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 celebrated 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.
Generations turn over, and mid-century modern remains arguably the most popular style going. 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.
Crab jewelry box, silver plated & alpaca, Spain, 1950's
Located in BARCELONA, ES
Exquisite sculptural crab form box realistically rendered, crafted in Spain, 1950's. Made to look like a real crab crawling with movement masterfully with sharp detail and execution....
Silver Plate
Vintage Cartier Sterling Silver Pill Box c.1980
By Cartier
Located in Bath, GB
A wonderful vintage solid sterling silver pill box, beautiful quality to be expected from the world renowned luxury retailer, Cartier. The lid has the large Cartier "C" logo integra...
Sterling Silver
Mexican Modernist "Metales Casados" Box by Los Castillos
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Period Style: Mexican Modern Materials: Silver, Copper, Brass Plated, Wood Liner Designer: Humberto Castillo Manufacturer: Los Castillos
Silver, Brass, Copper
Wooden Box, France, 1970s
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Decorative carved wooden box, France, 1970s. An elegant wooden box crafted in a traditional style with a striking faceted geometric design. Its domed lid is topped with a conical ha...
Wood
Maison Longchamp Stitched Cognac Leather Box, France circa 1940
By Longchamp, Maison Longchamp
Located in Atlanta, GA
Maison Longchamp, Paris, designed this stunning modernist leather lidded box. The piece was expertly crafted in France circa 1940. The natural light-cognac fine-grain leather has a t...
Metal, Brass
Lobster jewelry box, silver plated, Italy, 1950's
Located in BARCELONA, ES
Exquisite sculptural lobster form box realistically rendered, crafted in Italy, 1950's. Made to look like a real lobster crawling with movement masterfully with sharp detail and exec...
Silver Plate
Italian 1960s Fish Mosaic Trinket Box in Ceramic and brass
Located in BARCELONA, ES
Mid-Century Modern brass box with vibrant fish mosaic ceramic tiles top, Italy 1960s. This stunning vintage rectangular box is crafted from brass with a striking hand-crafted tile to...
Brass
$182Sale Price|30% Off
Mid-Century Italian Green Onyx Marble & Brass Jewelry Box, 1960s
Located in Toronto, CA
A beautifully handcrafted mid-century Italian jewelry box carved from richly banded green onyx and accented with elegant brass trim and decorative brass feet. Dating to the 1960s, th...
Onyx
Abalone shell vanity box, Alpaca Mexico, 1970's
Located in BARCELONA, ES
Superb jewelry box designed and produced in Mexico during the 1970's. This artisanal set with abalone mother-of-pearl and alpaca, is a true work of art. A beautiful item to display i...
Shell, Abalone, Alpaca
Astonishing Onyx Jewelry Box, Mid-Century Modern, Made in Italy, 1960s
Located in Milano, IT
1960s Astonishing box in onyx. Made in Italy. This box is amazing and in excellent condition. Dimension: 5,31 x 3,93 x 1,93 H inches 13,5 x 10 x 5 H cm
Onyx
Mid-Century Modern Lucite Box, Faux Marble, USA, 1970
Located in Atlanta, GA
This stunning modernist Lucite box was crafted in the 1970s. Its rectangular shape boasts a crystal-clear Lucite or Acrylic and faux marble textured pattern. The luminous, milky hone...
Acrylic, Lucite, Plexiglass
Hermes, Paris - Sterling Silver Pill Box With 1873 Coin Inset
Located in Bath, GB
From the iconic French luxury retailer, this solid / sterling silver box was made by Hermes of Paris, fully signed on the side of the box together with the Minerva head mark (silver)...
Sterling Silver
Mid-Century Modern Wood and Enamel Box by J. Capo Esmaltes, Spain, 1960
Located in Atlanta, GA
Designed by the esteemed J. Capo Esmaltes and crafted in Spain circa 1960, this exquisite Mid-Century Modern lidded box is a true fusion of artistry and craftsmanship. Its refined re...
Metal, Copper, Enamel
Mid-Century Decorative Box in Rosewood and Walnut, Ralph Lauren Style
By Ralph Lauren
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful mixed wood decorative box. This piece created in rosewood, walnut and oak presents itself as a unique gift or personal item that is special for keepsakes or other uses such...
Oak, Rosewood, Walnut
Dior Midcentury Brass, Lucite and Vienna Straw Decorative Oval Box, Italy 1970
Located in Roma, IT
Stunning Mid-Century decorative jewelry box made from a beautiful combination of lucite enriched with Vienna straw, brass, and tortoiseshell-effect lucite. This incredibly stylish pi...
