Stanley Walnut

Stanley Hutch

Stanley Rosewood

Stanley Midcentury Modern Bedroom Furniture

Stanley Young For Glenn Of California

Paul Browning For Stanley Furniture

Stanley Mid Century Modern Furniture

Stanley Mid Century Wall Unit

Stanley Distinctive

STANLEY WALNUT & Iron Hutch / DIVIDER / WALL UNIT. Spade HAND Pulls

$4,600

STANLEY WALNUT & Iron Hutch / DIVIDER / WALL UNIT. Spade HAND Pulls

By Distinctive Furniture By Stanley

Located in Buffalo, NY

Stanley Distinctive Furniture circa 1960s. Made of walnut with ebonized details throughout, spade pulls

Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Credenzas

Materials

Brass, Iron

Pair Walnut and Rosewood 3 Drawer Chests by Stanley

$3,375 / set

Pair Walnut and Rosewood 3 Drawer Chests by Stanley

By Stanley Furniture, Kipp Stewart & Stewart MacDougall

Located in Fraser, MI

Pair Mid Century Modern 3 Drawer Chests by Stanley. Walnut surrounds with rosewood trim at hidden

Category

Vintage 1960s Dressers

Materials

Rosewood, Walnut

Pair of Vintage Walnut Nightstands by Stanley

$2,000 / set

Pair of Vintage Walnut Nightstands by Stanley

By Stanley

Located in Brooklyn, NY

This elegant pair of walnut nightstands by Stanley combines an understated design with quality

Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Night Stands

Materials

Walnut

Vintage Walnut Credenza By Stanley Furniture

$1,250

Vintage Walnut Credenza By Stanley Furniture

By Stanley Furniture

Located in Brooklyn, NY

This vintage walnut credenza by Stanley Furniture is a beautiful example of timeless mid-century

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Credenzas

Materials

Walnut

Mid-Century Walnut Dresser by Stanley Furniture

$2,000

Mid-Century Walnut Dresser by Stanley Furniture

By Stanley Furniture

Located in Brooklyn, NY

A beautifully crafted mid-century walnut dresser by Stanley Furniture, featuring clean lines and a

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dressers

Materials

Walnut

Pair of Stanley Model 404-85 Mid-Century Walnut Dinning Chairs

$700 / set

Pair of Stanley Model 404-85 Mid-Century Walnut Dinning Chairs

By Stanley

Located in Brooklyn, NY

A stylish pair of 404-85 MCM dining chairs by Stanley. Crafted in warm walnut with comfortable

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Walnut

Mid Century Walnut Writing Desk in Walnut by Stanley #1

$1,800

Mid Century Walnut Writing Desk in Walnut by Stanley #1

By Stanley Furniture

Located in Berkeley, CA

Origin: USA Designer: Unknown Manufacturer: Stanley Furniture Era: 1960s Materials: Walnut

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Laminate, Walnut

Mid Century Modern Walnut Wall Unit by Stanley

$2,150 / item

Mid Century Modern Walnut Wall Unit by Stanley

By Stanley Furniture

Located in Brooklyn, NY

A modular wall unit by Stanley featuring walnut veneer cabinets and drawer fronts supported by

Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Shelves

Materials

Aluminum

Wonderful 3 Bay Freestanding Walnut Wall Unit Stanley Mid-Century Modern

$4,400Sale Price / set|20% Off

Wonderful 3 Bay Freestanding Walnut Wall Unit Stanley Mid-Century Modern

By Stanley

Located in Pemberton, NJ

Wonderful 3-bay freestanding walnut wall unit by Stanley. This set is rare in its original form

Category

Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Bookcases

Materials

Aluminum

Newly Refinished - Mid-Century Modern Walnut & Rosewood Dresser by Stanley

$3,595

Newly Refinished - Mid-Century Modern Walnut & Rosewood Dresser by Stanley

By Stanley Furniture

Located in Los Angeles, CA

by Stanley Furniture showcases a beautifully balanced composition of warm walnut construction

Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Dressers

Materials

Rosewood, Walnut

Pair of Mid Century Modern Walnut Wall Units by Stanley

$3,950 / set

Pair of Mid Century Modern Walnut Wall Units by Stanley

By Stanley Furniture

Located in Brooklyn, NY

A fantastic pair of modular wall units by Stanley featuring walnut veneer cabinets and drawer

Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Bookcases

Materials

Aluminum

Mid Century Low Nine Drawer in Walnut by Stanley #1

$3,180

Mid Century Low Nine Drawer in Walnut by Stanley #1

By Stanley Furniture

Located in Berkeley, CA

Origin: USA Designer: Unknown Manufacturer: Stanley Furniture Era: 1960s Materials: Walnut

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Laminate, Walnut

Late 20th Century Stanley Furniture Two-Drawer Walnut Lateral Filing Cabinet

$1,495

Late 20th Century Stanley Furniture Two-Drawer Walnut Lateral Filing Cabinet

By Stanley Furniture

Located in Germantown, MD

Refinished, Late 20th Century Walnut Stanley Furniture Two-Drawer Lateral Filing Cabinet Measure

Category

Late 20th Century American American Classical Cabinets

Materials

Walnut

Mid Century Low Six Drawer in Walnut by Stanley

$3,180

Mid Century Low Six Drawer in Walnut by Stanley

By Stanley Furniture

Located in Berkeley, CA

Origin: USA Designer: Unknown Manufacturer: Stanley Furniture Era: 1960s Materials: Walnut

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Laminate, Walnut

Mid Century Coffee Table with Drawer Stanley Furniture

$1,108Sale Price|20% Off

Mid Century Coffee Table with Drawer Stanley Furniture

By Stanley

Located in Baltimore, MD

A beautiful, mid-century, modern, 1960’s, Danish style, coffee table/ bench, by Stanley Furniture

Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Walnut

Pair of Single Drawer Nightstands in Walnut by Stanley #1

$1,980 / set

Pair of Single Drawer Nightstands in Walnut by Stanley #1

By Stanley Furniture

Located in Berkeley, CA

Origin: USA Designer: Unknown Manufacturer: Stanley Furniture Era: 1960s Materials: Walnut

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Laminate, Walnut

True Mid-Century Classic Inlaid Rosewood Walnut Credenza Cabinet by Stanley USA

$4,850 / set

True Mid-Century Classic Inlaid Rosewood Walnut Credenza Cabinet by Stanley USA

By Stanley Furniture

Located in Philadelphia, PA

This is a superb Mid-Century Modern credenza or sideboard by Stanley. It is mostly walnut with

Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Credenzas

Materials

Aluminum, Iron

Mid-Century Walnut Side or End Table w/ Drawers, Nightstand by Stanley Furniture

$1,480Sale Price|20% Off

Mid-Century Walnut Side or End Table w/ Drawers, Nightstand by Stanley Furniture

By Stanley Furniture

Located in Madison, WI

Beautiful high quality designer walnut end table / side table / Accent piece by Stanley Furniture

Category

Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Side Tables

Materials

Walnut

Mid-Century Sideboard with Topper, Mfg. by Stanley Furniture

$2,500 / set

Mid-Century Sideboard with Topper, Mfg. by Stanley Furniture

By Stanley

Located in Brooklyn, NY

Distinctive sideboard manufactured by Stanley, featuring a sleek mid-century profile with an

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Sideboards

Materials

Walnut

Mid-Century Walnut and Rosewood Credenza by Stanley Furniture

$3,550

Mid-Century Walnut and Rosewood Credenza by Stanley Furniture

By H. Paul Browning 1, Stanley Furniture

Located in Philadelphia, PA

Mid-century Walnut and Rosewood credenza by Stanley Furniture, from the Linear Precision Group

