Bodil Kjaer Principal Chair for Karakter, Solid Oak/Walnut, Denmark
By Bodil Kjaer
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Rooted in the Scandinavian design tradition with an international outlook, Karakter presents a portfolio of furniture, lighting and objects that is relevant, honest, expressive and s...
Oak, Walnut, Lacquer
Bodil Kjaer Principal Chair for Karakter, Solid Oak/Walnut, Denmark
By Bodil Kjaer
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Rooted in the Scandinavian design tradition with an international outlook, Karakter presents a portfolio of furniture, lighting and objects that is relevant, honest, expressive and s...
Oak, Walnut, Lacquer
Bodil Kjaer Principal Chair for Karakter, Solid Oak/Walnut, Denmark
By Bodil Kjaer
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Rooted in the Scandinavian design tradition with an international outlook, Karakter presents a portfolio of furniture, lighting and objects that is relevant, honest, expressive and s...
Oak, Walnut, Lacquer
Consol Table in Dark Aubergine By Aldo Bakker 2017 for Karakter
By Aldo Bakker
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Rooted in the Scandinavian design tradition with an international outlook, Karakter presents a portfolio of furniture, lighting and objects that is relevant, honest, expressive and s...
Natural Fiber
Bodil Kjaer Principal Chair for Karakter, Solid Oak/Walnut, Denmark
By Bodil Kjaer
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Rooted in the Scandinavian design tradition with an international outlook, Karakter presents a portfolio of furniture, lighting and objects that is relevant, honest, expressive and s...
Oak, Walnut, Lacquer
Aldo Bakker Coffee Table Lounge, Rolle Steel by Karakter
By Aldo Bakker
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Rooted in the Scandinavian design tradition with an international outlook, Karakter presents a portfolio of furniture, lighting and objects that is relevant, honest, expressive and s...
Steel
Set of Four Aldo Bakker Tin Vessel 'Support' by Karakter
By Aldo Bakker
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Rooted in the Scandinavian design tradition with an international outlook, Karakter presents a portfolio of furniture, lighting and objects that is relevant, honest, expressive and s...
Tin
$5,900 / item
Bodil Kjaer Principal Chair for Karakter
By Bodil Kjaer
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Rooted in the Scandinavian design tradition with an international outlook, Karakter presents a portfolio of furniture, lighting and objects that is relevant, honest, expressive and s...
Oak, Walnut, Lacquer
$2,820 / item
Bodil Kjær Principal Dining Wood Chair by Karakter
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Rooted in the Scandinavian design tradition with an international outlook, Karakter presents a portfolio of furniture, lighting and objects that is relevant, honest, expressive and s...
Fabric, Wood
$5,900 / item
Bodil Kjaer Principal Chair for Karakter
By Bodil Kjaer
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Rooted in the Scandinavian design tradition with an international outlook, Karakter presents a portfolio of furniture, lighting and objects that is relevant, honest, expressive and s...
Oak, Walnut, Lacquer
$5,900 / item
Bodil Kjaer Principal Chair for Karakter
By Bodil Kjaer
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Rooted in the Scandinavian design tradition with an international outlook, Karakter presents a portfolio of furniture, lighting and objects that is relevant, honest, expressive and s...
Oak, Walnut, Lacquer
$4,301 / item
Bodil Kjaer Principal Chair for Karakter
By Bodil Kjaer
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Rooted in the Scandinavian design tradition with an international outlook, Karakter presents a portfolio of furniture, lighting and objects that is relevant, honest, expressive and s...
Oak, Walnut, Lacquer
Set of Six Joe Colombo 'Chair 300' Wood and Kvadrat Fabric by Karakter
By Joe Colombo
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Rooted in the Scandinavian design tradition with an international outlook, Karakter presents a portfolio of furniture, lighting and objects that is relevant, honest, expressive and s...
Fabric, Wood
$7,404 / item
Paul Mccobb Black Cache Table For Karakter
By Paul McCobb
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Rooted in the Scandinavian design tradition with an international outlook, Karakter presents a portfolio of furniture, lighting and objects that is relevant, honest, expressive and s...
Oak
$4,301 / item
Bodil Kjaer Principal Chair for Karakter
By Bodil Kjaer
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Rooted in the Scandinavian design tradition with an international outlook, Karakter presents a portfolio of furniture, lighting and objects that is relevant, honest, expressive and s...
