606 Shelving system, Dieter Rams for Vitsœ
By Vitsoe, Dieter Rams
Located in Neuss, NW
Modular 606 shelving system by Dieter Rams for Vitsœ from the 1960s. High-quality construction
Aluminum
$8,827 / set
H 43.71 in W 160.64 in D 14.97 in
606 wall unit by Dieter Rams for Vitsoe, 1960s Germany.
By Dieter Rams, Vitsoe
Located in Landgraaf, NL
606 wall unit by Dieter Rams for Vitsoe, 1960s Germany. The 606 is a well-known modular shelving
Aluminum
$12,000 / set
H 25.2 in W 24.81 in D 35.44 in
Rare 5 Seating Elements + Corner Table by Otto Zapf, 1967, Germany, New Fabric!
By Otto Zapf
Located in bergen op zoom, NL
transport, a concept you can see take form with the sofalette series and Ram's later iconic Vitsoe 606
Canvas, Cotton, Fiberglass, Foam, Wood
Unavailable
H 66.93 in W 109.85 in D 23.63 in
Vitsoe 606 Dieter Rams Shelving system minimalist wall unit
By Vitsoe, Dieter Rams
Located in Alsdorf, NW
We are pleased to offer an original Vitsœ 606 Universal Shelving System designed by Dieter Rams – a
Aluminum
Unavailable
H 90.56 in W 27.56 in D 15.75 in
Dieter Rams, 606 Universal Shelving System Black, Vitsoe, 1960
By Dieter Rams, Vitsoe
Located in Grenoble, FR
Storage and shelves Vitsoe system designed by Dieter Rams. The shelves and cabinet are mounted on
Unavailable
H 114.18 in W 133.86 in D 19.69 in
Dieter Rams - 606 Universal Shelving System - Vitsoe, 1960
By Dieter Rams
Located in Grenoble, FR
Large storage, display and workspace Vitsoe system designed by Dieter Rams. The shelves and cabinet
Unavailable
H 66.93 in W 79.93 in D 15.36 in
System 606 wall unit from the 1960s by Dieter Rams for Vitsoe
By Dieter Rams, Vitsoe
Located in Cologne, DE
Wall unit from the 606 series, designed in 1960 by Dieter Rams, manufactured in Germany by Vitsoe
Aluminum
Dieter Rams Vitsoe 606 Shelving Unit
By Dieter Rams
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A rare four section Vitsoe 606 shelving system designed by Dieter Rams, Germany, 1960s. Bone white
Sold
H 94.49 in W 52.37 in D 14.18 in
German 606 Modular Shelving System by Dieter Rams for Vitsoe, 1960s
By Dieter Rams
Located in London, Lambeth
coffeemaker, shaver, stereo, calculator, speakers, or alarm clock. Or an Oral-B toothbrush. Or a Vitsoe 606
Aluminum
606 Shelving system, Dieter Rams for Vitsœ
By Dieter Rams, Vitsoe
Located in Neuss, NW
Modular 606 shelving system by Dieter Rams for Vitsœ from the 1960s. High-quality construction
Aluminum
606 Shelving system, Dieter Rams for Vitsœ
By Dieter Rams, Vitsoe
Located in Neuss, NW
Article Details Modular 606 shelving system by Dieter Rams for Vitsœ from the 1960s. High-quality
Aluminum
606 Shelving system, Dieter Rams for Vitsœ
By Dieter Rams, Vitsoe
Located in Neuss, NW
Modular 606 shelving system by Dieter Rams for Vitsœ from the 1960s. High-quality construction
Aluminum
606 Shelving system, Dieter Rams for Vitsœ
By Dieter Rams
Located in Neuss, NW
Article Details Modular 606 shelving system by Dieter Rams for Vitsœ from the 1960s. High-quality
Aluminum
606 Shelving system, Dieter Rams for Vitsœ
By Dieter Rams
Located in Neuss, NW
Modular 606 shelving system by Dieter Rams for Vitsœ from the 1960s. High-quality construction
Metal
Dieter Rams 606 Universal Shelving System for Vitsoe
By Vitsoe, Dieter Rams
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful 2-section dieter rams industrial shelving unit on aluminum risers with storage cabinets and adjustable shelves. 2 upper drop-down Formica cabinets with keys and 4 adjustabl...
