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Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

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
Large Gilt Bronze Feuille Box by Line Vautrin
Located in Atlanta, GA
A large cast bronze powder box (poudrier) by French Parisian art jeweler Line Vautrin (1913-1997) circa 1945-1950. The box called "Feuille" (Leaf) features an irregular leaf form wit...
Category

1940s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Bronze

Rare Signed Gabriella Crespi Gold Cigarette / Pill Box Desk, 1970s, Italy
Located in Vis, NL
Rare signed Gabriella Crespi gold brass cigarette, pill box for a stylish desk. 1970s, made in Italy. This piece is new, unused, in excellent, nearly new condition. Comes ...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass

20Th Century, Amazing, Mid-Century Modern Aldo Tura box in decorated parchment.
Located in Catania, IT
Amazing Rectangular box decorated with an architectural whim, made by the Italian designer Aldo Tura. Made in Italy in the 1960s. Good conditions overall, original patina. Our main goal is customer satisfaction, so the packaging and shipping of this item will be done with the utmost care. This Item is the ideal object to create a perfect moment...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Boxwood, Parchment Paper

Modernist Italian 800 Silver Small Playing Card Box, C.1950/1960
Located in Bath, GB
Hefty Italian silver was used to create this mid-century modern box with a stylish cast silver chain belt and buckle across the top and down the front, beautiful quality and engineer...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Silver

Vintage Leather Suitcase "Les Must de Cartier" Burgundy Bordeaux Luggage
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage leather suitcase "Les Must de Cartier" burgundy Bordeaux luggage. Cartier maroon leather with zip around and gold-tone hardware suitc...
Category

Late 20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Leather

20th Century Gabriella Crespi Jewelry Box in Brass and Plexiglass '70s
Located in Turin, Turin
Decorative box designed in '70 by Gabriella Crespi. The box is in plexiglass and brass, on the brass is present the signature of the author. Good condition, patina of time. Perfect ...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass

1950s Vintage May Co Calif Ladies Kelly Handbag Purse Tan Croc Metal Trim
Located in Chula Vista, CA
1950s California Vintage Ladies Kelly Handbag Purse May Co Original in Tan Croc with Metal Trim 14.5 tall x 8.5 tall x 3.5 d Preowned vintage used condition. Blemishes present. Wea...
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Metal

Squared Box in Green Goatskin and Brass Attributed to Aldo Tura, Italy, 1960s
Located in Rome, IT
Squared box in green goatskin with brass details attributed to the Italian designer Aldo Tura. Made in Italy in the 1960s.
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Metal, Brass

Mid Century Modern Vintage Brown Leather Case Austria, circa 1950
Located in Vienna, AT
Mid Century Modern vintage hat case from leather 1950s, Austria. One snap-lock and two locks with a carrying strap. Great leather patina Labelled Max Feichtin...
Category

1950s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Leather

Mid-20th Century German Porcelain Painted Liquor Set from Villeroy & Boch
Located in Labrit, Landes
This elegant, porcelain liquor set was crafted in Germany in 1950, and features a hunting scene in a traditional, European style. The hand painted black and white porcelain set compr...
Category

1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Porcelain

Oversized Heavy Polished Brass Box
Located in East Hampton, NY
This is a very large and heavy finely polished solid brass box with such incredible design details. The interior is lined with black felt over wood whi...
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass

Don S. Shoemaker Mexican Modern Inlaid Mixed Woods Parquetry Hinged Box
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Inlaid mixed woods parquetry box created by Don Shoemaker, circa 1960s. Box measures 2.25" by 6.5" by 5.5" and is in very good vintage condition showing some wear. Signed with the Do...
Category

1960s Mexican Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Wood

Bitossi Box, Ceramic, Blue, Green, White Stripes, Signed
Located in New York, NY
Bitossi box, ceramic, blue, green, white stripes, signed. Small scale colorful lidded box decorated with a tight hard edge pattern of blue, green and white stripes...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Ceramic

Carl Auböck Box, Austria, 1960s
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck horn and brass box, Austria 1960s.
Category

