Mid-Century Modern Doors and Gates
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
- Emerged during the mid-20th century
- Informed by European modernism, Bauhaus, International style, Scandinavian modernism and Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture
- A heyday of innovation in postwar America
- Experimentation with new ideas, new materials and new forms flourished in Scandinavia, Italy, the former Czechoslovakia and elsewhere in Europe
CHARACTERISTICS OF MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN
- Simplicity, organic forms, clean lines
- A blend of neutral and bold Pop art colors
- Use of natural and man-made materials — alluring woods such as teak, rosewood and oak; steel, fiberglass and molded plywood
- Light-filled spaces with colorful upholstery
- Glass walls and an emphasis on the outdoors
- Promotion of functionality
MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNERS TO KNOW
- Charles and Ray Eames
- Eero Saarinen
- Milo Baughman
- Florence Knoll
- Harry Bertoia
- Isamu Noguchi
- George Nelson
- Danish modernists Hans Wegner and Arne Jacobsen, whose emphasis on natural materials and craftsmanship influenced American designers and vice versa
ICONIC MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNS
- Eames lounge chair
- Nelson daybed
- Florence Knoll sofa
- Egg chair
- Womb chair
- Noguchi coffee table
- Barcelona chair
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
Architectural Pair of Brutalist Push and Pull Metal Round Door Handles
Located in London, GB
Pair of Brutalist round push and pull door handles with relief. cast in aluminum with a original patina giving the relief depth. These artistic door features work on both exterior an...
Category
1970s European Vintage Mid-Century Modern Doors and Gates
Materials
Aluminum
Set of SAS Hotel Midcentury Door Handles in Solid Brass by Arne Jacobsen
Located in Lejre, DK
Set of door handles designed for the SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen by MAA. Arne Jacobsen in 1958. Made in Denmark, great condition.
20 sets availa...
Category
1950s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Doors and Gates
Materials
Brass
Handles Round Knobs in Brass Italy 1950s Gold Color
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Handles round Knobs in satin brass Italy 1950s gold color.
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Doors and Gates
Materials
Brass
Circular Push-Pull Door Handle in Brass, Mid-20th Century, France
Located in London, GB
Circular push-pull door handle in brass, with hammered texture. Mid-20th century. Found in France.
The handle is made up of two separate pieces with hammered texture; each trimmed...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Doors and Gates
Materials
Metal, Brass
Handles Round Knobs in Satin Brass Italy 1950s Gold Color
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Handles round Knobs in satin brass Italy 1950s gold color.
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Doors and Gates
Materials
Brass
Architectural Large Push and Pull Bronze Door Handle with Medieval Torch
Located in London, GB
Regal bronze push & pull door handle in the shape of a medieval torch with crown creates a stunning detail to the door. It has a great original patina.
It is set slightly off angle f...
Category
1950s European Vintage Mid-Century Modern Doors and Gates
Materials
Bronze
Rare Large Heavy Mid-Century Modern Brutalist Design Brass Door Handle
Located in München, DE
Very high quality large heavy Mid-Century Modern
brutalist design door handle.
Made of solid bronze. Weight about 2 kg.
Great abstract 1960s design.
With the matching lock cover....
Category
1960s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Doors and Gates
Materials
Bronze
Large Murano Glass Door Handles, Italy, 1980s
Located in London, GB
Beautiful pair of Murano glass door handles with gold leaf inclusion. Italy, circa 1980s.
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Doors and Gates
Materials
Gold, Bronze
Modernist Single Entry Door Built to Order in Walnut
Located in South Charleston, WV
Model HNRWEFS Sunburst atomic.
Made to order by History Never Repeats LLC. Designed by Aaron Saxton & Maria Armada. Custom produced and size can be varied for each order from 14" to 56" wide and up to 140" tall. Model shown is a starburst design 45" wide and 84" tall. 20 photos are included, please review them all to see options and inspirational installations.
Single or double doors in walnut or colored with brass or marine aluminum. Price includes the entire assembly with door jamb, weather stripping, threshold, doors, starburst to one side of doors, deadbolt, keyed entry knobs...
Category
2010s American Mid-Century Modern Doors and Gates
Materials
Brass
Exquisite French Door Handles Fish Shape, 1960
Located in Boven Leeuwen, NL
Very beautiful door handles in the shape of a fish made in the 1960s.
Made of silvered massive metal with a coating.
Measurements: 16 cm high, 5,5 cm deep, width 3.5.
Category
1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Doors and Gates
Materials
Metal
Mexican Stone Inlay Brass Kidney Shape Door Handle
By Pepe Mendoza
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 Doors and Gates
Materials
Brass
Very Nice 1960s Pop Art Sunburst Design Cast Aluminum Door Handle
Located in München, DE
Beautiful Pop Art Sunburst Design door handle.
Great design original from the 1960s
Made from solid cast aluminum. Made in Germany.
Undamaged condition with very slight signs of w...
