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Mid-Century Modern Furniture

MID-CENTURY MODERN STYLE

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 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 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.

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Style: Mid-Century Modern
Armitage Floor Lamp, Black Walnut, Recycled Shade
Located in London, GB
The Armitage floor lamp was first put together in 1952 by esteemed architect and Joe's grandfather, Edward Armitage. Since then the lamp has been reengineered using sustainably sourc...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Metal, Brass

Classic Leather Office Chair, Chateau Blue
Located in Westwood, NJ
A classic leather office chair in Chateau blue. This stately chair has a smooth leather interior and exterior and is accented with nailhead trim accents. It rests on a 5 prong base. ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Asian Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Metal

Artist Signed Sculpture of an Abstract Nude
Located in Essen, NW
Abstracted sculpture of a reclining woman leaning on her elbows, made of coloured concrete ore pumice, unreadable signed on the underside.  
Category

Early 20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Concrete

Vintage Space Age Cascade Lamp by Lakro Amstelveen, Mid-Century Modern
Located in ROTTERDAM, ZH
Beautiful space age cascade by the dutch company Lakro Amstelveen. The lamp consists of three chrome shades with orange acryllic diamonds, producing a nice light effect. The three la...
Category

1970s Dutch Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Aluminum, Chrome

Mid-Century Modern Lacquered Wood Sideboard - Italy 1960s
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-century lacquered wood sideboard - Italy 1960s
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Wood

'Plissé White Edition' Pleated Textile Table Lamp by Folkform for Örsjö
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 Reside...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Textile

LU Swing Sconce
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful brass LU swing sconce made by Lumfardo Luminaires in patinated brass. Wired with an E26 medium based socket. Light bulb provided as well as a...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Brass

Clarke Desk Maple Black
Located in Cincinnati, US
The Clarke Collection comes in ten different table top sizes, two wood species, and two metal finishes. The exposed stainless steel bolts blur the line between Scandinavian and Indus...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Steel

10 Charles Pollock Executive Desk Chairs for Knoll
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Set of 10 vintage Charles Pollock executive desk chair for Knoll. The ultimate ergonomic, office desk chair designed by this George Nelson apprentice, Charles Pollock. Sold separately.
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Leather

Arne Jacobsen Brass Door Handle Sets in Solid Brass
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Arne Jacobsen - Scandinavian Modern Original, solid brass door handles. Beautiful organic shape. An iconic design for both modern and classic interiors. Designed for the SAS H...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Brass

Long Media Console in Czechoslovakian Design, ca. 1970s
Located in Budapest, HU
Long walnut media console in Czechoslovakian Design. Manufactured arround 1970.
Category

1970s Czech Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Mahogany, Walnut

Armchair ‘Bridge’ Designed by Axel Einar Hjorth for Nk, Sweden, 1930s
Located in Stockholm, SE
Armchair ‘Bridge’ designed by Axel Einar Hjorth for NK, Sweden, 1930s. The model was first exhibited at NK's spring exhibition in 1931 and at Ängby-villan in 1932. Our version, pictured above, was crafted using lacquered...
Category

Early 20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Upholstery, Birch, Lacquer

Sculptural Dark Metallic Glazed Ceramic Vide Poche, France, 1960s
Located in Rotterdam, NL
Sculptural dark metallic glazed ceramic vide poche, France 1960s. Beautiful well crafted thick bowl; nice fat lobed shapes in a wonderful black ...
Category

1960s European Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

Mid-Century Metal and Wood Coffee Table with Magazine Holder, Italy, 1950s
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-century metal and wood coffee table with magazine holder - Italy, 1950s.
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Metal

Georges Vaxelaire, Oil On Canvas "Composition géométrique", 1975, Belgium
Located in Brussels, BE
Georges Vaxelaire, oil on canvas "Composition géométrique", 1975. Signed and dated.
Category

1970s Belgian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Canvas

Georges Vaxelaire, Oil on Canvas "composition géométrique orange", 1973, Belgium
Located in Brussels, BE
G. Vaxelaire, oil on canvas "composition géométrique orange", 1973, Belgium. Signed and dated.
Category