1960s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass

Tessellated Box in Coral Stone and Brass by Casa Bique, C. 1970's
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
1970's Architectural box handcrafted of tessellated coral stone in hues of ivory, peach, and salmon pink. The large scale box features plinth feet wi...
Category

1970s Philippine Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Stone, Marble, Brass

Large Vintage Burled Wood Covered Bowl or Box of Compressed Ball Form
Located in Nantucket, MA
Large turned wood box or covered bowl of compressed ball form. The body covered in wide segments of burled walnut veneer with crossbanding at the opening, the cover with lobed panels...
Category

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

Materials

Walnut

Vintage Mid-Century Domed Abalone Box
Located in Tampa, FL
The domed abalone box has a rosewood and brass interior with little ball feet. Mid-century 1950s origin is probably Mexican and very high-quality.
Category

Mid-20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Abalone

Alabaster Box with Lidded Top
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A wonderful Italian Alabaster box with custom lid. The piece is a compliment to any desk, vanity, work station, or cocktail table. The box is a w...
Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Alabaster

Bodil Eje Danish Boxes / Humidors by Alfred Klitgaard
Located in San Diego, CA
Three beautifully crafted solid wood trinket boxes / humidors by Danish craftsman Alfred Klitgaard, circa 1960s. Very detailed construction and exquisite finish with a eight gorgeous...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Rosewood, Ceramic

Bronze Pineapple Jar
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Midcentury pineapple form lidded jar or container crafted in cast bronze with a dark lush patina and signed Maitland-Smith on the bottom.
Category

20th Century Thai Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Bronze

Porcelain Casket, Limoges, France
Located in Chorzów, PL
Porcelain casket, Limoges. France Angelique collection.
Category

1980s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Porcelain

Gilded Bronze Box with Poem by French Art Jeweler Line Vautrin
Located in Atlanta, GA
A gilt bronze poudrier box with cast poem on surface by Parisian art jeweler Line Vautrin (1913-1997) circa 1940s. The poem "Les 4 ages de la Femme" was an old French lyrical poem th...
Category

1940s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Bronze

Bitossi Rimini Blue Box
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
Intense Rimini blue box by Bitossi, Italy, ca' 1960's.
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Ceramic

Midcentury Travertine and Brass Rectangular Box, Italy, 1970s
Located in Rome, IT
Amazing rectangular box in travertine and brass. Made in Italy in the 1970s.
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Travertine, Metal, Brass

Pietro Chiesa for Fontana Arte Satinwood Glass Box, 1940
Located in Paris, IDF
Rare Italian Pietro Chiesa for Fontana Arte decorative box made in Italy in the 1940s. Carved from satinwood, with a thick polished aquamarine glas...
Category

1940s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass

Midcentury Italian Handmade Birch Wood Maple Leaf Shaped Centerpiece, 1950s
Located in Roma, IT
Wonderful midcentury handmade birchwood maple leaf-shaped centrepiece. Aldo Tura probably designed this piece during 1950s for Macabo. This piece is special as it has a curved map...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Wood, Birch

Steen Kepp XXth Century Stoneware Brown Ceramic Jewelry Box 1975 La Borne
Located in Neuilly-en- sancerre, FR
Steen Kepp - La Borne Realised circa 1975-1980 Large brown stoneware ceramic box. Jewelry or decorative box Signed under the base Original perfect condition Measure...
Category

20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Ceramic

Mid-Century Modern Silver Plated Accessory Box
Located in New York, NY
This handsome early Mid-Century Modern accessory box was realized in the United States circa 1940. It features a volumetric rectangular body in silver pl...
Category

1940s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Silver Plate

Rectangular Lucite and Chrome Box, Italy, 1970s
Located in Rome, IT
Rectangular box made in Lucite and with chrome details.  
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Metal, Chrome

Midcentury Lucite and Brass Christian Dior Jewelry Box, French 1970
Located in Roma, IT
Wonderful and tiny Christian Dior style jewellery case, it is made of Lucite, Tortoise plexiglass and brass. It was produced in France during 1970s and in its simplicity and elega...
Category