Category

Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Credenzas

Materials

Aluminum

Midcentury Credenza with Topper by Stanley

$3,200

Midcentury Credenza with Topper by Stanley

By Stanley Furniture

Located in Brooklyn, NY

This impressive midcentury piece features a sturady finished walnut construction including a

Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Credenzas

Materials

Walnut

Mid-Century Sideboard Credenza Dresser by Stanley

$1,695

Mid-Century Sideboard Credenza Dresser by Stanley

By Stanley Furniture

Located in Baltimore, MD

Stylish 1960s era sideboard/ credenza, dresser by Stanley Furniture. A Minimalist Danish Modern

Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Dressers

Materials

Walnut

Vintage Walnut Desk by Stanley Young for Glenn of California

$3,250

Vintage Walnut Desk by Stanley Young for Glenn of California

By Stanley Young, Glenn of California

Located in North Hollywood, CA

Introducing a stunning mid-century modern walnut desk, expertly designed by Stanley Young for Glenn

Category

Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

Expertly Restored - Stanley Young Walnut Writing Desk for Glenn of California

$3,250

Expertly Restored - Stanley Young Walnut Writing Desk for Glenn of California

By Glenn of California, Stanley Young

Located in Los Angeles, CA

________________________________________ Transforming a piece of Mid-Century Modern furniture is like bringing history back to life, and we take this journey with passion and precis...

Category

Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Desks

Materials

Steel

1960's Mid-Century Modern Stanley China Display Cabinet Vitrine

$1,119Sale Price|20% Off

1960's Mid-Century Modern Stanley China Display Cabinet Vitrine

By Stanley Furniture

Located in Burbank, CA

very high-quality designer piece. It's made of walnut, and has three smoked glass panels on the front

Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Cabinets

Materials

Glass, Walnut

Stanley Furniture "Theme II" Line, Midcentury Sculptural King Size Headboard

$3,500

Stanley Furniture "Theme II" Line, Midcentury Sculptural King Size Headboard

By Stanley Furniture

Located in St. Louis, MO

composite, framed by walnut. Headboard will be touched up prior to shipping. Can be lacquered for additional

Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Composition

Pair of 1960s Mid-Century Modern Side Tables/Nightstands by Stanley Furniture

$1,680 / set

Pair of 1960s Mid-Century Modern Side Tables/Nightstands by Stanley Furniture

By Stanley Furniture

Located in Miami, FL

A pair of Vintage Mid-Century Modern Side Tables or Nightstands by Stanley Furniture. Dated 1965

Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Side Tables

Materials

Brass

Pair of Stanley Young for Glenn of California Mid-Century Walnut 4-Drawer Bach

$12,800 / set

Pair of Stanley Young for Glenn of California Mid-Century Walnut 4-Drawer Bach

By Stanley Young, Glenn of California

Located in Queens, NY

Pair of American Mid-Century walnut bachelor's chests with four drawers in descending size with

Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood, Walnut

Distinctive Furniture by Stanley vintage 9 drawer Lowboy

$1,125Sale Price|75% Off

Distinctive Furniture by Stanley vintage 9 drawer Lowboy

By Distinctive Furniture By Stanley

Located in Waxahachie, TX

Furniture by Stanley. Iconic mid century styling. Walnut and brass. Exotic, purposeful matched veneer that

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dressers

Materials

Brass

Expertly Restored - Glenn of California Night Stand by Stanley Young

$1,295

Expertly Restored - Glenn of California Night Stand by Stanley Young

By Stanley Young, Glenn of California

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Transforming a piece of Mid-Century Modern furniture is like bringing history back to life, and we take this journey with passion and precision. With over 17 years of artisanal exper...

Category

Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Night Stands

Materials

Steel

Expertly Restored-Californian Modernist Dresser by Stanley Young for Glenn of CA

$4,500

Expertly Restored-Californian Modernist Dresser by Stanley Young for Glenn of CA

By Glenn of California, Stanley Young

Located in Los Angeles, CA

________________________________________ Transforming a piece of Mid-Century Modern furniture is like bringing history back to life, and we take this journey with passion and precis...