Category
1960s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Doors and Gates
Materials
Aluminum
Sculptural Organic Midcentury Front Door Art Handle in Bronze
Located in Den Haag, NL
Sculptural organic midcentury front door art handle in bronze.
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Doors and Gates
Materials
Bronze
Mid-Century Modern Brass Italian Door Handle, Circa 1940
Located in Ibiza, Spain
Mid-Century Modern iconic door handle made of solid brass. Italy 40s.
Measurements per handle: W 3 x D 9 x H 21 cm.
Category
1940s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Doors and Gates
Materials
Brass
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 Doors and Gates
Materials
Copper, Brass
Two Giant Enameled Door Handles by Hagenauer Workshop Austria, circa 1960s
Located in Vienna, AT
A set of two giant enamel door handles, by Hagenauer Workshop [Werkstätte] Austria, circa 1960s.
This original Hagenauer giant and heavy enameled...
Category
Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Doors and Gates
Materials
Enamel
Luigi Caccia Dominioni Per Azucena Doorstop, Italy, 1960s
Located in Naples, IT
Luigi Caccia Dominioni doorstop for Azucena, with a brass handle on a grey marble base. 1960.
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Doors and Gates
Materials
Marble, Brass
Pair of Midcentury Door Handles of Hammered Brass and Blackened Copper, Italy
Located in London, GB
Pair of Italian midcentury door handles of hammered brass and blackened copper.
Handcrafted pieces with a hammered pattern to the brass and deep gre...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Doors and Gates
Materials
Copper, Brass
Midcentury Italian Design Ball Handles in Gold Brass, 1950
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Midcentury Italian design ball handles in gold brass, 1950.
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Doors and Gates
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 Doors and Gates
Materials
Brass, Copper
1960s Golden Flower Sunburst Room Divider Screen Wood Door Panel Modern Mexico
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Flower sunburst door panel room divider screen midcentury Mexican Modernism 1960s
Custom design in plywood & walnut veneer. Original Plexiglass in Yellow Gold with Brutalist texture...
Category
1960s Mexican Vintage Mid-Century Modern Doors and Gates
Materials
Plexiglass, Plywood
Pair of Richard Myklebust Door Handles
By Richard Myklebust
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of sand cast brass door handles by Richard Myklebust. Texas-based Myklebust was prolific during the 1960s and 1970s, and is well known for his Kiwi sculpture.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Doors and Gates
Materials
Brass
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 Doors and Gates
Materials
Bronze
Mid Century Door Knocker “Peace To All Who Enter Here”, Israel
Located in Bedford Hills, NY
Very rare and unique midcentury door knocker, "peace to all who enter here", in Spanish. Made by Terra Santa Guild, Israel.
Category
1960s Israeli Vintage Mid-Century Modern Doors and Gates
Materials
Metal
Decorative Large Door Handle in Plated Brass 24 Kt Gold Italy 1970 Very Classic
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Decorative large door handle in plated brass 24 kt gold Italy 1970 very Classic.
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Doors and Gates
Materials
Gold Plate, Brass
Set of Four Pairs of Luigi Caccia Dominioni Door Handles for Azucena, Italy 1950
Located in Milan, IT
Rare set of four pairs of Luigi Caccia Dominioni door handles in brass and resin for Azucena, Italy, 1950s
This is an Iconic desig...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Doors and Gates
Materials
Brass
Max Ingrand Blue Glass and Brass Door Handle for Fontana Arte, Italy, 1950s
Located in Milan, IT
Max Ingrand door handle for Fontana Arte, Italy, 1950s.
Can be used as one handle or as 2 separated handles.
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Doors and Gates
Materials
Brass
Massive Round Ring Polished Brass Handles, Italian Design, 1970s
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Massive round ring polished brass handles, Italian Design 1970s, diameter 12 cm, thickness 5 cm.
Category
1970s European Vintage Mid-Century Modern Doors and Gates
Materials
Brass
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 Doors and Gates
Materials
Bronze
Mexican Hand-Wrought Brass and Stone Door Escutcheon Plate
By Pepe Mendoza
Located in New York, NY
Large Mexican brass door escutcheon / plate with stone tile inlay, circa 1970s.
Attributed to Pepe Mendoza. Stamped MEXICO on back.
Category
Mid-20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Doors and Gates
Materials
Brass
Luxury Solid Brass Handles Italian Design 1970s with Letter R Bright Gold
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Luxury solid brass handles Italian Design 1970s with Letter R bright gold.
They can be mounted on a glass door or on a wooden door according to the choice, they are of great quality...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Doors and Gates
Materials
Brass
Handle Barovier 1940s Brass Chrome Glass Murano Italian design 1940s
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Handle Barovier 1940s Brass Chrome Glass Murano Italian design 1940s
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Doors and Gates
Materials
Brass, Chrome
Set of Three Pairs of Charlotte Perriand Slat Doors, circa 1950, France
Located in Girona, Spain
Set of three pairs of Charlotte Perriand large slat doors
Hisotry: Le Courboulay Building, Le Mans, France
Provenance: Gallery Clément Cidivino,
circa 1950, ...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Doors and Gates
Materials
Pine
Pair of Art Sculptural Bronze Door Knobs, 1960s
Located in Den Haag, NL
Pair of art sculptural bronze door knobs, 1960s. Very well crafted pieces.
