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.
Yellow-green onyx box, France, 1970
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Rectangular box in yellow-green onyx, made in France around 1970. This piece showcases the natural beauty of the stone, with its translucent hues ranging from pale green to honey, tr...
Onyx
1960s Mid-Century Modern Onyx Jewelry Box, Made in Italy, Excellent
Located in Milano, IT
1960s Astonishing box in onyx. Made in Italy. This box is amazing and in excellent condition. Dimension: 5,51 x 3,93 x 1,57 H inches 14 x 10 x 4 H cm
Onyx
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
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
1950s Italy Pink Alabaster Round Jewelry Box with Flower Decorations
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Delightful Pink Alabaster round box with flower decorations.
Onyx
Mid-century Italian Desig Green Onyx Jewelry Box 1950s Scrigno
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Green Onyx jewelry box casket with metal legs.
Onyx
Mid-Century Jade Green Onyx Marble Brass Decorative Box ITALY, c.1960s
By Gucci
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Wonderful green stone box in brass hinged framing. Small chip to one top corner, very small, right at the brass framing. 5.5 x 3.5 in.
Agate, Onyx
Christian Dior Midcentury Brass, Lucite, Vienna Straw Decorative Box, Italy 1970
Located in Roma, IT
Stunning Mid-Century decorative box in brass, clear lucite and Vienna straw. This incredibly elegant jewelry box was designed in Italy during 1970s and is attributed to a Christian ...
Brass
1980s Christian Dior Style Modernist Brass and Plexiglass Italian Jewelry Box
Located in Aci Castello, IT
An elegant brass and plexiglass designed and manufactured in Italy in the Eighties, it's in lovely condition. the jewelry box is characterized by use of high-quality materials, geome...
Brass
Mid Century Jewelry Box Hand Carved Wood Boob 1960s
By Dean Santner
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
This is a beautiful hand carved wood jewelry box in the style of Dean Santner. The boob shaped box twists open easily to reveal a compartment w...
Wood
Walter Bosse Austrian Lacquered Brass Cigarette Box
By Herta Baller
Located in New York, NY
Walter Bosse for Herta Baller polished cast brass square box with patinated stripe lid, Austria, circa 1950's.
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
Regency Walnut jewelry box, aluminum, Italy, 1980
Located in BARCELONA, ES
Very beautiful walnut-shaped jewelry box designed and made in italy in the 1980s vintage. Beautiful decorative object perfect for storing your earrings, small necklaces or even your ...
Aluminum
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
Unique Dome Shaped "Blue Apatite" Stone & Brass Lidded Decorative Box, 1960's
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Dome Shaped Lidded Decorative Jewelry Box "Rubble Blue Apatite" Stone with a Brass Frame and Handles Blue Fabric - Velvet Interior Artist Unknown The box is in vintage as found c...
Stone, Brass
Unique Lined Onyx Jewelry Box with Malachite Hippopotamus, circa 1960's
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Unique Lined Onyx Jewelry Box with Malachite Hippopotamus Handle circa 1960's Artist Unknown The interior of the box is lined Box 4" D x 6" W x 2 1...
Malachite, Onyx
Green Onyx Marble and Brass Jewelry Box 1950s Italy
Located in Palermo, Sicily
onyx green marble 1950s jewelry box with Brass foot.
Onyx
Vintage Italian Shell Encrusted Grotto Jewelry Box Re-Lined Interior c. 1950
Located in Bad Säckingen, DE
This finely crafted Italian shell-encrusted jewelry box exudes a charming Grotto style, typical of mid-century decorative art from the 1950s. Its...
Shell
Dior Tortoiseshell Lucite and Brass Decorative Octagonal Box, Italy 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Stunning Mid-Century jewelry or decorative octagonal box in a beautiful tortoiseshell effect lucite and brass. This stylish object was made in Italy during the 1970s and is attribute...
