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Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

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
Beautiful Solid Birch Hand Turned Large Bowl Signed by Michael J Holmquist
Located in San Diego, CA
Gorgeous large bowl in excellent condition signed and numbered by Michael J Holmquist, dated 1998.
Category

Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Birch

Lucie Rie & Hans Coper Studio Pottery Mustard Glazed Bowl
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A stunning vintage British studio pottery bowl by Lucie Rie and Hans Coper, finely thrown the outer body decorated in oatmeal glaze with a dark ...
Category

Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Pottery

Italian Modern Great Bowl Licio Zanetti Design 1980 White Violet Round Form
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Italian modern great bowl Licio Zanetti design 1980 white violet round form.
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Murano Glass

Early Production Quistgaard Dansk Staved Teak Fruit or Salad Bowl Danmark
Located in Ferndale, MI
Jens Quistgaard for Dansk, Branded Mark Staved Teak JHQ Danmark
Category

1950s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Teak

Mid-Century Cenedese Scavo Sea Grey-Blue Bowl and Bottle Set Romanesque Forms
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Wonderful set of ice blue art glass forms, Italy, circa 1950s. A pair of Gino Cenedese scavo vessels; a large shallow low bowl and tall squared bot...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Art Glass

Decorative Cobalt Blue Oval Crystal Bowl Italian Design, 1980 Mirror
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Cobalt blue oval crystal bowl Italian Design 1980 mirror base round satin.
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Crystal

Clyde Burt Ceramic Bowl
Located in Chicago, IL
Clyde Burt ceramic vase in glazed stoneware with hand incised abstract pattern. Signed to underside: [CB]. American, circa 1965.
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Ceramic

Alessandro Mandruzzato Murano Glass Ashtray Bowl, Sommerso, Faceted, Red, Signed
Located in New York, NY
Alessandro Mandruzzato murano glass bowl, Sommerso, faceted, red, amber, signed. Medium scale chunky glass caviar bowl with ruby red core and an ambe...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Sommerso, Blown Glass

Italian Brass Centerpiece from the 1950s, Bowl, Italy, 1950s
Located in Roma, IT
Elegant Italian centerpiece from the 1950s. Finished very well. The handle has a brass string that accentuates the beauty of the work. Good condition.  
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Brass

Herb Ritts Vintage MCM Astrolite Lucite Centerpiece Oval Bowl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Large oval shaped Herb Ritts vintage MCM Astrolite Lucite center piece oval bowl.
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Lucite

Large Italian Murano Bowl, 1960s
Located in Barcelona, ES
Excitingly shaped large Italian Murano bowl dating to the 1960s. Very rich and variated colors in different layers.
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Art Glass

Ceramic Fruit Bowl
Located in Chicago, IL
Black Painted Ceramic Fruit Bowl, Signed Armwour
Category

1960s Unknown Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Ceramic

Pair of Bamboo and Rattan Midcentury Bowls, 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Pair of fantastic Mid-Century Modern decorative rattan and bamboo decorative bowls. These pieces were produced in Italy during the 70s, deeply inspired by the naturist. These item...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Wood, Bamboo, Rattan

Emil Milan Hand-Carved Double Compartment Freeform Vessel
Located in Brooklyn, NY
An exquisitely carved double-compartment freeform bowl by Emil Milan (1922-85), executed in bubinga. Rich patina throughout. Signed to the underside, "By Emilan, Bubinga". Other exam...
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Bubinga

1970s Austrian Vintage Art Nouveau Style Light Blue Glass Bowl with Oak Leaves
Located in New York, NY
1970s very decorative glass centrepiece / platter plate, by artist Michna, handcrafted in crystal pâte de verre tinted in a sophisticated and unusual aquamarine blue. The exclusive A...
Category

1970s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Art Glass, Cut Glass

Beveled Glass Centerpiece by Fontana Arte
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Italian triangular curved beveled glass centerpiece by Fontana Arte / Made in Italy, circa 1960s Measures: Length 14.5 inches / width 12.25 inches / height 2.25 inches 1 in s...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Glass