Aluminum
Original Dieter Rams Wandregal 606 Vitsoe weiß Design Bauhaus
By Vitsoe, Dieter Rams
Located in Berlin, DE
Wir bieten ein wunderschönes modulares Wandregalsystem von Vitsoe aus den 1960er Jahren zum Verkauf
Aluminum
Dieter Rams Wandregal 606 Vitsoe Holz schmal Design Bauhaus
By Vitsoe, Dieter Rams
Located in Berlin, DE
Wir beiten ein wunderschönes modulares Wandregalsystem von Vitsoe aus den 1960er Jahren zum Verkauf
Aluminum
Original Dieter Rams Wandregal 606 Vitsoe Holz Design Bauhaus
By Vitsoe, Dieter Rams
Located in Berlin, DE
Wir bieten ein wunderschönes modulares Wandregalsystem von Vitsoe aus den 1960er Jahren zum Verkauf
Aluminum
Dieter Rams 606 Series Floating Credenza for Vitsoe, 1960s Design
By Vitsoe, Dieter Rams
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This rare, iconic "606 Series" unit, designed by the legendary Dieter Rams in his signature
Metal
Dieter Rams 606 Two-Section Shelving Unit for Vitsoe
By Vitsoe, Dieter Rams
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Handsome 2-section dieter rams industrial shelving unit on aluminum risers with storage cabinets and adjustable shelves. 2 lower drop-down formica cabinets with keys and 6 adjustable...
Aluminum
Sold
H 15.75 in W 107.88 in D 14.97 in
midcentury 606 modular wall shelving by Dieter Rams for Vitsoe 1960s
By Vitsoe, Dieter Rams
Located in Antwerpen, Antwerp
The 606 modular system was designed by Dieter Rams for Vitsoe in the early 1960s. Vitsœ was founded
Metal
Sold
H 83.08 in W 151.58 in D 14.97 in
Industrial Design Vitsoe Wall System by Dieter Rams Model 606, 1960s
By Vitsoe, Dieter Rams
Located in The Hague, NL
Industrial design large wall system made by Vitsoe in Germany. Design by Dieter Rams in 1960
Aluminum
Dieter Rams 3 Section 606 Universal Shelving System for Vitsoe
By Vitsoe, Dieter Rams
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rare 3 section Dieter Rams industrial shelving unit on aluminum risers with storage cabinets and adjustable shelves. Two lift-up and two sliding door formica cabinets with 6 adjustab...