Category
1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Doors and Gates
Materials
Brass
Mid-Century Modern Door Handles
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A pair of elegant "Daisy" style door handles, each with a large knob on one side and a smaller knob on the other. For use on a pair of exterior doors, one ...
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Doors and Gates
Materials
Metal
1960s Modern Architectural Solid Aluminum Gates 14 Available
Located in Dallas, TX
Architectural modern gates from a government installation. Set consist of 14 panels. Meticulously constructed from solid bar brushed aluminum stock with in...
Category
1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Doors and Gates
Materials
Aluminum
Set of Six Elegant Mid-Century Modern Brass Door Handles, 1950s, Germany
Located in Munich, DE
Set of six minimalistic and elegant Mid-Century Modern door handles. Designed and manufactured probably in 1950s, Germany. Executed in massive bras...
Category
1950s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Doors and Gates
Materials
Brass
Alice in Wonderland, A Five Piece Suite of Stained and Leaded Glass Doors.
Located in London, GB
Alice in Wonderland a beautiful suite of stained and leaded glass set in the original doors and windows.
Please note this suite is in two listings and the price here is for the five pieces in both listings.
A one-off commission was removed from a large house in England.
The entire suite consists of these two windows with the king and queen of clubs...
Category
Late 20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Doors and Gates
Materials
Stained Glass
Alice in Wonderland, A Five Piece Suite of Stained and Leaded Glass Doors.
Located in London, GB
Alice in Wonderland incredible suite of stained and leaded glass set in the original doors and windows,.
Please note this suite is in two listings and the price here is for the five ...
Category
Late 20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Doors and Gates
Materials
Stained Glass
1960 Brass Door Handles
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Brass door handles.
Category
1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Doors and Gates
Materials
Brass
Pair of Luxury Handles Midcentury Italian Design Carlo Mollino Style Gold Brass
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Curved sculpture pair of luxury handles midcentury Italian design Carlo Mollino style gold brass.
Carlo Mollino style.
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Doors and Gates
Materials
Brass
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 Doors and Gates
Materials
Bronze
Door Handle in blown Murano Glass vibrant Red color 1950s Italy
Located in Villaverla, IT
Door Handle in blown Murano Glass vibrant Red color 1950s Italy.
Unique Italian Venetian Murano glass door handle in red color, circa 1950s, ...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Doors and Gates
Materials
Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
Old Handles Brass Copper Sculpture Midcentury Italian Design, 1950 Hammered
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Geometric original old handles brass copper sculpture midcentury Italian Design, 1950 hammered, very particular and extraordinary form, performed by skilled artisans have now disappe...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Doors and Gates
Materials
Brass, Copper
Pair of Giovanni De Simone Handles Ceramic Multicolor Design Mid-Century Modern
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Pair of Giovanni de Simone handles ceramic multicolor design Mid-Century Modern.
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Doors and Gates
Materials
Ceramic
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 Doors and Gates
Materials
Brass
Pair of Carved Wood Doors by Phillip Powell
Located in Atlanta, GA
These two doors were commissioned directly from the artist and were made for a specific site . The front of the doors are wonderfully contoured and are highly sculptural. The design ...
Category
1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Doors and Gates
Materials
Mirror, Walnut, Giltwood, Lacquer
1940s French Wrought Iron Rene Prou Style Gates
Located in Cathedral City, CA
Pair of great French wrought iron gates with original paint finish.
Category
1940s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Doors and Gates
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 Doors and Gates
Materials
Bronze
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 Doors and Gates
Materials
Brass
Mid-Century Modern Steel Bank Vault Door Set w/ Sides
Located in New York, NY
Mid 20th Century Mid-Century Modern style three piece brushed steel door and side panel set. From the vault of a well known Park Avenue bank building in New York City. Priced as a se...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Doors and Gates
Materials
Steel
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 Doors and Gates
Materials
Bronze
1930s Pair of Aluminum Art Deco Church Doors
Located in New York, NY
This 1930s pair of brilliantly colored stained glass doors are from a church built in the early 1900s. The doors are clad with ribbed aluminum and have the original Art Deco pulls...
Category
1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Doors and Gates
Materials
Aluminum
Mid-century Modern doors and gates for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Mid-Century Modern doors and gates 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 doors and gates created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include building and garden elements, decorative objects, 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 doors and gates 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 doors and gates, popular names associated with this style include Aaron Saxton, History Never Repeats, Maria Armada, and Werkstätte Carl Auböck. 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 doors and gates differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $224 and tops out at $56,438 while the average work can sell for $1,331.
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