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Mid-Century Modern Vases

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 characterised 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 realised 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 moulded plywood, eagerly embraced fibreglass 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 legendary 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.

As the collection of vintage mid-century modern chairs, dressers, coffee tables and other furniture for the lounge, dining room, bedroom and elsewhere on 1stDibs demonstrates, this period saw one of the most delightful and dramatic flowerings of creativity in design history.

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Style: Mid-Century Modern
Laura Andreson Signed Large Glazed Mid-Century Modern Ceramic Pottery Vase, 1940
Located in Studio City, CA
A fantastic, wonderfully drip glazed large vase by renowned American potter Laura Andreson. Gorgeous in design and colour. Signed, dedicated and dated (1940) on the base by Andres...
Category

1940s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Earthenware

Midcentury Porcelain Vase with a Hole by Bogucice, Poland, 1960s
Located in Chorzów, PL
Porcelain green vase, Poland, 1960s Very good condition. Dimensions: height 29 cm / width 7.5 cm / depth 6 cm
Category

1960s Polish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Porcelain

1960s Mid-Century Italian Sky Blue Cased Empoli Glass Pitchers Vases Jars
Located in Haarlem, NL
Very pretty set of eight 1960s Italian Empoli Rossini and Stelvio Opalina Fiorentina cased glass vases, decanters and candy or apothecary jars. In bright sky blue tone colours. A pre...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Opaline Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass

1960s Japanese Ikebana Modernist Vase
Located in San Francisco, CA
1960s abstract modernist footed ikebana vase in rich browns with a curved upward at the ends form. Having six graduating in height cylindrical columns, an unusual form. Markers mark ...
Category

1960s Japanese Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Ceramic

Vase Tamara Aladin "Kleopatra" Riihimäen Lasi Made in Finland 70s
Located in Boden, SE
TAMARA ALADIN, VASE, glass, "Kleopatra", Riihimäen Lasi, 1970-73. Series designed in 1969. The vase is a true masterpiece. Its elegant and timeless design will add a touch of sophi...
Category

1970s Finnish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Glass

Large Georges Jouve Style Black Matte Cylinder Vase, France, c. 1950's
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Rich Matte Black Glaze, minimal perfect black.
Category

1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Ceramic

Seguso Vetri d'Arte Murano Signed Gold Flecks Italian Art Glass Flower Vase
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown clear and gold flecks Italian art glass flower vase. Attributed to the Seguso Vetri d'Arte company. The vase is signed "Seguso Murano" underneath....
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Crystal

Dino Martens Murano 1950s Red White Ribbons Italian Art Glass Fazzoletto Vase
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown red and white ribbons Italian art glass decorative fazzoletto / handkerchief flower vase. Documented to master designer Dino Martens for the Aurel...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass

Set of Raymond Loewy for Thomas Vases, 1970
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Wonderful set of all white "Fischmaul" vases by Raymond Loewy for Thomas, Germany, 1970, two different sizes (H=11 W=5.75" D=4.0" and H=9.25", W=5.0", D=3.5").
Category

1970s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Porcelain

Mathieu Matégot Mid-Century Modern French White Metal Paper Bin , circa 1950
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Metal paper bin designed by Mathieu Matégot, circa 1950. Manufactured in France. In good original condition, with minor wear consistent with age and use, preserving a beautiful pat...
Category

1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Metal

French Vallauris Majolica Shell Shaped Vase in Multi Colour Glazed Ceramic
Located in Barcelona, ES
Giant Mid-century Modern Vallauris Ceramid Shell Shaped Vase. France, 1950s-1960s. Colourful vase with mussel / shell design in glazed ceramic. The exterior part is covered by glazed...
Category

20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Ceramic, Majolica, Pottery

Handmade 1950s Danish Blue Floral Pitcher Vase
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Handmade 1950s ceramic low pitcher vase with large braided handle. Light blue base with cream white and dark blue floral decor and cinnamon brown accents and lines. Stamped under bas...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Ceramic, Pottery

Merletto Glass Vase with Ground Lip, style of Harrachov Czech
Located in Melbourne, AU
This may not be a vase by the Czech company Harrach, hence listed ‘in the style of’. Nevertheless, it has a strong central European 1950s aesthetic. We love to connect the objects ...
Category

