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Mid-Century Modern Architectural Elements

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
Returnable Items Only
Midcentury Door Handle of Hammered Brass and Copper, Italy
Located in London, GB
Italian midcentury door handle of hammered brass and copper. Handcrafted piece with a hammered edge; a hammered pattern to the brass, and de...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Architectural Elements

Materials

Copper, Brass

Mexican Stone Inlay Brass Kidney Shape Door Handle
Located in New York, NY
Mexican kidney shape stone inlay brass door handle attributed to Pepe Mendoza, circa 1970s. Stamped MEXICO on back.
Category

Mid-20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Architectural Elements

Materials

Brass

Pair of Lacquered Wooden Wall Ornaments from the Beginning of 20th Century
Located in Prato, IT
Pair of lacquered wooden wall ornaments from the beginning of 20th century.
Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Architectural Elements

Materials

Wood

Rectangular Balconia Planters Willy Guhl for Eternit, 1960s
Located in Wichita, KS
Rectangular planter by Swiss architect Willy Guhl for Eternit. Planter is made of cement and has good color and patina. Great lines and clean design. This planter would be magnificen...
Category

Mid-20th Century Swiss Mid-Century Modern Architectural Elements

Materials

Concrete

Architectural Pair of Square Bronze Push and Pull Door Handles and Letterbox
Located in London, GB
Two architectural push and pull square cast bronze door handle with matching letterbox fine linear textural surface like straw. They have a gol...
Category

1970s Unknown Vintage Mid-Century Modern Architectural Elements

Materials

Bronze

Vintage Belgian Entry Door Pull Handle by Artist Juliette Belarti
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Architectural door pull by Belgian ceramic tile artist Juliette Belarti. Vintage midcentury Belgian tile faced entry door pull handle. Great bri...
Category

Mid-20th Century Belgian Mid-Century Modern Architectural Elements

Materials

Ceramic

Very elegant Mid-Century Modern Brass and Metal Christmas Tree Stand, 1950s
Located in Nürnberg, Bayern
Elegant and stylish, typical 1950s. White and gold. Slight signs of use, see pictures. The opening for the tree is about 5.5cm wide.
Category

1950s European Vintage Mid-Century Modern Architectural Elements

Materials

Metal, Brass

Trapezoid Willy Guhl Planter, two available
Located in Wichita, KS
Rare vintage square taper shaped Willy Guhl planter. This shape is not common and hard to find. wonderful handles on the Side and great patina. Would make a lovely planter inside or ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Swiss Mid-Century Modern Architectural Elements

Materials

Concrete

Rectangular Balconia Planter Willy Guhl for Eternit, 1960s
Located in Wichita, KS
Rectangular planter with lip by Swiss architect Willy Guhl for Eternit. Planter is made of cement and has good color and patina. Great lines and clean design. This planter would be m...
Category

Mid-20th Century Swiss Mid-Century Modern Architectural Elements

Materials

Concrete

Separation Shelf Made of Exotic Wood, circa 1970
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
Separation shelf made of Exotic Wood, circa 1970.
Category

1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Architectural Elements

Materials

Wood

Rectangular Balconia Planter Willy Guhl for Eternit, 1960s
Located in Wichita, KS
Rectangular planter by Swiss architect Willy Guhl for Eternit. Planter is made of cement and has good color and patina. Great lines and clean design. This planter would be magnificen...
Category

Mid-20th Century Swiss Mid-Century Modern Architectural Elements

Materials

Concrete

Mid-Century Modern Mexican Room Divider with Shelves in Mahogany and Brass
Located in Mexico, DF
Amazing Mid-Century Modern Mexican room divider formed with two structures in mahogany and polished brass attached by three horizontal shelves in the style of Eugenio Escudero. Each ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Architectural Elements

Materials

Brass

Hexagonal Midcentury Door Handle of Hammered Brass and Copper, Italy
Located in London, GB
Italian mid-century door handle of hammered brass and blackened copper, in long asymmetrical hexagonal form. Hand-crafted piece with a hammered pattern to the brass and smooth dee...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Architectural Elements

Materials

Brass, Copper

20th Century Set of 3 Authentic Ceramic Tiles Lisa Larson for Gustavson, 1970s
Located in Rijssen, NL
A most unique and unusual piece of wall art by the well known Swedish Lisa Larson for Gustavsberg, 1970s. There are 3 individually tiles plaques. Each pattered tile is a work of art ...
Category