1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass

Jewelry Box Silver Plated in the Shape of a Hippopotamus
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Circa 1960 we offer this rare jewelry box made in bronze and Silver Plated in the shape of a hippopotamus with fantastic patina.
Category

1960s Mexican Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Bronze

French Vintage Mirrored Jewelry Box
Located in Cathedral City, CA
1960s French mirrored jewelry box with one draw,   
Category

1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Mirror

Fajance Lidded Box / Humidor by Nils Thorsson for Royal Copenhagen
Located in San Diego, CA
Wonderful Fajance lidded box / humidor from the Baca line by Nils Thorsson for Royal Copenhagen, circa 1960s. The stunning blue and black glazed stoneware container with geometric ab...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Stoneware

Modernist Italian 800 Silver Desk/Jewellery Box c.1960
Located in Bath, GB
A great looking box, Italian in origin made from 800 silver wrapped around a wooden interior. Both the base and lid are hallmarked "800" together with an additional mark "833 F1"....
Category

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

Materials

Silver

Round Box in Thick Heavy Crystal Italian Design 1950s Midcentury Wisteria Color
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Round Box in Thick Heavy Crystal Italian Design 1950s Midcentury Wisteria Color.
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Crystal

Alessandro Albrizzi Cube Box in Purple Lucite and Gold Metal, Italy, 1970s
Located in Rome, IT
This auction is for a purple cube Lucite box with gold color metal in the centre by Italian Designer Alessandro Albrizzi. Overall the piece is beautiful wi...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Metal, Steel

1960s Bitossi Red Pottery Lidded Box Relief Design Italy
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Midcentury Italian Red Black decorative pottery lidded box Decoration in geometric relief. attributed Bitossi Stamped Italy 6 x 4.38 x 2 H inches Presentation unrestored, original vi...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Pottery

Vintage Limoges Hand Painted Porcelain Yellow Floral Egg Trinket Box, France
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Vintage Limoges hand painted porcelain yellow floral egg trinket box, France. Midcentury. Marked.
Category

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

Materials

Porcelain

Oval Lucite and Brass Decorative Box, Italy, 1970s
Located in Rome, IT
Oval decorative box in lucite and brass. Good condition, patina of time. Perfect also for jewelry, for the desk, or for collecting litlle objects. Made in Italy in the 1970s.  
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Metal, Brass

French Wrought Iron Hand-Made Centerpiece, Glass, circa 1970
Located in Labrit, Landes
Each of the four squares that make up this table center consists of four triangles forged between them to form a hollow in the shape of an inverted pyramid. The four squares are ass...
Category

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

Materials

Wrought Iron

Rectangular Box Ice Effect Lucite, Willy Rizzo Style, Italy, 1970s
Located in Rome, IT
Rectangular box made of ice-effect Lucite in the style of the Italian designer Willy Rizzo, 1970s.
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Lucite, Plexiglass

Paul Evans Style Cityscape Mixed Metal Patchwork Chest
Located in Houston, TX
Paul Evans style cityscape mixed metal patchwork chest. Handsome Paul Evans style cityscape mixed metal patchwork chest, box, coffer or document box. ...
Category

1970s North American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Metal

Alessandro Albrizzi Acrylic Ice Bucket, Italy, 1970s
Located in Munich, DE
Elegant acrylic ice bucket or box designed by Alessandro Albrizzi for Bella Modern, Italy, 1970s.
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Acrylic

Rectangular Box Lucite Tortoise Shell Effect, Italy, 1970s
Located in Rome, IT
Rectangular box in Lucite tortoiseshell effect with three hollow circles on the top. Made in Italy, 1970s.
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Acrylic, Lucite, Plexiglass

Rectangular Form Silvered Hinged Natural Stone Box with Lid
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A hinged Rectangular light beige stone box with silvered frame. Perfect for jewelry, keepsakes or on a desk to hold paperclips.......... Why not place it on a table just for good loo...
Category

