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Murano Multi Color Bowl

Beautiful Pink & Multi Color Murano Glass Bowl Catchall Vintage, Italy, 1980s
By Murano Glass Sommerso
Located in Nuernberg, DE
organic shaped bowl, catchall or centre piece, Venice, Murano, Italy, 1980s. Colors are pink, Clear, white
Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Art Glass

Murano Glass "Multi-Color" Bowl Element Shell Ashtray Murano, Italy, 1970s
By Flavio Poli, Alessandro Mandruzzato
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article: Murano glass bowl, ashtray element Origin: Murano, Italy Decade: 1970s This
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays

Materials

Murano Glass

Murano White Multi Color Swirl Art Glass Centerpiece Bowl
Located in Barcelona, ES
Italian Mid-Century Modern Murano glass centerpiece, white and multicolor pastel tones This large
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Glass, Murano Glass, Blown Glass, Art Glass

Large Murano Glass "Multi-Color" Bowl Element Shell Ashtray Murano, Italy, 1970s
By Flavio Poli, Alessandro Mandruzzato
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article: Murano glass bowl, ashtray element Origin: Murano, Italy Decade: 1970s This
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays

Materials

Murano Glass

Large Murano Glass "Multi-Color" Bowl Element Shell Ashtray Murano, Italy, 1970s
By Flavio Poli, Alessandro Mandruzzato
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article: Murano glass bowl, ashtray element Origin: Murano, Italy Decade: 1970s
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays

Materials

Murano Glass

Arte Murano ICET Millefiori Flower Color Streaks Italian Art Glass Satin Bowl
By ICET Murano
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage ICET Arte Murano hand blown rich cobalt blue, white and multi-color art glass
Category

Mid-20th Century Venezuelan Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Art Glass, Murrine, Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass

Multi-Color Heavy Two Color Murano Glass Sommerso Object Vase Bowl, Italy, 1970s
By Flavio Poli, Alessandro Mandruzzato
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article: Murano glass bowl element Origin: Murano, Italy Decade: 1970s This
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Murano Glass

Murano Fratelli Toso Murrine Multi Color Italian Art Glass Bowl, 1950s
By Fratelli Toso
Located in Barcelona, ES
Eye-catching midcentury millefiori flower mosaic hand blown Murano art glass round bowl by Fratelli
Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Murrine

Large 1, 1 Kg Murano Glass "Multi-Color" Bowl Shell Ashtray Murano, Italy, 1970s
By Flavio Poli, Alessandro Mandruzzato
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article: Murano glass bowl, ashtray element Origin: Murano, Italy Decade: 1970s
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays

Materials

Murano Glass

Multi-Color Murano Vetri Glass Sommerso Bowl Shell Ashtray Element, Italy, 1970s
By Gino Cenedese, Cenedese
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article: Murano glass bowl element Origin: Murano, Italy Decade: 1970s This
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Murano Glass

Mid-Century Modern Hand Blown Murano Sculptural Multi Colored Decorative Bowl
Located in New York, NY
This refined Mid-Century Modern decorative dish/ bowl was realized in Murano, Italy- the island off
Category

Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Murano Glass

AV MAZZEGA Murano Glass Centerpiece Bowl on Stand
By AVMazzega
Located in Charlotte, NC
multi-color Murano blown glass round bowl with a distinctive swirl texture to the colors, a smooth
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Murano Glass, Wood

Dino Martens AVEM Multicolor Murrine Millefiori Blue Rim Art Glass Bowl
By Arte Vetraria Muranese (AVEM), Dino Martens
Located in Barcelona, ES
Sculptural multi-color Tutti Frutti Murano art glass bowl /ashtray attributed to Dino Martens and
Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Silver Leaf

People Also Browsed

Alfredo Barbini Murano Sommerso Pink Art Glass Centerpiece Decorative Bowl
By Alfredo Barbini
Located in Barcelona, ES
Barbini Murano Pink Shell Art Glass Centerpiece Eye-catching extra large hand blown Sommerso pink Murano glass shell form ribbed bowl / centerpiece. Attributed to Alfredo Barbini, It...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Hollywood Regency Centerpieces