1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Architectural Elements

Materials

Earthenware, Pottery

Architectural Door Handles Alfredo Barbini 1940 Venetian Blown Glass Polar Bear
Located in London, GB
Venetian blown glass push and pull door handles from a hotel in Venice late 1940's, by Alfredo Barbini (1912-2007) for Vitreria Gino Cenedese, Italy. Polar bears climbing on geometric glaciers set in clear and opaque glass block set with brass mounts. One white and gold ice bear...
Category

1940s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Architectural Elements

Materials

Brass

Piero Fornasetti, Trompe L'Oeil Umbrella Stand, Lithographed Green Metal, 1970s
Located in Stamford, CT
Piero Fornasetti lithographed Metal Trompe L'Oeil antique heads umbrella stand, Printed, painted and lacquered by hand. Now unmarked, however, t...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Architectural Elements

Materials

Metal

Exceptional Mid-Century Modern Push & Pull Marbled Glass Door Handle Italy 1960s
Located in Munich, DE
Extremely rare & elegant Mid-Century Modern pull & push door handle. Designed and manufactured probably in Italy, 1960s. Executed in brown and clear...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Architectural Elements

Materials

Brass

John Johansen Presentation Board for "Spray Form House"
By Frederick John Kiesler, Le Corbusier
Located in New York, NY
Large format presentation board (silverprint photograph mounted on 1/2 inch thick cardboard) of a working model for "Spray Form House," a 1955 proposal for a biomorphic structure com...
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Architectural Elements

Materials

Paper

1969, Jean Prouvé Filling Station
Located in Perpignan, FR
Original filling station designed by jean Prouvé in 1969. Origin: Bordeaux (France) Measures: Diameter 10 m Height 3 m.   
Category

1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Architectural Elements

Materials

Metal

Japan Important 1961 Over Life-Size Bronze Man Child "Coming Generation", Tadao
Located in South Burlington, VT
Japan an important life-size plus 94 Inch high sculpture of a man with child by Mid-Century Modern master sculptor Koga Tadao, (Meiji 36 (1903) to Showa 54 ...
Category

20th Century Japanese Mid-Century Modern Architectural Elements

Materials

Bronze

Separation Shelf Made of Exotic Wood, circa 1970
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This very nice separation shelf is made of exotic wood. This is a very simple design, a French work, Circa 1970.
Category

1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Architectural Elements

Materials

Wood

Belgian Tile Faced Vintage Entry Door Pull Handle by Artist Juliette Belarti
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Architectural door pull by Belgian ceramic tile artist Juliette Belarti. Vintage midcentury Belgian tile faced entry door pull handle. Great a...
Category

Mid-20th Century Belgian Mid-Century Modern Architectural Elements

Materials

Ceramic

Pair of Unusual Architectural Lamps with Travertine Bases
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
A pair of unusual architectural lamps, circa 1980s. Heavy and well made, travertine bases, on a dimmer providing uplight. These lamps could also be room dividers, etc...
Category

1980s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Architectural Elements

Materials

Metal

Architectural Bronze Push Pull Door Handle Wave Relief
Located in London, GB
Artistic bronze cast door handle with a textural relief like a wave, suitable for push and pull doors.
Category

1970s European Vintage Mid-Century Modern Architectural Elements

Materials

Bronze

Vintage Belgian Tile Faced Entry Door Pull Handle by Artist Juliette Belarti
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Architectural door pull by Belgian ceramic tile artist Juliette Belarti. Vintage midcentury Belgian tile faced entry door pull handle. Great b...
Category

Mid-20th Century Belgian Mid-Century Modern Architectural Elements

Materials

Ceramic

Belgian Vintage Tile Faced Entry Door Pull Handle by Artist Juliette Belarti
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Architectural door pull by Belgian ceramic tile artist Juliette Belarti. Vintage midcentury Belgian tile faced entry door pull handle. Great bri...
Category

Mid-20th Century Belgian Mid-Century Modern Architectural Elements

Materials

Ceramic

Vintage Belgian Tile Faced Entry Door Pull Handle by Juliette Belarti
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Architectural door pull by Belgian ceramic tile artist Juliette Belarti. Vintage midcentury Belgian tile faced entry door pull handle. Mid-Centu...
Category

Mid-20th Century Belgian Mid-Century Modern Architectural Elements

Materials

Ceramic

Skylights in Graved and Etched Glass, Dated 1947
By Roger Broeckaert
Located in Brussels, BE
Very rare and extraordinary skylights, made of 25 engraved glass tile. Subject constellation an Greek Gods. One of a kind, signed by the artist "Roger Broeckaert, Ateliers Broeckaert...
Category

1940s Belgian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Architectural Elements

