$660Sale Price|20% Off
H 30.5 in W 17.5 in D 20.5 in
Dining or Desk Chair by Ernest Farmer for George Nelson and Associates
By Ernest Farmer, Herman Miller, George Nelson
Located in Littleton, CO
A rare birch dining or desk chair by Ernest Farmer of George Nelson and Associates for Herman
Upholstery, Birch
1950's George Nelson X-Leg Extension Dining Table Model 5062
By Herman Miller, George Nelson
Located in Hanover, MA
Nelson Foundation website, Irving Harper, John F. Pile, Ernest Farmer, associates at George Nelson's
Iron
George Nelson Walnut Armchairs 1947 Design
By Herman Miller, George Nelson
Located in Miami, FL
..SOLD..Pair of George Nelson armchairs designed in 1947 with Ernest Farmer for Herman Miller
George Nelson 4669 Dining Chairs 'Set of 4'
By Herman Miller, Ernest Farmer, George Nelson
Located in Kalamazoo, MI
Rare set of dining chairs model 4669 designed by George Nelson and Ernest Farmer for the 1948
Cane, Birch
George Nelson Desk for Herman Miller
By Herman Miller, George Nelson
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Bond film Goldfinger), Don Chadwick, Bill Renwick, Suzanne Sekey, John Svezia, Ernest Farmer, Tobias
Steel, Chrome
Sold
H 30.5 in W 18.5 in D 33.75 in
George Nelson Rosewood Thin Edge 4 drawer Dresser by Herman Miller #1
By George Nelson
Located in San Diego, CA
staff included significant designers in their own right such as Irving Harper, George Mulhauser, Ernest
Aluminum
Sold
H 33.25 in W 18.5 in D 67.25 in
George Nelson Rosewood Thin Edge Ten Drawer Dresser for Herman Miller
By Herman Miller, George Nelson
Located in San Diego, CA
and Company. The staff included significant designers in their own right such as Irving Harper, Ernest
Aluminum
Sold
H 31 in W 17.5 in D 19 in
Set of 8 Ernest Farmer Caned Dining Chairs for George Nelson Associates
By Ernest Farmer
Located in Stamford, CT
A striking set of eight chairs caned dining chairs designed for Ernest Farmer for George Nelson
Cane, Walnut
Sold
H 31 in W 17.25 in D 21.25 in
Set of Six Ernest Farmer for George Nelson and Associates Dining Chairs
By Ernest Farmer
Located in Stamford, CT
A set of six Ernest farmer dining chairs designed for George Nelson and Associates. The set were
Maple, Upholstery
Pair of George Nelson Walnut Side Tables by Herman Miller
By Herman Miller, George Nelson
Located in Highland, IN
This 1956 design by Ernest Farmer for the George Neslon office is a great example of their
Walnut
Set of Six George Nelson #4668 Dining Chairs for Herman Miller
By Herman Miller, George Nelson, Ernest Farmer
Located in Asbury Park, NJ
A stunning set of six mahogany dining chairs by Earnest Farmer with George Nelson & Associates for
Sold
H 30.5 in W 18.5 in D 33.75 in
George Nelson Rosewood Thin Edge 4 drawer Dresser by Herman Miller #2
By George Nelson
Located in San Diego, CA
staff included significant designers in their own right such as Irving Harper, George Mulhauser, Ernest
Aluminum
Pair of 19th-century French farmhouse armchairs in beech wood
By Ernest Farmer
Located in LA FERTÉ-SOUS-JOUARRE, FR
Discover rustic elegance with this exceptional pair of 19th-century French farmhouse armchairs crafted from beech wood and originating from the prestigious Burgundy wine region. Thes...
Wood
Sold
H 31 in W 18 in D 19 in
Set of Four Ernest Farmer Midcentury Dining Chairs for George Nelson Associates
By Herman Miller, George Nelson, Ernest Farmer
Located in Framingham, MA
Rare set of four Mid-Century Modern dining chairs by Ernest Farmer for George Nelson Associates and
Cane, Maple
$950 / item
H 25.6 in W 32.67 in D 13.78 in
New Black Wrought Iron Curule Bench with Cushion, Savonarola, Throne
Located in Miami, FL
New black wrought iron curule bench with cushion, Savonarola, Throne. Cushion included.
Iron
Murano Sputnik Spherical Green Glass and Brass Chandelier
Located in Roma, Lazio
A fantastic emerald green sputnik, with a surprising design and for its very low height, which allows it to fit in both high and low ceilings. Very elegant, it will furnish and decor...