1970s Belgian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Canvas

Mathieu Matégot 'Démon' 4-Shelf System for GUBI in Black Ash
Located in Glendale, CA
Mathieu Matégot 'Démon' 4-Shelf system for GUBI in black ash. The Démon Shelf, or the Biblio-Démon in Matégot’s original 1954 sketches, was part of a “plan d’execution de la bibliothèque," or his ideal model of an interior home library and study...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Danish Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Metal

LUdish FWB Flush Mount
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Part of our Lumfardo Luminaires Contemporary Collection, the LUdish FWB Flush Mount is an elegant flat white hand painted aluminum and brass modern bowl flush mount light...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Aluminum, Brass

Set of Six Rosewood Dining Chairs, Italy 1960s
Located in Rotterdam, NL
Set of six sculptural dining chairs, Italy 1960s. Beautiful design executed in Rosewood, very high quality and early production coming from an important villa in the North of Italy. ...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Rosewood

XL Mid-Century Modern Holophane Paris Street Pendant Lights, France, 1960s
Located in Almelo, NL
This is a large original late 1960s Paris globe Holophane Street light from Paris, France now turned into a pendant light. The hallmark of Holop...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Glass

Mid-Century Ceiling Lamp, Brazil Modern
Located in Barcelona, ES
Ceiling lamp in aluminum, brass and opal glass.
Category

1950s Brazilian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Opal, Aluminum, Brass

Monkey Sculpture by Gunnar Nylund for Rörstrand, Sweden, 1950s, Glazed Stoneware
Located in Stockholm, SE
Stoneware. Signed. H: 15.5 cm / 6'' W: 19 cm / 7 1/2'' D: 13.5 cm / 5 1/4''
Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Stoneware

Solid Pine Large Bistro table
Located in Los Angeles, CA
W40 D40 H30 Knee clearance 27 Handcrafted Solid pine dining table. This was made to order intended for display and bistro use. Item has solid wooden construction and has been clea...
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Wood, Pine

Minimalist Italian Floor Lamp Stilnovo Style 1950 Brass Mid-Century Design Light
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Gorgeous minimalist Italian design floor lamp in style of Stilnovo 1950. Frame made out of patinated brass with unique minimalist design base. Gorgeous diabolo shaped shade in blac...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Metal, Brass

JENNY Large Wall Light or Sconce in Enamel & Brass by Blueprint Lighting
Located in New York, NY
Introducing Jenny, the latest vintage-inspired fixture from Blueprint Lighting. Named for multi-hyphenate Jenny Mollen; NYT best-selling author, actress, design enthusiast, mom of 2 and wife of actor Jason Biggs. From our Chief Luminary, Kelly Aaron: "I have been working closely with Jenny off and on for the past year while she gives her NYC apartment a facelift--it's been so fun! She and I share a love of 1950s French design, which is obviously a hallmark of the Blueprint aesthetic. One day Jenny texted a pic of a single vintage mid-century French wall sconce she loved and asked if Blueprint could make it for her. Funny enough--I, too, had seen that same sconce the day before and already had my Creative Director/Husband figuring out how to fabricate it. How great is that?! It was meant to be!" The Jenny sconce...
Category

2010s American Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Brass, Bronze, Enamel, Nickel

Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamp by Giuseppe Ostuni for Oluce, 1950s
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamp by Giuseppe Ostuni for Oluce, 1950s
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Brass

SERENE Scandinavian Modern White Wood 19" Pendant
Located in Beaverton, OR
The Serene pendant light is a contemporary, Mid-Century Modern light fixture with a Scandinavian design and organic modern composition. This minimalist luxury wood veneer pendant des...
Category

2010s American Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Acrylic, Wood, Bentwood

Murano Glass Ceiling Pendants
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Murano glass ceiling pendants Made for us exclusively in Italy Hand blown glass, custom finished metal Available in brass or patinated bra...
Category

2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Brass

Vintage Needle Point Canvas Pillow Designs by Lou Gartner
Located in Riverdale, NY
Charming vintage needle point canvas designs by Louis J. Gartner Jr. He was well known in the design world as a Sothebys consultant, artist and de...
Category

