1950 France Round 21" Perforated Backlit Mirror in the Manner of Mathieu Mategot
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in Niederdorfelden, Hessen
Elegant round wall mirror with backlighting on a perforated metal frame with brass finishes. The mirror, positioned in the center, is attached to the lamp frame with three stylized b...
Brass
1960s Adjustable Perforated Table Lamp Attributed to Tito Agnoli for O-Luce
By Tito Agnoli, O-Luce, Oluce
Located in Los Angeles, CA
1960s Adjustable Perforated Table Lamp Attributed to Tito Agnoli for O-Luce. Executed in burnt orange and white painted metal with patinated brass stem, this highly configurable tab...
Metal, Brass
1950s Perforated Metal Atomic Dish Ashtray Nº S30 by Richard Galef Ravenware
By Richard Galef, Ravenware
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Wonderful 1950s functional design, and such an ingenious and sculptural piece. Also with a domed glass inset.
Steel
White Lacquered Et Perforated Magazine Rack, French Work in the Style of Mathieu
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This magazine rack is made of white lacquered et perforated metal. This is a French work in the style of Mathieu Matégot. Circa 1950.
Metal, Wrought Iron
1950s Italy Perforated Metal Floor Lamp Black & White in the Manner of Stilnovo
By Stilnovo
Located in Niederdorfelden, Hessen
Manufactured by Stilnovo attr., Italy in the 1950s. Style: Mid-Century Modern. Colors: black and white. Materials: metal, glass and wood.
Metal
Lisa Johansson-Pape Perforated Brass Wall Sconce Model 50-084, Orno 1950s
By Lisa Johansson-Pape, Orno Oy
Located in Helsinki, FI
An extremely rare model 50-084 wall sconce, designed by Lisa Johansson-Pape for Orno in the 1950s in Finland. This exact one is a more rare version of the model, which usually comes ...
Brass
Lovely Rare Wall or Ceiling Lamp in Plexiglass and Perforated Metal, 1950s
Located in Nürnberg, Bayern
Executed in brass and metal. The lamp needs 4 x E14 / E15 Edison screw fit bulb, is wired, in working condition and runs both on 110 / 230 volt. Our lamps are checked, cleaned and a...
Metal
1 of 12 Perforated Metal and Glass Pendants by Mathieu Matégot, France, 1950s
By Holophane, Mathieu Matégot
Located in Echt, NL
Industrial pendants in very good original condition. Designed by Mathieu Mategot in the 1950s. Produced by ‘Holophane' We have 12 of these pendants available. The pendants consis...
Metal
Italian Mid-Century Modern Brass Chandelier with Red Shades, 1950
Located in San Francisco, CA
This iconic lighting in perforated brass is of mid-century Italian design. The chandelier has adjustable arms, allowing light to be directed toward specific areas of a room.
Metal, Brass
Paavo Tynell Brass & Perforated Red Metal Ceiling Light Model K2-58, Idman 1950s
By Paavo Tynell, Idman
Located in Helsinki, FI
A lively Paavo Tynell pendant lamp crafted in brass and painted red metal, distinguished by the designer's iconic perforations. This model features a distinct fishtail and diamond pe...
Metal, Brass
Danish Modern Perforated Metal Pendant Light by Poul Gernes for Louis Poulsen
By Louis Poulsen, Poul Gernes
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Striking, Danish modern pendant light by Poul Gernes for Louis Poulsen features a faceted white metal cylinder that emits light through it's bent, cut-out sections. The images show t...
Metal
$388Sale Price|20% Off
1950s Retro Midcentury Perforated Metal Basket Office Desk Car Key Dish Bowl
By Richard Galef
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Architectural tabletop key basket.
Steel
$6,552Sale Price|20% Off
Huge Sunburst Perforated Flush Mount Light Fixture in Gilt Iron, 1950s (36 in)
Located in Barcelona, ES
Monumental Brutalist Sunburst Ceiling Flush Mount Light Fixture, Wrought Iron, Gold Leaf XXL Sunburst light fixture with perforated holes at the central spherical plate and nail deta...
Wrought Iron, Iron, Gold Leaf
Mid-Century Italian Pendant Light with Brass Hinges and Black Shades
Located in San Francisco, CA
Italian suspension pendant with two cylindrical sconces articulated on golden brass hinges enclosing two large circular adjustable reflectors in perforated black lacquered metal. Gre...
