$2,886 / set
H 33.47 in W 17.33 in D 17.33 in
Indoor, Outdoor Chairs by Pipsan Saarinen-Swanson, 1970s, Two Arm Chairs
By Ficks Reed, Eva-Lisa (Pipsan) Saarinen Swanson
Located in Antwerp, BE
Vintage dining chairs set indoor, outdoor designed by Pipsan Saarinen Swanson for Ficks Reed
Wrought Iron
$4,800 / set
H 38 in W 19 in D 21 in
Set of Four Pipsan Saarinen Swanson for Ficks Reed Sitting Patio Outdoor Chairs
By Eva-Lisa (Pipsan) Saarinen Swanson
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful set of four restored Pipsan Saarinen-Swanson outdoor patio sitting chairs for Ficks Reed
$797
H 28.75 in Dm 23.63 in
Philippe Starck In/Outdoor Round White Tulip Bar Tables "DR.NA" for Driade
By Philippe Starck, Kartell, Knoll, Eero Saarinen
Located in Grand Cayman, KY
Introducing the Philippe Starck In/Outdoor Round White Tulip Bar Tables "DR.NA" for Driade, a
Metal, Steel
Eero Saarinen Outdoor Dining Table
By Eero Saarinen
Located in Tokyo, Tokyo
Dining table by Eero Saarinen. The white surface uses non-porous material. It is durable and
Iron
Sold
H 26 in W 23 in D 68 in
Pipsan Saarinen Swanson Outdoor Patio Chaise Lounge for Ficks Reed Sol Air
By Eva-Lisa (Pipsan) Saarinen Swanson, Ficks Reed
Located in Miami, FL
Saarinen outdoor chairs.
Iron
Sold
H 33.47 in W 17.33 in D 17.33 in
Iron and Rattan Indoor and Outdoor Patio Chairs by Pipsan Saarinen Swanson
By Ficks Reed, Eva-Lisa (Pipsan) Saarinen Swanson
Located in Antwerp, BE
Vintage dining chair set indoor, outdoor dining chairs by designer Pipsan Saarinen Swanson for
Wrought Iron
Sold
H 33.08 in W 17.33 in D 17.33 in
Six Iron and Rattan Indoor and Outdoor Patio Chairs by Pipsan Saarinen Swanson
By Eva-Lisa (Pipsan) Saarinen Swanson, Ficks Reed
Located in Antwerp, BE
Vintage dining chair set indoor, outdoor dining chairs by designer Pipsan Saarinen Swanson for
Wrought Iron
Sold
H 32.75 in W 27.5 in D 26.5 in
Pipsan Saarinen Swanson Sol Air Set of 4 Outdoor Chairs 1950s Ficks Reed Co.
By Eva-Lisa (Pipsan) Saarinen Swanson, Ficks Reed
Located in Miami, FL
REDUCED FROM $5,800....Designed in 1950 by Eva-Lisa "Pipsan" Saarinen Swanson and her husband, J
Iron
Mid-Century Modern Knoll Laminate Tulip Dining Table by Eero Saarinen
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
Mid-Century Modern Knoll laminate tulip dining table by Eero Saarinen. Great Indoor or outdoor
Steel
Sold
H 33.75 in W 24.5 in D 58 in
Vintage 1966 Richard Schultz Outdoor Contour Chaise Lounge for Knoll
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in Glendale, CA
Vintage 1966 Richard Schultz Outdoor Contour Chaise Lounge for Knoll. Executed in enameled aluminum
Metal, Enamel
Mid-Century Outdoor Set By Harry Bertoia for Knoll
By Harry Bertoia, Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mid-Century Modern stylish outdoor set includes four Harry Bertoia vinyl cushioned wire chairs and
Metal
Sold
H 29 in Dm 42.25 in
Classic Knoll Saarinen Italian Outdoor Modern Pedestal Patio Dining Table White
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Classic timeless Knoll outdoor modern pedestal base dining table by Knoll- Italian production in
Metal, Aluminum
Pair of Pipsan Saarinen Swanson for Ficks Reed Outdoor Patio Armchairs
By Eva-Lisa (Pipsan) Saarinen Swanson
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful pair of restored Pipsan Saarinen-Swanson outdoor patio arm chairs for Ficks Reed, circa
Sold
H 27.56 in W 17.33 in D 17.33 in
Set of Ten Iron, Rattan Indoor, Outdoor Patio Chairs by Pipsan Saarinen Swanson
By Eva-Lisa (Pipsan) Saarinen Swanson
Located in Antwerp, BE
Vintage set indoor, outdoor dining chairs by designer Pipsan Saarinen Swanson for Ficks
Wrought Iron
Brutalist Torch-Cut Iron Low Table with Circular Glass Top, 1970s
By Paul Evans
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Interesting handmade low table with torch-cut Iron base and a circular glass top, in the manner of Silas Seandel or Paul Evans. Great texture and negative space in the metal of the b...
Iron
$3,300
H 27 in W 31.5 in D 29 in
Classic pair Illum Wikkelsø Ringstol Lounge Chairs Scandinavian Modern Denmark
By Illum Wikkelsø
Located in Buffalo, NY
Stunning matched pair Ringstol Lounge Chair by Illum Wikkelsø, woven wicker seats and backs ..All original and untouched.wonderful original patina ,,finish, color,,, Red ink stamps...