1970s North American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Canvas

Pair of Carl Auböck Model #3653 Brass Bookends
Located in Glendale, CA
Pair of Carl Auböck model #3653 brass bookends. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural pair of bookends are executed in patinated and polished brass. Produced...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Brass

Mid Century Leather Top Game Table
Located in Westwood, NJ
A Mid-Century Modern leather top square game table. The gilt-tooled leather top is ready for play, with pivoting hinged drawers on the fr...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Leather, Wood

Large RAAK Pendants Model 'B-1011' in Aluminum and Perspex
By RAAK
Located in Waalwijk, NL
RAAK, set of pendants model 'B-1011', in metal and perspex, the Netherlands, 1970s. Large set of pendants in anodized aluminum and perspex. These lanterns have an octagonal shape an...
Category

1970s Dutch Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Aluminum

Midcentury Italian Teak Oval Mirror, 1950
Located in Melbourne, VIC
Midcentury oval wall mirror designed in the 1950s and originates from Italy. The frame is made from teak and it features a visible rope for hanging.
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Furniture

French Cerused Oak Table Lamp
Located in Stockton, NJ
A French cylindrical cerused oak table lamp. Includes coordinating harp and finial. Shade for display only. Lamp measures 32.5" H including h...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Oak

1960s Italian Minimalist Brass Floating Mirror with Round Arched Top Frame
Located in New York, NY
3 available - Handcrafted Italian vintage Art Deco design mirror with an elegant rounded top brass frame enclosing a detached mirror creating a floating effect. The mirror plate ends...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Brass

Four Midcentury Chairs, French or Italian, in Walnut
Located in Aalsgaarde, DK
Four fantastic and rare chairs, made in France or Italy. The chairs are in walnut and leather seats. These 1960s chairs would we charming in any house, and a great contrast to a cont...
Category

1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Walnut

Pair of Kaiser Glass Flush Mount Wall Sconces with Chrome Finials, 1960
Located in London, GB
Pair of rare glass flush mounted wall sconces with chrome finials, by Kaiser Leuchten 1960's. Germany. These sconces feature 6 bulbs softened behind a conc...
Category

Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Chrome

Murano Hand Blown Chartreuse Green Glass Chandelier, in stock
Located in Miami, FL
Murano hand blown studio glass chandelier. All different shaped chartreuse green discs with white details, rigadin technique Brass plated structure with 24...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Brass

Torno Desk Lamp or Table Lamp in Olivine Enamel & Brass by Blueprint Lighting
Located in New York, NY
Our best-selling Torno family of fixtures is now available as a desk or table lamp! Handmade by Blueprint Lighting, the spun aluminum shades are inspired by a vintage 1950s Italian d...
Category

2010s American Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Brass, Bronze, Enamel, Chrome, Nickel

Mint Condition Florian Schulz Onos Polished Brass with Side Counterweight
Located in Berlin, DE
This lamp is in perfect condition. The height is adjustable with the counter weight to any needs. To be on the safe side, the lamp should be checked locally by a specialist concer...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary German Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Brass

Mid-Century Modern Psyche Mirror
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Modern Psyche Mirror
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Metal

Postmodern "Memphis" Vase produced by Formia, 1985
Located in Brussels, BE
Postmodern "Memphis" Vase produced by Formia, 1985
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Glass

Planter, Design Anonymous, in the Shape of Alvar Aalto's Savoy Vase
Located in Stockholm, SE
Finland, 1960's. Fibre glass. Measures: H: 31 cm / 12 ¼’’ L: 228 cm / 7' 9" W: 172 cm / 5' 7".
Category

Mid-20th Century Finnish Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Fiberglass

Vase Gianmaria Potenza for la Murina, 1960s
Located in Brussels, BE
Vase Gianmaria Potenza for la Murina, 1960s.      
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Glass

Mid-Century Modern Style Desk, Mahogany Finish
Located in Westwood, NJ
Mid-Century Modern style desk with a three-quarter wooden gallery, a single frieze drawer, and raised on square tapered legs. Finished in our dark mahogany stain. Dimensions: 48" ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Wood