Aluminum
Sold
H 15.75 in W 108.27 in D 14.77 in
Dieter Rams Sideboard 606 Universal Shelving System for Vitsœ, Germany, 1965
By Vitsoe, Dieter Rams
Located in Munster, NRW
Dieter Rams sideboard 606 Universal shelving system for Vitsœ, Germany, 1965. Measures
Aluminum
Sold
H 60.63 in W 72.05 in D 15.75 in
Mid-Century Shelf System By Dieter Rams Vitsoe, Model 606, 1960s
By Dieter Rams, Vitsoe
Located in Rosendahl, DE
The modular shelving system "606", designed by Dieter Rams in 1960 and manufactured by Vitsœ. This
Aluminum
Model 606 wall unit in black by Dieter Rams for Vitsoe
By Vitsoe, Dieter Rams
Located in Steenwijk, NL
The 606 universal shelving system was designed by Dieter Rams for Vitsoe in Germany in 1960. Rams
Metal
Sold
H 15.56 in W 107.88 in D 14.77 in
Dieter Rams Sideboard 606 Universal Shelving System for Vitsœ, Germany, 1965
By Dieter Rams, Vitsoe
Located in Munster, NRW
A true design Classic, the 606 Universal shelving system by Dieter Rams. Due to the various
Sold
H 71.5 in W 108.5 in D 15 in
Dieter Rams Designed System 606 Metal Wall Mount Shelving Unit by Vitsoe
By Dieter Rams, Vitsoe
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rare all metal shelving unit from the "606" series, made by Vitsoe and designed by the renowned
Metal
Sold
H 78.75 in W 72.05 in D 15.75 in
Mid-Century Black Shelf System 2 By Dieter Rams Vitsoe, Model 606, 1960s
By Dieter Rams, Vitsoe
Located in Rosendahl, DE
The modular shelving system "606", designed by Dieter Rams in 1960 and manufactured by Vitsœ. This
Aluminum
Sold
H 47.05 in W 143.31 in L 47.05 in
Mid-Century Modern Wall Shelving Unit Model 606 by Dieter Rams for Vitsoe, 1960s
By Vitsoe, Dieter Rams
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Vitsoe. Striking German design from the 1960s. Aluminum with lacquered plywood. In good original
Aluminum
606 Shelving system, Dieter Rams for Vitsœ
By Dieter Rams
Located in Neuss, NW
Modular 606 shelving system by Dieter Rams for Vitsœ from the 1960s. High-quality construction
Aluminum
Sold
H 73.04 in W 89.57 in D 14.97 in
Dieter Rams, Wall Unit Model 606, Aluminum, Walnut Wood, Germany, Design 1960
By Dieter Rams, Vitsoe
Located in Den Haag, NL
. Very nice condition. Designed by Dieter Rams for Vitsoe Germany 1960s model 606.
Walnut
Dieter Rams for Vitsoe 606 Universal Shelving System
By Vitsoe, Dieter Rams
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rare 3 section Dieter Rams industrial shelving unit on aluminum risers with storage cabinets and 8 assorted shelves. Two cabinets with sliding doors, one with a drop-down door, and m...
Metal
Sold
H 16.93 in W 70.87 in D 15.75 in
Very Rare Vitsoe 606 Shelving System Flotating Sideboard by Dieter Rams
By Dieter Rams, Vitsoe
Located in Münster, DE
The Modular Shelving System 606 is an absolute design classic, designed by Dieter Rams in 1960 for
Aluminum
606 Shelving system, Dieter Rams for Vitsœ
By Dieter Rams, Vitsoe
Located in Neuss, NW
Modular 606 shelving system by Dieter Rams for Vitsœ from the 1960s. High-quality construction
Aluminum
606 Shelving system, Dieter Rams for Vitsœ
By Dieter Rams, Vitsoe
Located in Neuss, NW
Modular 606 shelving system by Dieter Rams for Vitsœ from the 1960s.High-quality construction
Aluminum
Dieter Rams 606 Shelving System for Vitsœ
By Dieter Rams, Vitsoe
Located in Neuss, NW
Modular 606 shelving system by Dieter Rams for Vitsœ from the 1960s. High-quality construction
Aluminum
Wall Shelf System By Dieter Rams Vitsoe, Model 606, 1960s
By Vitsoe, Dieter Rams
Located in Rosendahl, DE
The modular shelving system "606", designed by Dieter Rams in 1960 and produced by Vitsœ. This
Aluminum
Dieter Rams Multi-Section System 606 Wall Unit for Vitsoe
By Dieter Rams, Vitsoe
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Mid-Century multi-section wall unit from the "606" series, made by Vitsoe and designed by the
Metal
Dieter Rams Black '606' Wall Mount Shelving Unit for Vitsoe
By Dieter Rams, Vitsoe
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A large, wall-mounted '606' shelving system by visionary German designer Dieter Rams for Vitsoe
Aluminum
Sold
