in open-plan houses with long walls of glass.
Materials developed for wartime use became available for domestic goods and were incorporated into mid-century modern furniture designs. Charles and Ray Eames and Eero Saarinen, who had experimented extensively with molded plywood, eagerly embraced fiberglass for pieces such as the La Chaise and the Womb chair, respectively.
Architect, writer and designer George Nelson created with his team shades for the Bubble lamp using a new translucent polymer skin and, as design director at Herman Miller, recruited the Eameses, Alexander Girard and others for projects at the legendary Michigan furniture manufacturer.
Harry Bertoia and Isamu Noguchi devised chairs and tables built of wire mesh and wire struts. Materials were repurposed too: The Danish-born designer Jens Risom created a line of chairs using surplus parachute straps for webbed seats and backrests.
The Risom lounge chair was among the first pieces of furniture commissioned and produced by celebrated manufacturer Knoll, a chief influencer in the rise of modern design in the United States, thanks to the work of Florence Knoll, the pioneering architect and designer who made the firm a leader in its field. The seating that Knoll created for office spaces — as well as pieces designed by Florence initially for commercial clients — soon became desirable for the home.
As the demand for casual, uncluttered furnishings grew, more mid-century furniture designers caught the spirit.
Classically oriented creators such as Edward Wormley, house designer for Dunbar Inc., offered such pieces as the sinuous Listen to Me chaise; the British expatriate T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings switched gears, creating items such as the tiered, biomorphic Mesa table. There were Young Turks such as Paul McCobb, who designed holistic groups of sleek, blond wood furniture, and Milo Baughman, who espoused a West Coast aesthetic in minimalist teak dining tables and lushly upholstered chairs and sofas with angular steel frames.
Generations turn over, and mid-century modern remains arguably the most popular style going. As the collection of vintage mid-century modern chairs, dressers, coffee tables and other furniture for the living room, dining room, bedroom and elsewhere on 1stDibs demonstrates, this period saw one of the most delightful and dramatic flowerings of creativity in design history.
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.
The alluring pendant light exemplifies the designer’s winsome mid-career work.
Patrizio Chiarparini of Brooklyn’s Duplex gallery sheds light on the lasting legacy of Italy’s postwar furniture boom.
There are many lessons to be learned from the lofts, apartments and townhouses of architects and decorators in Manhattan and beyond.
Having created extravagant homes for reality TV’s biggest stars, the designer is stepping into the spotlight with his first book.
The Louisiana-born and -bred architect talks to 1stdibs about the art of making timeless places that matter.
The Palm Springs interior decorator developed a mid-century style that defined the vacation homes of celebrities and other notables, including Bob Hope and Lucille Ball.
The houses from this New York studio cloak modernist tendencies within what are often more traditional trappings.
In the market for a fantastic fixture from the 1940s, ’50s or ’60s? Here are some names to know.