Brass
Fontana Arte Glass and Walnut Wood Boxes Edited by Fontana Arte c1940
By Fontana Arte
Located in Chicago, IL
Fontana Arte pair of walnut and glass boxes. Edition Fontana Arte c1940. Excellent condition. One box has slight 1/8 inch nick in one corner. Shorter box: 5"w x 5"d x2.75"h Talle...
Glass, Walnut
Abalone shell & alpaca silver turtle box, Mexico, 1970's
Located in BARCELONA, ES
Superb turtle-shaped jewelry box designed and produced in Mexico during the 1970's. This artisanal set with abalone mother-of-pearl and alpaca, is a true work of art. More than a box...
Silver
$1,920Sale Price|20% Off
Mithe Espelt Ceramic and Fused Glass Jewelry Box France c 1968
By Mithé Espelt
Located in Chicago, IL
Ceramic Jewelry Box by Mithé Espelt, France, 1960s Ceramic enamels in shades of green gold with fused glass with iconic blackened wood box. Literature: Mithé Espelt, le luxe discret...
Ceramic
Italian Hand-Carved Alabaster Jewelry Box with Brass Mounts, Green Veined Stone
Located in Miami, FL
Italian Hand-Carved Alabaster Jewelry Box with Brass Mounts, Green Veined Stone A finely crafted Italian alabaster trinket or jewelry box, showcasing the natural beauty of richly ve...
Alabaster, Brass
Metal and Wood Sliding Box – France, 1970s – In the Style of Maria Pergay
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Metal and Wood Sliding Box – France, 1970s – In the Style of Maria Pergay Description: This is a decorative storage box made of metal and wood, designed in France during the 1970s,...
Metal
Amazing box by Christian Dior Home, wickerwork, Vintage, 1970s, Italy
Located in Wien, AT
Amazing box by Christian Dior Home, made in the 1970s in Italy. This exceptionally decorative folding box features a polished brass frame, acrylic and Viennese wickerwork. The de...
Brass
Midcentury Box in Lucite and Rattan Christian Dior Home Style, Italy 1970s
Located in Rome, IT
Midcentury amazing decorative box in lucite and rattan in the style Christian Dior Home. Made in Italy in the 1970s. Great accessory for any modern interior.
Wicker, Straw, Rattan, Lucite, Plexiglass
Italian Tiger Eye Semi-Precious Stone Jewelry Trinket Box
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Classic Rectangular Tiger Eye Box featuring a black stone interior. Both form and function best describe this piece. We see this decorative box holding f...
Multi-gemstone
$1,800
FORNASETTI Malachite Box
By Fornasetti, Piero Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage decorative rectangular lacquered walnut wood box with motif golden guns on green malachite / designed by Piero Fornasetti, made in Italy in the 1970s Original mark at the fel...
Wood
Moraccan Thuya Wood Box Marquetry, circa 1960
Located in Labrit, Landes
Little wood box decorated with symetrical marquetry representing a flower. Made circa 1960 in Morocco. Good condition, very few signs of use. Shipping: 11 / 15 / 6 cm 0.5 kg
Wood
Large Green Majolica Money Bank Squirrel Circa 1950
Located in Austin, TX
Large green Majolica Money Bank Squirrel Circa 1950.
Ceramic
Music Play Box, Around 1960s, Made in Switzerland
Located in Wien, Au
Music play box, around 1960s, made in Switzerland. Wood inlays. Plays " Love story " Music Hight when open: 19cm.
Wood
Vintage Coca Cola Trash Can Mid-Century
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, vintage Coca Cola trash can mid-century. White paint with chrome plated steel. Interior galvanized can. Original unrestored. Dimensions: 29" H x 14" Diameter...
Metal
Italian Florentine Rectangular Gold Embossed Leather Box with Lock and Key
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
We are always on the hunt for these vintage Florentine boxes and rarely we come across one with a lock and a key. This Italian rectangular box, lined in yellow velvet, is prefect to ...
Leather, Velvet
Pietro Chiesa Decorative Box for Fontana Arte, Brass & Crystal, 1938
By Pietro Chiesa, Fontana Arte
Located in Torino, Piemonte
After an apprenticeship with the glassmaker Giannotti Pietro Chiesa opened his own glass workshop in 1921. In the early 1920s he participated in the Monza Biennale, the Venice Bienna...