Oak, Walnut, Lacquer
Bodil Kjaer Principal Chair for Karakter, Solid Oak/Walnut, Denmark
By Bodil Kjaer
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Rooted in the Scandinavian design tradition with an international outlook, Karakter presents a portfolio of furniture, lighting and objects that is relevant, honest, expressive and s...
Oak, Walnut, Lacquer
Bodil Kjaer Principal Chair for Karakter, Solid Oak/Walnut, Denmark
By Bodil Kjaer
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Rooted in the Scandinavian design tradition with an international outlook, Karakter presents a portfolio of furniture, lighting and objects that is relevant, honest, expressive and s...
Oak, Walnut, Lacquer
$5,900 / item
Bodil Kjaer Principal Chair for Karakter
By Bodil Kjaer
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Rooted in the Scandinavian design tradition with an international outlook, Karakter presents a portfolio of furniture, lighting and objects that is relevant, honest, expressive and s...
Oak, Walnut, Lacquer
Bodil Kjaer Principal Chair for Karakter, Solid Oak/Walnut, Denmark
By Bodil Kjaer
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Rooted in the Scandinavian design tradition with an international outlook, Karakter presents a portfolio of furniture, lighting and objects that is relevant, honest, expressive and s...
Oak, Walnut, Lacquer
$5,900 / item
Bodil Kjaer Principal Chair for Karakter
By Bodil Kjaer
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Rooted in the Scandinavian design tradition with an international outlook, Karakter presents a portfolio of furniture, lighting and objects that is relevant, honest, expressive and s...
Oak, Walnut, Lacquer
$3,032 / item
Bodil Kjaer Principal Chair for Karakter
By Bodil Kjaer
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Rooted in the Scandinavian design tradition with an international outlook, Karakter presents a portfolio of furniture, lighting and objects that is relevant, honest, expressive and s...
Oak, Walnut, Lacquer
Bodil Kjaer Principal Chair for Karakter, Solid Oak/Walnut, Denmark
By Bodil Kjaer
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Rooted in the Scandinavian design tradition with an international outlook, Karakter presents a portfolio of furniture, lighting and objects that is relevant, honest, expressive and s...
Oak, Walnut, Lacquer
$2,820 / item
Bodil Kjær Principal Dining Wood Chair by Karakter
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Rooted in the Scandinavian design tradition with an international outlook, Karakter presents a portfolio of furniture, lighting and objects that is relevant, honest, expressive and s...
Fabric, Wood
$4,701 / item
Aldo Bakker 'Bon' Wood Stool by Karakter
By Aldo Bakker
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Rooted in the Scandinavian design tradition with an international outlook, Karakter presents a portfolio of furniture, lighting and objects that is relevant, honest, expressive and s...
Wood
$12,693 / item
Consol Table in Apricot By Aldo Bakker 2017 for Karakter
By Aldo Bakker
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Rooted in the Scandinavian design tradition with an international outlook, Karakter presents a portfolio of furniture, lighting and objects that is relevant, honest, expressive and s...
Natural Fiber
Scarpa Chair 925 in Wood and Leather by Afra and Tobias Scarpa
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Rooted in the Scandinavian design tradition with an international outlook, Karakter presents a portfolio of furniture, lighting and objects that is relevant, honest, expressive and s...
Leather, Ash
Scarpa Chair 925 in Wood and Leather by Afra and Tobias Scarpa
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Rooted in the Scandinavian design tradition with an international outlook, Karakter presents a portfolio of furniture, lighting and objects that is relevant, honest, expressive and s...
Leather, Ash
Scarpa Chair 925 in Wood and Leather by Afra and Tobias Scarpa
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Rooted in the Scandinavian design tradition with an international outlook, Karakter presents a portfolio of furniture, lighting and objects that is relevant, honest, expressive and s...
Leather, Ash
Scarpa Chair 925 in Wood and Leather by Afra and Tobias Scarpa
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Rooted in the Scandinavian design tradition with an international outlook, Karakter presents a portfolio of furniture, lighting and objects that is relevant, honest, expressive and s...
Leather, Ash
Scarpa Chair 925 in Wood and Leather by Afra and Tobias Scarpa
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Rooted in the Scandinavian design tradition with an international outlook, Karakter presents a portfolio of furniture, lighting and objects that is relevant, honest, expressive and s...