Category

Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Dressers

Materials

Wood, Walnut

Mid-Century Walnut Bedframe With Storage Headboard- Twin

$556Sale Price|20% Off

Mid-Century Walnut Bedframe With Storage Headboard- Twin

By Stanley Furniture

Located in Trenton, NJ

This Mid-Century Modern walnut twin-size bed frame embodies the elegance and functionality that

Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Walnut

Set of Four Solid Wood Dining Chairs for Stanley Furniture by Paul Browning

$1,800Sale Price / set|20% Off

Set of Four Solid Wood Dining Chairs for Stanley Furniture by Paul Browning

By Stanley Furniture, H. Paul Browning 1

Located in Madison, WI

Beautiful and very high end set of four Walnut dining chairs, for Stanley Furniture by Paul

Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs

Materials

Upholstery, Walnut

Vintage Mid Century Modern Walnut Wood Mirror by Stanley Furniture

$595

Vintage Mid Century Modern Walnut Wood Mirror by Stanley Furniture

Located in Seattle, WA

This mid-century modern mirror by Stanley exemplifies the era’s signature blend of simplicity

Category

Vintage 1970s Mid-Century Modern Wall Mirrors

Materials

Glass, Walnut

Stanley Young for Glenn of California Mid-Century Modern Chest in Dark Espresso

$2,500

Stanley Young for Glenn of California Mid-Century Modern Chest in Dark Espresso

By Glenn of California, Stanley Young

Located in St. Louis, MO

Mid-Century Modern Stanley young for Glenn of California four drawer chest of drawers on tapered

Category

Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Aluminum

StanleyAmerican Mid-Century Modern Walnut Geometric Carved Front Sideboard

$12,000

StanleyAmerican Mid-Century Modern Walnut Geometric Carved Front Sideboard

By Stanley Furniture

Located in Queens, NY

American Mid-Century walnut credenza / sideboard with three drawers on the left side, and two

Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Sideboards

Materials

Wood, Walnut

Vintage Mid Century Modern Stanley Furniture Walnut Toned Dresser w/ Burl Accent

$1,995

Vintage Mid Century Modern Stanley Furniture Walnut Toned Dresser w/ Burl Accent

Located in Seattle, WA

This dresser features tapered legs and dovetailed drawers.Carved wood handles. Dresser from the same series is available in a separate post. Vintage condition consistent with age as...

Category

Vintage 1970s Mid-Century Modern Dressers

Materials

Walnut

Vintage Mid Century Modern 6 Drawer Dresser by Stanley.

$2,895

Vintage Mid Century Modern 6 Drawer Dresser by Stanley.

Located in Seattle, WA

This Vintage piece has 6 dovetailed drawers, tapered legs and a walnut tone.. Makers mark inside

Category

Vintage 1970s Mid-Century Modern Dressers

Materials

Walnut

Distinctive Walnut Burl Wood Front Credenza, 1950s

$6,800

Distinctive Walnut Burl Wood Front Credenza, 1950s

By George Nakashima

Located in Westport, CT

A petite Mid-Century Modern credenza by Stanley Furniture, featuring walnut burl doors showcasing

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Credenzas

Materials

Walnut

Mid-Century Highboy Dresser Designed by John Cameron for Distinctive Furniture

$1,800

Mid-Century Highboy Dresser Designed by John Cameron for Distinctive Furniture

By Distinctive Furniture By Stanley, John Cameron

Located in Brooklyn, NY

rich walnut, it features clean lines, bold sculptural details, and generous storage. A standout example

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dressers

Materials

Walnut

Stanley young Desk

Unavailable

Stanley young Desk

By Stanley Young

Located in Los Angeles, CA

A Walnut desk,designed by Stanley Young early 1960' the top and cabinet with one large and

