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
- 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 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.
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Style: Mid-Century Modern
Cube Box in Lucite Alessandro Albrizzi Style, Italy, Mid-Century Modern, 1970s
Located in Rome, IT
Cubic box in purple and transparent Lucite in the style of Alessandro Albrizzi, Italy, circa 1970.
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Acrylic, Lucite, Plexiglass
Midcentury Cylindrical Box in Chrome and Lucite Romeo Rega Style, Italy 1970
By Romeo Rega
Located in Rome, IT
Midcentury amazing cylindrical decorative box in chrome and lucite attributed to the Italian designer Romeo Rega.
Made in Italy in the 1970s.
Beautiful desk accessory or piece...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Metal, Steel
Blue Alabaster Box with Sliding Attached Round Lid
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful shimmery round alabaster box with sliding lid. Unique custom blue colored box is perfect for your mementos, coins, jewelry or 420. Slide ...
Category
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Alabaster
Midcentury Vintage Lacquer Wood Cylinder tin Metal Tea Canister Japan
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful and Minimalist tea canister box from Japan. This rare beauty is a unique box or decorative box that brings midcentury shape with organic beauty. Constructed of wood panels ...
Category
1960s Japanese Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Tin
Rare Maison Cartier Modernist Copper Enigma Box
By Cartier
Located in Atlanta, GA
Cartier designed this stunning luxury copper and brass box. That rare piece was crafted in France circa 1950. It is an Enigma box that uses Leonardo da Vinci's specular writing techn...
Category
1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Brass, Copper
Chinese Style Lacquered Brush or Pencil Box Painted Butterfly, circa 1940
Located in Labrit, Landes
Lacquered paintbrush or pensil box, made in the chinese style.
In this painting features a butterfly and flowers.
The key is not the original but it does correspond to the lock.
Good...
Category
1940s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Wood
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
Aldo Londi Box, Mondrian, Ceramic, Blue, Green, Black, Signed, Rosenthal Netter
Located in New York, NY
Aldo Londi Box, Mondrian, Ceramic, Blue, Green, Signed, Rosenthal Netter. Small scale lidded box glazed in Navy blue and Kelly green and outlined in matte black. The bottom is glazed...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Ceramic
$2,450 Sale Price
30% Off
1960s Old Gourd Art Lidded Vessel Made in Malta
Located in Chula Vista, CA
AMBIANIC presents
Midcentury Modern Handmade Gourd Art
Decorative Lidded Container
Stamped Made in Malta
5 Tall x 4.5 Diameter
Original Unrestored Vintage Condition.
Refer to images
Category
1960s Maltese Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Thread, Wood
Gucci Vintage Leather Box Tom Ford, 1990s
Located in Munich, DE
Gucci vintage black leather jewellery box with aluminium brushed frame and stitched leather rims designed by Tom Ford. Signed with Gucci. Ver...
Category
1990s Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Aluminum
Midcentury Box in Wood, Brass and Steel Tommaso Barbi Style, Italy 1970s
Located in Rome, IT
Midcentury amazing large rectangular box in wood, brass and steel in the style of Tommaso Barbi.
Made in Italy in the 1970s.
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Metal, Brass, Steel
Vintage Decorative Italian Wood Box 1970s Signed
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The Vintage Decorative Italian Wood Box from the 1980s is a charming and unique piece featuring a silver metal decoration on the top, adorned with blue and yellow accents. Crafted wi...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Metal
Doyle Lane Blue Craquelure Tile Set in Hand Made Rosewood Box
By Doyle Lane
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Hand made rosewood box with crackled blue tile created by Doyle Lane. Box measures 2" high by 2 7/8" wide and 5" long. It is signed by the artists hand on verso, Doyle Lane as pict...
Category
1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Ceramic, Wood
Mother-of-Pearl Mexican Silver Box
By Taxco
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Mexican silver box with Mother-of-Pearl Inlay. Lid opens to a wood lined interior. Very nicely done and a really beautiful object!
Category
1950s Mexican Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Silver
$396 Sale Price
20% Off
Rounded Wooden and Rope Box in Wood France 1960, Brown Color Audoux Minnet Style
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Rounded Wooden and Rope Box in Wood France 1960, Brown Color Audoux Minnet Style
Category
1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Wood, Rope
$256 Sale Price
20% Off
Mid-Century Modern Storage Box by Metalux the Netherlands
By Joost Teders 1, Metalux
Located in Waddinxveen, ZH
Stylish and decorative sewing box / storage box designed by Joost Teders for Metalux Netherlands in 1955. The original lacquered wooden boxes colo...