Materials

Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Sommerso

Alfredo Barbini Murano Pink Sommerso Ribbed Glass Centerpiece Bowl, 1950s
By Alfredo Barbini
Located in Barcelona, ES
Beautiful large Murano hand blown pink Sommerso art glass ribbed centerpiece bowl with wavy edge. Attributed to Alfredo Barbini. Italy, 1950s-1960s. This elegant centerpiece can be u...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Centerpieces

Materials

Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Sommerso, Glass

Seguso Murano Purple Blue Pink Glass Shell Centerpiece Bowl with Gold Flecks
By Seguso Vetri d'Arte
Located in Barcelona, ES
One of a kind hand blown Murano shell bowl centerpiece in shades from pink to blue. Attributed to Seguso, Italy, 1960s. This beautiful shell bowl has pink, purple and blue glass case...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Gold Leaf

Pink and White Vintage Centerpiece in Blown Murano Glass and 24kt Gold, 1950s
By Vintage Murano Gallery
Located in Villaverla, IT
Pink and white Vintage centerpiece in blown Murano glass and 24kt gold, 1950s. This unique centerpiece stands out for its harmonious shape and its refined color patterns. It is enti...
Category

Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Centerpieces

Materials

Gold

Organic Murano Glass "Purple" Bowl Element Shell Ashtray Murano, Italy, 1970s
By Flavio Poli, Alessandro Mandruzzato
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article: Murano glass bowl, ashtray element Origin: Murano, Italy Decade: 1970s This original vintage glass bowl element, ashtray was produced in the 1970s ...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays

Materials

Murano Glass

Crystal Pink Ashtray for Val Saint Lambert, Paper Weight Signed
By Val Saint Lambert, Guido Bon
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Free-blown pink and clear crystal ashtray by Val Saint Lambert. Could be used as a vide poche or decorative desk accessories. Hand blown beautiful piece Size: 6.5" x 4.2" x 2.5".
Category

Mid-20th Century Belgian Modern Ashtrays

Materials

Crystal

Aluminum Ultima 30 Ashtray by Holger Bäckström & Bo Ljungberg for Beck & Jung
By Beck & Jung, Holger Bäckström & Bo Ljungberg
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Swedish Modern large two piece aluminum "Ultima 15" ashtray by Swedish designers Holger Bäckström & Bo Ljungberg for Beck & Jung. Made of heavy, solid aluminum it makes for a perfec...
Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays

Materials

Aluminum

Large Murano Glass "LUCID" Bowl Element Shell Ashtray Murano, Italy, 1970s
By Flavio Poli, Alessandro Mandruzzato
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article: Murano glass bowl, ashtray element Origin: Murano, Italy Decade: 1970s This original vintage glass bowl element, ash tray was produced in the 1970s...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays

Materials

Murano Glass

Large Murano Glass 1, 4Kg "Floral" Bowl Element Shell Ashtray Murano, Italy 1970s
By Flavio Poli, Alessandro Mandruzzato
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article: Murano glass bowl, ashtray element Origin: Murano, Italy Decade: 1970s This original vintage glass bowl element, ash tray was produced in the 1970s...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays

Materials

Murano Glass

Archimede Seguso Murano Purple Sommerso Art Glass Bowl
By Seguso Vetri d'Arte, Archimede Seguso
Located in Barcelona, ES
Hand blown Murano glass Sommerso bowl / ashtray in purple color with a cased rim in pink/ blue glass. Design attributed to Archimede Seguso for Seguso Factory, Italy, 1960s. A highly...
Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Glass, Sommerso, Murano Glass, Blown Glass, Art Glass

Heavy 1.3kg Murano Glass "Blue" Bowl Element Shell Ashtray Murano, Italy, 1970s
By Flavio Poli, Alessandro Mandruzzato
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article: Murano glass bowl, ashtray element Origin: Murano, Italy Decade: 1970s This original vintage glass bowl element, ash tray was produced in the 1970s...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays

Materials

Murano Glass

Vintage Murano Pink Opal Shell Clam Bowl Mouth Blown Glass
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Uncommon beautiful vintage Murano clam bowl. Mouth-blown in pink / pink glass in the shape of a clam. The bowl is made of solid glass. Appears to be in fine condition without chips w...
Category

Vintage 1970s Decorative Dishes and Vide-Poche

Materials

Murano Glass

Murano Glass "Gold Dust Bubble" Bowl Element Shell Ashtray Murano, Italy, 1970s
By Flavio Poli, Alessandro Mandruzzato
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article: Murano glass bowl, ashtray element Origin: Murano, Italy Decade: 1970s This original vintage glass bowl element, ash tray was produced in the 1970s...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays

Materials

Murano Glass

Crystal de Sevres Cigar Ashtray France 1970s
By Cristalleries De Sevres
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Molded Crystal de Sevres Cigar Ashtray France, 1970s Large heavy molded crystal ashtray Cristal de Sevres cubic shape cut glass with a modernist design. Sevres crystal clear ashtray,...
Category

Late 20th Century French Ashtrays

Materials

Crystal

Flavio Poli Seguso Vetri d'Arte Murano Art Glass Sommerso Blue Purple Bowl
By Flavio Poli, Seguso Vetri d'Arte
Located in Barcelona, ES
Mid-Century Modern Flavio Poli for Seguso Vetri d'Arte round faceted purple/ and blue Murano glass Sommerso bowl, Italy, 1960s. This hand blown glass bowl is made of purple glass su...
Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Glass, Art Glass, Sommerso, Murano Glass, Blown Glass

Heavy 1.6kg Glass "multicolor" Bowl Element Shell Ashtray Murano Italy, 1970s
By Flavio Poli, Alessandro Mandruzzato
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article: murano glass bowl, ashtray element. Origin: Murano, Italy. Decade: 1970s. This original vintage glass bowl element, ash tray was produced in the 1970s in Murano, I...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays

Materials

Murano Glass

Recent Sales

Albarelli 1950 Multi-Color Bowl in Murano Glass
By Maurizio Albarelli
Located in Rio de Janeiro, RJ
Albarelli 1950 multi-color bowl in Murano glass.
Category

Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Glass

Materials

Murano Glass

Italian Multi-Color Murano Glass Bowl by Barbini
By Alfredo Barbini
Located in Miami, FL
Italian multi-color Murano glass bowl by Barbini offered for sale is a hand blown multi-color
Category

1990s Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Murano Glass

Large Multi-Color Filigree Murano Bowl 1960s by Salviati
By Salviati
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Heavy, large rectangular pinwheel Murano bowl with swirling filigree of pastel colors such as pink
Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Modern Bowls and Baskets

Materials

Murano Glass

Murano Large Decorative Multi-Color Lattcino Cane Art Glass Bowl with Aventurine
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
Large Murano glass bowl in vibrant latticino glass with applied aventurine.
Category

Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Glass

Materials

Art Glass

Blown Glass Decorative Bowl. Murano glass style colors in blue, pink, white.
By Richard Price
Located in Haarlem, NL
This beautiful, multi colored blown glass decorative bowl, created by glass artist Richard Price
Category

2010s Modern Abstract Sculptures

Materials

Blown Glass

Murano Ashtray or Bowl, Submerged Glass, Multi-Color, Italy, 1960
Located in Roma, IT
A beautiful glass of multi-color of Murano. Ashtray or bowl, submerged glass No chipping.  
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays

Materials

Glass, Art Glass, Murano Glass

Large Murano Glass "Multi-Color" Bowl Element Shell Ashtray Murano, Italy, 1970s
By Flavio Poli, Alessandro Mandruzzato
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article: Murano glass bowl, ashtray element Origin: Murano, Italy Decade: 1970s
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays

Materials

Murano Glass

Large Murano Glass "Multi-Color" Bowl Element Shell Ashtray Murano, Italy, 1970s
By Flavio Poli, Alessandro Mandruzzato
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article: Murano glass bowl, ashtray element Origin: Murano, Italy Decade: 1970s
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays

Materials

Murano Glass

Bowl Flavio Poli for Seguso Midcentury Italian Design Murano Multi-Color
By Flavio Poli
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Bowl Flavio Poli for Seguso midcentury Italian design Murano multi-color.
Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Murano Glass

Dino Martens Oriente Murano Multi Colored Glass Bowl Vintage Rare
By Dino Martens, Aureliano Toso
Located in North Miami, FL
forms. Dino Martens was a painter as so greatly exemplified in this special rare Murano bowl. This
Category

Vintage 1950s European Mid-Century Modern Glass

Materials

Blown Glass

Italian Murano Faceted Geode Sommerso Glass Bowl
By Alessandro Mandruzzato
Located in North Miami, FL
This little gem of an Italian Murano sommerso geode glass bowl is exquisite. It is multi faceted
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Modern Serving Bowls

Materials

Murano Glass

Mid Century Striped Signed Cenedese Murano Glass Bowl
By Cenedese
Located in Troy, MI
Circa 1975 Murano glass bowl in multi-color stripe with peaked rim by Cenedese.
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Serving Bowls

Materials

Glass

Mid-Century Modern Signed L. Onesto Murano Glass Art Bowl Table Sculpture, Italy
By Luigi Onesto
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
For your consideration is a glorious, signed glass art bowl, with stunning bubbles in the multi
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Murano Glass

Set of 10 Venetian Handblown Rainbow Zanfirico Multicolor Candy Cane Goblets
By Barovier Salviai
Located in Great Barrington, MA
" delights!. The set of 10 hand blown Venetian multi-color zanfirico goblets incorporate the perfect
Category

Vintage 1920s Italian Glass

Materials

Murano Glass

Murano Silver Flecks Blue Red Teal Multi-Color Patches Italian Art Glass Bowl
By Murano 5, Dino Martens
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful Murano hand blown multi-color and silver flecks Italian art glass bowl. The bowl has
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Silver Leaf

Murano Silver Flecks Blue Pink Teal Multi-Color Patches Italian Art Glass Bowl
By Murano 5, Dino Martens
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown multi-color and silver flecks Italian art glass bowl. The bowl
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Silver Leaf

Large Midcentury Murano Glass Multi Color Center Bowl
Located in Troy, MI
Circa late 1960s / early 1970s large mid century Murano glass center bowl features heavy glass of
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Murano Glass

Large Murano Glass "Multi-Color" Bowl Element Shell Ashtray Murano, Italy, 1970s
By Flavio Poli, Alessandro Mandruzzato
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article: Murano glass bowl, ashtray element Origin: Murano, Italy Decade: 1970s This
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays

Materials

Murano Glass

Large Murano Glass "Multi-Color" Bowl Element Shell Ashtray Murano, Italy, 1970s
By Flavio Poli, Alessandro Mandruzzato
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article: Murano glass bowl, ashtray element Origin: Murano, Italy Decade: 1970s
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays

Materials

Murano Glass

Large Murano Glass "Multi-Color" Bowl Element Shell Ashtray Murano, Italy, 1970s
By Flavio Poli, Alessandro Mandruzzato
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article: Murano glass bowl, ashtray element Origin: Murano, Italy Decade: 1970s
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays

Materials

Murano Glass

rare Murano Glass "Multi-Color" Bowl Element Shell Ashtray Murano, Italy, 1970s
By Flavio Poli, Alessandro Mandruzzato
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article: Murano glass bowl, ashtray element Origin: Murano, Italy Decade: 1970s
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays

Materials

Murano Glass

Italian Multicolor Murano Glass Bowl by Barbini
By Murano 5, Barbini
Located in Miami, FL
Italian Multicolor Murano Glass Bowl by Barbini Offered for sale is a handblown multi-color Murano
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Glass