Materials

Glass

Mid-Century Modern Sunshine Yellow Powder-Coated Metal Chandelier
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Large Mid-Century six-arm iron chandelier, powder-coated in bright sunshine-yellow paint. Recently rewired, UL standardized.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Architectural Elements

Materials

Iron

Patinated Copper Hood
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A large scaled and beautifully constructed custom copper flue or hood made of standing seam tapered panels having a warm patina.
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Architectural Elements

Materials

Copper

One-Door Handle by Erwin Burger, Laboratorio Erwin Burger, Italy, 1960
Located in New York, NY
Verre églomisé́ (reverse-painted glass) door handles, decorated with a gilt flower design on a sienna-gold ground, set with two screws. OUR REFERENCE N9408
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Architectural Elements

Materials

Art Glass

Architectural Bronze Push & Pull Door Handle with Letterbox & Key Fixtures
Located in London, GB
Cast bronze door handle, letter box and key holder with surface markings reminiscent of the Stone Age cave drawings. The handle brackets are at...
Category

1970s Unknown Vintage Mid-Century Modern Architectural Elements

Materials

Bronze

Aluminum Paper Mixing Blade Sculpture Model II
Located in Oakville, CT
Aluminum Paper Mixing Blade Sculpture Model II. Complete set of three available. Aluminum on steel base. Measures: 52" in height, 19" in width, 14" in depth. Base is 14" x 14".
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Architectural Elements

Materials

Metal, Aluminum, Steel

XXL Wooden Crankshaft Molds
Located in Weesp, NL
Pair of early 20th century crankshaft molds tagged with part numbers. An impressive pair of large-scale sculptural art / Industrial pieces. Measurements: H 140 x W 57 x D 16 cm. Th...
Category

Early 20th Century Dutch Mid-Century Modern Architectural Elements

Materials

Wood

Large Double-Sided Sunflower Shape Door Handle by Chrystiane Charles
Located in Henley-on Thames, Oxfordshire
Fabulous quality cast bronze double sided sunflower shaped door handle designed by Chrystiane Charles - silvered and ormolu finish, beautiful crisp casting, circa 1970, France. Pr...
Category

1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Architectural Elements

Materials

Brass

Collection of Approximately 40 Steel Letters
Located in New York, NY
Heavy hand cut steel numbers, and letters salvaged from a defunct resort in the Poconos ca 1950. Great to use as a graphic element, or rearrange to spell what ever is possible. The...
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Architectural Elements

Materials

Iron

Large Bronze Door Handle in the Shape of a Croissant, 20th Century, European
Located in London, GB
Large and heavy cast bronze door handle in the shape of a croissant. Wonderful for your bakery, patisserie, coffee shop, café or kitchen. Mid to late 20th century, European. Good vin...
Category

20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Architectural Elements

Materials

Bronze

Two Sets Mid-Size Circular Door Handles in Bronze, Mid-20th Century, France
Located in London, GB
Two mid-size circular push-and-pull door handles in bronze, mid-20th century, France, sold as shown in image 1. Simple elegant handles, made up of two separate round pieces, held by...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Architectural Elements

Materials

Metal, Bronze

Arcosanti Tile by Paolo Soleri
Located in Philadelphia, PA
beautiful single tile from Arcosanti by Paolo Soleri.
Category

1980s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Architectural Elements

Materials

Ceramic

Bronze Push-Pull Handle with Abstract Pattern European 20th Century
Located in London, GB
A heavy push-or-pull door handle made of cast bronze featuring a raised abstract pattern and texturing to the edges and bracket. 20th century design, found in Germany. The piece is ...
Category

20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Architectural Elements

Materials

Bronze

Architectural Pairs of Smoke Glass Push Pull Double Door Handles
Located in London, GB
A pair of double door handles, push and pull, rectangular vibrant red cast glass with chrome fittings designed for a glass or wooden doors but suitable for any kind of doors. The gla...
Category

1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Architectural Elements

Materials

Chrome

Pair of Large Midcentury Brass Door Handles, Italy [II]
Located in London, GB
A pair of large Italian midcentury door handles of cast brass, with gentle contouring to suit their function. The pieces can be used separately ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Architectural Elements

Materials

Brass

Lateral Bronze Push-Pull Handle with Abstract Pattern European 20th Century
Located in London, GB
A lateral push-pull door handle made of cast bronze featuring a raised abstract pattern and soft ovaloid outline. 20th century design, found in Germany. The piece is in good vintage...
Category

20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Architectural Elements

Materials

Bronze

Bronze Push-Pull Handle with Spiral Design European 20th Century
Located in London, GB
A square push-pull door handle made of cast bronze featuring a raised spiral design. 20th century design, found in Germany. The piece is in good vintage condition with a dark brown ...
Category

