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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
Returnable Items Only
Silver Plated Mid Century Box with Bamboo Inlaid Lid
Located in Henley-on Thames, Oxfordshire
Good quality mid century silver plated box with inset bamboo to the lid Most probably a box for playing cards but could be used for any purpose. made in Italy in the 1970s
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Silver Plate

Italian Mid-Century Modern Silver Box
Located in New York, NY
Italian Mid-Century Modern 800 silver box. Rectangular with straight sides and thumb rest. Cover flat and hinged with tab. Allover engine-turned curvili...
Category

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

Materials

Silver

Sic Rimini Blu Glazed Ceramic Large Lidded Vessel / Box Bitossi Aldo Londi Style
Located in Barcelona, ES
Large Mid-Century Modern blue glazed ceramic (Rimini Blu) round lidded box , Manufactured by S.I.C Ceramiche Italy, 1950-1960s. It has reminiscences in those Rimini blue designs from Aldo Londi and Bitossi...
Category

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

Materials

Ceramic, Pottery, Terracotta

Pair of Mid Century Italian Onyx Marble Boxes
Located in Albano Laziale, Rome/Lazio
A pair of trinket or jewelry boxes with a hinged lids. Handmade all in onyx and brass gilded in gold. The onyx has a range of colors from red, brown, yellow and green. Measurements ...
Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Onyx

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

Studio Crafted Wood Jewelry Box With Marble Inlay 1960s
Located in San Diego, CA
Studio crafted wood jewelry box with an inlaid marble handle. Lined interior. Signed on the bottom. 1960s
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Wood

Lucite and Chrome Box, Italy, 1970s
Located in Naples, IT
Rare decorative lucite and chrome cube-shaped box. Made in Italy in the 1970s.
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Chrome

David Deakin Silver and Malachite Box for Deakin & Francis England 1970 Signed
Located in Paris, FR
David Deakin, a silver box, Deakin & Frances, Birmingham, England, 1973, signed. Gilded inside. Height 10 cm. Total weight: 343 grams. Unique piece made o...
Category

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

Materials

Malachite, Silver, Sterling Silver

Vintage Apple Gold Metal Pillbox
Located in Milano, IT
Beautiful gilded metal pill box designed in the 1950s of fine Italian manufacture. The pill box is small and has a beautiful apple shape, made entirely of...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Metal

Unusual Italian Box in Brass and Lapis Lazuli
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
An elegant Italian box made of brass and lapis lazuli, ca' 1970's.
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass

Wilhelm Kienzle Tool Box for Mewa, circa 1950, Switzerland
Located in Brussels, BE
Nice Wilhelm Kienzle tool box for MEWA, circa 1950, Switzertland. Yellow and grey lacquered metal. Black handle, black hammer and pliers patterns. Original good condition. Dimensi...
Category

1950s Swiss Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Metal

Mid-Century Italian Brass Leopard Fur Jewellery Box 1970
Located in Paris, IDF
Beautiful mid-century box made in Italy in the late 1970s. This brass jewellery or make-up box is covered by leopard fur, with burlwood veneer inside. The mix of brass and leopard fu...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass

Romeo Rega Rectangular Box in Brass and Chrome, Italy, 1970s
Located in Rome, IT
1970s chrome and brass box with black acrylic interior by the Italian designer Romeo Rega. His signature is engraved on the box as shown in photos.
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Metal, Brass

Bovano Enamel Box
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
A charming walnut jewelry box with enamel decoration by Bovano.
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Enamel

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

Italian Box In Brass And Tiger's Eye
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
An elegant Italian box made of brass and tiger's eye, ca' 1970's.
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass

Midcentury Italian Horn Marquetry Brass Trunk Box, 1960
Located in Paris, IDF
Beautiful midcentury decorative trunk box made in Italy in the 1960s. This large jewellery or make-up box is covered in Horn tessellated pieces, with brass f...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass

Majolica Crab Tureen Caugant, circa 1950
Located in Austin, TX
Vintage French Majolica crab tureen signed Caugant, circa 1950.
Category

1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Ceramic

Piero Fornasetti Mahogany Painted Wood Box 1950
Located in Paris, IDF
Beautiful Piero Fornasetti decorative box made in Italy in the 1950s. This box is carved from mahogany wood, with painted varnished wood on both sides of the top, and brass side hing...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass

Luxury Vintage Six Person Fortnum & Mason Wicker Picnic Hamper Crystal
By Fortnum & Mason
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning Vintage large Fortnum & Mason six person wicket picnic hamper RRP £2550 A very well made and decorati...
Category

20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Wicker

Mid-20th Century Decorative Wooden Box
Located in Beirut, LB
Decorative wooden box with fluted sides with a top in several wood veneer marquetry inlays executed in geometrical shapes. Interior covered wi...
Category