Category
1950s Dutch Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Steel
1950s Exotic Wood Inlay Box Elephant Palm Tree
Located in Chula Vista, CA
AMBIANIC presents
1950s Vintage Wood Inlay Elephant Palm Tree Box
2.63 h x 8 w x 4.13 d
Preowned original vintage
Refer to images
Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Wood
Midcentury Round Box in Brass, Lucite & Rattan Christian Dior Style, Italy 1970s
Located in Rome, IT
Midcentury beautiful round decorative box in brass, lucite and rattan in the style of Christian Dior Home.
Made in Italy in the 1970s.
Perfect desk object or gift idea.
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Metal, Brass
Vintage Hand Painted Lidded Wood Box
By Fantoni
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Vintage hand painted lidded wood box, paper mache.
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Wool
$180 Sale Price
20% Off
Mid-Century Squared Lucite and Chrome Pocket Emptier in Dior Style, France 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Stunning midcentury Lucite and chrome squared valet tray or ashtray. This wonderful item was produced in France in the style of Christian Dior in 1970.
The pocket emptier is lovely because of the beautiful straight lines and the chromed metal central part, making it look like a cube of ice with a floating rounded chromed plate in the middle.
A wonderful example of design from the 1970s, both for the fusion of materials and colours. The chromed plate can be moved, changing the shape of the item.
A gorgeous item that will enhance a midcentury-style living room, studio or entrance hall.
Christian Dior was founded in 1946 by designer Christian Dior. It currently designs and retails leather goods, fashion accessories, footwear, jewelry, timepieces, fragrance, makeup, and skincare products, while also maintaining its tradition as a creator of haute-couture under the Christian Dior Couture division. The Christian Dior label remains largely for women's offerings, although the company also operates the Dior Homme division for men and the baby Dior...
Category
1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Chrome
Paolo De Poli Wood and Enamel Box, circa 1950
Located in Atlanta, GA
Paolo De Poli, Italy, crafted this stunning Mid-Century decorative lidded box circa 1950. This design is commonly attributed to Gio Ponti. The flat rectangular shape with a wood base...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Enamel, Copper, Metal
Decorative or Jewelry Box, in Wood, Geometrical Marquetry Inlays, France, 1960
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
This box is a jewelry box or a decorative box. It was made in the 1970s, in France. Its lid is made in wood, with geometrical Marquetry inlays. It is beige and brown in color.
Category
1960s European Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Wood
$427 Sale Price
20% Off
Vintage Tuareg Hand Tooled Box, African, Leather, Decorative Case, Mid Century
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a vintage Tuareg hand-tooled box. An African, leather decorative case, dating to the mid 20th century, circa 1960.
Appealing leather work with a tooled decorative lid
Displa...
Category
Mid-20th Century African Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Leather
Italian Florentine Mid-Century Leather Ring Box Fleur-de-Lis Decoration
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Very charming Mid-Century small rectangular Italian hand crafted box in leather and gold embossed with fleur-de-lis decoration. This tiny box can be used to store your favorite piece...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Leather
Danish Rosewood and Maple Trinket Box
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
This handsome Mid-Century Modern decorative box is handcrafted from hardwoods and featuring mostly rosewood with elements of maple wood. The three-sided top has a hinged lid which op...
Category
1950s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Felt, Maple, Rosewood
Majolica Lobster Tureen, circa 1950
Located in Austin, TX
Large French Majolica lobster tureen or box with green glaze, circa 1950.
Category
1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Ceramic
1970s by Tassinari Faenza Italian Pottery Ceramic Box
By Tassinari
Located in Brescia, IT
Polychrome ceramic
Perfect condition.
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Pottery
Handcrafted Jewelry Box by Bay Area Artist Dean Santner c.1970
By Dean Santner
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT
Original studio, handcrafted wood jewelry box by California woodworker, Dean Santner. Expertly crafted in walnut. Pull out center drawer lined in purple felt.
CREATOR Dea...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Felt, Walnut
$224 Sale Price
20% Off
Maitland Smith Vintage Tortoise Shell and Mother of Pearl lidded Box or Caddy
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Standout mid century bin or coffer handcrafted with a brass handle on a faux tortoise shell lid over a mother of pearl bin with a mahogany lining. Signed Maitland-Smith on the bottom.
Category
Mid-20th Century Philippine Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Shell, Mother-of-Pearl
Mid-Century German Space Age Newspaper Letter Box, 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century German Space Age Newspaper Letter Box, 1960s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1960 to 1969
Additional information:
Materials: Metal, Plastic
Color: Black
Styles: Mid-C...
Category
20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Metal
Wood Box for Desk or Cigars, France, 1950
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
This box has been done in France in the 1960's. It is in the style of Alexandre Noll. The condition is good. You can use it as, a cigar box or pen box.