Acrylic, Lucite, Plexiglass
Large Square Natural Malachite Jewelry or Vanity Box
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Large Malachite Jewelry or Vanity Box. Malachite is a green copper carbonate mineral. It is part of the monolithic crystal system and has a silky luster. The malachite for this box w...
Machiche
Yellow Alabaster & Brass Jewelry Box - Mineral Stone Box - Italy 1970s
Located in ROUEN, Normandie
Yellow Alabaster & Brass Jewelry Box - Mineral Stone Box - Italy 1970s Very elegant jewelry or decorative trinket box. Entirely constructed with alabaster stone and a brass hin...
Stone, Alabaster, Marble, Brass
Large Round Emerald Green Alabaster Trinket Box with Hinged Lid, Italy
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A lovely hand carved round Italian alabaster trinket box in deep emerald green on the inside, and very light green on the exterior. Large...
Alabaster, Metal
Dior Large Smoked "Frozen" Lucite Italian Decorative Jewelry Box, Italy 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Wonderful Mid-Century jewelry or decorative rectangular box, made in charming smoked brownish lucite with a "frozen effect." This elegant object was produced in Italy during the 1970...
Acrylic, Lucite, Plexiglass
Flavio Poli Murano Sommerso Smoked Grey Faceted Glass Box, Italy 1950
By Flavio Poli
Located in Barcelona, ES
Mid-Century Modern Sommerso faceted Murano lidded box in grey and clear glass. Attributed to Flavio Poli, Italy, 1950s. Rectangular faceted box in grey gla...
Glass, Sommerso, Murano Glass, Cut Glass, Art Glass
Rare Solid Patinated Brass Jewerly Box By Ben Siebel American Mid Century
By Jenfred Ware
Located in San Diego, CA
Lovely brass cigarette box designed by Ben Seibel for Jenfred Ware. . Cork lined. nice patinated finish very rare and hard to find piece circa 1950's.
Brass
Hollywood regency bamboo jewelry box, RCM Italy 1970s
Located in Firenze, IT
Hollywood regency grissinato bamboo jewelry box RCM Italy 1970 marked H 6 cm - 26 × 15.5 cm Conditions: excellent consistent with age and use.
Bamboo
1960s Mid-Century Modern Onyx Jewelry Box, Made in Italy, Excellent
Located in Milano, IT
1960s Gorgeous Box in Onyx. Made in Italy. This box is in excellent condition. Dimension: 5,31 x 3,74 x 1,57 H inches 13,5 x 9,5 x 4 H cm
Onyx
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
$1,120Sale Price|20% Off
Murano Barbini White Black Spots Gold Flecks 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...
Gold Leaf
Mid-Century Italian Rectangular Blue Marble Trinket Jewelry Box
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Charming marble box with gilt brass frame as well as mounted feet. The blue box is a beautiful addition to a vanity or as a desk accessory.
Marble, Brass
Mithé Espelt Ceramic Jewelry Box, Mid-Century Modern, France, 1950s
By Mithé Espelt
Located in Saint-Amans-des-Cots, FR
Mid-Century Ceramic Jewelry Box by Mithé Espelt — Lunel, France, 1950s. A stunning mid-century ceramic jewelry box crafted by renowned French artist Mithé Espelt in Lunel, France, d...
Ceramic, Wood
Small Vintage Red Leather Jewelry Box Fleur-De-Lis, Italy
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Charming Mid-Century Italian hand crafted box in red leather and gold embossed with fleur-de-lis decoration. This box can be used to store your favorite pieces of jewelry as well a s...
Gold Leaf
1960s Original Mid Century Murano Glass Sommerso Box, Bucella Cristalli, Italy
Located in London, GB
A gorgeous authentic and original emerald green and gold sommerso Murano glass casket, made in Italy c. 1960 and retaining its original label for Bucella Cristalli of Murano, Venice....