Wicker, Wood
Getsuen, Lilly Chair, Designed by Masanori Umeda, Edra Italy
By Masanori Umeda, Edra
Located in Palm Desert, CA
A reupholstered iconic and whimsical sculptural lounge chair designed by Masanori Umeda for Edra, Italy, circa 1990. Aptly named Getsuen—which means “Moon Flower” in Japanese—this st...
Steel
$3,305 / item
H 14 in W 48 in D 8 in
4-foot Pendant Light in Black Walnut with Brass Fixtures by Hinterland Design
By Hinterland Design
Located in Vancouver, BC
It’s believed that ancient Egyptians may have had the technology to harness electricity and create light thousands of years ago. This technology is referred to as the light of the De...
Brass
Two 1970s Sconces Attributed to Calderi
By Calderi
Located in Bois-Colombes, FR
Two 1970s sconces in polished bronze, attributed to Calderi.
Bronze
1 'of 4' Kaiser Flush Mount Amber Murano Glass Ceiling Light, 1960s
By Kaiser Leuchten
Located in Niederdorfelden, Hessen
Elegant flush mount ceiling light executed in Murano glass with brass finals on a wooden frame. Manufactured by Kaiser Lighting, Germany in the 1960s. Materials: Murano glass, brass...
Brass
$2,500
H 14.5 in Dm 14.5 in
Exquisite Art Glass Bird Bath on Slate Base by Walter Furlan for Murano Glass
By Murano 5
Located in San Diego, CA
Exquisite art glass bird bath on slate base with six removable art glass birds by Walter Furlan for Murano Glass, circa 1960s. This large piece is very difficult to find with six bi...
Slate
$4,275 / item
H 23.63 in Dm 15.36 in
Josef Hoffmann Wiener Werkstätte Jugendstil Silk & Brass Table Lamp, Re-Edition
By Wiener Werkstätte, Josef Hoffmann, Woka Lamps
Located in Vienna, AT
Desk lamp, originally manufactured at the historical Wiener Werkstätte and archived at the WW-pattern-books with the # S 142 - all in all, just eight lamps were manufactured at the W...
Brass
Rug & Kilim’s French Style Art Deco rug in Gold & Beige Patterns
By Rug & Kilim
Located in Long Island City, NY
This 7x9 ode to French Art Deco rugs is the next addition to Rug & Kilim’s newly inspired Deco Collection. Hand-knotted in wool. On the Design: This piece boasts the Deco sty...
Wool
$4,227
H 29.14 in W 24.81 in D 29.14 in
1970s Space Age Steel and Glass Bar Cart by Claudio Salocchi for Luigi Sormani
By Claudio Salocchi, Luigi Sormani
Located in Aci Castello, IT
1970s Claudio Salocchi for Luigi Sormani Space Age Bar Cart in Brushed Steel and Smoked Glass. A stunning embodiment of Italian Space Age design, this rare bar cart by Claudio Salocc...
Stainless Steel
Pair of Midcentury Solid Walnut Lounge Chairs by Stow Davis
By Stow Davis, Jens Risom
Located in Buffalo, NY
Pair midcentury solid walnut lounge chairs by Stow Davis, handsome architectural profile in the style of Jens Risom. Superior quality and construction, retains original orange wool f...
Fabric, Walnut
Quadrifoglio table lamp by Harvey Guzzini, 1970s
By Harvey Guzzini, Gae Aulenti
Located in amstelveen, NL
Quadrifoglio lamp, Harvey Guzzini, 1970s. A stunning and very rare early edition vintage table Lamp designed by Harvey Guzzini in Italy. This model is called the 'Quadrifoglio' lamp...
Chrome
$2,294
H 30.71 in W 63 in D 74.81 in
Marango Bed Frame by Alberto Smania for Smania Studio Interni, 1967
By Smania
Located in Conversano, IT
Beautiful and luxurious bed belonging to the "Marango" series designed by Alberto Smania and produced by the homonymous company Smania Studio Interni in 1967. An object of extraordi...
Brass
John Risley Iron and Cane Lounge Chair
By John Risley
Located in Minneapolis, MN
A California modern design by John Risley known as the Duyan lounge. Hand woven and braided caned sling with an iron frame. An architecturally pleasing design to the eye. Profession...
Iron
Amuneal’s Modern Easels (Small)
By Amuneal
Located in New York, NY
Amuneal’s modern easels offer a sculptural display system for your favorite artwork and photos. Our blackened steel and aluminum supports clamp your images between two sheets of 3/8”...
Aluminum, Steel
Large French Country Console Table
Located in Westwood, NJ
A Large French Country console table. This beautiful table has a natural top with a lightly distressed painted finish in soft sage green. The front apron of this piece has a beautifu...
Wood
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.
You know the designs, now get the stories about how they came to be.
The enduring appeal of the Barcelona chair is in the details.
The brand that turned Charles and Ray Eames, Isamu Noguchi and George Nelson into mid-century household names is just as relevant today as it was six decades ago.
Our feed is filled with the world's most beautiful spaces. See the rooms our followers have deemed the best of the best this month.
Our feed is filled with the world's most beautiful spaces. See the 10 our followers have deemed the best of the best this month.
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.