Clyde Burt Ceramic Bowl
Located in Chicago, IL
Clyde Burt ceramic decorative bowl in glazed stoneware with incised, abstract details on the outer exterior. Signed to underside: [CB]. American, circa 1965.
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Ceramic

1950s Decorative Fiberglass Bowl
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A low fiberglass bowl with repeating images of multicolored fish.
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Fiberglass

Huge Signed Cenedese 'Tessuti' Blue Murano Art Glass Bowl, circa 2000
Located in Landau an der Isar, Bayern
Signed Cenedese art glass bowl part of a limited edition called ‘Tessuti’, made in the early 2000s. This is a magical piece of Murano glass - measur...
Category

Early 2000s Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Blown Glass, Murano Glass

Blue Glass Bowl Lino Tagliapietra for Effetre International, Murano, Italy, 1986
Located in Hausmannstätten, AT
A beautiful light blue Italian glass bowl by Lino Tagliapietra for Effetre International, Murano, 1986. This hand-blown Murano glass obje...
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Blown Glass, Murano Glass

Pair of Fish Bowls in Wire
Located in Berlin, DE
Pair of decorative wire bowls in form of a fish. The measurements for the smaller one are: 16.5cm / 6.5", 43cm / 17", 4 cm / 1.5".
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Wire

Swedish Mid Century Modern Flygsfors Orange Bubblegum Centerpiece
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Mid Century Modern Flygfors orange bubblegum centerpiece from the range coquille by Paul Kedelv.
Category

1960s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Art Glass

Midcentury Pair of Bowls Rörstrand Sweden by Gunnar Nylund, 1950s
Located in Hillringsberg, SE
Pair of bowls Rörstrand made in Sweden by Gunnar Nylund in the 1950s. Wonderful glaze on these bowls. They are both in good condition Measures: 16 x 12 X 8 cm.   
Category

1950s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Ceramic

Bowl Murano Barovier Zebrato 1950s Mid-Century Modern Italian Design Gold Powder
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Bowl Murano Barovier Zebrato 1950s Mid-Century Modern Italian design gold powder.
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Murano Glass

1950s Black White Leaf Ashtray Dish Raymor Pottery Cigar Abstract Jouves French
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Wonderful leaf motif dish cigar ashtray, signed Raymor Made in Italy, 415/7.
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Stoneware

Bitossi Bowl, Ceramic and Fused Glass, White, Red, and Blue, Signed
Located in New York, NY
Bitossi bowl, ceramic and fused glass, white, red and blue, signed. Medium scale white glazed rectangular low bowl with fused glass mosaic interior pattern of light and dark blues, r...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Ceramic

Set of Cooler and Shaker Orrefors Nils Landberg, Sweden, 1950s
Located in Hillringsberg, SE
This set contains a glass bucket for ice or vine cooler. The other piece is a Shaker/carafe for spirits/whiskey. They are both designed by Nils Landberg a...
Category

1950s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Glass

Midcentury Stainless and Brass Footed Bowl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Midcentury stainless and brass footed bowl, a sleek and modern bowl, simple and elegant alone, it also ready for any shelf or desk. Also perfect ...
Category

20th Century Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Brass, Stainless Steel

Midcentury Signed Italian Art Glass Bowl by Barbini for Oggetti for Murano
Located in San Diego, CA
Very cool midcentury art glass bowl signed "Barbini Murano for Oggetti ", circa 1964. The piece is 10.5" in diameter and 6" high and is prim...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Art Glass

Vintage Glass Bowl by Bohemia Glass, 1970s
Located in Praha, CZ
The item made of cut glass. Made in Czechoslovakia. Original condition.
Category

1970s Czech Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Cut Glass

Swedish Mid-Century Modern Green Art Glass Centerpiece By Flygsfors
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Swedish Mid-Century Modern green art glass basket centre piece by Flygsfors.
Category