Art Glass
1980s Plexiglass and Vienna Straw Rectangular Box in the manner of Dior Home
By Dior Home
Located in Aci Castello, IT
A lovely rectangular box manufactured in Italy in the manner of Dior home, it's in good conditions overall. The 1980s Italian Box is a striking and distinctive piece that embodies th...
Wicker, Plexiglass
Wonderful French Orange Opaline Glass Ormolu Brass Hinged Casket Jewelry Box
Located in Roslyn, NY
A Wonderful French Rare Color Orange Opaline Glass With Ormolu Brass Hinged Casket Jewelry Box
Ormolu
Large Solid Teak Inlaid Jewlery Box w/ Geometric & Floral Motifs
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Large Solid Teak Inlaid Jewlery Box w/ Geometric & Floral Motifs
Teak
$900Sale Price|25% Off
Murano Green White Ribbons Gold Top Italian Art Glass Vanity Powder Jewelry Box
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown Zanfirico ribbons and green canes Italian art glass vanity powder jar or jewelry box. Attributed to designer Alfredo Barbini. The jar has emerald ...
Gold Leaf
Cenedese Trio of Mid-Century Clear Green Italian Murano Glass Apothecary Jars
By Cenedese
Located in Landau an der Isar, Bayern
Rare set of three Cenedese vintage midcentury clear green colored / coloured Murano glass round Apothecary jars or storage containers with lids made circa 1970s. Wonderful Italian gl...
Blown Glass, Murano Glass
Mid-Century Turquoise Opaline Glass Cylindrical Jewelry Casket w/ Gilt Bronze
Located in New York, NY
French Turquoise Blue/Aqua Blue/Celeste Blue Opaline Glass Cylindrical Jewelry Casket with Gilt Bronze Mounts This French turquoise blue opaline glass casket was created as a refine...
Bronze
Dior Set of 3 Decorative Boxes in Brass, Lucite and Vienna Straw, Italy, 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Stunning Mid-Century set of three decorative jewelry boxes made from a combination of lucite enriched with Vienna straw, brass, wood, and tortoiseshell-effect lucite. This incredibly...
Brass
MCM Handcrafted Wooden Isigo Pervuvian Ebony Jewelery Box by J.Amberg
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Individually crafted in California, this exquisite Midcentury modern jewelry box showcases the artisan's mastery. Fashioned from Isogo wo...
Ebony
Lalique France 20th Century Epis Wheat Glass Box
By Lalique
Located in Milan, IT
Lalique France 20th Century Epis Wheat Glass Box Molded glass with two heads of wheat in relief, partially frosted to contrast with the transparent glass. Signed Lalique France
Nickel
French Beveled Glass Underglaze Painting Box, circa 1950
Located in Labrit, Landes
Jewelry box completely covered with beveled glass. A rose adorns the lid of the box. Good condition with marks of time and three small losses (please see photos) Shipping L20 /P ...
Fabric, Glass
Lucite and Chrome Decorative Jewelry Box, Italy 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Wonderful mid-century decorative jewelry box made in a beautiful combination of chrome and clear lucite. This elegant round box was made in Italy during the 1970s. In amazing condit...
Chrome
Handcrafted Post-Modern Solid Rosewood triangle Jewelry Box
Located in San Diego, CA
A unique post-modern solid rosewood jewelry box handcrafted with incredible presition the lid opens and closes perfectly the grain is beautiful.
Rosewood
1950s Florentine Italian Jewelry Boxes Wood Sculpted Gilt Painted Lord&Taylor, 3
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Set of Three Wooden Boxes made in Italy for the Lord & Taylor's Department Stores. Small 3 7/8 x 3 5/8 x 1 5/8 in Medium 6 3/4 x 4 3/4 x 2 1/8 in Large 7 7/8 x 5 7/8 x 2 1/8 in
Wood
XL Mid Century Modern Tessellated Trunk Chest Coffee Table Box by Robert Marcius
Located in Opa Locka, FL
Large and Heavy Mid Century Modern Tessellated Bone Trunk Chest Coffee Table Box. Lots of storage room with velvet lined interior. Pagoda for top. By Robert Marcius and in very good ...