20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Architectural Elements

Materials

Bronze

Pair of Large Gio Ponti Elm Boiserie Panels from Hotel Royal, Naples 1955
Located in Rome, IT
A pair of unique Gio Ponti wood panels from the furniture of the Hotel Royal in Naples, 1955. Manufactured by Giordano Chiesa by Dassi. elm wood thick edge with owl's beak these pie...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Architectural Elements

Materials

Elm

Vintage Cast Brass Whale Door Knocker
Located in Elkhart, IN
A gorgeous cast brass whale door knocker, perfect for your Nantucket, Cape, or Hamptons home! USA, Mid-20th Century Measures: 6.75"W x .75 "D x 5"H. Ver...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Architectural Elements

Materials

Brass

Large Push Pull Door Handle with Sunflower Design, 20th Century
Located in London, GB
A large push-pull door handle with raised sunflower design, made of patinated and hammered copper repoussé, probably over wood. Found in Germany, mid-20th century. An unusual piece,...
Category

Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Architectural Elements

Materials

Metal, Copper

Pair of Large Midcentury Brass Door Handles, Italy [I]
Located in London, GB
A pair of large Italian midcentury door handles of cast brass, with gentle contouring to suit their function. The pieces can be used separatel...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Architectural Elements

Materials

Brass

Aluminium Sun Shutter by Jean Prouvé, France, 1960s
Located in Antwerp, BE
Jean Prouvé; Sun Shutters; Modernism; Sunshutter; Facade Panel; Paris; Les Ateliers Jean Prouvé; Prefab; 1964; 1960s; Mid-Century Modern; Sun shutters by ...
Category

1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Architectural Elements

Materials

Aluminum

Jean Prouvé INSA Facade Panel, France, 1957
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Architectural grille facade element designed by Jean Prouve and manufactured by C.I.M.T, France 1957. This panel was part of the Institut National des Sciences Appliquées (INSA), Doua campus building, Villeurbanne, France 1957. This isolation element is made of pressed aluminium and is foam filled. It is a very decorative architectural element, when hanging on a wall it is like a piece of art. And of course, beautiful to combine with mid century furniture, or other Jean Prouvé furniture as the example on the pictures (chair not available for sale). The element is in original condition, has some bumps and signs of wear but this was hanging vertically...
Category

1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Architectural Elements

Materials

Aluminum

Set of Three Vintage Italian Brass Handles
Located in Milano, IT
Set of three magnificent Italian handles from the 1950s. The set is made with a nickel-plated brass frame and hand drummed brass edges and contours. The shap...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Architectural Elements

Materials

Brass

Vintage Metal Christmas Tree Stand, 1960's
Located in Praha, CZ
Made in Czechoslovakia. Made of metal. With aged patina. Original condition.
Category

1960s Czech Vintage Mid-Century Modern Architectural Elements

Materials

Metal

Pair of Push and Pull Bronze Door Handles Formde as Doves
Located in London, GB
Pair of push and pull bronze door handles with original patina. Doves have long been seen as a symbol for eternal peace. The word 'dove' is of Norse origin and first appeared in the 14th century as 'dova' or 'douve'. When we gaze upon the push and pull cast bronze door handles...
Category

1960s European Vintage Mid-Century Modern Architectural Elements

Materials

Bronze

Set of Two Bronze Door Handles with Lunar Landscape Design, European, 1970s
Located in London, GB
Set of two square bronze door handles of square form with raised lunar landscape design. Push or pull fittings. European, 1970s. These are heavy pieces made of cast bronze, which ...
Category

Mid-20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Architectural Elements

Materials

Bronze

Pair of White Marble Bolections / Profiled Fireplace Mantels
Located in Haarlem, Noord-Holland
A nice pair of strong profiled bolection. Executed in white Carrara marble both mantels have the same proportions and dimensions. Great pair for opposite or back to back placement.  
Category

1910s Dutch Vintage Mid-Century Modern Architectural Elements

Materials

Carrara Marble

Mid-century Modern architectural elements for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Mid-Century Modern architectural elements for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Late 20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage architectural elements created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include building and garden elements, wall decorations, asian art and furniture and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, brass and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Mid-Century Modern architectural elements made in a specific country, there are North America, United States, and Europe pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original architectural elements, popular names associated with this style include Juliette Belarti, Mastercraft, and Pepe Mendoza. 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. Prices for architectural elements differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $55 and tops out at $1,078,195 while the average work can sell for $1,598.

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