Materials

Murano Glass

Multi-Color Murano Vetri Glass Sommerso Bowl Shell Ashtray Element, Italy, 1970s
By Gino Cenedese, Cenedese
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article: Murano glass bowl element Origin: Murano, Italy Decade: 1970s This
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Murano Glass

Dino Martens Murano 1950s Painterly Multi-Color Oriente Italian Art Glass Bowl
By Aureliano Toso, Dino Martens
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful and colorful, vintage Murano hand blown painterly abstract style, multi-color Italian art
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Art Glass, Blown Glass, Glass, Murano Glass

Dino Martens Murano 1950s Painterly Multi-Color Oriente Italian Art Glass Bowl
By Aureliano Toso, Dino Martens
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful and colorful, vintage Murano hand blown painterly abstract style, multi-color Italian art
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass

Mid-Century Modern Hand Blown Murano Decorative Bowl with multi colored Murines
Located in New York, NY
This sophisticated Mid-Century Modern decorative bowl/ dish was realized in Murano, Italy- the
Category

Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Murano Glass

Salviati, Murano Handblown Amethyst Center bowl with Applied Fruit
By Salviati
Located in Great Barrington, MA
multi-color fruit connector representing a basket of fruit, made by Salviati. It is a very decorative
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Centerpieces

Materials

Blown Glass

Fratelli Toso Murano Millefiori Flower Star Mosaic Italian Art Glass Candy Bowl
By Fratelli Toso
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful Murano hand blown multi-color Millefiori flower and star mosaic Italian art glass
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Glass, Murrine

Fratelli Toso Murano Millefiori Flower Star Mosaic Italian Art Glass Footed Bowl
By Fratelli Toso
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful Murano hand blown multi-color Millefiori flower and star mosaic Italian art glass
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Glass, Art Glass, Murrine, Blown Glass, Murano Glass

Fratelli Toso Murano Millefiori Flower Star Mosaic Italian Art Glass Footed Bowl
By Fratelli Toso
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful Murano hand blown multi-color Millefiori flower and star mosaic Italian art glass
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Glass, Murrine, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass

Murano Latticino Zanfirico Ribbon Copper Aventurine Fleck Italian Art Glass Dish
By Giulio Radi, Arte Vetraria Muranese (AVEM)
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown clear purple with multi-color ribbon decoration Italian art
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass

Fratelli Toso Murano Millefiori Flower Star Mosaic Italian Art Glass Flower Vase
By Fratelli Toso
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Free shipping worldwide! See details below description. Gorgeous Murano handblown multi-color
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Murrine, Glass, Art Glass

Multi-Color Swirl Murano Glass Bowl, circa 1960
Located in Dallas, TX
Multi-color swirl Murano glass bowl, circa 1960.
Category

Vintage 1960s Decorative Bowls

Dino Martens for Aureliano Toso Murano Reticello Bowl
By Dino Martens
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
A rare multi-color Reticello bowl designed by Dino Martens for Aureliano Toso, circa 1950s.
Category

Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Glass

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Murano Multi Color Bowl For Sale on 1stDibs

With a vast inventory of beautiful furniture at 1stDibs, we’ve got just the murano multi color bowl you’re looking for. A murano multi color bowl — often made from glass, murano glass and art glass — can elevate any home. You’ve searched high and low for the perfect murano multi color bowl — we have versions that date back to the 20th Century alongside those produced as recently as the 20th Century are available. A murano multi color bowl is a generally popular piece of furniture, but those created in Mid-Century Modern styles are sought with frequency. Many designers have produced at least one well-made murano multi color bowl over the years, but those crafted by Fratelli Toso and Flavio Poli are often thought to be among the most beautiful.

How Much is a Murano Multi Color Bowl?

Prices for a murano multi color bowl start at $435 and top out at $1,015 with the average selling for $664.

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

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 legendary 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.

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.