H 15.75 in W 108.27 in D 9.26 in
Dieter Rams Sideboard 606 Universal Shelving System for Vitsœ, Germany, 1965
By Dieter Rams, Vitsoe
Located in Munster, NRW
Dieter Rams sideboard 606 universal shelving system for Vitsœ, Germany, 1965 6 x Boards small
Aluminum
Dieter Rams Wall Mount 606 Shelving Unit for Vitsoe in Black
By Vitsoe, Dieter Rams
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Large black "606" wall mount shelving system by the incomparable and highly influential Dieter Rams
Aluminum
Sold
H 78.75 in W 72.05 in D 15.75 in
Mid-Century Black Shelf System By Dieter Rams Vitsoe, Model 606, 1960s
By Vitsoe, Dieter Rams
Located in Rosendahl, DE
The modular shelving system "606", designed by Dieter Rams in 1960 and manufactured by Vitsœ. This
Aluminum
Sold
H 9.313 in W 35.688 in D 9.313 in
Set of 3 Dieter Rams System 606 Wall Mount Shelves for Vitsoe in Champagne
By Vitsoe, Dieter Rams
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Set of rare colorway 3 Mid-Century shelves with sides from the "606" series, made by Vitsoe and
Metal
Sold
H 103.15 in W 125.99 in D 13.78 in
Mid-Century Modern Free Standing 606 Wall Unit by Dieter Rams for Vitsoe, 1960s
By Vitsoe, Dieter Rams
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Large free standing Mid-Century Modern wall or shelving unit. Design by Dieter Rams for Vitsoe
Aluminum
Dieter Rams ‘606 Series’ Two Section Shelving System
By Vitsoe, Dieter Rams
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This iconic "606 Series" unit, designed by the legendary Dieter Rams in his signature minimalist
Aluminum
Sold
H 91.74 in W 161.23 in D 15.16 in
Dieter Rams for Vitsoe Large Modular Wall Unit in Aluminum and Black Wood
By Vitsoe, Dieter Rams
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Dieter Rams for Vitsoe, wall unit model 606, aluminum, wood, Germany, design 1960 This grand
Aluminum
Sold
H 26.78 in W 24.81 in D 35.44 in
Nine Seating Elements, Otto Zapf, 1967, Germany, Super Rare Original Leather
By Otto Zapf
Located in bergen op zoom, NL
series and Ram's later iconic Vitsoe 606 shelving system. Their partnership did not last long with Rams
Leather, Upholstery
Large Bookcase by Dieter Rams, Germany Vitsœ 606
By Dieter Rams
Located in Frankfurt / Dreieich, DE
A large Bookcase by the German Designer Dieter Rams for Vitsoe, Germany 1960. 22 shelves: 9 x
Aluminum
Black Shelf System 606 by Dieter Rams, Vitsoe 1966
By Dieter Rams
Located in Frankfurt / Dreieich, DE
Black Shelf System 606 by Dieter Rams, Vitsoe 1966. Four Cabinets, 14 x Metal shelves, 5 x Wall
Aluminum, Metal
Sold
H 39.38 in W 39.38 in D 39.38 in
Authentic Vitsoe Shelving System 606 by Dieter Rams in black 1973 Minimalist
By Vitsoe, Dieter Rams
Located in Alsdorf, NW
Classic 606 Universal Shelving System designed by Dieter Rams, available in black and originating
Aluminum
Sold
H 110.24 in W 71.66 in D 12.21 in
Shelves of System, Model 606, Black Dieter Rams for Vitsœ and Zapf, 1966
By Dieter Rams
Located in Grenoble, FR
This wooden 606 shelf system was manufactured in 1966 by Vitsoe following a design by Dieter Rams
Dieter Rams 606 Universal Shelving System '2'
By Vitsoe, Dieter Rams
Located in RHEEZERVEEN, Overijssel
A true design classic, the 606 Universal shelving system by Dieter Rams. Due to the various
Aluminum
Dieter Rams Wall System Shelf 606 Vistoe, Germany, 1960s
By Dieter Rams, Vitsoe
Located in Frankfurt / Dreieich, DE
Dieter Rams shelf system, 606 with 3 boxes and a total of 18 shelves in light grey / white
Aluminum
Sold
H 52.76 in W 107.68 in D 14.18 in
Dieter Rams 606 Universal Shelving System in Walnut Veneer for Vitsoe
By Dieter Rams, Vitsoe
Located in RHEEZERVEEN, Overijssel
A true design classic, the 606 Universal shelving system by Dieter Rams for Vitsoe. Due to the
Wood
Sold
H 70.87 in W 114.18 in D 15.75 in
Rare 1960s Dieter Rams 606 Beechwood & Aluminium Modular Wall Unit for Vitsoe
By Dieter Rams, Niels Vitsoe
Located in Hamminkeln, DE
Beautiful vintage, early production in beechwood. Good vintage condition. One large cabinet circa 90 x 38 x 38cm, three cabinets circa 66 x 38 x 38cm, three shelves circa 90 x 22cm...