20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Art Glass

Two Thomas Toft Bowls Studio Pottery, Denmark, 1950s, Danish Modern
Located in Miami, FL
Stunning pieces, both bowls are signed.
Category

1950s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Pottery

Design Technics Zig Zag Ceramic Bowl/ Cigar Ashtray
Located in East Hampton, NY
Midcentury Zig Zag ceramic bowl or cigar ashtray by Design Technics in beige and sienna tone underglaze. Marked and in excellent condition.
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Ceramic

Unique Copper Hand Beaten Canadian Maple Leaf Bowl, 1950s
Located in Nürnberg, Bayern
Pure handmade. Fantastic work. Copper cutout and with the Hammer blow technique to an artistic object sculpted. A real eye-catcher of a talented metal artist. After all these ...
Category

1950s Canadian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Copper

Midcentury 3 Ceramic Pieces Rörstrand Gunnar Nylund, Sweden
Located in Hillringsberg, SE
Three wonderful pieces made in Sweden during the 1950s at Rörstrand factory and designed by Gunnar Nylund. The objects have a wonderful form and glaze. Good condition. Mea...
Category

1950s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Ceramic

Mid-Century Modern Murano Glass Aquarium or Fish Bowl by Alfredo Barbini
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Aquarium or fish bowl by Barbini. A gold fleck lamp work fish in clear glass with a pink or light purple border. (In many of our images the interio...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Blown Glass

Large Danish Modernist Bowl in Silver Plate and Enamel by DGS, 1950s
By DGS
Located in Esbjerg, DK
This large conical silver plate bowl's interior is decorated with a deep ruby red enamel. The piece was manufactured and designed in Denmark during the late 1950s by DGS (Danish Silv...
Category

1950s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Silver Plate, Enamel

Italian Murano Blue Glass Bowl or Ashtray with Air Bubbles and Silver Flecks
Located in Barcelona, ES
Gorgeous hand blown Murano glass bowl with controlled bubbles and aventurine technique, Italy, 1950-1960s. Beautiful deep sky blue color, silver flecks and amazing triangular flower...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Silver, Silver Leaf

Pair of Freeform Sculptural Acrylic Bowls by Astrolite / Ritts Co.
Located in San Diego, CA
A very nice pair of freeform sculptural acrylic bowls from the Astrolite Products line by the Ritts Co. of Los Angeles, circa 1970s. The bowls are in very good vintage condition and ...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Acrylic

Heavy Large Brass Shell Plate Desk Element Hagenauer Era, Austria, 1950s
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article: Brass metal shell plate element Origin: Austria Material: Brass Wonderful metal element shell plate made in Austria in the 1950. high quality 1950s autrian handma...
Category

Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Brass

Ceramic Art Giuseppe Mazzotti 1950 Albisola Enamel with Metallic Luster
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Ceramic Art Giuseppe Mazzotti 1950 Albisola enamel with metallic luster, Ceramic Art of Fine Historical manufacture.
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Ceramic, Luster

Bauhaus Art Deco 'Ikora' Art Glass Bowl by WMF in Germany, circa 1930s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
An amazing WMF 'Ikora' crackled art glass bowl, by Karl Wiedmann for WMF (Wurttembergische Metallwarenfabrik), 1930s Bauhaus Art Deco. It is made of glass with crackled details in gr...
Category

1930s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Art Glass

Two Small Bowls in Murano Glass with Gold by Arte Muranese, Collectible Glass
Located in Roma, IT
Two small bowls with gold. By Vetro Arte Muranese. Collectible Murano glass.
Category

Mid-20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass

Battuto Bowl by Tobia Scarpa for Venini Murano
Located in Chicago, IL
Signed with decal manufacturer's label to side: [Venini Murano Made in Italy]. Incised signature to underside: [Venini 1997/4].
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Glass