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

Materials

Wood

Romeo Rega Italian Chrome Brass Jewellery Box 1970
Located in Paris, IDF
Beautiful Mid-Century square box signed by Romeo Rega in Italy in the late 1970s. This chrome jewellery or make-up box features a beautiful round brass on the top, and black acrylic ...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass, Chrome

Mid-Century Small Hand Carved Wood Box, 1950's
Located in Praha, CZ
Made in Czechoslovakia Made of wood, Veneer Good original condition.   
Category

1950s Czech Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Wood

Piero Fornasetti, "Plants" Cigars Box, Milan Italy, circa 1950
Located in Firenze, IT
Piero Fornasetti, "plants" cigars box Mahogany and lacquered aluminium, Milan Italy, circa 1950 Measures: 30 x 10 x 4 cm Conditions: Good, slight defects.
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Metal

1972. Charlotte Perriand Storages Boxes
Located in Perpignan, FR
Storage boxes designed by Charlotte Perriand, jean Prouvé and Guy Rey-Millet for the mountain refugee "La Vanoise" French alpes. see pictures. Set include 10 boxes. 6 boxes...
Category

1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Pine

Midcentury Decorative Box in Travertine by Fratelli Mannelli, Italy, 1970s
Located in Rome, IT
Cylindrical box in travertine marble by Fratelli Mannelli. Made in Italy in the 1970s.
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Travertine

Mid-Century Lucite & Vienna Straw Wicker Italian Box 1970s Christian Dior Style
Located in Roma, IT
Stunning midcentury Lucite and Vienna straw wicker box. This marvelous jewelry box was designed in Italy during 1970s, following the style of Christian Dior. It is made of two pie...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Wicker, Lucite

Piet Zwart "Koksmaat" for Bruynzeel
By Bruynzeel, Piet Zwart
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Painted plywood coffin attributed to Piet Zwart. Manufactured by Bruynzeel (Netherlands) in circa 1938. Painted plywood coffin "Koksmaat" (Cook's mate). Dimensions: H 49 cm / ...
Category

1930s Dutch Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Plywood

Meindert Zaalberg Studio Pottery 'Stop' Lidded Box 1962
Located in Tilburg, NL
Meindert Zaalberg Studio Pottery 'Stop' lidded box. The Netherlands, 1962. Beautiful lidded box or pot designed by famous Dutch pottery artist Mei...
Category

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

Materials

Pottery, Stoneware

Nanni Valentini Ceramic Container for Ceramica Arcore, Italy, 1960s
Located in Milan, IT
Nanni Valentini ceramic container for ceramica arcore, Italy, 1960s.
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Ceramic

Antique Italian Marble Footed Box
Located in Chicago, IL
A gorgeous antique Italian box hand carved from a cream marble with textured claw feet and geometric details. This box has a lid with an inlaid mar...
Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Marble

Snuff Box Parrotlets on Flowering Branches. Art Nouveau Style Sterling Silver En
Located in Firenze, FI
Square snuff box with rounded sides in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with translucent fired enamel on guillochè and hand painted miniature parrotlets on flowering branches. Ar...
Category

1990s Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Sterling Silver, Enamel

Midcentury Square Lucite and Brass Pocket Emptier, Dior Style, France, 1970
Located in Roma, IT
Stunning midcentury lucite and brass squared valet tray. This wonderful item was produced in France in the style of Christian Dior in 1970s. This vide-poche features a gorgeous pi...
Category

1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass

Beautiful Original 1950s Sewing Box with Teak Veneer with Hinged Table Top
Located in München, DE
Beautiful original mid century sewing box with hinged top. Also ideal as a bedside or side table for storing magazines and newspapers and many o...
Category

1950s European Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Formica, Wood, Teak, Plywood

Music Wood Box with Inlays, Italy Around 1960s
Located in Wien, AT
Music wood box with inlays, italy around 1960s Original condition.
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Wood

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

1980s Gabriella Crespi Style Clear Plexiglass and Walnut Rectangular Italian Box
Located in Aci Castello, IT
An high quality plexiglass and walnut root jewelry box designed and manufactured in Italy in the Eighties in the manner of Gabriella Crespi. The box it's in very good conditions, jus...
Category

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

Materials

Lucite, Plexiglass, Walnut

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

Box, Rosewood, Ceramics, 1960
Located in Lejre, DK
Rosewood box with a patterned blue ceramic lid from around the 1960s. Dimensions in cm: H:4 W:11 D:11. Great condition This product will be inspected thoroughly at our professio...
Category

1960s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Rosewood

Italian Midcentury Burl Wood Jewelry Box, 1970s
Located in Morazzone, Varese
Beautiful wooden jewelry box of the Italian Mid-century hand-crafted entirely of burled wood and with gorgeous big shell inserted inside the lid of the box....
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Silver Plate