Leather, Ash
Scarpa Chair 925 in Wood and Leather by Afra and Tobias Scarpa
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Rooted in the Scandinavian design tradition with an international outlook, Karakter presents a portfolio of furniture, lighting and objects that is relevant, honest, expressive and s...
Leather, Ash
Scarpa Chair 925 in Wood and Leather by Afra and Tobias Scarpa
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Rooted in the Scandinavian design tradition with an international outlook, Karakter presents a portfolio of furniture, lighting and objects that is relevant, honest, expressive and s...
Leather, Ash
$9,696 / item
Bodil Kjær Principal Dining Wood Table by Karakter
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Rooted in the Scandinavian design tradition with an international outlook, Karakter presents a portfolio of furniture, lighting and objects that is relevant, honest, expressive and s...
Wood
$8,344 / item
Bodil Kjær Principal Dining Wood Table by Karakter
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Rooted in the Scandinavian design tradition with an international outlook, Karakter presents a portfolio of furniture, lighting and objects that is relevant, honest, expressive and s...
Wood
$3,114 / item
Bodil Kjær Principal Dining Wood Chair by Karakter
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Rooted in the Scandinavian design tradition with an international outlook, Karakter presents a portfolio of furniture, lighting and objects that is relevant, honest, expressive and s...
Wood
Consol Table in Dark Aubergine By Aldo Bakker 2017 for Karakter
By Aldo Bakker
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Rooted in the Scandinavian design tradition with an international outlook, Karakter presents a portfolio of furniture, lighting and objects that is relevant, honest, expressive and s...
Natural Fiber
Consol Table in Dark Sepia By Aldo Bakker 2017 for Karakter
By Aldo Bakker
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Rooted in the Scandinavian design tradition with an international outlook, Karakter presents a portfolio of furniture, lighting and objects that is relevant, honest, expressive and s...
Natural Fiber
$12,693 / item
Consol Table in Apricot By Aldo Bakker 2017 for Karakter
By Aldo Bakker
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Rooted in the Scandinavian design tradition with an international outlook, Karakter presents a portfolio of furniture, lighting and objects that is relevant, honest, expressive and s...
Natural Fiber
$3,114 / item
Bodil Kjær Principal Dining Wood Chair by Karakter
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Rooted in the Scandinavian design tradition with an international outlook, Karakter presents a portfolio of furniture, lighting and objects that is relevant, honest, expressive and s...
Wood
Set of Four Max Brüel 'Jazz' Candleholders, Steel with Brass Plating
By Max Brüel
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Rooted in the Scandinavian design tradition with an international outlook, Karakter presents a portfolio of furniture, lighting and objects that is relevant, honest, expressive and s...
Steel
Scarpa Chair 925 in Natural Ash Frame by Afra and Tobias Scarpa 1966
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Rooted in the Scandinavian design tradition with an international outlook, Karakter presents a portfolio of furniture, lighting and objects that is relevant, honest, expressive and s...
Leather, Ash
Scarpa Chair 925 in Mocca Stained Ash Frame by Afra and Tobias Scarpa
By Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Rooted in the Scandinavian design tradition with an international outlook, Karakter presents a portfolio of furniture, lighting and objects that is relevant, honest, expressive and s...
Leather, Ash
Aldo Bakker Coffee Table for Karakter, Steel & Lacquer
By Aldo Bakker
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Rooted in the Scandinavian design tradition with an international outlook, Karakter presents a portfolio of furniture, lighting and objects that is relevant, honest, expressive and s...
Steel
Complete Set of Thirty-Six Joe Colombo 'Sferico' Glass Tableware by Karakter
By Joe Colombo
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Rooted in the Scandinavian design tradition with an international outlook, Karakter presents a portfolio of furniture, lighting and objects that is relevant, honest, expressive and s...
Glass
Consol Table in Dark Green By Aldo Bakker 2017 for Karakter
By Aldo Bakker
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Rooted in the Scandinavian design tradition with an international outlook, Karakter presents a portfolio of furniture, lighting and objects that is relevant, honest, expressive and s...
Natural Fiber
Bodil Kjær Principal Dining Chair, Wood, Mid-Century Modern Design, Denmark
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Rooted in the Scandinavian design tradition with an international outlook, Karakter presents a portfolio of furniture, lighting and objects that is relevant, honest, expressive and s...
Wood
Paul Mccobb Cache Console & Set Of Two Drawers, Oak For Karakter
By Paul McCobb
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Rooted in the Scandinavian design tradition with an international outlook, Karakter presents a portfolio of furniture, lighting and objects that is relevant, honest, expressive and s...