Category

Vintage 1960s American Desks

Materials

Metal

Rare Stanley Wall Unit or Room Divider

Unavailable|~~$5,200~~

Rare Stanley Wall Unit or Room Divider

By Stanley Furniture

Located in Palm Beach Gardens, FL

A rare original Stanley wall unit or room divider. In three sections with five modules and four

Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Bookcases

Materials

Rosewood, Walnut

DOUBLE BED Walnut Cotswold Stanley Webb Davies

Unavailable|~~$9,024~~

DOUBLE BED Walnut Cotswold Stanley Webb Davies

Located in London, GB

A walnut Cotswold double bed with chamfered panels to the chamfered frames of the head and foot

Category

Vintage 1930s Great Britain (UK) Arts and Crafts Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Walnut

Red Painted Walnut Slant Lid Standing Desk, Probably Pennsylvania, circa 1840

Unavailable|~~$20,000~~

Red Painted Walnut Slant Lid Standing Desk, Probably Pennsylvania, circa 1840

Located in Providence, RI

walnut. This desk was made to last, as its structure is tennoned and pinned throughout. The legs are

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century American Sheraton Desks

Materials

Walnut

Stanley Walnut Tall Dresser

Sold|~~$950~~

Stanley Walnut Tall Dresser

By Distinctive Furniture By Stanley

Located in Philadelphia, PA

Great scale and size! Stanley walnut 5-drawer dresser. Very original, clean finish! All drawers

Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Dressers

Materials

Walnut

Mid-Century Modern Stanley Walnut Dresser

Sold|~~$1,250~~

Mid-Century Modern Stanley Walnut Dresser

By Stanley Furniture

Located in Clarksboro, NJ

This listing is for a Mid-Century Modern Stanley Walnut Dresser. Featuring a straight line design

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dressers

Materials

Wood, Walnut

Mid-Century Modern Stanley Walnut Sideboard

Sold|~~$1,495~~

Mid-Century Modern Stanley Walnut Sideboard

By Stanley Furniture

Located in Clarksboro, NJ

This listing is for a Mid-Century Modern Stanley Walnut Sideboard. Featuring a straight line design

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Sideboards

Materials

Wood, Walnut

Mid-Century Modern Stanley Walnut Writing Desk

Sold|~~$995~~

Mid-Century Modern Stanley Walnut Writing Desk

By Stanley

Located in Clarksboro, NJ

This listing is for a Mid-Century Modern Stanley Walnut Writing Desk. Featuring a black laminated

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Chrome

Mid-Century Modern Stanley Walnut Hutch

Sold|~~$1,495~~

Mid-Century Modern Stanley Walnut Hutch

By Stanley Furniture

Located in Clarksboro, NJ

This listing is for a Mid-Century Modern Stanley Walnut Hutch. Featuring a straight line one-piece

Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Cabinets

Materials

Chrome

Mid-Century Modern Stanley Walnut Nightstands - Set of 2

Sold|~~$1,495 / set~~

Mid-Century Modern Stanley Walnut Nightstands - Set of 2

By Stanley

Located in Clarksboro, NJ

This listing is for a pair of Mid-Century Modern Stanley Walnut Nightstands. Featuring a straight

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Night Stands

Materials

Chrome

Mid-Century Modern Stanley Walnut Sideboard

Sold|~~$2,495~~

Mid-Century Modern Stanley Walnut Sideboard

Located in Clarksboro, NJ

This listing is for a Mid-Century Modern Stanley Walnut Sideboard. Featuring a straight line design

Category

Mid-20th Century Sideboards

Materials

Wood, Walnut

Mid-Century Modern Stanley Walnut Sideboard

Sold|~~$1,995~~

Mid-Century Modern Stanley Walnut Sideboard

Located in Clarksboro, NJ

This listing is for a Mid-Century Modern Stanley Walnut Sideboard. Featuring a straight line design