Vintage Parchment Pillbox
Located in Milano, IT
Beautiful parchment pill box designed in the 1950s of fine Italian manufacture. The pill box is small with a rectangular shape, made entirely of light green parchment on the outside...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass

Mid-Century Italian Chrome Horn Veneer Jewellery Box, 1970
Located in Paris, IDF
Beautiful mid-century box made in Italy in the late 1970s. This chrome jewellery or make-up box features a horn veneer frame on the top. The mix of chrome and horn is really nice. A ...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Chrome

Armenian Alphabet by Line Vautrin, Gilt Bronze Compact
Located in Brussels, BE
Line Vautrin was inspired by the Armenian alphabet to create this very pretty compact whose lid and reverse are entirely carved with the characters o...
Category

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

Materials

Bronze

Snuff Box Sterling Silver Green and Sky Stripes Guilloche Enamel Box Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Rectangular snuffbox in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with two-tone translucent stripes fired enamelled on guillochè and fine hand-engraved on all sides, French Empire Napoleo...
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Sterling Silver, Enamel

Koret Mid-Century Modern Black Patent Leather and Brass Handbag or Shoulder Bag
Located in Chesterfield, NJ
Stylish black patent leather adjustable handbag made by high end manufacturer, Koret. This bag has a fold over flap with an unusual brass U-shaped twist clasp closure. The interior i...
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass

Vintage Maitland Smith Decorative Tessellated Stone Kidney Shaped Box Keepsake
Located in Miami, FL
Vintage handmade Maitland Smith light pink tessellated kidney shaped stone box. Mid-Century Modern Period made in the Philippines. No makers mark....
Category

1970s Philippine Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Stone

Chinese Hand Painted Ceramic Trinket Box
Located in San Diego, CA
A wonderful and colorful hand painted Chinese lidded trinket box, circa 1950s. The handcrafted ceramic box measures 4.5" W x 3.25" D x 2.5" H and has a floral motif on a yellow backg...
Category

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

Materials

Pottery

Italian Black Leather Jewelry Box, Mid-Century Modern
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Mid-Century Modern black leather jewelry box. Sweet petite jewelry box in butter soft black leather with red felt interior. This little box i...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Leather

Rare Box by Piero Fornasetti from 50's
Located in Brussels, BE
Rare and original metal Boxe by Piero Fornasetti from 50's, decorated with pipes, with the original package. in very good and original condition, used for matches, cigarettes jewelry...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Metal

Ceramic Japanese Box, circa 1960
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Ceramic oriental Box, circa 1960. By unknown artist from Spain. In original condition, with minor wear consistent with age and use, preserving a...
Category

1960s European Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Ceramic

1960s Gorgeous Octagonal Blue and White Box in Alabaster, Made in Italy
Located in Milano, IT
1960s Octagonal blue and white box in alabaster. Made in Italy. This box is in excellent condition. Dimension: Diameter 4,72" x 1,18" height inche...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Alabaster

Large Rare French Gilt Bronze Box "Pinocchio" by Line Vautrin
Located in Atlanta, GA
A rare cast gilt bronze box "Pinocchio" by French Parisian art jeweler Line Vautrin (1913-1997). The elongated lidded box depicts a silouette portrait of the famous boy. The interior...
Category

1940s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Bronze

Pair of Mid Century Italian Onyx Marble Boxes
Located in Albano Laziale, Rome/Lazio
A pair of trinket or jewelry boxes with a hinged lids from around the 1960's. Handmade all in onyx and brass gilded in silver. The onyx has a range of colors from red, brown, yellow ...
Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Onyx

Porcelain Lided Box by Gucci, Decorated with the Flora Motif, Richard Ginori
Located in Brussels, BE
Porcelain lided box decorated with the iconic Flora motif : Pretty porcelain box whose lid is decorated with the morif "Flora". The edge of the lid and t...
Category

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

Materials

Porcelain

Anthony Redmile Box with Nickle Plated Mounts and Inset Opal
Located in Stamford, CT
Beautifully made vintage steer horn box by Anthony Redmile. With polished horn body and hand hammered nickle plated brass mounts. The top with an i...
Category

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

Materials

Opal, Nickel

Bitossi for Raymor Box, Ceramic, Fused Glass, White, Orange, Blue, Signed
Located in New York, NY
Bitossi for Raymor Box, ceramic and fused glass, white, orange and blue, signed. Small scale white glazed box with a lid decorated in an abstract pattern of...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Ceramic

Mid-Century Plastic Box, Pear, 1970's
Located in Praha, CZ
Made in Czechoslovakia Made of Plastic Re-polished Good Original condition.
Category

1970s Czech Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Plastic

Silvered Brass Box, Italy, 1970s
Located in Naples, IT
Silver-plated brass box and fabric-covered interior from 1970.
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass

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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