Leather, Glass
Mid-Century Tessellated Marble Demilune Box by Celerie Kemble for Maitland Smith
By Celerie Kemble, Maitland Smith
Located in New York, NY
An exquisite Mid-Century Modernist tessellated marble demilune box, designed by Celerie Kemble for Maitland Smith, Philippines, circa 1980. This luxurious box features a beautifully ...
Marble
Metal box in the style of Maria Pergay, bamboo motif, France.
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Decorative metal box with a graphic design inspired by the bamboo motif, typical of modernist work from the 1970s. Its rhythmic and repetitive relief directly evokes the iconic aesth...
Metal
Mid-Century Modern Decorative Box Tea Caddy Marquetry Wood Brass Details, Italy
Located in Nicolosi, IT
Elegant Mid-Century Modern decorative tea caddy box crafted in carved wood with refined brass details. The piece features a distinctive sarcophagus-inspired shape, with a rectangular...
Brass
Vintage Marquetry Inlaid Wooden Jewelry Box Geometric Pattern
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, a vintage marquetry inlaid wooden jewelry box, often featuring a herringbone or chevron geometric pattern crafted from mixed exotic woods. Various shades of ...
Wood
Italian Florentine Square Green and Gilt Wood Trinket Box
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Charming small Italian Mid-Century Florentine hand crafted box. This gilt-wood box can be used to store your favorite pieces of jewelry as well a stand alone piece on a coffee table ...
Wood, Giltwood, Paint
1950's Decorative Brutalist MCM Inlaid Burl Speciman Wood Box by Norman Brumm
Located in Red Lion, PA
1950s Decorative Brutalist MCM Inlaid Burl Specimen Wood Box by Norman Brumm This small but striking 1950s decorative box by Norman Brumm showcases the artist’s signature Brutalist ...
Brass
Maria Pergay's style Belt Buckle box, France, 1970's
By Maria Pergay
Located in BARCELONA, ES
Beautiful silver plated and brass box designed and produced in France, 1970s. Beautiful item with a belt buckle detail in the Maria Pergay's style. Decorative item that will elevate ...
Silver Plate, Brass
Mid-Century Modern Green Onyx Jewelry Box with Gilded Lion Feet
Located in Albano Laziale, Rome/Lazio
A handmade trinket or jewelry box, crafted with utmost care from exquisite onyx. Details in guilded metal such as the lion feet. This versatile box will work for your treasures, whil...
Onyx
Mid Century Brass Shopping Bag Sculpture 1970s Made in Italy
Located in San Diego, CA
Incredible vessel sculpted brass shopping bag. This stylish piece is whimsical as it is glamorous. Brass sheets have been sculpted to create a vessel that mimics a shopping bag. E...
Brass
Decorative Aluminium Box, France, 1970s
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
French decorative aluminium box dating from the 1970s. This small round box features a removable lid adorned with an elegant raised floral decoration, depicting stylized flowers and ...
Aluminum
Large Mid-Century Modern Oak Sewing Box on Wheels, Netherlands, 1950s
Located in Den Haag, NL
Large Solid Oak wood sewing box ,on wheels . opened with two hinged doors on the top, while the accordion style (with layered shelves that used external hinges to store more stuff in...
Oak
Tiger Eye Lidded Semi Precious Stone Box
Located in New York, NY
Tiger eye lidded semi precious stone box. Gold, brown and yellow richly changing colour hardstone box with gold-wash silver hinge attributed ...
Stone, Silver
Midcentury Box Lucite Ice effect and Brass Chrome Willy Rizzo Style, Italy 1970s
By Willy Rizzo
Located in Rome, IT
Midcentury amazing rectangular box in lucite ice effect and brass chromated in the style of Willy Rizzo. Made in Italy in the 1970s. Perfect desk object or gift idea.
Metal, Brass, Chrome
Italian Mid-Century Modern Burl Wood Decorative Box With Hinged Lid
Located in Farmington Hills, MI
We are very pleased to offer this Italian burl wood box, circa 1950s, showcasing a richly dramatic swirling grain throughout. The box features a clean, architectural silhouette with ...
Hardwood, Burl
Vintage 1950's Soapstone Box
Located in North Miami, FL
This lovely vintage mid century modern soapstone box is from the 50's. The muted colors of pink, orange tangerine, yellow tan, black and gray make a great presence in any room for je...