1960s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Stone, Silver Plate

Wicker Duck Box
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Wicker duck box from the Shanghai collection with its notorious intricate wicker structure, removable lid, carved beak, and bamboo trim.
Category

20th Century Chinese Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Wicker

Fluted Twisted Brass Mid-Century Modern Box with Ball Lid
Located in North Miami, FL
This fabulous vintage fluted and twisted brass Mid-Century Modern box has a lid with a ball on top. The box is from the 50s and has been professionally polished. it makes a great des...
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass

Crystal Decorative Box, Poland, 1960s
Located in Chorzów, PL
Crystal container - a box for sweets or small items. Made in Poland in the 1960s Very good condition Measures: height 20c, diameter 19cm.
Category

1960s Polish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Crystal

"Fantastical Bird, " Mid Century Box by Ottaviani in Silver, Enamel and Rosewood
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Beautifully crafted of hammered silver -- now with a soft, old silver patina -- enamel and rosewood, this exceptional decorative box depicts a wildly imaginative crane-like bird with...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Silver

Enamelled Ceramic Top Box, Mithé Espelt 60's
Located in Paris, Ile-de-France
Enamelled ceramic top decorated with 3 blue flowers and a gold crackle glazed frame. Blackened wood box. Mithé Espelt (born 1923) Lunel, south of France, circa 1960 Thi...
Category

1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Ceramic

Vintage Italian Genuine Hand Carved Gold and Green Round Alabaster Trinket Box
Located in Miami, FL
Vintage Italian genuine hand carved tan and green alabaster box, trinket, made in Italy. Round lidded hinged trinket jewelry box, rich gold and br...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Alabaster, Stone

Clear Murano Glass 1950s Box Attributed to Seguso
Located in Varese, Lombardia
Small Murano glass box manufactured in Italy and attributed to Seguso Glassworks. Hand made clear glass with bubbles' inclusions. Very good condition.
Category

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

Materials

Murano Glass

Rare Vintage Mid-Century Carl Auböck Teak Cigar Box
Located in Vienna, AT
This beautiful and heavy cigar box, conceived by renowned Austrian designer Carl Auböck, appears in an elegant and noble manner on the table it occupies. The quality of the object sh...
Category

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

Materials

Teak

Tommaso Barbi Goatskin Box, Italy, 1970s
Located in Rome, IT
1970s Rectangular goatskin box with wooden interior by the Italian designer Tommaso Barbi. The original label is still attached on the back, as shown in the photos.
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Metal

Vintage Potpourri Box in Rosewood Filigree, 1960s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
A beautifully crafted rosewood box with filigree lid with pin-inlays. Suitable for pens, pencils, jewelry or potpourri. It was made in Scandinavia durin...
Category

1960s Scandinavian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Rosewood

Ottaviani Italian Mid-Century Modern Sterling Silver Lidded Box with Crab Figure
Located in New York, NY
Italian Mid-Century Modern wood box with sterling silver lid with ornamental crab figure, made by Ottaviani. The piece was made during the 1950s and is...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Sterling Silver

Don Shoemaker Cylindrical Vessel
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A Rosewood cylindrical vessel with geometric pattern by Don Shoemaker for his company Señal in the 1960s. Shoemaker is known for the marquetry in his w...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Rosewood

French Gilt Bronze Box Coffre Line Vautrin
Located in Atlanta, GA
A lovely cast bronze powder box (poudrier) by French Parisian art jeweler Line Vautrin (1913-1997) circa 1950-1960s. The box features a geometrically grid top surface with a four by ...
Category

1940s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Bronze

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

Find a broad range of unique Mid-Century Modern decorative boxes 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 boxes created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass, more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, wood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Mid-Century Modern decorative boxes made in a specific country, there are Europe, Italy, and France pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original decorative boxes, popular names associated with this style include Bitossi, Line Vautrin, Piero Fornasetti, and Gabriella Crespi. 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 boxes differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $22 and tops out at $34,396 while the average work can sell for $850.

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