Metal, Brass
Large wall lamp Lunel chrome plated metal with perforated stars from the 60's -
By Robert Mathieu, Maison Lunel
Located in Ternay, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
French articulated wall lamp edited by Lunel in the 60s. Chromed metal arm, double adjustable lampshade gara to the ball joint. Both shades are in grey and white lacquered metal (ori...
Metal, Chrome
Elegant Mid-Century Modern Pendant Lamp or Hanging Light Germany 1950s
Located in München, BY
Rare, highly decorative and elegant Mid-Century Modern perforated aluminum pendant lamp or hanging light.
Aluminum, Brass
Mid-Century Modern Scandinavian Copper Pendant Lamp or Hanging Light 1960s
Located in München, BY
Elegant Mid-Century Modern perforated copper pendant lamp or hanging light.
Copper
Exceptional Mid-Century Modern Ceiling Fixture or Pendant Lamp Sweden 1950s
By Bertil Brisborg
Located in München, BY
Extremely rare, highly decorative and elegant Mid-Century Modern perforated aluminum ceiling lamp or hanging light.
Aluminum, Brass
Elegant Mid-Century Modern Pendant Lamp by Ernest Igl for Hillebrand 1950s
By Hillebrand, Ernest Igl
Located in München, BY
Rare and elegant Mid-Century Modern perforated metal pendant lamp or hanging light.
Metal
Extremely Rare Mid Century Modern Counterweight Brass Pendant Lamp Germany 1950s
Located in München, BY
Extremely rare, lovely and highly decorative Mid-Century Modern perforated brass pendant lamp.
Brass
Rare Mid-Century Modern Scandinavian Copper Pendant Lamp or Hanging Light 1960s
Located in München, BY
Rare, elegant and highly decorative Mid-Century Modern perforated copper pendant lamp or hanging light.
Copper
Elegant Mid-Century Modern Pendant Lamp by Ernest Igl for Hillebrand 1960s
By Hillebrand, Ernest Igl
Located in München, BY
Elegant Mid-Century Modern perforated metal pendant lamp or hanging light.
Metal
Midcentury French Rigitulle Tole Floor Lamp in the Manner of Mathieu Matégot
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in Wichita, KS
Midcentury French rigitulle (perforated metal) tole floor lamp in the manner of Mathieu Matégot. Circa 1950. Wonderful patina. Domed shade with perforated base. Wired for use in the ...
Metal
Set of Two Elegant Pendant Lamps by Hans-Agne Jakobsson for AB Markaryd Sweden
By Bertil Brisborg, Hans-Agne Jakobsson, AB Markaryd, Hans Bergström, Poul Henningsen
Located in München, BY
Set of two lovely and highly decorative Mid-Century Modern perforated brass pendant lamps or hanging lights.
Brass
Rare Pendant Lamp or Chandelier by Hans-Agne Jakobsson for AB Markaryd Sweden
By Hans-Agne Jakobsson, AB Markaryd, Hans Bergström, Louis Poulsen, Bertil Brisborg
Located in München, BY
Rare, lovely and highly decorative Mid-Century Modern perforated brass cascading pendant lamp or chandelier with three lamp shades.
Brass
Three-planter metal plant stand by Mathieu Matégot circa 1950
By Mathieu Matégot
Located in NICE, FR
Mathieu Matégot (1910–2001) was a Hungarian-born French designer celebrated for his innovative use of perforated metal and mid-century furniture designs, notably pioneering the Rigit...
Metal
Tony Paul Style Pierced Black Cone, Brass & White Triple Candlestick Table Lamp
By Tony Paul
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Tall American Mid Century perforated Black Cone, Three Candlestick & Brass Table Lamp, 1950's.
Brass, Metal
Matégot metal plant stand, France, 1950
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
A representative piece of post-war French modernist design, sought after by collectors of furniture and objects attributed to Mathieu Matégot. Style : Mid-Century Modern French Desi...
Metal
Dutch Design Metal 1950s Perfolux Pendant by Hiemstra Evolux
By Hiemstra Evolux, Niek Hiemstra
Located in Antwerp, BE
Dutch rare midcentury modernism large perforated hanging lamp designed by Niek Hiemstra 1950s for Hiemstra Evolux. The con shade is made of black perforated metal within hanging a sl...
Slate, Metal
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.