Brass
LU Louis Sconce AS
By Lumfardo Luminaires
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Handsome LU Louis sconce AS. An all brass wall sconce in an aged silver finish with patterned perforations by Lumfardo Luminaires. Made contemporary in the US. Multiples available fo...
Brass, Nickel
$1,155Sale Price / item|30% Off
H 16.1 in Dm 11.5 in
'Plissé White Edition' Pleated Textile Table Lamp by Folkform for Örsjö
By Örsjö Industri AB
Located in Glendale, CA
'Plissé White Edition' pleated textile table lamp by Folkform for Örsjö. This unique table lamp was awarded “Lighting of the Year 2022” by Residence Magazine Sweden, who called it “...
Textile
$3,200
H 26.5 in W 34.5 in D 16 in
Early George Nelson Desk / Return, Child's Desk, Modernist, Herman Miller
By Herman Miller, George Nelson
Located in Buffalo, NY
Early George Nelson desk / return, child's desk, Modernist, Herman Miller, Retains original Herman Miller foil label, 4 drawers, pencil dividers, steel frame, minor pitting (lower ri...
Aluminum, Steel
$13,642 / item
H 49.22 in Dm 70.87 in
Brass and Parchment Paper Chandelier by Diego Mardegan for Glustin Luminaires
By Diego Mardegan
Located in Saint-Ouen, IDF
Impressive chandelier made of white enameled brass arms holding six beautiful parchment paper shades, which can be adjusted thanks to the handle of each socket. Signed by the arti...
Brass
Gino Sarfatti Model No. 2065 Ceiling Light for Astep
By Astep, Gino Sarfatti, Flos
Located in Glendale, CA
Gino Sarfatti model no. 2065 ceiling lamp for Astep. Designed in 1950, this is an authorized re-edition by Alessandro Sarfatti, grandson of Gino Sarfatti, who applies his grandfathe...
Aluminum
1968 Executive Desk
By Warren Platner
Located in Hanover, MA
Executive desk formerly belonging to noted architect George M. Notter, (1933–2007) of the Boston firm Anderson Notter Finegold (now known as Finegold Alexander Architects). Current i...
Aluminum, Steel, Chrome
$2,070Sale Price|40% Off
H 29 in W 36 in D 54 in
Midcentury Paul McCobb Planner Group Solid Maple Extension Dining Table
By Planner Group, Paul McCobb
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Beautiful early 1950s Paul McCobb solid maple extention dining table on 4 squared tapered legs. Stunning solid maple tabletop with a slight taper on each end that has a tobacco semi ...
Maple
$3,558
H 33.86 in W 59.06 in D 27.56 in
George Nelson by Herman Miller Laminated Aluminum Design 1950s Rare Desk
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in Brescia, IT
Modernist Desk George Nelson by Hermann Miller 1950 Laminated wood, aluminum base Rare model.
Aluminum
Mid-century coffee table 1950s
Located in Vittoria, IT
1950s rationalist style grade coffee table in excellent perfect condition
Metal
George Nelson Thin Edge Secretary Desk Cabinet for Herman Miller
By George Nelson
Located in Lake Worth, FL
1950s original Thin Edge secretary desk cabinet designed by George Nelson for Herman Miller. This early version features the rare black enamel stainless large pulls and tapered wood...
Walnut
George Nelson Walnut Executive and Typewriter Desk Set
By Herman Miller, George Nelson
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mid-Century Modern, Executive Office Group desk model 9959 and typewriter return desk model 4751 by George Nelson for Herman Miller features a dark walnut finish with steel legs, alu...
Steel
$2,400
H 30 in W 60 in D 30 in
Rosewood and Chrome Drexel Index Writing Desk Library Table, circa 1970s
By Milo Baughman, Drexel
Located in New York, NY
Stunning midcentury, Hollywood Regency, Post Modern design writing table, desk, made by Drexel as part of their Index series, possibly designed by Milo Baughman, circa 1960/1970s. T...
Chrome
$6,000
H 28.5 in W 72 in D 41.75 in
Charles & Ray Eames for Herman Miller Restored Rosewood Conference Dining Table
By Herman Miller, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This rare table was designed by Charles and Ray Eames in the early 1960s for Herman Miller, the producer of all Eames designs at the time. It was not widely produced at the time, and...
Aluminum, Steel
$2,750
H 30 in W 63 in D 33.375 in
Brutalist Belgian Slatted Oak Dining Table w/ Rounded Legs Attributed to DePuydt
By De Puydt
Located in Los Angeles, CA
DePuydt attributed Brutalist heavy oak dining table with pointed footing. In original condition with visible wear and fading to the table top, consistent with its age and use. Shown ...
Oak
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.