Midcentury Oil Painting
Located in Chicago, IL
Midcentury abstract oil painting frame in simple wood frame.
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Paint, Canvas, Wood

Pair of Beige Modern Italian Wall Lights "Maxina" Vintage Design Moderne ML134
Located in Lyon, FR
Pair of modern Italian sconces "Maxina" in beige half moon shape made by our Italian craftsman in the style of Stilnovo's work. Wall plat...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Brass, Metal

Orbitale Brass Chandelier 3 Rotating Balanced Arms, Ivory Black Twin Shades
Located in Tavarnelle val di Pesa, Florence
Orbitale 3 arms frame using the twin shade. Thanks to a customer who had the articulated sconces and wanted this version with black and ivory shades. It's a beautiful combination of ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Metal, Aluminum, Brass

Charlotte Perriand 'Applique À Volet Pivotant' Wall Light in Black for Nemo
Located in Glendale, CA
Charlotte Perriand 'Applique à Volet Pivotant' wall light in black for Nemo. Originally designed in the 1950s as the iconic CP1, these newly produced authorized re-editions are s...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Metal, Aluminum

Charlotte Perriand Modernist Luggage Rack, Tubular Steel, Les Arcs, France, 1950
Located in Labrit, Landes
Luggage rack made by Charlotte Perriand, circa 1968 for the ski resort Les Arcs. Support formed by wooden slats, resting on a chromed metal structure. Lot 2 Shipping: 64/51/41 ...
Category

1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Chrome

Jasper Stone, Lucite, Brass and Glass Top Cocktail Table
Located in Hanover, MA
Rectangular beveled glass top cocktail table with four round column legs clad in tamboured faux jasper stone with round Lucite Doric capitols and feet, serpentine brass cruciform str...
Category

1980s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Brass

Italian Travertine and Glass Coffee Table, 1980s
Located in Oud Beijerland, NL
Very nice Italian coffee table from the 80's, handcrafted out of travertine. One round travertine plate and one turnable glass plate. The table is made of beautiful travertine.
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Travertine

Vintage Modernist Office Armchair, Germany, Chromed Metal, Ca 1960
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
Vintage rotating modernist office chair. German work from the 1960s. Structure in chromed metal and painted black at the base and armrests and u...
Category

1960s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Metal

Red Italian Wooden Coat Rack, 1960s
Located in Brussels, BE
Red Italian wooden coat rack - 1960s European.
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Wood

Lätt 1.0 Contemporary Marble Console by RDLC
Located in Mexico City, MX
The concept is based on the essence of the material itself, with a clean and brutalist style: straight lines, geometric shapes, fewer ornaments, less noise and more naturalness. The ...
Category

2010s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Marble

Pair of Charlotte Perriand 'Applique À Volet Pivotant' Wall Lights in White
Located in Glendale, CA
Pair of Charlotte Perriand 'Applique à Volet Pivotant' wall lights in white. Originally designed in the 1950s as the iconic CP1, these newly produced authorized re-editions are s...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Aluminum, Metal

Set of Brass Pendants with a Solid Glass Lens, Netherlands, 1970s
Located in Echt, NL
Set of two Impressive pendants in excellent condition. The pendants are made of brass and are decorated with solid brass rings. On the bottom three brass screws hold a heavy solid ...
Category

20th Century Dutch Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Metal, Brass

Set of Six Dining Chairs, Anonymous
Located in Stockholm, SE
Set of six dining chairs, Anonymous Sweden, 1990's Lacquered beech and black gallon leather. Measurements: H: 83 cm / 32 ¾’’ SH: 49 cm / 18 ¾’’ W: 40 cm / 15 ¾’’ D: 53 cm / 20 ½’’
Category

Late 20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Leather, Beech

Mid-century Modern furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Mid-Century Modern furniture for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage furniture created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include lighting, seating, tables and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, wood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Mid-Century Modern furniture made in a specific country, there are Europe, Italy, and North America pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original furniture, popular names associated with this style include Cassina, Knoll, Fabio Ltd, and J.T. Kalmar. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee.

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