1950s Czech Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Art Glass

Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern Sculptural Translucent Glass Vase by Orrefors
Located in New York, NY
This elegant and sophisticated vase was realised by the esteemed midcentury Swedish glass studio, Orrefors, circa 1960. It features an ovoid form- with a concentric form of the same ...
Category

1960s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Blown Glass

Large Georges Jouve Style Period Black Matte Vase, France, c. 1950
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Great form, Matte Black Glaze over White Clay.
Category

1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Ceramic

Shiny Emerald Green Ceramic Bottle Vase, 1950s
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Bright emerald green round and heavy stoneware bottle vase with large curved handle on one side. Stamped under base. Great vintage condition consistent with age and wear. Denmark, 19...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Ceramic, Pottery, Stoneware

A Unique Piece : "Visage" Vase by Robert and Jean Cloutier, circa 1960
Located in VILLEURBANNE, FR
Unique Artwork Visage Crafted by Robert and Jean Cloutier, twin brothers and accomplished French ceramists renowned for their rich and figurative artistic style, this anthropomorph...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Ceramic

1960s Del Campo Italian bronze and iridescent purple enamel spherical vase
Located in Highclere, Newbury
A truly rare and beautiful 1960’s vintage Italian Studio Del Campo Vintage bronze, glass and iridescent purple enamel spherical vase. The four future founders of Studio Del Campo b...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Bronze, Enamel

"Visage" Vase by the Cloutier Brothers, A Unique Artwork
Located in VILLEURBANNE, FR
Unique Artwork Visage Crafted by Robert and Jean Cloutier, twin brothers and accomplished French ceramists renowned for their rich and figurative artistic style, this anthropomorph...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Ceramic

Danish Rustic Stoneware Blue Glaze Vase, 1960s
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Curved rustic ceramic vase with sand coloured cylinder shaped body. The rounded top has shiny dark blue running glaze while the base is left raw and unglazed. Manufactured in Denmark...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Ceramic, Pottery, Stoneware

Mid-Century Orange Fat Lava Vase by Roth Keramik
Located in Waddinxveen, ZH
A Roth Keramik vase, orange outlined with black lava. These vases are very sought after. Original sticker/label present.
Category

1970s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Ceramic

Fratelli Toso Murano Red Aventurine Sweets Cane Italian Art Glass Flower Vase
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Only 1 Left! Beautiful vintage Murano handblown red over white, and aventurine Italian art glass flower vase. Documented to the Fratelli Toso Company. Published in their book (last p...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Glass

Small 1950''s Italian Sommerso Murano Glass Vase Attributed to Flavio Poli
Located in New York, NY
Attributed to mid-century Italian designer Flavio Poli, this 1950''s vase is composed of green in amber sommerso Murano glass blown in a teardrop form with a bulbous bottom gracefull...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Glass, Murano Glass

1960s Astonishing Blue Vase By Mandruzzato, Made in Italy
Located in Milano, IT
1960s Astonishing blue vase by Mandruzzato in Murano glass. Made in Italy. It''s so rare in this colour. This vase is a true piece of modern art. The item is in excellent condition. ...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Murano Glass

Midcentury Bamboo and Rattan Decorative Vase, by Vivai del Sud, Italy 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Gorgeous midcentury bamboo and rattan decorative vase. This beautiful piece was produced by Vivai del Sud in Italy during 1970s. This large amphora vase...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Bamboo, Rattan, Rush

Fasce Orizzontali Vase ''Model Number 4315'', Fulvio Bianconi, Venini Murano
Located in Brussels, BE
Large green blown glass bottle vase decorated with two hot applied red bands. The collar consists of a layer of translucent red glass which is itself different from the glass used ...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Blown Glass

Ludovico Diaz de Santillana, Venini, Murano, 1970 Cup Designed for Philips
Located in Brussels, BE
A rare large cup designed for Philips, circa 1968-1970 by Ludovico Diaz de Santillana. A rectangular cup on a cylindrical high foot. The centre decorated with concentric bands of o...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Art Glass

Vintage Venini Murano Fulvio Bianconi Incalmo Mouth Blown Glass Vase
Located in Brussels, BE
Among the many designs and different techniques he experimented within his collaboration with Venini, Fulvio Bianconi used the "A incalmo" technique which requires great mastery from...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Art Glass, Murano Glass

Vintage Venini Murano Fulvio Bianconi Double Incalmo Blown Glass Vase
Located in Brussels, BE
Among the many designs and different techniques he experimented within his collaboration with Venini, Fulvio Bianconi used the "A incalmo" technique which requires great mastery from...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Art Glass, Murano Glass