Category
1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Wood
$427 Sale Price
20% Off
Mid-20th Century Modern Wood and Silver Decorative/Cigar Box by Duhill, England
By Dunhill
Located in North Miami, FL
Mid-20th century Modern wood and silver decorative/cigar box by Duhill, England
By: Dunhill
Material: wood, silver, metal
Technique: cast, molded, metalwork, carved, polished
Dimens...
Category
Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Metal, Silver
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...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Brass
Large Green Majolica Money Bank Squirrel Circa 1950
Located in Austin, TX
Large green Majolica Money Bank Squirrel Circa 1950.
Category
1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Ceramic
Rare French Small Gilt Bronze Box by Line Vautrin
By Line Vautrin
Located in Atlanta, GA
A small gilt bronze pill box by French Parisian art jeweler Line Vautrin (1913-1997) circa 1940-50s. The rather rare round box features a relief-cast spider on the lid. The interior ...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Bronze
Travertine Box Pier Alessandro Giusti and Egidio Di Rosa for Up & Up Italy 1970s
By Up & Up
Located in Rome, IT
Midcentury amazing round box in travertine marble attributed to the Italian designers Pier Alessandro Giusti and Egidio Di Rosa for Up & Up.
Made in Italy in the 1970s.
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Travertine, Marble
Gabriella Crespi Signed, Cylindrical Brass Box, Italy 1970s
Located in Naples, IT
Small box cylindrical beautifully crafted by Italian designer Gabriella Crespi, dating back to the 1970s. This exquisite piece is crafted in brass, showcasing Crespi's signature min...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Brass
20th Century Gabriella Crespi Decorative Box in Brass and Plexiglass '70s
Located in Turin, Turin
Born in 1922, Gabriella Crespi studies architecture at the Politecnico in Milan, where her work is permeated by her perspective on Le Corbusier’s and Frank Lloyd Wright’s design expe...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Brass
Noel BC Chrome and Brass Desk Agenda and Box, circa 1970
By Noel BC
Located in Atlanta, GA
Italian designer Noel BC Italy designed these stunning modernist desk accessories in the 1970s. The ensemble comprised a rectangular box and a contact book. The pieces boast a geomet...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Metal, Brass, Chrome
Exquisite Austrian Cigarette and Cigar Box in the Style of Carl Aubock
Located in Vienna, AT
Hand-crafted Ostrich-leather box for cigarettes and, by removing the inner wood wall, cigars.
The leather on the top and the front is beautifully ribbed. The sides and the handle to...
Category
Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Brass
Italian Florentine Rectangular Wood Trinket Jewelry Box
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Small and Charming Italian Mid-Century Florentine hand crafted box. This gilt-wood box with flowers on the top can be used to store your favorite pieces of jewelry as well a stand al...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Wood, Giltwood, Paint
Very Decorative Box in Patinated Cognac Leather and Metal Studs 1950s
Located in Meer, VAN
Very Decorative Box in Leather and Metal Studs, Europe, 1950s.
This mid-century decorative box is clad in warm brown leather and features intricate stud detailing. The box has a dom...
Category
Mid-20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Metal
Don Shoemaker Exotic Wood Inlaid Decorative Briefcase for Señal, circa 1970
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Exquisitely crafted slim decorative briefcase designed by Don Shoemaker for Señal of Mexico. Taking advantage of the expertise provided by Mexican artisans, shoemaker founded Señal w...
Category
1960s Mexican Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Jacaranda, Rosewood, Cocobolo
$1,700 Sale Price
41% Off
Midcentury Decorative Box in Wood and Chrome Willy Rizzo Style, Italy 1970s
By Willy Rizzo
Located in Rome, IT
Midcentury amazing rectangular box in wood and chrome in the style of Willy Rizzo.
Made in Italy in the 1970s.
Great accessory for any modern interior.
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Steel, Chrome
Milk Glass Trinket or Jewelry Box with Diamond Shape Decoration and Lid
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A beautiful cut milk glass trinket box, or jewelry box. This lovely piece is square in shape, with diamond shape decoration on both the lid and sides.
Dimensions:
4.25" wide
4....
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Glass, Milk Glass
$100 Sale Price
20% Off
Vintage Keepsake Box, Portuguese, Satinwood, Case, Cricket Interest, Mid Century
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a vintage keepsake box. A Portuguese, rosewood and satinwood case with cricket interest, dating to the mid 20th century, circa 1945.
Fas...
Category
Mid-20th Century Portuguese Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Wood
20th century grey and black stoneware ceramic decorative or jewelry box La Borne
Located in Neuilly-en- sancerre, FR
La Borne
Unique handmade stoneware ceramic pottery decorative or jewelry box
Signed under the base
Original perfect condition
Height 13 cm
Large 11 cm
Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Ceramic
An amaranth Wood Jewelry Box - Apple Shape - France 1970s
By Odile Noll
Located in SOTTEVILLE-LÈS-ROUEN, FR
An unique jewelry box made of turned amaranth wood in the shape of an apple. Opens in two to store small items like jewelry, rings, earrings, pills, coins, etc.