Soapstone
“Cannabis” or “The World of Plants” by Line Vautrin, gilded bronze box, France
By Line Vautrin
Located in Uccle, BE
“Cannabis” or “The World of Plants” by Line Vautrin, gilded bronze box. “Finely chiseled gilt bronze box, the lid depicting a central plant whose leaves, veins, and roots radiate sym...
Bronze
$291Sale Price|20% Off
Mid-Century Italian Jewelry Box in White Alabaster with Gilded Metal
Located in Valencia, VC
Elegant Mid-Century Italian White Alabaster Jewelry Box A very elegant and charming Mid-Century Italian jewelry or trinket box, beautifully handcrafted in polished white alabaster a...
Alabaster, Marble, Metal
Maison Mercier Tortoiseshell Lucite and Chrome Box, circa 1970
Located in Atlanta, GA
Designed by the prestigious Parisian house Maison Mercier Frères and crafted in France circa 1970, this striking lidded box epitomizes refined modernist design. The piece enhances a ...
Metal, Chrome
FORNASETTI Playing Cards Box
By Piero Fornasetti, Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage poker playing cards box in walnut wood and metal case, it holds two packs of cards / designed by Piero Fornasetti, made in Italy in the 1970s Length: 5.5 inches / Width: 4 in...
Metal
Cream Alabaster vanity box by Romano Bianchi, Italy, circa 1970's
Located in BARCELONA, ES
Beautiful cream alabaster box designed and sculpted by romano bianchi in Italy in the 1970s. Decorative object that will bring a real design touch to your interior. Very nice patina....
Alabaster
Wooden box, France, 1970
By Lorenz
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Wooden box, France, 1970s, an elegant vintage piece characterized by a burl wood veneer with particularly decorative swirling patterns. Its clean design and soft lines make it both f...
Wood
Alessandro Albrizzi Lucite Storage Cube, Italy 1970s
Located in Naples, IT
Plexiglass/lucite cube by Alessandro Albrizzi elegant decorative element from the 1970s. The cube opens and inside we find a concave spherical part suitable for holding small object...
Lucite
Russian Fedoskino Lacquered Box "Morning in a Pine Forest", Family Bear 1965
Located in Labrit, Landes
Hand-painted and lacquered box. The illustration is maned "Morning in a Pine Forest" and it represents a bear family the mother and three little bears playing in the forest. Fedoskin...
Paper
Odette Dijeux Mid-Century Signed Ceramic Box, circa 1950, Belgium
Located in Brussels, BE
Nice Odette Dijeux mid-century decorative box, circa 1950, Belgium. White and brown enameled ceramic. Signed underneath Odette Dijeux . Each piece of this artist is unique and po...
Ceramic
Abalone shell & alpaca silver turtle box, Mexico, 1970
Located in BARCELONA, ES
Beautiful turtle-shaped pill box designed and produced in Mexico during the 1970's. This artisanal set with abalone mother-of-pearl and alpaca, is a true work of art. More than a box...
Silver
Mid-Century Tiffany & Co. Sterling Silver Wood Lined Dresser or Table Box
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine signed silver box. By Tiffany & Co. In sterling silver. With a later, wood-lined interior. Marked to the base. Simply wonderful Tiffany design! Date: Mid-20th Cent...
Sterling Silver
Rare Hermès, Paris Equestrian / Horse Box c.1970
Located in Bath, GB
A very rare example of a French mid-century modern silver plate and gold plate box by the iconic French fashion house, Hermès of Paris. A stunning design in silverplate with a gilde...
Gold Plate, Silver Plate
La prière de Saint François d’Assise, Gilt bronze box by Line Vautrin, France
By Line Vautrin
Located in Uccle, BE
La prière de Saint François d’Assise (The Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi), gilt bronze box by Line Vautrin. Large gilt bronze box whose lid is engraved with a large extract from t...
Bronze
Mid Century Italian Box in Carved Alabaster and Brass 1950s
Located in Tilburg, NL
Mid Century Italian Box in Carved Alabaster and Brass 1950s Small lidded box constructed in carved alabaster with a rectangular form and softly rounded body. The surface is worked w...
Alabaster, Brass
Squared Box in Faux Tortoiseshell Lucite Christian Dior Style, Italy 1970s
Located in Rome, IT
Midcentury amazing squared decorative jewelry box in tortoiseshell-effect lucite in Christian Dior style. Made in Italy in the 1980s. Perfect desk object or gift idea.
Metal, Brass