Aluminum
Large Shelf System 606 by Dieter Rams, Germany 1960
By Dieter Rams
Located in Frankfurt / Dreieich, DE
Large Wall System 606 by Dieter Rams, Germany 1960. 5 Cabinets, 25 shelves and 6 Wall holder
Aluminum
Hans Weiss Custom Headboard for King Bed
By Hans Weiss
Located in Hanover, MA
BG GALLERIES WINTER SALE ends March 31 Custom L shaped headboard cabinet wall with floating nightstands and bookshelves designed by Hans Weiss in 1960 for the master bedroom of an U...
Brass
Milo Baughman Chesterfield Style Tufted Sofa
By Milo Baughman
Located in Dallas, TX
Milo Baughman Chesterfield style tufted sofa with wood plinth base. In good vintage condition, circa 1980s Dimension: 84" long 32" deep 26" tall seat height 14".
Fabric
$12,500 / set
H 27.56 in W 70.87 in D 40.16 in
Michel Ducaroy “Togo” Living Room Set for Ligne Roset, Leather, 1973, Set of 2
By Michel Ducaroy, Ligne Roset
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Michel Ducaroy “Togo” living room set for Ligne Roset, burgundy leather, 1973, France, set of two. Three-seater sofa + single chair Iconic and timeless, the Togo set by Michel Ducar...
Leather, Foam
$5,850 / set
H 27.5 in W 124.5 in D 63.25 in
1970s De Sede Style Green Tufted Leather Modular Sectional Sofa
By De Sede
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A truly fun and inviting 1970s De Sede style green tufted leather modular sectional sofa. This versatile piece offers exceptional flexibility in arranging a lounge space, composed of...
Leather
$38,400 / set
H 23.63 in W 35.44 in D 35.44 in
Mario Bellini "Camaleonda" Sofa for B&B Italia, Two-tone Velvet, Set of 8
By Mario Bellini, B&B Italia
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Mario Bellini "Camaleonda" modular sofa for B&B Italia, velvet, metal and plastic, Italy, 1970, eight elements. "Camaleonda" is an icon, rediscovered. Our atelier carefully res...
Plastic, Velvet
$6,120
H 28.35 in W 70.08 in D 38.59 in
Le Bambole sofa in velvet By Mario Bellini For B&B Italia, 1970s
By Mario Bellini, B&B Italia
Located in ABCOUDE, UT
Beautiful Le Bambole sofa in coral/pink coloured velvet designed by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia in the 1970s. This beautiful edition is reupholstered in a high quality cotton velve...
Velvet
$22,000
H 100.4 in W 231.5 in D 19.3 in
George Nelson for Herman Miller CSS Modular Wall Unit in Walnut & Aluminum
By Herman Miller, George Nelson
Located in Waalwijk, NL
George Nelson for Herman Miller, modular wall unit model 'CSS', walnut, aluminium, glass, United States, 1959 Herman Miller introduced George Nelson’s Comprehensive Storage System (...