3 Piece Set California Pottery Mardi Gras by Marc Bellaire
Located in Buffalo, NY
Classic Mid-Century Modern ceramic pottery by Marc Bellaire, 3 piece set includes stylized covered bowl, two stylized plates.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Ceramic

Vintage Round Antique Beige Catch All by Giancarlo Gabbianelli, Italy
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1960s. This ashtray / catchall is made in ceramic by Giancarlo Gabbianelli and features its original label. It may show slight traces of use since it's vintage, but ...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Ceramic

1960s Canoe Bowl American Studio Craft Woodworkers Banana CabinModern Craftsman
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Wonderful and intense piece of woodworking. Tight, sturdy and usable. Signed CKE. Artist/Craftsman unknown.
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Teak

Houston 75 Mid-Century Modern Brown & Red Pottery Earthenware Round Bowl Vessel
Located in Miami, FL
Mid-Century Modern handcrafted glazed oxblood red and shades of brown pottery earthenware round vessel or bowl. Inside marked Houston 75. One of a kind pottery great for display.
Category

Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Earthenware, Pottery

Mid-Century Modernist Urchin Design Bone China Bowl by Coalport
Located in New York, NY
This beautiful bowl features a stylized urchin form design and it is signed Coalport bone china.
Category

1960s English Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Porcelain

Pierre Cardin for Venini 1970 Square Transparent Murano Bowl Light Blue Glass
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Pierre Cardin for Venini 1970 square transparent Murano bowl light blue glass. Large Murano Glass Bowl, very heavy transparent, with a cent...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Murano Glass

Ceramic Bowl by Stig Lindberg Midcentury Scandinavian Design, C 1950, Faience
Located in New York, NY
Decorative bowl by Stig Lindberg, Sweden, circa 1950. Faience. Very good condition. Hand painted. An artistic jack-of-all-trades, Stig Lindberg was accomplished in industrial design...
Category

1950s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Ceramic, Faience

"Fish Bowl by the Window", Early and Important Footed Enamel Bowl by Winter
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A brilliant and early example of enamel art in America, this footed bowl depicts a fish bowl sitting on a long table, with a Classical-Art Deco chair against one wall, and figured cu...
Category

1940s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Enamel

Marchello Fantoni Vibrant Blue Bowl
Located in Chicago, IL
Marchello Fantoni Vibrant Blue Bowl blue bowl. Signed Fanton underside.
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Metal

Mid-Century Modern Italian Ashtray in Black Murano Glass, 1960s
Located in Byron Bay, NSW
Murano ashtray in gray/black glass. Has a little chip on the bottom but still a beautiful pieces.
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Murano Glass

Gorgeous Freeform Murano Dish or Bowl, 1960s, Italy
Located in Miami, FL
Murano glass bowl or dish perfect for any table, 1960s, Italy.
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Freeform Enamel on Copper Decorative Abstract Plate by Sascha Brastoff
Located in San Diego, CA
Phenomenal 1950s rare enameled decorative plate by Sascha Brastoff. This midcentury piece of art is in good condition, signed nice abstract design.
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Enamel

French Midcentury Painted Mercury Glass Bowl
Located in Copenhagen, K
Painted silver plated glass bowl in mercury silver or poormans silver, France. For sweets or as a decorative object for Christmas.
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Mercury Glass

Egidio Casagrande Italian Modernist Monumental Brass Vessel
Located in New York, NY
Monumental modernist style brass repoussé vessel made in the 1930s-1940s by Italian designer Egidio Casagrande (1911-1962). Casagrande is renown for ...
Category

1930s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Brass

Mid-century Modern decorative bowls for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Mid-Century Modern decorative bowls 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 decorative bowls created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass, folk art and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with glass, murano glass and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Mid-Century Modern decorative bowls 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 decorative bowls, popular names associated with this style include Archimede Seguso, Seguso Vetri d'Arte, Barovier&Toso, and Flavio Poli. 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 decorative bowls differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $34 and tops out at $46,574 while the average work can sell for $646.

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