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Sergio Mazza Gamma

Sergio Mazza "Gamma" Sconces for Artemide, a Pair Italy circa 1960s
Sergio Mazza "Gamma" Sconces for Artemide, a Pair Italy circa 1960s

Sergio Mazza "Gamma" Sconces for Artemide, a Pair Italy circa 1960s

By Artemide, Sergio Mazza

Located in Long Island City, NY

Sergio Mazza "Gamma" sconces, a pair. Made in Italy in 1960s.

Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Nickel, Brass

Sergio Mazza "Gamma" Sconces for Artemide, a set of 2, Italy circa 1960s
Sergio Mazza "Gamma" Sconces for Artemide, a set of 2, Italy circa 1960s

Sergio Mazza "Gamma" Sconces for Artemide, a set of 2, Italy circa 1960s

By Artemide, Sergio Mazza

Located in Long Island City, NY

Sergio Mazza "Gamma" sconces, a set of 2. Made in Italy in 1960s.

Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Brass, Nickel

Sergio Mazza Gamma Wall Lamps for Artemide, Italy 1960s
Sergio Mazza Gamma Wall Lamps for Artemide, Italy 1960s

Sergio Mazza Gamma Wall Lamps for Artemide, Italy 1960s

By Artemide, Sergio Mazza

Located in Milan, IT

Sergio Mazza Set of Three Gamma Wall Lamps for Artemide, Italy 1960s

Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Metal

Sergio Mazza Gamma Sconces Wall Lights Artemide 6 Pieces, Midcentury
Sergio Mazza Gamma Sconces Wall Lights Artemide 6 Pieces, Midcentury

Sergio Mazza Gamma Sconces Wall Lights Artemide 6 Pieces, Midcentury

By Sergio Mazza, Artemide

Located in Vienna, AT

Set of six (6) Sergio Mazza wall lamps, Artemide, circa 1960. Priced and sold per piece. Six large Sergio Mazza wall lights made from brass, nickel and glass. We have a longer versi...

Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Brass, Nickel

Magnificent pair of Gamma Golden lamps designed by Sergio Mazza for Artemide in
Magnificent pair of Gamma Golden lamps designed by Sergio Mazza for Artemide in

Magnificent pair of Gamma Golden lamps designed by Sergio Mazza for Artemide in

By Sergio Mazza, Artemide

Located in Barcelona, ES

Sergio Mazza, the renowned Italian designer, is the creative talent behind the impressive Gamma design.

Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Glass, Art Glass

Magnificent Gamma Lamp Model Designed by Sergio Mazza for Artemide in the 1960s
Magnificent Gamma Lamp Model Designed by Sergio Mazza for Artemide in the 1960s

Magnificent Gamma Lamp Model Designed by Sergio Mazza for Artemide in the 1960s

By Artemide, Sergio Mazza

Located in Barcelona, ES

Sergio Mazza, the renowned Italian designer, is the creative talent behind the impressive Gamma design.

Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Glass, Art Glass

Gamma wall sconce designed by Sergio Mazza for Artemide, 1960 Italy
Gamma wall sconce designed by Sergio Mazza for Artemide, 1960 Italy

Gamma wall sconce designed by Sergio Mazza for Artemide, 1960 Italy

By Sergio Mazza

Located in Arezzo, Italy

Gamma wall sconce designed by Sergio Mazza for Artemide in the 1960, pressed crystal diffusers , structure in nickel-plated brass, each lamp superimposed 2 light points that emit a ...

Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Brass

Gamma wall sconces designed by Sergio Mazza for Artemide, 1960 Italy
Gamma wall sconces designed by Sergio Mazza for Artemide, 1960 Italy

Gamma wall sconces designed by Sergio Mazza for Artemide, 1960 Italy

By Sergio Mazza

Located in Arezzo, Italy

Set of 2 Gamma wall sconces designed by Sergio Mazza for Artemide in the 1960, pressed crystal diffusers , structure in nickel-plated brass, each lamp superimposed 2 light points th...

Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Brass

Sergio Mazza Artemide Italian 1960s Gamma Pendant Lamp Midcentury
Sergio Mazza Artemide Italian 1960s Gamma Pendant Lamp Midcentury

Sergio Mazza Artemide Italian 1960s Gamma Pendant Lamp Midcentury

By Artemide, Sergio Mazza

Located in New York, NY

A beautiful 1960s Italian pendant lantern in a aged copper finish with two glass shades with the bottom being halothane glass. One Standard A socket 200 watts. Newly rewired.

Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants

Materials

Copper

Gamma Ds 1/2 wall sconce designed by Sergio Mazza for Artemide, 1960 Italy
Gamma Ds 1/2 wall sconce designed by Sergio Mazza for Artemide, 1960 Italy

Gamma Ds 1/2 wall sconce designed by Sergio Mazza for Artemide, 1960 Italy

By Sergio Mazza

Located in Arezzo, Italy

Gamma Ds 1/2 wall sconce designed by Sergio Mazza for Artemide in the 1960, pressed crystal diffusers , structure in nickel-plated brass, double-joint steerable lamps.

Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Brass

Gamma Ds 1/2 wall sconces designed by Sergio Mazza for Artemide, 1960 Italy
Gamma Ds 1/2 wall sconces designed by Sergio Mazza for Artemide, 1960 Italy

Gamma Ds 1/2 wall sconces designed by Sergio Mazza for Artemide, 1960 Italy

By Sergio Mazza

Located in Arezzo, Italy

Gamma Ds 1/2 wall sconces designed by Sergio Mazza for Artemide in the 1960, pressed crystal diffusers , structure in nickel-plated brass, double-joint steerable lamps.

Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Brass

Sergio Mazza Monumental Gamma Sconces Wall Lights Artemide 8 Pieces, Midcentury
Sergio Mazza Monumental Gamma Sconces Wall Lights Artemide 8 Pieces, Midcentury

Sergio Mazza Monumental Gamma Sconces Wall Lights Artemide 8 Pieces, Midcentury

By Sergio Mazza, Artemide

Located in Vienna, AT

Set of eight (8) monumental Sergio Mazza wall lamps attr. Artemide, circa 1960 Priced and sold per piece. Dimensions are 51.2" x 14.56" x 19.5" Very rare set of eight large Sergio ...

Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Brass, Nickel

Pair of Large Version “Gamma” Wall Sconces by Sergio Mazza for Artemide, 1960s
Pair of Large Version “Gamma” Wall Sconces by Sergio Mazza for Artemide, 1960s

Pair of Large Version “Gamma” Wall Sconces by Sergio Mazza for Artemide, 1960s

By Artemide, Sergio Mazza

Located in Brescia, Brescia

An exceptional pair of wall sconces from the iconic "Gamma" series, designed by Sergio Mazza for Artemide in the 1960s.

Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Brass, Nickel

Recent Sales

Pair of Sergio Mazza 'Gamma' Brass Sconces
Pair of Sergio Mazza 'Gamma' Brass Sconces

Pair of Sergio Mazza 'Gamma' Brass Sconces

Unavailable

H 7.5 in W 5 in D 10.75 in

Pair of Sergio Mazza 'Gamma' Brass Sconces

By Sergio Mazza

Located in Houston, TX

Pair of Gamma sconces designed by Sergio Mazza for Artemide.

Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Glass

Sergio Mazza Gamma Brass Wall Lamp, 1960s
Sergio Mazza Gamma Brass Wall Lamp, 1960s

Sergio Mazza Gamma Brass Wall Lamp, 1960s

Unavailable

H 11.82 in W 5.12 in D 7.88 in

Sergio Mazza Gamma Brass Wall Lamp, 1960s

By Sergio Mazza, Artimide

Located in Basel, CH

Single wall lamp by Sergio Mazza for Artemide in the 1960s. Illuminates from both sides and can be mounted vertically or horizontally. The inside is fitted with pressed glass. Newly ...

Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Brass

Pair of "Gamma" wall lamps by Sergio Mazza for Artemide, Italy 1960
Pair of "Gamma" wall lamps by Sergio Mazza for Artemide, Italy 1960

Pair of "Gamma" wall lamps by Sergio Mazza for Artemide, Italy 1960

By Artemide, Sergio Mazza

Located in Milano, IT

Splendida coppia di appliques "Gamma" disegnate da Sergio Mazza per Artemide nel 1960 circa.

Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Steel, Nickel

1960s Sergio Mazza 'Gamma' Sconces for Artemide
1960s Sergio Mazza 'Gamma' Sconces for Artemide

1960s Sergio Mazza 'Gamma' Sconces for Artemide

By Sergio Mazza, Artemide

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Large Sergio Mazza 'Gamma' sconces for Artemide, Italy, circa 1960s.

Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Brass, Nickel

Large Sergio Mazza 'Gamma' Wall or Ceiling Lights for Artemide, circa 1960s
Large Sergio Mazza 'Gamma' Wall or Ceiling Lights for Artemide, circa 1960s

Large Sergio Mazza 'Gamma' Wall or Ceiling Lights for Artemide, circa 1960s

By Sergio Mazza, Artemide

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Large Sergio Mazza 'Gamma' sconces for Artemide, Italy, circa 1960s.

Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Brass, Nickel

Pair of Sergio Mazza "Gamma" Sconces Nickel-Plated Brass for Artemide, 1970s IT
Pair of Sergio Mazza "Gamma" Sconces Nickel-Plated Brass for Artemide, 1970s IT

Pair of Sergio Mazza "Gamma" Sconces Nickel-Plated Brass for Artemide, 1970s IT

By Sergio Mazza, Artemide

Located in IT

This striking pair of Sergio Mazza "Gamma" sconces, crafted in the 1970s for Artemide, exemplifies mid-century modern Italian lighting.

Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Brass, Nickel

Sergio Mazza "Gamma" Wall Lights, 1960s
Sergio Mazza "Gamma" Wall Lights, 1960s

Sergio Mazza "Gamma" Wall Lights, 1960s

Sold

H 10 in W 7.5 in D 15 in

Sergio Mazza "Gamma" Wall Lights, 1960s

By Artemide, Sergio Mazza

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Stunning large double sided "Gamma" wall lights, by Sergio Mazza for Artemide, Italy, in nickel-plated brass and pressed glass, can be mounted horizontally or vertically.

Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Nickel, Brass

Pair of Sergio Mazza Gamma Sconces
Pair of Sergio Mazza Gamma Sconces

Pair of Sergio Mazza Gamma Sconces

Sold

H 4.73 in W 7.88 in D 10.63 in

Pair of Sergio Mazza Gamma Sconces

By Sergio Mazza, Artemide

Located in Saint-Ouen, IDF

Pair of wall sconces in brass and glass lenses designed by Sergio Mazza for Artemide in the 1960s, called the Gamma.

Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Brass

Set of Four Sergio Mazza Gamma Sconces
Set of Four Sergio Mazza Gamma Sconces

Set of Four Sergio Mazza Gamma Sconces

Sold

H 4.73 in W 7.88 in D 10.63 in

Set of Four Sergio Mazza Gamma Sconces

By Sergio Mazza, Artemide

Located in Saint-Ouen, IDF

Set of four wall sconces in brass and glass lenses designed by Sergio Mazza for Artemide in the 1960s, called the Gamma.

Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Brass

Sergio Mazza Gamma 1960 Artemide Italian Ceiling Wall Lamp
Sergio Mazza Gamma 1960 Artemide Italian Ceiling Wall Lamp

Sergio Mazza Gamma 1960 Artemide Italian Ceiling Wall Lamp

By Artemide, Sergio Mazza

Located in New York, NY

An original Gamma ceiling or wall lamp in dark aged brass by Sergio Mazza for Artemide. 1960.

Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants

Materials

Brass

sergio mazza "Gamma" italian sconces large chrome model 60's - H586
sergio mazza "Gamma" italian sconces large chrome model 60's - H586

sergio mazza "Gamma" italian sconces large chrome model 60's - H586

By Sergio Mazza

Located in Ternay, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

Large pair of 60's wall sconces by Italian designer Sergio Mazza for Artemide, "Gamma" model. Chrome-plated metal structure and white frosted glass globes.

Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Metal, Chrome

4 Sergio Mazza Sconces II
4 Sergio Mazza Sconces II

4 Sergio Mazza Sconces II

Sold

H 11 in W 8 in

4 Sergio Mazza Sconces II

By Sergio Mazza

Located in Los Angeles, CA

4 Exquisite 1960s Sergio Mazza ‘Gamma’ wall lights. Satin nickel finish with holophane glass.

Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Nickel

Pair of Gamma Appliques, Sergio Mazza, Artemide, 1970
Pair of Gamma Appliques, Sergio Mazza, Artemide, 1970

Pair of Gamma Appliques, Sergio Mazza, Artemide, 1970

By Sergio Mazza

Located in Milano, Lombardia

Lampade da parete “Gamma”, disegnate da Sergio Mazza nel 1960, struttura in metallo cromato con paralumi in vetro inciso e smerigliato, base circolare da cui si erge un braccio cilin...

Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Metal

wall sconces mod. "Gamma" Sergio Mazza, Artemide, 1970 Circa
wall sconces mod. "Gamma" Sergio Mazza, Artemide, 1970 Circa

wall sconces mod. "Gamma" Sergio Mazza, Artemide, 1970 Circa

By Sergio Mazza

Located in Milano, Lombardia

Eight "Gamma" wall lamps, designed in 1960, chrome-plated metal frame with etched and frosted glass shades, circular base from which rises a cylindrical arm supporting a large circul...

Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Metal

'Gamma' Mid-Century Wall Light by Sergio Mazza for Artemide
'Gamma' Mid-Century Wall Light by Sergio Mazza for Artemide

'Gamma' Mid-Century Wall Light by Sergio Mazza for Artemide

By Sergio Mazza

Located in London, GB

Italian wall light by design legend Sergio Mazza for Artemide. Italy, c1960s.

Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Nickel

Gamma wall sconces designed by Sergio Mazza for Artemide, 1960 Italy
Gamma wall sconces designed by Sergio Mazza for Artemide, 1960 Italy

Gamma wall sconces designed by Sergio Mazza for Artemide, 1960 Italy

By Sergio Mazza

Located in Arezzo, Italy

Set of 3 Gamma wall sconces designed by Sergio Mazza for Artemide in the 1960, pressed crystal diffusers , structure in nickel-plated brass, each lamp superimposed 2 light points th...

Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Brass

Gamma wall sconces designed by Sergio Mazza for Artemide, 1960 Italy
Gamma wall sconces designed by Sergio Mazza for Artemide, 1960 Italy

Gamma wall sconces designed by Sergio Mazza for Artemide, 1960 Italy

By Sergio Mazza

Located in Arezzo, Italy

Set of 3 Gamma wall sconces designed by Sergio Mazza for Artemide in the 1960, pressed crystal diffusers , structure in nickel-plated brass, each lamp superimposed 2 light points th...

Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Brass

Pair of 'Gamma' Sconces by Sergio Mazza for Artemide
Pair of 'Gamma' Sconces by Sergio Mazza for Artemide

Pair of 'Gamma' Sconces by Sergio Mazza for Artemide

By Sergio Mazza, Artemide

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Pair of “Gamma” Sconces by: Sergio Mazza for Artemide. Designed and manufactured in Italy, 1962.

Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Brass

Gamma wall lamp by Sergio Mazza for Artemide, 1960s
Gamma wall lamp by Sergio Mazza for Artemide, 1960s

Gamma wall lamp by Sergio Mazza for Artemide, 1960s

Sold

H 5.12 in W 7.88 in D 20.87 in

Gamma wall lamp by Sergio Mazza for Artemide, 1960s

By Sergio Mazza, Artemide

Located in Rotterdam, NL

Gamma wall lamp designed by Sergio Mazza for Italian lighting manufacturer Artemide in the 1960s.

Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Metal

Glass and Chromed Steel "Gamma" Sconces by Sergio Mazza, Italy, c. 1960
Glass and Chromed Steel "Gamma" Sconces by Sergio Mazza, Italy, c. 1960

Glass and Chromed Steel "Gamma" Sconces by Sergio Mazza, Italy, c. 1960

By Sergio Mazza

Located in New York City, NY

Two available; priced individually. Steel and glass sconces by Sergio Mazza for Artemide. These sconces contain Mazza's easily recognizable cast glass shades.

Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Steel

Midcentury Italian 'Gamma' Wall Lights by Sergio Mazza for Artemide
Midcentury Italian 'Gamma' Wall Lights by Sergio Mazza for Artemide

Midcentury Italian 'Gamma' Wall Lights by Sergio Mazza for Artemide

By Artemide, Sergio Mazza

Located in London, GB

By the esteemed designer Sergio Mazza for Artemide. circa 1960s. Model: 'Gamma' Two available.

Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Brass

“Gamma” Wall Sconces Trio by Sergio Mazza for Artemide, 1960s
“Gamma” Wall Sconces Trio by Sergio Mazza for Artemide, 1960s

“Gamma” Wall Sconces Trio by Sergio Mazza for Artemide, 1960s

By Artemide, Sergio Mazza

Located in Brescia, Brescia

A sophisticated trio of wall sconces from the iconic “Gamma” series, designed by Sergio Mazza for Artemide in the 1960s.

Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Brass, Nickel

Pair of Wall Sconces ‘Gamma’ by Sergio Mazza for Artemide, 1960s
Pair of Wall Sconces ‘Gamma’ by Sergio Mazza for Artemide, 1960s

Pair of Wall Sconces ‘Gamma’ by Sergio Mazza for Artemide, 1960s

By Artemide, Sergio Mazza

Located in Tokyo, Tokyo

Pair of wall sconces ‘Gamma’ by Sergio Mazza for Artemide, 1960s.

Category

Antique 1660s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Brass

Pair of Wall Sconces ‘Gamma’ by Sergio Mazza for Artemide, 1960s
Pair of Wall Sconces ‘Gamma’ by Sergio Mazza for Artemide, 1960s

Pair of Wall Sconces ‘Gamma’ by Sergio Mazza for Artemide, 1960s

By Artemide, Sergio Mazza

Located in Tokyo, Tokyo

Beautiful pair of wall sconces ‘Gamma’ by Sergio Mazza for Artemide, 1960s.

Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Brass

1960s Sergio Mazza Brass 'Gamma' Wall or Ceiling Lights for Artemide
1960s Sergio Mazza Brass 'Gamma' Wall or Ceiling Lights for Artemide

1960s Sergio Mazza Brass 'Gamma' Wall or Ceiling Lights for Artemide

By Sergio Mazza, Artemide

Located in Los Angeles, CA

1960s Sergio Mazza brass 'Gamma' wall or ceiling lights for Artemide.

Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Brass

1960s Sergio Mazza Brass 'Gamma' Wall or Ceiling Lights for Artemide
1960s Sergio Mazza Brass 'Gamma' Wall or Ceiling Lights for Artemide

1960s Sergio Mazza Brass 'Gamma' Wall or Ceiling Lights for Artemide

By Sergio Mazza, Artemide

Located in Los Angeles, CA

1960s Sergio Mazza brass 'Gamma' wall or ceiling lights for Artemide.

Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Brass

Lampada Gamma di Sergio Mazza per Artemide Anni 60-70
Lampada Gamma di Sergio Mazza per Artemide Anni 60-70

Lampada Gamma di Sergio Mazza per Artemide Anni 60-70

By Artemide, Sergio Mazza

Located in Milano, IT

Lampada a parete in alluminio nichelato e vetro. Buone condizioni.

Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Aluminum

1960s Sergio Mazza Brass 'Gamma' Wall or Ceiling Light for Artemide
1960s Sergio Mazza Brass 'Gamma' Wall or Ceiling Light for Artemide

1960s Sergio Mazza Brass 'Gamma' Wall or Ceiling Light for Artemide

By Sergio Mazza, Artemide

Located in Los Angeles, CA

1960s Sergio Mazza brass 'Gamma' wall or ceiling light for Artemide.

Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Brass

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Sergio Mazza Gamma For Sale on 1stDibs

At 1stDibs, there are many versions of the ideal sergio mazza gamma for your home. Each sergio mazza gamma for sale was constructed with extraordinary care, often using metal, glass and brass. There are many kinds of the sergio mazza gamma you’re looking for, from those produced as long ago as the 18th Century to those made as recently as the 20th Century. A sergio mazza gamma, designed in the Mid-Century Modern style, is generally a popular piece of furniture. A well-made sergio mazza gamma has long been a part of the offerings for many furniture designers and manufacturers, but those produced by Sergio Mazza and Artemide are consistently popular.

How Much is a Sergio Mazza Gamma?

Prices for a sergio mazza gamma can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, they begin at $1,600 and can go as high as $4,161, while the average can fetch as much as $1,850.

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 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.

Finding the Right Sconces-wall-lights for You

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.