"Anatra" Sculpture, Figure of a Male Duck
Located in Brussels, BE
Blown glass sculpture, multi-colour cane rods, carved by wheel. Murrine eyes. This series requires very high skills and were produced in very small quantities. This example designed ...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Art Glass

Antonio Salvador Orodea Stoneware Vessel
Located in New York, NY
Bulbous stoneware vessel with narrow spout by Madrid ceramic artist Antonio Salvador Orodea, principal of the ASO factory. Part of a collection associated with the 1964/65 Wold’s Fai...
Category

1960s Spanish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Stoneware

Pair of Bitossi Vases
Located in Antwerp, BE
These magnificent vases are designed by Bitossi''s artistic director Aldo Londi in 1953. The sinuous shape of these white clay pieces, finished with a vivid turquoise colour, are dec...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Ceramic

Bitossi Rimini by Aldo Londi Blue vase, Italy, 1960s
Located in Antwerp, BE
Mid-Century Modern blue glazed ceramic round vase, Italy, 1950-1960s. Designed by Aldo Londi and manufactured by Bitossi. Handcrafted in Ital...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Ceramic

Galen Carpenter Black Palm Maple Hand Turned Vase
Located in Pasadena, CA
Hand turned black palm and maple vase created by Galen Carpenter, circa 1980s. Vase measures 3.75" by 6.5" and is signed Galen Carpenter on the bottom along with a date. In very go...
Category

1980s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Maple, Palmwood

Seguso Vetri d'Arte Poli Murano Sommerso Yellow Topaz Italian Art Glass Vase
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown Sommerso topaz and yellow Italian art glass flower vase. Documented to designer Flavio Poli for the Seguso Vetri d'Arte company. According to the ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Sommerso

1960s Danish Nils Thorsson Baca Fajance Earthenware Vase for Royal Copenhagen
Located in London, GB
1960s Nils Thorsson (1898-1975) matte brown aluminia earthenware vase manufactured by Royal Copenhagen, Denmark from the Baca Fajance series. The vase has a number of abstract birds,...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Earthenware

Archimede Seguso, Pink 'Alabastro' Murano Vase Italy 1950s
Located in Niederdorfelden, Hessen
Pink ribbed Alabastro art glass vase by the Italian master-blower Archimede Seguso and executed by his glassworks in Murano, Italy. Measures: height 6.9" in. (17,5 cm), diameter 3....
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Murano Glass

Vintage Ceramic Stoneware Vase by David Leaman
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Vintage ceramic vase or planter in matte dark brown and beige glaze. Signed "David Leaman" to underside. Artist: David Leaman Origin: USA Year: 1970s Dimensions: 5.25" tall x 5" ...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Ceramic

Art Glass Vase Red Overlayed Glass, Mid-Century Modern European Design, 1960s
Located in Basel, BS
Beautiful red coloured glass vase with embedded applications in yellow and brown. Overlayed glass, inside opaque white. Base with tear-off. Ca 20 cm. Unknown design and maker. Probab...
Category

Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Art Glass

Midcentury Modern Rare Pair of Vases Gunnar Nylund Rörstrand, Sweden, 1940s
Located in Hillringsberg, SE
These pieces were made in Sweden at Rörstrand factory and designed by Gunnar Nylund in the 1940-1950s. This is the small size vase and the large vase called "Charmotte". The name in...
Category

1940s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Ceramic

Murano Glass Decanter Ascribable to Toso with Teal and White Canes, Italy
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1950s. This decanter is made in Murano glass and features teal and white canes. It has particles of coal that are included in the glass due to its process of manufactu...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Murano Glass

Vintage German Vibrant Blue Glass Tree Bark Vase by Ingrid Glas, circa 1970s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Wonderful Mid-Century Modern German vase by Ingrid Glas, circa 1970. This beautiful bright blue and clear vase brings a touch of fun and fantasy to any room with it''s whimsical text...
Category

1970s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Glass

Tommaso Buzzi for Venini "Incamiciato" Green Murano Glass Vase, Italy, 1985
Located in Naples, IT
"Incamiciato" Italian Art green glass vase by Tomaso Buzzi for Venini. Signed: Venini Italia '85.
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Murano Glass