Category

Vintage 1960s Sideboards

Materials

Wood, Walnut

Mid-Century Modern Stanley Walnut Sliding Door Display Case

Sold|~~$995~~

Mid-Century Modern Stanley Walnut Sliding Door Display Case

By Stanley Furniture

Located in Clarksboro, NJ

This listing is for a Mid-Century Modern Stanley Walnut Sliding Door Display Case. Featuring a

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Cabinets

Materials

Glass, Wood, Walnut

Stanley Walnut and Rosewood Credenza

Sold|~~$4,500~~

Stanley Walnut and Rosewood Credenza

By Distinctive Furniture By Stanley

Located in Miami, FL

Gorgeous Mid-Century Modern bar cabinet from Stanley's Linear Precision Group, circa mid-1960s. The

Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Credenzas

Materials

Aluminum

Mid-Century Modern Stanley Walnut Sideboard

Sold|~~$1,850~~

Mid-Century Modern Stanley Walnut Sideboard

By Stanley Furniture

Located in Clarksboro, NJ

Elevate your space with this striking Mid-Century Modern walnut sideboard by Stanley Furniture

Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Sideboards

Materials

Wood, Walnut

Mid-Century Modern Stanley Walnut Surfboard Dining Table W 3 Extensions

Sold|~~$995~~

Mid-Century Modern Stanley Walnut Surfboard Dining Table W 3 Extensions

Located in Wilmington, DE

Mid-Century Stanley walnut surfboard dining table Offered is amid-century modern vintage dining

Category

Vintage 1960s North American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables

Materials

Walnut

Stanley Walnut, Rosewood and Iron Bar Cabinet

Sold|~~$1,250~~

Stanley Walnut, Rosewood and Iron Bar Cabinet

By Distinctive Furniture By Stanley

Located in Miami, FL

Striking Mid-Century Modern wall unit cabinet from Stanley's Linear Precision Group dating from the

Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Cabinets

Materials

Aluminum

Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets Under $3,000

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Mid-Century Modern Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

20th Century Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

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Stanley Walnut For Sale on 1stDibs

Find many varieties of an authentic piece of stanley walnut available at 1stDibs. Was constructed with extraordinary care, often using wood, walnut and metal. There are many kinds of the item from our selection of stanley walnut you’re looking for, from those produced as long ago as the 20th Century to those made as recently as the 20th Century. A choice in our collection of stanley walnut is a generally popular piece of furniture, but those created in Mid-Century Modern and Modern styles are sought with frequency. Many designers have produced at least one well-made object in our assortment of stanley walnut over the years, but those crafted by Stanley Young, Glenn of California and Stanley Furniture are often thought to be among the most beautiful.

How Much is a Stanley Walnut?

Prices for a piece of stanley walnut start at $20 and top out at $7,800 with the average selling for $2,450.

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

Emerged during the mid-20th century
Informed by European modernism, Bauhaus, International style, Scandinavian modernism and Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture
A heyday of innovation in postwar America
Experimentation with new ideas, new materials and new forms flourished in Scandinavia, Italy, the former Czechoslovakia and elsewhere in Europe

CHARACTERISTICS OF MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN

Simplicity, organic forms, clean lines
A blend of neutral and bold Pop art colors
Use of natural and man-made materials — alluring woods such as teak, rosewood and oak; steel, fiberglass and molded plywood
Light-filled spaces with colorful upholstery
Glass walls and an emphasis on the outdoors
Promotion of functionality

MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNERS TO KNOW

Charles and Ray Eames
Eero Saarinen
Milo Baughman
Florence Knoll
Harry Bertoia
Isamu Noguchi
George Nelson
Danish modernists Hans Wegner and Arne Jacobsen, whose emphasis on natural materials and craftsmanship influenced American designers and vice versa

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.

The Ultimate Guide to Types of Tables for the Home

Whether you’re just moving in or ready to give your home a makeover, our guide will give you pointers on tables that are fitting for every room, nook and hallway.