Aluminum
$1,650
H 13.375 in W 39.375 in D 39.375 in
Mid-Century Modern Coffee Table in Psychedelic Orange, Paolo Piva
By Paolo Piva
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Coffee table channels the architectural energy of Paolo Piva's iconic Alanda design through a vibrant psychedelic orange geodesic base. The low square profile features a sculptural m...
Wire
$5,899Sale Price|20% Off
H 40.75 in W 33.86 in D 27.56 in
Alvar Aalto Rare Writing Table from Otaniemi Technical University, 1960s
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Helsinki, Uusimaa
Rare writing table, designed by Alvar Aalto, 1960s. Birch with linoleum table top. Later modified with the reading lamp. The writing table is from the Otaniemi Technical University. ...
Metal
$9,651
H 13 in W 51.19 in D 24.41 in
Roger Capron Signed Ceramic Coffee Table, Moribana decor, circa 1974, France.
By Roger Capron
Located in Brussels, BE
Beautiful Roger Capron Tk1 coffee table, Moribana decor, circa 1974, France. 4 cylindrical oak feet plywood and enameled white and brown ceramic tiles, leaf and herb decor. Signed R...
Sandstone
$4,950
H 69.69 in W 24.22 in D 5.91 in
Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall-Mounted Mirror with Shelf in Teak
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Wall-mounted mirror with shelf, teak, mirrored glass, Italy, 1950s An exemplar of mid-century modern design, this sleek, wall-mounted mirror epitomizes finesse and the inimitable ch...
Mirror, Teak
$3,990 / item
H 15.75 in W 74.81 in D 29.14 in
Mustard Velvet Daybed with V-Shaped Beechwood Base, Model V
By Dusty Deco
Located in Los Angeles, CA
DD V daybed is an exclusive daybed made by hand in Bosnia and Herzegovina by skilled craftsmen with long experience in wood and upholstery. Both frame and the characteristic V-shaped...
Fabric, Beech, Velvet
$34,000 / set
H 25.99 in W 167.72 in D 36.23 in
Mario Bellini "Pianura" Sofa for Cassina, 1971, Set of 5
By Mario Bellini, Cassina
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Mario Bellini "Pianura" modular sofa for Cassina, brown mohair velvet and wood, Italy, 1971, five elements. The “Pianura” living room set is a great expression of the minimalism and...
Velvet, Wood
$4,400
H 27.56 in W 88.59 in D 33.47 in
Yrjö Kukkapuro for Haimi 'Ateljee' Sectional Sofa in Black Leather
By Yrjö Kukkapuro, Haimi
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Yrjö Kukkapuro for Haimi Finland, modular sofa, leather, metal, wood, Finland, 1963 This streamlined sectional sofa is characterized by a simplistic, natural and modernist aesthetic...
Metal
Dieter Rams for Braun Black Wall Mount Stereo System "Wandanlage"
By Dieter Rams
Located in Seattle, WA
The wall-mounted system is one of the most sought-after hi-fi systems from the 1960s. The combination of the amplifier with radio, reel-to-reel machine, matching speakers, and the re...
Metal, Aluminum
$29,935Sale Price|32% Off
H 59.06 in W 70.08 in D 52.37 in
Original Sunball Chair by Gunter Ris and Ferdinand Selldorf for Rosenthal
By Rosenthal, Ris and Selldorf
Located in Little Burstead, Essex
This is a fully restored original version of this 1960's iconic classic astronaut's helmet style space age outdoor swivel chair, As you can imagine, after 60 plus years, the original...
Velvet, Fiberglass
German industrial designer Dieter Rams is revered for the pared-down, intuitive electronics and consumer goods he created for Braun — where he worked from 1955 to 1997, most of that time as chief design officer — and his timeless furniture for Vitsœ, a company with which he continues to collaborate today.
Less well known are Rams’s longstanding focus on sustainability and uneasy relationship with contemporary technology, even as Silicon Valley designers like Apple’s Jonathan Ive follow in his rational footsteps.