Mid-Century Handblown Murano Glass Vase in Ombre Tones of Rose and Chambord
Located in New York, NY
This sophisticated Mid-Century vase features six translucent fins protruding from the gently tapered and elongated body. The vase was handblown, circa 1950, in Murano- the legendary ...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Blown Glass, Milk Glass

Salt Glazed Three Handled Studio Pottery Vase
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A very stylish British studio pottery three handled bottle vase decorated in salt glazes signed to the base and dating from the 20th century. The hand thrown vase stands on a narrow ...
Category

20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Ceramic

Large Olive Brown Blue Crystal Glaze Round Vase, 1960s
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Big circular midcentury modern ceramic vase with amazing glaze in olive green, clear blue and warm blackish brown colours. Small stamp on one side. Excellent vintage condition. Denm...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Ceramic, Pottery, Stoneware

Tall Mid Century Modern Glass Vase in Orange Red and Yellow
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A tall mid-century modern glass vase in fiery shades of orange with accents of golden yellow and dark ruby red. The amberina style colour palette and asymmetrical rim of flaring "fin...
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Glass

Op Art Orrefors Vase Signed Numbered 1972 Orange Ribbon
Located in Melbourne, AU
An Orrefors Art Glass crystal vase, signed ‘Orrefors Expo 231-72 Olle Alberius’ (Olle Alberius, 1972). Colour and shape combine to give this vas...
Category

1970s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Art Glass

Val Saint Lambert Sculpted Crystal Vase Green with Sommerso Core, Belgium
Located in Verviers, BE
Heavy Val Saint Lambert crystal vase. The central Green colour (a traditional favourite for VSL) has been given a thick Sommerso (clear layer on the outside) and sculpted with subtle...
Category

1950s Belgian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Crystal

Mid 20th century shaped red art glass vase by Monica Bratt
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Mid 20th century shaped red art glass vase by Monica Bratt circa 1950. Monica Bratt (1913-1961) was a Swedish artist who worked mainly in glassware at the reijmyre glassworks. Stun...
Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Art Glass

Mid-20th Century Modern Deruta-Like Italian Orange Glazed Ceramic Painted Vase
Located in North Miami, FL
Mid-20th century Modern Deruta-like italian orange glazed ceramic painted vase By: Deruta (in the style of) Material: ceramic, pottery, paint Technique: moulded, pressed, painted, g...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Ceramic, Pottery, Paint

Carl Auböck Atom Vase
Located in Washington, DC
Impressive solid brass Atom vase by Carl Auböck. Signed to undersigned.
Category

1950s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Brass

Vintage Royal Blue Opaline Glass Vase by Paolo Venini, "Anni Trenta" series
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, Murano, 1990s. This vase is made in light blue opaline glass inside and a royal blue opaline glass outside. It features a darker glass base and it's been hand-blown i...
Category

1990s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Opaline Glass, Murano Glass

Elsa Fischer-Treyden, Margret Hildebrand Vase, Rosenthal Studio-Line, Signed
Located in New York, NY
Elsa Fischer-Treyden, Margret Hildebrand Vase, Rosenthal Studio-Line, Signed. Small scale organic form vase with textured upper and an incised body over a semi-gloss white glaze. An ...
Category

1960s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Porcelain

Bitossi Raymor Vase, Ceramic, Metallic Platinum, Silver, Chrome, Signed
Located in New York, NY
Bitossi Raymor vase, ceramic, metallic platinum, silver, chrome, signed. Small scale platinum glazed vase with a rounded body, cylindrical neck, and flat shoulders. Signed with a pap...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Ceramic

French Clear Crystal Vase Etched Signed Daum Nancy- France 50s
By Cristal, Nancy, Daum
Located in Tilburg, NL
French Clear Crystal Vase Etched Signed Daum Nancy- France 50s Signed on the base by the prestigious French company Daum. This brand comes from an old factory that Jean Daum (1825 –...
Category

1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Crystal

Vintage Vase Painted Glass, Hight Enamel / Borske Sklo, Czechoslovakia, 1960's.
Located in Praha, CZ
With Aged Patina Re-polished Vintage Condition
Category

1960s Czech Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Art Glass

Mid Century Modern Vase by Bitossi Italy
Located in Waddinxveen, ZH
A Mid-Century Modern Bistossi ceramic vase with a stylized crossword design of squiggly lines with block squares in red, yellow, grey blue and black on a white glazed soft textured b...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Ceramic

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