Oak, Lacquer
Paul Mccobb Cache Desk Organiser For Karakter
By Paul McCobb
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Rooted in the Scandinavian design tradition with an international outlook, Karakter presents a portfolio of furniture, lighting and objects that is relevant, honest, expressive and s...
Oak, Lacquer
$3,408 / item
Bodil Kjær Principal Dining Wood Chair by Karakter
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Rooted in the Scandinavian design tradition with an international outlook, Karakter presents a portfolio of furniture, lighting and objects that is relevant, honest, expressive and s...
Leather, Wood
Set of Six Joe Colombo 'Chair 300' Wood and Kvadrat Fabric by Karakter
By Joe Colombo
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Rooted in the Scandinavian design tradition with an international outlook, Karakter presents a portfolio of furniture, lighting and objects that is relevant, honest, expressive and s...
Fabric, Wood
Set of Four Joe Colombo 'Chair 300' Wood and Sørensen Leather by Karakter
By Joe Colombo
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Rooted in the Scandinavian design tradition with an international outlook, Karakter presents a portfolio of furniture, lighting and objects that is relevant, honest, expressive and s...
Leather, Wood
$4,701 / item
Bon by Aldo Bakker, 2017
By Aldo Bakker
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Rooted in the Scandinavian design tradition with an international outlook, Karakter presents a portfolio of furniture, lighting and objects that is relevant, honest, expressive and s...
Mahogany, Lacquer
$3,114 / item
Bodil Kjær Principal Dining Wood Chair by Karakter
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Rooted in the Scandinavian design tradition with an international outlook, Karakter presents a portfolio of furniture, lighting and objects that is relevant, honest, expressive and s...
Wood
Set of Six Joe Colombo 'Chair 300' Wood and Sørensen Leather by Karakter
By Joe Colombo
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Rooted in the Scandinavian design tradition with an international outlook, Karakter presents a portfolio of furniture, lighting and objects that is relevant, honest, expressive and s...
Leather, Wood
Consol Table in Dark Green By Aldo Bakker 2017 for Karakter
By Aldo Bakker
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Rooted in the Scandinavian design tradition with an international outlook, Karakter presents a portfolio of furniture, lighting and objects that is relevant, honest, expressive and s...
Natural Fiber
$3,408 / item
Bodil Kjær Principal Dining Wood Chair by Karakter
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Rooted in the Scandinavian design tradition with an international outlook, Karakter presents a portfolio of furniture, lighting and objects that is relevant, honest, expressive and s...
Leather, Wood
$1,410 / item
Mangiarotti Marbles Vase by Angelo Mangiarotti, 1968
By Angelo Mangiarotti
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Rooted in the Scandinavian design tradition with an international outlook, Karakter presents a portfolio of furniture, lighting and objects that is relevant, honest, expressive and s...
Marble
Joe Colombo Chair 300 by Karakter - Solid Oak, Mid-Century Design
By Joe Colombo
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Rooted in the Scandinavian design tradition with an international outlook, Karakter presents a portfolio of furniture, lighting and objects that is relevant, honest, expressive and s...
Wood
Joe Colombo Chair 300 for Karakter, Solid Oak, Mid-Century Design
By Joe Colombo
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Rooted in the Scandinavian design tradition with an international outlook, Karakter presents a portfolio of furniture, lighting and objects that is relevant, honest, expressive and s...
Wood
$1,010 / item
Mangiarotti Marbles vase by Angelo Mangiarotti, 1968
By Angelo Mangiarotti
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Rooted in the Scandinavian design tradition with an international outlook, Karakter presents a portfolio of furniture, lighting and objects that is relevant, honest, expressive and s...
Marble
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.
It's hard to resist the allure of a beautiful pool. So, go ahead and daydream about whiling away your summer in paradise.
Modern icons are showing up in gracefully layered dining nooks, living rooms and lounges — proof that great design only gets better with context.
With its grid-like doors and wavy trim, the 1940s design feels as fresh as ever.
The alluring pendant light exemplifies the designer’s winsome mid-career work.
Prehistoric motifs give the mid-century Italian fireplace an elemental feel.
Their charming solid-oak pieces offer homes utility and comfort.
You know the designs, now get the stories about how they came to be.
Designer Susan Yeley turned to 1stDibs to outfit an Indiana home with standout pieces that complement its modernist style.