Elegant design with ...
Category
1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Wood
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.
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Metal, Brass
Murano Barbini White Black Gold Flecks Spike Italian Art Glass Vanity Powder Box
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown white, dark purple / black and gold flecks Italian art glass vanity powder or jewelry box. Documented to designer Alfredo Barbini, circa 1950s. Th...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Gold Leaf
Midcentury Pair of Decorative Box in Travertine Enzo Mari Style, Italy 1970s
Located in Rome, IT
Midcentury pair of cylindrical decorative box in travertine in the style of Enzo Mari.
Made in Italy in the 1970s.
Large box: Height 8 cm, Diameter 12.5 cm.
Little box: Height 6 ...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Travertine, Marble
PIERO FORNASETTI Milano 1960 Enameled Sliding Box With Racing Car & Horse
Located in Miami, FL
An enameled sliding box designed by Piero Fornasetti (1913-1988).
This is a very rare rectangular sliding box created in Milano Italy by Piero Fornasetti. The box is from the mid-century period, crafted in the 1960's in steel and wood. The outer steel is embellished with applications of multicolor enamel depicting a double wheel racing car with a horse . The box is very decorative and in very good preserved condition. These kinds of boxes are highly collectable and desirable among the mid-century and Italian design collectors.
Piero Fornasetti
He was an Italian artist and designer that born in Milan into a middle-class family, Fornasetti creative pursuits encompassed design, decoration, painting, curating, and printing. His oeuvre, spanning over 13,000 works, displayed a wide range of objects and furniture with a unique emphasis on decorative diversity. Collaborating with figures like Gio Ponti, Fornasetti's atelier became synonymous with bringing art into everyday lives through practical yet artistically adorned objects. Fornasetti's artistic philosophy emphasized the production of series over one-of-a-kind pieces, reflecting his commitment to democratizing art. A central motif in his work was the "variations," notably exemplified in the iconic "Tema e Variazioni" series featuring over 400 renditions of opera singer Lina Cavalieri's face. His creative genius extended across different mediums, from furniture to paintings, demonstrating a coherent stylistic code. Although Fornasetti faced...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Enamel, Bronze
$1,295 Sale Price / set
30% Off
Burl Wood & Tortoiseshell Effect Lucite Box, Italy, 1970s
By Willy Rizzo
Located in Rome, IT
Rectangular box in tortoiseshell-effect lucite and burl wood frame made in Italy in the 1970s.
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Metal, Aluminum
Gabriella Crespi Brass Pill Cigarette Card Box Italian, 1970s
Located in New York, NY
Gabriella Crespi brass pill cigarette card box Italian, 1970s
Measures: 4.4 inches wide on each side
0.3 inches deep
Born in 1922, Gabriella Crespi studies architecture at the Poli...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Brass
Sublime Italian 1940s Bamboo Box
Located in Milan, IT
Sublime Italian 1940s Bamboo Box
Category
1940s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Bamboo
Midcentury Decorative Box in Bordeaux Acrylic by Tommaso Barbi, Italy 1970s
Located in Rome, IT
Midcentury beautiful rectangular decorative box in bordeaux acrylic by Tommaso Barbi.
Made in Italy in the 1970s.
The original stamp is present on the bottom as shown in the photos...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Acrylic, Plexiglass
Decorative Boxe in solid brass carved and signed Italia 1960s Tobacco
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Decorative Boxe in solid brass carved and signed Italia 1960s Tobacco
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Brass
$497 Sale Price
30% Off
Three MCM Italian Alabaster and Brass Claw Dolphin Footed Lidded Jewelry Boxes
Located in Haarlem, NL
Set of three hand carved Italian alabaster claw and dolphin footed decorative boxes in blue, orange and beige coloured alabaster.
I fell in love with their beautiful shiny colours and the heaviness of the material of these jewellery boxes with hinged lids, brass claw feet, brass dolphin feet...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Alabaster, Brass
$760 Sale Price / set
20% Off
French Majolica Olives Canister Vallauris, Circa 1950
By Vallauris
Located in Austin, TX
French Majolica Olives Canister Vallauris, Circa 1950
Category
1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Ceramic
Italian Round Red Opaline Glass Hinged Trinket Box
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A small round red Italian opaline trinket box. In a rich deep ruby red, this vintage box will be glamourous on a dresser, nightstand, or coffee table. Large enough to hold bobby pins...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes
Materials
Opaline Glass
$440 Sale Price
20% Off
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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