During Germany’s postwar rebuilding period, Rams and his team of designers at Braun, inspired by the Bauhaus and the Ulm School of Design, focused on extreme simplicity and usability while conceiving products with a modern, forward-looking appearance.
Among Rams’s most iconic designs is the SK 4 phonograph and radio, created in 1956, which had a compact white metal case topped by a revolutionary-at-the-time transparent Plexiglas lid that revealed simple gray controls inside (it was nicknamed Snow White’s Coffin). But it is the T3 portable radio, from 1958, that gets design aficionados most excited today: A white rectangular box with a perforated square for the speaker and a circular-dial control, it bears an unmistakable resemblance to Apple’s original iPod. (Many people also note that the iPhone’s calculator app looks remarkably similar to the Braun ET 66 calculator, with its circular color-coded buttons.)
In the late 1970s, Rams laid out his widely studied 10 principles for good design: It is innovative, makes a product useful, is aesthetic, makes a product understandable, is unobtrusive, is honest, is long lasting, is thorough down to the last detail, is environmentally friendly and is as little design as possible.
One of Rams’s principles that hasn’t translated to our contemporary era is his emphasis on longevity. “The time of thoughtless design and thoughtless consumption is over,” he said in 1976, stressing the need to conserve natural resources — even as he was busy designing plastic products.
Rams has also expressed reservations about how electronics have evolved in recent decades from tools for improving life to time-sucking obsessions. “Every time he crosses a street and sees people glued to their phones, he just can’t conceive of how we got to this point,” says filmmaker Gary Hustwit, whose feature-length documentary on Rams debuted in 2018. “I think he’s a little bit saddened by all this work they did in the fifties and sixties, which had a very idealistic point of view, being a stepping stone to where we are now, and the current lust for technology.”
If digital devices sometimes seem to be making life more complicated, Rams’s precept remains the same as always: “Back to purity, back to simplicity.”
Find vintage Dieter Rams furniture on 1stDibs.
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.
Of all the vintage storage cabinets and antique case pieces that have become popular in modern interiors over the years, dressers, credenzas and cabinets have long been home staples, perfect for routine storage or protection of personal items.
In the mid-19th century, cabinetmakers would mimic styles originating in the Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI eras for their dressers, bookshelves and other structures, and, later, simpler, streamlined wood designs allowed these “case pieces” or “case goods” — any furnishing that is unupholstered and has some semblance of a storage component — to blend into the background of any interior.
Mid-century modern furniture enthusiasts will cite the tall modular wall units crafted in teak and other sought-after woods of the era by the likes of George Nelson, Poul Cadovius and Finn Juhl. For these highly customizable furnishings, designers of the day delivered an alternative to big, heavy bookcases by considering the use of space — and, in particular, walls — in new and innovative ways. Mid-century modern credenzas, which, long and low, evolved from tables that were built as early as the 14th century in Italy, typically have no legs or very short legs and have grown in popularity as an alluring storage option over time.
Although the name immediately invokes images of clothing, dressers were initially created in Europe for a much different purpose. This furnishing was initially a flat-surfaced, low-profile side table equipped with a few drawers — a common fixture used to dress and prepare meats in English kitchens throughout the Tudor period. The drawers served as perfect utensil storage. It wasn’t until the design made its way to North America that it became enlarged and equipped with enough space to hold clothing and cosmetics. The very history of case pieces is a testament to their versatility and well-earned place in any room.
In the spirit of positioning your case goods center stage, decluttering can now be design-minded.
A contemporary case piece with open shelving and painted wood details can prove functional as a storage unit as easily as it can a room divider. Alternatively, apothecary cabinets are charming case goods similar in size to early dressers or commodes but with uniquely sized shelving and (often numerous) drawers.
Whether you’re seeking a playful sideboard that features colored glass and metal details, an antique Italian hand-carved storage cabinet or a glass-door vitrine to store and show off your collectibles, there are options for you on 1stDibs.