Bone
Mid Century Modern Italian Art Glass Sommerso Jewelry Casket/Box by, Mandruzzato
By Mandruzzato
Located in Englewood, NJ
An Italian Mid Century Modern Art Glass Murano Sommerso decorated jewelry casket trinket box by, Mandruzzato. This unique box is faceted on. the lid and has boulbous body that is cas...
Brass
Bakelite and Brass Square Jewelry Box Design 1970 Da Silva
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Elegant Da Silva jewelry box in Brass and Bakelite ivory color
Brass
Handcrafted Wooden Box Jewelry Keepsake Studio Organic Modern
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, a small, handcrafted wooden box, likely a jewelry or keepsake box, featuring a domed lid and various wood types. The box has a polished finish that highlight...
Wood
1960's Mark Cross Velvet Covered Jewelry Box With Psychedelic Designs
By Mark Cross
Located in Stamford, CT
Mark Cross velvet covered jewelry box with walnut frame with Renaissance style gadrooning. With a rare and wonderful psychedelic design, this mid 20th century box is quite the collec...
Velvet, Walnut
1970s Modern Silver Plated Round Jewelry Box By Renzo Casati Firenze
By Teghini
Located in Aci Castello, IT
This elegant and stylish jewelry box, created by the Florentine silversmith Renzo Casati in the 1970s, is a beautiful example of modern Italian metalwork. The box has a sleek, circul...
Silver Plate
Box in wood, for jewelry or candle, France 1980
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
This box has a beautiful Patina. In perfect condition, you can use it as a jewlery box, or even to put a candle in the glass inside part. It has been made in France circa 1980
Wood
Mid-century grissinato wood jewelry box, Fontana Arte Italy 1960
By Fontana Arte
Located in Firenze, IT
Mid-century grissinato woodland mirrored glass jewelry box Fontana Arte, Italy 1960 Glass, wood, brass H 7 cm - 32 × 20 cm Conditions: excellent consistent with age and use.
Glass, Wood
Murano Glass Sommerso Jewelry Box by Mandruzzato, Italy, Circa 1970
By Murano Glass Sommerso, Alessandro Mandruzzato, Mandruzzato
Located in Round Top, TX
A stunning decorative, collectible Murano box for an aficionado of luxury and rarity. This large vintage silver leaf and black Murano glass sommerso box, made in Italy by Alessandr...
Metal
1960s Wood and Metal Italian Jewelry Box by Galbiati Milano
Located in Aci Castello, IT
A wooden and enameled metal box designed and manufactured in Italy by Galbiati in the Sixties. The red box it's decorated with jewels . It's in good condition overall and marked on t...
Metal
$295Sale Price|26% Off
Antique Limoges Porcelain Jewelry Box or Lidded Candy Dish
By Limoges
Located in Miami, FL
Beautiful Limoges porcelain hand crafted and hand painted gold trimmed trinket, jewelry box or lidded candy dish, circa 1930. Marked, see photos. ...
Porcelain
Elegant ebony chest with silvered brass fittings 1930
Located in Vienna, AT
Elegant ebony chest with silvered brass fittings, complete with its original key. The interior is lined in rich velvet and finished with classic Chesterfield tufted upholstery, addin...
Silver Plate
Vintage Modernist Stone Trinket Box attributed to Pepe Mendoza (Mexico)
By N. Nordstrom 1, Jonathan Adler, Pepe Mendoza
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful and sculptural piece. This vintage stone box attributed to the modernist Mexican artist Pepe Mendoza is unique and special. The box has inlaid stones and a cast brass May...
Stone, Brass, Copper
Midcentury jewelry box designed by Gabriella Crespi, Italy
Located in Piacenza, Italy
Marble and golden brass jewelry case designed by Gabriella Crespi. Recorded by Archivio Gabriella Crespi, Milan. Signed Italy 1970s
Marble, Brass